MICHIGAN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 723 



Slate Board of Flealth: 



The State Board of Health, under the direction of Dr. John L. Biirkhart, made a splendid 

 exhibit and imparted valuable information to our visitors. 



State Highway Commission: 



The State Highway Commission in connection with the Engineering Department of 

 the University of Michigan, made a very interesting exhibit, not only showing the develop- 

 ment in the building up of our roads throughout the State, but an exhibit showing the 

 ingi-edients used in their construction. 



State Dairy and Food Department: 



The State Dairy and Food Department took charge of our Dau-y exhibit and held their 

 quarterly inspection of butter and cheese. Although the exhibit was hght, it was worthy 

 of special mention. 



If the State could be induced to construct a building of sufficient size to take care of 

 all of the State exhibits, I am sure a much better sliowing would be made, as we were handi- 

 capped this year by not having room enough to properly house the State Departments, 

 which favored us with an exhibit. A great many of the State Departments would be 

 inclined to make exhibits at the Fair if a suitable building was built for their convenience 

 and I feel certain that the legislature would give consideration to the appropriation of 

 sufficient money to cover the cost of a Michigan exhibit building, if the matter was properly 

 presented. 



DEPARTMENTAL EXHIBITS 



Horses: 



The Horse Department, although handicapped to some extent on account of the 

 threatened railroad strike, was given credit for having a much better and larger exhibit 

 than ever before. There were more horses entered in this Department than we were 

 able to care for in our exhibit barns and the overflow was housed in the old Poultry building 

 and such exhibitors were not charged for stall rent. 



Cattle, Sheep and Swine: 



The Cattle, Sheep and Swine Departments suffered^eomewhat in the same manner 

 as the Horse Department, on account of the threatened strike. The barns were full and 

 the exhibit was good, with the exception of the Dairy class. For some reason the breeders 

 of Michigan do not give as much attention to the exhibit of Dairy breeds at our Fair. 

 Interest might be stimulated in this particular department if the National Dairy Show 

 was located in Detroit. We had a fine exhibit of sheep and also of swine and the exhibitors 

 seemed well pleased with the treatment they received. 



Poultry: 



The poultry exhibit was lighter than last year, caused by changing the premium list 

 somewhat and cutting out the hucksters, but we really had more exhibitors, although a 

 less number of birds than in 1915, nevertheless, this exhibit was very interesting. 



Farm Products: 



The Farm Products in the Agi-icultural Building was a much better show than in 1915. 

 Taking into consideration the dryness of the season we had an exceptionally good exhibit. 



Fruits, Plants and Flowers: 



The Fruits certainly made a fine display and although the weather conditions during 

 the season were not ideal for the gi'owing of Fruits, caused by the continued drought, we 

 had a very good show. The Plant and Flower exhibit was very light and the dry season 

 prevented many of our old exhibitors from showing. 



Machinery, Implements and Vehicles: 



This exhibit was very interesting this year. Several tractor exhibits helped to make 

 up the show and as a whole it was very creditable. The exhibit in the Building was con- 

 siderably better than ever before. 



