The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-05
How TO Make Successful Agricultural Fair.

To the Editor of Inc Times.
Sir,-The Agricultural and Industrial TX
hibition Tor 1895 is a thing OF the past,
and who can say of 1t. IL was success =!
What is the matter with our FAR! Is
a question that should be not only asked,
but examined into by every asriculturlst
and business man OF the State, it being
one of the principal factors 10 our pros
pcrity.
In Offering a little criticism / desire TO
be understood as rejecting on no former
manager or management, only that We
may Try 10 improve in the future.
In the first place. what is the object or
the exhibitor in going into competition
with others? Certainly not the prize
money altogether. although we admit II
has it's attraction. l believe il Is the
honor and opportunity of showing 10 the
world the superiority of the eXhibit ana
the means OF advertising or making II
known. This is one Of the things 1 WISH
to point out. In conversation with some
of my neighbOrs, when asked why 'hey
did not exhibit some excellent prolucts
they had l was informed that IN former
years they had shown. but there was no
money in ii, and as for the honor. thdt
was confined to the knowledge OF the
secretary. a few officials, and the eX-
hibitor. Now this is a fragrant mistake.
Why is not prize list made out ana
published in all the city newspapers
have frequently purchased stock and ma
chinery from parties whose name ana
address / obtained through this medium,
having confidence in the award Of the
judges. and | have made extensive sales
through the same, one nearly three hum
dred miles away, paper containing the
prize list having gone there.
| believe in giving prizes 10 all kinds of
manufactures and industries; II not In
money. let il be in medals or diplomas,
something not only to stimulate and en-
courage exhibiting. but to give OppOr-
tunity TO tell of the victory OF the ex-
hibit and above ALL TO publish the prizes
that the honor may be known.
| do not understand the Withholding OF
the prizes from the county exhibits. this
being one of the best features of the
exhibition. causing much interest from
the residents OF the competing counties,
as well as from others.
| am Of the opinion that farm exhibit
should be encouraged.
! cannot see why an award should not
be given for the best store display. for
dry goods. for groceries. sc. IL works
well elsewhere, why not here? Certainly
a better medium cannot be for showing
the public their wares and calling atten-
tiOn TO their stock. AT the same time in
teresiing the merchants in the fair and
making 1t very attractive.
l believe the management should. as
far as possible. provide cntertainment
for the visitors keeping ever IN view
that it shall be OF a character that Will
be a benefit and not otherwise 10 the
public.
/ scarcely know how TO give my views
of the horse-racings, as my taste does
not run that way One thing | will say
] am sure far too much money was given
to that this year to the disparasement
of other parts OF the Fair
! believe. by united effort. we can have
a State exhibition second to none other
in the land-wsth fertile soil and a eli
mate where side by side grow luxuriously
the grains OF the North and the peanuts
and cotton OF the South: where can
be seen commingling their Branches
on many lawns the beach and maple
of the north temperate zone with the
holly. laburnum, and magnolia OF the
semi-tropics. JAMES BELLWOOD.
Drewry's Bluff