Exhibition—Superintendents’ Reports. 
01 
ed the committee with discretionary power to recommend espec¬ 
ially in giving all those interested, as the Society might, or might 
not endorse such recommendations. The cards, “ first prize,” used, 
were explained as only meaning a recommendation for diplomas, 
and the cards, “second prize,” indicating a recommendation for hon¬ 
orable mention. 
This is all the committee attempted to do, and did not dream of 
objections from any quarter; much less the protests that followed, 
which arose primarily from the fact that the committee gave to the 
party a “first-prize” card for “ best display of agricultural ma¬ 
chinery.” The party who received the card, without thinking it 
aught amiss attached the card to a reaper in his collection. This 
being noticed a short time afterward by competitors in that line of 
machinery, a sharp and somewhat acrimonious discussion arose, as 
to the right of the committee to use such cards for such purposes, 
as the society offered premiums, holding that it gave undue ad¬ 
vantage to other parties) who had already telegraphed to their 
friends that they had been awarded first prize, etc. 
For the first time the committee saw their use of the cards was 
improper, because of the improper use that might be made of the 
fact, but they could only plead several years precedence, resolving, if 
not censured for their oversight, yet good faith, they would remove 
the cards, and thus in future prevent a like occurrence. 
The facts as above set forth were presented to the executive board 
the next evening, which board stated to leave it to the committee 
to adjust the matter, and the next day the obnoxious cards were 
removed. 
While the committee is expected to thoroughly examine the 
machines, and all implements entered in the classes given to their 
charge, they should, it seems, be provided with cards to suitably 
express the nature of the ward- or recommendation, which the 
committee might make for meritorious machines, etc. The cards 
should be printed with the words “commended,” or “ recommended 
for diploma,” etc., as the case may be, and such cards ought to be 
placed on the machines commended, giving the exhibitor the benefit 
of the Society’s commendation, as in the case of stock, poultry, etc., 
otherwise, if the committee are not allowed to make known their 
mark, of what good are examinations at all, and wherefore the 
committee itself? 
