The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-09-25
FARMERS COLUMN.
THE FAIRS.


THE FAIRS.
The agricultural fairs are now in "full
blast throughout the country, and for an
other month these great displays Of the
products Of the farm will attract universal
attention and mark the progress that the
fundamental industry of the nation has
made.
Agricultural fairs, Il properly conducted
perve 10 rouse up and infuse with new life
and vignr the whole farming community.
They answer as stimulus to cnliven the
6ngging Interests which, owing b. the native
isolation of the business, is prone TO steal
SVer the farmer whaso life is spent in the
psaceful, quiet shades OF country home.
hike the summer storm which puts new
fignr and life into all nature, after violent
shaking up, as the sights, sounds, hustle
and excitement of the fair wake up the
farmer 20 better realization of the magni-
tude and importance of his own business,
and compel him 10 feel that although SEEM
ingiy &c quiet and dull is the daily business
skurry life Of trade, whsre all is fuss with a
large degree Of fustian thrown in, it contrasts
with other efnployments as the deep, strong
current of the river, which in its noiscless
movement nows on with an irresistablc
power and majesty that the baJblirg brook
Knows nothing Of
agriculture may be compared to the Gnlf
stream, moving through the ocean, scarcely
p'rceptible, but in comparison with its
magnitude, power and lructifyng influence,
all other streams sink to insighfcance.
Were this mighty ocean current suddenly
to.eease, stagnation and death would cover
land and sea. The Atlantic coasts would be-
come frozen wilderness in their northern
and middle regions.
30, also If agriculture were to cease man
would disappear from the earth till but
remnant Temuined of the human family
TO ts!,e its position with the wild animals
and dispute with them the meager pittance
Of food which nature, unasslsted hy the arts
Of the husbandman, provides. Populous
cities, the busy marts oftrade. would become
depopulated and the dens # wild beasts
At the fairs we catch a glimpse of this
great gulf stream Of human lie and
civilization, and feel its mighty power, and
it is good to have these periodic experiences,
to bring to all a realizing sense ofthe dignity,
the god-like majesty of agriculture. The
a,sl,I oc ;n al, Ill: A.
earth,- sun, and air, which constitutes agri-
culture, ia go great that few, comparatively,
Of the mass Of mankind have been able to
comprehend it, while their vision has been
dazzird and filled with the glitter of insig-
nificant things. But better and truer edu-
cation is beginning to reveal TO the mass of
mankind the magnitude ,npproachn almost
the infinite, of agriculture, and step by ster,
with accelerated progress, it is moving up to
occupy the first place in respect and impor-
tance in the minds of the best thinkers of
the world. Agricultural fairs should be,
and are when properly conducted great
educators in tnfs new school Of learning,
where the lights of scientific truth are sup
planting the superstition of the decrepid
ages. They are as yet in crude state ard
need perfection and systematizing, 80 that
every prize awarded shall 10 the eompen
sation for lesson taught to the skilled and
intelligent workers in the same field. A
prize award I'd for the best animal, the best
butter, cheese, bread, grain, fruit, etc., n,
emitting the necessary instruction how il
was produced, go clearly and minutcly
given that any intelligent worker in the
same field can produce its counterpart. is
virtually waste of premiums To all but The
receiver No premium ought to he awarded
for any product at an agricultural fair unless
accompanied by II printed nF written de
tailed account of the prOtrss by which it
was produced or made. A great many shan.s
and cheats would be driven out that are
now successful in plundering the fair of
premiums, and a great many meritorious,
honest workers, and valuab ble products,
would be the winners uS we'll earned prizes
IL the Institution Of agricultural fairs was re.
dueed TO something like an intelligent
system, instead of the crude, aimless plan on
which they are nearly or wholly conducted.
The only feature about these fairs which
Is conducted by rules of an intelligent
system, is the "sPeeA rng," and for this
they are indebted to the rules which have
been perfected for the race course. But even
in this branch ' the most objectionable part
OF the agricultural fair, license is allowed
to swindling aud cheating. that turf
men would not dare attempt on the regulur
raca-course.
Let the thinking men among the mana
gers Of the agricultural fair, the farmers
ciubr the grange, and Of every other agri-
cultural and lIorsieTlt:raT insfitntiun, study
how beat tn perfect this great annual cx
hibition. They should be viewed from one
stsndpoint-that of education. They are
mainly valuable for this feature which is
most neglected, and which could be made
ofinestimable worth tn the whole rnmmum-
ity. They are considered rs institutions ni
recreation and pleasure, by many, and 81
they should be, but the mnre intelligence
they are made to impart Ia VISITORS. the
more recreation asd pleasure will be got
out Of them. -fanSd8 Farmer
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