The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-07-25
Some Suggestions TO the Managers
Of Agricultural and Horticultural

Fairs.
The last number OF that excellent
magazine Heorh and Home, has some
hints to the managers of agricultural
and Horticultural societies which are as
judicious as they are opportune. AS
the time is at hand to arrange for the
numerous fairs to he held all over the
country during the summer and fall, we
propose to ,allude briefly to some of
these suggestions, promising that our
Virginia State society has exhibited the
most advanced ideas on the subject re-
ferred to,
The first relates to the early prepare
ZION and publication of the schedules,
So that those desiring TO send articles
for exhibition may have ample time to
get them ready. -....af..
The second is that every society
should keep a record, from year to year,
of the size weight and appearance Of
all grain fruits and vegetables exhibit
ed, the finest OF which should have the
first premium, but afterwards no first
premium should lie awarded unless
the article shall surpass in quality that
of the same sort which previously oh
tanned first prize. "For instance, if
John Doe this year exhibits bushel OF
Diehl wheat weighing sixty-fve pounds,
then no first premium should he award
ell to any person, in any future year. for
a bushel of the same variety, unless II
should weigh sixty-siX pounds; and that
weight being attained, the next first
premium should he awarded to q bushel
weighing sixty-seven pounds, and so
on. Other illustrations are given, APP
plicable to a variety of articles, and the
same principle is applied. 1t is sug-
gested that the policy of giving a pre-
MUM one year for wheat weighing
sixty-four pounds to the bushel, and the
next wear Tor wheat weighing from four
to six pounds less, tends 10 destroy a
wholesome emulation between cultiva-
tors.
Another suggestion is that samples
of all fruits and vegetables should be
tasted or cut open by the judges, in
order to test fairly their quality and to
prevent fraud. ave have known, says
the journal referred to, "every berry i'll
quart of strawberries to have a good
sized shot inserted in it. by lifting
calyx-leaf and pressing it into the
berry, and thisonly-detected by an out
slider hooking a berry and finding the
shot between his teeth. Similar frauds
in regard to other fruits, and vegetables
are referred to, the object CT this being
to add to their weight
1t is further suggested that all articles
exhibited should be required to he in
good trim. Unwashed, untrimmed
vegetables should be refused Grain
should not stand in sacks or boxes
about the floor, should be placed in
some suitable receptacle on the tables
Fruits should have good sized dishes or
plates, and not be placed on bare tables,
with strips Of tape between, the rows:
By some little attention to the get up
of the articles very mediocre exhibit
ton NAV he made at least respectable.
A protest is entered against the TOO
common practice of thrusting the
vegetables to one side, in some obscure
corner, when by proper arrangement
they can be made TO give character and
/ ;ntsrast N the exhibition
plea for the flowers and plants rs Is
put in, and it is advised thai they shall
not be put in places where they will be
exposed to the cold or drying winds OF
autumn, or be covered with dust from
the race-track or cattle ground. They
should have a separate enclosed apart
ment, with a liberal supply of light
especially from the roof, and every
facility for watering. them at night attel
the crowd has left. A moist, close at
mosphere at night has a wonderful