AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INDUSTRIAL FAIRS. 7 



vocations. The most eminent geniuses and learned writers of 

 every age, from Hesiod of three thousand years ago to our own 

 great Jefferson and Webster of yesterday, and Victor Hugo of 

 to-day, have not deemed it beneath their dignity or derogatory to 

 their mission, to write of lowing herds and bleating flocks, of pur- 

 ple grapes and golden grains, and Dean Swift or somebody else 

 has told us, and every writer since has reiterated it, that "he 

 who makes two blades of grass grow where but one grew before 

 is a benefactor to mankind." 



When a large number of individuals combine together for the 

 purpose of accomplishing a certain object, there are just as many 

 minds at work and just as many intellects laboring for the same 

 object as there are individuals in the association, and among per- 

 severing, progressive men, there is always a noble contention or 

 rather emulation to excel, which is continually spurring them on to 

 greater exertions. Again, it is essential in order to make the 

 greatest improvement, that these associations come together and 

 compare notes and products, that they may know who excels in 

 any calling or department, or in regard to any particular animal or 

 article, and how they do it ; whether by chance or by intelligent 

 experiment. If by the latter, we wish to know the exact "con- 

 ditions " of the same, as we thereby avail ourselves of the experi- 

 ence and observation of others and come directly to the point we 

 wish to gain. Suppose for instance, Mrs. A. or Mrs. B. presents 

 for exhibition the best lot of butter or cheese, we wish to know 

 the breed of cows, their distinguishing points or characteristics, 

 what their feed has been, how they have been cared for, how the 

 cost of keeping tallies with the income, and all about the manner 

 of making the article and its preservation since. If a crop, we 

 wish to know something of the soil, manure, cost, value, manner 

 of cultivation and what is of still more importance, whether its cul- 

 tivation has improved or impoverished the soil ; if a manufactured 

 article or implement, we wish to know its materials, cost and 

 value and in what its value consists ; if an animal, we wish to 

 know the breed, how it has been kept, its peculiar points of ex- 

 cellence and wherein it is more valuable than other breeds, to- 

 gether with such facts concerning the same as have come under 

 the observation of the owner or exhibitor. 



In this way each member of the association may become pos- 

 sessed of the most valuable knowledge in the possession of all, 

 so that while one gains knowledge and information on one point 



