Deitz Long Berry is also of a good grade for roller process of manufacturing flour. Altogether the above sorts proved entirely a success, the difference in yield and quality being slight, as above stated. The Russian wheat, however, made the best showing, all of which was harvested in good condition.

Oats.

Not having any new special variety for our plots last spring we sowed our entire enclosure-twelve acres-with the Welcome. These oats have given us such results that we have discarded all other varieties. Our yield of bushels the acre for 1886 falls short of the yield of 1885, it being for that year ninety-two bushels twenty-three pounds to the acre.

As we have previously stated, the immense growth of straw lessened the bushels of seed, much of it standing from six to seven feet high. Seven hundred bushels, the crop of 1885, was sold in a home market for one dollar per bushel.

Corn.

This crop upon our various plots gives us good results, especially our own particular variety, a mixed corn with large cob and deep grain.

Preparation of the Ground.

The field timothy sod had a light dressing with stable manure in the late fall and early spring, plowed down during the months of March and April, thoroughly pulverized and drilled in May 10 and 11, together with three hundred pounds the acre for commercial fertilizer, the grains spaced thirteen inches apart in the row, and distant three and one-half feet between rows. Yield, ninety-five bushels the acre of solid marketable corn, samples of which will accompany this report.

Our experiments for the year 1886 have more than rewarded us for the labor bestowed, aside from the small remuneration for our surplus products in the market. We have the satisfaction of being able from our annual experiments to sow and plant intelligently such seeds as seem best adapted to our soil and climate. All of which is respectfully submitted.

JANUARY 18, 1887

DAVID H. BRANSON,

Committee.

Mr. Paxson presented to this committee proposed amendments to the Constitution to be submitted for the Society's action to-morrow. The same having been reported to a joint meeting of the Executive Committee and committee of arrangements in Philadelphia, October 9th, 1886.

The same were read for the information of this body.

A circular letter addressed to the officers and members of this Society requesting them to favorably influence their Senators and Representatives for an appropriation to aid this Society, was read and ordered to be inserted in the minutes as follows:

OFFICE OF THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY,
HARRISBURG, PA., December 29th, 1886.

DEAR SIR: The Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society, of which you are a member, has expended a large sum of money in the erection of buildings on its grounds at Philadelphia, which was done in obedience to a general public demand, by selecting a convenient location for a term of years and of easy access, to afford the farmers the best facilities for the display of stock and other agricultural products.

The Society although chartered by an act of the Pennsylvania Legislature, is not a stock company, it has no stockholders, nor salaried officers, except the Secretaries and Treasurer. All its net profits are expended in the payment of premiums and to promote the broad interests of agriculture. It has done much for the promotion of the agricultural interests in Pennsylvania. It has paid about $200,000 in cash premiums. It expended $10,000 at the International Wool Exhibition in 1880. It voluntarily contributed $14,000 to the Pennsylvania State Agricultural College, and it has expended upward of $100,000 in the erection of buildings, etc., on its grounds at Philadelphia; consequently it has incurred a large debt. To relieve it from its present financial embarrassment, a bill will be presented at the meeting of the Legislature in January next for an appropriation for the relief of the Society. I therefore appeal to you to exert your personal influence with the Representatives from your district, to the Legislature of Pennsylvania, in behalf of the Society to support the bill for an appropriation when presented for their consideration.

Yours truly,

A. WILHELM, President.

President Wilhelm submitted a statement showing the financial condition of the society and explained to this committee the amount of labor performed by the committee of arrangements in the past two years. În 1885 an agreement was made with the Society of Arts of Philadelphia by which the main building and annexes were transferred to that organization, and an exhibition of three weeks, open day and night, was held, which required this Society to expend a large sum of money. The result of this was most unfortunate. A clause in the agreement required it to be submitted to the annual meeting of the Society in 1886 for confirmation. This was not agreed to and the agreement then became null and void. The exhibition made money the first and second weeks, but the last week was a failure, and all money made previously was lost. The entire indebtedness is now $77.711 47.

The question of securing aid from the Legislature was then discussed at length and the secretary was directed to send circular letters to the officers, and request them to forward them to their representatives, asking for an appropriation of $50,000.

On motion adjourned.

D. W. SEILER, Secretary.

SOCIETY MEETING.

HARRISBURG, PA., Wednesday, January 19, 1887.

At ten o'clock A. M., the Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society. convened in their office in the Telegraph building.

Mr. Seiler moved that Mr. Bergner act as chairman of the meeting, which was unanimously agreed to.

Mr. Bergner, on taking the chair, said: I thank you for the partiality which you have shown me on this occasion, for there are others here who, I think, are better able to perform the duties required. I will now simply call the meeting to order, and say that we are ready to proceed with the business.

Mr. D. H. Branson was appointed judge, and Tobias Barto and William Taylor tellers to conduct the annual election for officers.

A motion that General Louis Wagner, J. T. Stavely and W. W. Holstein act as a committee to audit the accounts of the treasurer was made. General Wagner declined to act, when S. A. Hummel was substituted, and the motion agreed to.

The ballot was had and continued until twelve o'clock M., when it was announced closed. The judge and tellers announced the following result: