The Delaware ledger., 1883-08-11
Agricultural Fairs.

The time is drawing on apace when the
several States will be busy with theil
fairs. Fairs, generally, are beneficial tC
the farmer. The exhibits of dairy and
farm products have and are creating q
spirit of emulation among the farmers,
which has resulted in wider field of ex.
hibits and of more varied products. Is
there a farmer now that does not pride
himself on the products of his farm-the
fine cattle, thoroughbred horses, etc, or
the good wife on her "gilt-edged" butter
and extra breed of fowls. The premiums
offered for these classes, in many insan.
ces, are not ample, but every year the
amount is increased, and we are sure that
before long the amount offered will be
fully large enough to warrant the efforts
Of the exhibitor. The display of ma
chinery on exhibit gives the farmer an
idea of Iabor-saving appliances, and opens
way by which he can do more and bet
ter work at minimum cost than in for
mer years. All this goes to benefit the
people, ard as matter of course the pre-
miums must be large to secure these ex-
hibits. The question arises as to what
must be done to increase the premiums ?
There must be greater attractions an
nounced to secure "a larger attendance of
people so that more money be taken ut
the fair gates. What will tend to ac.
complish greater attendance than here
tofore at agricultural fairs? The inCro-
duction of a new machine of superior
workmanship will hardly increase the at
tendance five per cent, and the gate
money realized is insufficient to pay the
proper amount for premiums, The ques.
ton has been discussed frequently by ali
classes of people on the advisability Of
making fairs successful without a race
course, and what has been the result {?
We believe utter failure to attract crowds
has been the Growing result. We think
it impossible to make fairs successful
without a race course. 1t is true there Is
bitter complaint raised against "horse.
racing;' but, nevertheless the great mass
of people who attend fairs need some
thing more interesting than the fine dis
play of machiney, impaired stock, fine
chicks, "bluerblooded" dogs, and many
other embarrassing Ito some) objects.
What has already pleased man from
ages down is fine horse, we'll handled
and showing fast record This attrac-
tion will naturally draw large crowds. 1t
has already done so and so it will ever
continue to be. We do not want to be
understood ms trying to make it appear
that the racing constitutes the whole lair,
but we must aver that it is the essential
element toward making them successful.
Perhaps some prople think this trotting
is against the farmers wishes and desires.
IL so let them dispel this delusiOn at once,
as the average farmer delights to see fast
horses in contests of speed. In Witness
ing these trials of speed the farmers
mind is is filled with the spirit of i'm
prOyement among his own stock. They
study carefully the points and actions Of
digelept trotters, and in few years they
come to these fairs with some fine fillies
and horses to exhibit, both for looks aud
speed. And in this way they are iinan,
cially benefited, because they can sell
this blooded stock at prices greatly in adj
vance of what they would have received
had they continued raising inferior stock
There may be other ways of drawing
large crowds Of people to country fair
outside of trials of speed, hut we fail q
see how it can be successfully done.