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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent §tre filmds d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est filmd d partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 ■fl%.' ''i ^J'^ ^l*-'_™ ADDRESS 0lZ4>idiBI> ttUrOKK THJI r mB0ttatian, OIH^ 035rTj^B»IO, ▲T TBM TWENI'Y^NINTH ANN DAL PROVINCIAL EXHIBITION, ▲T TOBONTOk 1^74, BY tsa raaatpKtfT, KOBERT GIBBONS Patm«t>«Mai. l»9r CNniW «»r «!&» Awvoblat^oci. B$ jf ^tirriim oompany, m * us KiHa st. bast mfi 'ma i | ii i i l.lL!iiMl i | l 'i iAl.illlLitttj^iUlJ. i' iJlBll i U i Ji l imiJ^rimJi- i (ii i WllJi^ ^^1 ■ ii' 'v'iLi^jSii^'s? A&^.^;^ '^'W^itl^: .♦ v^,^ ivt . ;"■ 4> ADDRESS DELIVERED SEFOBE THB '^4 ^.Qt'mihxml mh ^vh ^uatmiim, GW OIsrTjgLl2,IO, AT THV M ofOiifant): Wo luv a!»j«ombUHl for tbo t\vonty-i\inth timo tohoU our annual nuvting, auii in acoonlanco with tho custom c^tivbli.slKxl by my prcvUvessi^rs in otboo, T b:\vo now the bonor to addn.\<^ you as tbe IV^itkMit of tbiv« mavidon<'0 to favor us, juid ujx)U tbe splendid cxbibition of pro- ducts wbicii tbis b;is euabkxl us to witness bere tonlay. Tbe spring was ratber late iu ojM>iiiiig, but we bad a most favourable season for committing tbe seed to tbe eartb, aud timely nuns in June and July brougbt on tbe exops witb wonderful rapidity. Fall wbeat was doubtless considerably winter killed in some sections, and tbe bay cn>p b;is, in certiun jvirts of tlie Province, fallen sbort of tbe usuid averjige yield. Tbe Colorado potato beetle has also committcil depreilatious on our most important root crop, wbile carrots, m;uigels ai.d turnips have suffertxl more or less from drougbt du-iiig tbe latter part of tbe summer. But notwitlistanding these drawbacks, we ivjoice over a plentiful in-gathering. The spring grains have nearly everj'wbero yieldeil abundantly. We have had an unusually fine season •?? MM* for secuiing the harvest, so that every advantage has been gained in respect to grass, grain and straw ; and our bams are now filled to overflowing. The fruit yield is good, and the root crop will probably, notwithstand- ing the dry summer, in most cases turn out well. Let us therefore heartily join in thanksgiving to Almighty God ior the blessings he has poured upon us, and humbly seek a continuance of them in the future. Gentlemen, this Association has now attained to what may be considered a very respectable age. Twenty-eight years is no inconsiderable period in the life-time of an individual or of an institution. Those who were middle-aged men when this Association was first organized, and took an active part in its early operations, are now old, or have departed from the scenes of their earthly labors ; while those who were then young are now well on in the journey of life. Since the formation of the Association, no less than ten gentlemen who worthily filled the position I now occupy'have passed away from earth. John Wetenhall, Wm. [Matthic, Adam Fergusson, John Stephenson, Edward_|W. Thomson, Henry Euttan, John B. Marks, Thomas'^C. Street, Chas. P. Treadwell, and Asa A. Burnham, who were once the highest officers of this organization, and did their best to promote its useful influence, arc no longer here to take part in its pro- ceedings. But their places have been filled by others, and when we who now occupy the prominent positions sh all-in our turn retire from the stage of action, those who are now young will succeed us, and will no doubt carry the institution forward to far greater efficiency and prosperity in its eflbrts to promote the most im. pork^nt material interests of this country. .%&.jii*i'r:i'i This Association was founded with a view to the following, among other objects : — To stimulate and aid the fai-mer in adopting the most approved methods of culture, and in raising the best possible qualities of grain and other products, and the finest and most pro- fitable breeds of live stock : to aid in the introduction of the latest and most valuable improvements in the manufacture of agricultural implements and machines ; and generally to promote in every practicable way the industrial and manufacturing interests of the country. These ends were sought to be attained, among other means adopted, by bringing together annually a public exhibition of all the best products, aniii Is, implements, fabrics, &c., that thereby improvemei.. plight be pro- moted by practical examples — that i who were backward might witness What others iiai one and be induced to copy after them, and that those who were most advanced might still learn something from one another, and be led on to greater efforts after excellence. How far these objects have been attained, let the record of the Association tell. It was established some years after the kindred national societies of England, Scotland, Ireland and New York State. Yet, in its vio-or- o ous onward progress it has not fallen behind any of them. When our first exhibition was held, in 1846, Upper Canada was comparatively in its ini^ncy. The whole Province then contained a population of only about 600,000. The agriculture of the Province was then, comparatively speaking, in a very primitive condition. Few improved labor-saving implements had been intro- duced, and in the whole extent of the country but a small number of specimens of the more valuable breeds of live stock could be found. Now what a different l^,' , * [••It' y BK:-'< i 1 ^'^ ^^^E^-i ^iKi HBi^ state of affairs do we behold in every respect 1 The population of this province is at the present time little, if any, short of 2,000,000 souls. A vastly extended area of land has been brought under cultivation ; new and improved methods of culture have been adopted ; labor-saving machines and implements, light but effective tools of husbandry, are everywhere to be met with, and the manufacture of these has become a very important clement in the industry of the country. ' Large flocks and herds of the most valuable breeds of live stock are to be found in most of the well settled parts of the Province, and bring prices to their enterprising owners never dreamt of at the earlier date above mentioned. Many new branches of agricultural and mechanical industry, un thought of when this Association was established, among which may be named flax-growing, the petroleum trade, mining, cheese factory dairying, grape culture, and various manufactures, have developed themselves, adding jreatly to the wealth and resources of the countiy. Our extensive railway system, also, and our magnetic telegraph lines, luive grown up during the time specified, bringing the distant parts of the Pro- vince into easy communication with one another, and facilitating the conveyance of produce and goods from one end of the land to the other. Moreover, under the Act of Confederation, this Pr^^vince now forms an integral part, and by far the most important part, of a great Dominion, stretching from ocean to ocean, which, in the boundless extent of its fertile lands, the vastness of its forests, and its rich mineral and marine resources, contains the elements of a future development and prosperity practically illimitable. IMi In regard to the agricultural interest, wliich is the most important of all and the mainspring of the rest, there can be no doubt that the improvement which has taken place in modes of culture, the use of improved implements, and the wide diffusion of the most valuable kinds of live stock, is largely attributable to the stim- ulus and encouragement imparted by the annua' exhibitions of this Association and the kindred societies of the Province. The same observation is true of the older organizations in the Mother Country. They have led the way and we have followed in their track. Practical knowledge has been diffused, and a spirit of emulation awakened, by means of the choicest products of the country being annually collected together in one spot, at these exhibitions, for the inspection of the public, and especially of those interested in agricultural progress, which has led to a much more rapid advance than would otherwise have been the case. Let us examine the statistics of the exhibitions held by this Association since its foundation, including the first one, held in 1846, and we shall see how great has been the increase in the number of articles or animals shown in every department — an increase which may b3 taken as a gauge of the progress in production in the different branches of industry throughout the Province at large. Not wishing to over-burden this address with figures, I refer you, for more detailed statistics, to the published -- Transactions of the Association, merely submitting the following tabular statement, showing the amount offered in premiums, the number of entries of animals and articles, and the amount actually awarded in prizes, each time the exhibition has been held at the city of Toronto, the place where we are assembled to-day : — 4 c k'f -1 ■ K 1 HU^; '. ^H H IP a f^m^ " H ^.^f 1 ^^^Bpl IH Bp^'-" 1 ^Hb, fl II ^^^By ^H ^^^^Hla ^^ h. -5^.VB * . R^ ^BUKt^M ■'m ^■pb>; 8 Year. 1846 1852 1858 18S2 1866 1870 1874 Amount offered in prizes. $1,600 00 5,916 95 10,700 50 12,0'^'^ 50 1?.'7 00 r -jO : 1 jO >.- No. of entries, 1,150 3,04G 5,572 6,319 6,279 6,897 8,162 Amount awarded, $1 TOO 00 4,913 00 9,215 00 10,722 00 10,288 50 12,243 50 I am yet uble to state the precise amount awarded this year, but it will uo doubt be in about the usual proportion to the sum offered as premiums.* Now surely this is a record of which any association may well be proud. In the number of entries of live stock we actually eclipse the Royal Agricultural Society of England, the most celebrated institution of the kind in the world. As to the quality of the stock, though we do not contend that all the animals here to-day arc up to the standard of the Royal, still it is a fact that among them there are £ome animals which have taken first prizes in their classes at the Royal Society's show, and it is certain that the large propoition of the stock on our grounds to-day is such an would do no discredit to any exhibition in the world. In the machinery and implement department, of course we do not as yet ap- proach the English Show. Still our display in this line is respectable, and has made great advances over what it was a few years ago. When we make corrr- parisons with the State and Provincial Exhibitions of this Continent, it is an admitted fact, that with the single exception of the great fail' at St. Louis, our •Note. — The actnal amount awarded this year was $14,070 00, to which Tk ill have to be added the increased prizes given for imported animals after they have been one year in the Province, iunounting to a considerable sum. '- I' M iP g ' 9 imnual exhibition is the most imjioitant, in the quality and extent of the articles and animals brought into competition, and the most successfully conducted, of any on this side of the Atlantic. Further, we may congratulate ourselves on our exhibitions having been successful 'on fevery occasion. Wo have never yet been obliged to record one of them as a failure. For the splendid exhibition of live stock which we are now enabled to make, the Province is incalculably indebted to those enterprising gentlemen who, during 80 many years, previous to and since the founding of this Association, up to the present time, at great cost and risk to themselves, have imported the most valu- able animals from the mother country. It is true that they have, in many cases, reaped an ample reward for their outlay, in the profitable sale of the imported animals or their progeny, but we are none the les«^ indebted to them on that account. It may perhaps be considered invidious to particularise individuals in this connection, but in any history which may hereafter be written of the introduction of the most valuable breeds of live stock into this country, the names of Rowland Wingfield, Adam Fergusson, the Millers of Markham and Pickering, the Thom- sons of Whitby, F. W. Stone, David Christie, Simon Beattie, George Brown, and many others, must always be honorably mentioned. In regard to the present exhibition I venture to say, from my own observation, that in many of the classes it surpasses, or at least equals, any of the pre- ceding exhibitions which have been held in the Pro- vince of Ontario : that in so far as horses, cattle, ymmm 10 sheep, and swine are concerned, they could scarcely be excelled on this continent. " The specimens of agricultural and other imple- ments on the ground are of the most improved kinds, and are a credit to the manufacturers of Ontario. Fruit and vegetables are also very fair, together with the fine arts and ladies* work, comprising, as a whole, one of the finest exhibitions ever held in this province. I now leave the subject of exhibitions, which has mainly occupied our attention thus far, and, with your permission, will glance briefly at a few other matters. One of the important objects which the Council of the Association has been greatly interested in promot- ing during the past ten or twelve years, has been the establishment and maintenance of the Ontario Veteri- nary College. This institution, under the able man- agement of the Principal, Professor Smith, has been attended by the most gratifying success. Since the op;ning of the College, more than one hundred stu- dents have passed successful examinations within its walls, have obtained the diploma of the Association authorising them to practise the veterinary art, and are now distributed over the Province at different points, where, in most cases, they are earning handsome in- comes from the profession they have acquired, while their services are of great benefit to the owners of valuable domestic animals. This important boon to the farmers and stock-owners of Canada has been ob- tained at the very inconsiderable outlay, on the part of the Association, of only about $560 per annum. The College has now reached a stage of maturity at which it may probably bo a wise policy to give it more r annum. 11 liberal pecuniary support^ and thus increase its effici- ency and extend its usefulnesa; . ..,., ,.e,4-'^ ^^■■■..':'.^^■f^^■ Th.e finances of the Association, I am happy to be- able to inform you, are in a prosperous condition. We commenced the year with a balance in hand of. $11,320 64 Amount received since that date 2,162 00 $13,482 64 Amount paid out since Jan. 1st, 1874 3,736 00 Balance in hand Sept. Ist, 1874 $ 9,746 64 This does not include the Government grant for the present year, nor the receipts in connection with the exhibition now in progress, which make the amount on hand at the opening of this exhibition over $20,000. This is certainly a satisfactory state of the exchequer, and one which fully warrants the Association in offering a liberal list of premiums. The Government acts wisely in appropriating a certain amount annually from the public funds in support of this Association and the county and township Agriculturd Societies of the Pro- vince. The money, as a matter of fact, belongs in great part to the farmers themselves, and so long as they approve of this disposition of a part of the Provincial funds, the Government will be fully sustained in con- tinuing the appropriation. In regard to the Deniaon matter, the sum originally decided by the Court of Chancery to be due the Asso- ciation, in February, 1871, was $14,897 61. Of thia amount there has been paid up to the present time, the «um of $11,311 30. There ia now due, including ymmmmm Ft r ■ 12 interest, the sum of $5,866, and there is every prospect that this balance will be fully paid off at an early date. During the year of my presidency of this Association, the Government of this Province has opened the Ontario School of Agriculture, and the Dominion Government has been actively engaged in negotiations witJb a view to a new Reciprocity Treaty between Canada and the United States. TJie Provincial School of Agriculture is located at Guelph, and commenced operations in May last with about thirty students.. Although some unforeseen difficulties have interfered with its thorough efficiency at the outset, it is to be hoped that these will be overcome in due time, and, situated as it is, in the centre of one of the best agricultural districts in the Province, there is every prospect of the institution becoming a great and permanent benefit t'> the farming interest. The new Treaty of Reciprocity is as yet only in the formative process, and awaits the action of those legislative and executive bodies which have a voice in its negotiation and ratifica- tion. Meantime, its proposed terms tire undergoing that ordeal of criticism to whicli all public measures are subjected in free countries like our own. That the general welfare of the country, and in particular the agricultural interest, will be promoted by a fair treaty of reciprocity, there can be no doubt, and in aU discussions on this subject, it ought to be borne in mind that the greatest good to the greatest number is the object of all wise legislation. It will be difficult, if not impossible^ to frame a treaty which will not affect some individual and local interests unfavor- ably ; but the question involves the general prosperity of our country, and surely that will be best secured by 'Vifi 13 an open market between Canada and the United States. Hence, the prospect of renewed reciprocity should be hailed with pleasure by the people at large, and by none more heartily than by the farmers of our land. It is gratifying'^ to ob£Civc the signs and tokens of national prosperity Avhich present themselves on every hand. Lines of railroad are being projected and built in all directions. Vast sums of money are being ex- pended on canal, harbor and other public improve- ments. Almost every village has its telegraph office. Our educational institutions are multiplying. Manu- facturing is being carried on to an extent which augurs well for the country's advancement. New sections of the province, such as the district of Algoma, are being opened up, and beginning to contribute their vast mineral, fishery, and lumber resources to our markets and revenue. Our population has been receiving un- usual accessions of late i'rom immigration, owing to peculiar circumstances which have been at work in the Old Country, and the probability is that we shall con- tinue to receive a considerable influx of settlers, com- posed largely of the agricultural class. To keep pace with the general prosperity, and to provide food for our increasing population, we must continue to im- prove in our farm practice. As land and labor in- crease in cost, there must be bettor faiming in order to make agriculture pay. In the past, there has been a too exclusive culture of grain, until land, once highly fertile, has become impoverished. A rotation of crops is needed to correct this evil. Grass and roots must alternate with grain, if the production of the soil is to be maintained. The improvement of stock is an object that requires to be kept steadily in view. It costs no Ht :^PBJ] uJl^-^^iii. r. 14 3*^-^ «g '^ 5^ i^r 'i ■■'■■ ■■■ Btf f^.^ '' 1 {■'".. '■ MRh^^'f 'f''"-fl B^fei*, h;.,..- J m^^ 'b'^^S W^\ ;,"■':» mmJf '-j-.4:'H K3H?|L^ ^:''fl HB^/j more to rear, a well-bred animal than a common one ; in most cases it costs less, and the profits in the end are far larger. In view of the many obvious advan- tages which accrue from keeving choice breeds of stock, is it not strange that so many farmers continue to raise inferior kinds 1 It is still only the feiu who have gone into the keeping of improved varieties of farm animals. Underdraining is another greatly needed branch of agricultural improvement. Large stretches of land are unproductive, and many districts of country are malarious, through neglect of draiunge. Earlier and better crops could ];0 obtained on mo; t farms if they were but drained. Under the provincial statute, town- ship councils have it in their power to promote this important improvement, and if the municipalities were to bestir themselves, individuals would be encouraged to do something. In many coyes the drainage of par- ticular farms depends on a system of drains which must be established by a municiijality before individual en- terprise can accomplish much. Local agricultural societies can do great good by bringing their influence to bear in localities where municipal action requires to be taken to secure this great public improvement. The progress of dairying in certain parts of the Province is a matter of congratulation. It is not, how- ever, to be supposed that these districts have a mono- poly of advantages for carrying on this branch of farming. In view of the fine market for cheese, and the increasing price of butter, it were well that more attention should be paid to dairy products. The testi- mony of those who live in those neighborhoods where this interest nowflourishes, goes to prove the wisdom of the course just recommended. This branch of farming '^^^mK^ mimmm 15 Ko raise suggests the subject of soiling cattle. Lial>le as we are almost uniformly to the prevalence of drought at some period of the summer, it is essential to the milk sup- ply that there should be some resource when the pastures fail. This is to be found in those green forage plants which are to be seen flourishing in the greatest luxuriance amid the heat of midsummer Foremost among these is Indian corn, a plant which, in its uses as a green fodder, is one of the greatest boons bestowed bv an iudul