Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-01-09

nest laid by the same hen. Prizes OF
nearly the same amount arc offered for
similar articles. and are often taken by
the same exhibitors. If two successive
fairs in the same county differ to any
considerable extent, It is owing to the
weather during exhibition week or to
some peculiarly of the season. A rain
may make the attendance poor, and a
drought may cause the exhibits to be
inferior.
The managers OF most fairs, mind full
OF the fact that the exhibitions are
monotonouS and unattra active. gcner-
ally seek TO secure some attractions
that will draw crowd. AS rulo
they arrange for series of horse-races
and sometimes for mule and men races.
A balloon ascension is often advertised,
and occasionally series of gym astic
and sleight-of- hand performances.
Military drills on fairgrounds are no t
uncommon. and this year several sham
battles are advertised. These exhi-
bit.ons are about rs instructive as Cir
Gus performances. Occasionally some
one is invited to make speech. and
when this is the case the orator is gen.
eralls a politician who is candidate
for Office at the approaching election.
The procurement OF these attractions
is an open confession on the part of the
managers that the display of live stock
and field and garden products Is not
worth the price charged for admission
to the grounds. They are like the
chromos aud jack-kniyos offered as in
ducements to country people TO sub
scribe for cheap papers.
Novelties are certainly very desirable
at fairs, as people tire of seeing the
same things year after year. 1t is
easy. however, to obtain novelties con-
nected with some departments of hus-
bandry. These will awaken interest
in the matters in which farmers are
engaged. Contests of skill in doing
any kind of farm work are very desir-
able. Years ago there were blowing
matches held in connection with nearly
every agricultural far, and they ut.
tracted much attention. Prizes woro
generally offered TO boys under Is years
of age who would pillow a certain
amount of land in the best manner In
the shortest time. These matches
made young farmers ambitious to learn
how to train and drive horses and to
turn good furrow. 1t is difficult to
find reason for dispensing with these
plOwlng-matches. Persons familiar
with farm operations in European
countries generally state that while the
plows in this country are superior to
those used abroad the work done with
them is much poorer. Flowing matches
are still kept up in Great Britain. and
are considered of great value in educat-
ing the young in the most important
work on farms. They also servo to
determine what kind of plows are the
best for doing different kinds of work.
In England. Ireland, and France
milking matches have become leading
features ut ayr cultural shows. Butter:
making matches have also become
common and popular. The contest.
ants select their own churns and other
implements, and manufacture, work,
and salt the butter in the way they are
accustomed TO, the committee, oom.
posed of experts, deciding on the merits
Of the different samples produced. The
prize takers are generally able, if they
wish, to obtain situations on dairy
farms, the owners of which desire TO
obtain a reputation for the butter made
for sale. A competitive trial also
affords an excellent opportunity for
judg ng of the merit Of different kinds
OF churns, as they can DO seen in opera
ton side by side, the time required to
convert cream or milk into butter
noted. and the quality Of the butter ex.
amined. That much of the butter made
in this country is very poor is generally
acknowledged. Most persons first learn
how to conduct any mechanical opera
ton by seeing it done. They learn
more by witnessing butter-making
contest than by reading dozen books
on the subject by the manufacturers OF
butter.
HOrseShoeing contests, which were
inauguratcd. France, have extended
into other European countries, and
have become very popular. II 10 a
kind of work in which every farmer Is
deeply interested, and in which the
greatest skill should be acquired. There
are many other mechanical operations
connected with farming or associated
with it that are worthy of encourage
ment. and for which it would be we'll
to offer prizes at fairs. Every farmer
should know how to slaughter, skin,
and dress cattle. calves, pigs, aud sheep
as quickly and as skillful as city butch
ers do. Making thatch for covering
buildings. hay. grain, and straw stacks
is much neglected art In this country.
and one in which many fore gners.
could give instruction if small induce
ments in the form of prizes were Offer
cd. Contests OF skill in doing any kind
OF work would interest many persons
who could not make creditable exhibits
of live stock or farm products at
agricultural fairs. Chicago Times.