Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-11-11
IMPORTANCE OF AGRICUL-
TURAL FAIRS.
Roanoke Times

The Importance of the Agricul-
tural Fair as means of promoting
farming interests is the subject of
an interesting editorial appearing in
the current number of the Southern
Farm Magazine. "No other agency
whatever" says that periodical "hss
been so instrumental in bringing
about agricultural improvements as
county or state fairs, where the
farmers can meet together and COM
pare their products. 1t always
follows upon the success of such
fair that the sheep, cattle and horses
are graded up to point of excellence
which was unknown before. When
ever and wherever the cultivators of
the soil are stimulated to an i'm
provement in their domestic animals
the enrichment and improvement of
the soil are sure to follow, for no
instance in the history of agriculture
can be named where an improved
agriculture did not follow in the
wake of improved domestic animals.
For long period the agriculture of
England languisbed and the yield of
agricultural products in the United
Kingdom was reduced to such low
point as to threaten the food supply
of the people" Proceeding along
this line of thought the farm Maga-
zine continues:
"At the beginning of the eigh-
teenth century the agriculture of
England was of the rudest character,
as one may learn by study of
English history. The land, for the
most part, was unenclosed, stock of
all kinds running together upon the
commons. The fields were cropped
without any rotation until they were
well-nigh exhausted. The quarter
of a century Immediately following
the year 1850 is memorable in the
history of English agriculture for
the many improvements made. To
the genius of Blackwell is due the
extraordinary improvement made in
domestic animals, and especially in
the improvement of the character of
sheep, which proved to be the very
foundation of a new agriculture.
With sheep came turnips, and with
the depasturing of turnips came
improvement to the soil. Longhorn
cattle were improved, to be super
seded in time by the shorthorn or
Durham cattle. Merino sheep we're
introduced by George III, who,
however poor as statesman, was an
energetic and jealous farmer. A
most important agricultural society
was established in 1777, known as
the Bath and West of England
Society. The Highland Society was
organized in 1884, and the National
Board of Agriculture in 1898. These
societies, by their exhibitions and
publications. diffused such mass of
agricultural literature and knowledge
through all ranks of society and to
such an extent as to enable the
farmers to discern and to profit by
the information so obtained.
agricultural fairs should be
encouraged and promoted by every
state government in the south. The
money appropriated for these is the
wisest expenditure that state can
make, for 1t increases the taxable
property, leads to thrift among the
farmers, and generates a pride which
ensures the highest development OF
agriculture. The competition awak-
ened by the exhibition of livestock
and the premiums offered for the
best will bring about rapid improve.
ment and with the improment in
livestock will come increased fer
tility in the soils and, of course,
greater profits from the farm. For
this reason all intelligent farmers
should work for the establishment OF
fairs in their county and state. The
best stock at these fairs and the best