VOL. XXIII.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., SATURDAY, JAN. 14,1888
NO. 2
'. Annual Meeting of the
STATE AND DELEGATE BOAEDS OP
., AGEIOULTUEE.
President Seward's Address— Reports and
*    Discussions—Election of Officers.
iThe Delegate Board of Agriculture met
on Tuesday, the 3d, in 36th annual session. In the rooms set apart for the use of
the Board in tho new State House. The
handsome audience room was well filled
at the afternoon session by delegates and
others, to listen to the address of the president of the Board, Governor Gray and
Mayor Denny of this city.
PRESIDENT SEWARD'S ADDRESS.
The president congratulated the Board
upon the elegant apartments assigned to
them, and specially fitted up for their
use. The Board never had better advantages for doing its work, the value of which
was apparent. Duringthepast year, however, several disappointments in not receiving the recognition due them by the
Legislature in the matter of appropriations
had been experienced. Indiana is so far
behind other States in this respect, that
the State Board was compelled to depend
upon its gate receipts to pay the expenses
of Its exhibits.
He thought the time would come when
the State will so far assist the fair that the
price of admission can be. placed at a nominal rate. Under the present circumstances expenses cannot be paid on a price
less than that now asked for admission.
Referring to the enlarged fair grounds,
he thought that the question of location
was' definitely and satisfactorily settled,
and the Board hoped to make all necessary improvements, which it could not do
last fall because it had no funds for that
purpose. While there was promise that
transportation facilities for passengers to
the grounds would be improved in two
projected lines of cable cars, ho did not
think the connection with steam cars
would be improved, for the right of way
cannot be obtained. However, shipping
facilities are so great, and the distance to
the roads is so short, but little inconvenience is experienced by exhibitors in driving their stock to the grounds.
Under the provisions of the Hatch" bill,
recently made a law, he said Indiana will
receive $15,000 for the purpose of assisting in maintaining an experimental farm
department in an agricultural college.
This will be a potent and desired addition
to the State's educational system.
The need of larger fair grounds caused
the Board to purchase twenty acres ad
joining the north of the fair grounds, but
the lack of money prevented them being
improved as had been the intention. The
improvements were to consist of a mile
race track, new stabling, sheds and the
like. Tbe expenditures of this year will
completely exhaust the money of the
Board, so that nothing will be left to make
these improvements. The indebtedness
of the Board, increased by the purchase of
this ground at a cost of §10,000, is too great
to be enlarged, although it is probable
that this last debt contracted will be met
by action of the Legislature next year.
In conclusion the president made appropriate reference to the Woman's Board,
which he said, had been an important
factor in the success of the fairs duriDg
several years.
\ THE GOVERNOR'S REMARKS.
Governor Gray, who next spoke briefly,
told the convention that the agricultural
interest underlies all prosperity, and that
every other interest^moves with it. The
country where the soil is under high cultivation will be high in manufactures and
all other industries. He was proud of the
position of Indiana, which was not only a
great grain-producing, but a stock-breeding State, second to none, and all these
results were entirely due to the work and
intelligence of the farmers. He regretted
that thejlast General Assembly did not do
for the agricultural interest what they had
demanded, but in the absence of legislation he had done all that he could to protect them. He spoke of his proclamation
in regard to the entry of the diseased cattle into the State at a time when an epidemic was threatened. This proclamation
he was glad to say was recognized by other
States. He favored the appropriation of
an annual sum that would enable the
Board to pay its indebtedness. This out
of the way,the Board could do much more
in keeping Indiana in the front rank of
agricultural States. He closed by wishing
all the delegates and their families a bright
and happy New Year.
MAYOR DENNY'S ADDRESS.
After welcoming the delegates to the
city, Mayor Denny said that no other interest than that of agriculture deserved
better consideration. Indiana is a manufacturing as well as an agricultural State,
but the latter underlies all the prosperity
which enabled it to add $200,000,000 last
year from farm and §150,000,000 from man
ufactured products. Success for the State
Board of Agriculture meant success for
Indianapolis, but in one thing he thought
the board would err. He believed, better
results would be obtained by purchasing
grounds nearer tho railroads. With tho
coming in of expositions in large cities it
was said that fairs had hadTuelr" day, but
they remained popular. He had requested the merchants and manufacturers last
fall to give their employes one day at the
fair, and would do so again.
secretary's report.
The report of Secretary Alex. Heron
showed as total
Receipts for the year  $12,779.03
General Expenses, (Including {9,728.50 paid
for premiums)   32,955.'.3
Leaving balanoe on hand    ^9,824.70
THE REPORT OF TREASURER,
Sylvester Johnson, corresponded with
this,except as to a certain amount in notes,
which the secretary held as cash, while he
deducted them from the actual cash on
hand.
THE LADIES' DEPARTMENT.
Mrs. A. M. Noe, of the ladies' department of the fair, reported that its success
last year was remarkable, and showed the
necessity for additional room for the display of women's work. The ladies met
later in the day and elected officers as follows:
President, Mrs. A. M. Noe; vice-president, Miss Mary R. Heron; secretary, Mrs.
Hattie L. Seward; executive committee,
Mesdames Shideler, Swift, Hawkins and
Taylor.
superintendent's report.
Charles E. Merrifiold, superintendent
of the grounds, gave a detailed report of
the improvements made last September,
and of those in contemplation. Of the
latter the new race track is to be placed in
the northeast corner of the twenty acres
added to the grounds, and around it will
be planted a double row of trees, with an
infield of grass. A new amphitheater, accommodating one-half more people than
the present ono, is to be erected, and a new
power hall is to be built. A system of
horse-racks and barns is to be constructed. ■ .
After appointing the usual committees
the meeting adjourned till the next day.
At the morning session on the second
day,R. M. Lockhart, presented a report on
the subject of
holding farmers' institutes
giving some interesting statements relative to the success of such institutes in
Wisconsin and Ohio, and urging that the
Board arrange for holding one institute
in each county in the State during the
present winter. He stated the object to
be the dissemination of information in all
brachea of agriculture among the farmers'
of the State by regular meetings of county
or district organizations, in which addresses on agricultural topics will be made
and an interchange of ideas and experience will occur. A lengthy discussion
fbllowed, directed chiefly to the practicability of forming and maintaining the
organization and obtaining the requisite
assistance from the Legislature. A resolution was at length adapted instructing
the State Board to provide for a series of
institutes, one in each district, during the
cqming year.
We regard this as an important enterprise and one which all farmers should
endorse and encourage. If farmers take
the proper interest in the institutes that
may be held under the auspices of the
Board there is but little doubt that the
next Legislature may be persuaded to
appropriate a sum sufficient to defray the
expense of conducting them in the future,
as is the case in Wisconsin and Ohio. If
the farmers are indifferent, and do not
attend the meetings it will be in vain to
ask for an appropriation. Application
was made by our agent at Anderson to
have the first institute held at that place.
So the ball is started. Who wants the
next?
THE PI.EUKO ri'KBMOXIA  HILL.
Tho following resolution was adopted:
Whereas, The danger to the cattle industry of this country from contagious
pleuro-pneumonia is so great and imminent as to . tho-eaU-for-the most sweeping and thorough means of eradication;
and
I Whereas, The bill recently introduced
in the Senate by Senator Palmer and indorsed by the Consolidated Cattle Growers' Association of America, is the only
adequate measure ever devised for the
swift and sure stamping out of this insidious disease: therefore,
Resolved, That the Indiana Delegate and
State Board of Agriculture indorses ttois
bill, and earnestly request the Indiana
delegation in Congress to give It heartv
support.
At the afternoon session a resolution
was adopted urging the Legislature to
make a more liberal provision for the purchase of agricultural books for the State
Library.
THE STATE FAIR GROUNDS.
The committee on the Mayor's address
reported, expressing approval of his re-
marks,except as to a change of the State
Pair Grounds. As to this, they reported
the purchase of the additional twenty
acres as judicious, and recommended that
the present location be retained. The report was unanimously adopted.
The committee gave no reason for their
recommendation, and only a single remark was made upon the subject, and this
was by Mr. McDonald of Whitley Co., in
which he said in a very positive way, as
though stating what should not be disputed, that he knew the sentiment of the
people on the subject, and that was that
the State Fair should remain where it was.
The board had evidently made up its mind
on the subject, and discussion of the question would have been a waste of time. We
have a word on the subject elsewhere.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
There was much electioneering among
the members of the Board whose terms
had expired, and the candidates for their
places, but as usual it was found much
easier for the Ins to retain their seats than
for the Outs to oust theia. Only three new
men succeeded in forcing an entrance to
the charmed circle. These are Gerhardt
Reiter, of Knox Co., in place of Samuel
Hargrave, who was not a candidate, V. K.
Officer, of Jefferson, in place of Greer.who
was not present to contest, and J. A. Mc-
Clung, of Fulton, in place of L. B. Custer,
who has been a member for eight years'.
The other members, whose terms expired,
were re-elected, mostly with but little if
any opposition.
EXPERT JUDGES.
The subject of  selecting expert judges
at the fairs was then brought forward,
and the discussion was opened by Robt.
Mitchell, who favored selecting but one
judge rather than three judges. He was
decidedly against the picked up committees, which were generally incompetent,
while upon their decision depended the
reputation of cattle breeders. Ignorance
and downright dishonesty prevailed in
many of these committees. The one-
judge system was expensive, but the returns warranted the outlay.
Several other membprs spoke upon the
question, and in conclusion a resolution
advising the State Board to adopt the expert judge system at the next State fair
was adopted.
At the meeting next morning it was resolved to request the county associations
to furnish the secretary of the State Board
with the names of persons competent to
act as judges at fairs. Following this was
a discussion led by R. M. Lockhart,' on
"What can we do to assist in promoting
and making our fairs more successful?"
On this subject there was a variety of
opinions, but no definite policy was shaped
other than to do the best that is practicable.
HOW TO GET RID OF WEEDS,
was the subject started by Mr. Davidson,
in some interesting practical remarks,
principally on the iron weed, white top,
etc., these he said can be destroyed by
early and continuous cutting. He had
not much faith in the sheep remedy, advocated by Mr. Dungan and others, who
claimed that their pastures were clear of
weeds on account.of keeping flocks of sheep
upon them. Colonel Blanche's plan was
to kill weeds by mowing them before the
seeds became ripe. He also thought that
sheep were useful in effecting the same result.
Mr. Harshbarger oftMontgomery county
gave his experience, which was quite valuable. His plan for killing out foxtail
and ragweed was by breaking the ground
as early as possible. One speaker said that
Canada thistles can be destroyed by putting salt on them. The general expression of opinion favored sheep and mowing
as tho best means of extermination.
On the next question, "Is Deep Plowing
better than Shallow, without Exception?"
there was a general unanimity that it is.
The president appointed Pielding Beel-
er to act as a representative of the Board
in an effort to secure bettor support from
the next Legislature for the State library.
. The Delegate Board adjourned at noon
and in the afternoon
THE NEW STATE BOARD
assembled for organization, which was effected by the election of the following
officers for the ensuing year:
President—Jasper N. Davidson, of
Whitesville.
Vice-president—W. A. Banks, Door Village.
Secretary-Alex. Heron, Indianapolis.
Treasurer—Sylvester Johnson,   Marion
county.
; General Superintendent—R. M. Lockhart, Waterloo.
' Executive Committee—W. B. Seward
Bloomington; E. H. Peed, New Castle-
Willis Blanche, Kokomo, and Robert
Mitchell, Princeton.
Messrs. R. M. Lockhart, J. Q. A. Sieg
and V. K. Officer were appointed a com-
m-ttee to look after the Farmers' Institutes
throughout the State.
It was decided that the salaries of officers
and the per diem of members of the Board
should remain the same, with the exception of the general superintendent's salary
which, in view of the extra work to be
done this year, was raised from $300 to
?400.
After fixing the date of the next fair
from Sept. 17 to 22, inclusive, the board
adjourned to meet Feb. 22.