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In quality the crop is good, and in a few favored localities, where local rains furnished sufficient moisture, the yield is excellent; but these areas are too limited to have much effect upon the total crop.

For a more definite view of the condition of the crops and live stock of the State, as shown by counties, we would refer you to the statistical tables herewith connected, and for more definite information as to the work of the Board during the past year, to the accompanying documents, proceedings, and essays. All of which are respectfully submitted.

By order of the Board.

THOMAS J. EDGE,

Secretary.

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

CONDENSED FROM THE MINUTES.

At a meeting of the Pennsylvania Board of Agriculture, held in the Senate chamber, Wednesday, January 23, 1878,

Board called to order at half past two o'clock, P. M., by His Excellency the Governor, in the chair.

Present: His Excellency the Governor, and Messrs. Wickersham, Calder, Edge, Young, Hood, Robinson, Morris, Beebe, Barnes, Moore, Hamilton, Fahnestock, D. Wilson, Roland, Sterling, Reeder, Gilbert, Foresman, Yeakel, Keller, Culver, and the secretary.

Minutes of previous meeting read, amended, and approved.

On motion of M. C. BEEBE, the chair appointed a committee, consisting of Messrs. Beebe, Roland, and Foresman, to receive and report upon the the credentials of newly elected members.

On motion of Professor HAMILTON, the chair appointed a committee consisting of Messrs. Hamilton, Edge, Culver, and Roland to nominate officers for the ensuing year.

The committee upon credentials reported that J. S. Keller, of Schuylkill; R. S. Sterling, of Beaver; W. A. Yeakel, of Montgomery; Andrew Robinson, of Mercer; J. W. Shriner, of Union; Eastburn Reeder, of Bucks; and Thomas J. Edge, of Chester, were properly accredited as members of the Board for the ensuing three years. They also reported that Morgan R. Wise, of Greene, presented a certificate of election, but none to show that his society is entitled to county bounty.

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The committee to nominate officers reported the names of J. P. Wickersham, Colonel James Young, and M. C. Beebe as vice presidents, and that of Thomas J. Edge as secretary. Nominations confirmed by their election, and the committee discharged.

After the presentation of nine names as members of the executive committee, Messrs. Smith and Morris were named as tellers, and a ballot taken, resulting in the choice of Messrs. George and Edge of the members appointed by the Governor, and Messrs. Fahnestock, Engle, D. Wilson, Hamilton, Moore, and Robinson of the members elected by county agricultural societies.

(At a subsequent meeting Mr. Moore was released at his own request, and Mr. Roland substituted.) *

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On motion of Professor WICKERSHAM, the time and place of holding the next meeting was referred to the executive committee.

On motion, the President of the Board was authorized and requested to appoint a committee of experts to inquire into and report on the reliability of the Guénon or milk-escutcheon theory for selecting milking stock. Said report to be made to the secretary on or before the 1st of October next.

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Mr. BEEBE offered the following resolution; which was unanimously adopted:

WHEREAS, It is expedient as a matter of economy, as well as for the interests of agriculture in the State, that its agriculture reports should be concentrated into one volume; therefore,

It is hereby resolved, That this Board will, within the purview of the act creating it, cordially cooperate with the State Agricultural Society, State Dairymen's Association, State Fruit Grower's Association, and other similar State organizations in accomplishing this result.

The following communication from the State Agricultural Society was then read, and, after discussion, referred to the executive committee for action:

WHEREAS, The State Board of Agriculture, recently organized in this Commonwealth, by the collection of statistics, and the dissemination of information through its annual reports, promises to become an efficient agent for the promotion of agriculture; and,

Whereas, It has been the practice, and it is the policy and duty of the Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society to encourage and cooperate with every working organization for the advancement of the farmers within the State; therefore,

Be it resolved, That the executive committee, in furtherance of the objects of its appointment, recommend the publication of the reports of the State society, and that the officers of the society be requested to urge the publication of our transactions, and make such arrangements as they may deem best to accomplish that object.

Resolved further, That a committee on publication be appointed to arrange, under agreement with the State Board of Agriculture, the topics to be considered in the annual reports aforesaid, and aid the secretary in collecting and compiling the matter belonging to the report of the society. At a subsequent meeting of the executive committee of the Board, Messrs. Roland, Engle, and D. Wilson were appointed to confer with the committee contemplated in the foregoing resolution of the State Agricultural Society.

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The President having announced that the reading of essays was next in order, on motion of Mr. KELLER, Professor Hamilton of the Pennsylvania State College, was invited to read an essay on

THE BEST METHODS OF INDUCING FARMERS TO BREED BETTER STOCK.

The opinion prevails amongst farmers that blooded stock, or what they term the "fancy breeds," do not pay. They admire their beauty and perfection of form, and admit that they have certain qualities not found as well developed in the common breeds, yet after all they look upon them as well enough for those who can afford luxuries; but, so far as the ordinary farmer is concerned, they are too expensive and unremunerative. Before much, therefore, can be done in the general introduction of the better breeds of animals throughout the State, the farmers must be brought to believe in them. They must be brought to see that it is bad management to keep a cow that will produce but two pounds of butter a week, when with the

same food and attention another would produce eight pounds per week. They must be brought to realize that a horse that can, other things being equal, do twice the work of another, is twice as valuable, that poor stock is a drug in the market, whilst good animals are of ready sale, and that it costs no more to rear the one than the other. They must realize that inferior stock is not only not profitable, but very expensive, and that their interest lies in the rearing of superior rather than inferior animals.

The Pennsylvania farmer is an eminently practical man, and the first question that will be put by him after being urged to stock his farm with the so-called improved breeds is, "will they pay?" He wishes no nonsense in this matter; he is perfectly familiar with the poetry of farm life, and is not affected by glowing descriptions of the effects of a fine herd upon the landscape, nor is he carried away by praises of their symmetry of form, the color of their milk, the fineness of their wool, or the fire in their eye. He is interested in the original question, "do they pay?" There must, to use a technical phrase," be something in it" before he will be induced to change his present practice. The single fact that it is unremunerative is sufficient to forever condemn it in the eyes of this practical man. To persuade him you must convince him that it pays, and any line of argument or method of teaching that will not show that the improved breeds of stock pay better than the old, will certainly fail of useful results.

This question then resolves itself into this: How can the advantages of the better breeds of stock be shown to farmers? I reply that the most convincing way is through statistics that give accurate and minute information in regard the comparative cost and profit of well and ill-bred stock. This Board might, through its secretary, collect such facts as already exist bearing upon this subject, and also start investigations for the discovery of new evidence of the superiority of good breeds over common stock, publishing these results in such manner as would insure that the farmers of the State would have access to the information conveyed. In order that such information may not mislead, great care should be taken to notice the adaptability of the various breeds to certain localities and for particular purposes, and to give details most specific and particular in regard to the cost of keeping, value of product, longevity of the animal, its uses for purposes other than those for which it is especially bred, together with observations upon its peculiarities of constitution and temperament. A great deal might be done in the way of encouraging farmers to breed better stock by increasing the amount of the premiums offered for firstclass stock by our State and county fairs, requiring that accurate statements be made by the exhibitor, setting forth the points of excellence, cost of keep, worth of product of the animal, together with such other information as might be of interest to farmers. In localities were new breeds are needed, farmers might be induced to club together and purchase one or two animals, at a moderate expense to each individual, and thus accomplish what would have been impossible for one. The agricultural society of the county also might own, with advantage, a number of improved breeds of stock, keeping them at their grounds, and hiring out their service at reduced rates to members of the society. The granges might be induced to invest in a similar manner, and aid very materially the introduction of new and improved breeds throughout the State. In these and many other ways that time would develop, farmers would be brought to see the great superiority of these better animals over their common stock, and as the service became convenient and comparatively cheap, they would gradually become possessed of these better kinds.

It is made no part of the duty of the writer of this paper to exhibit the adantages of well over ill-bred stock; but it is made my duty simply to indicate the methods by which farmers may be induced to adopt these better breeds. In answer to the question given me for discussion "The best methods of inducing farmers to breed better stock "-I reply: Show by conclusive evidence that they are more profitable than our native animals, and they will universally possess them.

The subject being open for discussion, JOHN P. EDGE, of Chester, said: "Mr. President: The advantage of breeding pure or imporved breeds of stock has been so thoroughly demonstrated in some sections of our country, where they have carried the matter to perfection, that, as I understand, they do not allow any premium to be offered at the county fairs on any male animal not of pure blood. I think I am right in regard to one State, and possibly more."

In Massachusetts, no county society receiving a bounty from the State is allowed to offer a premium for a male not of pure blood.

The result of the discussion made it evident, as the opinion of the members of the Board, that in Pennsylvania it would not be found to be profitable to raise any but the very best stock, and that a failure to comply with this rule would entail a loss upon the breeder.

Since the reading of this essay, circulars requesting estimates of the cost of a home raised calf, at one, two, and three years, and its value as a cow at the latter age, were sent out to two hundred practical men in various portions of the State. From these reports, from all the counties in the State, it would seem that the average estimate of cost at three years old is $34 35, and the average value at the same age, $36 86, thus confirming the opinion of the Board, that, except for the best stock, the margin for profit was very small. [SECRETARY.]

The next essay in order was on

THE COMPARATIVE PROFIT OF WELL AND ILL-BRED STOCK.

By WILLIAM G. MOORE, Member from Berks.

The subject of my essay, viz: "The comparative cost and profit of well and ill-bred stock," is one requiring considerable thought and research. Unfortunately, I received notice from the secretary, only a few weeks ago, of having been selected to prepare such an essay. In consequence of this short notice, and of my official and private business, it was impossible for me to give this matter that careful preparation which it required.

I have been given quite a large field to roam over, not being limited to any particular species of stock, and will therefore commence my remarks on man's most trusty and useful four-footed friend,

The Horse.

In the section of the State in which I reside, the majority of farmers have for many years raised colts. For a long time, but very little attention, as a general thing, was paid to the breed. All that the farmer appeared to care for, was to raise a certain number of colts each year, with 2 AGRICULTURE.

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