Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-09-05

There are some people who habitually
speak disparagingly of Fairs; saying they
are wrongly named-they are ua-fairs. A
conducted here, we think exhibition
would be II better word, but we think the
plan should be modified and made as in
England, sale fairs, and not exhibitions
only. There, sheep, cattle, horses, hogs,
poultry-almost everything is brought for
sale as well as exhibition, and an interest
is thus gained which it is impossible to Sc
cure in any other manner.
By this means the buyer and seller
could be brought in contact with the least
possible trouble, the seller would have the
benefit of competing buyers, and buyers
would be placed where in a day they could
see the stock it would take them weeks to
visit separately,
Concerning premiums awarded, there is
very general feeling, and not, perhaps,
without foundation, that the premium is
not proof Of the superior merit of the
article receiving the award, over Others Of
its kind on exhibition; that the premiums
are awarded to the men who own the arti.
Giles instead of the articles themselves
Sometimes, perhaps, this may be so, but
we have faith to believe that judges gcner
ally aim to do Justice, though occasionally
remark may be heard, 1t really ism
of much account but he has taken so much
trouble tie get his stock here we must give
him something Well if that isn't en-
couraging, agriculture, what is? and
if by such means the farmers generally
could be induced TO try, even to the extent
of taking their products to the fairs, there
can be no doubt but IL great impetus would
be given to better system and more care
full and thorough work. Then, again, this
matter of wrong awards does not rest
entirely on the judges, though the curSing
for it generally does. We recollect an in
cdent which came TO our knowledge at II
western fair some years since, where the
sharpest competition and the greatest inter
est was centercd in threshers and separa-
tors. To have the fullest possible trial, ii
was decided that they should each thresh
II certain number Of bundles of wheat
which were to be drawn from a stack some
distance away, for that purpose, and note
the time taken to thresh and clean, ana
the amount of grain each machine gave
One competitor, thinking to make the
matter sure for his machine, quietly got Il
bag of wheat and poured over the top Of
his load, which, jolting along to the place
of trial, was scattered through it, so he
would show the most wheat and conse-
quently the cleanest threshing. BY some
queer accident this little trick came to the
knowledge of his competitor, who thus
had it in his power to expose the matter
and crush his opponent. Did he do it?
No With u truly Christian forbearance he
held his peace, and did not hesitate u mo-
ment to let the trial proceed, but with an
abiding faith in the merits of his machine
and its ability to shell out the most grain,
he carefully distributed t,cO bags full of
wheat over tho top of his load, sadly mus
ing the while, no doubt, on the uncertainty
of human affairs, went into the trial, show
ed Il handsome increase in the quantity of
wheat saved, and was awarded the grand
Gold Medal of excellence. $50 shall
modest merit ever flourish and increase"
Aside from the effect that premiums
have in getting people to bring articles to
the fairs, they are among the least import
ant things of the fairs. Fairs are the far
mers' holidays, where he comes in contact
with those of his own occupation, notes
the results they have to show, and COM
pares them with his own, learns there are
other ways than his of doing things, some
perhaps better, others not SO good; the
good ones he can adopt, and tell the others
of his successes.
By all means, attend the fairs; you can
hardly fail of getting your moneys worth
if you 60 with the idea Of looking for good
points.