Gardeh
VOL. LXIII
re lh.
INDIANAPOLIS, JULY 25, 1908.
NO. £0
GOING   TO   THE   FAIR.
K>eep Your  Eyes Open.
1st Premium.—The state and county
lairs are in reality great agricultural
schools. They   have   departments   for
ull lines of farm work, including the
home, so they are for all members of the
family. Being,in session for a few days
ssi a week, it is possible for all to attend. At the fair are exhibited the best
that has been produced in the state or
county, and. no one should be satisfied with
producing anything but the best. If better wheat than you grow is exhibited, find
■ siit what the trouble is. You can easily
learn from the exhibitor how he did it.
What you can learn in this one item
alone may more than pay for the trip to
the   fair. If   one   raises  20   acres     of
wheat and learns how to increase it five
bushels per acre, that would meau an increase of 100 bushels of wheat. And
that is only one of the things that it is
possible to learn. Like knowledge and
results might be secured in the growing of
oats, corn, barley, clover, etc. At the
i'air one hns a good opportunity of learning of the best varieties of fruit, of va*ge-
tahles and flowers and how to grow them
successfully; how and when to spray so
as to kill the worms, bugs aud diseases
that cause knotty and worthless fruit. If
sue man can, you can, and the man who
hai demonstrated that he "can" is always
ready to tell how he did it and to give
ysm  the  benefit  of  his  experience.
Likewise in stock. If anyone exhibits
Isttter cattle, horses, sheep or swine than
> on raise, then learn how it is done. If
it is due to better blood, learn where you
san get the better animals. Also learn
how the animals that are in the best
condition have been fed and cared for.
Don't neglect the machinery exhibit. So
mnch of the work on the farm is done by
machinery that one wants the best, and
ihe fair is where one can see the different
lines exhibited and in operation. The
manufacturers of the best machinery arc
sure to have exhibits. Never be satisfied as long as you are not doiugas well as
ihe best. You have the same opportunity. They are more than willing to tei]
yssii how. So when you go to the fair
go prepared to learn. Keep your eyes
"pen, and ask questions. Take the
I oya along. Call .their attention to the
best things and let them hear your talks
with the exhibitors.
There are many things to interest and
instruct the good housewife and the girls,
so take them along. They will want to
see the cooking department, the art department, the exhibits of dresses and
wearing apparel, the poultry and oftentimes they take a real active interest in
^s'ing the live stock, the garden, fruit
and farm exhibits,   etc.
He who would know of the best and
n'ost approved things produced on the
farm, or made for the farm or the farmer's home, should go to the fair to see
"nd learn them, as that Is where they are
1 rought together and where judgment
>* passed on them. We should be satis-
Bed with nothing but the best; go go to the
fl>lr to learn what is best. The getting
away from the farm for a few days and
mingling with our neighbors and with
strangers is in Itself also quite an advan-
as?e. It broadens and educates us. It
teaches us better our place and position
in tbe world, and should tire us with a
desire aud ambition to do better thau ever
before. He who wins a prize goes home
with an increased confidence iu himself,
and he who has not won a prize goes home
determined to do so the next year.
W. C.
Learn From Others.
2d Premium.—There are as many reason!
for attending fairs as there are for lmld-
ing them. Their purpose is to stimulate
an interest in agriculture, horticulture,
stock raising, domestic science, the home
and  its  surroundings,     and  in  fact  those
keep up with the progress of the age.
New inventions and discoveries are being constantly masle, and yet what has
been learned is bnt a beginning, ansl it is
believed Isy many that wc are on tbe vw
of a granil awakening in which the fanner shall play a prominent part. Snch
men as Burbank are demonstrating tho
wanderfu] possibilities that lie before
ths.ss' who stis'U close to nature aud whs)
are willing to give time and patience tss
the unraveling of her mysteries. Uutil
recently the farmer himself was not awake
to the dignity of liis calling, but we are
glad tss see that in tliis a great change is
Js*-T
X> I
■ ~r '.
Indiana  Farmer Experiment Plat, State Fair Grounds.
things that tend to the betterment and
welfare of the community. And these
are matters that do not concern the farmer alone, bnt both directly and Indirectly
are of importance to those of the city as
well. This becomes apparent when it is
realized that the business of the towns
consists largely of the handling of the
products of the farm and of supplying to
those of the rural districts the things
which are required for their comfort and
sustenance. This being true their interests are mutual, and one thrives only as
the other is successful.
To reap the largest return for our effort
we must know how this should best be
directed, and this we must learn largely
from others, since we can not hope to discover bnt a small part of what is to be
learned. Unless we learn what others
ure doing, how they accomplish it and
see the product of their effort, we cannot
make any material progress, and success does not admit of stagnation.
At the fair we see the best and learn
the circumstances under whieh it has been
produced, and if it is better than we have
laeen able to accomplish we learn how to
improve Our methods. Here we see new
varieties of grains, some of which, perhaps, yield more to the acre thau we
have been able to raise; and potatoes, perchance, which mature earlier than any
which we have produced. We should
desire the best, and not be content to
raise the same old varieties in the same
old way practiced by our forefathers.
Tlieir ways were the best, perhaps, that
were known at the time, but we Cannot hold to methods outgrown if we would
taking place. The telephone, rural free
delivery, inlerurbans and automobiles are
bringing the country and cities closer together, and instead of people crowding into the congested centers of population we
now find them coming back to the country
v here conditions are more favorable to
peace and contentment.
Since the fair is the place where the best
products of the farm are displayed and
where its greatest achievements may be
witnesses], we should lend it encourage-
n ent by our presence, not only for the
general s,-siod that may be accomplished
but also for the direct benefit that may
be   deprived. We   should   attend   the
fairs because their aims and accomplishments are good, and because we cannot
ulTord to miss these opportunities to profit
bj  the experience of others.
Subscriber.
Compare the Exhibits.
3d Premium,—The attendance at the
county and state fairs is growing every
year. The   farmer   who   is   interested
and thinks seriously of his work and of
bettering his condition, knows that he
cannot afford to let such opportunities
pass unheeded, where he can inspect the
work of others and compare with his
own. lf he competes for a prize and
wins, he is rewarded richly. It makes
one feel buoyant and puts in him a spirit
cf "go ahead" and produce something
"still better." The less fortunate is not
discouraged because he did not win first
prize, but is encouraged because he knows
that he lias learned his weak points. He
goes to work with a feeling that he will be
si  winner at the next fair.
lt is a school for the dairyman where
iss can see the latest improvements and
must up-to-date methods for turning milk
iuto butter, and the best possible way of
marketing it, ami can learn the different
lines ssf In-ceding which produce the best
milkers.
Nsw isieas and new Improvements are
presented in all lines. The man who wants
ts. purchase a buggy, wagon, threshing
outfit, ssr any farm implement, is afforded
a chain ;■ ssl getting the best, because he
lias them together where they can be eom-
paiisl  with all makes and grades.
Ths' exhibits given in household articles,
needle wssrk. etc., are very interesting to
the ladies ansl can be attended with pro-
tit. The social advantages are great.
Oo  tsi  the   ''air.     mingle  with   your fellow
men, lean and compare their ways with
,\suns. This is the hest way to know our
own faults and tsi learn the best remedy.
A Reader.
Xo. 1147. August 1. Explain why ynu
shoulil have a supply of silags', or vegetables, s.r other green s*>ff, for winter feeding of dairy cows.
No. HIS. Aug. 8 What is the best way
to clear a rocky or stumpy field?
Xs>. (s4'.». Aug. 15. Make au estimate of
the amount ssf ground that is lost on an
average 160 aire farm by worm rail
fences as compared with straight, fences.
National Corn Exposition.
The National Corn Exposition is one of
the largest movaments ever organized
along agricultural lines. The effect of its
work will be felt throughout the corn belt
ansl ils influence will mean much to agriculture. Agricultural pwple will have
their attention directed towards Omaha
next December and the state that can float
the banner at that time will be much honored. Indiana has done it once. We are
asking for the earnest co-operation of the
farmers in an effort to hold this place for
tbe state in the National show next fall.
In order that we may be successful, every
county must do its part.
Each one interested should aim to interest the people of his county in this great
exposition. This can be done through
newspaper articles, talking it at every opportunity and distributing printed literature. If possible, a booth should be established at the county fairs where premium
lists ansl other information can be secured
by the people. Of course the more men in
the county directly interested in the movement, the larger the results that will be
obtained. Believing this, the commission
Bd vises a county organization where the
agent appointed by the gosvernor feels that
it is practicable. This organization should
consist of a representative from each township of the county, with the special agent
as chairman or general manager. This
might be accomplished by securing the cooperation of the Farmers' Institutes or
.other organizations now established. Especially will this organization be helpful iu
securing exhibits for the connty corn show.
Premium lists, posters, circulars etc.,
will be furnished to each agent as soon as
tbey are secured from Omaha.
This appointment carries with it
considerable work but I trust they
will Consider the movement of
sufficient importance to warrant them
in giving the much needed assistance. This office is ready to give all the
help possible in forwarding the work in
each county. Further instructions will be
furnished from time to time.