The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1855-11-21
AprnaItaral.
Onr Agricultural Societies.

tons AuG NcN- 4oih dlo uii''i N''''~ >--N
Ges, rs web as multitude Of coau,y orga-
eiza,iohs, have also had their annual shows,
lsOcietiss all aim at .he same objects.
.hey are organized. ostensibly. for The Pur-
pcse Of making known among farmers sucl
system for the cultivation Of land, as ex-
,,iments and enlarged experience have
shown 10 BE- Tie most profitable; aud to
t.iag together The resalls OF efforts to pro-
duee the most desirable breeds Of horses
cattle sheep and swine, that they may Do
seen where tley can be compared with the
glea,esl advantage. Societies organized for
zach purpose aud moving on steadily to-
sAe attainment Of their otjec!s' cnnnot be
10 highly .caamended, or to largely encour
aIeds Every experiment that results in the
establishment OF an improvement in cattle
for the farm or sor the shanples, that gives
Us more desirable horse, sheep or hog;
.taat causes two blades of grass to grow
where bat one grew before; every invention
by the aid of which manual labor is lesscn,
Cd. and The products Of labor increased Is
! uf lasting penefl to all tue people of the
country, and The author is worthy of high !
est esteem. In this, Of course, we woold .
be understood as placing the cost Of an i'm,
provement, in TIE foreground Of considera-
tien, is an easy matter, where expense
spot IN object, to pu! fine animal On exhi-
bttion; but when the object Of the display is
to present results Of experiments, such as
may be profitable models for the largest
class Of farmers, it is as important TO know
how much the animal has cost, as 10 know
how much be weighs, Or of wha. particular
breed he is. A fine large fat OK looAs well;
but ifevety pound of his AsSh has cost his
exhibitor three times as much as it would
bring n the market. tits questionable wbe.b-
er The fgamer who raises stock to sell, d.
rives any benefit from his exhibition. The
s.ne is true Of any other animals that are
exhibited on such occasions.
That there are very many animals brougA-
10 the Exhibition Grounds of Agricultural
Societies, which have been prepared ior dist
play and for prize, at enormous cost, we
know 10 be true. That their appearance
there is sninjury to the workip G farmer, in
stead Of benefit, as intended, We believe
is also true. Tie effect may be injurious in
two Eays. There are farmers who labor to
produce such articles for the market as will
reuder a profitable return, and enable them
10 support their families comfortably, and
there those. who, having acquired fortune
in mercbantile pursuits, farm fer Il reputa-
ton. The frst is as likely TO have an affec,
ton for extraordinary products, as the last
Both attend Agricultural Exhibitions, and
both see lemaib / ably Gne specimens OF farm
products. The retired merchant, urned
farmtr returns to exceed what he has seen,
at.4 any cost for his means are ample;
lie is ambitious and can afford to crafty il
t9tbellsmost. But how is it with the man
who farms for the support CT himself fnd
family. II be gives due consideration 10 his
circumstances, and knows what it costs tc
exhibit an ordinary animal, he returns dis
healtened; he feels that there no chance fol
him at yearly showf:-or else, il bis desire
for fame overrides his best course, he re-
turns to give bis attention 10 a single beast,
10 The riury of he rest Of lis stock, or, at
least, of his yearly profits. In either case
he has derived no lenefit from his visit,
and, as he is the one who most requires all
lac advantages Of science and experiment,
il would doubtless be better were the cost
Of articles exhibited, to occupy more pro
Iuinent piace In the minds Of those who con
tribute and distribute awards Of merit OF
such occasions.
At our County Fairs, the evil from tht
cause named is not SO great as at those b.
state Societies; and at neither is it so appa
rent as at our own National Exhibitions
lie County Exhibitors all The farmers O
r Tie particular locality are interested, an
titev can, without much expense or rit /
dive out their best team and show the bes
tInas they have produced. There yo
eau easily tell - ho has in reality The bes
farm, and who is tne best farmer. If an
one has produced an extraordinary articl
or aninlalat an enormous price, his neigh
bors3qlfkonw it, and his display is immedi
atey set down as veIy fine, but very un
proh!abie.s
The farmer who shows ihe best cow,in Iii
LEAD, the whole OF which have been equal,
cared for; who brings in the biggest pump
k.a rom an evenly cultivated field, ana .wL
cera prove that his samples ale the result
Of Intelligence and industry, and not Of lay
ish expenditure Of means, is the favorite. -
Heshoas what benefits ray be derive
from means within the reach Of all, aud ha
wing succeeded beyond his fellows, he be
comes Justly entitled to the first prize
AT tile State Exhibitions, the real merits {
the produce exhibited--lhat is, how far th
seed Or breed is desirable to the practices
farmer, is not 50 well known, because III
particulars are not SO generally understood
Ambition TO have done The best, aud de
sire to realize high price for particula
breed, often prevents fair statement ofho'
result las been obtained.
Advertising breed by showing siagl
specimtn, and that too, prepared 10 dtceiy
Is Bha. we complain Of, and nowhere is
SO generally practiced as at our Nations
Exhibitions: for there, the vast majority ar
strangers 10 each other, and hav9 te depen
almost entirely upon the assertions Of tn
owners Of whatever specimens they may b
Interested in.
Bat, with thi, evil, il is not to be presu
med chat Agricultural Exhibitions are nc