416 STATE BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



The judging was done by Mr. Linson, of Ohio, and after getting through 

 with his duties in that capacity he gave the exhibitors a very interesting 

 talk on the breeding and fitting of swine for exhibition. 

 On the whole everything passed off very satisfactory. 



Respectfully submitted, 



GEO. KELLY, 

 ' ' Superintendent. 



POULTRY DEPARTMENT. 



Mr. F. Postal, Pres., Detroit, Mich.: 



Dear Sir — At request of Supt. G. G. Winans of the Poultry Department, 

 I herewith make you a brief report of exliibit, also suggestions. 



Total number of entries were 1,543. Amount of premiums paid, $1, 386.25. 



We have cooping capacity for about 800 birds, but we crowded in about 

 2,000 — what is needed is some pens built. I would suggest the building be 

 made larger, also a wing be put on for water fowl. Last fair we had two 

 tents which was very unsatisfactory to breeders — and a good poultry exhibit 

 is always attractive — and according to government reports that the product 

 of poultry and eggs for 1905 exceed $300,000,000, all the gold mines in the 

 world yield only a little more than half as much gold in a year. The poultry 

 industry is being taken up not only in the country districts by farmers, but 

 in every city in the Union — take Detroit, there are hundreds of mechanics 

 who raise blooded poultry and show them at fairs and poultry shows — there- 

 fore we suggest we have a larger building, and a floor be laid in same, for 

 you could always find the poultry house full of people when other depart- 

 ments were empty. 



Wishing you the compliments of the season, I am, 



Yours respectfully, 



D. THOMAS, 

 Assist. Supt. Poultry Dept. 



FARM AND GARDEN DEPARTMENT. 



To the President and Executive Committee, Michigan State Agricultural 

 Society: 



Gentlemen — I respectfully report regarding the exhibit at the last State 

 Fair in the Department of Farm and Garden Products, and County exhibits 

 of Grains and Vegetables, that the exhibit of 1906 was undoubtedly the 

 largest exhibit in this department that has ever been shown in IMichigan. 

 After filling the building provided for that department, 40 feet x 150 feet 

 in size, nearly as much more space was occupied imder the grand stand. 

 This divided the exhibit and made its magnitude much less conspicuous, 

 as well as being more difficult to arrange and oversee. 



The early date of holding the fair also precludes the highest quality of 

 vegetable and grain exhibit. Indeed it is almost impossible to secure a 

 good exhibit of corn so early in the season. 



The country exhibit was large, and that from the northern counties showed 

 large gains in the production of grains and vegetables. The northern coun- 

 ties excel in the production of the latter in both quality and quantity. 



I recommend some additions to the premium list as follows: 



The present list offers five premiums for exhibits from counties north of 



