MICHIGAN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 527 



educated and most cultured of our visitors, and an efficient means of a desirable edu- 

 cation to tlie ej'e, improves the taste, refines the mind, and thereby has not only a 

 pleasing, but beneficial effect on all classes. 



NEEDLE AND FANCY WORK. 



This has been a very interesting and attractive exhibition for the last five years at 

 our fair, and especially largely increased in the last two years, not only in quantity 

 and quality of tlie exhibit, but also in its attraction under the efficient management 

 of its present superintendent. It has been a very desirable department for our lady 

 visitors to spend an hour or two daily. I trust its advancement will continue. 



The Children's Department, also under the same supervision, has become not only 

 very attractive, but also verj' instructive to the children and youth Visiting the fair. 



PREMIUM LIST. 



This part of our work is of very great importance, as on its liberal, well consid- 

 ered, and properly adjusted premiums much of the permanent success of this society, 

 and its benefits to the public, depends. I recommend a careful review of the whole 

 list. Some changes undoubtedly are proper and necessary. In my judgment, the 

 premiums should be materially increased on all the important cereals, grasses, dairy 

 products, and wools, of the most desirable kinds, as they are all valuable products of 

 the State, and our premiums on them lieretofore, have not been sufficient induce- 

 ments to encourage their production and exhibition in that quantity and quality 

 that their importance demands. The business and aim of this society, is to foster 

 and encourage all proper and valuable industries of the State, but that must be done 

 within our legitimate means, the society must be self-supporting. The premium 

 list should be as large as the safe financial point will permit, but must be judiciously 

 adapted and wisely discriminating to make successful fairs. 



JUDGES AND AWARDING COMMITTEES. 



Our rules now authorize the superintendents of the various departments to select 

 and engage their Awarding Committees preceding the fair. Much of the permanent 

 success of the society depends on the ability and impartiality of the judges selected. 

 That important duty should be carefully and conscientiously performed, and in 

 sufficient time to verify their acceptance of tiie trust before the commencement of 

 the fair. Our rules guard them from all interference in their assigned duties. In 

 many divisions they are arduous and require much firmness, experience, time, and 

 close attention, but when that duty is faithfully and wisely performed, while some 

 of the exhibitors may be a little disappointed in the result, they still will cheerfully 

 abide such a decision. 



FINANCIAL. 



Our society has been reasonably successful financially, in the past year, as the 

 report of the' treasurer will show, that after all the expenses, premiums and claims 

 of the year have been paid, we have added, including the interest on our invested 

 fund, $1,295 to our surplus fund. 



The weather was good, the exhibition large and generally satisfactory to our 

 exhibitors and visitors. The receipts were not quite as large as at some of our 

 previous fairs. Still they were very good, amounting in the aggregate to the sum 

 of #23,453.75. From the apparent number of attendants, I was in hopes the 

 amount to be added to the surplus fund would have been larger. I know that our 

 Business Committee made every reasonable effort to keep the expenses as low as 

 possible, and still have all the room and conveniences necessary for our exhibitors 

 and patrons, and that the other officers generally, worked to the same end, but still 

 the expenses seem larger than they ought to have been. I again recommend that 

 each officer in his own department and generally keep their expenses to the lowest 

 point possible, and yet provide all the necessary room, convenience and help, to 

 accommodate our exhibitors and visitors in all proper ways and means, as that is 

 indispensable to a successful fair. The aim of this society is not to see how large a 

 sum they can accumulate, but how good and profitable an exhibition for the State 

 and the education of its people in tlie best form and manner of agriculture and its 

 kindred arts, they can make from j'ear to year at reasonable charges for admission, 

 and still have means sufficient in reserve to guarantee the payment of all claims for 

 premiums and expenses in case of one or more unpropitious seasons which may come. 



GENERAL POLICY. 



In my judgment, the best interests of the society are promoted by a liberal policy 

 in all our proceedings, not only with our exhibitors, but with our visitors, lessees of 



