Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-01-21
Seed and Feed Inspections

The Importance of obtaining pure seeds
both in grain and grass seeds, cannot be
| overestimated, and the matter of seed in
Ispection has been prominently before the
public during the last year. While / be-
leve that much of the trouble comes
from careless work by the farmers them
| hedges | hope the board will feel to take
some definite action upon the matter and
| put 1t in a tangible form so as to place
it before the Legislature for it's consider
alton. ! also wish to again call your at
tention to the Importance of the inspec-
ton of many Of our commercial feed
stuffs. particularly such as are by pro-
duets from the manufacturing of some
other article. Prof. Woods. of the com
mittee to which this matter was referred,
has prepared a draft of bill which he
will present for your consideration at
such time as you may direct.
The number of institutes held during
the past year is %, total attendance, 49,
$50, average attendance. PSI; an increase
Of l22 or W per cent from that OF 1885,
Agricultural societies.
I visited quite number of the fairs
held by the different agricultural So
cieties the past season, and have been
much pleased with the general condition
of thrift which find. The prevalence of
rain during the season for holding the
fairs intcrfered materially with the at
tendance in many sections, and thereby
reduced the receipts somewhat. but as il
rule they have been fairly successful
financially, and the amount of exhibits
has been large, and their quality of Il
high order.
desire to see the laws of the State fully
enforced. and have been much pleased
with their evident desire to cooperate
with us in every way possible for that
purpose. One society. by the character OF
it's advertisements in the newspapers. and
its premium list indicated its plan to run
regardless of all State laws in relation to
gambling, and a visit to its fair grounds
during its fair convinced me that it was
being run in full accordance with that
plan. 1t was therefore omitted from the
list Of societies entitled to stipend from
the State. / am of the opinion that
whenever any agricultural society incor-
porated by this State. openly advertises
to run its fair in defiance to any State
should be some provision made whereby
it's charter may be revoked.
Complaints We're made to this office
that another society had openly allowed
gambling OH its grounds. but after in
vestigating the matter as fully as pos
sible, and receiving quite number of
letters from various parties who were
present during the fair. l concluded that
the evidence was insufficient to warrant
Withholding the stipend. | still believe
that it is well for the board to have IL
closer supervision over this matter. and
again recommend that it be taken into
consideration
| append summary of the business of
the societies as returned to this office:
Numbero of horses and colts exhibited, 1896
Number of neat cattle exhibited. 1872
Number of sheep exhibited. 1918
Number of swine exhibited. 80
Number of poultry (coops) exhibited, lbs
ANALYSIS OF AWARDS.
Total amount of premiums and
gratuities paid.iac $I.6.39i
Amount of trotting purses % 231.5j
Amount of entrysfee for trotting
purses, sd. & 97S665
Actual cost of trotting purses, 13,4509o
Per cent of premiums and gra-
tuties to total awards, 4:
Per cent of entry fees, is
Per cent of stipend, 3l.i
Per cent of decrease in awards, Il
Number of societies receiving
stipend, II
Decrease from 1895. IL