No. 4.] RKPORT OF SECRETARY. xi 



societies establish a sinking fund, into which a portion at least 

 of the profits of good years shall be paid, to meet the defi- 

 ciency that is practically certain when bad weather is met 

 with. 



The j)remiiim lists of many societies would be benefited 

 b}' a thorough overhauling. The ollering of premiums for 

 breeds or varieties not of economic value is not, in my judg- 

 ment, for the liest interests of agriculture. Cut down the 

 number of classes and increase the size of the premiums in 

 those of economic value. This will result in increasing the 

 competition in these classes and in calling the attention of 

 the farmers to them. The words "and one dollar for the 

 best specimen of any other recognized breed" (or variety) 

 should have no place in the premium lists of our societies. 

 Either a breed or variety is worthy of encouragement, or it 

 is not ; and the decision as to those worthy of encourage- 

 ment should be made with the local conditions carefully 

 considered, and when made scrupulously adhered to. This 

 point is one of particular importance to our agricultural 

 societies, as they have no entr}^ fees to balance premiums 

 paid to a single specimen of some little-known breed. 



In general, the fairs held this 3^ear Avore unusually suc- 

 cessful. The weather was generally got)d, and the attendance 

 larger in the aggregate than in any preceding year. The 

 exhibits were extraordinarily good, considering the unfa- 

 vorable season, and more than usual interest in them was 

 shown by those in attendance. Good order was maintained, 

 and the laws of the State well observed. A little more care 

 as to the class of fakirs admitted is advised in some instances, 

 though objectionable features were, it is reported, immedi- 

 ately suppressed. 



The attention of the societies is called to the institute work, 

 and I desire to urge each of them to try to make this feature 

 of its work more successful the coming season than ever 

 before. 



Farmers' Institutes. 



The appropriation for "the dissemination of useful infor- 

 mation in agriculture," from which the farmers' institutes are 

 supported, was $2,700 for the year 1903. This sum was 

 thought ample at the time it was appropriated, but owing to 



