434 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



SWINE DEPARTMENT. 



To the President and members of the Executive Committee of the Michi- 

 gan State Fair: 



Gentlemen : As superintendent of swine, I beg to submit the follow- 

 ing report : 



Whole number of swine exhibited, 655 : 



Amount of premiums offered $5,140.00 



Amount of premiums awarded 3,102 . 00 



The show as a whole was a very creditable one. The lack of pens 

 was somewhat annoying to both exhibitors and superintendent but was 

 gotten along with, without working any serious hardship to anyone. 

 There was one protest made in Duroc Jersey class, which upon investi- 

 gation was not sustained. I w^ould suggest that where protests are 

 made they should be accompanied by a suitable fee to cover cost of 

 investigation and where same is not sustained, part}' making protest 

 should not be reimbursed. 



GEORGE KELLY, 



Superintendent. 



POULTRY DEPARTMENT. 



Mr. F. Postal, President : 



In accordance with the rules of the Michigan State Agricultural So- 

 ciety, I herewith submit to you my report with recommendations of the 

 poultrj^ department. 



Birds on exhibit 2,163 



Pigeons 68 



Belgian hares 42 



Total 2,273 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



That the entry fee for single birds a charge of twenty-five cents be 

 charged, and for pens, fifty cents; and increase premiums accordingly. 

 By doing this I believe it would be the means of keeping out a lot 

 of inferior birds and leave more room for better ones. 



That a floor be put in the building. There are more people pass 

 through this building than any other live stock exhibit, but the accom- 

 modations are poorer than any. 



Respectfully submitted for your consideration, 



D. THOMAS, 

 Superintendent. 



