No. 4.] EEPORT OF SECRETARY. xi 



point, and, so far as I have been able to learn, without 

 financial loss. The attendance suffered, to be sure, but the 

 absence of bills of expense for attractions appears to have 

 more than counterbalanced the decrease in revenue from 

 this source. That those who attended did so from an inter- 

 est in agriculture seems apparent, and there can be no ques- 

 tion but that they had a better opportunity to inspect the 

 exhibits and draw useful lessons from them than when their 

 attention was distracted by numerous outside attractions. 

 Six of the societies holding exhibitions have adopted this 

 course, and of the remaining twenty-four in at least five 

 instances the sum paid for attractions is so small as to have 

 no appreciable effect on the question of a favorable balance 

 at the end of the year. It is a noticeable and important 

 fact that these societies are able to meet their obligations 

 each year, even in bad weather, and to lay up a balance of 

 more or less amount on the right side of the ledger when 

 favored with good conditions. Their example is commended 

 to the other nineteen for careful study and consideration, 

 with the belief that if they will adopt a policy of the same 

 sort they will find it to be equally advantageous. 



The fairs held this year have been generally fortunate in 

 Aveather conditions, though it is inevitable that some should 

 suffer from rain and threatening weather every year. The 

 attendance, so far as reported on by the inspectors, was 

 fully up to that usual in the different sections, and in some 

 cases was larger. The moral plane of the exhibitions has 

 been high. It is to be expected that objectionable side 

 shows will sometimes obtain footing on fair g-rounds under 

 false pretences, but all such are reported to have been sup- 

 pressed and ejected from the grounds. But one infraction 

 of law was reported by an ins|)ector, and that is at pres- 

 ent under investigation by the committee on agricultural 

 societies. 



I would renew my recommendation of last year, that the 

 societies pay careful attention to their business manage- 

 ment, should exercise caution as to the enoairinof of attrac- 

 tions, and should establish a sinking fund from which 

 unavoidable losses due to bad weather or damage to the 



