The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1914-08-21
. UNCLE DAvE's.LETTER. {
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~ o o o o o O o o . o o o o , o {
!. { 5I1nprovf1w the County Fair.

'Uncle Jim" Wilson, who was once
UIli6 Sans iioau farmer, now pro-
poses to use tho county fairs Of the
country as tho chief tiisseminators Of
the gospel OF the new agriculture. He
has Sritton a booklet OF about thirty
pages on tho pubject Of agricultural
Fair Associations and Their Utiliza-
tions In Agricultural Education and
Improvement"
I'm his Introductory romarks. Mr..
Wilson says:
Now that q systematic effort ia be-
Ing made by the agricultural colleges
!. and experiment stations. ns we'll as
by the state and national departments
az agriculture to carry agricultural
inEtrncti0n to the great body of rural
.reople. tho Importance Of having ef-
siit tent local agencies In each commu-
{ nifty through which to operate is be-
II ing realized az never before.
There are In this country today
over 1.400 county fair associations
with 100000 mombers. Their gross re-
ceipts annually are about $6500.000
11d their expenditures for premiums
/ gre nearly s2,500.000 It Is estimated
that 1e ,eeae 600 people attended the e1-
s3hibltions OF these organizations last
year. In addition thore are twenty
Aaeate associations which held fairs
Il It year, having an aggregate at
tendance OF 1.700.000. While giving
.sA.her fairs, credit for all the good It
;ilns done. Mr.. Wilson thinks It could
dn.a great deal more. He says that
"lts activities need to be redirected
sId enlarged to fit the fair associa-
tibHl OF today TO take. advantage OF the
opportunities for rural betterment
. that lie before It." He insists that.
\ first OF all. the fair must be loyal to
Its iotvn constituency and the agricul-
/ tdral public. and must not be severed
from serving them in the most effect
itei way. by any Influence promising
great 9inBncial returns. He suggests
these things ns Of first importance.
The basis, OF the. fair should &c ex-
hihits from the farm, the garden. the
household, forest products. agricultu-
ral implements. models OF country
homes and schools.
Distinterested experts nominated
by the state agricultural colleges
should Judge all exhibits.
C0ntesta In crop production. ami
agi ;nlltufal operations should be or
to be exhibit 'ed a. The fair.
Suitable entertainments should be
provided for. patrons OF the tair. but
they should not be allowed to inter-
B fey3 with the main exhibition and the
,A0re serious purposes OF the fair.
4; All Sdisgeputable shows, gamblinr
devices and loud. coarae. takers with
%Monstrosities. to exhibit should be
rightly excluded from the grounds.
Nothing that the most refined and
modest woman might not see and hear
should be admitted.
Mr.. Wilson is full OF things that
should be seen at the fairs. He sug-
1 vests: -
sS, Certain stated periods each day
should be devoted to demonstrations
: 70 be held at different places on the
i krpuhds. These demonstrations might
/ He the packing OF fruit, the use Of the
sBAbSock test: spraying operations, in-
ciudtng the mixing OF sprays az well
ies stne!- application: Killing, dressing
and packing poultry for market, sant-
tarys sehandling OF milk; transplanting,
( budding and pruning trees; seed se-
/ lection; termination tests;. laying out
iend planting garden r;ats: stock
s3naEang; canning. preserving and
|; drying fruits; cheese making; butter
making, testing agricultural machin-
I 9ery 81 dfHinfecttng rooms, stables and
scl9thtng conducting cooking, Dress
Z making and millinery schools: demon.
ttfat!on plat work; blowing matches
and similar contests. .sS
Compliance with The recommends
fi0n 3of Mr.. Wilson certainly would
3 senhance the. interest \ and usefulness