Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-09-02
A Agricultural Fnirs.

State agricultural exhibitions take place through
out the country and it is evident from the signs of
preparation and the wide notice of these occasions
taken by the newspaper press, that these organi-
cations are regarded with a constantly increasing
interest. The formation of the first agricultural
society inthe United States dates back but coupara
lively few years; yet there are now, besides the
national society, according to the New York Journal
Of Commerce, not less than twenty-five State Socle-
ties, and near eight hundred county associations
OF the former, sixteen hold their exhibitions in the
month of September. The United States Agricul-
ural Society holds its Fair at Chicago in the same
month, opening on the 12h, and closing on the
18th. The preparations for the latter if We may
Judge from the statements of ths Chicago press are
on large scale. The expenses Of this Fair are
estimated at Sl7 900, of which $4,000 was reouir-
ed TO at up the grounds, comprising fifty acres, aC
cessible by railway and steamboat There have
been erected 1000 stalls for animals aud six large
buildings for the reception and exhibition of agri-
cultural productions manufactures, &C. In the
centre of the grounds is a psgoda for the Judges
and instrumental performers, while seats are pro-
Vided for 10000 people. The Chicago Times anti
oipGtes 80 complete, glorious success-both as TO
the number and character of the contributors
which viii come in from all parts of the Union, and
from the Canadas and in respect to the number of
persons who will be present from ell parts of the
country" For the present Fair, $4,000 have
been offered in premiums by the Society, and
the list is largely increased by thu special pre-
miums offered By private citizens and associations
Next to this, the most noticeable CT the approach
ing Fairs is that of the st. Louis Agricultural and
Mechanical Association, to c1me CT on the Goth of
September, which offers strong inducements to III
valry. The premium list shows three premiums
of 81, 900 esch;-viz, for bes: thorough bred bull
of any age, 81 OOO best roadster stallion in har-
ness, 81 coo; best thorough bred stallion, Of any
age, $1,000: together with smaller premiums in the
various departments Of industry amounting to
10000.
In comparing the number of agricultural soce-
ties in the different States, the great grsnary of
the North vest ads off Illinois numbering eigh-
tysix county societies; New York follows next,
with seventy-seven societies; Indiana has bit one
loss Pennsylvania has si1ty-eight and Ohio the
same Massachusetts A, Iowa &C. &C.
In Tennessee we have about forty county societies.
which hold their annual fairs during the month of
September and October, besides which there are
State Fair and Division Fair in each of the grand
divisions Of the State. The number of these socie-
ties shows the interest which our farmers are tax
ing the Advancement of the agricultural interest.
Many suggestions have been thrown out recently,
designed to render the proceedings of these organi
cations more generally attractive and useful. Those
plans which contemplate simply the collection of
large crowds and the qualification Of personal van
ties will not result in advantage to illers of the
soil The production of improved field products and
agricultural implements, for public competition,
must ever be primary object and TO develop
healhful rivalry, confidence must be secured in the
qualifications ard impsrtiality of those awarding
premiums These are considerations of the first
Importance.
All the industrial interests should be represented at
these annual sssemblages and always withreference
to the development of productive power. 1t sounds
well to discourse upon the immense and growing re-
sources of the country, and both orators and jour
naliss tempted to psnder to the vanity of others
in this direction, if it sometimes be at the ex
pense of truth. At least, they do not always en-
large with equal fuenoy upon the great increase of
population, and keep in view the relations Of pro-
duction to consumption. The Washington cores
Pondent Of the Journal Of Commerce, on the other
hand has of late spoken of the gradual detericra-
ton CT soil in those States longest settled of the
ipoEerishng process of culture adopted and of the
constant diversion of labor from agricultural pur~
suit to other occupations These statements though
not always relished, have close approximation to
truth Attention must be directed to those means
by which the olG lands may be made reproductive,
rather than rely the "exhsustless fertility of
the West, which decade of years must prove to be
fictitious. This sccords with the views expressed in
the Agricultural Report of the Patient Office recent
ly ssued which contrasts the agricultural production
of the United States with the population at differ
ent periods and draws the conclusion that " not
the abundance and eheapness Of virgin
SOIL the advantages of climate, the facility Of trans
sortation to available markets. and the unrammeled,
light taxed, and independent condition Of our far
mers and planters. the ratio of increase of the ag
ricultural products of the United States in the
several decennia periods is, in general far below
that Of the increment of population, accession of
territory extensions of commerce, manufactures, in
ternal improvements, and the modern Appliances of
labor" These things demand the at
tention of our agricultural societies.