/' -,*
VOL. XXVII
\£/■'"'■.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., FEB. 6, 1892.
NO. 6
Written forth. Indiana Farmer: ^--
THB AGRICULTURAL FAIB8.
Oounty Fairs,  Tbeir  Local Value and
■ Tbeir Belatlon to the State Fair.
BY J. A. MOUNT.
See. 2020 of the H. 8. provides for the or
ganlzitlonof district and agricultural societies for the holding of fairs. Section 2ii.**0o{
the Revised Statutes declares the purpose
■hall be, "Improvements of soil, Ullage,
crops, manures, Improvement ot stock,
articles of domestic industry, and such
other productions and Improvements as
they may deem proper; and may perform
such other acts aa they may deem best to
promote agricultural and household man-
facturing Interest ot the district, and
State." Acd lu making these awards,
■pedal reference shall be bad to tho profits which may occur or be likely to occur
from the improved mode of raising the
crop, or of improving the-eoil or stock, or
of the fabrication of the articles thus of
fered." The Statutes further provides
that the competitors for large yields of
crops shall set Jforth "in a full and correct statement," the methods employed in
attaining the end. The Statute contemplates that fairs shall be so managed, that
the condition ot soils may be improved
and tbe yield of crops enlarged. Success
ln farmir.g*depends ln large measure upon
the yield "of crops. Prominent factora In
farming not properly encouraged by the
fair. ,
THK PRODUCTS OP THK SOIL.
Oar cereal crops, both as to yield and
quality are not awarded premiums commensurate with'their importance. The
grasses ofour State for grazing and forage,
are the most valuable element in successful farming ln Indiana, yet entirely overlooked. Fruit growing, so important to
comfort, health and profit as well, is not
properly encouraged. The important products of the soil, the source of our wealth
and prosperity, do not get in as premiums
In ths fairs of our State one-tenth the
amount paid to races alone.
Horse racing cannot be said to come
under the purview of the Statute in its
contemplated development of agriculture
or the industries of the State.
THE SPEED BINO.
Races are I believe, indispensable at onr
fairs. They are a means of attraction, and
help to draw the crowd. I am in favor ot
an honest teat of the speed of the noble
horse, and am in favor of liberal premium.,
but depreciate the;tendency to ''jockey ,".to
"sell out" and to gambling. I am not in
favor of races dominating our fairs. The
tendency of our fairs is to neglect, as pro-
Tided bylaw, the encouragement ofthe
essential elements of agricultural prosperity. So long as the speed ring is made
the dominant feature of the fair, and speed
hoises allowed to enter the roadster and
other rings, and thus carry of the premiums, ao long will the boys of the conntry,
•nd many of the farmers, be encouraged
In the breeding and raising horses for
■peed. If there be any one branch of stock
raising overdone, and an unprofitable outlook ahead, it is the growing of little
horsea. The nse ofthe elect* ie motor is
supplanting the use of small horses and
mules. Mr. Cartis, of Mt. Vernon, one of
the most successful breeders of fast horses
Ui onr State, said to me: "The farmer unskilled in the science of breeding speed
horses, will make a disastrous failure if he
attempts it, not one in one hundred will
succeed in raising a horse that will prove
a success inthe speed ring.' To obtain
the best results from fairs and make them
of permanent value, better ofler
premiums for Increased yields of crops. I
believe it would be wise to offer special
inducements to the boys ln the growing of
agricultural products. Whenever agrl-l
cultural  papers  have offered  premiums'
for the largest yield of crops, farmers
themselves have been amazed at the possibilities of the soil to produce immense
yield of crops. Let our fair managers ln
the spirit of the law, offer better encouragement for the Improvement of our sol),
and increased yield of crops, and onr fairs
will be of lasting benefit to our State.
Superintendents of departments should be
practical men ln tbe departments over
which they are to preside. They should
be consulted as to the premiums given ln
their several departments.
VALUE      OK      LIVE   STOCK      KXnillITS    AT
COUNTY  FAIBS.
On the 10th of last month, W. C. White,
ot Carrollton, Mo., sold at the Stock Yards
at Chicago, eight two-year-old steers at
|7 15 per cwt., average weight 1,011 pounds.
On tho same day two-year-old steers sold
as low as two dollars a hundred ln the
same market. This fitly Illustrates the
the value ef improved stock and good
care. In 1800, the average weight of wool
was 2 85 pounds to the flsece. In 1890, the
average was 0 GO pounds to the fleece.
This is development. From the chicken
coop to the stalls of the thoroughbred
horse, the quality and the management
determlaessuccess. The marvelous change
that haa taken place, the wonderful development attained, is due in large measures to fairs. At tbe fair, the general
farmer beholds the achievements of tbe
successful breeders, sees the perfect types
and emulates his success, In all branches
of stock raising, there is now, always has
been, and always will be success and failure. No place affords a better opportunity to study the eoonomio science of stock
raising than tho fair.
FLOBAL JTALJ.,  DOMESTIC SKILL AHD A UTS
The statute especially mentions the encouragement of domestlo skill and art. In
our homes our wires, sisters, and daughters, with needle, pen and brush produce
many articles of use and ornament.
'This pick up work" in our homes gives
diversion and recreation from routine
duty, contributes to comfort as well as
many tasteful adornments. Local exhibitors should be encouraged and should be
protected from the traveling professional.
It in our county fairs there ls no restriction upon these professionals in handy
work and art, they will discourage and
prevent the consummation of the purpose for which 'these '.fairs are
he'd. Local exhibitors cannot compete with the professional who has secured in some way large invaluable exhibits, with which they travel from fair to
fair, for the money they can.tbus obtain
in premiums. Floral hall should be a
place of beauty, everything so artistically
arranged as to please and cultivate good
taste. Attractive displays should be encouraged. Nature and art should here in
rich confusion combine their beauty and
perfection. Beauty will touch a responsive chord in tbe heart and the softening
refining influence of such environments
lifts us to a higher plane ln life.
TIIK COUNTY.  PAIR AW *BDl*CATOB.
Fairs are intended as a means of eduac-
tlon. Object lessons ore presented on
every hand. Live stock, fruit, grains, in
short, everywhere success, progress, or
taste ls displayed. Intelligence is the safe
guard of onr liberties, as well as the key to
success. It is therefore of importance
that our public schools be encouraged.
The county superintendent, teachers and
fair managers, ahonld co-operate ln encouraging education. One day should be
given to school children and teachers.
On this day let there be contests of different kinds. These will stimulate a hearty
emulation ln school work anil a laudable
ambition to excel.
Management of farm determines their
value. To secure success good men mnst
assume control. Stock should be held ln
limited quantities by the many and  not
in large quantities by the few. Every
township should be represented in stock
and In the directory.
Fair directors should be broad minded,
liberal hearted men, willing to accord to
the various Interests of tbe county a just
consideration.
Premium lists should be made upon
this principle. Officers, superintendents
and directors should vie with each other
ln showing to exhibitor and visitors,
courtesy. Too much valuable space in
fairs is given to clap trap shows, which
by their din of confusion, are annoying—
even distracting. No Intoxicants should
be allowed on the fair ground. No species
of gambling, or games of chance should
be tolerated. All species ot gambling and
pool selling are express violations of our
Criminal ;L»w: Sections 20S2, 20SJ and
2080, R. S.
Correct judgment being highly lmport-
tant, the expert system should be adopted.
The ultimatum in fair managment should
not be dividends, but a better fair.
DUTY OF TUE PEOPLE TO THE OUNTY FAIB.
I have spoken of the duty of fair man
agers, to the Industries of the county, to
the exhibitors, and to the people. There
are reciprocal duties due the managers of
fairs. It Is no uncommon thing to hear
the management of fairs severely criticised. From the nature of the criticism,
the logical inference would be that the
fair was run In the Interest of a "soulless
corporation," actuated by an insatiate
greed for gain.. There is a bollef, wide
spread ln our State, that the fair grounds
ax a purchased and improvements made
with money collected from the tax payers.
Many believe that fair directors get big
pay for their services. These and kindred statements are frequently made by
men who are not celebrated for their liberality or public spirit, and who do not
possess b superabundance of wisdom as
to the law and fair control. Sections 6805,
5806 and 6807 of R 8., provides that when
the taxable property of a county is f 20,000,
000 or upward, the commissioners may,
upon the filing of a sworn statement of
the secretary and president of the agricultural society, setting forth the amount ot
expenditures, then they may appropriate
not to exceed f 10,000, and not exceeding
one-half of the amount already
paid, and provides that the amount
thus advanced by the commissioners
shall be a lien on all the property
until the amouut thus advanced
shall be paid back into the county
treasury with Interest. The plain division of law, the only way aid can be obtained, should forever silence the tongue
of the man who has been representing
that tax payers furnish the money to run
fairs.
Public spirited, progressive men, manage fairs. Except for the liberality of
snch men, no fairs would be held in the
State. These men fnrnlsh the money,
the time and the brains to run fairs.
Prompted by a spirit of progress, they put
their money where tbe grateful public (T)
alone reaps the benefit. No Interest is received from the money thus given to the
public No dividends are declared, no
pay for the many days of faithful work
and anxiety. To these liberal generous
men, the statue says, your generosity is
so essential to public good, that you cannot sell these grounds except to purchase
a more eligible site where your generosity
can better serve the public See section
2634 of the Ret ised Statue. The liberal
promoters of the agricultural and Industrial Interests of a county, are entitled to
the applause and commendation of the
people. When the statue assumes the
power to say, that fair grounds cannot be
sold, except to reinvest the proceeds for
the benefit of the public, then its declaration is predicted on the assumption  that
fairs, and fair grounds are not for the
public, and such conclusions in equity,
would exempt from all taxation fair
grounds whore no dividends are declared
and no profits accrue to the association.
Sec. 2,022, of our statute exempts the State
fair from state and oounty taxes. For the
mme reason local agricultural societies
should likewise be exempt
BELATION   ON COUNTY FAIBS T3 TIIK STATB
FAIBS.
Seo. 2,029 of the Revised Statute contemplates that the State 11 >ard of Agriculture shall be a kind of a foster father to
the county fairs. The county fair must
adopt such constitution and by-laws as
meet the approval of the State Board.
They must make certain reports to entitle them to certain perquisites.
The presidents of county and district
agricultural societies constitute the Delegate State Board. The delegates elect the
State Board of Agriculture. I can conceive of no plan more democratic than
this plan of selecting the State Board. I
can conceive of no body of men more eminently titled for this rwpansible duty,
than the public spirited men who have
shown by their liberality, their fidelity to
agricultural and industrial progress.
These delegates represent more *han one
hundred agricultural societies ln our State.
They represent several thousand stockholders and more than six hundred thousand dollars of capital Invested ln fair
ground! and improvements. This vast
sum of money stands a bulwark ot defence ln favor of the publio spirit of the
donors. These agricultural societies, these
thousands of stockholders, their noble generosity, all stand forth as the living exponents ot industrial progress ln Indiana.
I have heard the petty demagogue, who
has never had a dollar a day, or an idea,
to advance these great interests ln our
State, arraign the State Board as "old
fossils." I have heard them deny the
right and ability of these liberal, progressive men, whose liberality has given na
the grand results from fairs, these men
were adjudged unworthy, but State officers, wete the fit custodians of the Industrial interests of our State. Strange indeed the wisdom, that would take from
these practical, liberal farmers, the right
to select men in touch with their liberal
progressive ideas and delegate this power
to a few politicians holding a State offlce,
who always have party workers to reward.
To the end that the State Board be kept
more closely allied to industrial progress,
I would recommend that the law be so
amended as to admit a delegate from the
State Industrial Organizations into the
Delegate State Board. To* fully Interest
capital city, and enlist their energies ln
behalf ot our State fair, I would also give
to the Commercial Club and to the Indianapolis Board of trade, each are presenta-
tlve ln th e Delegate State Board. If these
additions were made, the infusion of this
new blood into the now healthy current,
would Inaugurate a new era of success.
The Big Snow ln Benton County.
Edition Indiana Farmer:
I have read the item contributed by H.
B. and published In the Indiana Farmer
of the 23d ult. ln which he claims that
the deepest snow that has fallen in the
State in the last 50 years, fell in Oreen
county on the 12 and 13th of January 1867
and measured 22 Inches deep on a level.
By reference to my diary for 1885,1 find
that on the 2Sth of January the snow
measured 21 inches on a level. After this
it continued about the same, adding a little fresh snow occasionally till the 24th of
February. On that day I was hauling
wood, and measured the snow in the timber at several points, and fonnd it over
two feet deep and very compact. ' .
M. V. Bowman.