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THE PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL ADDRESS

Was then read by the Secretary, as follows:

Gentlemen of the Convention :

It affords me great pleasure to welcome you here to-day, not merely as the President of the State Board of Agriculture, but also as a citizen of the capital city of Ohio, and I trust that the result of your deliberations this day will be such that they will inure to the best interests of the great cause of agriculture, in which we will be moved to renewed energy and determination, so that the results of the year 1879 shall surpass those of any former year; if this can be done, our labor will not be in vain. The year 1878 has passed away and its results are before us. It was one of the most fruitful that this country has ever enjoyed, and the agricultural products of all kinds, throughout this State especially, were in kind and quality almost unprecedented. The winter of 1877 and 1878 was admirably adapted to starting the growth and leading to an abundant supply of that staple product-wheat. The spring followed in the wake of the winter, and the two conspired to bring about the glorious results of the summer and autumn harvests. These results have brought agriculture into greater prominence than ever before, and the people have at last learned that this country is not only destined to be in the advance in mechanical productions of all kinds, and to continue yielding its abundance of the precious metals and add to its wealth by these means alone, but that the products of agricultural labor will continue to be an important factor in the resources of the country. The science of agriculture is keeping pace with mechanics and all the arts and sciences in the onward march of civilization.

The science of agriculture has for its object the enabling man the better to obtain the means of sustaining life, without which means all knowledge of nature and art would be of no avail; so that the science of agriculture is the objective point of all other sciences. As, by means of the pursuit of agriculture, history tells us man first obtained the means of life, so by the same means he continues to live and move. Agriculture gains by every new discovery in science and every new invention in the arts. Mechanics and agriculture go hand in hand, each assisting the other, so that greater results in each are thus obtained. The principles of mechanics, gleaned from the truths of science, and put to the test by mechanical inventions, all conspire to make the pursuit of agriculture less and less difficult, and its results the more easily obtained. The sciences of chemistry and physics, too, aside from their connection with mechanics, are very important factors in a thorough knowledge of the science of agriculture. The former, for example, imparts to us those truths by which we are enabled to know the elements which comprise the different agricultural products, and from that knowledge to conclude what fertilizer is best adapted to the growth of any particular vegetable product. By means of chemistry we are also enabled to analyze and classify all agricultural products, and from that analysis and classification systematize the pursuits of their cultivation.

Need I tell you of the important assistance which is lent to our science by the other sciences-by geology, giving us accurate knowledge of the composition and qualities of soils, and by meteorology, which gives us almost positive information as to the weather which is near at hand? This latter branch of knowledge is rapidly taking rank with the most accurate of sciences, and when that accuracy shall have been tested and demonstrated by the successes of many years, I predict that the results of the labors of our signal service will be of the highest use to the farmer, enabling him to forestall the

action of the natural elements and garner the fruits of his labor with greater and greater success with each succeeding year.

Many valuable results have been attained in agriculture with the aid of the natural sciences, and who can tell what new discoveries in these fields may do for our science! Can any one tell what ratio the labor required at the present day to produce a given amount of a certain agricultural product will bear to the labor required years hence to produce the same amount of that article?

We know the results obtained in the years that have gone. They are matters of history, but the uncertainty of the future is before us, but whatever will aid in bringing about glorious results in agriculture should be fostered by us with a benevolent hand, and as the sciences, and arts and mechanics have aided agriculture so materially in the past, every honest effort in the future for the advancement of our race in the knowledge of those great branches of learning, should be energetically assisted by us.

There are one or two things that I desire to call your attention to, which require discussion and united action on the part of the farmers. One is the fact that at least onetenth of all the personal property of the State escapes taxation, and the result is that farmers are obliged to pay that much more than their rightful proportion of the taxes. This ought to be remedied. No farm property can escape taxation, and all property ought to bear its equal proportion of the burdens of taxation. The other is the rate of interest on money. The capital invested in agriculture, after paying for labor and incidental expenses, does not bring an average yearly income to its owners of above three per cent. The government pays four per cent. for its capital. By the laws of this State eight per cent. is lawful interest. The result is that many enterprising farmers sell their farms for the sake of the higher rate of interest on the capital invested, and engage in some other employment.

The productive industries of the State, such as farming, mining, and manufacturing, cannot pay a high rate of interest and live; unproductive or speculative business, can and does pay a high rate of interest. The one ought to be encouraged, and the other ought to be disconraged. Nothing will tend more to increase production, and thereby increase wealth, than a moderate rate of interest on capital, and equal taxation.

We regret to say, that the State Fair of 1878 was not a success, financially, owing entirely to the great rain storm, which set in on the opening and continued without cessation throughout the entire fair. We are, however, proud to say, that so far as the exhibition was concerned, none better was ever given in the State. Every department was filled to overflowing, and that, too, with the best material the State could produce.

Take, for instance, the horse department; it may be true that there was not so many horses present, as at some former years, but that they were of a better quality, there can be no doubt. There is one thing apparent to all who attended the fair, that is, that there was a less number of what may be termed "dead-head" horses this than any former year. The same can be said as to the cattle department; it, too, was well represented, and I can safely say that it was second to none ever held in the State, so far as the quality was concerned; it is true, in this department, as in the horse department, that there may not have been so many entries as some former years, but it was more than made up in quality, which, we think, speaks well for the stock men.

Again, take the swine department, and we can do no better than to use the language of the Hon. John M. Milligan, in his report, in which he says: "In quality, as well as numbers, they have never been equaled at any exhibition of swine in Ohio." The same

can be said of the sheep department; we think none better was ever shown at any State fair.

As to the halls I can hardly tell what to say about them; they were literally full to overflowing, with the finest material in the State. I shall content myself by simply remarking that, so far as the halls were concerned, no better exhibition was ever given in the State.

Unfortunately for the success of the fair, circumstances have been such that the attendance is merged into two days, and should they turn out as in 1876 and 1878, failure is inevitable; therefore, it would be well to consider the propriety of keeping the fair open for a longer time, or else to have the buildings so arranged that whether it rained or not visitors could attend in the cry.

I am reminded that the series of five years, as recommended by the Convention in this room in 1874, terminated with the State Fair of 1878. It now becomes your duty to the State Board either to decide to loca e the fair permanently or not. I trust that your deliberations upon this subject will be characterized with coolness, and a careful consideration of all arguments advanced. At present we have the Northern Ohio Fair at Cleveland, the Tri-State Fair at Toledo, the Southern Ohio Fair at Dayton, and the Exposition at Cincinnati (which is destined to be a permanent affair), and neither of these cities will in all probability desire the location of the State Fair. The competition for the location is accordingly confined to a less number of cities than formerly. There are arguments which cau, and probably will, be brought forward both for and against permanent location of the State Fair. It is not my duty to advise you to take either course, but will content myself with counseling you to decide upon taking that course which may be for the best interests of the agriculture of the State, and you will all have the satisfaction of having done your duty regardless of criticism. There is one more point connected with the fair which I desire to bring before the Convention, and would be pleased to hear discussed, that is the system of free passes. For one I am decidedly opposed to issuing free passes to any one. 1st. Because our experience is that the parties requiring them are abundantly able to pay the admission fee; 2d. Because many who receive them never did anything to assist agriculture in any way whatever; 3d. Because it is an imposition upon the paying public at large.

The question as to the price of admission is one of considerable importance; that is, whether it is advisable for the Board to continue to charge fifty cents, or to go back to the old price of twenty-five cents. Many are of the opinion that it would be to the interests of the fair to charge but twenty-five cents. This is a question for discussion. The time has come when we must economize in every possible way to make the fair a

success.

Now, gentlemen of the Convention, the saddest part of my duty has come. That is, to announce to you the death of your late Secretary, John H. Klippart. He died at his late residence on East Town street, in this city, on the afternoon of October 24, 1878. He expired with perfect composure, and without a groan or struggle. His distinguished services as your Secretary are indelibly connected with the history of the S ate Board for more than twenty years past. He was a kind husband, an indulgent father. He leaves a widow and one daughter to mourn his loss. As a companion he was social, and a good talker. His hospitable mansion, on Town street, was always open to his friends, and no guest ever parted from there without feeling happier for his visit. I shall not detain this Convention with an extended eulogy, for I learn that there are several gentlemen present who will make extended remarks in regard to the deceased.

In conclusion, I now return to one and all my sincere thanks for kind treatment in the past.

The chair now announced that there was opportunity for any counties which were not represented at roll call to report.

J. B. JAMISON: I move that a committee of five be appointed to report to this Convention on that part of the President's address which refers to the death of our late Secretary, John H. Klippart.

The motion was unanimously agreed to, and the following appointed by the chair as such committee: James B. Jamison, Leo Weltz, J. M. Millikin, Dr. N. S. Townshend, and Dr. Black.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RULES AND ORDER OF BUSINESS.

W. B. McClung, from the Committee on Rules and Order of Business, now made the following report:

The committee, by leave, recommend that the usual parliamentary rules shall be used in the proceedings of this Convention, and propose the following subjects for discussion, and in the following order, to wit:

1. What is the most exhausting crop grown in Ohio?

2. What will make farming more desirable?

3. Which are the best breeds of cattle for Ohio?

4. Does farming pay as well as the learned professions in Ohio?

5. Does fine sheep breeding pay in Ohio?

6. What is the requisite education for farmers' sons!

7. Relation of science to agriculture.

The committee further recommend that nominations for members of the Board shall take place just preceding the noon adjournment, and the election the first business of the evening session.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS RESPECTING THE DEATH OF SECRETARY JOHN H. KLIPPART.

James B. Jamison, from this committee, reported as follows:

Your committee, appointed to report resolutions on the death of our late Secretary, Mr. John H. Klippart, are now ready to report. Major Millikin will read the report. The report was read by Major Millikin, as follows:

The decease of our long-time associate and our esteemed friend, John H. Klippart, late Corresponding Secretary of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture, calls loudly upon this Convention for an expression of its appreciation of his character as a man; of his services in his official capacity; of his earnest devotion to the interests of husbandry, and the great loss which has been sustained by his death.

While we strongly reprobate the expression of insincere and extravagant encomiums upon the dead, we nevertheless deem it becoming and proper to speak in truthful words of commendation of the sterling qualities and worthy and useful lives of our departed friends.

This Convention will not be expected to prepare a fitting memorial of the history and laborious life of our deceased friend; that labor of friendship must come from those who shall be afforded time and opportunity for the judicious performance of such a duty. A

brief reference, however, to the more important incidents of his life will not be deemed either untimely or inappropriate.

Mr. Klippart was born in Stark county, Ohio, on the 26th day of July, 1823; he departed this life on the 24th of October, 1878. Of his opportunities in early life for obtaining a good education we are not prepared to speak. The active temperament of the man, the peculiar characteristics of his mind, and his qualifications for such employment, led him to become an associate editor of the Ohio Farmer, when conducted by Thomas Brown, deceased. He soon thereafter became more prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Ohio by his election as Corresponding Secretary to our State Board of Agriculture, early in December, 1856. In that responsible and honorable capacity he discharged all the duties pertaining to his office for nearly twentytwo consecutive years, to the acceptance of said Board and in the interest of advanced husbandry.

When he was appointed to said office its duties were generally esteemed to be almost exclusively clerical, or, at most, such as specially belong to the business of a mere compiler. Extensive attainments in a knowledge of either the history or science of agriculture were not esteemed to be indispensable attainments for that position, although scientific gentlemen had previously occupied said position with credit.

In the discharge of his clerical duties no man could well have surpassed Mr. Klippart. He was quick in his perceptions, singularly apt in doing the required work, and always ready and prompt. His systematic and careful habits enabled him to have the business of his office in such trim condition, and in such a state of forwardness, as to occasion no delay, no embarrassment, when pressing business became more urgent.

While he discharged his mere office duties with scrupulous faithfulness, yet he diligently labored for the acquisition of higher and more thorough knowledge of not only the science of agriculture, but of every kindred science, so that he might year by year increase the value of our agricultural reports, which were prepared by him, and published under his editorial supervision. He bestowed his labor upon them not only assiduously, but with an intense desire to make them of great value as a reliable repository of useful and practical information, so that through them the standard of Ohio agricultural literature might be improved and elevated.

In view of the time required for the discharge of his pressing official duties as Secretary, and the performance of other scientific and official obligations which he had assumed, it is a marvel that he was enabled to accomplish so much in the acquisition of valuable scientific knowledge and of general useful information. He, however, was an enthusiastic, persevering, indefatigable worker. He devoted all the time at his command to vigorous study. Notwithstanding the frailty of his physical organization and his impaired strength, he continually and ambitiously pressed forward in his studies, so that he might become thorough in those branches of learning which were most useful to him in his position, and which were congenial to his tastes.

Those of us who have had intimate knowledge of his mental characteristics, and have known him well, can bear cheerful testimony to the kindliness of his nature and the faithfulness of his friendships. In all the relations of life he was kind, genial, and affectionate.

Mr. Klippart had become quite extensively known as Secretary of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture-as a member of literary and scientific associations-abroad and at home. He had acquired a deservedly high standing as an industrious, inquiring worker in his sphere, and as a man entitled to public confidence. Valuable and honorable as the testimonials he may thus have acquired are to his worth, they are of inferior

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