Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-06-07
NEW METHODS roR AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETIES

frsvsr ry.i by =. N Mag al Pomona Grange.
Norway, Nsy al. on The question. ''whsi ns~
that GIN ss bsssscisl, 70 ths fsrwsrl''l
BrOtAsrs aad Sisters.
The question presented for discussion
to-day IL one Of no little Importance.
lts consideration reminds me Of the
workings of cooperative trade In the
grange. You may have the place, the
goods, and q good man 10 distribute
them, but without the united effort of
Patron. aud q feeling that this IL osr
trade, aud that It, succ~ss ar failure de-
pend. on oHr efforts to build up and
support, the experience Of the past will
tell us the same result.
The purposes of our agricultural 40
cietie- are mainly educational. While
II takes money 10 run aud support them,
No Que is supposed to realize more than
q reasonable compensation for the serN-
Ice. rendered. ~ Ia study. any new
methods % arousing the siieniion of
the pupils so that they may have q de-
sir, for the knowledge they so much
need, will b. In the right direction; but
without thl. desire aroused, the beet
teacher and the most approved methods
will be- a failure. The first thing to be
laugh, In regard To our agricultural so-
cIc,Ie. 1. that they are for al the peo-
pie, aud when every farmer. In speak
ing of his society, shall say o-r society
With proper emphasis, then ~c may
hope for an advance Ia the right dlrcc-
tion. There l. nothing Ike feeling of
Ownership Ia make one Interested.
The idea that the award of premium.
i.a matter of hyorltism ! Imagine !.
quite general, aud Judge has been
hindraDce 10 progression. In other
words many think there L. ring. !
have had men .ay 90 me, "lt would hc
no use Tor -, To try Ia exhibit my stocs.
alnr Ia the ring" Now I don't know
bat other. can discern the ring, bu, !
am happy io say and can truly say that
/ In my experience In exhibiting i four
different fair. I have never found the
ring. aud am sure that any one making
such q statement 80 far as these societies
are conceruci, lacks knowledgc, and u
not exactly square on the truth. he
cause success follow. the labors of
man who seeks Ia understand his busi-
nes.: who aims for tho be.t aud gives
/ nj. beet aud constant care Ia make his
bc.t grow better, II doe. not follow that
n. 4. In the ring. We are too apt to
form our conclusions from partial
knoxle,lge. Dout take anybody's ssy-
so. but ct al the root % the matter aud
work Il out In your own experience, and
then you Will know. ] Imagine the IN
cOmpstsncc of committees u the founda-
tion Of many erroneous conclusions.
Let me .ay right here, that In my
Judgment, made up from my fair cn-
psrienc., a greater advance can BE- made
In the ssleyiion % committee. than la
any one dlrection. There l. an old say
Ing that ''two heads ar- better than one,
and presume that the practice II hs,-
Ing committee of three had it, iounda-
tlon In thi. tiea, but 80 far q. sgricultur-
al society awards are concerned u has
teen grand failure; for this rca.on,
that those appointed are very careless
aud indifferent about putting In an ap-
pcArancc, aud their places are nilcd up
on the spar of the moment FROM any
prr-ent Who will accept tbs position. ]
ouly wonder that committee. do as well
a. they DO when 80 made up.
An Incident that came under NV own
ob.ef, alton will illustrate the careless
nes. aud lndifcrence. not Ia say ignorance,
| Of SOME committees. la c,ftAIn clsss
the animal Ia receive the fir-t premium
was selected aud the ribbon given out, al.o
/ IA. third aud the ribbon given cut, While
/ the committee took after that i've min
ute. OF .o Ia decide which of t~o Others
should have the second. The gfestrst
/ tTuuhle With = committee of three !. that
nobody has any particular reputation 10
sustain, q. you cannot pin the re-Ponsi-
/ hility anywhere.
IL 4. common and usual 10 have one of
the committee say Ia an exhibitor
pri,ately, II wanted ~ give the pre-
nIum to your animal, but th. oth-rs of
,h. committee did not think so" They
must D. easily persuaded, az noticc
that minority reports are seldom prc-
.sut.-l. - | say the greatest advance
eau b. made Ia the spPoiniment oi CON-
mItt.-s. am satisfied that = paid CON-
mite. of Que would bc sn advantage
even II YOU must reduce the premiums a
per cent or deduct pcr cent from prize
winner. Ia pay them. select mcn who
Know their business. only frOm those
~ho have had experience la the clssse.
they ar, Ia judge can you get Judgment
yoa can depend upon, aud know YOU
have What YOU are judged To have.
/ The use of scale of points 10y which
To .cor, animal. I Judge TO be an adj
vance. Dr. Twltchell Commends TIL.
method after large experienc. With u
L la scoring horses. Au interesting srti-
cl. In the last Maine Farmer judge may
d. by him. I do not consider the use of
a seal. Of points absolutely essential.
/ A cool Judge will have an Intuition 10
guide him, the same as an expert car
penter select. the right material Tor hi.
work. or the wall layer hi. stone for just
that particular place.
/ such a committee have a reputation u
sustain, aud kno~ that the responsibility
I. their. and theirs alone. such Judg-
msnt would commend itself 10 many
Who now consider the whole COMMITTEES
bu.lnes. a fsrce, and give no thought OF
examination to premium animals.
Dr. II. l.. waylAnd, after years of ex-
peri.nce In church affairs, gave his JUG
ment that the best committee MAS q
committee of three with teo sick abed'
"what 4. everybody. business u no.
body. business Responsibility will
give YOU the best there IL in man.
Don't put breeders Of percherons ON to
Judge the trotters; nor Jersey men Ia
iudg, the IIolsteins. However honest
they nav BE-, IL L. impossible forthem To
give correct Judgment. TAey odHHot get
tksir syss righ.
Dour show your Ignorance by calling
your agricultural society "borse show
With a sneering accent. The past has
demonstrated that no agricultural so
cIety can be financial success without
thi. interest. while I am satisfied that
this ought not 40 To BE-, am obliged To
.cc~pt IL, as the grange has been obliged
10 accept the devious workings Of CO.
operation In trade. Exhibitors of other
siock have received dollars more To en-
courage and repay their efforts than they
otherwise could have done.
Avail yourself of the privilege offered
you tn exhibit. II you have anything you
are not ashamed To show. Regard the
making Of a good show i0ore than the
p~rsonal gra:ifcation of premium
awarded. II you fall In money benefit,
the education you will receive Ia the
ADDED interest you will take In the ex-
bibits of others, will more than rvpsy
your trouble. The persons who are
..ti.fied with their present knowledge
and attainments are In a bad way. No
po..ibilities within the reach Of agri-
cultural societies would be likely to
h. pet,t them, but for those who are seek
ing know edge that shall make them mas
Ter vorkmen In their business, the present
,nau.,rments offered will be \ continual