SECRETARY'S REPORT. 41 



tions of a county are not accommodated by the existing society. If 

 such be the case, there seems to be no good reason why the same sec- 

 tions should be afterwards allowed to compete for premiums in both 

 or all of the societies in the county, after the new organization is 

 affected. The great object of the societies is to encourage competition 

 among farmers, but if a person having an accidental product of the 

 first quality be allowed to sweep the premiums in more than one 

 county society of equal grade in the State, it tends to discourage 

 farmers throughout the county. 



Some regulations with regard to the time of holding fairs are abso- 

 lutely necessary, and the collision which now exists could be easily 

 avoided if societies would hold their fairs on Tuesdays, Wednes- 

 days, Thursdays, and Fridays in each week, instead of Wednesdays 

 and Thursdays, as is generally the case, by which means four societies 

 at least, in each section of the State, could hold their fairs in the 

 same week. 



But your committee, from an investigation of the power and duties 

 of this Board, are met with the objection that it has only power to 

 make to the legislature in its annual reports, such recommendations 

 and suggestions as the interests of agriculture may require. These 

 are all the powers which this Board has in the premises. They may 

 prescribe forms and regulate returns of the societies, and may investi- 

 gate subjects relating to agriculture, but have no power to regulate 

 the action of the societies, but only to make suggestions and recom- 

 mendations through their report to the legislature. 



If the suggestions of this report meet the views of the Board, the 

 committee would respectfully suggest that the same be communicated 

 to the legislature as their suggestion, and recommend that such action 

 may be taken upon the rules herein suggested as may be deemed 

 advisable by the legislature. 



Chakles G. Davis, Chairman. 



This report was discussed at great length, when it was 



Voted, To refer that part of the report which relates to the 

 measurement of grain crops, &c., to the committee, consisting 

 of Messrs. Brooks, Davis and Grennell, to lay it before the 

 Committee on Agriculture of the legislature. 



The following resolve was also passed, after mature delibera- 

 tion, as an expression of opinion as to what the law ought to be, 

 to correct some of the evils which have grown up as an incident 

 to the multiplicity of societies in some sections : — 



6* 



