Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-09-30
AGRICULTURAL FAIRS.

AGRICULTURAL FAIRS.
This week began the agricultural fairs
of the season, to continue about six weeks,
making large draft upon both time and
money of the rural population, both OF
which, were the fairs wisely and methodi-
cally conducted, as they may be, would
be found profitable investments; other
wise, they may tend to both the dissipa-
ton and Decentralization of the rural pop
ulation. AS most of the fairs have been
conducted of late years. but little good has
seemed 10 accrue from them, while in too
many cases, alas they have seemed to
prove factors Of evil, rather than of good.
Horse-racing, catching and holding
CREASED pigs. climbing creased poles, foot
races. ball-playing, and so to the end of
the list of sporting and sportive entertain
ments. do nothing to promote progress and
improvement in the noble art OF agricul-
ture, while they do tend directly TO Stimu-
late discomfort and uneasiness in boys on
the farm. leading them to think that the
farm is about the most undesirable place
one can be confined to. In these respects
the management of agricultural fairs great
ly needs reform.
To meet one day. two. three or four days,
where are brought together the best pro,
ducts of the town, section of county, the
entire county, State or nation. seems Q
wise custom. Thus may be exhibited the
best cattle. sheep, horses, pigs, poultry,
grains, vegetables, fruits, flowers, dairy
and other domestic products. ETC., etc., all
of which are attractive. and the occasion
may be made one Of great utility, if wise
" conducted with that end in view. Let
every exhibitor, whatever kind Of pro-
duct he brings in, be expected to give an
intelligent account of it, SO that if any
thing new or valuable can be learned by
others, an opportunity to do SO is offered.
In such an arrangement all chance pro-
duets would be ruled out of the Compel
ing premium list
Perhaps there is no more difficult de-
paxtment OF an agricultural fair to provide
for. than to select and arrange the. COM
mittees that are to examine the various
competing products oil the farm and gar
den, and report thereon, and awarding or
Withholding premiums or gratuities. Who
has not been again and again surprised at
the awards of premiums, inexplicable on
any other hypothesis than that of sim
less ignorance-unless the accountability
came in by seeming to know what the per
sons were quite too ignorant Of to be able
to form any applicable judgment or to give
any Ineligible reason for the opinion held.
How often have we heard it said that the
premium was awarded to the exhibitor,
not to the product exhibited. What would
such committees do, provided it were as il
should be-no names given to them when
going out to examine what is in their de-
partment? Then they would be obliged to
found their decision on some other basis
We are sure that the most difficult part of
the management of an agricultural fair is
that Of making up committees, especially
on live stock and dairy products, two very
important departments, and two that are
difficult to ill. A committee on dairy pro-
ducts could be best made up of dealers of
long experience, such as abound in Fam
euil Hall or Quincy markets. Then the
butter ont of the same churning, as has
been done, would not likely be awarded
the first and third premium; this was done
to try committee, that were thus caught.
In another case, as reported, COW at
county fair was awarded premium as a
shorthorn. and the next season she was ex-
hibited as an Ayrshire, and again was
awarded q premium. Like blunders of
pigs. sheep. poultry and horses, in album
dance, might be reported. A pen of heif
ers, with bull, was reported in the pre-
MUM lists as all heifers. Now all such
biunders are disgraceful and tend to bring
the doings of committees into disrepute
among intelligent farmers, and no won
der; for committees are made, not with
regard to fitness of men, but because the
so-and-sos must have some place, indicat-
ing that they are men of mark, which is
usually the case ever after, however it NAV
have been before, but of mark that does
them no particular credit.
Our advice would be to all such in these
days, knowing, as they must their OWL
ignorance, absolutely to refuse to serve,
and thus avoid the necessity of making
their ignorance a matter of public rebuke
and open ridicule, as has not unfrequent-
ly been the case. A modest, unambitious,
ignorant man. may be respected, while an
ambitious, clustering, ignorant man be-
comes the laughing stock of those who he
foolishly thinks honor him.-Boston Cult
Gator.