Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-04-03
Communicated.

"hNAS iH h''AS
world and which has hold upon the
affections OF every Jeffersonian, wher-
ever he may be. This institution is eX-
clusively an Eastern Panhandle product
and is intended to reflect the sentiment
and the activities of the garden spot OF
West Virginia. Irefer to Morgan's Grove
fair. want to treat of it in its relation to
the social and economic uplift OF our COM
munity.
Everyone who has been once under
the influence OF its spell can never doubt
the value OF it as strong factor in the
development of the hospitable and cour-
teouS social fabric which envelopS the
region of IFS influence like salutary halo
TO all dwellers or visitors in the Shenan-
doah Valley There is nothing like 1t.
II fulfills that part OF its mission to "a nice
ty-but there is more OF it. There is an
other nature within it that has only been
scratched on the surface and which has
only been permitted TO lend its blisstul
influence in a very limited degree. | re-
fer to its function as factor in the eco
nomic uplift of the community and the
extension of the Socializing influence
which touches only few as compared TO
the great mass untouched.
The flower OF Jefferson county and ad-
joining counties comprise its directorate.
Differed and managed by our best men
as it is, leads me to the belief that few
suggestions from me will be met with the
same kindly spirit in which they are ad-
vanced.
do not believe the fair reflects the full
sentiment and wide activities of our COM
munlty as if should when we take into
consideration that we are truly agrlcul-
tural community of the general type. |
mean that our farming is OF the general
type. The spirit back OF the origin and
early life OF the fair more clearly reflected
the interests OF the community than has
the management for the past few years.
While the motive for extending the horse
show idea was worthy one, there are
other phases of farm activities in our
community which need just as much en-
phasis placed upon them as the raising
OF fine horses. We need the horse but
we need the other things also. | hope
that while the feature of the fair is not to
be the horse show this year, there will
still be on exhibition the finest horses and
colts the community has and that the
competition for first place will be keen.
Along with the horses would like TO see
very great extension OF the fruit and
other farm products idea. Apples, pears,
grapes, plumS, potatoes, corn, tomatoes,
wheat, pigs, COWS, sheep, ,flowerS-every-
thing raised by us ought TO find express
sion in the premium list Of the fair. These
ought to be the features.
The question OF accommodation for all
these features will naturally arise. Last
years display OF apples, coupled with an
extension of the fruit and country pro-
ducts exhibit, makes a new and larger
agricultural building almost imperative.
We need building twice as large as the
present one for general farm products and
the old building for apples alone. We
need larger building for the handiwork
OF the women and girls. They deserve
more opportunity TO display their products
and also for room for demonstrations in
canning and other phases of domestic
economy by experts from the Extension
Department OF our State University.
There ought to be room for an exhibit Of
the work done in our schools in agriCul-
ture and general subjects. The corn
clubs for the boys and the tomato clubs
for the girls should have an opportunity
todlsplay their products here. The news
paper notice that Jefferson county was
llth in only one class in the State corn
show at Charleston this year and did not
get place in any OF the other classes is
not very glorious reading for true Jef-
ferSonian who boasts OF his county as the
garden spot Of West Virginia. Let US
make Morgan's Grove the inspiration
back Of general movement 10 make the
corn and wheat and apple products OF
our county take rank with The other coun-
ties of the State, and indeed surpass them,
as they ought. If Ethan Allen, of Mon
ongalia county, can raise l40 bushels OF
shelled corn on an acre OF ground and
thereby earn trip TO Washington, D. c.,
believe it is possible for dozen boys
in old Jefferson to duplicate the trick and
even surpass it with such opportunities
as the county offers. That is feature
worth developing and the fair can do it.
Let us hang up a handsome trophy for
the boy who raises the largest crop OF
corn on an acre this summer, so as to
show the greatest net profit. Let the
bankers and the business men dependent
upon the grain industries OF the county
supplement the fair management with
cash and other prizes worth while. II is
much for one to show the best ten ears
OF corn, or the best peck OF potatoes, or
the best buShel of wheat, but what we
are interested in particularly just now is
who can get the most corn, potatoes,
wheat from given acreage and show
the lowest cost in production. The fair
management can stimulate such contests
as these and do lasting good to the COM
munity.
would like to see the fair the place
for an annual country school outing with
exhibits of work, athletic contests and
such other events, so as TO arouse more
interest in the country school and help
develop the social life OF the community.
Shall we have nlan from the hoard of