The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-11-22
Escarnbia At the State Fair.

The fair which opened today in Jacksonville, will
exceed in interest and display any state exposition
held in Florida in many years, and the farmers and
business men of Escambia looking to this coun-
ty exhibit to carry off the blue ribbon.
L. w. Hardy, president and manager, to whose
interest and initiative of the Escambia
county exhibit last year largely due, announced
before leaving for Jacksonville that he expected to
off first this year, instead of playing
second fiddle in a fruit fair as was the case last
fall.
1t stated by many who visited county fair
at Molino that in quality many the exhibits in
Jacksonville, surpass those of last year. Among the
honors carried off last year by Escamba first
premium corn, and it is believed that the corn
this will exceed that of quality.
Other exhibits good, including sugar cane, staple
crops such as cabbage. potatoes and turnips and
forage crops and cereals, particularly rice which is
of excellent grade.
1t is understood that the exhibits will be judged
according to a different scale from that used last
year. the ratings such usual fruit
fair, and not agricultural exposition
Last year when the awards made the
state fair much dissatisfaction expressed the
rulings of the committee of judges. who based their
estimates the attractive appearance of the dis
play, rather than the variety and quality the
agricultural exhibits At the time there
We're many farmers in Jacksonville from all parts
of the United States, and it the opinion the
majority of these men, openly expressed that
cordng to the rules of agricultural fairs held
other sections of the state honors should
have gone to Escambia
1t because of their protest and that of others
who felt that Escambia had suffered injustice,
that the rules governing the awards changed
to conform with the rulings Of agricultural fairs,
rather than fruit exhibits.
Nothing could go farther to show the increased
productiveness of Florida, than the necessity of
changing the method of award at the fair For
many years Florida was looked upon land of
fruit and flowers. where oranges and grape fruits,
Strawberries, tomatoes and other early vegetables
were the chief of to the land own
er Today the orange crop a source of wealth
does not compare to that of corn potatoes as a
money crop have strawberries beaten a finish.
Forage crops. sugar live stock and poultry
coming into their own, and never again will it be
possible for attractively arranged display
This means that Florida is reaching the place where
she ranks with the west in quality of and the
western markets in Irish potatoes.
The variety and quality of the exhibits at the
state fair last year, however surpassed this
year, in all probability by every county an ad
mrable spirit of rivalry engendered which will
mean much for the state a whole, for the
output of the individual counties exhibiting.
Escambia will doubt find it more difficult to
take high honors, but whether the exhibit returns
decorated with blue red ribbons or with no rib
bons at ALL the advertising which will accrue to this
county from the fine exhibit will be of tremendous
value to every farmer and business in this Sec
tion For, after ALL it is what grow that counts
in the long run. We have the finest harbore in the
world Now we have to let people know that our
harbor has nothing back county if only it
is developed it should be and must be- if the
city and the county are to grow.