Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-08-29
Prepare for the County aid Local
Fairs.

The time for holding the annual
autumnal fairs is rapidly approach
ing, and il il hoped that all necessa-
~ preparations will be made to in
sure success in every particular.
Let nothing encroach upon the time
and means that should be expended
in building up and sustaining agri-
cultural societies, which, when prop,
erly conducted, tend to greatly slim
ulate industrial pursuits by creating
a laudable ambition to produce and
exhibit the choicest specimens of the
animal and the vegetable kingdom,
in connection with mechanical skill
and works Of art.
If all parties who ought to be inter
estcd in organizations OF this kind
would lend helping hand in the
cOmmendable enterprise, they would
find it a matter Of peeuniary profit
as well as source of social enjoy
ment The quantity Of grain pro.
duced TO tho acre at present is not
at all fiattering TO the quality Of
American soil or the agricultural
skill Of our husbandmen, when CONS
pared with the products Of European
countries. American farmers are
generally in too much of a hurry in
everything, and not sufficiently thor
ough in their manner Of tilling the
soil and consequently reap only
about halfof what, with proper treat
ment, the soil is capable Of producing.
BY Offering a sufficient premium for
the most prolific yield OF gram, far
mers might be induced to employ
more fertilizing agencies and use
greater care in cultivating the cerials
than they do at present, contributing
at once to interests Of both producer
and consumer.
The quality of stock which gener-
ally infests the commons, pastures,
barnyards and stables of Western
farmers is Of very inferior class
when compared with such as are
raised in some of the older States and
in England. What has been accom-
plished elsewhere can be equally well
done here with the Same care and
trouble in selecting, and by putting
fair premium upon. specimens Of re-
ally superior breeds. 1t costs no
more to keep good animal than
poor one, while there Is great deal
more profit in raising tho former
than the latter.
1t is a questionable policy that die
tatcs the Offering of the highest proc
miums TO that class Of animals which,
for practical utility, for ans thing but
amusement, are comparatively value
less. Yet to many people fair
would be robbed of more than half
it's charms were the popular races
dispensed with, and so long as pablo |
sentiment demands the highest pre-
MUM for the turf championship as a
condition of patronage, existing Gus
toms will continue to regulate the |
grade of premiums. it is q notice
able fact that a trial Of the speed Of
horses, either in walking, trotting or
running, excites more interest and |
awakons more enthusiasm than any !
other feature of the fair, enlisting
the attention Of men, women and
children, turf spectators and moral
lists. However, be this as it may,
lot no one be deferred from exhibiting
moro useful though less active do
nestle animals.
Last year vegetables and fruits
were generally Of an inferior charac-
ter, because Of the drouth about mid
summer consequently the field, gar
den and orchard were imperfectly |
represented but the present season
has been so propitious, that we have
a right to expect better display of
farm products than has ever been
exhibited at any previous fairs.
The best and most appropriate
time to exhibit wagons, buggies and
all kinds of agricultural implements,
and also improved machinery of va
rious kinds, is at public fair, where
people have collected for the very
purpose of seeing and examining the !
same; therefore let there To good
variety of implements of industry on
exhibition.
One of the most interesting and
important features Of fair is the
fine art gallery, which it is hoped
will be we'll filled with specimens of
artistic skill of every kind known to
Western genius. We trust that the
nimbIe fingers of the fair will furnish
the ladies department with a nice
assortment of fancy and ornamental
work.
In word, let everybody go to the
fairs, and take with them something
to contribute to their magnitude and
success, even though it may cost q
little extra labor and trouble, remem-
boring the old maxim, no excellence
without great labor" Let agricuI-
turalists, horticulturslists, artists, in
ventors, mechanics, and manufacture
ors of every kind, be well represents
ca at the coming fairs, making them
so attractive and beneficial that fail
ure will be impossible.
ANOTHER FRIGHTFUL DEATH,-It
becomes our painful duty to chron-