Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-10-08

THE OBJECT OF THE AGRICULTURAL
FAIR.-The near approach of the season
for agricultural fairs renders the methods
of conducting these autumn festivals sub
jects OF intense interest to the farming
community. Few will dispute that the
main objects Of farmers fair should be
its educational features, manifested espe-
cially in the exhibition of choice products,
whether of the cattle and sheep, grain
and roots, fruit and flowers. or agricultural
implements and machinery. That exhi-
bition which approaches nearest this
standard will exert the most beneficial
influence upon its participants and upon its
visitors. Agricultural fairs should cease
to represent only museums of curiosites,
collections of monstrosities, or exceptional
products. Neither should these societies
attempt to include within their encourage
ment articles foreign to the direct interests
of the farm and the farmer.
From an impartial and unprecedented
standpoint, the New York State Agricul-
tural Society, in the management of its
annual fairs is without a peer on this
continent, and furnishes n model well
worthy the imitation of the numerous
societies in the other states. The New
York society seems TO be conducted in the
interest of the practical farmer, and fol
the sole purpose of the advancement of the
art of agriculture. Many other prominen
societies are too often enlisted in the self
glorilication of ambitions officials, in the
promotion of pet and selfish schemes, ant
in the establishment of questionable prac
tices not calculated to promote true anC
progressive farming.
Gross abuses have gradually worked
into the management Of the average fair
The endorsement of this or that society Il
no longer accepted as proof OF superlo
| merit in articles exhibited. The award o
prizes is not always viewed as evidence
of mature Judgment, guided by worth.
motive and honest criticism. The pro
ceedings of many societies in this connec
ton have fallen into disrepute. 1t i
recorded in one of our exchanges that a
Il leading fair last year a first prize wa
given to a sample of barley that wa
ridiculously white, the color having evi
IDENTIFY been bleached out of it through tn
use of sulphur. Again, prizes have beer
awarded TO roots that were industriousl
sandpapered, and made to present pre-
ternaturally smooth appearance. In orde
to discourage the overlooking of breeding
animals for exhibition, the judges of tn
New York state fair are instructed t.
make allowance, in all cases. for diilerenc
in condition, and are cautioned agains
being deceived thereby. Premiums AZ
not to be awarded to stock simply gotte
up for exhibition purposes, and devoid {
OF natural and intrinsic merit. This sam
grand principle is earnestly offered to tn
consideration of the members of agricu
tural fairs, in judging of the intrinsi
merits of other offerings than cattle.
should embrace horses, sheep, swim
poultry, as well as the cereal and veg
table department. Nothing should
esteemed worthy of prize that does NJ
illustrate some fact or method or princip
worthy of prominence, and calculated
) forward the interests of remuneraliv
riculture.-American CultaUat0r.