STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 393 



$400; of the Treasurer, $25, and of the Librarian, $10. The motion 

 was adopted. 



Mr. Ditus Day was requested to state how the fair in Rice county 

 was held successfully without horse-racing. 



Mr. Day said he would ask Mr. Harris, who was present at the fair, 

 to give the information asked for. 



Mr. Harris. I can only say, Mr. President, that I attended the fair 

 at Farmington and I think it was the best county fair [ ever attended. 

 The exhibits were first-class, the attendance good and everything went 

 ofi" pleasant and cheerful. Nobody got tired of it. One of the causes 

 of their being able to keep the people there was that they provided for 

 their entertainment. They had several speakers there who gave short 

 addresses. Gov. Hubbard presided and while the fair was going on 

 instead of being disturbed with horse-racing the people*had an oppor- 

 tunity to get some instruction. There is no reason why similar fairs 

 may not be made a success all over the State. No premiums were 

 offered for racing, and everybody knew there would be no prizes for 

 fast horses. The result was that the premiums awarded for vegetables, 

 etc., were promptly paid. Exhibitors brought their products in large 

 quantities and went home with their money in their pockets. 



President Smith. The great state of New York holds her fairs with- 

 out any horse-racing or any premiums on fast horses and has followed 

 that plan for several years, and with as much success I think as any 

 state in the Union. 



Mr. Day. I may state that while they got their premiums on the 

 vegetables last year it has not been the case when we had horse-racing. 



REMARKS OF S. M. OWEN. 



Mr. S. M. Owen, editor of Farm, Stock and Home, being present was 

 called upon to address the Society and came forward and said : 



Mr. Owen. Mr. President, if this was a base ball match I would 

 call "foul." I don't know what I have done that I should be submitted 

 to an ordeal of this kind, simply because I happen to be connected 

 with an agricultural, and to a certain extent, at least, a horticultural 

 paper. I don't know what good I can do you, unless it is to let the 

 light of my countenance shine upon you for a few moments. I am 

 quite sure I can give you no lessons in practical horticulture that will 

 do you any good, or add to the sum of your usefulness or morality. It 

 has been a good many years since I did anything in practical horti- 



