class, which would exclude him, under our by-laws, from being a judge in the class where he competes. 3. A due distribution of the appointment throughout the county, as far as practicable, so as not to seem to favor any sections above others. 4. A pervading indisposition to serve as such judges, partly from unwillingness to spare the time it ties up the member from the general enjoyment of the occasion, partly from the proneness. of unsuccessful competitors to find fault with the decisions of the judges when made, and to charge them with partiality. There are in the neighborhood of 120 such appointments to be made, and in making them, we have thus to avoid, if possible, unqualified persons, competitors, the location of the appointees too near together, and the appointment of those likely to refuse to act. Having, with all these considerations in mind in each case, completed our appointments, the usual experience is that not over one-third of the judges selected will be present to serve. Then, the only resource of this Board is to fill the vacancies to the best of their judgment, from such persons as they can find upon the grounds willing to act. If those who think they have reason sometimes to take exception to the judges would reflect a little upon these obstacles, we think they would be less inclined to fault-finding.

The Annual Fair held on the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th of October was well attended, and very successful,-except on Wednesday, the second day, which was wet and disagreeable, the weather was all that could be wished for. In several of the classes of exhibition, as working oxen, sheep, swine, fruit, vegetables, carriages, farm implements, and others, the display was never excelled, and in some of them has not heretofore been equalled in this county. The show of handsome carriages, buggies, cutters, etc., manufactured in Flint, was soextensive that we found it necessary to erect a separate shed for their accommodation. The exhibition of agricultural implements was also unusually large and complete.

The awards of the judges, upon review, were all confirmed,

and where they recommended discretionary premiums we have conferred them upon all articles eligible to receive premiums under the constitution and by-laws of the society. The awards and reports of the committees of judges have been published in full.

For a statement of receipts and disbursements, and financial condition of the society, we would refer you to the report of the treasurer and of the finance committee.

All of which is respectfully submitted for the Board of Management.

Flint, December 31, 1872.

F. H. RANKIN, Secretary.

HILLSDALE COUNTY.

To the State Board of Agriculture for Michigan :

GENTLEMEN-In presenting the twenty-second Annual Report of the Hillsdale County Agricultural Society, for the year 1872, we are again reminded of the fleetness of time, the brevity of life, and the uncertainty of human calculations. Since our last report, many of the strong pillars of advancing science in agriculture have taught their last lessons in the ennobling work, and it is left for others to carry forward the interests they so nobly begun.

It is a pleasure to speak of home interests as being in a prosperous condition, even if they are not as elevated as we would desire to see them. The steady, every-day progress in life is in the end the sure victor. The history of agriculture in the centuries past show it a plant of slow growth, subject to the vicissitudes of the elements, and the freaks and fancies of man.

It is pleasant for us to contrast the present with the short period of thirty years past, although it spans a chasm in our history, and in the history of the whole country, inimical to all the drawbacks of civilization, refinement, and high progress

in the arts and sciences; adverse to the advancement of the husbandman in numerous ways; yet, with all these impediments, great and noble results have been reached, and stand as monuments, attesting the intelligence and energy of our people. In no section is this more clearly demonstrated than in our own Peninsular State. The progress made in the last thirty years in developing her agricultural, mineral, and mechanical resources, challenge comparison. The intelligence of her people, with her facilities for spreading it to the rising generation, are proverbial.

Her university, colleges, academies, seminaries, and union schools, with her noble experimental college and farm, all speak her greatness now and in the future.

Our county of Hillsdale claims an interest in these institutions. From her infancy she has been the advocate and supporter of all,-in her manhood she endows and supports the second of the number. And, being of the first in the State to put our union school system into successful practice, it is little wonder that her people are found ready for every prospective improvement. Our greatest want is a higher intellectual development of our tillers of the soil, in their favorite pursuit. Many, very many, were educated, "if at all," in the old school; they do as their fathers did before them, and feel they have done all things well, when in fact they have been far behind in originating and carrying forward measures for the advancement of science, even in their own agricultural interests.

Our adaptations in soil and climate require a mixed course of agriculture.

Destitute of the large motive power possessed by many other counties, and without the mineral products of a vast portion of the State, we are brought to the level of making our living from the products of the soil, our mechanical productions being auxilliary thereto.

From the three years of excessive drought with which we

have been visited, reducing our crops twenty-five per cent, our people have improved the opportunity of reclaiming the low and wet places of their farms, by ditching and under-draining to a large extent; and what seemed a calamity will, in the end, prove a permanent good to many. The great improvement in agricultural machinery, the better understanding of many farmers as to the constituents of their soil, and its wants for plant growth, is having a happy bearing on the return crops. Our increase for the last five years has been gradual and steady,-not less than twenty-five per cent to our best culti

vators.

Our wheat crop for the year, although sown under very unfavorable circumstances, produced an average of eighteen bushels per acre. Our corn crop, the best harvested for five years, about seventy bushels of ears to the acre. Our grass and oats were very medium, owing to the long continued drought. Potatoes were nearly a failure; the drought, with the ravages of the potato beetle, was more than they could endure. Our fruit crop was a full average one, not very profitable in a commercial sense, owing to the universality of it through the country. It should bring no discouragement to the cultivators, but stimulate them to measures of working it up more effectually.

In stock we are making steady progress. Our Short-horn breeders are meeting with ready sales at remunerative prices. Some of our herds have an enviable reputation at home and abroad. Fine grades are fast taking the place of natives with most of our farmers.

Our horses compare favorably with other portious of the State; we furnish annually large numbers for the eastern markets, of good quality. An advance in higher blood would elevate quality and price materially.

In sheep we stand about as last year; quality very good, but our flocks are below standard in number.

In swine farmers will differ in judgment; some covet the small, as Essex, or Berkshire, others the large, like Poland, or

Magie, while others, regardless of cost or quality, will be governed by color, and satisfy their wants with the Chester Whites, or Byfields. We are pleased to report the classes named as constituting the swine element of the county, and in our judgment a great improvement over the past. The poultry interests of the county are large. Since facilities have opened for quick transportation to eastern markets, the raising of poultry and eggs has assumed a definite form, and it will not be an over-estimate to place the returns at fifty thousand dollars a

year.

Our mechanical interests are growing. Since our last report there has been added to the same at Hillsdale a chair factory of large capacity, employing a hundred and fifty hands or more. At Reading two large interests have sprung up, one for manufacturing the Colby wringer, the other for manufacturing chairs and house implements of all kinds constructed of wood. These are in successful operation, employing some two hundred hands, and creating a home market for much of the timber and lumber with which the south part of the county abounds. At Jonesville they have a cotton factory of large dimensions nearly completed, which will give employment to a hundred or more persons. These, with the establishments heretofore reported, will show an investment of nearly a million dollars in manufacturing, besides employment to nearly two thousand operatives.

Our fair was held on the first, second, third, and fourth days of October. Most of the departments were well filled, and the exhibition as a whole gave very general satisfaction. Improvement was a marked feature in almost every class, over former years. Our entries were not quite as large as in some years past; yet the awards were larger than ever before. This is attributable to the fact of only the better quality of productions being presen el for exhibition. Another fact is very clearly demonstrated, and that is, a poor animal, or an inferior article or reduction, presented before a discerning public,