The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-01-18
Poultry Exhibitions.

We were not aware that the interest in
this department of husbandry was so gener-
al in this country, until seeing recently that
state exhibitions had been and were to be
held this month, in New York, Pennsyl-
vana, Connecticut and Wisconsin. We GER
tainly regard it as matter for congratulation
that the inhabitants of Maine have had
the past week, a similar opportunity
afforded them by some of our enterprising
and public-spirited citizens.
Possibly some sober and substantial people,
especially in our agricultural communities,
may look upon these exhibitions as closely
allied with the spectacular and sensational
class, and therefore to be avoided. They
may be to them only confused medley of
fuss and feathers, growing and cackling,
singing and screaming; not half so quiet and
no more brilliant than the display from the
shop window of milliner; and on the
whole only waste of time and money. 1t
is true that they may be got up by mere
spectators, who shift from fast horses 10
game birds for the direct returns, entirely
respective of honest values; ard the specta-
tors may be mere gazeIs, captivated by gay
plumage or strange sounds, and absolutely
Indifferent to all good results. But on the
other hand, all honest well managed exhbi-
billions are useful; not only giving opportu-
mites for the young ard old TO see and ad-
mire the wonderful variety of form, and
voice, and plumage and color, and thus for
et,,I in f1is intarpStipu IpnartnaOt
of natural history; but because the direct
tendency is to aid in the enlargement of a
great field of industry, and by improving the
quantity and quality of its productions. to
Increase the returns from the capital in
vested. Thus, as in all similar exhibitions
whether industrial or agricultural, the show
becomes school; comparisons are made,
competition is aroused, desire for some
thing better is excited, and a new interest
born of the occasion, is developed in some
whose previous lack of it arose only
from want of familiarity with this
department. We have learned also
that some men engage in enterprises
without regard to profit; accidentally at
tracted by some novelty, they at length be-
come interested in it, and when this feeling
deepens into love for it, the question of dol
lars and cents is entirely ignored. These ex,
hbitions address the eye, and thus the fancy
is reached; and the man of taste, the lover of
the beautiful, led by his aesthetic instincts Of
ten finds himself in spite of his innocence OF
intention aud lack of deliberation, enrolled in
the producing class, and engaged in increas-
ing the aggregate of domestic and even ma
tional values.
We may also notice, that in the pursuit of
this specially as in almost no other bralch Of
agricultural husbandry the opportunity and
the benefit may be largely appropriated by
the town and city. But nevertheless, the
city-man in his narrow limits but with wider
resources, is all the while experimenting for
the benefit of the countryman, who looks on
ready to follow or avoid.
We conceive that poultry breeders and
fanciers should take an honest and legitimate
pride in their business, and righ.fully should