Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-09-13
AGRICULTURAL.
AGRICULTURAL FAIRS

The season for agricultural ,o;.
will now, for the ensuing none
divide the attention of the farmor
with the great political contest VIII,
comes every four years. In Septam
Der and October the harvests win
have been gathered, and the pr,nci
pal money crop of the Middle Stats
will have been sown, and it is I'M.
just and proper that the farmer and
his family should enjoy some ration,
al enjoyment outside of their reguo,
duties of life, as we'll as other peonlo
and it is gratifying to observe thai
the fairs in our own, as we'll as in
other states, are increasing in num-
Der and interest every year. These
annual gatherings are peculiarly do.
sirable to the females of the country
the most of whom, indeed, enjoy hnt
few opportunities for that social in,
tercourse which their city sisters Dos
sess-their association is in the main
composed of their immediate neigh.
borhood. and with a very limited
number, whilst their husbands and
brothers have numerous good reaS.
ons or excuses for seeing more ofthe
outside world, which are very often
most literally availed of. In word
the wife and daughters of the far.
mer have necessarily to bear very
large share of the duties which per.
tain to their position, and are too
often obliged, by the inability or the
thoughtlessness OF the head of the
family, to be put off with very
small share Of the proceeds of the
labors of the year, either in the way
of personal qualifications, or in the
securing Of the most useful means of
lessening the labors requisite in the
household; and it is but reasonable
that these good helpmates to our Ia.
bors should enjoy ct least that pOr
ton of the week allotted to the coun
ty and state shows which may be
held In their vicinity. In the Ian
guage of one of our contemporaries,
who is Z" d man after our own mnd,p
the social advantages derived from
thus meeting together can hardly be
over-estimated it brings home the
absent children to cheer up the par
ents i'll their declining years, and it
gives them opportunities to renew
and strengthen the ties OF friendship,
formed years before in the village
church and school. These yearly
gatherings in many ways let streaks
of sunshine into our lives, smooth
our pathway, and enable us to carry
our burdens more cheerfully as well
as more satisfactorily. Another of
the great advantages we derive from
these annual exhibitions is in giving
to all an opportunity to see the diff
erent breeds of animals, and the new
fruits and vegetables gathered to.
gether in one Enclosure, where each
breed of animals can be compared
| with others, and also where every
new variety of fruit or vegetables
can be compared with the old estab.
lished varieties. This educational
feature of our exhibitions is impor
tant, and has done much to enable
the cultiyator of the soil TO easily
make selection best adapted to bis
wants. The farmer who has any
/ pride desires to have his animals
look as well as his neighbors'; so be
is careful to feed them well, and at
regular intervals. He also desires
to exhibit the best fruit and yege.
tables, SO all through the season be
IL encouraged to put forth his ener-
gies to accomplish the desired end.
He who does not see the advantages
in agricultural exhibitions has yet
an important lesson to learn Long
may these farmers festivals continue
to be held to cheer the farmer, and
assist him in his life work, and may
every proper exertion be made to
improve others, make them every
year mere valuable than ever be.
fopa rs