Nebraska advertiser., 1878-05-16

We are in receipt of the premium
list of the Nebraska State Board of
Agriculture. Upon a careful examin-
alton it shows marked improvement
over former premium lists. The Sec
retary has inserted the scale of points
of excellence of various improved
breeds of animals. This feature alone
makes the list valuable and it should
be preserved by every farmer in
whose hands ii may fall for study and
future refere noes. The list is chang
ed in several important particulars.
Less money is offered for the enoour-
agement of SPORT as compared with
INDUSTRY and still one thousand and
sixty dollars are more than thrown
away In this direction but we have
reason to feel than kfui that it is not
50 800, the amount appropriated two
years ago. 1t is a matter that we can
not understand why the society will
fully cripples its influence as industrial
institution by introducing feature so
adverse to its interests, still, so far as
the money squandered is concerned,
the society is on the way to reform.
There Is new subdivision added TO
the horse class which is intended to
encourage road horses. 1t is entitled
Registered horses and provides for a
class of horses recorded in Wallace's
stud book or American Turf Register
and animals eligible to compete must
have been owned in the state since
August 1878. This action is but just
TO breeders who are investing large
sums of money to improve our road
horses. The Register horse should be
put on an equality with the draft
horses or the thoroughbred.
The changes madejn the premiums
offered on sheep. indicate clearly that
intelligent wool growers have been |
heard in the councils of the society. |
The wool growing interests of the
States is one of great importance, and
it is gratifying that it is receiving its
share of attention.
The premiums offered to county ag- |
ricultural societies has been Increased !
from one premium of $50 to first |
pre- mium of 800 and a second prem
ium of $50. This is certainly wise |
act on the part of the board. There |
is no way that an interest can be cre-
ated in agriculture better than through |
the cooperation of county societies
and communities; and there is no |
community that more fully appreci-
ates it than the citizens of franklin
county. Three years ago, at the time
we made our first exhibit as society
there were comparatively few people
In the western part of the State that
knew of the existence of State agri-
cultural society. but our repeated sue
cess has not only familiarized the en-
tire southwestern part of the State
with the Operations of the State Board,
but il has stimulated more thought and
induced greater action than any other
influence that has reached it, and we
predict the coming fair will be the
most remarkable meeting ever held in
the State.
1t strikes us that the Horticultural
department might be greatly improv-
ed; although the premium list has
been revised and In many regards
for the better. it strikes US
that system might be adopted that
would interest other counties than
Nemaha, Otoe and Pawnee, this re-
mark is not made in an unfriendIy
spirit but sim ply to call the attention
of the ladies of our horticultural soci-
ETY. to the fact. hoping they will give
the matter their atten tioD Bloom
ington Franklin Co. Guard.