The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-09-28

management derived from experience
of past management which may tend
to revive again the popular interest
which formerly made successful exhi-
bitions. Gentlemen of the state board
of agriculture you have for some rea-
sons 1 have already limited at a much
more difficult task than had the found
ers of the Oregon State Agricultural
society. To find fault with any way,
is much easier than to find the best
way; and fIom well remembered anx-
ious planning for success still hoping
for your success whether you heed
them or not, I will venture few
words of counsel: LIST, cheaper the
means of getting into your gates to
the farmer and his family; I'd. stop
buying your exhibits from the old
orchards and the boxes of fruit and
vegetable dealers. Under the old
management man who was
known to purchase his exhibit
was denied his premium if one
was awarded. The doubt of the
legality of the boards purchasing an
exhibit is now an injurious influence
against you and I think deters many
small farmers and fruit culturists who
ought to be here from attempting to
make an exhibit. No state institu-
ton ought to receive premiums. Room
should be awarded them to show
what is excellent or what is new and
promising; but as they are already in
sense public property those having
control of them. ought to have public
spirit enough to exhibit them here for
the public good without further re-
ward. Diversified farming ought to be
encouraged as much as possible and
| the man of one excellent production
should be encouraged. Market gar
| deners. ought to show as class by
| themselves. Owners of herds ought
| to have Il breeders prize. For herd
| of all ages and genders up to ma
| turity, it ought not to be less than $500,
| for the best flock of sheep not less than
$75, and no animal should be shown
| for two prizes, nor charge an entree
| fee in two premiums. A great mistake
has been made in regard to premiums
on sheep; they ought to be increased
rather than diminished. National :ey
| islation has taken sides for the time
against the American sheep farmer. but
the latter will be heard from again.
This brings me to the subject of leg
| islation and a suggestion with refer
ence to that of our own state. For the
| victs themselves it is desirable that
some means of employing the state
prisoners should be adopted. A jute
mill has been projected and is now
| abandoned. A sugar beet factory has
been suggested. While not doubling
| sugar beets can be raised we'll in Or
| egon, I will close my remarks by sug.
| gesting flax production as Il desirable
crop for the Oregon farmer and flax
dressing as means of employing some
at least of the prison labor. AS a mere
| hint of the reasons for this sugges
ton 1 will say that dressed flax was
! worth an average of $500 per ton at
| the Atlantic aboard under the Nc
| Kinley law, and expert workers OBJ
tanned 81 per day for dressing sixty
| pounds of flax daily. Much of West
| ern Oregon has an excellent flax grow
| ing soil and climate and the state he
| ceived Il first-class medal for flax fibre
| at the Centennial fair of 1876. Does
| this fact not suggest the wisdom of al
least putting the flax plant on youl
premium lists?