MICHIGAN STATE AGRICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 539 



HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



This society made a large and very satisfactory exhibition at our hist fair. Their 

 work is of great value to the people of the State and a valuable auxiliary to the 

 State Agricultural Society. It has its peculiar work which has been successfully and 

 creditably performed. So successful and thorough has been their work that the 

 whole State has been greatly benefited in the increased and valuable productions of 

 improved fruits, plants and flowers. Their system in disseminating useful informa- 

 tion by holding frequent meetings most of the season in different parts of tlie State, 

 in which lectures are delivered and appropriate papers prepared and read by compe- 

 tent persons bearing directly on all the important subjects embraced in their organi- 

 zation, it thus brings desirable knowledge in its most practical form within reach of 

 almost every person interested in horticulture in the State, their work is still mak- 

 ing favorable progress. I recommend said society be invited to continue its co-oper- 

 ation with us, and that the same sum be appropriated under the rule for their use as 

 last year, 



AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



For the last four years, by the invitation of the State Board of Agriculture and 

 officers of the Agricultural College, this committee have enjoyed the pleasure of 

 visiting and examining the college, its school and lecture rooms, classes and manner 

 of teaching their pupils, its farm and farm buildings, and valuable, improved stock, 

 and the manner of cultivating their land. 



The college is thoroughly practical in its aims and objects, its classes are taught in 

 the field as well as in the recitation rooms; no time or attention is given to the 

 ancient, but thorough training in the Englisii language and literature is provided 

 for and carried out; especial attention is given to the practical sciences and their 

 application; the results of the operations of the college are given in the annual 

 report of the State Board of Agriculture; much valuable information is imparted 

 by the members of the faculty in the form of practical lectures at farmers^ institutes 

 and at the meetings of the State Horticultural Society, which is now frequently held 

 in all parts of the State, and which in that form have proved of much value to the 

 farmers of Michigan. 



I have lately received a cordial invitation from the President of the College and 

 the State Board of Agriculture to the Executive Committee and the officers of the 

 society to repeat our visit to the college on the second Wednesday of June next. I 

 respectfully recommend the invitation be accepted. 



THE FAIR CIRCUIT. / 



The arrangement remains the same as last year, the agreement between the several 

 Agricultural Societies included in what is styled the '• Fair Circuit." The several 

 fairs were held in regular succeeding weeks, commencing at Columbus, August 28, 

 then to Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio, tlien to Jackson, Michigan, then to Indianapolis 

 and Waterloo, Indiana. The only change made last year was, there was no fair held 

 at Cleveland, but a two weeks' fair at Toledo. 



Representatives from each of said societies attended our last winter meeting and 

 gave us much valuable information in reference to their own States, and manner of 

 conducting their fairs, etc., and invited our Executive Committee, including the 

 officers of the society, to attend their annual fair, and also their winter meeting. A 

 committee was appointed from the society to attend the fairs held last fall, who 

 undoubtedly will make a full and interesting report, from wliich this society will 

 receive valuable information, and make such recommendations as in their judgment 

 may seem proper. 



OFFICERS. 



The officers, superintendents, and committees have, with slight exceptions, per- 

 formed their duties faithfully and satisfactorily. The duties of the offices of the 

 secretary and treasurer, which are so important to the best interests of the society, 

 have been singularly well performed in every way to the credit of themselves and the 

 society, as have also the duties of the princijpal committees. The duties of the chair- 

 man of the Business Committee are very important and especially arduous, but they 

 have been well and satisfactorily performed, but it takes too much of his time, more 

 than the society ought to receive without remuneration, and the only way for us t© 

 equalize is to take turns at the hard work, as our rules do not allow us to pay money 

 for such services. 



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