The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-07
PATRONS OF. %HUSBANDRY.
The Delegate State Board of Agricult-
ure Meets in Annual Convention,
President Mitchell Urges the State to Lend
Assistance-Pertinent Questions Dis
: cussed-Financial Condition.

The annual convention of the Delegate State
Board of Agriculture began yesterday morning
with full attendance of members and delegates.
The morning session was occupied wholly with the
preliminary work of organizing the convention,
In the afternoon the president, Robert Mitchell,
delivered the annual address. He said that the
financial condition of the board was about
the same as at the end of the preceding
year. The gross receipts of the State fair
were $24, 429. 40, and the expenditures were
500, 702. 80. The bonded debt is $40, 900. and the
interest annually accruing is So, 400. ''Thus the
prospect of the Indebtedness being soon liqui-
dated, the president said, lis not encouraging.
Repeated efforts have been made by the board to
get the State to pay off the bonded debt, so they
could go forward with the great work before it.
Our grounds are now too small for the ccommo
dalton of the large annual exhibitions, and to
further increase the Indebtedness by purchasing
more grounds seems to be a step that cannot be
taken under the present condition of affairs.
Therefore, l trust the delegate board will con-
slider the matter of taking some action to inhu-
ence the incoming Legislature to give such relief
as is necessary to enable the board to carry out
the spirit of the law creating the State Agricul:
tural Association. These great and growing
exhibitions on the State fair grounds cannot be
maintained unless the aid of the State in the
work is given"
The president suggested the Importance of
again attempting to hold a fat-stock show in In
dianapolis. In speaking of the benefits of tile
drainage, the president said that nothing is be-
ing done in the State that gives such good re-
turns to the farmer as the free use of tile. The
public health is benefited by its use; the land is
made more productive and can be plowed much
easier in the spring. / believe that when the
farms have been properly drained, the produc-
tiveness of the soil of the State will be largely
increased. The drainage leads to better farm
ing, better farming leads to diversified agricult-
ure, and the time is now here when the farmers
of Indiana cannot but see that to continue in
sowing all their lands will wheat, will be ruin
GUS"
The president said that wagons made in the
Tennessee penitentiary are being sold among
the farmers of Indiana, and it was urged that the
delegate convention should present to the State
Legislature a memorial, asking that all articles
manufactured in penitentiaries shall be branded
AS such, so that their inferior qualities may be
known to the purchaser.
In his report to the hoard, Superintendent
Beales suggested the advisability of holding a
two weeks fair; which would, he thought, obvi.
ate the cause of the complaint made by exhibit
ers that the time of exhibition is too short to
justify the expense of preparing their displays
and it would also enable managers to pro
vide better accommodations for the exhibition OF
stock.
Secretary Heron presented his annual report,
giving a statement of the financial transactions
during the last year, which is not materially
different from the figures heretofore published.
The entries at the last fair, he stated, numbered
4,647, an increase Of 935 over those of any pre-
ceding year.
The treasurer, Sylvester johnson, reported
that the cash receipts during 1884 aggregated
$33, 941. 80, of which 500. O2O. so was from the sale
of tickets to the State fair. The cash balance in
the treasury is 81, 009.17.
The superintendent of the different depart.
ments of the State fair each presented their an.
nual reports, which were referred to the stand
ing committees.
An address On the subject t. of 1.-THE Farmer
and Higher Education" was delived by Professor
G. Fl. Hall of Franklin College, and President
Smart, of Purdue University, presented for the
consideration of the convention, in a brief ad
dress, the new system of weather signals which
the university has undertaken to make beneficial
to the farmers of the State.
The appointment of the following standing
committees was announced by the president:
On Finance-W. B.. Seward, Dick Jones, John NJ
Graham, Gerard Reiter and Will Cumback.
Rules and Regulations-R. M. Lockhart, III. La
Tonrette, s. W DUNCAN, j. w. Robe, S. M. Click and
y. IL. Matlock.
Fair Grou~nds--Samuel Hargrove, j. w. Davidson
J. 9. A. Seig, A. G.. Bittinger, Mr.. Steelman and Mr.
Chamberlain.
Premium List-W. A. Banks, John Ratliff, G. B
Stuart, John NJ. BOggs, r. G. McWilfams and f. w.
Shanks.
Unfinished Business-T. w. w. Sunman, John Rat
tiff, John Tilson and Joseph Puffay.
An address on the damage of crops by insects
was delivered by Professor Webster, of Purdue
University. He said that the ''corn-root' worm,
an insect little known among farmers, had. dur,
ing the last year. damaged the corn crop over
5000, 900. and it is not improbable that the crops
during the coming season will suffer to fully the
same extent After hearing the address of Pro
fessor Webster the convention adjourned until
this morning. The session this morning will be
occupied in receiving and considering the reports
of the standing committees and the transaction
of miscellaneous business.
This afternoon the convention will be ad-
dressed by DIR. E. w. Fisk, of Greencastle, on
the subject of Diversified Labor" by Col. J.
A. Bridgeland. of Richmond, on French Agrl-
culture and Breeding of Norman Horses" and by
w. S. Vannatta, of Fowler, on ''Herefords as
Grazing Cattle" after which nominations will be
made for filling the positions of the retiring
! members and officers Of the board.