The Arizona sentinel., 1886-06-12
AGRICULTURAL FAIRS.
The Advisability of Offering Premiums fo
 Novelties tn Be Exhibited.

s
 been productive of great good, none will deny. They have enabled foreign CTS who come here for the purpose of engaging in farming to see the produc- tions peculiar to this country and to learn much in relation to the ways of raising them. They have served to bring up the quality of all our dairy products. They have exerted power- ful influence in increasing the produc- ton of orchard, vineyard and garden fruits, and in improving the quality of l them. They have been of considerable value to Horticulture and vegetable gar- dening. Persons who have visited fairs have seen new varieties of fruits, vege- tables and flowers, and have engaged in raising them. New and improved agri- cultural implements have been brought into notice by the displays made at fairs. At one time the competitive tests of the different kinds of implements in the fair grounds or in fields in the vicinity en- abled farmers to judge of their respect i've merits. Most farmers who have visited fairs have learned much by con- versing with exhibitors of stock, ma chinery, field, garden and orchard products.
 i Probably the most good has resulted from the displays of specimens of im- proved breeds of horses, cattle, sheep, pigs and fowls at fairs. All farmers of intelligence have read descriptions of improved breeds of farm animals and have seen illustrations of them. But it is necessary to see the animals them selves and to compare them with com mon stock in order to become convinced of their superior merits. The exhibi- tions on fair grounds enable farmers to do this. The displays of Norman horses in the show-ring served to make these animals popular in all parts of the country and to produce great demand for them. Farmers became dissatisfied with ''scrub'' cattle after they saw fine specimens of the short-horn and Here- ford breeds. Dairy farmers decided to improve their milking herds after they had seen Ayrshire, Jersey, Holsteins and ! Swiss cows. Pork ra;sers were inclined to give up keeping razor backs after they had visited fairs at which Berk- Shires were on exhibition. A similar effect was produced by the displays at fairs of the improved breeds of sheep, hens, geese and ducks. Men who took ,, fine stock to distant fair in order to obtain premiums accomplished a good missionary work.
 It is certainly advisable to continue the display of ali kinds of live stock as well as all kinds of field, orchard and garden crops, and to encourage exhibi- tions by the offer of premiums. AL though most farmers have seen speci- mems d all the improved breeds of cattle, sheep, horses, pigs and poultry, it is desirable that they see from year to year the Improvements that are made by skillful breeders. Still, an agricul- tural fair should be something more than livestock show. Good farming is necessary to produce crops for ani- mals to eat, and for land to be made productive it is necessary to preserve and apply ly manure properly, to prepare the soil so that plants will make viz orous growth, and to cultivate it so that weeds do not make their appearance. In this part of the country it is neces- sary to provide shelter as we'll as food for stock, and at the present time fur nishing shelter is attended by large ex- pense. Without doubt the price of lumber will increase from year to year till the time will come when farm build ings must be made of stone, brick, iron or concrete. Building materials have increased in price and the wages of car penters have advanced during the time that nearly all farm products have been on the decline.
 It seems to be time for the managers of agricultural fairs to turn their atten- ton to new things. The breeders of fine stock have been encouraged by the offer of liberal premiums, and so have the persons who have introduced new and improved varieties of fruits, grains, vegetables and Towering plants. There are other things that need encourage ment We want better buildings on farms, and we need those that can be constructed at small cost for mate rials and work. Rural architecture has been sadly neglected in this country. The great majority of farm buildings are unsuited to the purposes for which they were designed, while they are very costly The offer of liberal premiums for the best and cheapest buildings that would accommodate certain number of horses, cattle or sheep would set me- chanics at work Tn preparing plans to be submitted for examination. The erection of one cheap, convenient and substantial building would be the means of causing many to be erected. It would have the same influence on the barns that would be put up during the next few years that a fine horse will on animals that will be raised in the same neighborhood.
 Shelter belts are of so much import ance on Western farms that it would be wise to offer premiums for those that are of the most service, are most quickly grown, and which are produced at the least cost. The construction of stock-ponds, fish-ponds and clsterns for holding soft water is deserving the at- tention of the management of agricul- tural fairs. Ensilage has received little attention in most parts of the West, chiefly for the reason that farmers do not understand how to construct and fill silos. A somewhat liberal premium for the best silo would be likely to be the means of having several constructed and filled, and farmers would have an opportunity of visiting them and gain ing an idea of their value. Of late most of our agricultural fairs have been lack ing in the element of novelty. There are few changes in the premium list in the course of dozen years. It would add to their interest, while 1t would greatly