Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-11-28

Agricultural Fairs.


narrative interest appears in the late fairs,
and for any of the various results OF az
r;cnlture. with the exception Of the horse
and the trotting course. We have thus
been led to examine the subject, TO inquire
for the causes of this want of interest,
and we venture 10 lay before our readers
a few facts and thoughts, hoping that 9th
ers will investigate still further and throw
out new light.
Agricultural fairs were devised, Osten-
sibly, to improve the farming interest,"
thus the stimulus of premiums for excel
lence in its various departments, on the
ground that premiums would create emu
lation and thus lead to improvement
The idea is good, and if faithfully carried
out would probably succeed. But IN Or
der that it even promise success, 1t Is ne
cessary that those branches OF the busl-
ness which produce the most, should re-
ceive the greatest amount of encourage
ment, if they are capable of as much real
Improvement as others, that there should
be fair and equal apportionment of pre-
miums, according to relative value and
importance.
Entertaining these views we have ia
ken pains to ascertain the number and
value of several prominent objects IN
Vermont which receive encouragement,
and their probable profits. Our tables
are taken from the last census of Yer
mont. The estimates are our own and
in round numbers are as follows:
Horses $1,000, valued at S3,j00,000.
Cows 100000; Oxen $4,000; other
cattle $4,000; valued at S7,000,000.
Sheep l ,O14,OO0, valued at 50, 100000.
Hogs $4,000, valued at 100000.
Wool 100000 lbs, at IS cts, 81, 1885,
900.
Butter 12,150,000, and cheese 9,000,-
900 lbs, valued at $3,300,000.
Hay 100000 tons, value S0,000,O00.
Grain, exclusive of oats, 100000
bushels, value $3,O0O,00O.
Oats S3,OoO,Oo0 bushels, valued at two
shilIings, 100000.
With these figures before US ii appear;
that if encouragement be given accord
ing to value and importance, the first at.
tention and largest amount of premiums
should be given for field crops, as they
are the real foundation of all agriculture
and, we think, capable of the greatest i'm
provement. The second premium should
be given to the dairy-the making o
butter and cheese and the quality of COWS
third to cattle generally; fourth to sheep
and whether horses or hogs should COM
fifth it is difficult to satisfy ourselves, no
having the means of arriving at tolera
BILE estimate. We think however, tina
the profit on horses, or yearly sale abov
spring value, cannot be equal TO ten pc
cent. But even if it come up to that fg
ure the profits on hogs for each year wi
be the greatest, and the relative abilit
for improvement is probably as good.
Let US look then at the premium
awarded; and for this purpose we wi
take our last State fair as a good criteri
Oh by which to judge of others. Turn
ing TO the report we find premiums o
horses first instead of lasD $3.50; pre-
miums on fast trotting $3.50; total o
horses 1888; premiums on cattle, mile
cows, $29! all other cattle S4S8; tot:
on cattle S5l7; total on sheepof all kind
S305; total on swine $40; total on bu
ter and cheese, paltry S65, and on fee
crops nothing; mechanic arts of all kind
1921.
Now, in the name of all the race couI
ses, fast horses" and fast men, of An
erica, we ask by what rules do our wis
agriculturalists proceed, when they civ
S73s premiums on horses, and nothir
for the best cultivated farm +? or eve
S29 for COWS when the profits on the
are annually equal to the whole value
horses, or only S65 for cheese and butte
while they pay $50 for fast trotting?
is safe to say there is no reason for til
mode of distributing premiums that a
pears nationally on the face of the ira
saction. The rules that should COVE
IN this case are entirely reversed, and th
too with vengeance.
Again, the great advancement of d
age results from improvements in the M
chanie arts. If this branch of indust,
should come at all into these fairs
should stand next to the management
the farm, if not even before. as II l. >
pable Of the greatest improvement. r
our wise men give to horses and hor
trotting almost three times as much
they do for the whole system of mocha
les. Is ii strange then that the rep,
Eentatives at Mechanics Hall" shou