REPORTS FROM COUNTY SOCIETIES. 603 



place on our fair gronnds during exhibitions if the7 j'ield an income to the society. 

 in my judgment wheels-of-forture, and all gambling devices calculated to corrupt 

 the morals of old and young, sliould not find any place on the grounds of any society. 

 As finance is one of the things to be looked to, a just discrimination should be made 

 in admission or exclusion. 



My observation and experience for the past number of years in the show ring, 

 leads me to the conclusion that one good judge in any class is better than three not 

 as good, and easier to be obtained, and at a less expense to societies that remunerate 

 in any manner a judge. So far as 1 know, in the State and district fairs in the poul- 

 try department only one judge is required, and very little fault is found with the 

 awards made. If one man acts as a judge in anj' department, he cannot shirk any 

 responsibility connected with his department, and be would be able to give reasons 

 for his opinions expressed in his awards if called for. With one judge in each class 

 or department, the work of judging would be greatly accelerated. Exhibitors would 

 be relieved of the uncertainty as to the time when the committees would work, and 

 instead of being obliged to be on hand day after day to show their stock, etc., they 

 would be through with the disagreeable part of their work and have some time to 

 look around and see what others have on exhibition. I throw out these suggestions 

 with the expectation of having them opposed. 



Many societies in this State have issued and sold what are called "life membership 

 tickets." As a rule they have done so to bridge over present difficulties. Wliile they 

 assisted somewhat at the time in a financial point of view, in very many cases the 

 plan worked disadvantageously afterwards. In many instances when societies 

 stopped selling such tickets after a while, bad feelings were indulged in by those who 

 wished to purchase such tickets and could not, and in most cases the plan of selling 

 life membership tickets has proved injurious. 



One of the many difficulties in conducting a fair is the solution of the problem, 

 how shall exhibitors, with their attendants, and booth and stand men with their 

 attendants, be admitted to the grounds of the society during its fair. In county 

 fairs the difficulty is not very great, but at the State and district fairs, it is one of 

 the perplexing things with which those conducting exhibitions have to contend. 



It is one of difficulty, for exhibitors help largely to make the show, and their rights 

 must be respected, and at the same time tlie interests of the society must be guarded. 

 That the system of issuing attendants' tickets is liable to abuse, that the necessity of 

 doing something of the kind is demanded, is a subject that is not easy of a pei'fect 

 solution. 



I hope the matter may receive some attention at this meeting. There are many 

 other manners connected with the conduct and control of agricultural and mechani- 

 cal societies that miglit be mentioned, but many of them are noticed in the pro- 

 gramme of exercises, and will undoubtedly receive the attention their merits deserve. 

 Let me recapitulate some of the many needs that our agricultural exhibitions 

 require, to make them successful as representative of the great variety of the pro- 

 ducts of the soil, of the manufactures and the arts of this truly great State, as well as 

 to make them financial successes. P'irst, select good, active men and women to fill 

 the responsible positions that belong to such societies; those who know what is 

 required to make a good exhibition and are willing to work to the end. Select such 

 places for fair grounds as are pleasant, easily accessible, that contain conveniences 

 necessary for an exhibition, and where the resident population are willing to work 

 and will work to make the matter a success. The rules and regulations which govern 

 a society should be as few as will cover all tliat is necessary for the good conduct of 

 the fair, and so plain that only one construction can be placed upon them. 



Each superintendent should have control of his or her department, and be held 

 strictly responsible for its management to the controlling officers of the society, 

 financially and otherwise. A perfect system of accounts should be kept by all socie- 

 ties and in each departiuent. Much greater expenses are sometimes incurred if all 

 expenses come in together, than when each officer is charged with the expenses of 

 his department. Men do not like to have extravagances charged to them individu- 

 ally, and if this plan of making each superintendent or officer in any department 

 show his own expenses, there is no doubt a saving will be made in all societies who 

 insist on this method in the place of the former. 



The rights and comforts of visitois and exhibitors in our exhibitions should always 

 be a matter of solicitude to the officers in any society. Knowing well that all kinds 

 of fraud are attempted to get upon the grounds during the exhibitions without pay, 

 by the unscrupulous, still the large majority of visitois are iionest, and care should 

 alwajs be taken to make everytliing pertaining to tiie exhibition as entertaining 

 and pleasant as possible, for good will toward any project where the masses are con- 

 cerned, is a strong element of success. 



