Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-10-02
General A9ritulture.
AGRICULTURAL FAIRS.

There are two or three classes OF people
springing up amongst us who are beginning
to look on our fairs as degenerating. One
contends that their novelty has declined
that we see, year after year, but a repetition
Of the same old scene, and that, in fact, con.
stant familiarity with that scene, like famil.
iarity with anything else, breeds contempt
Another class maintains that these fairs are
gradually but surely losing their agricultur-
al complexion; that they are no longer run
by farmers but by gamesters and jockeys,
who get small premiums awarded for col
lected stock simply to take the odium of
"horse racing" &c., away that the agri.
cultural phase, so far as it goes, is merely a
means to an end, the end being dsreputablc
speculation. Others again declare that our
fairs are managed by politicians and Office
seekers, and that as rule they are becom-
ing subservient to their use. There may be
little truth in all these positions, although
the first one is rather feeble to admit of se-
rious consideration. There is undoubtedly
certain amount of sameness conn ected with
our agricultural shows, and that sameness
must to some extent continue with the
SHOWS. Dub lih Nill 10 lltpuItu 10 say,
in contrasting the present with ten or even
five years ago, that there has not been
marked change, variety aud improvement.
With regard to the second objection, it can
not be denied that in certain districts it
constitutes a strong one-happily, however,
only in a few districts and the only reme-
dy for such state OF things is that farmers
take the management Of shows wholly into
theU own hands and see that nothing is per-
mitied that might prove detrimental to
their usefulness as educators. 1t should
never be forgotten that tho great object Of
agricultural fairs is educational. Fair days
are not mere holidays AS some suppose. A
certain amount Of relaxation is, Of course,
| incidental to them, but not :heir aim by any
means. Since the custom has originated too
Of owning show grounds and charging en-.
trance fees at the gate, the tendency has
been to make the fair attractive by the in-
PRODUCTION of side shows, and to calculate
the success by the rent-receipts hence the
introduction of swings, CREASED poles, sack
races, &C., &c.-matters entirely foreign.
The answer to this that it draws the crowd
aud pays, is superficial. 1t may pay tenn
porarily. So long as the novelty lasts the
crowd will assemble and hurrah. But is it
on the whole the right kind of a crowd !
and is it not a question worthy Of thought
whether these side.bubbles do not keep away
as many as they attract2 Horce racing is
another side issue, which was introduced in
the first place for much the same purpose,
and at some fairs across the border, it has so
encroached upon the exhibition as to put the
farmers aud their stock and products in the
background and in some instances has driven
them from the grounds "There is a shad'
Ow Of reason" says a contemporary, "ior
introducing trotting at fair, as the horse
is a legitimate product of the farm and
speed one of the desirable attributes Of a
horse but SO much heing granted, we con-