AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES 333 



county, township or district agricultural societies 

 was specifically recognized by the statutes, which 

 should have the power to possess real estate for the 

 furtherance of their objects, and to issue bonds for 

 the purchase of land and the erection of buildings; 

 and a tax levy in aid of such societies was authorized, 

 whose proceeds were to be apportioned by the county 

 boards of supervisors. 



These early statutes for the promotion of Michi- 

 gan agriculture are in effect today, and the county 

 fairs, which were a principal activity of these socie- 

 ties, are still very popular throughout both penin- 

 sulas both for the urban and the rural population. 

 At the ninth annual fair of the Berrien County 

 Agricultural Society, held at Xiles during three 

 September days of 1859, there were 648 entries, in- 

 cluding 72 horses of class A, and 50 horses of class 

 B ; 7 of trotting horses ; 4 entries of Durham cattle ; 



15 of Devon cattle; 32 of "natives and grades"; 17 

 of sheep ; 7 of swine ; 14 of poultry ; 24 of field crops ; 

 72 of vegetables; 32 of fruit; 4 of cooperage; 23 of 

 farming implements; 3 of manufactures of grain; 

 14 of manufactures of leather ; 12 of horseshoes and 

 shoeing; 4 of domestic manufactures; 46 of domestic 

 manufactures — ladies; 17 of needle and shell work; 



16 of painting and drawing; 67 of bread, preserves; 

 5 of flowers and house-plants; 16 of dairy products; 

 45 of miscellaneous articles.^ "The third day," says 

 the secretary's report, "the fair opened with a grand 

 exhibition of horses, followed by an exhibition of 



»"Rcpt. Mich. Bd. Agr.," 1859, 323. 



