The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-09-21
Dome, farm & garden.
THE FALL FAIRS.

The season of Fall Fairs have ar
rived-a holiday season which farmers
and their families, as well as people
engaged in other pursuits, should, ap
preciate. 1t is meet when the harvests
are gathered, that the unremitting
strain of Spring and Summer toll shall
be followed by a brief holiday. As a
rule our people have too few holidays.
liz the matter of recreation, most OF
the European nationaIities are in ad-
vance of US. That we do not recog-
nize the importance of gala days, fetes,
and fairs, ETC., to the extent demanded
by due regard for our physical and
mental well being is hardly to be ques-
toned, This is true of almost every
calling, and of the agricultural classes
especially. OF course, there are ex-
ceptional cases in all pursuits, but gen
orally there is little respite from the
wear and tear of active pursuits of our
people. The observation of physic
ians and scientists whose attention is
necessarily directed to this subject, all
point in one direction. The vitality
of a very large portion of the people is
too severely taxed by constant appli-
cation. Natures laws cannot be vio-
lated with impunity; sooner or later
the penalty must be meted out; and in
this matter the tendency is to weaken
ed bodies and enfeebled intellect for
those that come after us. We should
have more frequent occasions for ra-
tional recreation. There has been,
however, an Improvement in this be
half within few years, due mainly to
the influence of the Oranges, and we
hope they may continue to exert this
good office among their other salutary
influences.
The time of year for holding our ag-
ricultural Fairs, it scarcely need be
said, is chosen with special reference
to the convenience of farmers. So far
as other pursuits are concerned, their
accommodation does not enter into
the problem; they cheerfully acquiesce
in the time of holding the Fairs, AID
accommodate themselves to circum
stances, though some other period
would suit them better. And it has
sometimes happened that our farming
friends have not shown as much inter-
est in the success of their local exhibi-
tions as the townspeople have evinced.
Certainly they have quite as much at
stake, and should not permit merch-
ants and tradesmen and manufacturers
and mechanics to surpass them in the
interest necessary to sustain this Fair
organizations and make them success
full
Besides supplying needed recreation
after the continuous toll of Spring and
Summer, the Fairs give an opportun-
ity which no other means supply so |
well for farmers to compare results
to swap thoughts and experiences, and
reason together upon lessons of the
season. These gatherings really fur
nish the most potential means, aside
from the agricultural press, that have
yet been devised TO enable farmers
generally to keep abreast with the !
times in all that pertains 10 progress in
this, the first and most important of !
all pursuits Better methods and i'm.
proved processes in farming, as in
other callings, are demanded if the
most satisfactory results are to be OBJ
tanned; these do not come from plod-
ding in the paths trod by former gen
erations. Progress is the watchword,
as well as the key note of success in
this era, and he who does not recog
nize this fact, will fall in the rear. The
business of farming is quite another
affair than it was a little while ago.
Economic problems in the advancing
civilization of the age, affect all pur
suits and none more than agriculture.
Ii our space permitted, we might ell-
cidate more fully this important fact,
but it is not necessary to our purpose
now, to do so. Suffice it that the on
ward steps made in arts and science af-
feet the agricultural masses no less than
other people, and in fact, concerns
them more, in that farming is the basis
of all prosperity.
Who can compute the advantage to
agriculture that the Autumnal Fairs
have brought about. And vino that
looks at the subject from other than a
cynical and selfish standpoint would
dispense with them? If they have
not met the reasonable ex-
of the people, it has been
either from lack of interest in them or
from mismanagement. But this is no
argument against them. The correc-
tive, if any is anywhere needed, is in
the hands of farmers themselves.
Attend your county Fair. and Others,
if you can do SO conveniently. Take
your family along. The wife, and the
boys and the girls-large and small
need the enjoyment which is thus af
forded. Keep your eyes and ears open
70 all that pertains to improvement in
various kinds of husbandry, and you
will feel better for the time spent, and
gather information which cannot fail
to be Of advantage in the management
of your farming operations.
TlRT NlVNEDS