543 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



1 Lot locks and keys. 

 1 Pigeon hole box. 



1 Iron kettle. 



10 Ticket boxes. 



2 Broken boxes glass. 

 1 Bundle small rope. 

 1 Scoop shovel, 1 hoe. 

 1 Log chain. 



4 Jugs. 



1 Centre piece for Main Hall. 



1 000 Yards cambric for decorating. 



I'Bushel basket. 



1 Lot ball valves. 



1 Lumber wagon and sprinkler. 



1 Field roll. 



1 Track scraper. 



Property in the City op Detroit. 



1 Main Hall. 



1 Octagon fruit hall. 



1 Grand stand. 



1 Railroad freight house and platform. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



JOHN GILBERT, 

 WM. H. COBB. 

 A. O. HYDE. 



Mr. I. H. Butterfield, Jr., Superintendent of Division A, Cattle, submitted 

 his report, as follows : 



DIVISION A— CATTLE. 



The following report of the exhibition of cattle at the Annual Fair of 1882, is 

 respectfully presented. The total number of entries was 500, which were nearly all 

 exhibited. The number of entries in the several classes were as follows: Class 1, 

 113; Class 2, 39; Class 3, 6 entries, which were not exhibited, while Mr. David Clark, 

 of Lapeer, had his cattle on exhibition, but his application for entries was received 

 too late. Class 4, 39; Class 5, 80; Class 6, 24; Class 7, 90; making a total of 390 head 

 of pure bred cattle, and of uniformly good quality. Of grades, there were 41 ; working 

 oxen and steers 10; fat cattle, 17. "Herds, 34; also a herd of pure-bred Guernseys. 

 The pure-bred cattle stand this year as to numbers: Shorthorns, 1st; Holsteins, 2d; 

 Jerseys, 3d; with the others in much smaller numbers. 



The amount of premiums awarded was $2,924.50, or $111.50 less than in 1881. This 

 decrease was owing to the non-exhibit of Herefords. A herd of Ayrshires from 

 Pennsylvania, and one from Ohio, and a herd of Holsteins or Dutch Frieseans, from 

 New York, constituted the exhibit from out of the State. 



The sickness and death of some of the cattle from abroad, tlie particulai's of which 

 I am not as yet fully informed, has led some of the cattle breeders to feel that It is 

 not entirely safe to allow a promiscuous exhibit from all parts of the country. I 

 have no recommendation to make on this matter, but submit it to the Board as a 

 matter which should receive careful attention. 



I renew my former recommendation of the publication of a catalogue of the stock 

 on exhibition, and think it worth a trial by the Societj'. 



At the last fair I tried an experiment of having a single expert judge in the class 

 of Jerseys, with entire satisfaction to myself, and I am assured to the exhibitors 

 also. 



As the Society will probably erect new stalls for the next Fair, I suggest that they 

 be arranged in a more concentrated form, and with reference to convenience to the 

 show ring. The practice of building the stalls in long rows adjoining the outside 

 fence, though a saving of lumber, is inconvenient to exhibitors and visitors, and 

 <lesirable in no other respect. 



It would add to the value of the awards of committees, if the reasons for their 

 decisions were also taken and published with the awards. Concisely stated, they 

 would not make a burdensome report, and it would afford instruction to exhibitors, 

 and be some protection against unfair awards. 



At the request of several breeders, and with a belief that it is desirable, I recom- 

 mend that the former premiums for " Bull and his get," and " Cow and her progeny," 

 be restored as being in the line of encouragement for breeding stock. 



The breeders of Holsteins, Jerseys, etc., demand the same herd premiums as are 

 awarded to Shorthorns. I recommend the continuance and increase of premiums on 

 fat cattle, as desirable in every respect. Also that in the pure-bred classes of cattle 

 classed as dairy-breeds, exhibitors of cows be allowed to furnish to the Committee a 

 statement of milk and butter i)roduct, properly verified. 



In view of the great and increasing value of the dairy product, it is desirable that 

 the Society soon establish a class in which quantity, quality and cost of dairy pro- 



