The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-10-18
AGRICULTURAL.
How Fairs May Achieve
Better Results.

Perhaps the managers of agricultural
and kindred fairs think they get best
results now, but trial along some diff
ferent lines would prove to the con-
trary.
Fairs of this kind to be most beneficial
must be up to date. Fairs are presumed
to develop the best and fastest progress
along all lines of agriculture, and to do
this the methods of twenty-five to fifty
years ago will not answer.
The premium lists of agricultural
fairs are not very different from those
of years ago, when conditions were diff
ferent, competition was less and money
harder to obtain than now.
| One radical change should be made
at once-the time of issuing the prem
ium lists. Most lists are issued six
weeks or a month before the fair is
held. What is there in animal or
vegetable life, except mushrooms,
which can be grown in four or six weeks?
Premium lists should be issued at least
six months in advance of the fair, and
eleven months would be better.
My idea of premium list is one is
sued in October, when the fair is held
in September, and which should con-
tain the award of premiums at the fair
just held, and the premiums offered for
the fair to be held the next year.
premium takers are always interested
TO know "who took what" and very
few fairs publish the complete list OF
awards in any form.
| Offering the premiums year, or
nearly, in advance gives those who grow
lcrops chance to select seed and pre-
pare the ground with the special pur-
lpose of exhibit in view. and this method
would incite interest, develop the best
the soil would produce, incite study as
to the best methods of procedure, give
valuable experience, and always come
to the farm at time when the farmer
had time and thought. free to give to
the subject, not in the midst of rush
of haying and short evenings. A crop
once raised for premium would give
boCCo AOi q SOhCl ot ShOP hCAb yO0A3 oho
SO incite tendency to grade up.
This is equally true with the breed.
ing of stock in every line. Arrange
ments made the year before, when the
enthusiasm of the fair just held Is at its
height, give better results and greater
, interest. The man who has bred his
!, SOW with definite thought of getting
an exhibit of high grade will give bet
ter care to the mother before the young
arrive, and will look assiduously after
the little fellows when they come. He
will give them better variety of feed,
more water, and more s'love''-if yot
, wish so to term it-and his success will
be greater, and, having once obtained
something extra good he will never bt
satisfied with lower grade, of anima
. or care, and his neighbors will be in
, duced to do as well as he. Most vege
tables and animals grow to be best il
, spite of the planter, caretaler and con
. ditions, rather than because of the ex
ira effort and study bestowed upol
them.
1t may be argued that to issue the
. premium list so far in advance of th'
fair would give no proper chance fo
, preparing and arranging for the race
and amusements. If that be so, ant
, those things are more important thai
!, the exhibits, then go on as in the past
but if the agricultural interests are T.
9 be served, then issue the list the fal
: before, and give extra announcement
of the attractions, in different form
= lust before the fair.
i What has been said regarding ami
, mails and vegetables is equally true o
!, the poultry exhibit, cooking, embroid
cry, fruit, flowers and plants, and al
other exhibits, and the fair manager
who will adopt these or simila
= methods will make great stride alon,
/ advanced lines of agriculture, an
$ more nearly accomplish the object O
!, the fairs existence, that of incitinI
= and helping the farmer to do lis best
i aud to urge his neighbor to do like
d wise with an eye to profit and the com
mendation of the public.-(Mrs. M. L