Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-09-03
NO. 212.
Farms. Farmers and Methods.
BY \ WORKING FARMER.

As fair time approaches the feeling
increases among the farmers that our
county fairs are not conducted as they
should be- and efforts are being made IN
Orleans Co., y. Y, to correct the grave
faults that have heretofore existed IN the
management of our county fairs.
The main question is, .'Shall the trottng
horse continue to absorb the time and
money of our agricultural industriesP'
The jockey says "If you have no horse
trot, YOU will have no audience, and your
fair will be Il failure
As far as am concerned, l should say,
''let it fall If there is not sufficient en-
ergy among the farmers to bring out their
calvts and pigs, pumpkins and potatoes,
and make creditabe exhibition, that will
be interesting and instructive to an agri-
cultural community, then, ! say, we had
better remain at home and let the fair 60
down.
TO assume that an institution like our
county fair is conducted in the interests OF
horse jockeys, betting men and lager beer
saloons, is at the best a dark reflection
upon the honor and intelligence OF the
farmers of our country, and ought to fall.
If we must depend upon the trotting
horse to 'draw'' an audience, and by so
doing save our societies from bankruptcy,
then say let us train our own horses, or
what amounts to the same thing, pay no
premiums for fast trained horses, but add
the premiums to worthier objects; say, Tor
instance, the best pair of draft horses, the
best breeding mare and colt, or the best
COW. or yoke of oxen, or the trio of sheep
of any breed.
How long, think you, under this treat
ment, would the trained horse be the
principal attraction?n How long would
the hammer of the pool-seller be heard, or
the slang of the trotting men? We put
money into the hands of these men, and
thereby encourage them in their immoral
pursuits, and. at the same time, become,
to certain extent, responsible for their
actions and participants in their irregular
tiles.
But" say one. would you have no
amusements on the fair grounds; nothing
but cattle. horses. sheep, swine. poultry
and vegetables. fruits and grains?'
Certainly; | would allow all amuse-
ments of a higher order music and games,
and can see no objections to races-foot
races, sack races, mile incorporating
they are inexpensive. and in Il proper
spirit; in other words. merely as an
amusement.
Personally, care for none of these
things, but all people are not so constitu-
ted, and must have amusement OF some
kind There is not farmer in ten that
really enjoys a look at a fine horse, COW
or Sheep and some of the judges ap-
pointed really do not know Jersey from
a Devon or Cotswold from Leicester, or
SrIfT
tell, do you expect such men to give youa
premium on fine colt, when their inter-
csts all point in another direction? Their
friends interest are theirs, and they never
prove themselves so recreant to their
trusts, as to desert from the strong, gilt
tering ranks of policy to the plain, meagre
columns of merit. and furthermore, we
ought not to expect them so to do.
All that we need, in my opinion. to make
our agricultural fairs success as such, is
to secure competent and impartial judges;
men who can Judge of an nnimal by its
fine points, and not by fat; men whose in
tegrity is so guarded that they cannot be
bought or scared into an opnion men of
sterling worth, who are known as experts
in some particular branch of agriculture.
Once convince the farmer that his stock,
grain or vegetables must stand upon its
merits alone and that its merits or demer-
its will be canvassed by impartial experts,
and passed upon by them as Judges, and
there will be no trouble in filling our stock
pens and poultry-houses with fine animals
and excellent fowls, such as will be an
honor to onr country, and reflect credit
upon the management of our fairs.-Amer-
tcaM FuitiratOr.
Orleans Co., n. Y Aug. Is.