544 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



awavdecl $152; Class 28, entries 15, premiums offered $G1, awarded $44: Class 29, 

 entries 17, premiums offered $75, awarded $70. 



There were fifteeu entries for a special premium of a silver water pitclier, valued 

 at $20, ofiered by the Prairie Parmer Publishing Co., Chicago, for the best thorough- 

 bred American Merino ram and two ewes. Award given to Mr. Wm. Ball, Hamburgh, 

 Mich. 



As there is a lai'ge competition in Class 22, American Merino, i would recommend 

 a fourth premium on all entries in that class. 



Respectfully submitted, 



D. W. HOWARD, 

 Superintendent. 



Accepted and referred. 



Mr. John Lessiter rend the following report for Division D, which was 

 accepted and referred : 



DIVISION D— SWINE. 



To the President and Executive Committee of the Michigan State Agricultural Society. 



The total number of entries in this division was 248, last year 170. The number of 

 entries in each class was as follows: Berkshires, 52; Essex. 50; .Suffolk and Small 

 Yorkshire, 67; Poland China, 41; Chester "White, and Large Yorkshire, 29; fat hogs, 

 9. Total amount of awards in tins division $656. The exhibits were above the aver- 

 age in quality as well as numbers, and were creditable to the swine breeders of this 

 State. 



Would ask for this division more pens, if found after the entries close that the 

 entries exceed the number of pens, as was the case at our last exhibition— as some 

 of the entries had to be viewed in the crates they were brought in — after asking the 

 exhibitors to put two or more entries in one pen. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



JOHN LESSITER, 



Superintendent. 



The report of Acting Superintendent W. S. Curtis was read, accepted and 

 referred. 



DIVISION E— POULTRY. 



To the President and Executive Committee of the State Agricultural Society: 



In Division E. poultr.y, there were 420 entries and about 50 pair were too late to 

 enter. The exhibit was larger than ever before, and larger than the accommodations 

 provided for them. Tiiere were some in every class that were very good, but a good 

 many of them were inferior. I think that the premium for the best, most varied 

 and valuable collection is the cause of the large showing of inferior fowls. I would 

 recommend striking from tlie list in Game Class, blue games, black games, and white- 

 legged Earl Derbj' games, and inserting pile games. In Bantam Class I would strike 

 out white bantams. I would change from brown Hamburgs to golden penciled Ham- 

 burgs, the correct name for them. 1 would also insert langsliangs iu tlie Asiatic 

 class. Very respectfully, S. W. CURTISS, 



Acting Superintendent. 



Mr. A. F. Wood, Superintendent of Miscellaneous Department, read his 

 report, as follows: 



DIVISION P— MISCELLANEOUS. 



To the President and Executive Committee of the State Agricultural Society: 



Division P, miscellaneous, consisted of Classes 63 and 64, and as is expected, many 

 unenumerated articles. 'J'here were 55 prizes offered. (>4 entries in all, and $41 and 

 two diplomas awarded. There was but little on exhibition among the enumerated 

 articles in Class 63. I hardly tliink it practical to offer the same prizes longer as they 

 are. There has not been any creditable show in many things for the past two years. 

 In Class 64 most of the articles were on exhibition, and in washing machines and 

 wringers there was a very creditable display, and it is my opinion that the small 

 premium offered should be struck out, and let them show tlie same as other machin- 

 ery. We would get just as good a sliow, and give better satisfaction. Refrigerators 

 were on exhibition that had every appeai-ance of being useful, and as the premiums 

 offered did not seem suitable, a diploma was awarded. 



Respectfully submitted, 



AMOS F. WOOD, 



Superintendent. 



