Nc. 6 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 43 



AGRICULTUKAL SOCIETIES 



There is quite an improvement to be noted in the manner of con- 

 ducting the various agricultural societies of the State by the elimin- 

 ating of objectionable side-shows, games of chance and various 

 gambling devices. Increased interest and ])]'oniinonce has been 

 given to Hie encouragement of strictly agricultural exhiliits. At 

 many of the Pairs our Department rendered the service of our Farm 

 Advisory corps by furnishing judges for livestock, poultry, horti- 

 culture and other agricultural exhibits. There appears to be a 

 growing necessity in l*ennsylvania for the holding of a State Agri- 

 cultural Fair, to be held under State control, at which the various 

 farm oi'ganizations of the State and County Agricultural Societies 

 .■should have a fair representation. When this desirable end is ac- 

 complished, the local agricultural societies will be enabled to make 

 exhibits at the State Fair which, in a high degree, would represent 

 the best agricultural products of the various counties of the State. 

 All of which would form an object lesson that would unquestion- 

 ably give encouragement to the growing of farm crops year by year 

 of a high degree of excellence. 



The attendance for 1914 was 1.808,722, as compared with the pre- 

 vious year, l,77t>.<100, shows an increase of 32.122; total member- 

 ship 15,442; amount received from State fund, .|50,382.08; amount 

 paid in premiums, 1914, |112.851.78; amount offered in premiums, 

 1915, 1158,1 26.42, an increase of |45,774.64. 



