Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-06-27
AGRICULTURAL CIRCULAR
or the Rock island County Agri.
cultural Association.


CITIzENs OF Rock ISLAND COUNTY The
Importance of g good Agricultural Fair IN
this county can scarcely be over estimated
Its desirsbieness IS very generally reoog-
nized, and it is the aim OF the present man
ayers 10 meet the wishes of our citizens in
this respect, in the best manner which cir
cumstances will permit, and not only en-
deavor to make it successful now, but pGtit
upon such a basis that it shall hereafter an
nuslly increase in ~relstive interest and in
iuence. To do this successfully the society
needs the encouragement aud support of she
public generally; for success in an enter
prise of this kind depends largely upon a
favorable public opinion and the united Of
forts of all citizens in its behalf. Their
presence at the Fair is a necessity, and q
lively competition among producers and ex
hibitors ia the surest method of bringing out
a large assemblage, as veil as the highest
inducement 10 80 exhibition of the various
objects of art and industry which give life
and animation to an Agricultural Fair.
From causes which are probably well IN
derstood and not necessary here to indicate,
the Agricultural Fairs of this county have
not hitherto been as successful as they
should have been, or the wants of this CON
munIty Justly require. Without discussing
the reasons fer these partial failures, or
comparing the relative merits of different
systems, we would simply remark that the
present organization is based upon the plan
of
LIFE MEMBERSHIP.
The Society is duly incorporated under
the laws Of the State, consisting at its or
ganizstion of ffty-three members, and pro-
viding for further increase in manner as fol-
lows:
'(Coust Art. 8. The regular annual meet
ing OF this Society hal be held on the first
Saturday OF November Of each year" &c
Art. 8. "Any person may become s mem
Der of this Society BY a two.thigds vote of
members present at any annual meeting, on
paying ten dollars and receiving a certificate
of life membership" SC.
In this manner arbitrary exclusiveness is
avoided, and as the Society grows 10 public
confidence, and ITS stability becomes sppar-
ent, the way is open to reputable citizens to
acquire the privilege of membership.
Public attention is especially called to the
fact that the
OFFICERS
for the current year have been selected for
the most part from citizAns resident in the
county, aud NOT from the city. The Presi-
dent, al the Directors, aud a majority of the
Department SupsriHtendeGts an reside out
side of the city of Rock Island. While the
selection was not made arbitrarily, nor
strictly upon a geographic basis, it was de-
signed to be made in such manner az would
ensure a reasonably fair representation frum
each part of the county, and r~olstion 10 office
will in a very few years bring forward the
principal GsriGulturists of each township.
BY thls arrangement the county possesses,
as II has never had liz the same degree be
fore, a pre- ponterating voice Ia the mansge-
ment and direction OF the county Fair. and
the Society earnestly hope that this implied
confidence in the good will of tue people,
and the power thus placed in their hands,
will have an encouraging and highly beuef
cisl effect, and will produce a corresponding
effort on the part OF the citizens in the coun.
try 70 make the Fair g genuine success, and
one worthy Of the public spirit and enter
prise Of the managers and directors.
THE LIST AND ~EGULATloYs
for the year 1871 are now before the public.
The proper sum TO be offered in each case,
and tor what objects premiums should be
given, are subjects upon which some diver
sIty of opinion prevails, and any arrange
ment which would be entirely satisfactory to
all parties interested is difficult of attain
meHt. In a number of instances larger pre-
mIums would have been offered had the
Society possessed ampler means. lis funds
however are limited, and its probable re-
sources for the coming year are not sufi Client
20 warrant an offer Of large premiums for
any objects whatever. The best that could
be done was to discriminate as judiciouslY
as circumstances permitted. All the usual
industrial pursuits and mechanical branches
common among Us were Intended to be
noticed to q less or greater extent, and if
any branches of industry or objects worthy
OF attention and possessing peculiar merit
have failed to receive proper recognition, no
doubt a larger experience and wider obser-
vRtIOn will In a year or two remedy all such
deficiencies. The Society is animated by a
sincere desire to meet the wishes and wants
of its patrons in q fair and satisfactory man
ner, and to discriminate in the distribution
of premiums and awards in accordance with
sound practical judgment and good com.
mon sense. Suggestions in reference to any
department, emenatfng from q reputable
and enlightened source, will have due weight
in the formation of future lists.
Let our ~citizens literally patronize their
County Fair, and the Society pledges itself
in return TO distribute its patronage with 3
liberal hand, and as fairly and impsrtially az
possible.
The amount of premiums have been pur
posely increased over former lists on
CATTLE
in expectation that 1t would bring out q
larger variety and number, if not q higher
grade and quality. It has been heretofore
alleged, and not without some good grounds
for the assertion, that this department, ona
In which farmers have q larger personal in
terest than any other class Of citizens. hal
not IN times past received in this county tina
appreciation and encouragement it deserved
Admitting the full force of the complaint
and that the Society has failed to attract al
large an exhibition of good stock as might
be done. it should be remembered on the
other hand that all societies seeking public
patronage are very liAely to offer the great
est inducements in the direction of the great
est apparent interest that a marked prefer
enoe in one direction, and g aek of display
or paucity of numbers in another, will inev
itably subordinate in q short time the lesl
interesting department to the one which
seems to be more highly appreciated and il
more remuuerative. Competition in cattle
sheep and Stoine is almost exclusively con
fined to farmers, and it is most assuredly
for their interest TO bring these departments
up to q higher standard. Any genuine
efforts which may be made to bring them
into better notice and 80 attract greater atten
tion will be observed and appreciated by the
Society, and receive corresponding attention
hereafter.
HORSES
are always an attractive feature at fairs
even those which are largely devoted tC
merely Agricultural interests. A greater
difference of opinion exists, not only to the
prominence they should be given, but to the