No. 4.] AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 193 



Report of Committee on AgricuijTural 

 Societies. . 



[Adopted at the Annual Meeting, Jan. 11, 1898.] 



t 



The committee on agricultural societies respectfully report 

 that they have examined in detail the reports of all the in- 

 spectors of the fairs held in the State. 



Whatever society held a fair, which deserved the commen- 

 dations, and was not subject to the criticisms, contained in all 

 these reports, was indeed a model society and in excellent 

 condition. 



By careful consideration of these several reports, we find 

 very few which speak of objectionable features ; and we 

 believe that more care has been exercised by the officers in 

 excluding from the grounds and vicinity of the fairs objec- 

 tionable shows, fakirs and attractions. We think the lines 

 can be drawn still closer, with advantage to all concerned, 

 and that many of the cane boards and other devices for gather- 

 ing money might reasonably be ruled out. Several reports 

 criticise the sanitary arrangements provided, and we hope 

 improvement will result. 



Besides what is indicated in the reports, we find anxiety 

 among almost all the societies for the outcome of each year's 

 fair, and in many cases a loss of money, which every year 

 causes some society to apply to the Board for approval of a 

 mortgage. The problem which the societies yearly have to 

 meet is not yet solved. 



They have to arrange for a fair, instructive, attractive and 

 creditable, and of necessity to incur large expense, and yet to 

 depend very much on favorable weather for a successful finan- 

 cial result. We can only advise to keep down the expense as 

 well as they can, by earnest effort and labor among their own 

 members. 



