222 ANNUAL EEPOKT 



are anxious to impress the fact that successful orcharding, small fruit 

 growing, and crop production in field and garden, depend more on ex- 

 tremes of rainfall, temperature and atmospheric humidity than on 

 monthly or longer periodic means, " 



Prof. Budd further says: " Facts too evident for successful refuta- 

 tion lead us to believe that the tendency to extremes of drouth will 

 become still more manifest as the prairies become more generally oc- 

 cupied and cultivated, unless the evils we have brought about be not 

 mitigated or perhaps wholly removed by planting a due proportion of 

 the country with forest trees," 



STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



January 10th the meeting of the State Agricultural Society was 

 held at St. Paul, for the transaction of business connected with that 

 society. There are, it seems to us, some figures presented by the re- 

 port of the treasurer that are of more than passing interest. The 

 receipts from the fair, held in September, from tickets sold, entrance 

 money and privileges, was the sum of $72,303.52. The annual ap- 

 propriation was $4,000; other receipts make the grand total $79,- 

 300.98. 



Of the disbursements the largest items were: Premiums and 

 awards, $9,881.64:; race purses, $15,135; special attractions, $13,- 

 438.75. The net profits of the fair were something over $18,000. The 

 amount of premiums awarded in the horticultural department was as 

 as follows: Fruits, apples, S167; grapes, $125; small fruits, $60; 

 flowers, $188; vegetables (including county societies), $559; culinary 

 and domestic department, $312; total, $1,225. 



In addition to the amount of receipts above noted the sum of $2.'»,- 

 000 was received from the State, being one-half the special appropria- 

 tion in aid of the society. The report shows a balance of something 

 over four thousand dollars in the hands of the treasurer, after paying 

 certain items of indebtedness for improvements made, expense of 

 fair, etc. 



The value of the fair ground property, including two hundred acres, 

 estimated at $200 per acre; main building, $24,000; grand stand, 

 $21,000; nineteen stock barns and stables, $35,500; other buildings 

 and sheds about $60,000, and including the sum of $25,000 due from 

 the State, with certain other minor items mentioned in report, give a 

 grand total of $597,131 92. 



A detailed report of the transactions of the Agricultural Society, 

 including statements as to receipts and disbursements made, premi- 



