Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-07-19

| AdnrS are luily as important as corn IN
Oklahoma. as much money is offered for
prizes for kafir crops as for corn. Minor
crops and vegetables which may not be
grown with profit have been eliminated.
The prize for the greatest number of I'M
profitable things grown on one farm has
long since gone into the discard. We try
to give as much thought and attention to
this department, which costs money and
brings in none directly, as we do to any
other directly profitable department of the
fair That is the responsibility of state
fair to states agriculture.
Out of his ample experience, John C,
Simpson gave me some ideas on how to
run fairs. He was secretary of the Iowa
State Fair from 1900 to 1911. This show
is operated by the State Board Of Agricul-
ture. During Mr.. Simpsons regime sew
eral hundred thousand dollars we're spent
on permanent buildings and improve
ments, covering about 270 acres of ground
The most money was put into build
ings for livestock and machinery. Luxu-
rious quarters were provided for 5000
hogs. The Iowa Fair has become the fore
most livestock exhibit in the country out
side of the International at Chicago.
The Minnesota State Fair, the biggest
institution in the United States, was in
disorganized condition when Mr., Simpson
became manager in 1911. Too much poll
tics, the universal fair disease, had caused
this. Mr. Simpson demonstrated that
manager can eliminate politics by straight
forward, efficient work. showing no favorit-
ism. and finally getting the support of the
better political element on all sides. The
support Of the press for straightforward
administration is mighty useful.
REFORMING SOME EXHIBITS.
While at Iowa, Mr. Simpson had long
wanted to reform the poultry exhibits.
He didn't believe in catering to the in
Vulnerable inventions of fanciers to the
detriment Of the comparatively few useful
breeds. In Minnesota he succeeded In
cutting out fifty-five varieties, leaving
| fifty-four varieties for prizes and empha-
sizing the eleven utility breeds by offering
flock prizes for ROSTERS with their families
in separate pens. There is much greater
interest in flock exhibits than in the old
style, sinsle-coop exhibits of individual
birds.
In the horticultural line Mr. Simpson did
not like the classic method showing three
lonesome fruits on plate. No exhibitor
was willing to back up his scheme, so he
went to an apple grower and ordered
carload Of apples sent to the fair. These
were well packed in boxes and banked up
on one whole side of building They
made display that was a sensation.
There was some prejudice in regard to
awarding premiums for livestock from out
of the state. Since the fair was state
institution. some folks argued, the states
money ought not to be paid to outsiders.
Others said it was not fair to make Mime
sofa stock compete with the superior ami
mails Of neighboring states. Mr.. Simpson
told such critics that the purpose Of the
fair was educational, to show the best
product in any line and to stimulate local
people to come up to the best, as was GER
tainly within their capacity.
The machinery exhibit at Minnesota was
in good shape when Mr.. Simpson arrived
and was one Of the largest in the country.
1t has continued to be big feature. occu-
pies sixty acres of ground and includes
400 exhibitors. After six years in Mime
sofa. Mr.. Simpson left over year ago to
take charge Of the newly organized East
ern States show.
What is the correct mixture Of amuse-
ments and instructive features in order to
make well-balanced fair 1t is easier to
get recipe for Liberty bread. A certain
amount of moasses Is necessary to catch
fiies but If you smear mOasses all over
intelligent people they get disguised and
90 home. 1t is to be borne in mind that
money spent on amusements comes back
to large extent in the form Of special
admission to the attractions
The Midways Of the big fairs have al
legedly improved 200 per cent in the last
decade and few Objectionable features are
to be seem At the better fairs there are
not so many attractions. only ten instead
of. say. twenty. and those remaining are Of
chOicer quality. In a number Of places
there are permanently installed amuse-
ment devices. like -go-rounds. which,
besides adding to the profit Of the enter
prise. are Of better construction than the
portable sort.
Barred from the grounds Of the better
fairs are the old-time pitchmen. medicine
vendors, thimble riggers. peddlers Of foun-
tain pens, potato parers. and the sinfully
annoying book agent.
Why not cut out amusements in this
serious timer Well. the Government finds
il needful to provide amusements for SOL
diers in camp and at the Front And civil
ians here and abroad must have certain
amount Of laughter to maintain health.
Though the Department Of Agriculture
has been making exhibits at all the big
expositions chiefly since the Louisiana
Purchase Exhibition Of 1904, it practically
ignored the chance to do missionary work
among the 100000 annual audience of
the state fairs until last year. Exhibits we're
made at the rate Of three to six year.
and usually Congress was asked for spe-
cial appropriation to defray the cost.
The Department woke up in 1917 and
Il IL IL
making exhibits at thirty-seven fairs or
shows in fifteen states, ranging from New
England to California and Florida. The
amount Of material sent out varied from
express shipments to three carloads Of
heavy-caliber information. II is estimated
that 100000 people saw these displays.
Early in the present season the Depart