Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-10-10
Bethel.


Now that harvesting is over. We heal
many oil our farmers enquiring what
about our town fair Shall we have one !?
There seems to be. ia my opinion, II
chance Tor improvement in these annual
exhibitions. contend il is silly 10 well
unjust l. offer u premium Tor the best
bushel OF potatoes or corn. ~ any com
mon schoolboy can pick Out bushc| ct
big potatoes or large ears of corn from
an average crop. Now. brother farmer,
why shouldn't tho premium bn given to
the man who will raise the greatest
amount of any given variety from Il CIV.
en- quantity of ground. Who can tell the
difference between two bushels OF pota'
toes, when they ire both just alike? We
believe that there is no merit whatever
in being able TO pick bu,hcl of good pc
tatoes out OF twenty acre patch, while
to produce potatoes al The rate ol eight
hundred bushels To the acre. require, skill
and Judgment Practical skill Is what
ought TO he encouraged. not mrlr power
OF picking good articles Irom bin. ANY
boy can do that Likewise With corn and
wheat. Why should not The premium be
given 10 the men whose skill and indus
try produce the most ol a understandable
quality from given acre. and then there
are no hard feelings about the award
Hive it decided by the scales aud not
by the partiaiities. whimS and prcJu'lccs
OF men. Instead Of giving the premium
to the best hog, let il be givcn Ia tho
farmer who will produce the most pork
from given amount of grain. potatoes,
&c. Let the persons competing. select
their own hogs, the kind of feed and the
method of feeding it. whether cooked or
raw. If premium is offered for the
best draft horse, let him draw for it, ust
as the fasteA trotlcr the ono that can
trot the fastest All would then be ohlig
ed TO be satisfied with the DECISION
There would bc no grounds for com
plant. II butter and cheese i. on eX'
hibitiou, there should be some method Tor
deciding its best quality; lei The LADY
who made il give 10 the awarding com
mittee her method OF making. Our prac
teal farmers should set their wits to
work TO bring out the hidden resources of
our county to the highest degree
Progress and improvement, should be
our motto,
One man who has proved it. tells me.
by throwing scalding water three times
upon eggs and the three dashings would
seal them up SD tigh. SO completely can
them, that they would keep fresh for
months il each egg was set or its apex
and immersed in fine salt. All doubling
ones try it.
Master Judson a. Blake OF this town,
a boy fifteen years old, has invented u
new patent on wagon brakes. which
works to charm.
In my letter made you say S. K.
Shchan, Esq. was selling his large stock
of wooden goods at cost.-lt should have
been ready made clothing.
We learn there is much excitement on
the 90 in regard to the burning OF Mr..
Wheelcr's buildings last week. 1t is the
minds of the people to be the work OF an
incendiary.
At parish meeting last Monday. the
members of the Methodist society voted
to expcnd one hundred dollars on their
church on Main street, in The way OF
painting the outside and making other
repairs NJ. c. Foster. Esq, has taken
the Job.
Our town voted at September meeting
to sell the Town house to the highest
bidder. After several bids it was sold 10
Mai. A. Grover, for s67. Meetings will
now be held in Pattee's Hail.
We learn tho people of Gilead have de.
cided to build a wire bridge across the
Androscoggin river near the railroad
station. q.