The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-09-22
The object Of Agricultural Fairs.

ect of Agricultural Fairs was to improve
our agricultural knowledge. This is attain
ed by the examination of the best stock
and products of the county and State. All
men are prone to compare themselves with
too limited number and this is especially
true of farmers, whose life is an isolated
one. They are apt to think their horses,
cattle and stock and other farm products
the best in the country, because in their
prejudiced eyes they are superior to any in
their neighborhood, and full of this idea it
does them good to bring their stock and
crops into wider competition. They thus
find that while they have been making i'm
provements, their neighbors have not been
standing still, and if they do not take pre-
MUM the first time they are stimulated to
higher degree of excellence the next time
or at another fair. 1t cannot be denied
that sentiment is prevailing to some ex-
tent in the community that our agricultural
societies, have in measure lost sight of
their original objects, have ceased to make
the promotion of agricultural, manufac-
lures, and the mechanic arts the leading
idea, and have degenerated, if not into
"pure agricultural horse trots'' at least in
to exhibitions, in which the horse is the
prominent, and the race track the chief at
traction. We are happy to know that some
societies of this state have returned to their
first principles the improvements of agri-
culture and stock breeding Not that the
horse should be ignored He is noble an
imal the pride of the farmer, and the pow
er of the farm, and his improvement should
be leading object of our agricultural soci-
cites. While we concede all this heartily
we cannot concede that speed is the main
virtue of a good horse, or the sole criterion
by which to judge his merits. The Oxford
Agricultural Society has never made fast
horses a speciality, but has depended on
the legitimate attractions of the fine dis
plays of pure blooded stock, agricultural
and horticultural productions to draw q
crowd and have never yet been disappointed
in their most sanguine expectations. From
small beginnings it has grown to be an in
sttution of large proportions and immense
influence. In its character and success ev-
ely section of the surrounding country has
and feels lively interest, and this, with
the judicious and gener Gus management of
its officers, has served to make its recent
exhibitions in every respect successful.
The exhibition last fall, was especially
success, not only satisfying the great num-
ber who attend, but handsomely rewarding
the exhibitors, stimulating among them
healthful rivalry and leaving, after the
very heavy expenses were paid, large sur
plus in the treasury, which the officers this
year find available to warrant the liberal
premium list, which in all its departments
is large enough to call out the choicest pro-
ductions of the farm, garden and workshop,
from every section of the country. If one
society can flourish without the excitement
of the race why not all? Our fairs have
not done for the education of farmers all
they are capable of doing it does us good
not only to see fat OK, sheep or hog, but
learn how he has been fattened with the
least expense and in the shortest time. A
straight backed, clean legged, wide chest
ed, and broad hipped, Short-Horn, excites
admiration in all beholders, but the object
of the exhibition is in great measure lost
if his points are not studied and the princi-
pies of breeding such stock explained by
those skilled in the art. The same with re-
gard to all other productions of the farm or
factory, If they are not fully explained
much of the benefits of their exhibition is
lost. But at most fairs SO much time is
taken up with the excitement Of horse ra-
cling, that visitors do not have time to care
fully examine the agricultural and other
productions, even supposing they find some
one ready to answer any question they may
feel inclined to ask, which is not often the
case except with exhibitors and dealers in
agricultural machinery, and even they are
complaining that it does not pay to attend
fairs where horse racing is going on, as the
people have eyes for nothing useful while
it is in progress. In conclusion we would
say to all officers of our agricultural socie-
ties, and to all Interested in their success,
keep up the character of the fairs. 1t is a
miserable policy, for the sake of temporary
pecuniary gain, to let them degenerate into
iorse races. NA "a