43 
WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 
The annual consideration of the propriety of continuing the 
trials of speed of trotting and running horses was taken up, 
but without practical result; the premiums being allowed to 
stand the same as in 1870. 
% 
The statement that such trials were deemed objectionable 
by some was met by the counter-statement, that, as managed 
by this society, they were not open to the common objection 
of “ immoral influence that, as a means of testing the qual¬ 
ity of blood, thus affording incidental encouragement to breed¬ 
ers of thorough-breds and other superior horses, they were 
legitimate and important; and that, as a means of attracting 
and entertaining the public, and so fulfilling the two-fold office 
of bringing many who would not otherwise attend our fairs 
under the influence of instructive examples, and of securing 
to the society the- funds required for the encouragement of 
industry iu all its departments, they were indispensable. 
At this stage in the proceedings the board were waited upon 
by a committee from the State Horticultural Society, express¬ 
ing the desire of that body to continue in friendly co-operation 
with this society in the holding of the annual exhibition of 
fruits and flowers, and proposing to be responsible for the im¬ 
mediate management of this department and for the offer and 
payment of premiums therein, provided the Board of Agri¬ 
culture would appropriate to their society a liberal sum for 
this purpose. The committee further represented the wishes 
of the horticultural society by requesting that, in case any 
increase should be made by the board in the aggregate of the 
premiums offered by them, there should be a corresponding 
increase in the amount heretofore appropriated to the horti¬ 
cultural department. 
On motion of the secretary, the proposition of the commit¬ 
tee was received and laid on the table for subsequent consid¬ 
eration. 
Adjourned to meet again at 2 o’clock P. M. 
