The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-09-22

ploW down.
Mr.. Rawlings recommended SOW
ing it in corn at the last working,
and stated that it made excellent
late pasture.
Lloyd Balderston did not think it
best to harvest or pasture the crop
too close if it was intended to fer
tilize the ground.
Others thought the roots alone
contained sufficient nitrogen and
that the tops could be used
otherwise.
Mr.. Cameron asked if herd grass
in timothy was a natural growth or
the result of mixed seed.
Lloyd Balderston thought poor
ground conducive to herd grass and
that it took rich ground for pure
timothy.
Messrs. Grove, Cameron and
Cherry were appointed committee
on inspection of premises, after
which an adjournment was taken
for dinner.
The repast to which the members
and visitors were invited spoke vol
umes for the skill of the hostess and
her fair assistants. A side attrac-
ton in the dining room was taste
fully arranged exhibit of the pro-
ducts of the farm. composed Of
fruits, vegetables and grains, well
qualified to be adorned with blue
ribbon premium.
When the club again convened
the host stated that instead of Civ
ing his guests an essay of his own
production he took pleasure in pre-
senting Mr.. q. L. BrintOn, of the
Oxford Press, who would favor the
gathering in that line. Mr.. Brin-
ton responded with the following
interesting essay
| The County Fair.
TMr. Brinton prefaced his article BY. an
editorial on the subject published in the
Philadelphia Public Ledger of Sept. III
This account of the county agricul-
tural fair by the Ledger fairly sets it forth
and exhibits how the fair is regarded
and its decadence is observed by city
writer That the fair has been on the
decline no one who has given the SUBJ
|ject attention and thought will dispute.
The modern fair is run in an entirely
different manner FROM the plan and idea
intended by the founders and promoters
of the institution in the past. Then the
primal thought was instruction and diver
sion and a wholesome rivalry in the pro-
auctions of the farm and farm house
holds. There was hope that instruction
would be impaired which would benefit
the farmer and his wife and children and
awaken in them greater interest in the
farm and farm work and lead them to
improvement in methods as means of
obtaining larger revenue.from their work
and greater enjoyment in their labor.
That the fair has been forceiul educator
in the past is exhibited in the increased
production of the land, the Improvement
of the live stock, the introduction of i'm
proved machinery and the general better
ment and comforts added to the homes
of the farmers. 1t has in the past been
a factor in awakening the farmer to a
renewed interest in his vocation and has
served good purpose.
But in these latter days there has been
great deterioration of the fairs. They
have in great measure lost their agri-
cultural aspect and have become. scarcely
more than sporting and gambling affairs.
Horse racing with Its accompanying gam
bling feature, baseball and other amuse-
ments, fakir and other shows on the
! grounds all working to the detriment of
the morals of the people who visit them,
taking their money and begetting a
Esprit of gambling and recklessness, es-
pecially In the young men and boys, with
the drunken and beastly orgies large
and indiscriminate crowd of all sorts OF
people bring to town. And all this in
the name of agriculture It would be
far better in most cases that such meet
ings be not held.
Now what is the cure for all thisi It
! would be we'll if the annual or semi
annual agricultural meetings should con-
tinue, where exhibits of the soil and farm
should come into friendly rivalry and
} honest competition, as an incentive to
: industry aud improved methods on the
farm, and prizes given to the farm boys
and girls for their work. This show of
} itself might not pay its way; but l sug-
gest here that the counties and the State
enter into the fair business in conjunction
with the farmers in order to encourage
and sustain the agricultural interest and
, prevent farming from falling into further
: disrepute than that toward which it is
certainly tending. My proposition is