Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-10-06
From the American Agriculturist.
Are you going TO the Exhibitions

Rustic life is too apt to become
rusty life The faculties are not kept
bright by contact with others, and
much of life's enjoyment is lost. The
almost necessary ssclusion of farm
life is one of its advantages. When
men are shut up-each in his own lit
tie circle of observation, and having
absolute dominion, they are in danger
of becoming narrow in their views.
and conceited in their opinions; and
this more than almost anything else.
hinders progress in agriculture. Il
don't believe in book farming" is still
common expression among those
who scarcely understand what they
meant by bookfarming. and too many
unproductive fields bear witness to
the assertion. The motto proposed
by punch" for the building in which
the wv orld's Exhibition" London,
was held few years since, was ex-
pressive: at is good thing to haze
lilt tOuCtlt tdkCil OUl vi us.
Farmer Blunt boasts that he has al
ways stayed at home and minded his
own business, and has plowed and
sowed as did his fathers, year after
year, until he has come from force of
habit to feel that there is but one way.
and he knsws that way perfectly. If
he can be persuaded to attend an ex-
hibition, he will soon find things his
philosophy never yet dreamed of. I'm
der tine influence of the good feeling
which a large assembly inspires. he
will be much more ready to hear and
attend to the new ideas advanced, than
if they were brought to him in his own
little kingdom at home--especially
when the fruits of improved culture
are present to sustain these opinions
and compel his admiration. "There
may be something in it after alp he
exclaimes, as he wonders at the report
of the committee on the best farm,
which report details the various meth
DDS of culture and the results
Eighty bushels of corn per acre"
is an argument whose force he can feel,
and the leaven of a new idea thus OBJ
tanned will work good results.
There can hardly be more appro-
pirate manner of closing the agricul-
tural year than by the exhibitions of
the produce of farm and household
industry, and it is well that these ex-
hibitions have now become so general.
The partial release from severe labor
which this season brings, is itself an
occasion of rejoicing and it is natural
and fitting that the invitation is given
and accepted, "come. let us make
merry together" Were no end to
be gained but the promotion of social
ity, we should urge upon all to attend
the annual gathering at the farmers
festival, the agricultural exhibition.
The managers of these exhibitions
have been censured, justly perhaps,
for the introduction of features that
have made mere show of what
ought to be of a very different charac-
ter. 1t may perhaps be said in their
defence, that they resorted to question
able means for securing large attend
ance, only because there was not
interest enough in the community, in
what is really beneficial, to sustain the
enterprise. Their choice between a
good exhibition. where improvements
were to be brought forward and their
merits canvassed, coupled with slim
attendance and debt incurred, which
they must pocket; on the addition of
the race track, female equestrian dis
play and other taking" things. which
should make it pay" Those who
have done nothing for the support OF
the County and State Societies and
their exhibitions. ought not to com
plain if the officers resort to such
measures to sustain themselves. II
half of those who cultivate an acre OF
ground would attend the exhibition
as matter OF duty, as well as interest,
taking with them their produce, there
would soon be very little complaint OF
mismanaged societies and useless
shows. Let this years exhibitions
show by the full attendance given,
that the farmers consider these insti-
tutions as their own, and the mana.
gers will rejoice to make them what
they should be, both the signs and
the source of agricultural improve
ment.