PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTY-FIFTH ANNUAL SESSION

OF THE

OHIO STATE AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION.

SENATE CHAMBER, January 7, 1880.

The Convention was called to order at 11 A.M., President B. W. Carlisle in the chair.

The roll of counties was called by the Secretary, the following delegates responding to the call:

Allen......

Ashtabula.

Athens

Auglaize

Belmont...

Brown

Butler

Carroll.

Champaign

Clarke....

Clermont

Clinton

Columbiana...

Coshocton
Crawford
Darke .....

Delaware

Erie.....

Fairfield

Fayette

Franklin

Gallia

Geauga..

Greene
Guernsey
Hamilton.....

Hancock

Hardin.......

S Sanford.
N. E. French.

J. H. Glazier.

Jes. Gearing.

A. T. McKelvy.

R Cochran,

.. Jos. Giffen.

..D. B. Lee.

S. Taylor.

J. R. S. Hazzard.

S. J. Rybolt.

. C. Rhonemus. ..E. H. Mathews. J. S. Elliott.

.A. Monnett.
.. Charles Negley.
George Nelson.
.C. Caswell.
.Isaac Claypool.
.J. M. Millikin.

. Charles Walcutt.

.C. D. Bailey.

S. Harmount moved that a committee of three be appointed to report business for the Convention, and the order of it.

The motion was agreed to, and the chair appointed, as said committee, Messrs. S. Harmount, J. B. Jamison, and J. M. Millikin.

J. C. Stevens moved that the sergeant-at-arms of the Senate be requested to serve as sergeant at-arms at the convention. The motion was agreed to.

This business having been disposed of, the President, Hon. B. W. Carlisle, addressed the following words of welcome to those assembled Gentlemen, I welcome you all to our meeting in this city to day, as the representatives of agriculture, under more favorable circumstances than we have met for some years. For many years past, as you are aware, a heavy cloud of debt has been resting upon the society, to day we meet with all its debts paid, all its bills settled up, and a handsome balance in the treasury. The President's annual address was read by the Secretary as follows:

PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL ADDRESS.

Gentlemen of the Convention:

We are assembled to day, in accordance with law, for the purpose of deliberation and consultation as to the wants, prospects, and condition of the agricultural interests throughout the State. It does me distinguished honor, and affords me great pleasure, after the flattering results of the past year, to welcome you in convention as the representatives of that great interest, the basis of our civilization, and to which all others are subservient.

The past year has been one of marked success. The toil of the hus. bandman has been rewarded by a bountiful yield, and the pests to which the farm is sometimes subject have been comparatively few. In quantity and quality the products of the farm have seldom been surpassed. We, therefore, have reasons for congratulations, and a stimulant for renewed energy in the future.

It is impossible to measure or even estimate the great importance of the interests represented here to-day; they are the corner stones upon which is built our nation, and the chief source of its wealth; let us, therefore, raise our standard of practice high, and then use every possible effort to attain that standard.

Science in agriculture is a thing to be sought after, and we now, more than ever, realize, its importance in our practice. The action of older and more experienced countries, demonstrates the importance they attach to every agricultural improvement. They give the most ample support and encouragement to every effort directed toward the increase

of soil production, and the solution of scientific questions relating

thereto.

In England they are compelled, from necessity, to cultivate the soil to the highest possible degree, to accomplish which every means in the way of manures and commercial fertilizers are brought into requisi⚫tion; but with all their careful cultivation they are unable to produce sufficient for home consumption, and must, therefore, depend upon the farmers of Ohio and other States for a great amount of their bread supplies.

The English government, recognizing the importance of their agricultural supplies, appointed, last year, a commission to visit the United States and take personal observation of our agriculture, and ascertain the cost of production and transportation to England.

One of the gentlemen connected with this English commission, who made a tour of Ohio, reports being well pleased with the result of his investigation in this State, and expresses surprise at our immense agricultural facilities. I doubt not that when the commission make their report to the English government the agriculture, and stock breeding of Ohio will be prominent in its praises.

Notwithstanding the advanced condition of our present agriculture, there is still a broad field for improvement. Our population is fast increasing, and the foreign demands for our products becoming greater and greater each year; it is, therefore, essential that we practice with science, in order that our soils may bring forth abundantly and of the best quality.

Our agriculture comprises the important and underlying element of the State's industries. At the last enumeration there was reported, as occupied in the State, for farming purposes, 21,712,420 acres, the average size of farms being about 111 acres, would show 195,607 farms, valued at $1,054,465,226, while the value of our farming imp.ements was rated at $25,692,787. Of the people engaged in the various industrial pursuits, more than 50 per cent. are classed as agriculturists, the number being 397,024. Of this number only 191,063 are reported as farm laborers, thus showing 205,961 actual farm owners in the State at the last enumeration; and while the farms of England are, as a rule, occupied by tenant farmers, two-thirds or more of the farms of Ohio are occupied and operated by the actual farm owner.

While we still have a broad field for progress and improvement, we have the facilities at hand with which to progress and improve. We owe much to the inventive genius for our improved agricultural machinery, and I want the farmers of Ohio to join hands with the men of science in solving the problems pertaining to soil production.

One of the topics selected for discussion in the Convention to day is, "has the time co ne in Ohio for planting for timber." This is an important question for our consideration.

In Europe particular attention is given to the science of forestry. There are, perhaps, some twenty schools established, in which the sub. ject is taught in the most thorough manner. In almost every country, especially in Germany, associations of foresters have been formed solely for the discussion of questions pertaining to forestry; embracing the diseases and injury, with the remedies employed; method of culture, management of forests, etc, and the discussions are published for the benefit of the people.

Dr. Warder, who is thoroughly familiar with the timber subject, has been invited to talk to the convention to day, and, I hope, will be able to do so.

I trust the present General Assembly of Ohio will wisely consider the enactments necessary to foster and protect the great gricultural interests of the State, and that they will heartily support our State agricultural departments, which we hold so important to the well being of our farmers and stock breeders, and the material interest of the State. To the friends of agriculture in the Legislatures of the past, I desire to tender thanks, and the thanks of the great agricultural interests in the State, which we represent, for their recognition of our interests.

And now, gentlemen of the Convention, permit me to refer, briefly, to our agricultural and mechanical exhibitions which have played so important a part in the present advanced condition of our productive industries.

The county and district fairs of the State furnish to the farmer and mechanic an opportunity of exhibiting his choicest productions in comparison with those of his neighbor, make comparisons relative to the merits of their respective products, and interchange results of experiments made in the different localities, thus disseminating a knowledge of the practice and improvements made, that could not otherwise be attainable. The improvements begun in the counties next seek a broader field for competition and comparison, and are, consequently, brought to the State Fair, where they may be compared with those from every section of the State.

The result of these exhibitions is an incentive for still greater improvement, and a wider dissemination of the knowledge of advanced practice in the agricultural field, and thus we move from county to State fairs, from State to National, and from National to Inter-National, until our products and inventions have been compared with those from every quarter of the globe.