420 llEPOKT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



L. Snllivan, treasurer. The first meeting of the board and delegates of county eocio- 

 ties was held December 9, 1846, and from that time until the present there haa annu- 

 ally asaemblcd in the citj^ of Columbus a convention of the leading agriculturists of 

 the State, for the purpose of comparing views, procuring facta in relation to agricult- 

 ure, and to give such information respecting its condition and wants as their deliber- 

 ations might suggest. 



The first State fair, which was suggested by President Trimble, was 

 held ill Cincinnati in September, 1850. As evidences of the inventive 

 genius of the age. President Delano states that since the holding of this 

 fair the following implements have been brought into use : '' Harpoon 

 hay-fork, steel-spring hay-rake, grain-drill, portable saw-mill, steam 

 feed-boiler, log crosscut and drag saw, and others of equal merit." Tile 

 underdraining has also been introduced into the State since this date. 

 A statement prepared by Secretary Klippart gives the following exhibit 

 of the premiums offered and paid by the society from 1850 to 1874, in- 

 clusive : 



Horses, $48,424 ; cattle, $39,920 ; sheep, $18,944 ; swine, $10,473 ; poultry, $2,776 ; 

 machinery, $17,932 ; manufacturers' and mechanics' products, $13,719 ; domestic mauT 

 ufacture and textile fabrics, $14,540 ; farm-products, $15,454 ; fruits, $9,616 ; flowers, 

 $5,988; fine arts, $4,731 ; field-crops, $8,992 ; essays, $4,650. Total amount, $216,159, 

 besides 8 gold medals, 497 silver medals, 217 bronze medals, and 2,315 diplomas. 



Mr. J. C Stevens read a paper in opposition to the ratification of the 

 Canadian reciprocity treaty. Mr. Millikin delivered an elaborate address 

 on the present condition of agriculture. Prof. N. S. Townshend dis- 

 cussed the requisites of successful farming. This address contains 

 many valuable suggestions. President Ortou, of the Ohio Agricultural 

 College, addressed the convention in reference to the question, "Is the 

 agricultural and mechanical college duly supported by the people of 

 the State ?" From the tenor of his remarks, it would seem that the col- 

 lege is making fair progress, but is not as liberally patronized or in as 

 flourishing a condition as some of the institutions of a like character in 

 neighboring States. 



The twenty-fii'th State fair is reported as one of the most successful 

 ever held. The list of entries and awards in the live-stock divisions 

 showed no diminution of numbers. There was a slight decrease of 

 entries in the divisions of machinery and of worked metals; but in the 

 department of fruits they were considerably in excess of former years. 

 Favorable weather during the fair secured excellent attendance. 



As the result of investigation. Secretary Klippart reports that few 

 localities produced as high as 40 bushels of wheat per acre, while no 

 county averages 20. 



Sixty-seven county and district associations report their conditions as 

 flourishing. 



The eleventh annual convention of the Ohio Dairymen's Association, 

 hold in Cleveland in January, 1875, was well attended by representatives 

 of the dairy interests in this and neighboring States. Some of the papers 

 read were of a very high order. Mr. Cornelius Baldwin read one on the 

 " Selection of cows for the dairy." The lecture was illustrated by large 

 drawings. Mr. Baldwin seems to have established a reputation in his 

 neighborhood lor accuracy in the selection of good milkers by observa- 

 tion of the points which he describes. He claims such accuracy for his 

 observation that he can go into a dairy, and, being informed what one 

 or two of the cows can do at the pail, can name the amount of each of 

 the other cows within four pounds in the day's milking. He claims it is 

 necessary to know only what one or two of the cows are doing in order 

 that he may form a decision concerning the quality of food and care 

 which the cows receive. He proceeded to illustrate the Guenon theory 



