Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-12-17
AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS

L. ]. Bradford, Esq, favorably known
in Kentucky for his praiseworthy efforts
to advance the agricultural interests of
that State, gives through the Lexington
Observer and Reporter some excellent
reasons why such exhibitions are of great
benefit to the farming community. he
says:
Agricultural exhibitions have been more
numerous and interesting this season than
during any former year. There is evil
IDENTIFY something in these exhibitions
which appeals most powerfully to the
national tastes and sympathies. They at
tract larger masses of people together
than any other class of entertainments.
They have the same irresistible charm to
Americans that bull-figh have to the
Spaniards, great races TO the English,
monster musical festivals to the Germans,
and grand fetes to the French. We are
an agricultural people, the great body of
our people being dependent directly upon
| agriculture for their subsistence, and all
other interests being deeply interested in,
| 2UECltu DlN WLdNChCA PAOL4OASo NAS
prosperity of the farmer. As general
thing, too, those engaged in agriculture
| are prosperous, and when they have
gathered in their summer hsrvests, and
feel that they have well earned little
relaxation after their hard labor, they
rarely lack the means to crafty their
moderate aspirations for pleasure. But
there must be something utilitarian, or at
least a pretense of utilitarianism, even in
the pleasures of an American; he does
| not feel easy at the idea that a day
| should pass by without making some
| contribution to his material progress.
| These exhibitions afford him q happy
| compromise between his usual routine OF
employment and his desire for recreation.
He can gain from his brother farmers
all their new ideas of the great pur'
suit of tilling the soil, see new nipple
mepts. aud find stimulants to his am
bition and rivalry in the collections OF
superior stock which are assembled fOI
his inspection. Intelligent farmers can
not meet together and converse upon sub
iects connected with their pursuits with
out giving or receiving information; the.
cannot see superior specimens of horses
cattle or sheep without having the stand
ard of excellence made more eXacuDg
they cannot witness the successful work
ings of agricultural machinery and no
seek 10 tighten their lsbOrs and add t
their rewards by its use; in fact no fai
minded man or sensible woman can atten
these exhibitions without returning HON
with q feeling that however productiv
the farm, it still can be made to ylel
| proftsbly, either more in quantity or BET
ter quality; and however pleasant the en-
ioyment of home, yet that a slight outla
of time and means can add much to il
charms and comforts.
The occupation of tilling the soil keep
, man more isolated than any other of tn
leading avocations of labor that preva
in our community, aud this very solitsr
: ness. because it binders the constant II
tercourse of mind, should be an argr
: ! ment for the cordial support of fairs an
! mechanics clubs. Professional men dali
meet in sympathy or in collision. IL
trader is in frequent communication wit
his customers, and the mechanic wori
r with his men in the shop meeting. Man
1 business lliGl ATT NOLN W bOoANo
trade and institutes. But most farme
spend their lives seeing little, from day
dav. but their own families and the
! t1ocks and herds. Occasions like atten,
ING fair are calculated to draw the
awav from their homes for while al
; allow inspection of articles brought fro
Il all parts of the country that would T
o quire DAYS of time and many miles
| travel otherwise to examine. The sto
, father of the family, whose match
u horses. whose well-traiRed steers, COW
e sheep and pigs have long filed his eye
Y psragons of beauty, speed, strengt
n prolific Yields, or fine fsttening qualitie
! looks with critical disposition upon 81
l. mails from other sections that challenge {
n admiration of impartial judges equal
IT with his own; the frugal and industrio
n housewife carefully scans the cloth a
: fannels, the carpets and quilts, the m
tens and blankets that equally industrio
d. mothers have presented for competltlo
h The blushing miss examines the embr,
ne dered skirts aud clpes, and slippers a
- collars, and undersleeves; the beauti
" specimens of wax ard shell work, Ian
scape and animal paintings
ig Pride, self-conceit are wounded at thu
No annual contests; but every true m
:, studies carefully the spectacle, and carr
" to his firesidc and fields ample mater
a for earnest thought and action. If
to calf or colt no longer seems so perfec
r. is because his standard of excellence
= been elevated; and his struggle heresi
will be for qualities in his domestic a
ep mails of another character than he had
mt fore thought sttaiDable.
M The beneficial effects of our ann
I fairs are TO be seen in all paris of
IT, State where fairs are held, and urge
lie consideration that what has already pro
SO advantageous should be seduloU