The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-08-03
Friday, Aug. II. lsss.
The Agricultural Fairs.

The agricultural SocietieS arc e'oi "
preparing for the fall Fairs. The cata-
logues for the Cecil County Fair are out
but we have not yet received one and Can
no: speak of its contents. though the attrac-
tions are said to be equal to those OF any
previous exhibition. None of the agricul-
tural fairs in America are equal to what
they should he as instructive institutions.
These institutions in European countries
are much in advance of ours IN TINS
respect. In this country the horse
tyot has in large measure ran away
with the agricultural fair. This result Is
mainly the cause of an imperfect manage
ment. AS teacher, every department OF
the fair should be provided with compe-
tent instructor. The livestock department
should have judges-one judge is sufficient
for each class if he is comprehensive are
skilled stockmen and their decisions should
be based on scientific principles, and con-
form to the rules of points laid down In the
books. The different breeds of cattle should
have Judge who had made that breed
careful study and is competent to point out
the defects and desirable features OF the
stock and the manner of breeding in order
to preserve the good and escape the unde-
siiable features. The same rules should
apply to sheep, swine, horses, fowls, etc.
After the decisions had been made the prize
animals should be exhibited in the ring and
the judges explain the points Of excellence
which governed them and the features re-
quired to make up first class animal OF
bird. This manner of conducting agricul
tural fairs would make them profitable to
farmers and breeders, and being instructive
would popularize the Fair among the class
which it is intended to benefit and interest.
Instead, the judges are picked up where
ever man or woman can be found to serve,
without regard to their fitness. and as a
matter ,of course the decisions are mere
guess work, more apt TO be erroneous than
Just. The exhibitors Of the animals and
articles being in most instances much bet
ter informed than the judges are very nat
urally dissatisfied with the unjust awards,
and there being no explaHation on the points
on which decisions are based, no instruction
results from the Fair and virtually no SUBJ
stantial public benefit.
On the other hand the racing men and
gamblers are the most excited and interest
ed people at the Fair. These departments
are always represented by experts in their
line, and these branches of the Fair being
the most systematically and intelligentiy
conducted, become the leading features Of
the exhibit, monopolize interest, dissatisfy
and disgust The producing class and the Fair
languishes.
This reform should be made in our Ag-
ricultural Fairs, and might be done at little
expense with the advantage of making them
both interesting and very profitable as teach
ers to exhibitors aud visitors. The English
are far sherd of us in this respect, and
their Agricultural Fairs in consequence
very popular among the farming classes
aud largely patronized by them. Such re-
form is greatly needed and should be intro
duced into our Fairs. Employ competent
judges and pay them for their services, one
to each department or class.
The attempt TO introduce the lecture at
our Cecil Fair last fall was failure because
there was no method employed to bring it
to the front. Nothing useful is ever accom-
pli,hed unless proper means are employed
to achieve success. The only scientifically
conducted feature alb ,ut the Fair is the
horse trot, which is the least useful Of all.