Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-01-08
Agricultural COMMITTEES.

AaAANaAtAiaA NVullll kNtN
Thcrc j. a good deal Of responsibility rys,.
ir- on On, committees of our agricultural
.,,i,tlc.-much more than mos, Of the mem.
b,r. usually feel. They should be- men Of
c,uior and fairness. not warped hy prciu-
Jicc. or swcrycd by fayuriti,m or rartiahty.
They should also be men ct sound Judgment,
and having a good knowlcisc Of the subjects
% ohieets on which they are to ,it in iudr.
mont
Among tbe various committees OF our
agricultural shows, thsre Is none more diai-
cult 10 6ll. Or whose dutic. involve greater
del,cacy and responsibility than that on
stock. li 8. biscuit o. dli, because there arc
80 very few men o. be- found who are well
posted on thc different brccl. Of cat,lo and
their rcculnriiics, OF understand what
points mark and distinguish a really fne
animal. Hence. We often .rc the most ludi-
crou- decisions, giving The preference 20 an.
imals tha, have hardly a good point about
them. on account of some really uuimportant
thing about them, such as the color, Cor iu-
stance. In some instances, We have sccu
them selected on account o. what any com.
rctcui judge Of stock woui regard as jc-
iccts II not dsllrmitio.. Il is quite a. often
a. any way, that the preference is ghcu o
l,lso made. c1arss animals. over those OF the
finest mould and constitution, merely on
the ground Of a slight difference IN size.
We have said that grave responsibilities
rcst on thc-s committees. This especially
true OF that ou stock n any confidence b,
PLACID on their Judgment by the people,
their action will have "a great influence ON
the character Of tie stock in their district.
And We uegd uo, say. that immense sums Of
moucy ars involved .n ,he decision ol iae
rc5ule 10 thI. matter. To-day, working
oxen. .n those SECTIONS whore great pains
have BEEN taken % impro,. stock, command
a price more than twenty-five pr cent
higher than in thi. County, where li;ils has
b,cu done, anI less lr.i by many Of oar
farmers, Tor thi. cul.
There q. another thing about which our
committees are not careful enough, and
that is in noticing animals and articles
which may bsexhibi,,ia auI are mgritori0us,
that DO not come within tha rules % the s5-
eisty as competitor. or the premiums.
Tbc.s committee. seem o. think, tlcir due
tir. are done when they have distributed all
the premiums compgtelar. This wo think
entirely TOO narrow o view.
Il not uuirgqucn,ly happens that the very
lsst animal 5r article ia rs class, is one that
{, thrown outsil, ,bc rules OF thc society. l.
It treating the exhibitor with becoming
courtesy 90 entirely pas over without any
s5rt Of notice. such articles, merely because
thcy DO not come within therulr- prescribed
for competitors for premiums Usually, in
such cases, neither a premium or sratui,y
i. asked. All that is de,reI Is, tha; 10 may
D. noticed
An instance of this SOFT occurred AZ the
d., show for thi, County. We presented,
%, i1r premium. a full blood Hereford Bull,
which we had obtained az an expense Of
nearly $50, Gr the purpose Of improving
che stock or this vicinity Au we d,-ired
VA. o. have tbe committee notice him In
their report, and .ay what they thought OF
ham. We wanted ,bs.r opinion on r.-5rd,
~, matter whether favorable " adverse. Il
uattsreI very li.,,s % us whether it was
oue way or tie other, because ws know
what De IS, aud we ,rus; ae will live many
year. 90 speak tor bimse.a All we wanted
was thc rr1rA But We Do nnt end ous
word 10 relation 90 him ia ihe report OF thc
appropriate committee.
Vow We DO bot Complain OF this. bot
name che matter. that committees may hc
reminded Of their duties hereafter. and NOT
tryat Others with similar neglect. With M
% 4. not OF 80 much consequence. us weha,c
abundant means Of ealing pubiic attention
10 our animals but % other. differently
situated. it may Do OF grea, consequence.
We hope, therefore, ,hai Ia the future, all
committees will De more careful, aaI not
allow any meritori1us thins exhibited at
our shows, pls, unnoticed, whether entitled
% premium 0r not