DEPARTMENT 



AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE. 



REPORT 



Of the special committee of the American Institute upon 

 the farming animals offered for premiums at the Nine" 

 teenth Annual Fair. 



The committee would premise, that by the direction of the Board 

 of Agriculture, it was found to be expedient and necessary, to draw 

 up instructions for the guidance of the various committees in the 

 awarding of premiums, inasmuch, as hitherto it has been found that 

 animals of inferior value, as regards blood or pedigree, had often 

 had medals and plate bestowed upon their owners contrary to pro- 

 priety; it was therefore decided, that rules hereafter should be pre- 

 scribed, and the following directions were submitted to the gentle- 

 men appointed as judges in conformity to the above intent, viz: 



Instructions to judges of stock at the Annual Fairs of the Ameri' 

 can Institute. Adopted September 29, 1S46. 



The Board of Agriculture would respectfully address the commit- 

 tees appointed for the awarding of premiums upon the various breeds 

 of animals which may be submitted for inspection, upon the neces- 

 sity of adopting certain fixed principles and rules in deciding upon 

 the merits of each description of Stock. 



Hitherto, premiums have been awarded in many cases, when the 

 animals were below mediocrity, and without due attention to the pu- 

 rity of blood or of origin; an error which, for the future, the Insti- 

 tute proposes to correct. It is therefore decided, that in all cases 

 where an animal may not be of the first grade as a breeder, as re- 

 gards form, size, blood, &c., no standing medal ,or plate shall be 



