Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1870-05-05
RURAL s. DOMESTIC,
Prizes at Fairs.

AS the season has now arrived
when the list OF prizes is being made
up tor the county and district fairs
that are to be holden next fall, it may
be well to consider briefly whether
an Improvement may not be made in
the matter OF offering premiums.
The premium list OF most county ag-
ricultural societies varies little Tor
the different years, and in many in
stances has become a sort of stereo
typed publication. No one can com
plain that there are not things enough
enumerated tor which premiums are
offered; tor the prize list ordinarily
embraces almost every article that is
the product of the farmer, the horti-
culturist or the artisan. To our
mind the fault lies in the other di-
rcc,ion, namely, offering too many
premiums, and thereby diminishing
The amount that is to be paid tor
things the production OF which in
wolves a large amount OF time, labor
and expense.
Much OF the means OF most agrl-
cultural societies is spent i'll premi
ums Tor articles, the production OF
which are not stimulated by the or
ter OF prizes. OF this class we may
notice certain kinds OF machinery, rs
sewing machines, and various manu-
featured articles made ut n distance.
The agents OF these wares would or
dinarily be glad to put them on ex-
hibition, and thus afford persons the
opportunity OF seeing them, and
judging OF their merits without the
lnducement OF premium. The val
lie OF q fair ground as means tor
advertising is very considerable, and
it may be question whether exhib
tiers of patent rights, and OF various
manufactured articles, should not be
charged tor exhibiting their wares,
rather than be allowed a bonus for
SO doing.
10 stimulate the production of
large crops and the raising OF fine
stock should be prominent objects
in the management OF every agrlcul-
tural society. But there are other
things almost, if not equally, import
ant, that deserve TO receive the en-
couragcment OF these organizations.
Among the things that to our mind
should receive the fostering care OF
societies are plans tor saving what
are produced on the farm, and tor
rendering the farmers home conven-
lent ana pleasant. An acre of wheat
on which forty bushels OF plump kerr
nels are produced, is thing TO be de-
sired, and SO is barn yard which shall
be comfortable tor The cattle, and
which, at the same time shall be SO ar
ranged that all the manure, both solid
and liquid, shall be saved from vast
age. a good cellar torstoring fruits OF
vegetables is as worthy OF receiving
prize as the astonishing crop OF APP
pies or ruta- bagas that I'LL it.
Good cisterns are somewhat rare
in the country, though the comfort
OF the family lslargely dependent up
on their right construction. The
same remark Will apply to wells and
the means OF raising water from them
The wretchcd state OF the walks
about the premises occupied by the
farm buildings, shows the great need
OF Improvement in this direction. y
prize tor the best arranged farmer, 5
kitchen would do much TO stimulate
persons to prepare and put in plans
tor this most important apartment OF
rural home, and would: donbtless,
prove boon to many farmers wives,
These plans, neatly drawn and exhib-
tied at county fairs, would not only
attract attention on the part OF visit
ors, but would act as stimulus to
ingenious mechanics.
1t is quite common to find nearly
all the houses, barns, aid out-build-
ings OF large community planned
after the same models, which are in
! the majority OF cases, very poor ones.
But once offer inducements to I'M
provement in this direction, by Civ.
liberal prizes for building plans. aud
all this would be changed. There is
nothing that needs encouragement
from local agricultural societies more
than rural architecture. That pre-
miums for plans and specifications
would do much 10 effect the desired
result there can be but little doubt
The prize OF a silver tea set, offered
by Mr.. Bowen, tor the best diary
barn, brought out nearly fifty plans,
and this with only few weeks no
ticc. Most OF them were the pro
auctions of men who were neither
architects or draughtsmen; still a
large number OF them were excellent
both IN design and execution, and
show what might be done in other
departments OF rural architecture.
| 1t often happens that large pro
portion Of the premiums awarded al
agricultural fairs are given tor the re.
suits OF tortuitous circumstances
rather than OF skill, industry or en-
terprise. A man happens to put il
his crop OF corn, grain or potatoes
on the drycst piece OF land he has
and it turns out to be very wet sea
son. The consequence of this is he
gets the premium over some mar
who labors twice as hard in tending
a crop en- field that happens to bt
saturated with water. A prize in III
instance of this kind is given for goo(
luck and not for good management
It should be the aim as far as posi-
bic to offer premiums for things tina
will encourage research and investi
CATION, bring forth new facts, and re
ward patient industry.-[Prair