178 ANNUAL EEPORT. 



little importance. I think we should prepare our premium list and 

 present it to them with a request for the funds to pay it, so that they 

 cannot have a chance to say that they didn't know what our wants 

 were. 



Col. Stevens. That is right. 



Mr. Smith. If the amount appropriated to the Agricultural Society 

 had been increased, a proportionate sum should be due the Horticul- 

 tural Society, whether that amount of money is $2,000 or $500; in the 

 hands of the Horticultural Society the same amount of money would 

 go twice as far. No extravagant amount for premiums should be 

 asked, but what is due us we should have; that appropriation should 

 be under the control of this Society, and its Executive Committee. 



Col. Stevens. I fully concur in what our President has said. Last 

 year the Agricultural Society took in between $50,000 and $60,000. It 

 paid oif a debt of some $20,000 or $30,000 for its buildings. They have 

 got money in the treasury now. I suppose next year they should take 

 in the same amount of money; probably they will; and if they do, we 

 certainly should be entitled to get our share of that, so we would be 

 entitled to $5,000 perhaps. That would leave them $45,000 or $50,000. 

 I don't suppose the Society wants to get money in the treasury, to any 

 extent, hence we could rightfully ask them to be reasonable, and give 

 us, say $5,000. With that sum we could make a grand exhibition 

 which would do more for us than ever has been done. 



Mr. Elliot. I have had some experience with the State Agricultur- 

 al Society. I have had the pleasure of being one of the board. I 

 have seen the same question come up before the Agricultural Board 

 and the way that they treat it. I will venture to say that we don't 

 get a thousand dollars. 



President Smith. No; what has been the record in the past ? We 

 have never been able to get over $500 or $700. 



A Member. The only way for us to do it is to make up our premiums, 

 not an extravagant list, but make such a list as we shall not be ashamed 

 of, and put it before that board, and if they do not see fit to accept it, 

 let us not hold any fair. 



Mr. Smith. Or, if they do not accept it, let us go to the Minneapolis 

 Exposition, and ask them what they will give us. 



Col. Stevens. Never! 



Mr. Pearce. I am interested in the State Pair, but it is my opinion 

 that the Agricultural Society know no other society except their own; 

 they don't know the State Horticultural Society. They expect to go 



