The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-09-16
BIG COUNTY
FAIR CLOSES
ON FRIDAY, AFTER A SUCCESSFUL
SHOWING FOUR DAYS OF
LAST WEEK
ANDREW NELSON WINS THE AUTOMOBILE
Local Tailor Holds the Lucky Number
And Carries Away Ford-Fair Was
a Success in Every Particular

The big BrOokings county fair came
to a close Friday night, after a success
full run Of four days. The fair was
without doubt the best one ever held
here, although the attendance was not
up to expectations. 1t does seem
strange that an institution of this kind,
which is for the benefit and enter
not arouse more interest. The farmers
and everyone else were busy, of course,
but still it does seem as though every
citizen of the county should have in
duty bound taken a day off to get &C
Quainted with his neighbors and see
the products Of the Banner County of
South Dakota. The attendance on the
first day was nil and on Wednesday
there was a big crowd, but there were
largely children, that being children's
day. Thursday brought in the best
crowd of the week, there being 2,700
paid admissions, but on Friday the
crowd was n~oticeably less. However,
the association will probably come out
fairly well with what help they receive
from the county commissioners.
The exhibit was the finest that has
ever been shown at this county fair
and that is saying considerable, and we
doubt if there is a county fair any
where in the country that could make
a better showing. The exhibits num-
bered 3,471 and this does not include
the machinery or other special x
hibits that did not compete for prizes.
The showing was truly wonderful and
both the fair officers and individual
exhibitors have reason to feel proud
of their efforts.
The Register had a write-up of the
different departments last week, but
further mention will not be out of
place.
The agricultural hall was packed
uoOl w wi Will CNCiy hALu vi
grain, vegetable or fruit that grows in
a temperate climate. The showing of
potatoes and other vegetables and ap-
pies, plums and berries was especially
good. The corn looked good but had
not as yet matured. The State College
had a splendid exhibit in this build
ing. The school of agriculture, under
Prof. Stivers, made a particularly good
display of their work. Perhaps the
most valuable exhibit from an educa-
tional standpoint was that of the ex-
pertinent station. Conspicuous in the
center of the display was a large white
placard with writing in black letters
as follows:
"To own a farm that won't wear out:
Il. Grow legumes to maintain the
nitrogen supply.
"2. Return stalks, straw, and ma
nure to the soil to maintain the supply
Of humus.
"3. Keep the soil sweet with lime
stone.
"a. Keep up the phosphorus supply
with rock phosphate"
Five little pots of pure quartz sand
in which grew several stalks of corn
that had been planted but a short time
before, showed how farmers lose about
half their crop through letting n or
more of the elements necessary to the
best plant growth escape from or re-
main lacking in their soils.
In the first one of these pots was
pure quartz of sand with none Of the
elements mentioned present. The DIT
vas barely up and had scarcely made
growth at all.
In the second pot every element with
the exception of nitrogen was present.
The corn had grown better than in the
first pot but much was left to be desir-
ed. The stalks did not look strong and
undeniably were stunted.
In the third pot, potassium was left
out of the soil. The corn stalks had
not done as well as in the pot just be-
fore it and were stunted and puny.
In the fourth pot, phospohorous was
missing and here again. 1t could readily
be seer that something was lacking.
The last pot contained all the ele-
ments that have been found to aid
plant growth. The corn had made a
much more rapid and sturdier growth
here than in any of the others and was
twice as large.
Near the corn stalks were two pots
in which legume plants were growing.