New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-16
EAgricultural Fairs.

Many years have passed since was inaug
urated in the North and West the custom
Of holding agricultural fairs for the mutual
improvement Of farmers. The purest mo
tives governed those who participated IL
such exhibitions, and the fairs were pro-
ductive of real good. The county fairs
were the best for various reasons. They
were inexpensive and they stimulated a
generous rivalry among farmers. The
| exhibitions were practical and OF home
things. They were generally in the fall Of
the year, and the farmers came in with
samples OF their products-the best corn
and wheat, vegetables and truits-good
things which came from the ground through
the skiu OF the husbandman. These
men exhibited their crops with pride,
and they compared notes and consulted as
to what seeds were best to SOW, and all
! things they did were for the benefit of the
farmers of the county. They drove to the
fair also cows and calves, and long teams
| Of fat and sleek oxen.
The good farmer can be told immediately
| by his team and equipments. The Georgia
| cracker who brides his near OK, yokeu to
| an off cow, and rides after both beasts,
| which, united, are scarcely able 10 make
| one shadow. might be of good standing i'll
| the elective order of Changers, but he
| would never be considered farmer. AS
! the teams at county fairs were a source of
| pride, plowiDg matches became popular
and premiums were awarded to those who
did the best plowing. Horses were shown,
but of a kind intended for use-trotting
horses for family driving and draft horses
Tor work. The ladies also took part in the
exhibitions, and butter, cheese, cooking,
and the best results of their hanGiwork
received recognition.
The editor of the best country paper was
generally invited to tell what he knew
about farming. This was at the North, and
"before the war; as our newsboys express
themselves when referring to time when
they did not 60 barefo0ted. The orator
selected might be man of any political
opiudtn, but he was sound on the cattle and
pstat$ qasstion, and the people listened to
hins The best of feeling obtained at the
fNxa; thsy were pleasurable meetings. like
winners jubilees, and everything tended
to develop the resources of the county in
which they were held.
State fairs have to great extent over.
shadOwed the county fair in fame, but
State fairs are an abomination. They are
usually held in cities; mechanical interests
have crowded the agricultural department.:
running horses and game cocks, Yankee
notions and mule races are seen more than
the things which are Of practical benefit to
the State, especially in the South, where
everything turns on a political hinge.
The directors of the Louisiana State Fair
concluded to postpone their meeting as a
rebuke to the President of the United
States. We were trying to nationalize our
troubles then, and anything 60 frivolous as
State Fair for the exhibition of the So
comb hens, the Hall pigs, the Marysville,
Kentucky. colts, and the shingle machine
from Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, could
not be thought of. Texas is more inde.
pendent. 1t has the ground for glorious
State, and it will prosper even if it has
State fairs for the exhibition of Northern
machinery and Confederate heroes Houston
has an agricultural reception for Jefferson
Davis, of Mississippi, and for the exhibition
OF Chicago plows and st. Louis yeast
powder. The reporters give more of the
movements of Mr.. Davis than they do of
the growing interests of Texas. Among the
premiums awarded at the agricultural fair
at Houston were those to St. Louis brewer.
a New Orleans gas company, and to the best
drilled rifle company. The rifle drill de-
partnent of the Agricultural State Fair of
Honston was presided over by General
Bragg, sturdy old farmer, who is known
by his waterwolks. There is no objection
to this. There would be no cause for OBJ
lection ii circus were to exhibit in any
village Of any State, and call itself State
agricultural fair. The regrettable part is
that so little interest should be taken in
agriculture, which is the foundation of all
arts, and the principal source Of life sustain
ing materials. War relics should be kept
in museum, and politicians confined to
ward club asylums. The South would be
benefited by fair conducted by farmers,
for the exhibition of their work; such fair
is yet to be held.
A New Paper.
We learn that a number of practical
printers in this city have associated them
selves together for the purpose of publish.
ing daily paper in the French language.
At meeting of these gentlemen, held yes
terdav Messrs Narcotic Theard and po-
thier were chosen as a committee to solicit