The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1889-08-16
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
Farmers and Fairs.


false one Whilst the occasion fur
nishes a fine opportunity for needed
recreation and entertainment, the main
purpose is educational. This is about
the only way farmers can make COM
parisOn of methods and results, and
determine the best means for success.
1t is sometimes objected, that farm
ers spend their money foolishly attend
ing fairs, instead of putting it in i'm
provements upon the farm. 1t would
be of equal force to say that the young
physician expends his money unwise-
ly in attending medical lectures, rather
than filling his shop with medicines
must first learn the use of remedies,
otherwise, he may invest in such as
will be hurtful to his business. The
farmer invests in fairs as a large part
of his education, that he may properly
and proftably fit himself for the du
ties of the succeeding year.
An investment in fairs is, therefore,
an investment for the farm. A farmer
may be satisfied with the character of
his field seed, until he sees the same
products much better developed by
some other farmer. He may be satisfied
with his scrub stock, and believe them
to be equal to the best, until he sees
the possibilities from improved breeds.
His hogs, to weigh two hundred and
fifty pounds, must be from eighteen
months to two years old. At the fair
he sees hogs of ten months weighing
three hundred. His sheep yield him
an average fleece of five pounds. He
sees at the fair sheep that will shear
fifteen. His COW gives him about two
and half gallons of milk per day.
He sees at the fair COWS that will give
eight gallons. And so on through
out the entire rounds of stock,
poultry and products, he finds
every thing far exceling what he
has on his farm, and what he
had heretofore supposed to be posi-
Bile. His methods are improved by an
inspection of labor-saving machines
and implements. He finds, by the use
of machines he sees on exhibition, that
he can greatly reduce his expenses for
labor. and at the same time increase his
yield.
sembling of numbers of farmers, and
each man has not only the benefit of
the exhibits before him, but the better
advantage of Intelligent discussion and
general comment.
! The best means for rapid advance
ment is to bring the people in personal
contact with facts rather than ideas,
and results rather than arguments.
Seeing is believing, and believing
makes the basis of action.
For some years past have watched,
with a great deal of interest, the bene-
fits of agricultural fairs. l hardly
think we can have too many. They
need not be expensive in their ar
rangements; indeed, I do not think
they ought to be, but it would greatly
aid general agriculture if we had one
in every county in the State. 1t brings
the farmers together by comparison;
it measures a man in his success be-
fore the public. and it stimulates him
! to his best endeavOr and his best re-
| suits Let such a condition of things
affect every farmer in the country,
and the advance and Improvement will
| be greater than can be obtained
through any other means.
Some plan of organization should be
adopted to identify every farmer with
! the exhibit, and have him pat out a
sample, at least, of every crop he
raises - good, bad and Indifferent.
There is too little inspection of
farm methods and farm results.
| If every member of a club or Grange
or an Alliance is required to bring out
to public exhibition an average sample
of his crops, many who are now indif-
! ferent to results, could not endure the
modification Of being the least in the
multitude.
County fairs can be made more
profitable by inviting the cooperation
of several counties adjacent, and fix
ING dates so as to allow attendance
upon each. Such a course will get
up a community competition that will
be more extended, and, therefore, more
profitable.
The money invested in any county
for the purpose of a well-conducted
county fair will pay cash dividends in
the improvement of agriculture and
the general advancement of the peo-
pie. All the expenses necessary can
be easily met in the small admission
fee.
Competition begun in the county
/ and then extended to adjacent
counties and finally to the State,
as between different sections oi
the State, by transferring exhibits
to the different expositions and to
the State Fair. would increase our yield,
improve our methods, advertise our
products, induce good settlers. and en-
hance the taxable products many mill
ions of dollars. In such enterprises
we need large public spirit. Our peO-
/ pie are greatly lacking in interest for
the public good, forgetful Of the fact
! that every man who advances the pub
/ lie good advances, in a measure, his
own interest. We are too much In.
/ inclined to live at home and work ex
clusively for ourselves. These inter
ests I have been discussing are, there
fore, left to the few who virtually weal
out with fruitless labor for others
without the cooperation of those whom
they seek to benefit.
Let us try the effect Of competition
1 and contrast in county fairs com.