554 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The report was accepted and adopted. 



Mr. Ilanford read the report of Superintendents of Farm Implement 

 Department, as follows : 



DIVISION I— FARM IMPLEMENTS. 



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



Gentlemen: — The exhibition in Division I, Farm Implements, we neetl not say- 

 was equal to any we have ever had, for that fact was easily discerned by all lookers- 

 on at our past State fairs. We expect that these exhibits will increase in attract- 

 iveness from year to year, as lonj; as the present liberal policy of the society towards 

 exhibitors is followed, and as long as our State continues to be as productive as at 

 present. It is estimated that the improvements of the plow alone, have benefited 

 the people of this country fifty millions a year. If this is true, what can we say of 

 the benefit arising from the improvements in other tillage implements, haying and 

 harvesting tools, seed drills, and planters, field rollers, etc. The value to tlie people 

 is immense, not confined by any means to agriculturalists, but is shared by all. 

 Without these improvements, it would become almost impossible to feed the people, 

 and a "sheep's head and pluck a day" would again be the standard wages of a day 

 laborer. The entries in the several classes were about the same as last year. Some 

 exhibitors made their appearance this year for the first time, while^most of the old 

 ones were on hand as usual, showing that it pays to advertise their implements at 

 our State fairs. 



Time and space will not allow us to particularize or show (with justice), the 

 merits of each exhibit. Great attention was given by visitors to the operations of 

 twine binders, which obviates the objections to the use of wire; making a knot that 

 will neither slip nor break, out of material as cheap. These binders fill a long felt 

 want. There were several platform binders on exhibition (that take the grain 

 directly from the platform), that drew large crowds, perhaps for their novelty. 

 Sulky plows were in favor, either from a desire of farmers to ride on a cushioned 

 seat, or from their being enabled b}' the use of them to do more and better work. 



The shafting was not sufficient to supply all with power, as several, througii choice, 

 or otherwise, furnished their own power and shafting. 



Farm engines, especially traction, keep pace with the wants of the people, and the 

 latter were able to clear the track every time they moved. Exhibitors and people 

 appeared to be happy (the one in taking orders, and the other in giving them), and 

 your superintendents contented. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



H. O. HANFORD, 

 ABEL ANGEL, 



Superintendents. 



Accepted and referred. 



Committee on Premiums reported : 



To the Executive Board of the Michigan Agricultural Society: 



Your Committee on Premium List beg leave to present tlie accompanying report: 

 Having carefully considered the list, we have made such changes as in our opinion 

 seemed necessary in the progress of agricultural and other interests, and for the 

 interests of this Society. Most of the changes made have the approval of the Super- 

 intendents in the several departments, 



WILLIAM BALL, 



"WILLIAM CHAMBERLAIN, 



W. H. COBB, 



I. H. BUTTERFIELD, Jr., 



H. O. HANFORD, 



A. F. WOOD, 



JOHN LESSITER, 



Committee on Premium List, 

 Eeport accepted. 



On motion, the Premium List for Children's Department was referred to 

 Miss Brow and the Secretary, who were authorized to arrange a list not to 

 exceed $50, to be published in the annual Premium List. 



It was then moved that the report of the Premium List Committee, relative 

 to Class I, be adopted. 



