The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-10-13
Agricultural FAIRS.


hibits. The excuse offered that this has
been a bad year for agricultural products
can hardly be accepted as valid. Pears
and Dlums have not been 50 abundant
and so fine for many years, and no failure
is reported save in the potato crop Had
every farmer contributed the best from
his farm, orchard and garden, the eXhbi-
tons would undoubtedly have been of a
high order. But they did not do so, save
in exceptional localities. The most con
spicuous failure was the IIoulton fair,
whereas Judging from the agricultural re-
sources of the surrounding country, it
should have been the most successful.
The Pioneer says
This failure is charged to those who require
some change Of tactics some feature to ere
ate enthusiasm and revive that interest which lies
dormant. There Is no scarcity OF material: what
want is something TO bring it out. The Secre-
tary, Mr.. Holland, has labored hard to preserve
the reputation of the society but it seems be a
thankess task If farmers can employ their time
to better advantage, and feel that it is not protta
u,
after the crops are gathered and housed to exhibit
with neighbUrs and co workers in the vineyard the
fruits Of their labor they must not be censurcd,
as they alone are the best Judges. The farmers OF
this county are prospecting, and will no doubt con
tnue to do So regardless Of cattle shows and fairs
They can learn from the best agricultural journals
and their own experience what they most need to
produce the best results. They have productive
soil and ready market for their surplus What
more need the Aroostook farmers to make them
selves happy
We are certainly not disposed to cen
sure farmers for failing to contribute to
their local fairs. although we believe tito
he for their interest to do so; and we
should be glad to see the causes of their
dissatisfaction removed. This is mat
ter to which fair managers might turn
their attention with profit to themselves
true that our fairs have followed old rutS
So long as to cause Il gradual decline of
interest and that new methods, in accord
with the progressive spirit Of the times,
are demanded. The practical farmers,
those who live hy tillng the soil, feel that
their interests are neglected. while the
fancy farmer and stock raiser and the
factories carry off all the premiums and
the honors. The men whose capital cna-
bles them to indulge in experiments and
to invest in costly machinery, and who
bring bloodcl stock into the country. are
certainly entitled to encouragement, and
till an important place in our agricultural
system. But the great majority OF hard
working farmers, whose working capital
is their head and hands, should not be
ignored. The comments of one of these
men on the recent State Fair in Lew ist0n
were that it was given over almost entire
" to horse racing, and that the small
farmer received no consideration what
ever. This question Of horse racing is
perennial and it would be idle 10 discuss
it now The arguments for AMI against
it have been published hundreds Of times
and it still remains Il vcXtd question.
The system Of giving money premiums
is a good one, and should be followed if
possible. But we believe Il fair may be
successful and profitable to exhibitors
without such premiums. The farmer who
does not receive new and valuable IDEAS
in visiting Il first class agricultural fair
cannot keep his eyes and ears open, and
in most instances he will be pretty Ger
tain to find new customers for his prod
ucts. The opportunity is afforded him Of
advertising, free of cost, save in trans
portation to the fair, whatever he may
have to sell. In the Worlds fairs and
the industrial exhibitions this opportunity
is much priced, and space is eagerly
taken by exhibitors. In these great fairs
money premiums are rarely given yet
American manufacturers have found it to
their benefit to contribute to fairs held in
Paris, London, Vienna, MatanZai. and in
Australia and New Zealand.
The New England Farmer is in favor
Of having competitors the judges upon
their own exhibits, and makes Il strong
argument in support Of its position. 1t
SAWS
With the adoption of such system. Judging
would no longer be considered burden. In case
of a failure to agree the competitors should them
selves have power to choose one outside party to
act d Judge, one being better than a large mum
Der, instead Of having the selection let to officers
of the society, who may be entirely incompetent
for the work, or TO that worst OF all methods, nom
nation at large
While we are not altogether convinced
on this point We heartily endorse what
the Farmer says concerning the present
method of making awards
The management at the centennial exhibition
in Philadelphia, a long stride i'll advance in
the matter of awards although there was, doubt
less, imperfect work done by the Judges What
we refer to specially was the rejection of the old
method Of giving prizes for first second and third
best exhibits, without designating the special
merits which governed the Judgment of the com
mlttccs Where prizes were given, they were
awarded for certain named merits, but without re
hecting upon the merits Of other similar exhibits
ruts, and it may be necessary, for some time yet,
to 90 through some sort of form Of awarding hon
to goods exhibited at public shows but for our
part we are fully in favor of dispensing with
money awards and with all reports of Judges which
merely name the order Of merit, is first. second,
third, etc, without giving the exhibitor or the
public any clew whatever to the reasons the com
nittee had for making the ards as they did An
award made by a board of judges at an industrial
exhibition, should be some guide to the public in
helping to decide what animals or merchandise it
would be advisable to purchase 1t is not enough
to know, that IN the judgment Of certain men who
had i'll some way got upon committee to pro
nounce upon a collection Of COWS that Mr. 4 had
the best COW exhibition. The public want to
know what Mr.. A s COW is good for, whether for
beef, milk to sell butter, cheese or 10 sell and
cheat somebody else with Mr. b. who fails to
get the prize for his COW, also wants to know
wherein his exhibit was inferior to that of Mr. A.,
whether it was merely fancy Of the judges, or
whether there is real difference in the actual
value of the two COWS
Perhaps there are no exhibits upon which there
is so little satisfaction given to all parties concern
ed, as that of butter We claim that there is not
and never be, any standard for good butter, so
long as butter is made by SO many different meth