New-York tribune., 1870-10-01
XXYVIL
AGRICULTURAL EXHIBi .lONo'

have learned somethinR and presume did but
cannot now ssy what Hence conclude that thesf
Pairs are not what they might and should be. In
other words they should be improved But how'
As the people compose much the largest and best
part of these shows. the reform must begin with
them. Two-thirds Of them 60 to Fair with no de-
sire to learn therefrom-no belief that they can
there be Taught anything. OF course, not seeking
they do not find If they could but realize thst
Farmers Fair might and should teach farmers some
what that would serve them in their VOCATION
great point would be gained. But they go IN quest
of entertainment. and find this mainly in horse
racing.
OF all human opportunities for instruction in hui
mility and self-depreciation. the average pubho
speakers is the best He hurries to place where he
has been told that his presence and utterance are
earnestly and generally desired perhaps to find that
his invitation came from an insignificant and odious
handfull who had some private ak to grind so re-
pugnant to the great majority that they refuse 10
countenance the procedure no matter how great the
temptation Even where there is no such feud
many having satiated their curiosity by long stare
AT him. walk whistng oil, without waiting OF WISH
ing 10 hear him. But the speaker at faH must
compete with thousand counter-attractohs' tho
least of them far more popular and winning thah ne
can hope TO be- He is heard, so far as he Is heard
at all in presence of and competition with all the
believing bulls braying jacks, and squeallng stall
lions, in the county; if he holds, nevertheless
quarter of the crowd. be does well; but lot TWO
jockeys start buggy-race around the convenient
track and the Iast auditor shuts his ears and runs of
30 enjoy the spectacle. Decidedly lnsis' that
Playground ia poorly adapted to the diffusion OF
Agricultural ledRe-that the people present ac-
quire very little information there, even when they
get all they want.
What is needed 10 render our annual Fairs useful
and instructive far beyond precedent, sum up as
follows:
l. Each farmer in the county or township should
hold himself bound 10 make some contribution
thereto if only good hill of Corn peck OF Pota-
toes, bunch of Grapes. Squash. Melon. LET HIM
send that. If he can send all of these 80 much the
better There is very rarely thrifty farmer who
could not add TO the attractions and merits OF falr
if he would try If he could send coop Of superior
Fowls likely Calf or first-rate Cow, better yet
but ninetenths of farmers regard Fair as some
thing wherewith they have nothing to do, except as
spectators When it Is half over, they lounge into 1t
with hands in their pockets stare about for an h0r
and go home protesting that they could beat nearly
everything they saw there. Then why did they not
try How can we have good Fairs, if those who
might make the best display of products save them
meagerness of our Fairs. so generally and Justly
complained of, is not the fault of those who sent
what they bad but of those who having better were
too lazy to send anything. Until this is radically
changed and the blame fastened on those who might
have contributed but did not. our Fairs cannot help
being generally meager and poor.
H. 1t seems 20 me that there Is great need of an
interesting and faithful running commentary on the
various articles exhibited. A competent person
should be employed TO give hours Otf-hand talk
on the cattle and horses hand explaining the di-
verse merits and faults of the several breeds there
exhibited and of the representatives of those breeds
there present. If any peculiarly adapted TO the
locality let that fact be duly set forth, with the
simple object of enabling the farmers 10 breed more
intellieentIy. and more proftaby Then let the i'm
plements and machinery on exhibition be likewise
explained and discussed and let their superiority in
whatever respect to those they have superseded
designed 90 supersede be clearly pointed ont. So If
there be any new Grain, Vegetable, or Fruit on the
tables let be made the subject of capable and thor
oughy impartial discussion, before such only as
choose TO listen and without putting the mere sight
seers 70 grave inconvenience A lecture-room should
aIways be attached to Playground yet 30 secluded
~ TO shut ont the noise inseparabe from crowded
exhibition Here meetings should be held each even
ing for general dseusson every one being encouraged
10 state concisely the impressions made on him. and
the improvements suggested 70 him, by what he had
seen Do let us try TO reflect and consider more at
these gatherings even though at the cost OF seeing
less
III. The well supported Agricultural Society of a
rich and populous country must be able. or should
be able. TO give two or three liberal premiums for
general proficiency in farming If 800 could be
proered TO the owner or manager of the best titled
farm in the county $50 TO the owner OF the best or
chard and $50 to the boy under Is years of who
grew the best acre of Corn OF Roots that year, am
confident that an impulse would thereby be given to
agricultural progress. Our premiums are too nurner
Gus and too petty because 40 few are willing to con-
tribute with no expectation of personal benefit or
distinction If we had but the night spirit aroused,
we might dispense with most of our petty premiums
or replace them by medals OF great cost, and de-
vote the money thus saved TO higher and nobler
ends.
" Much of the speaking at Fairs seems to me in
shifting to the intelligence of the Farmers present
who are grossly lattered and eulogized. when they
often need to be admonished and melted to mend
their ways What use or sense can there be in a
LAWYER doctor broker editor. talking to a crowd
of farmers AZ if they the most favored of NOR
tails and their life the noblest and happest known
to mankindi Whatever it might be, and may yet be-
come we all know that the average farmers life is not
what it Is thus represented for If 1t thousands
would be rushing into it where barely hundreds left
If whereas we all that the fact is quite otherwise
No good can result from such nsincere and extrava
CANT praises of a calling which few freely choose,
and 40 many gladly shun. Grant that the farmers
ougbt TO be the most enviable and enved vocation.
we know that in fact it is not snd agreeing that it
should be- the business in hand is to make it so.
There must be obstacles to surmount mistakes TO
right impediments TO overcome. before farming can
he in all respects the idoized pursuit which poets
are 40 ready to proclaim it and orators delight TO
nrlo u Ill ~