Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-29
GET READY FOR THE FAIRS.


town. county and state fairs, and the
farmers should take an early and deep
interest in their success. 1t is fire.
quently asserted that the fairs are run
in the interest of sporting men and man
aged by men in sympathy with those in
terests rather than in the interest of ag-
riculture by men in sympathy with its
development and the prosperity of the
farmers. This may be true in some in
stances, but il is because the farmers
have neglected to take proper interest
in them. 1t is conceded by all intelligent
people that the main cause of belittling
the agricultural interests in fairs, col
leges, societies and other places where
agriculture should be at the front is the
extreme indifference of the farmers in
regard to their interests in those insti-
tutions.
If the standard of agriculture is raised
in any state it will be a measure due TO
the influence of organized effort and
cooperative action. The agricultural
fair is one of the potent agencies in this
direction. To be sure people in general
attend the fairs to be entertained and
amused, but there are a certain number
that study the agricultural exhibition
carefully. If only one hundred farmers
out of the ten thousand people that at
tend fair examine the horses, cattle,
sheep, swine, poultry and fruit products
to sufficient extent to get new ideas
aud carry home renewed interest and in
creased enthusiasm in their business,
the holding of the exhibition has been
justified, and $500 other people have
had good time and helped to pay the
bills. The influence of the fair for better
stock and better products upon one hun
dred farmers will be an advantage in
raising the standard of agriculture in
the locality.
1t is not necessary for us to go into de-
tails very much in the matter of getting
ready to exhibit at the fairs. Nearly
every farmer makes speciality of one
or two products. 1t may be nicely
matched oxen, superior dairy animals,
extra fine lambs, blooded swine, fruit,
vegetables, poultry, or he may take pride
in his fields of grass, grain or some OF
the recently introduced forage crops.
1t will not require great effort or much
expense TO make an exhibit in the line
of his speciality, and if he does not win
a premium he will have increased his
interest and enthusiasm and the knowl-
edge gained will be of value to him. He
will come home proud of his success or
determined to do better next time, either
of which will make him better fermer
than if he had not exhibited.
The fact is our New England fairs are
composed of limited number of exhib-
itors compared with the number that
ought to exhibit. The premiums are lib
eral, the conveniences upon many fair
grounds are ample and even luxurious,
the management is generally fair and
honorable and the exhibitions well ad-
yertised. but the number that exhibit in
the live stock and farm product depart
ment is ridiculously small compared with
the number that might exhibit. we are
not saying that the exhibit at our fairs
is not a good one, for we know it is ssu-
perior in all departments at many OF our
fairs, but there should be an increase
in the number of exhibitors. The farm
ers who have even better things than are
sometimes exhibited at the fairs fail to
realize the advantages to themselves and
To their neighbors from an e1hibl-
ton of their product. They are so intent
upon immediate returns that they do not
appreciate the advantages of action that
can only bring return in the future, or
through a general uplifting of the agri-
cultural interests of their locality. The
farmers chances of success in making
the farm yield profit are enchanced by
the general improvement of agricultural
conditions around him. The improve
ment of stock and increased yield OF
crops upon his neighbors' farms will
help him in various ways, except in the
production of such crops as are sold only
in the local market, and even in these
the demand always increases with the
improvement in quality and increase IN
supply. Let us take a broad view OF
this matter, attend the fairs either as an
exhibitor or as student, or both, and
expect to receive benefit in the end from
the general advancement in agriculture
which such action will cause aud pro-
mote. If the farmers of New England
will manifest more cooperative spirit IN
supporting those agencies and institu-
tions established primarily for the ad-
vancement of agriculture, among which
are the agricultural fairs, there would be
a stronger agricultural sentiment estab-
lished, and the return of the old-time
agricultural activity in the rural towns
of New England would be greatly has
tened. 1t will be well to encourage our
neighbors to do likewise and to retun
from the fair this year, not saying that
we have better at home than we saw at
the fair, but bringing the premium rib
bon with us or knowing wherein our ex-
hibit was inferior, and with the determi-
nation to try again next year.-Mirror
and Farmer.