The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-11-02
Uses nd Abuses of Agricultural Fairs.


In an article on this subject, the New YORK
Journal Of Commerce, after referring at Length
10 the vast popularity and permanent rowan
tases OF Agricultural Fairs mentions what II
considers their abuses, in the various SHOWS
which have been admitted on their grouhus
The New Jersey State Fair Is described as
having been an amusing but odd exhinitoh Oh
scientific. military, horticultural, animal ana
sao,ss,ic sounds and sights, whilst there was
:, "trlal Of speed, in addition TO the other at
fractions AT the Maine State Fair, the trial
,f sree,i was a horse race. The Portland ar.
xns gave q full report of the race "tor the So
ciety's sweepstakes The public interest,
even in the solemn State of Maine, seems TO
have been centred in that attraction. There
are few persons inseusible 10 the beauty OF
blood horses, and the desirableuess Of lmprov-
ing and extending the race. The throngs
which assemble on that portion of our own
Fair Grounds whenever the horses are exhib-
tied show the interest and popularity OF such
= show among our own people, and, so far
from being an abuse, the horse show is con-
sdered here one of the greatest attractions and
advantages of an agricultural exhibition. 1t
is true, however, that, with occasional excep-
lions, We have nothing which could be techni-
cally pronounced racing the lovers OF that
tanned at the Fairfield Course, or at Ashland.
The late races upon that course, by the way
were worthy OF The palmiest days OF The Old
Dominion.
The Journal pays just tribute to the value
OF Fairs in general, IAN institution almost as
old as commerce." and which, IN their appli-
cation TO agriculture, have been of great prac-
xical advantage to the farming interests
The improvements introduced into them
during the last half century; the agricultural
colleges and institutions of a similar nature
founded in this ana other lands the dgricul
turaI schools where the art is taught III all its
branches having large farms attached, de-
pending entirely on the students and profess
sors Tor cultivation, aud from which they re-
mir 10 the recitation room TO render the sys-
tenn Of instruction complete by combining
theory and practice, have all been followed by
the most beneficial results. And yet, as the
Journal truly says, our conntrynen are 50 far
from perfection that they cannot even pre-
tend to compete with the agricultuTists Of
Europe But then it ought to be rem bered
that the despotic governments OF the Ola
World give literally TO the support OF agri-
culture. while this republican country, which
has extended efficient rrotec lion TO manufac-
lures. and appropriated vast sums TO the de-
fence Of commerce. has never appropriated 4
dollar 10 the agricultural interests, which
constitute the occupation Of nine-te OF the
American people. The exhausting effects OF
our past mode of cultivation upon the soil,
which is becoming worn out in all parts OF
the country, is 4 subject which demands the
united attention of ali the agric ulturlsts OF
the land, and which might well demand the
attention OF the government We hear COM
plants from all sections of a serious falling
off in the productiveness of the earth, which
has been drained of its vitality, and no means
adapted for its regeneration. This matter
will become serious before many years, and
ought to be looked TO in time.