324 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



sections the present system is developing a class of profes- 

 sional exhibitors, both of cattle and horses, who travel 

 about from one society to another, and from State to State, 

 with well-groomed herds, taking premiums that should go 

 to farmers in that particular locality. It is the amateur 

 pitted against the professional. To such an extent has this 

 practice grown, that in some societies hardly anything but 

 "professional herds" appear, the local farmer staying at 

 home, or leaving his stock there. It is true that these " pro- 

 fessional herds "are usually excellent types, and afford good 

 object lessons, and it may be well to have them present. 

 In that case let us hire them to exhibit, instead of paying 

 them the premiums which rightfully belong to local exhibi- 

 tors . 



) 



A New Departure in the Use of State Bounty. 



I would not take the $600 bounty from a weak society 

 struggling into existence, and paying premiums judiciously 

 to farmers within its own limits, but let it proceed as here- 

 tofore. 



In a society, however, like Worcester, the $600 might 

 be used for carrying on some practical work in the way of 

 field demonstration, such, for example, as in the use 

 of insecticides. How many farmers of this society, for 

 instance, know how to prepare the Bordeaux mixture or 

 other insecticides, and apply them in the most effective way 

 to fruit and foliage trees? Moreover, what difference would 

 it make to the Worcester society in its success, whether it 

 received the $600 or not? Its total expenses and receipts 

 are upward of $30,000 yearly, and the question of its suc- 

 cess cannot in any way depend upon the State bounty. 

 Therefore, in this society the money might be well expended 

 for a number of years in field work of this kind. 



Dairy Schools. 

 In another society, Barre, for example, which is now out 

 of debt, the $600 could be used in giving practical illustra- 

 tions in the manufacture of butter and cheese. There are 

 as many as a dozen different varieties of cheese sold exten- 

 sively in this country, most of which are imported. ' Is 



