PROCEEDINGS. 51 



body to hold the next annual meeting, which will be the 3d of December, at fwme 

 point in this State. Many of the leading agricultural societies would be benefited 

 by becoming members and sending delegates to these annual gatherings of fair 

 managers. 



The Agricultural College at Purdue is still calling for pupils from the ranks 

 of the farmers' boye. Since Professor Smart assumed the duties as President of that 

 institution, he has been earnest in hie appeals for more students. AVhy is it that 

 this, the farmers' school of agriculture, should be so long in filling up to overflow- 

 ing? We fear that it is because it is not appreciated by the agricultural commu- 

 nity. The exhibit of mechanical work shown at the lust State Fair by the boys in 

 that University, was good, and showed great proficiency in workmanship, and it is 

 to be hoped that this, the only school in the State that teaches the principles of ag- 

 riculture, i^hould be liberally supported by appropriations from the State. 



The State Geological Department, as a brr,ich of the Board of Agriculture, con- 

 tributed largely to the success of the fair. The report of the department has given 

 the State a reputation abroad, as to the vast resources of coal, stone and other pro- 

 ducts, that could not have been accomplished through any other source, much of 

 which is due to the untiring energy and perseverance of the State Geologist, Pro- 

 fessor John Collett. 



We would also call your attention to the published annual reports from the 

 Board of Agriculture. They have received flattering notices from the agricultural 

 press, and any suggestions from the delegates, wherein they could be improved, 

 will be in order. 



There is, perhaps, no subject of more serious importance than the adulteration 

 of food and medicine, and the necessity of putting a check on this growing evil. 

 Other States are adopting stringent laws to punish such adulteration, and it would 

 be well for some expre-^sion in reference thereto, to emanate from this body. 



There is also a species of fraud being extensively practiced upon the farmers of 

 our State, which this delegate body ought to lay before the State Legislature in the 

 form of a memorial, and this is to require that all articles manufactured in the 

 penitentiaries of this or other States, be branded as such. For example, Tennessee 

 is flooding this State with wagons made by convict labor, which are sold as a first 

 class wagon. Now is it right that purchasers should thus be Lmpo.sed upon? If 

 that wagon was required by law to be branded as penitentiary made, the purchaser 

 who buys it would do so with a full knowledge that it was made by convict labor, 

 and of course an inferior article. While I would not advocate a special law to 

 protect the wagon manufacturers of our State, or to help them to maintain remuner- 

 ative prices for their wagons, it is but simple justice to them, and also to the pur- 

 chasers of penitentiary made wagons, that they should be branded as such. The 

 law ought also to apply to boots and shoes, stoves, and all other articles made by 

 convict labor. I repeat, brand them as "penitentiary made." 



To the officers and members of the several industrial associations — I take great 

 pleasure in extending the kindest feelings of the Board for your earnest work in 

 helping to advance the cause of agriculture. Your persistent labors and earnest 

 purposes have overcome all diflficulties. The Ladies' Department at the last State 

 Fair spoke for its management in brighter words than I can do, and if efforts are 



