356 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The often mooted question of universal competition was fully settled at the last 

 fair; open to the competition of the world should be our motto, and to secure the 

 presence of the best specimens of domestic animals of ever}^ character from distant 

 points, larger premiums should be offered, thereby sti-nulating to the highest excel- 

 lence attainable by our own citizens. If it is practicable to reduce the expenses of the 

 exhibition by rejecting animals that do not reach a high standard of excellence, and 

 so add to premiums on the better class, I should deem it well worthy of your con- 

 sideration, it cannot be denied that in mechanical contrivances and maciiinery, as 

 well as animals, there is coming to our fairs much that might as well be left at 

 home. The experiences of the late meeting will doubtless indicate the need of some 

 changes in tlie premium list, especially with reference to draught horses, which 

 were a prominent and interesting feature of the last fair. The committee having 

 this in charge will undoubtedly remove all cause for complaint liereafter. I am, how- 

 ever, inclined to submit whether it will not be wise to discontinue on domestic ani- 

 mals a fourth premium. In the earlier days of the Society there might have existed 

 some excuse for offering it, but in view of the vast increase in value and number of 

 animals of high character, that necessity lias entirely disappeared. Many of the 

 most successful associations in the countr.y offer no third premium; notably St. Louis 

 and the State Societies of Iowa and Illinois; yet, with only a first and second pre- 

 mium, they find no laclc of animals on exhibition of the best tj'pe in the various 

 breeds. I believe the fourth premium has a tendency to cheapen and degrade rather 

 than elevate the standard of excellence, and I would therefore respectfully recom- 

 mend its discontinuance hereafter, on everything offered for exhibition at our 

 annual fair. It appears desirable that your periodical visits to the Agricultural 

 College should be continued. This institution was an outcome of your Society, and 

 niainlj"^ through its influence was secured to the farmers of Michigan. Its history, 

 from the date of its origin to the present moment, shows that no mistake was made 

 when the Legislature appropriated the required funds for its existence. It is to our 

 credit as a State, also, that it was in the thoughts and hearts of the people, and a 

 fixed fact, before the national government made appropriations that secured such 

 institutions for all the States. Our own Agricultural College stands preeminently 

 first, and its practical teachings and beneficent influence are effecting a radical 

 improvement in the intellectual character, daily lives, and tastes of that great class of 

 our community for whom it was specially established. The farmers' institutes held 

 in different sections of the State, though too few in number, have stimulated thought, 

 created a higher ambition, and a more appreciative sense of the character and dig- 

 nity of agricultural life and occupation. But the near future is still more to vindi- 

 cate the wisdom of securing this institution for the farmer. The influence of fifty 

 per cent of the students graduated, returning with new tastes, matured thought, 

 cultivated intellects, men of wisdom and practical judgment, to the farm, cannot be 

 over-estimated. It will be the leaven which is to lift the farmers of Michigan upon 

 a higher plane, and furnish men who are to properly represent their interests in the 

 legislative and congressional halls, as also to secure a more intelligent and econom- 

 ical cultivation of the soil. But there is yet an incompleteness in this institution. 

 The mechanical department is still wanting. A liberal appropriation, securing this, 

 will greatly augment its power for good to a much larger and different class of stu- 

 dents. I submit whether some action on your part may not hasten a movement of 

 the Legislature in this belialf. 



The exhibit of the horticultural society at the last fair exceeded all expectations, 

 and could only have been secured by the greatest energy on the part of the officers 

 of that institution. The volume of the display, as well as the exceptionally fine 

 character of it, were most creditable, and elicited universal commendation. In view 

 of the almost total destruction of fruit in the State of Michigan, it was certainly a 

 matter of surprise to all that- this department was so admirably sustained. That 

 society deserves your best consideration, and I would recommend a continuance of 

 the appropriation, both for premiums and expenses, as heretofore, under the same 

 restrictions. We could not well spare so attractive and valuable an adjunct to our 

 annual display. 



Our sixth rule says no spirituous or intoxicating liquors shall be allowed to be 

 sold on the fair grounds during the fair. I know \ery well that it has been the 

 intention and determination of every member of the executive committee to see 

 this rule rigidly enforced; but in the hurry and pressure of other engagements, there 

 has grown up, without much notice, a disregard of this wise rule of the society, for 

 spirituous liquors have been sold more or less at the State fair during the last four or 

 five years, with some effort at concealment, however, uiitil last fall. At the late fair 

 spirituous liquors were exposed to the public eye and sold to all who called for 



