306 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



propriation from the State was a great incentive to bring out the fine 

 Michigan bred cattle and should be continued by a like appropriation 

 for the years 1903 and 1904. 



The total number of entries was 653. 



Respectfully submitted, 



H. R. DEWEY. 



Superintendent . 



HORSE DEPARTMENT. 



To the Executive Committee of the State Agricultural Society: 



Gentlemen — The details as to classification, prizes offered, amounts 

 awarded, etc., in the horse department are carried in the secretary's an- 

 nual -report. The entries in the horse department at the Michigan State 

 Fair of 1902, were not what might have been expected in view of the 

 location in which the fair was held. 



The eastern part of the State is extensively interested in fine horses 

 of all the different breeds, and would promote its interests by larger ex- 

 hibits at the annual State fair. The quality of the stock on exhibition 

 was generally of a high standard. 



There is no other department of a State fair but what can better exhibit 

 its rings and make its awards in a week, which probably nearly resembled 

 an average week during Noah's flood, than the horse department. 



It is a physical impossibility in the narrow alleys of the horse barns 

 to exhibit large rings of fine horses and make awards satisfactory to the 

 judge or the spectators. Like all other departments showing under roof 

 at our late fair, the alleys of the horse department were constantly 

 thronged, with men, women and children, a crowd that was good natured 

 to a degree, but practically a mob when it came to' the exhibition of lively 

 stepping horses in the same alley. 



The department was fortunate in being served by judges of long ex- 

 perience, and who rank among the best in the country. It is a surprise to 

 the superintendent that the work of the judges was so well performed 

 under the circumstances. Several large entries were not present at all, 

 owing undoubtedly, to the unpropitious condition of the weather during 

 the entire fair. 



The change of the date of the annual fair from the latter part to the 

 fore part of September, thereby placing the Michigan State Fair in one 

 of the general fair circuits, will materially help the exhibition of fine 

 horses owned by exhibitors making the grand circuit. 



H. H. HINDS, 

 Superintendent. 



SPEED DEPARTMENT. 



To the President and Members of the Michigan State Agricultural 

 Society: 



As superintendent of the speed department, I beg leave to submit the 

 following report: 



The liberal amount of money that was placed in my hands to offer for 

 speed premiums enabled us to secure good entries. 



