The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-10-25
THE COUNTY FAIR.

learning every year something new
about farming. The time has passed
when q man plants at certain sea-
SON, works his crop at certain sea-
son, fertilizes his land with the kind
of fertilizers his dealer happens to
have, and plants certain lands in GER
tain crops because it is convenient to
do SO. In the past twenty years no
vocation in life has seen greater pro-
gress in the manner in which the
work is done, and the thoughtfulness
with which tasks are performed, than
that of farming. The farmer Of to-
day is a man of real intelligence and
he works, and thinks, and reasons as
do the men in the professions. When
he buys a certain fertilizer he buys
a certain fertilizer he buys it for a
reason, when he plows his lands In a
certain way, it is because from the
best information at hand, and from
experience, he is convinced that this
particular way is the proper and
most efficient way. He plants corn
where the lands are suitable for corn
raising, and so with cotton, and
small grain and other farm products.
He gives his thought, too, to rails
ing on his farm all kinds of live
stock and food crops which two de-
cades ago he never thought of. He
plants vetch and alfalfa, and sows
peas and other crops, some for hay,
and some to enrich the lands. He
puts out bermuda grass for pasture
lands, and other grasses for hay
crsps.%. l.... 49,, .....
So that farming has become to be
one Of the learned professions, if we
might call it a profession, iather
than vocation. With the possible
exception Of the medical profession,
no profession nor vocation offers
greater fields for research for in
formation, for intelligent reasoning,
and intelligent application of known
principles. \ ..
Like the medical profession, the
operation of farm according to the
best principles, furnishes field for in
vestigation and thought every day
which the day before did not exist.
It is growing business and occupa-
ton. There is always something to
learn, there is always something new,
there are constantly changing condi-
tions, and changing problems to be
met. Therefore, the farmer is look
ing around all the while for informa-
ton, and for means to meet his prob
lens. His neighbor is doing the
same thing.
And it is because of these things
that the county fairs are gotten up.
Of course there must be attractions,
and fun for the children and the
grown-ups. There is room for the
right kind of amusement always, and
for day of recreation. It is pleas
ant to meet ones friends and to
shake hands with the neghbors at
the fair. It is privilege to see
friends of the years gone by and to
60 to the fair and talk with them of
other days. The school children and
the young people all must have their
part. But with all this there is a
serious side to the county fair to the
farmer. There is a chance to learn.
For this reason the exhibits from
the farms should be full. Every ef-
fort should be made to get the farm
ers of the county, and their house.
wives, to exhibit the production Of
the soil and of their handiwork at
these fairs, in order that others nay
see and be taught, and go home pre-
pared to make something there which
has not been made before. There
may be simple remedy for this dif-
ficulty, there may be certain kind
of cotton, ,or corn which you plant,
and which suits a certain grade of
lands. You know all about it and
your neighbor wants to know: Go
to the fair and show him the crops
and tell him what you have done.
And those farmers who are more
progressive than the others may al
ways furnish information as to the