The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-10-15
Ihs Stats Agricultural Fair-Its Objects and Re
aultR

objects and results Of the late State Agricnltu-
raj Fair at an earlier day, but such les been
the demand upon our columns that we could
not do so.
We are free to confess that the late Fair was
not all we had right to expect State Fair
TO be. There vas evidently lack of interest
in its success 10 the great body of the farmers
of the State. 1t was the first State Fair ever
held in Tennessee, and the proper efforts were
not made to induce the farmers and mechanics
in every portion of the State 20 bring or send
to the Fair specimens of the products of their
farms and workshops. With our present fac1-
ties for getting to Nashville from the differ
ent portions of the State, there ought to have
been large and fine display of agricultural
products, while there was scarcely suficiency
to reflect credit upon al exhibition by a county
society. The returns of the last census show
that Tennessee is one among the most impor
tant grain growing States in the Union. Why
then the extreme paucity OF specimens of the
different varieties grown in this State on exh-
bition at the late Fair? Simply because the
farmers in sections remote from Nashville. to
participate in the Fair. The remark has been
made, and there is some show of Justice in it,
that here in Tennessee some new things take
remarkably well, especially if they are calcu-
lated to confer no substantial, lasting benefit
upon the community at large. When new en-
terprises, however, which are calculated to
benefit every body, are put upon foot, the
mass of the people are remarkably tardy in CIV
log them their sanction and aid. Here is one
reason why the State Agricultural Fair was
not what it ought to have been.
1t is true we cannot call by our fat order
out of chaos or light ont of darkness" aud
hence it was not expected that this first State
Agricultural Far ever held in Tennessee would
call together an assemblage of farmers, me-
ohanics and artisans, equal to gatherings of
similar character in the Northern and Eastern
States, or exhibit a state of improved agricul-
ture and the mechanic arts that would compare
fsvorably with these branches of industry and
enterprise in States that have devoted years of
patient application and expended large sums
OF money in the shape CT premiums, in bring
ing these industrial pursuits to their present
state of perfection. This Fair, so far as the
whole State is concerned, was nothing more
than a starting point. 1t was intended simply
to show what we have, and what we have not,
in the different portions of the State; and to
stimulate our farmers and mechanics to i'm
1 : T. l.,
present condition of their respective caIlings.
and to supply such deficiencies as might be
found to exist To this end should the friends
of the Fair have addressed themselves with an
have accomplished their object. To those who
have attended these gatherings of the farmers,
mechanics and artisans-whO, after all, consti
tute the bone and sinew, perhaps we should
say conservators of a State-it was unneces-
sary 10 address arguments TO convince them of
the value to the agricultural and mechanical
pursuits of the couutry of such Fairs; but
there are thousands of intelligent farmers in
the State who have not participated in and
witnessed the practical operations of these ju-
blees and it was to these that appeals should
have been made by the friends of the State
Agricultural Fair, to attend the State Fair, and
bring with them whatever they possessed that
would add to the interest Of the exhibition,
and see for themselves what agriculture and
the mechanic ait are doing for the improve
ment of the country and the elevation of the
laboring classes, and become themselves inter
ested in the work of assisting to improve these
industrial pursuits.
But we have wandered somewhat. 1t was
our purpose to speak of the Fair as it was, and
not as it should have been.
With the exception of the paucity of the
products of the field, the Fair was very credi-
table, although falling far short of our expec-
tation of the extent and variety of specimens
exhibited, and the counties represented. a
lively interest was felt in the success of the en-
terprise by the citizens of Nashville as well as
by a goodly number of citizens of different
counties in the State who were called here in
pursuit of business or pleasure, as was evinced
by the attendance daily during the week, OF
large numbers of ladies and gentlemen. Had
the producing classes throughout the State en-
tered rs heartily into the success of the enter
prise, as did many of the citizens of Davidson
and counties adjacent, we should have had a
Fair of which to be proud indeed. We think,
however, great deal of good will result from
the late Fair. The first, and, therefore, most
important step in this matter has been taken,
and although it did not call together farmers
from interior and remote portions of the State
to any great extent, the result augurs well for
the success of the enterprise in the future
Enough was exhibited 10 show us Whist is the
present condition of the industrial pursuits 10
the counties represented, and We think we are
fully warranted in saying that those In attend
ance have carried home with them the deter
mnation to make such improvements in their
respective pursuits as naturally suggested
themselves TO the careful observer; and this