Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-08-18
Our Next Fair.

We publish this week for the third and last
| time the Premium List of our coming county
| Fair, to be held here next month. That it is
to be a great success, is assured from the great
| interest already manifested in it all over the
county On one day last week. some thirty
stalls were rented for cattle exhibits and the
| association will have to increase the already
large number of stalls on the grounds. The
great advantages of Agricultural Fairs are well
set forth in the following, from the remarks OF
w. s. Roland, of York county, read at meet
ing of the Board of Agriculture for 1880:
"Whatever may be said or written for or
against agricultural fairs, il is well-demon-
strated truth that they still out-rival and out
number all other kinds of gatherings of people,
They have become permanent institutions
amongst and to be kept up in useful and
healthy condition, they must be made attrac-
tive and instructive through elevating, ex-
pansive and progressive influences. Agricul-
ture is the chief support of the nation, anS as
long as the earth brings forth abundant har-
vests, and skill and ingenuity is encouraged
in the invention aud manufacture of machinery
applicable to agricultural purposes, Will the
interest in agricultural fairs be kept up.
These fairs when properly conducted, are a
training school, where the ambitious of all
classes may learn something that will benefit
them in their journey through life. These
exhibitions bring together, within narrow
scope, much of the skill and industry of the
county, and an opportunity is afforded the
people to get cheap information in the most ap-
proved methods of production, in the various
departments of agriculture besides, they tend
to stimulate the appetite for agri-
cultural books and newspapers, and create a
desire to employ talent, time money, and
business energy in the application of mechanics
to agriculture. This is evidence in the fact
that men of wealth and culture take an inter-
est in fairs, and follow them up with a view
to scientific results, as well as for profit.
Fairs have been acknowledged as medium
for introducing agricultural machinery,
through which means there has been an in
creased production, and at less cost to the
pronucer. A late writer this subject says :
Indeed the poorer the land, and the poorer
the farmer, the greater the necessity for econ
omizing labor by the application Of machinery
to crop cultivation And in addition to these
well marked evidences of the progress and ex
panding capabilities of agriculture, there is
the best of proof now spread over the State
that fairs have been the means of improving
the breeds of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, and
poultry, and in the culture of fruits, flowers
and vegetables as well as in the household
and other departments, where the objects are
to foster, encourage, and improve agriculture,
horticulture, mechanics, domestic, household,
and fine arts, etc.
1t should be the study of the officers of agri-
cultural societies to do more than simply try
- get up large gatherings of the people for
amusement only. Ii is hoped that there is yet
coming a brighter day than any in the past,
when more attention and greater facilities will
be given the people in their desire for advance
ment in agricultural knowledge. / believe
that the State Board of Agriculture could eff
feet good results by sending out committees to
visit county fairs, and have them make full
reports of all they see, good and bad. And
further, could there not be concert of action
brought about between some citizens in every
nd ha Dcrp,apant Evhilitinu Gam
pany, at Philadelphia through which means
working organization could be founded labor
ing for State development, in collecting and
depositing in the exhibition building samples
of the agricultural, horticultural, mineral and
industrial resources Of the State, accompanied
with maps showing locality whence obtained,
and facilities for reaching these places?
think that committees or individuals could be
found in every county willing to assume the
task of collecting such facts-useful and inter
esting-and communicating their labors to
their fellow citizens. through the State Board
Of Agriculture or the Permanent Exhibition
Company. In such an undertaking, | would
suggest as valuable held the public schools.