3S0 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



and $127 awarded. In class 15, ^ents drivin;^ horses, entrips 1.5, amount awarded $1G5. 

 Class 16, drauiiht horses, entries 99, preniinms awarded §302; class 17, carriage and 

 bnggy horses, entries 50, premiums awarded S214; class IS, Michigan horses, stallions, 

 entries ^3. preminms awarded •$470; class 19, Michigan horses, mares and geldings, 

 entries 39, premiums awarded $480; class 19)^, Michigan horse, thoroug]il)red, entries 

 6, premiums awarded $100; chiss 20. sweepstakes for stallions with 6 of their get, 

 entries 5, premiums awarded $95; making the number of entries 42S, and the amount 

 awarded in this department $2.(J9i). 



The distinguishing feature in this department was the great increase in quality and 

 numbers of the draught horses. A thorough revision ot the list is required, and a 

 new classification demanded. Many animals — superior specimens of their kind — 

 imported at great cost and exhibited at our show, were simply passed before the 

 thousands on the grand stand for their admiration, but no evidences awarded them 

 of merit, or tliat they were appreciated. Tiiese horses had been prize takers, and 

 carried oft honors in the countries from which they came. In our classification Nor- 

 mans, Clydesdales, Shires, and Punches are all grouped together as draught horses. 



Your committee would recommend that the standard of weight be raised to 1,G00 

 pounds. 



F. V. SMITH, 



G.W.PHILLIPS. 



Accepted and referred. 



Mr. Smith, to whom was referred the protest against Mr. Hendricks's team, 

 reported that the protest should not be sustained. 



Report accepted and adopted. 



Mr. Parsons, of the committee appointed at the last annual meeting of the 

 committee to prepare a testimonial for Chairman Gilbert, presented a very 

 handsome set of solid silver foriis and spoons (forty-two pieces), with the fol- 

 lowing report : 



Detroit, January 15, 1884. 



Gentlemen: — Your committee directed to prepare some testimonial of respect 

 and appreciation of the services of the chairman of the business committee, beg to 

 say they have made their selection, and present the same to the executive committee. 



PHILO PARSONS, 

 M. P. ANDERSON. 



Mr. Butterfield, delegate to tlie Chicago convention, offered the following 

 report, which was accepted and filed: 

 To the Executive Committee of the State Agricultural Society : 



At the request of President Fralick, 1 attended the convention called by the com- 

 missioner of agriculture for the purpose of considering the question of contagious 

 diseases;among livestock in the United States. Mr. Wm. Ball, who was also requested 

 to attend, was unavoidably detained at home. 



The details of the proceedings of this convention have been so fully published that 

 it only seems necessary to give a brief resume of the subjects considered and the 

 action taken. 



The convention, as finally organized, was almost entirely of the cattle interest, 

 and tlie action of the convention was directed toward the importance of eradicating 

 contagious j)leuro-pneumonia among cattle, a disease, fatal in character — which is 

 present in a few of the Atlantic States — that is slowly extending against all efforts 

 of States and individuals to prevent it. 



The convention consisted of representative men from all the principal cattle States, 

 and the whole action was directed to the consideration of the advisability of asking 

 the congress of the United States to enact such laws and make such provision as will 

 eradicate and thoroughly stamp out this dread disease. 



There can be no furtiier doubt of its presence, its fatal character, the difficulty of 

 detection in itsearlier stages, and consequent danger of spreading to'the great cattle 

 regions of the west. 



The firm decision of tlie convention was, that the time had come for action, and 

 that the only method of accomplishing any positive good is by act of congress. 



To this end, a committee of one (jom each State rejjresented at the convention, 

 with Dr. Loring, the commissioner of agriculture, as chairman, who should go to 

 "Washington to formulate a plan and present it to congress, and insist upon its enact- 



