St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-10-05
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL


Il
Agricultural fairs arc intended to be
object lessons for farmers. The pOpu-
lar idea that fair il folio. IL q
false one. Whilst the occasion fur
nishes . 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-
| ~ 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 large part
of his education. that he may properly
and profitably 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
IN 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-
bic. 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.
Fairs make the occasion for the as
OF numbers of farmers. and
each man has not only tho benefit OF
the exhibits before him, but the better
OF intelligent discussion and
general comment
The best means for rapid advance
ment is to bring the people in personal
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-
Ats of agricultural fairs. / hardly
think we can have too many. They
need not be expensive in their ar
indeed. / do not think
hey ought to be. but it would greatly
aid genera, agriculture il we had one
n every county in the State. 1t brings
he farmers together by comparisons;
t measures a man in his success be-
ore the public. and it stimulates him
o his best endeavor and his best re-
ults Let such a condition of things
fleet every farmer in the country,
md the advance and improvement will
70 greater than can be obtained
through any other means.
Some plan of organization should be
dopted to identify every farmer with
he exhibit. and have him put out
ample, at least. of every crop he
aises - good. bad and Indifferent
hero is too little inspection OF
arm methods and farm results.
every member of club or Grange
r an Alliance is required to bring out
D public exhibition an average sample '
{ his crops. many who are now, indif-
.rent to results. could not endure the 7
Of being the least in the
multitude.
County fairs can be made more
rofitable by inviting the cooperation b
several counties adjacent. and fix n
x dates SO rs to allow attendance s
pom each. Such q course will get
p a community competition that will a
3 more extended. and, therefore, more n
rofitable. y
The money invested in any county "
Y the purpose of q well-conducted n
,unty fair will pay cash dividends in
le Improvement OF agriculture and s,
10 general advancement of the peo- u
g. All the expenses necessary can c,
, easily met in tho small admission 81
g. Il
Competition begun in the county
ID theN extended to adjacent II
'unties and finally to the State. p'
between different sections OF II
. State. by transferring exhibits g.
the different expositions and to OF
e State Fair. would increase our yield,
lprovc our methods, advertise our IL
'oducts. induce good settlers. and en- oil
nee the taxable products many mill b,
rs Of dollars. In such enterprises m
, need large public spirit Our peo- al
e are greatly lacking in interest for k.
9 public good. forgetful Of the fact
1t every man who advances the pub. st
} good advances. in q measure. his to
m interest We are too much in in
clined to live at home and work ex- en-
lsively for ourselves These inter- Ii,
In haua hoan discnaainn ano fhoro. | =