Year: 1877

The combined fair of the New England and
State Agricultural Societies which is to be
held in Portland, commencing Sept. Sd and
continuing through the 7tb, is an event in
which the farmers of Maine should feel an un-
usual interest. Maine is to be brought into
sharp.competition with the other New England
states, and it is incumbent upon every farmer
to labor to make her display creditabe one.
In some products Of the soil Maine cannot
compete with some of the other five states.
and it will be altogether better not to attempt
it. In many, however, she is the peer of
any of them and it is to these her farmers
should principally confine their efforts. Dis
advantages of soil and climate cannot be en-
tirely overcome by any amount of care and
attention. and if inferiority is due to these
causes it constitutes no reflection upon the
farmers skill. With equal advantages it is
fair to expect equal results and failure to
make creditable exhibition of those pro-
ducts for which Maine soil is well adapted
will be blow at the reputation of the Maine
farmer which ne can ill afford to have in
ficted. In some respects the season has
been unfortunate. A severe drouth has
affected some portions of the state and has
injured the crops materially. Apples, in
which Maine usually excels the whole coun-
ry, are very scare this year, and generally of
inferior quality. Spite of these disadvantages,
however, Maine will experience no great diff
Guilty in making creditable display If the
farmers take hold of the matter energeticaly
and in season. The state wants advertising.
The impression which prevails altogether too
widely, that she raises nothing but rocks and
pine trees needs to be removed, and the COM
ing fair affords an excellent opportunity to
remove it. We need population, we have
plenty of room for intelligent farmers, and
the way to get them is to show them that
Maine is capable of producing something.
Aud this can be accomplished much easier by
actual observation than by descriptive lectures
and pamphlets. In stock farming the state
can make an excellent showing. Some Of the
finest herds of thoroughbreds in New Eng
hoped that no petty jealousies, no quibbling
as to whether this herd or that has the best
title to be considered the representative of a
certain breed, will prevent full exhibition of
them.


There are many indications that the farm
ers of the state are already alive 10 the
opportunity which the fair affords them and
are determined to make the most of it. They
should not content themselves, however,
with simply sending their fine stocks and
their choicest productions. They should
come themselves. The affair is peculiarly
their own, and they should see to it that it is
not a failure financially. If they complain
that horse trotting is made too prominent,
they should demonstrate that they can pay
the bills without outside aid. In other
words, they should show by their attendance
that the interest in fine crops, splendid
horses and cattle is sufficient to ensure
pecuniary success, and resort need not be
had to the excitement of the tulf When
they do this they may have right to cavil
at the horse trotting; until they do it they
should keep silent.