MICHIGAN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 373 



desire to know how much room thej^ are to occupy, which will gjoveni them in ship- 

 ping their instruments; also the number of operators required. 



Respectfully submitted, M. P. ANDERSON. 



Superintendent. 



Accepted and referred to Premium Committee. 



Superintendent Burrington, Division E (Poultry), reported the following: 



DIVISION E— POULTRY. 



To the President and Executive Committee of the Michigan State Acjricultural Society: 



The exhibition of Poultry at the State Fair of 1SS3 was large and on the whole 

 creditable. In every class there were many birds that were very fine, while some were 

 quite inferior in quality, and did no credit either to the exhibitor or the Society. 

 Those inferior in quality were mostly exhibited by those who competed for the pre- 

 miums for the best, most varied, and valuable collection. It occurred to the Super- 

 intendent that it might be for the interest of this Society to omit this premium 

 from our list in future. The exhibit at our last fair was much too large for ihe 

 space allotted to this department. Nearly one-half had to be exhibited in the coops 

 in which they were shipped. These we were obliged to arrange through the centre 

 of the building, piled one upon another, leaving but a narrow space for visitors to 

 pass through, and giving exhibitors a poor chance to display their fowls. 



I would recommend that in future those who exhibit pigeons be required to fur- 

 nish their own cages. It also seems to me that it would be better to offer a small 

 premium for the best pair of each variety of pigeons and strike out the premium for 

 the largest collection. 



The number of entries in this division was 430, and premiums were awarded to the 

 amount of $289. Respectfully submitted, 



J. Q. A. BURRINGTON, 



Superintendent. 



Accepted and referred to Premium Committee. 



The Secretary read the report of Suparintendent of Divisions and Q, as 

 follows : 



DIVISIONS O AND Q. 



To the President and Executive Committee of the Michigan State Agricultural Society: 



Gentlemen— The year of 83 in my department was a flourishing one. The entries 

 were as follows: 



Class 58. Entries, 17 Amt. Premiums, $21.00, or Diploma. 

 " .^9. " 69 " " 44.00 



" GO. " 191 " " lOii.OO 



"• Gl. " 72 " " G5.50 



«' G2. " 33 " " 28.00 



Total, 382 • $264.50, or Diploma. 



Ciiildren's Department, Entries, 13. Amount of Premiums, $8.50. 



You will see that the entries are large and the amount of premiums awarded very 

 reasonable in comparison This was due to the great discretion displayed by (;om- 

 mittees. This department seems to be growing every year, and has now, J think, 

 become fully established as one of the most interesting connected with the fair. 

 There werefewer complaints from exhibitors this year than ever before, which I 

 think also speaks well for the Committees. The Premium List could be improved a 

 little each year, owing to the new kinds of work constantly coming into use; but 

 this is of course a matter which shall be regulated by your honorable body. The 

 total amount awarded I recommend to be made no larger. The Children's Depart- 

 ment was poorly filled this year, and the entries smaller than ever before. This can 

 only be account"ed for by a lack of interest. However this, I trust, will only be a 

 temporary complaint, and look for quite an enlarged list of entries next year. I 

 would thank all the gentlemen who so kindly aided me in the discharge of my 

 duties, and respectfully submit the above. 



MINNIE II. BROW, 



Superintendent. 



Accepted and referred. 



