The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-10-31
The state Ag1for,lIs urai Fair


o'clock. Tho regulations and the order OF
proceedings have been patiently and prac-
eicaliy considered and determined upon,
and have been laid before the public. Tbey
are such as will give as much, comfort as
with the means and appliances in the hands
| OF the Society was possible; and we are
sure they viii be as nearly satisfactory 70
all as, the manner OF conducting such an IN
stitution lis likely ever to be. Finding
fault il! right that belongs to every body'
aud there never was an occasion upon Wnich
this right was not exercised.
The show OF animals, it is now known,
Is far better than was to be expected. Inc
cattle and the horses and sheep and hogs
are remarkably fine; and these constitute
the chief interest OF the exhibition, SO lar
ais it concerns the farmer, who is the man
most to be considered in this Fair. We are
sure the exhibition OF products OF farm and
garden viii be cheering to all who feel an
interest in the improvement OF the system
Of tillage--and who does nots
There are two causes to which any falling
of in the number OF visitors to the Fair
compared with former years may be attribu-
ted: First, the presidential election, which
is sonear at hand; second, the Centennial
Exhibition, at, which SO many Of our citi-
zens have expended theirspare change, and
who have none left for the Fair. II we are
not mistaken we think they either know
now, or soon will, that they have paid out
their money amongst people who have no
sympathy with them. They would better
have kept their pearls to cast before the
swine OF the Fair than to have. done so else
where. We shall be most agreeably disap-
pointed il the numbers are equal to those OF
past exhibitions. a
The weeks proceedings will be diversi-
fed and interesting. There will be fine
show of horses and some exciting trotting
and other races. The trotting-match for
Thursday will be for S700-the first morse
$500, the second 5000, and the third 300.
This, OF course, will make a fine contest /;
but Ill OF the races are likely to be contest
ed with spirit by very fleet animals. There
has been some earnest opposition to these
races as calculated to do injury to the Fair
by subordinating the more important OBJ
[jects OF the annual exhibition to the inter-
est in racing. Thus far this effect has not
manifested itself. The races bring money
to assist in paying the expenses OF the Fair,
and the advocates Of the races say that the
contests for the prizes offered for speed
help to improve the breeding OF horses,
which is one object Of the Society. The en-
pertinent which it may be called-is still
matter of debate. Time will settle it,
The several local fairs which have been
held in Virginia no doubt help to collect
articles for exhibition ut the State Fair, and
their cooperation in this way will be sure to
make for the Fair here fine display OF ag-
ricultural implements. These implements
have been greatly improved since the war,
and every year gives new ideas and improve
ments for the study Of farmers.
The meetings of the farmers must be, as
they always have been, highly agreeable. to
themselves, especially the night sessions OF
the Society ut the hall Of the House OF Dele
gates. '.t "' ..E.
And now we trust those whose life and
practice entitle them to be regarded rs @l-
thority in all the branches Of husbandly
will indulge us, who know so little, in re-
mark or two upon two matters in which we
consider there is great evil to the fraternity
Of farmers:
1st. We have to say that a great evil in
| ~, Gov hos ho
OF concentrated fertilizers. There has been
an inordinate desire to stimulate the soil
and get quick returns. A great error. The
land has suffered. 1t has been in the pro-
cess Of exhaustion instead of Improvement,
and now we hear the cry that no man can
raise wheat with profit; and why but that
the mania for quick returns has caused the
farmer to neglect the true system of I'M
provement. It has diverted his mind from
the proper saving and employment Of the
"home-made manures, and it has even
driven him to the wastefuI use OF the concen-
| trated volatile manures. He has applied them
so that they only made one crop, and then
were gone forever. If they were employed
so as to insure that crops upon which they
are applied should be succeeded by rich
crop Of grass, or something to be turned
under for green manure, the improvement
would have the quality Of durability; but
the farmers will bear us out in saying that
this has not been done save in the minority
of instances. The great bulk OF concen-
trated manures are applied for one gear
only. II farmers will look into this matter
earnestly and determine to rely more upon
their domestic resources, and when they do
use the concentrated fertilizers TO use
them to better advantage, they will
do :, more !, for lhusbandry than has
been done for long time. 'Stimu-
lation alone, gentlemen, won't do. Animal
life may be sustained for time by 1t, but
unless something from the commissary de-
partment is brought to sustain it death soon
follows. There must be some bread and
meat, or life soon gives out. So with land:
stimulants may be meyer SO 'stimeous," but
there must be that plant-food which is found
chiefly in that which was taken from the
land. Return that in the shape OF ofal.
resulting from the crops which the land has
SO generously yielded, and there will be not
only life but continued vigor and improve
ment. These cannot be derived from stimu-
lotion alone. and are sure, to be impaired by