The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1913-02-27
The Retirement Of Our County Fair

The Retirement Of Our Count, f"''
Al the present time the average
County Fair fails materially III az
eomplishing what il should IN the
Az .uo,suelxo lsLulluolISe 10 AeM
castonally we find a fair which
beneficial to the farmer, put the
nature of the average fair is oppo-
site to what it should be. Certain
ly the side-show element has taken
entirely too important a part anu
the real instructive side OF the lar
receives far too little attention.
The purpose OF the County FAR
shoula ha 10 instruct rather than
merely to amuse the people. In on
der that the fair may be instructive
we have first, the problem OF get
ting the people interested in agricui-
nre and rural enterprises. This END
can be gained by providing an at
nactiye and instructive program. III
troduce in this program lectures
with lantern-slde illustrations and
demonstrations, and make the lee
lures varied enough so that there
shall be something of interest to all
OF the ruralpeople.i
It would be well to have speciai
building for the lectures, and nave
! I'm the same building an exhibition
hall of an instructive nature. ms
exhibition should include data ana
graphic illustrations OF experiments
carried on at our State Experiment
Stations: also exhibits OF various
feeds and fertilizers and the method
of mixing with the value OF each ex-
plaIned. There should also be ex-
hibited any handy devices OF inter
est used by the farmers, also charts
showing the Ideal arrangement OF
buildings for farm home, EN-
phasizing the sanitation and eonven-
fence and allowing properly for GOOD
water supply and sewage disposal
rhe economy of proper field arrange
ment should be shown. In TACT,
here should be exhibited anything
OF practical interest TO the farmer
or of value TO the rural community
A demonstration plot on the
grounds should be carefully kept
and the results OF experiments thns
made should be accessible for inspeo
ton BY the farmers throughout the
growing season.
The exhibits OF the farmers aud
Grangers should be one OF the most
interesting and educational features
OF the fair. The purpose OF these
exhibits should be to show the re-
suits OF the best agricultural prac-
tees, and the keenest OF competition
between the farmers as well az be
tween the oranges should be encour-
aged. II would be we'll TO have spec
iAI GihsStHt QUO ipi piVNHNeS ""
stock produced in the County and
another for the professional stock
men. In this way the average farm
er will be encouraged to compete
and. at the same time. he viii have
the opportunity OF seeing the better
and more perfect product OF the
more skilled men.
Above all things, competent judges
should be secured 10 judge In all
classes OF exhibits at the fair The
various products should be scored 80
that the farmer may learn OF their
merits or defects Score cards
should accompany the exhibits sol
that they will be Of educational
value TO all. In many classes, as 10
judging the animals. the judges
should give reasons for the rating
and point out the merits and de
fects in individual cases and. az the
same time, Indicate the desirable
characteristics OF the breed
All exhibits should be carefully
labelled with the name Of variety
lts character. and good or bad TEA
lures. length o, season required. and
any special Information as 10 its
production
The premiums should not ncees-
sariiy be large. and medals. cups
ribbons aud certificates should grad.
aaliy replace money prince in many
of the Glasses
The attractions OF The fair should
be Of AZ athletic nature and the
cheap midway shos should have
no place on the grounds. Games