The daily gazette., 1878-09-25
DeIa> ware State Fair
The Opening Exercises.
by Chancellor Sauls-
bury, N. B. Smfthers, ESQ,
Judge Houston, and Ora.
tiOn by Ex-Iudge VIM.
Fullerton, OfN. Y.
IN THE RAIN-GOOD TIME CON-
SIDERING THE TRACK.

/
| The First Annual Fair of the Kent
County Agricultural Society, was to-day
, formally opened. The morning opened
with lowering and inauspicious skies and
sundry fllrrys of rain, but this did not
prevent the assembling of the crowd. As
soon as the gates were opened people be-
gan to pour in and continued to come
until the opening exercises commenced.
At 10.45 the exercises were opened by
Hassler's Orchestra playing the Inaugural
March, composed especially for the oc-
casion, by Prof. Hassler. Thomas III.
Denney, Esq, President of the Assoca-
ton, intro dduced Hon. Willard Salisbury
who in neat speech, declared the Della
ware State Fair formally opened and
took the chair. ft-.- .t-t
Immediately afterward Hon. N. B.
Smithers advanced and in behalf of the
ladies of Dover and vicinity, presented
the Association with a magnificent flag,
which duty he performed in an agreeable
manner, and the flag soon foated in the
breeze to the tune of the Star Spangled
Banner, &C., rendered by the orchestra.
| Hon. John W. Houston, on behalf of
the Association made neat speech of ac-
ceptance, and rendered the thanks of the
Association to the ladies.
| The orchestra then performed selec-
tions from the Bohemian Girl" after
which Chancellor Salisbury introduced
ex-Judge William Fullerton, of New
York city, the orator of the day.
Judge Fullerton then arose and spoke
| in substance, as follows:
| Mr.. President and Members of the
agricultural Society of Kent County of
| the State of Detdaodre We live in a
remarkable age, one which has accomp-
lished higher degree of cultivation than
! any other before. He referred here to
, the late wonderful discoveries in cleo
tricity, magnetism and other sciences.
All these give us new and wonderful re-
velations of the laws of nature. The
achievements of agriculture are no less
great considering the prejudices of farm
ers against scientific or book farming
All industries rest upon the basis of agri-
culture and to enable man to live he
must SOW, plant and reap. Owing to tho
ignorance of scientific principals of our
agriculture ists, many lands that were once
fertile are now barren and unproductive.
There is np question of political economy
that has received so much attention
as this question; preventing this
rapid deterioration. Even the once, al
most mex haustible prairie lands of the
West are rapidly becoming deteriorated
and worn put. 1t is a matter of vital i'm
pOrtance that this effect should be at once
remedied. The New England States
have not of themselves produced enough
to last their population 20 days.
He then referred to the manner in
which nature reproduces herself, and by
the aid of chemistry receives again her
own. More than manual labor is requir-
ed for successful farming. A farmer
must understand natural laws before he
can act intelligently. All organic mat
teris composed of certain gases and min
eral matter of the earth and their combi-
nations For the soil to be productive
it must contain the elements ofplant food.
These are hitro-trogen, potash and phos-
phorous.
Whom the earth loses either of these,
it ceases to be productive and 1t want
of productiven.ss Is in exact proportion
to the loss. he then referred to the
distaste of farmers for science, and said
that 1t was owing to their want of famili-
arity with thesetthings that made them
unpopular. Every man to be a success
full farmer must have knowledge of the
elements OF chemistry. Great learning
was not necoessary for this. The soap
boiler is not learned man but he t,kes
advantage or chemical action in his busi- |
ness. For any mechanic not to take |
these advantages wsuld be suicide. He |
advised the feeding the grain and grasses |
pr oduced on the farm to the stock SO far |
IS practicable, and selling the animals |
thereby retaining to the soil all its sub /
stance except what is taken OF in tho |
animals body.
In Delaware there il q variety Of |
soil, scarcely two adjoi ming fields alike.
Each variety of soil required different
To each one should be ap-
piled exactly what IN wanted, and to
apply what's not wanted, is wholly
useless expenditure Let man manure
thoroughly what be can and cultivate
only what tie can SO manure, and that
thoroughly |t
He advised the raising of grass to a
much larger extent and let so much wheat
and corn raising be discontinued. 1t
would enrich the land, and pat money
IN the farmers pocket to raise cattle. The
market for cattle is being enlarged by
the interest in shipping cattle to Eng
land and the Delaware farmers with their
nearness to markets could we'll take ad-
of this growing demand.
He euloglzed the occupation of the
farmer and favored the higher education
of the farming community. Educated
and honest men on the farm make honest
and educated men in Office. He advised
young men to stick to the farm as an
honest and honorable calling and likely
to inure to their advantage in the long
run. With brilliant perioration, the
Judge closed pleasing and happily
adapted sp -ech. His delivery is pleasant
and he commanded the attention of his
audience throughout the entire Grafton.
During tho speech the rain commenced
to fall and during the entire afternoon
in light showers. This, though
it did not stop the races made it some
what unpleasant both for the spectators |
and the horseman.
The Judges of the races were Messrs. |
,IamAS XanO Ortan of Phlladplnhia. Caleb