TwO'Vears-old and upwards, thorough-bred Holstelns, William 

 A. Russell, No. Andov^er, first premium $12, for "dictator." 



Under two-years old, William A. Russell, No. Andover, first 

 premium, $6. for 'First Consul." Second premium, $4, to same 

 for bull calf "Fritz Clifden." 



"Dictator," 82, "First Consul," 100 and "Fritz Clifden," I03 

 were imported by Mr. Russell from North Holland in 1874. 



The Committee are sorry to report that they were unable to 

 give premiums to a number of Bulls, which were disqualified on 

 account of defective pedigrees. 



The State Board of Agriculture has declared that no Agricul- 

 tural Society shall recieve the state bounty where premiums are 

 given to other than thorough bred bulls, and the President and 

 Secretary are obliged to hand in a sworn statement to that effect 

 before the money is paid into its treasury. 



Now, if the l^oard would go a step farther and define a thor- 

 ough-bred bull, they would confer a favor on all judges in this 

 class and would relieve the consciences of the officers of the So- 

 ciety in swearing, often unwittingly, to false statements — for the 

 reason that some judges are ignorant of what a thorough-bred 

 animal is. If the board will not do this, then the Societies ought 

 to establish some rule for the guidance of their Committees. 



What is a thorough-bred animal } That is a question more 

 easily asked than answered, but for all that there is nothing to 

 prevent a Society from adopting some regulation on this point 

 and then asking the Board for its approval. There are certain 

 Herd Books of the different breeds, which are considered by 

 high-toned, honest breeders as authority in all matters of pedi- 

 gree. 



Shall the Society declare that only such bulls as trace their 

 pedigree to these books shall be eligible to a premium, or shall it 

 adopt the principle of the English Short-Horn breeders that 



