The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-03-21

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an affirmative answer % this question
The argument that they are necessary 70
/ the support Of agricultural societies. Is be-
lieyed 10 be entirely llliacious. Does ex-
/ perience teach that the class Of people who
[ are particularly Interested in mere amuse-
ments-inOcent or otberwise-can be per
manently relied on in important enterpri-
ses2 On the contrary IS it not well under
stood that their Characteristic caprici0us-
/ ness may at any moment jeopariise the
success of any undertaking Again. The
true friends u agriculture are Disguised hy
frivolous and immoral proceedings. and
stand alOOf or withdraw the support that
NAV have been rendered. thus depriving
/ the society OF the aid Of the mos, substan-
sial and trustworthy CitiZens-the class
which all experience shows can alone be
depended on for the prosecution OF enter
pr!ses designed FOR the public good.
But perhaps il will be asked, would YOU
shut out the horse from any participation
in agricultural exhibitions. Certainly not
The horse IS one OF tie most Rsetul OF our
domestic animals. and his Improvement
should not be overlooked hv agricultural
/ societies. Several classes or breeds OF
horses are required, the most important OF
which, IN reference 90 the wants of this
community Is the farm-hOrse This is
also the class which here most needs i'm
prOvement. Next in Importance IS the
roadster class suited 10 quick travelling
with comparatively light vehicles on the
road. One point Of merit In this class. Is,
OF course, speed in trotting. OF AZ least that
degree of speed which j. compatible with
the hardness Of constitution and power of
endurance necessary TO constitute the most
qaf W.. md n4tN4I f.a f.r-
mess In awarding premiums on this class.
it viii obviously be proper 10 take into con-
sideration all the properties required 10
make the best horse. As before remarked.
one of these properties is speed, though
not in higher degree than Is likely 20 Poe
wanted by the horse in the performance of
his legitimate duties II VIII he prOper
that the committee under whose eXamlna-
tiOn horses Of this class are brought should
subject them. as far as possible. % such
tests as would be adopted by a person
wishing 10 purchase horse for honest busl-
ness. He would Oi course w. D. t0 see
something OF the animals action. both as
10 its style and rapidity; but no would by
no means think il necessary tlat the horse
should be put in competition wth Others
on a track, at the highest practicable speed.
Even if it should be desired 10 test The rate
Of speed 10y time, the iairest node of doing
il would be 70 try each horse hy himself, iu
the most quiet way. Where horses are put
on a track IN competition with each other
il is difficult, and in some cases imprlcu-
cable 10 fairly settle the question OF the
rate Of speed of which they are relatively
capable on account of the excitement
which affects them. The 80 green horse
from the rural districts, unaccustOme1 to
81 Of
such an occasion, cannot act naturally, and
stands no chance with the trained nag OF,
perhaps, much less power Of speed Most
persons who have witnessed such contests,
must have had proof that the race IS not
always TO the swift-that the tricks Of jock
eys have often more 10 DO with the result
than the speed of horses. Certainly no
( tryihg icTses separately. we are much more
likely TO ascertain the natural style Of action
and actual rate OF speed, than under the
confusion and excitement of a general con-
Z test.
But it IS said the people will not attend
purely utIhtarian exhibitions. Admitting
this to be true, does il justify societies IN
pandering 10 a depraved taste, or aiding in
the corruption of the public morals Is it
not rather the duty Of societies 10 direct
/ public sentiment. to educate the people mp
to correct Standards to lead them ID the
way they should go!
Experience, however, shows that the OBJ
lection is not valid Il has been demon
strated that it is unnecessary to resort TO
"trials OF speed female mot tain eQues-
trianism. or any other displays OF vulgari-
" or vice, 10 induce people 10 attend agri-
\ cultural exhibitions. The New York State
Agricultural Society. one of the oldest,
most useful and influential associations
Of this character in the country. mas from
the beginning steadily refused 10 tolerate
any of these gambling or clap-tTap affairs.
II has never allowed trials of speed on lis
grounds, and never has set apart any more
ground for horses than was simply required
to fairly show their gait. Yet large crowds
have always attended the exhibitions OF this
society-larger, on the average, than have
attended the exhibitions Of those societies
which have introduced the Objectionable
displays before alluded TO.
The people Of our country would hardly hg
willing to admit that they are Inferior IN
morals or taste. or in a desire for the i'm
provement of the useful arts 90 those o
Great Britain. But in that country. whe~.
agricultural exhibitions have been held loi
a longer period than they have here aud
where they they are of late years very nu
merous, everything that has not a direcl
bearing on the Improvement of agriculture
is rigidly excluded Yet the people attend
in as great numbers in proportion 10 The
population, as they DO IN this country.
am sorry 10 be obliged to say. that the vis
itors to those shows generally study then
more closely than our shows are studied
! bv our people. The women OF England ar,
admirers Of the horse, but they do not giv'
their cOuutenance exclusively 10 that elias
I'm which speed IS the chief characteristic
At one Of the shows OF the Royal Arricul
tural Society, | saw one OF the first ladie
. in the Kingdom, both in position aud char
acter, point out TO several other ladies' q
high distinction, the characteristics, in fl
ure and shape. of j massive drau-ht-hors
belonging 10 her husband.
2 Our Canadian neighbors. who are ear
: nestiy devoted TO the Improvement OF agri
, culture, make exhibitions OF q highly cred
: ble character, and which are numerous
I attended by the people. They have u
4 trials OF speed, and allow no private show
= to occupy their grounds. Their exhibition
: are as well attended as ours. At the las
? Provincial show Of Canada West, held 3
q London. upwards Of a hundred teams eT
y gaged in plOwlng match. Land suItabl
! for 80 extensive competition could not
q found nearer than six miles distant frOI
the shOw-grounds; aud yet the contest wa
h witnessed by 10000 people or more. UI
Z usually large premiums were. 70 be SUR
offered on this OccasiOu-the highest beiD
II nearly a hundred dollars. But IN refereaC
y to practical or useful results. who vii "a
! that il was not better 70 use money in th
4 way than 70 pay it ont for so-calle1 tria
: Of speed
J. 1t is not reasonable to suppose that oJ
5 people are naturally so different from tho:
IS Of other countries that they cannot be il
2, fiuenced by similar motives. They nee,
IS Of course. to have these motives presente
j. to them; aud 1t is only necessary 10 sho
i in what direction lies their true welfare.
enlist their best feelings and most vigoro'
J. efforts.
/ Continuing his remarks Mr. Howai
? said: The utility OF agricultural exhibition
le depends very much on the systemat
n transaction OF the business relating TO theI
fy There is usually, with Us, too much hurr
70 aud OF course confusion. on these occasion
D. This might in q great degree be avoided