COUNTY AND DISTRICT REPORTS. 27T 



KNOX COUNTY. 



The Knox County Agricultural and Mechanical Society held its fourteenth- 

 annual fair, near Viucennes, from October 13 to 18, during most auspicious weather. 



The directors, having found by past experience that the building devoted to the 

 exhibition of fine arts was totally inadequate, have erected a new and commodious 

 structure well suited to that use, and we were all gratified to find it amply filled 

 with substantial evidence of the culture and progress toward comfort and elegance 

 enjoyed by our people. 



The exhibition was, in all resjiects, a most gratifying success. The receipts ag- 

 gregated §10,425.70; expenditures, 1^9,430.52. 



In the item of expenditures is included the cost of constructing improvementSj . 

 $3,960.27. Total entries, 2,340. Premiums paid, $3,143.50. 



An analysis of the entries shows that the exhibition of horses was especially- 

 large, there being 323 entries, and in this department over $1,200 was paid out in 

 premiums. There were 114 entries in the Cattle Department, to which were paid 

 $657 in premiums. As an instance of how small industries may grow to take the 

 place of former leading interests, it is curious to trace the rise of the poultry busi- 

 ness in our county. A few years ago $50 was considered by our managers a large 

 amount to appropriate for premiums in this department, while $250 was hardly 

 sufficient. At our last fair there were 51 entries of hogs, and they received $126 in 

 premiums, while there were 181 entries of poultry, to which were paid $216 in the 

 way of premiums. 



There eeems to exist a marked tendency among our exhibitors to show the bes 

 of well-known varieties in stock, and agricultural and horticultural products 

 rather than to display novelties in blood or species. This tendency crowds oui* exhi- 

 bition with the finest specimens produced, but does not as thoroughly as could be 

 wished, sliow the advantages of new introductions. 



The necessity for heavier horses, so universally recognized a few years ago, has 

 been fully met by the introduction of various strains of Percheron. But an equally 

 existing defect in cattle has been only partially remedied. Oar cattle are still too 

 distinctly marked into but two classes; the unsightly scrub, and the too high^ 

 priced Shorthorn. 



In cereals and other products of the field, there will always appear the great 

 variety rendered essential by the diversity of soil, between sandy loam and clay, 

 which marks our county, some portions of which require early and others late va- 

 rietifs of the same staple; and hence our exhibitions are marked by specimens 

 with such adaptability. 



Taken as a whole the year has been one of unusual success to the agriculturist, 

 although the low prices prevailing have not made it of such great financial profit- 

 Its success has been rather one of improved quality in its products than of pecu- 

 niary gain. 



A courage born of success in battling with floods and droughts, has strengthened 

 our farmers, and to that extent has enriched them with an energy not heretofore 

 felt, and which in the future will assuredly secure a most abundant reward. 



Gerard Keiter,, 



Secretary- 



