Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-08-15


vfwal OF the county fair in Georgia next
fen This Is an excellent thing and
should be encouraged by every loyA
citizen. It Is gratifying TO know tna'
At many OF the county seats the people
Of the town are taking an active interest
IN the fair and are doing much 20 en-
courage IL by offering liberal premiums.
n Is : healthy sign Of the times that
the towns and cities are beginning 70
realize that their success depends Tar
more upon the prosperity OF the farmers
surrounding II than upon the mere To-
cation OF one or more Industries. II Is
quite true that in the vicinity OF many
towns ana cities there are thousands
az acres OF land either idle or virtually
fd1e which might be made to produce a
revenue Of from $50 70 500 an acre
Were this done the benefits accruins
- the town would be difficult TO esu-
mate. IL IS we'll and proper. therefore
that the town which represents the
growth OF the agricultural section sur
rounding IL should be taking lively
and considerate interest in tne "e1are
OF those who cultivate the land
Fall fairs are an evidence or eommu-
nitv progress. or at least they should
rerre~ent this condition OF affairs On
an occasion OF this kind the best mat
the farmers have been able TO produce
through their effort is collected and
brought together under conditions which
enable all to judge OF the merit or the
respective exhibits A fall fair properly
ORGANIZED becomes an educational insu-
tuition. and this phase OF the exhioits
cannot De emphasized too strongly II
should not be forgotten in this connec-
ton that mere bigness does not consul
tute excellence For instance. the larg-
- 80 nr0T-
table to grow: the largest ear OF corn
nav not be from the most prolific kind
or the variety best adapted for growth
in that community A cotton plant con-
tanning 500 polls may be so unusual as
10 attract great interest. yet its produc-
ton may be OF little service to the COM
munity. Some suggestions along this
line are believed TO be IN order
Wherever exhibits are made the ex-
hfbftor should be required TO attach
statement showing the area OF Land cul-
tivated. the preparation given the SOIL
the kind and amount Of fertilizer ap-
piled. the method OF using the same. the
cultivation accorded the crop. and the
yield obtained per acre To merely seq
lect out a stalk or two Of corn and ten
ears and judge the ears for merit on
their perfection OF appearance is not an
educative undertaking. and win not ben
eft the community or the producers as
il should. The writer has frequently
seen ears OF corn which look iden- cal IN
all respects. yet one might produce Tod
der large per cent Of which molds;
or there might be a distinct differences
IN the terminating power or the yield
obtained from the two ears Sometimes
the progeny OF one ear would withstand
bad weather conditions and the other
succumb readily thereEo- These are
matters which should be taken into con-
sfderation by the judges.
Our system OF judging ten ears Of
corn on general appearance Is mis-
take and should be abandoned imme-
dIa<eIy II the fan is to be made as use
ful 70 the community as It should be-
Similarly. when exhibits of cotton are
brought In all the data concerning them
should be presented for the considers
ton OF the judges and the Information
Of the visitors. DO not allow the prize
10 20 TO the individual who by special
care and attention has produced one or
more large stalks The fact OF the mat
ter Is II one had ten-acre field OF cot
ton. q low place IN Il might produce q
phenomenal plant To exhibit this and
win the prize for mere bigness. and not
for the general character and profit
made from the crop. viii accomplish
nothing. either for the exhibitor. or his
frieds and neighbors- At least ten
stalks OF cotton should be exhibited. and
IL should be necessary TO show them de-
foIfafed and IN some sort OF frame They
should represent at least ten consecutive
plants as they grew in the field A good
way TO exhibit them IS to take a 2xs
scantling. bore holes IN II and wedge
the stalks firmly IN position II the
plants are placed at the proper distances.
their general characteristics and the per
cent OF fruit may be judged with rela-
tive ease Ten 10 twenty exhibits Of this
kind at a county fair would give bet
cotton produced in that locality than
can be obtained In any other way. and
an opportunity 10 study the varieties In
this manner would be worth more than
to have 1000 50-bolI stalks exhibited
Make the fair truly educational fea-
ture. and its advance in public estima-
ton viii be quzdrupled. II seems hardly
necessary TO suggest that horse racina
and cheap attractions be kept out. II
Is desirable that we have amusement at
such places. but let II be OF q character
which viii elevate rather than have the
opposite tendency. II Is disgusting be-
yond measure TO see some Of the miser-
able fake performances which are al
lowed TO occupy the center Of the stage
AT our county fairs They can exert no
beneficial influence on the life Of the
community and tend TO put false notions
Displays OF this character should not be