MICHIGAN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 453 



value, in four per cent registered United States bonds, which at the present rate of 

 premium would enhance the actual cash assets of the societ}', in gross, to $23,632.81. 



A. J. DKAN, 

 Treasurer. 

 Detuoit, January 9, 1S82. 



The report was accepted and referred to Finance Committee. 



The Business Committee presented their annual report, which was accepted 

 and referred to the Finance Committee without reading. (See Schedule A.) 



Messrs. J. M. Sterling and Philo Parsons reported verbally on their visit to 

 the meeting of the Ohio. Michigan, and Indiana Fair Circuit Association. 



Mr. Cobb moved that a committee of two, consisting of the President and 

 Secretary, be appointed to confer with like committees from other societies 

 connected with the Fair Circuit. Carried. 



The Secretary asked to be excused from serving on the committee, and on 

 motion the Treasurer was substituted. 



Mi*. Butterfield, Superintendent of Division A, reported as follows; 



CATTLE DEPARTMENT. 



To the President and Executive Board of the Michigan State Agricultural Society: 



I respectfully present the following report of the exhibition in Division A at the 

 annual Fair of 1881 : 



The total number of entries in this division was 535; of these between 40 and 50 

 were not exhibited. The stalls provided would hold, by crowding, 400 cattle; these 

 were all filled and 10 new ones were built; one herd was, with the consent of the 

 exhibitor, placed in the old hay barn on the Fair grounds; and a few, owned by Mr. 

 Doney, of Jackson, were kindly taken home and brought on the ground only for exhi- 

 bition in tlie ring. 



The exhibit was above the average, both in numbers and quality, and was credit- 

 able to the cattle breeders of the State. All the Sliort-horns, Devons, Jerseys, and 

 Holsteins shown for coinpetition were owned in the State. A notable exception in 

 the other classes was the fine herds of Herefords and Polled Angus, owned by Bur- 

 leigh & Bordwell, of Maine. The entries were divided among the several classes as 

 follows: Class 1, 137; class 2, 28; class 3, 58; class 4, 37; class 5, 67; class 6, 16; class 7, 

 59 ; class 8, 49 ; class 9, 20 ; class 10, 32 ; class 1 1 , 32. Short-horns more than double any 

 other breed; Jerseys second, Holsteins third. Herefords fourtii. 



The total premiums offered in this division are $3,728; the total paid, $3,041, and 

 a few diplomas, distributed as follows among the several classes: Class 1, $455; class 

 2, $370; class 3, $365; class 4. 8307; class 5, $385; class 6, $278; class 7, $415; class 8, 

 $140; class 9,$142; class 10, $170; 11 herds. 



I suggest whether it would not be greater encouragement to the smaller breeders if 

 an exhibitor was permitted to receive but one premium for the same age in any class. 

 This certainly is all an exhibitor should be entitled to receive where there is no 

 competition. In granting more than this, we give money without obtaining any 

 corresponding benefit. 



I believe that a catalogue of all the stock and articles, giving the location on the 

 ground and a brief description of the entry, would be very desirable both for exhibi- 

 tors and visitors. Such a catalogue is now issued b}' the New York State Agricult- ■ 

 ural Society, and meets with much favor. I am told that the sale of these catalogues 

 to visitors equals the cost of publishing the same. 



1 recommend that the premiums on grade cows be made equal to those on cows in 

 the pure-bred classes. Tlie title to clat-s 6should read "Galloway and Angus," and to 

 class 7 '* Holstein and Dutch Frieseans." This will avoid disputes which have 

 occurred the past season at one or two fairs. 



1 also submit that when the entries of cattle equal the number of stalls, that fur- 

 ther entries be refused, or that stalls for their accommodation be provided previous 

 to the opening of the fair. Otherwise no benefits are derived from closing the 

 entries for so long a time previous to the fair. 



I. H. BUTTERFI ELD. Jr., 

 Superintendent. 



