REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY REPORTS. To the Ohio State Board of Agriculture: GENTLEMEN: The undersigned committee appointed to examine the reports from county agricultural societies for the year 1879, as made to the President of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture, for publication, in the Annual Agricultural Report, beg leave to say that all the county reports submitted have been carefully examined, their respective merits duly considered, and the silver medal offered by the Ohio State Board of Agriculture to the county agricultural society furnishing the most complete report of the condition of agriculture in the county, has been unanimously awarded to the Butler County Society. Many of the reports submitted were particularly interesting and full of valuable agricultural information that cannot well be obtained from other sources. Reliable reports from county agricultural societies are of very great value to the people, in furnishing a correct knowledge of the condition of agriculture and stock breeding throughout the State, as well as a guide to the regions best adapted to any particular branch of agriculture. So many of the reports were of so great and nearly equal merit that, though there seemed no reasonable doubt which one stood first, yet had a second premium been offered, the committee would have been at a loss to know where to place it. The report awarded the silver medal was evidently made up with great care, cost much well spent labor, is replete with valuable statistics, and with just and useful inferences from them, and reflects much credit upon the Butler County Agricultural Society. Respectfully submitted, N. S. TOWNSHEND, W. I. CHAMBERLAIN, ** APPENDIX. THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE OHIO STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, FOR THE YEAR 1879-80. [ORGANIZED IN 1847, AS OHIO POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.] This report is published as an Appendix to the report of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture (18,000 copies), and a separate edition for the members of the Society. To secure the benefits of this wide distribution of the report, and save expense to the Society, the printing has to be delayed to a later date than would otherwise be donethe time of the Agricultural Report.-[ Secretary.] (For list of members, see last two pages.) * Died August 5, 1880. OHIO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. INTRODUCTORY. In consequence of the long, and at length, fatal illness of our worthy Secretary, the duty of arranging and editing the material of this report has devolved upon other members of the Society. It is due to the memory of a most industrious officer, however, to state that the record of the transactions of our Society had been made, in great part, before his illness had incapacitated him from active duty, and that he should be credited with the labor performed, and only the lighter work of editing the report remained for us. MEETINGS DURING THE SEASON. As is our want, some of the ad interim committee have made an effort to attend meetings of local horticultural societies in differents parts of the State during the past year. Several of the members have done so, but their reports are not all at hand. The advance of horticulture depends very much upon these organizations, and the parent society is always ready to respond to invitations to these gatherings. The long established society of Montgomery county has set an excellent example which others may do well to notice. Warren county is following closely upon the lead, but must look out for her laurels since the Reserve has organized in Stark, Summit, and Portage counties, and while the center and south are vieing with the orchard-crowded hills of Belmont and Columbiana, and with the vine-lands of the lake shore, the islands, and the valley of the Maumee. Success to them all. THE STATE FAIR. The horticultural department of the Agricultural Fair has for years been put under the care of active members of our Society by the Board of Agriculture, which appreciates the services thus rendered. As usual, our members have been very liberal contributors, and have received a full share of the honors. It has been customary for many years to hold a meeting during fair week, when an opportunity is afforded to examine any new fruits that may be on exhibition. Such a gathering convened at Columbus. The following accounts were furnished by the Secretary: There was a good attendance at the meeting of the State Horticultural Society, in Columbus, on Wednesday evening, the week of the Fair. President Warder being |