Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1878-10-17

THERE is nothing better calculated to en-
=. courage a careful study and practice of thu
science of agriculture and stock-breedine
in a new country than we'll directed eFaiI
associations. These associations have done
for the A American farmer in one decade
what could not have otherwise been accom-
plished in half a.century, and if properly
managed the Fair associations of Montana
will accomplish a great work for our peo'
pie. With the exception of the Territorial
fair these institutions in our Territory are
young and inexperienced, and if guided by
that wisdom which gather knowledge from
the experience of others, may never know a
failure. AS to the Territorial association it
has been in existence we think long enough
to profit by the past, and if we see Alright
may learn a valuable lesson theretrom. We
have often referred to the deficiencies in the
management, of the exhibitions Of this as
ISOLATION, their premium lists, etc., and
worked to lead the directors into what we
conceived to be the proper channel, but in
vain. When the last premium list was Of
fered we spoke encouragingly of the in
crease of premiums offered, and urged our
farmers to show their appreciation of the
advance made, by a liberal attendance and
a general display of their stock. But the
result proves that the encouragement was
not sufficient, the overtures not satisfactory.
And the fact that the fairs have fallen off in
attendance and interestfrom year to year
since its organizations evidence. conclusive
that to prove a success there must be q rad
ical change; that new features must be in
troduced or the present put forth IN a better
shape to command the necessary attention
from the industrial public. There is. mo
longer q doubt that we were right in gu
assertion that the horse racing feature was
altogether too prominent and occupied by
far too much of the time and means of the
institution, for as the country becomes more
improved and States-like, and the wild gam
bling idea of our pioneers die away, the
truth of our proposition grows more. appar-
,cnt. The best mode of which. we can con-
ceive for the promotion OLA llye interest in
our Territorial fair, is a,change in the pro-
gramme of exhibiting. Ipstead of stock be-
- -"
ing lett in their sheds ,9r. stalls, ash now the
the case, except on one appointed hour in
the whole week, when all classes. kinds
sizes and. ages. are led or driven forth on
parade, this parade should constitute a.
fair portion of the time OF each day. Stock
OF all kinds, classes, grades and ages, should
be exhibited in rings of its particular Glass.
c,poll "a hsi;t;D, ,;,,.. , "a Io ,r.n -, o~ol To,1
this purpose. Let this be done, and these
parades diversified by an occasional race,
and there will be something to draw and
hold the attention of the entire people, both
sEportSnen and others. Stockmcn take a
great deal more pains in preparing their
stock when they are to be shown in this
manner and the awards of premiums are
more satisfactory, for the judges in such
cases should b. called from the audience
without u *inQment's notice. and make the
awards according to the merits of the ami
mails. not knowing to whom they belong,
While under the present. system the judges
are appointed in advance, and visit the
stalls 10 make the awards why're they come
i'll contact with the owners, and are more or
less influenced by their presence and the
giving of premiums looks more like Il COM
promise, a fixing of things up so as to suit
all parties than it does like an award of
premiums TO the best animal or animals on
exhibition. underthis system the award
ing OF premiums will be a matter OF judg
;saent, as the eyes of the public will be both
the committee and the stock. The