Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-04-13
Agricultural Fairs.

A. rhc time approaches TOR the annual meet
ing of the Shenandoah Valley Agricultural
Society. We call the attention OF It's officers and
,uomher, 70 the following comments al the
Richmond Dispatch upon All article OH the
management of Fairs. from the pen OF Mr. Hi
ram Walker. of Oswcgo. He makes suggeS-
rim, concerning the regulations for Fans. ap-
nn;ntmcnt of judges. society meetings. &c., III
irL;rb he points out delinqucnclcs OF almost
cvrry Fair that IS held. The judges are not
nronpt. and at late hour it becomes necGS-
sarv to pick up persons on the ground: VINO
nrocecl without preparation and often without
qualification. to pronounce judgment upon ar
ti;.Ins offered for premiums This often results
in Injustice and occasions much complaint
Thc annual meetings for elections are hot
attended. SAYS Mr.. Walker. by the farmers rs
they ought to be.
The writer objects seriously 10 the largc sums
o41;arad for the fastest horses while the small Hest
,nmlims are given to the products OF huS-
fnnlrr. On the subject of racing he says
An influence has been At work some years:
in many Of our societies among those WHO
shade our premium lists, which l. preventing
tbc original design of the exhibition. anu dis
pleasing many who were the staunchesl trends
Of these societies allulc 10 horse racing or
trotting for 4 large purse. and admitting on
the grounds mountcbank shows Tor the sake o.
4 few dollars which arc entirely foreign I" inc
| objects sought To b. improved hy these ar
,ncrs' HOLIDAYS Ii may not be ANS: t. offer
!. fair premium for :!,ccd and action hul To
give from 500 t. $jur' fl: the fastest ilnc
that can be made. while the whole premiums
for the best samples OF all kinds Of stock, and
the products OF the dairy combined. would hot
make that sum. will tend SOONER OF later. 10
bring our AGRICULTURAL Fairs into diSrcpute md
lessen their influence. Our State Ears DO not
cucourag. this. neither do thu: Provincial Ears
Of CanaIa aud still they arc both pr".l"llnE
The question is simply this Shall l ic" III en-
who tratiir in fast horses and never r:'l>e "lh
or our sturdy farmers who by combining capt.
tai and labor with science VIII" arc always
ready TO advise. counsel, ana encourage those
Of less experience manage "llr Fairs One l.
Il mere factor who never produces anything III
the workshop or on the farm. while the other
feeds and clothes the whole world.
II would give the horse hi> iuIl share 81
premiums. under three heads or cla>>c> VIZ
the draft horse. the agricultural horse aI'I the
road horse. would rccnmncIrI IN make IL
many CLASSES of all kinds Of stock "a the nature
of the stock will allow. with liberal premiums.
to induce farmers to bring out their stock
with four prizes in each lass.
1t is no light atiarto take herd OF Lille r;!t!r
or other stock Xix or ten miles t" Far,
Us is often onc.anl if the prcn um Is small y"'!
can draw them ont from any .oa- distance
The object of racing on the Far ,round> l.
to attract large crowds and increase the receipts
at the gate. 1t i by II" means 4 settled que.
ton whether nr NOT the galc fees would he
much diminished hy disseminating the RACES.
But there is 4 great deal of force in what Mr..
Walker says about lcvoting :" largr 4 lHrt 81
the premium fund 10 races and offering such
small premiums for some Of the mo', lmpor,
tant products Of hu>banIry. ! II even here
the society has difficult task. It is not wise
TO make premiums for such articles - high 4
to increase the danger Of dissatisfaction. cav!!-
ing aud imputation> of untalrnc>>. 81 the
premiums for all solid results Of Industry and
Skill in the most important 81 all the pursuits
of the earth should lie liberal. and most
sulrcdly should not be dwartel into contempt
compared with the prize awarded to the fastest
trottcr. whose owner. L, Mr. Walker justly
says. seldom Or never produces anything III
the workshop Or on the farm. while the other
narmerI feeds and clothes the whole world.
- Winchester TInteS