488 FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



Resolved, That the Directors of this Association be requested to offer a premium for 

 the best milch herd of Shorthorn cows at such a fair. 



Upon which as the committee, above referred to, E, E. Chester, 111., J. S. 

 Latimer, 111., and S. Lamoine, Pa., were appointed. The second resolution 

 as reported by the executive committee was: 



Resolved, That the executive committee be authorized to arrange with the State agricul- 

 tural societies or fairs of such States as have considerable dairy interests to pay from 

 funds of the Association a sum not exceeding $250 per annum to any one society, to be 

 paid as premiums for a Shorthorn class for the production of milk and butter, provided 

 that Shorthorns be permitted by such societies to contest for sweepstakes premium 

 with other dairy herds. 



I would suggest, in this connection, that this Association provide for the 

 appointment of a committee to confer with the executive board of the 

 State Agricultural Society at its coming meeting in January to secure such 

 changes in the premium list as may be necessary to enable the breeders of 

 our State to avail themselves of these offered prizes of the National Asso- 

 ciation. 



A year ago I called your attention at some length to what I believed to 

 be the mistaken policy of many Shorthorn breeders in making no effort to 

 retain or improve the milking quality of their herds. " I am of the same 

 opinion still," and hail this action of the National Association as an advance 

 in the right direction. 



FAIRS. 



At our State and district fairs some few very good Shorthorns were exhibited 

 in the fat cattle classes, but the display was not at all commensurate with the 

 magnitude of this interest in Michigan. Fairly liberal premiums were offered 

 by the various societies. The West Michigan and Ionia County Fair Asso- 

 ciation offered special premiums in addition, through the enterprise and 

 liberality of some of their leading breeders. Sufficient inducements, one 

 would suppose, to have brought out a large class and sharp competition. 



FATTING STEERS. 



At the fat stock show Mr. Smith, of Somerset, exhibited three head, the 

 college two, and Mr. Townley, of Parma, some six head of very good steers. 

 I believe it would be good policy for most Shorthorn breeders in Michigan 

 to steer two or three good calves every season and see what you can make 

 of them as feeders. A good, well-formed, even-covered steer that has made 

 good growth and has real quality, demonstrates far better to your customer 

 the rare feeding qualities of your sires and dams than you can do it by word 

 of mouth. And I do not wish to be understood as intimating either that 

 the members of this organization are lacking in the persuasive powers that 

 bring out the good points of their animals for the benefit of a prospective 

 customer. 



DRESSED-BEEF MONOPOLY. 



We hear perhaps more frequently than ever of the low price of cattle, 

 that there is little demand for beef cattle in our local markets, and that the 

 "big four" and the ranchmen of the far West have ruined, practically, the 

 business of cattle breeding and feeding for Michigan farmers past remedy. 

 I am not averse to limiting the privileges and power of those who seek to 



