The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-09-02
Sf(iObleburp 8tgisttr
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER Q, 1867.
Agriculture and the County Fairs
II 1 d d l. e B U RY:

Agriculture and the County Fairs.
The material interests of our commune
ty reposs upon one leading department of
industry. We live by the soil, almost as
exclusively as the grain and the trees do.
Whatever therefore may combine us in
sympathy and effort for the advancement
Of this great interest offers urgent claims
upon our attention, and loses nothing Of
its attraction in having proved itself hith.
erto productive both of benefit and pleas.
ure. We allude to the Fairs of the Coun.
ty Agricultural Society. Its Fairs have
had now q regular establishment since the
first, at which Governor JEsN1soN pre-.
sided, in 1874, The address of that
gentleman traced the history of the agri.
culture Of the County through its various
periods Of progress, bringing it down to
that, which in all respects it was so suita.
BILE that he should assistto inaugurste, of
counsel and competition the new society
1t is not to be denied that much has been
accomplished. A steady course has been
pursued in the patronage of the most inn
portant interests. Brilliant results in
some directions have attended the effort,
but foundation has been laid in a CON-
mon intelligence, which from the fairs and
annual meetings as q centre has become
diffused, and has impaired confidence to
members in the spirit of competition or
given hints for the improvement Of
plans before adopted. Perfection is
realized in no human design, but it
may be striven after. The County
Fair Is q museum, in which, to great
degree, the best which has been attained
is presented, to inform and stimulate OBJ.
servers in their own line of production.
The common visitor is interested in ae.
quiring standard of judgment, upon OBJ
jects with which he may have but little
personal acquaintance. The practised
critic can both observe and instruct and
his skill, thus impaired, belongs to the
treasures of the County Fair. In taste
and housewifery, there is presented
source of pleasure and benefit that re.
turns but seldom as matter of curiosity;
of qualification in the public spirit and
accomplishment of those who contribute
to the department; of common know.
ledge also of what each has done, as a
guide in further improvement.
What has been accomplished hitherto
has been the result Of combination and of
perseverance. The same means will re-
main available for still higher results. 1t
is strong force which is interested in eff.
fecting them, if its approval of what has
been accomplished shall combine it still to
make the pursuit of agriculture still more
a subject of honor and means of higher
the County Fair are not exhausted. 1t
has new powers and attractions as they
are needed, and there is intelligence to
develop them, as there will be to avail it.
self of them, in the community whom its
benefits will concern. What is requisite
is only the desire of progress the will to
persevere belongs to the earnestness of
approval with which the advantages of
progress are appreciated. In the pre- lent
year, nothing less, certainly, than the usual
effort will be anticipated in presenting
the objects of exhibition, nor will there,
we trust, be any defect in the oppor-
tunity for their display. The honor of
the County will require that the fullest
effect shall be given to its annual exhibi.
ton, in every department.
Calling Names.