16. No person shall be entitled to vote unless he has complied with the provisions of the constitution. On motion, Resolved, That the first annual Fair of the Society be held in the month of October next, in that township in the county which will raise and pledge to the Board of Directors, on or before the last Eatday in April next, the largest amount of means towards defraying the incidental expenses of said Fair. Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to open a correspondence with the citizens of different townships, with reference to the subject matter of the foregoing resolution. Resolved, That the Secretary forward a circular letter to the different Vice Presidents and other officers of the Society, requesting them to obtain and forward to him, by or before the last Saturday in April next, the names of such persons and their localities, as will become members of the Society. Resolved, That the Secretary procure 1,000 blank certificates of membership, and issue his draft upon the Treasurer for expense of the same. Resolved, That the by-laws adopted, together with the proceedings of this meeting of the Board, be published in the Livingston Courier. Voted to adjourn until the first Saturday in May next, at this place, at 10 o'clock A. M. E. F. BURT, Secretary REPORT OF THE MONROE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. J. C. HOLMES, Esq., Sec'y. Mich. S'ate Agricultural Society: SIR-At this late date (in the absence of the Secretary of the Monroe County Agricultural Society) I herewith send a report of the transactions of said Society, for the year 1852. The Society has received $308 and 26 100, and expended the same for premiums. and contingent expenses. The officers for the ensuing year, are as follows: President-A. J. KEENEY, of Erie. Executive Committee-John Mulholland, R. Nims, A. G. Bates, L. Sackett, H. B. Hurd. E. G. Morton, Recording and Corresponding Secretary. Vice Presidents-One in each township of the county. Enclosed is a printed statement of the transactions of the Society, with a list of the premiums awarded. Yours Respectfully, J. B. WHIPPLE, Sec'y pro tem. The Fair in our city on Thursday and Friday of last week, was well attended, and despite the foolish attempts of some to destroy its usefulness, by spreading erroneous reports over the county, about its connection with politics, owing to its postponement, the receipts for tickets were larger than last year. The idea that politicians have no right to attend such gatherings, in common with all other persons, is too ridiculous to mention--it does not follow as a consequence, that the laudable objects of the Society are necessarily political, or that the members, intelligent men of all parties, are so weak that they must thereby be corrupted and deceived! What a compliment this is to the intelligence of the people, to say that the friends of the Society, the most intelligent farmers of our county, cannot safely be trusted near politicians, or candidates for office, without losing their political integrity! Such silly trash, circulated by the foolish and corrupt, should be frowned upon by every honest and intelligent man in community. No attempt to make the Society political was ever thought of, unless it was by those who have undertaken to stab it by circulating falsehoods among the people. The stock on the ground was not as numerous as in former years; but was generally superior, particularly the young stock exhibited, which is highly encouraging for the future. It shows that our farmers are alive to their interests, and are determined to possess the best and consequently the most profitable animals. The variety of fruit presented was larger than at any previous fair, and for richness has never been excelled in Michigan. There was also a fair exhibition of grains and vegetables, which could not fail to enlist the attention of visiters. The fancy articles excelled in number those of any previous year, as they did in taste and beauty. Some of the worsted and needle work, as displayed on articles of ornament and use, and the drawings and paintings, were of superior merit. A woolen shawl, several quilts, a piece of linen cloth, socks and stockings, received much commendation, as specimens worthy of the county. We heard several farming implements spoken of in very favorable terms; but being unable to go into particulars, for further information must refer the reader to the reports of the committees. The following are the premiums awarded: IMPROVED FARMS. The committee on improved farms respectfully report that they have discharged the duties devolving upon them by virtue of their appointment. From some cause to your committee unknown, there has not been 30 much competition in this branch of agricultural improvement as formerly; nevertheless, there is manifested a laudable ambition by many of the enterprising farmers of our county, to maintain the high state of fertility for which much of the arable land in the county is celebrated. Your committee have visited the farm of Milo Tracy, Esq, of Raisinville, (the only applicant,) lying on the south side of the River Raisin, half a mile distant, with a slight inclination east and south. This farm of seventy acres improved land, within the knowledge of your committee when in a state of nature, had rather a forbidding aspect, being an open area of country, interspersed with marsh, with a dense growth of hazlebush, oak grubs and willow; the soil a sandy and clay loam, with a tenacious clay subsoil. The high state of fertility of this farm has been attained principally by a thorough system of drainage, and the manner of its accomplishment in the absence of material for under-draining, your committee deem worthy of notice and imitation by those having farms similarly situated. Mr. Tracy has one main ditch leading across his farm, as the reservoir and conductor, into which several ditches of less dimensions discharge the surplus water falling or running on his land. These ditches so far as is possible, are made on the borders of his fields. There are also other ditches or outlets made by repeated plowings, taking the precaution to have the dead furrow twice or oftener in the same place. After the plow, the scraper is used more thoroughly to open the drains, and furnish a ready transit for the waters, which if permitted to stand would injure the growing crops. The desirable features in this system of ditching, and to which your committee would call the attention of those cultivating land similarly situated, is the open sloping drain, permitting crops of grass or grain to grow upon the entire surface, and presenting no great obstacle to the passing to and fro, over the fields while securing the erop. In the locality of his farm buildings Mr. Tracy has committed a very prevalent error in having a highway between his house and barn, also in placing his barn too near the highway; your committee though desirous to be brief as possible cannot refrain from assigning some reasons in support of their views on the proper location of farm buildings. In all cases where practicable, the barn should be on the same side of the highway with the house, and set back sufficient for a yard in front, thereby avoiding the necessity of cumbering up the road with teams, utensils or manure, incident to the avocations of the firm; also avoiding the exposure of contact with passers by in crossing the highway. A barn open to the highway is more tempting to the curious, more easy of access to the dishonest and vicious, and more exposed to the depredations of road-bred animals. This being comparatively a new farm, that systematic arrangement of convenient out-buildings, the introduction and propagation of the various and desirable fruits in their season, have not as yet received that attention which their importance, as promoters of health and enjoyment demand. Mr. Tracy has a good selection of apples and some good peaches, but his variety is too limited and not sufficiently numerous of the kind. The fence on Mr. Tracy's farm is the Virginia worm fence, except on a line of ditch where he has the rectangular fence, a method of fencing which if properly constructed, is cheaper, equally as substantial and more neat in appearance than the worm fence. For the statistics of the farm, the arrangement and occupancy, the rotation of cropping products, &c., your committee refer to the statement of Mr. Tracy as communicated to us at the time of the survey. Your committee have cause to regret that we have had so little to do in the discharge of our duty; we would have been most happy to have visited many of the superior farms in the county, but being naturally diffident we refrain from invading the domains of the Lords of the soil without their permission. We would recommend that the first premium on farms be awarded to Milo Tracy, Esq., his being the best cultivated, the most economically and neatly arranged farm coming within the province of your surveying committee. All which is respectfully submitted. W. H. MONTGOMERY, MORGAN HURD, A. J. KEENEY, Committee. |