Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-09-15

TUNITIEs FOR VALUABLE EDUCATION
Another fair season is at hand. State
county and town associations have
issued their prize lists and arranged foI
their annual exhibitions. In a recent
trip through different sections of the
State l saw billboards in every town
covered with flaming posters advertising
the various fairs. Railways have made
special rates in nearly all cases, and
now it rests with the public to decide as
to the amount of patronage each society
shall receive.
As rule the fair associations deserve
a more hearty support from people in
the farming sections than they have re-
ceived in the past, for these annual ex-
hibitions are of great value from an edu-
cational standpoint to every farmer and
every member of his family.
Here may be found all of the various
breeds of horses, cattle, sheep, swine
and poultry, shown in their different
classes, and eve.y opportunity is, or
should be, given to compare breed with
breed, and to study their characteristics
and their adaptability to various con-
ditions. As rule all animals seen at
the larger fairs will have received much
special care and treatment, all of which
is necessary to get them into the very
best condition TO compete successfully
for prizes offered, and also to show to
visitors just what the breed and the in
dividual are capable of doing. And
this process of fitting or training is OF
value to every visitor at the fair, al
though We still find an occasional "'way
back" who SCOTS at the COW or the sheep
that is ''fixed up" to show.
have great many times heard visit
Ors at the shows explain to their friends
that them sheep never breed, they
keep 'em Just to show arounda fairs ;
and when have shown them their lambs
they looked at me as if wondering what
kind of yarn would get off next. But
the great majority of visitors appreciate
seeing all the livestock in the very best
showyard condition, with braided name
and tail, with polished horns, and silky
coat, and the sheep cleaned and shingled
and | would almost forgive man if he
lett them in just little better form than
nature gave them-for here, as in no
other place, should the best be seen, the
most perfect type or form of every kind
of livestock. 1t is he'e the farmer, or
the farmers boy, learns to fix type in
their mird and receive inspiration for
better work at hore. The winners at
large show may not be profitable as
breeders in the hands of most people,
but they show the possibilities of the
breed, and in that way are a means of
education to all who see them, and, as a
rule, the exhibitors are willing and
anxious To show their animals to all who
wish TO examine them. The horses, cas-
tie and sheep may be, and prob..bly are,
blanketed; the blankets are necessary to
keep the n clean and in good condition;
but have never known of any exhibitor
refusing to slip the blanket for any one
who wished to examine the animal.
OF all the Eastern shows there are
none that can compare with our own
State fair in Syracuse in either the num-
Der or quality of exhibits. Every breed
of horses, cattle, sheep, swine and poul-
try is recognized Typical specimens
of each breed are always shown in the
best condition, aud prizes are awarded
BY Judges who are recognized as experts
in that kind of work. The exhibit of fruit
is always one of the great attractions at
Syracuse, and is not equalled in the
number of varieties, or quality of Speci-
mems, by any show in America. Any
wide-awake farmer should be able to
learn enough in the horticultural Build
ing alone to repay him well for a visit to
the fair.
The exhibit of machinery is one of the
very best in this country, and will be
larger than ever this year, and will in
clude every kind of improved machinery
in use ON the farm. Best of all it is a
clean show. There is no midway on
the State fair grounds, no noisy "bark-
ers'' or half naked females in human
form to disgust decent people; but
rather grand collection of the best OF
every kind of production of the farms,
breeding establishments, orchards, dai-
ries and manufacturing establishments.
And there are large number of coun-
try exhibitions throughout the East that
are doing a grand work for the farmers
and which deserve liberal patronage.
A few days spent at the shows each year
with the entire family will prove profit
able investment of time and money, pro
vided the best shows are patronized and
the object of going be to learn more OF
the value of improved breeds OF live,
stock, of the best varieties of fruit, and
how to produce it, looking up improve
ments in farm machinery, and last, but
by no means least. making the fairs a
time for an outing, reunion of the best
farmers in the section of the State where
it is held.-Cor. in Tribune Farmer.