The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-11-05
New Work for Agricultural Societies

-.
EDS. COUNTRY GExrLE,fAS-Tbat
much good is accomplished through agri-
cultural societies, there can be no question.
The stimulus they give to improvement in
farm products, the practical knowledge
they disseminate, and the experiments they
cause to be made, undoubtedly result in
real and permanent benefit. But the plans
by which they seek to improve farming.
though very good, are susceptible of i'm
pfovement. They should seek to improve
the farmers themselves, and then first-class
products will naturally follow. In the
pemium lists we find scores of prizes for
superior punmkins, squashes, potatoes. Sc.
but none for superior men. The points of
merit are considered with extreme niccty
IN horses, cattle, swine and poultry, but the
excellencies and accomplishments Of our
sons and daughters are never rewarded.
Is splendid OK more likely to improve
agriculture than an industrious, skillful
and temperate young farmer? At fairs
the premium is invariably awarded to the
OK.
A new feature should be added to the
premium list. \ series Of prizes should
be offered for the Intelligence, efficiency
and morality of our young men and wo-
men who are to become farmers or farmer
wives. Let premium be offered to the
farmer son and daughter who have ac-
quircd the most thorough education with
out attending high school to the far
mers son who can do the best piece OF
work, repairing an agricultural instrument
! IN the shortest time : to the farmer daugh-
! ter who can make the best roll of butter
! the best loaf Of bread do the best piece oI
sewing, play the best ON the mel0deon ol
/ piano, and has the finest flower bed, cared
for by herself. All accomplishments ne
cessary in farmer or a wife, might re
ceive rewards from agricultural societies
! Every young farmer who has thoroughly
acquired the rudiments of good educa
| ton, who is industrious and energetic a
| his work, who uses no strong drink, ana
| who IS wide awake to the principles anl
requirements of his calling, should have
free life-membcrship conferred upon hin
by both his county and State society, a
soon as he has reached the age Of twenty
1t is this class of men we keep on the farm
/ if progress is to be made So long as on
most intelligent young men leave the farm
and seek employment in other department.
of industry, SO long viii agriculture de
generate for the quality of any work de
pends on the quality Of the workman
Whatever influence societies may posses
in making farming attractive to young men
should be exerted without stint.
Another way in which societies may al,
agriculture is by encouraging the invention
of improved machinery The experiment
necessary to demonstrate new ideas i
mechani;s, involve such great expenses tina
very few are wiling to hazard them, how
ever sound their ideas. But what ar
mountains to an individual, are mole hill
to a wealthy society. Let ii be made know
that inventors can have their ideas care
fully considered by committee Of homes
men. thoroughly posted on past exper
ments in the same field, and prepared t
cause new inventions to be practically ties
ted. in cases where there seems to be suff
cient probability Of success, and there woui
soon be a hundred heads graphing vi
solved problems. where there is now one
There is still ample room for improvement
in farm machinery, notwithstanding Its pre-
sent great efficiency. The benefits whlc
inventors have conferred upon agricultur
during the last two decades, ought to max
every society of farmers their warme:
friends. But still they are compelled, No
only to bear the great cost Of experiment
but if successful, they must often fore
their improvements through the most bl
ter prejudices Of the very class they al
seeking to aid. -,
\ word of criticism concerning ii
management of fairs. IF they cannot
made profitable without horse racing, "
had better let them die. .
The same may be said of the tenth-cia
: shows that so often infest these assemble
An agricultural fair ought not to be ha
Dor for this kind of nuisance
Of course these suggestions as here give
are very crude, but there is certainly
, of ,,rac+icahiiitv I'm them