The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-09-26
Our County Fair.

AuCOOnuiucu cAulUlIlOn OI the MaIylanQ
State Agricultural Society and the Hartford
county society will begin at Bel Air, on
Tuesday next, September Both. The entry
books will close on Saturday, September 9th.
Very little time remains in which to make en-
tries, but every farmer and housekeeper who
has not entered articles for exhibition should,
for the sake of county pride, avail themselves
OF the opportunity yet remaining and help to
swell the exhibition, so as to make it an OBJ
ject lesson of the resources and progress of
our county in everything that pertains to
agriculture and home life. There is scarcely
a farm or house in the county which does
not possess something worthy to have q
place at the county fair. Some trouble, of
course, is connected with the exhibition of
stock and other articles at the fair, but the
exhibitor will be well repaid by the feeling
that he has done his part, at least, in showing
outsiders what Hartford county can do
A county fair has many advantages, be-
yond the pleasure of meeting old friends and
making new ones. In farming, as in
everything else, there must be a sur
vival of the fittest, and the fair, by the
opportunity it affords farmers of compar-
ing and contrasting products of the farm, en-
ables the intelligent, progressive farmer to
abandon Improbable varieties of seeds and
secure those which give better yield. Here
and there are men and women who every
year experiment in small way with new
varieties of field and garden crops. These
often prove superior to the kinds generally
planted, and being shown at the fair are thus
introduced to the notice of other farmers and
gardeners, with great advantage to the coun.
ty in general.
Then, too, the fair affords the enterprising
farmer splendid opportunity to investigate
the merits of various labor-saving imple-
ments, side by side, and prevents an outlay
for an inferior article when better, perhaps,
can be had for the same money.
The benefit of observing the points of Sc
lected animals of the best breeds of stock is
also OF importance. 1t costs NO more to feed
good cow, for instance, than a scrub, and
by becoming familiar with good stock, wheth-
er horses, COWS, cattle, sheep, swine or poul-
try, the intelligent and observant are enabled
to make purchases judiciously with view
of improving their stock and commanding
better prices for what they may have to sell.
The ladies of Hartford have from time i'm
memorial BEEN justly celebrated for their
skill housekeeping and in all that pertains to
the comfort of the family. 1t is therefore es-
pecially incumbent on them to preserve their
reputation by good display in the depart
ments 10 which they shine pre-eminent.
The Secretary, Mr.. James W. McNabb,
and his assistants have been very busy. this
week, in making entries and the prospect
is favorable for fine display. Among the
entries already made from abroad are herd
of splendid Holstein-Friesian cattle by Mr. {.
John Z. Cowen, of Baltimore county; herd
of Guernseys, herd of Ayrshires and herd
of unregistered Jerseys by Mr.. Ignatius D.
Blunt, of Montgomery county herd of Here
ford by e. Cuttings Merryman, of Baltimore
county; herds of Holsteins and Herefords by
Harkell & Shook, of Frederick county, Nd;
ten pens of pigs by the same, and registered
draft horses by Mr.. Cowen. Our own coun-
ty. it is to be hoped, will also be well repre-
sented in the various departments. which
illustrate the activity and progress of the
people of Hartford county.
On Wednesday Hon. ]. M. Rusk, Secre-
tary of Agriculture, is expected to deliver an
address.
The following letter has been received from
Grover Cleveland:
SEPT. "a, 1890.
J. M Street,, Esq, Corresponding Secretary, de-,
DEAR SIR: / acknowledge with thanks
your kind invitation to attend the annual exhi-
bition of the Maryland State Agricultural As
ISOLATION.
regret that business engagements will pre-
vent my attending the exhibition. Wishing for
the association the greatest success am
Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.