The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1871-07-29
AGRICULTURAL.
p From sloorcis Rural New orker.
zBGuence OF Agricultural SOcEe-
lies.

f1rnish him with facts and "statistic'
likely to sustain the argument that Ag-
ricultural Societies are conducive to the
agricultural development of the coun-
try" 1t Is not easy to separate and de-
file the influence the societies have had
distinctively and directly upon agrieul-
ture IN the Northern States. For immi-
grafton audinternal Improvements such
as the building Of railways, canals, etc i,
have been stimulants to production. On
the other hand the increased production
resulting from Competitive rivalry at fairs
and the mingliag OF farmers with each
other and their interchange OF expert
cnce, has attracted INN grafton and stim
ulated internal improvements. 30, as
we have said, it IS not an easy matter to
give facts and figures that can be regard
cd as illustrative, exclusively, OF the IN
Auenee ofsAgricultural Societies upon
agricultural production and the progress
and prosperity of Agriculturists.
But no Northern man, familiar with
Northern agriculture since, say, 4S4O, as
we have been, can place a low estimate
upon such influence as affecting the az
rieultural interests. Vivid are the re
membranes of the Impression made up
on our neighbors aud ourself by the first
fair held in our county; also by the first
New York State Fair We ever attended.
II was a new revelation of the dignity
and worthiness of our vocation about
which we he'd repeatedly listened from
the mouths of pleading partisans and
palayering politicians. It was lifting
US out of the ruts OF common drudgery
TO the seventh heaven of ambitious de
sire to beat somebody. We saw new
types of horses, cattle, sheep and swine
we found the gardens Of our neighboTs
yielding larger and better vegetables than
ours: we had it demonstrated to US that
there were better kinds of corn grown,
brighter and purer samples of wheat,
heavier and meatier oats, larger and more
marketable potatoes, whittier aud hand
somer onions, larger and sweeter squash
go longer and larger carrots, better hut
tor and cheese, whittier and lighter bread,
more delicate and attractive cake, hand
somer and more elaborate quilts, better
knit stockings, better colored domestic
cloths. and that there were tools manu-
featured TO aid the farmer in the cult
walton of his farm, better adapted to his
wants than we had seen at the country
corners whereat we bought our cast pillow
points for an old fashioned cast iron pillow
with which We did all our plowiBg old
land aud green sward-and cultivating
Facts Why &c in any direction you
choose. in any one of the Northern
States. and look at the herds TO day and
compare them with those of 1910; look
at the Devons and Short Horns, Ayr
shires AID Herefords. Attorneys and
Hclsteinsi The difference between then
and nov Is almost entirely due to the
iugueDce Agricultural Societies. For
ilsa man who had good animal or herd
uf any Of these breeds named, had only
70 show it atesne of these fairs in order
90 sell at extra prices all the progeny be
could produce And his success aud
prosperity stimulated others to import,
improve and compete with him. And
the livelicaA and closer such competition,
the greater the ~emand from those cog.
infant of It and the greater these men S
prosperity.
So Of American sheep. The present
high standard of American fine woods,
the high pQsiti67 Of American Merinos,
the high s1ces which have been and are
to-day with the present depression Of
the wool business paid for these animals,
are due almost entirely TO the influence
of competittep at fairs. Edwin Ham
moud succeeded because he led at these
exhibitions and because his focks were
directly or Indirectly represented at eve
ny impOrtape exhibition In the country
So of other shepherds who have succeed
L.,
agencies for whatever a man had to sell
that was excellent, and demand creating
agencies; for when men see that some
one else has something that is better than
theirs, desire to have it is created.
We need hardly 90 outside Of the
marked improvement of the stock of the
country TO show how much influence
these Societies have exerted to render
Northern agricuiturists more prosperous
and progressive for with improved
stock came improved culture. To keep
good stock one must cultivate well and
the increased number of herds added to
the ability to improve lands.
We know that dwellings, barns, out
buildings, door-yard, gardens, tools, car
riages, household implements and con
thing relating to the economy of North
ern Farm Life to day owe, largely, thei
present improved condition as compared
with that of thirty years ago, to the in
fiuence of Agricultural Fairs. And il
localities where none have been held an,
where every man is willing and anxiou
to compete with his neighbor, no NOR
potent agency can now be used to devel
op the spirit Of progress. In the North
the magnitude of special branches 0
husbaadry, the outgrowth of fairs in
great measure, has compelled the re or
gauization of those engaged in these re
speetive speciaIties-such as Dairy Fl
bandnen. Sheep Breeders, Fruit Grow
ers, Bee Keepers, Poultry Faueiers, etc.
into distinct associations. This is nat
ural and necessary result of growth; i
simply indicates growth-is a subdiyis
ion Of the same organizations, becaus,
Of the unwieldiness of the originals, fo
the purpose of doing special work NOR
thoroughly.
viii the people of Virginia profit b,
the organization of Agricultural SO
cietics2 Yes, if they choose. VIVA
must they choose to do !? To produc
what they exhibit, and exhibit what the.
produce An agricultural fair shoul
not be-if It's object is agricultural de
elopment--simply a horse race, holi
day, speech spouting, brass band roar
ing occasion, to which people go simpl
10 see aud talk with each other aud hay
fun. Each member of an agriculture
society should produce something t
show; should attend fair In order t
compare his products, and compete, wit
those Of his neighbors. He should wan
to know what and how others do and VII,
they do it; and he should be willing t
y .--t.--a -. 4. IL Ill I.-.- -.