AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INDUSTRIAL FAIRS. 15 



conducted, my crops are as good, I have as good cattle, horses, 

 sheep and swine, as my neighbors, and I have never spent my 

 money or bothered my brains in conducting agricultural societies 

 or spent my time at farmers' clubs." Very true, and equally true, 

 that in a very great majority of such cases the idea of doing a 

 really benevolent, unselfish act in any direction or for any cause, 

 has never penetrated the outside coating of your gizzard. To 

 such men I desire to suggest a certain text of scripture, which 

 speaks of entering into "other men's labors," and also the oft- 

 repeated quotation of the celebrated Roman orator, after the 

 assassination of Csesar, " Here comes his body mourned by Mark 

 Anthony, who, though he had no hand in his death, yet shall he 

 receive the benefit of his dying." 



Probably the most striking improvement has been made in agri- 

 cultural tools and implements, but the very thought of it suggests 

 a whole lecture, so I will pass it by, knowing that such of you as 

 have dug up your ground with one of Joss. Ladd's plows, mowed 

 your grass with one of Elder William's homemade scythes, 

 pitched your hay with a fork made by the village blacksmith, 

 hauled it on a " sloven," and cleaned out your tie-ups with a shod 

 shovel, can realize something of the improvement of which I am 

 speaking. 



Another good of agricultural shows and fairs is the influence 

 they have on the manufacture of agricultural and mechanical 

 tools and implements, and textile fabrics. For example, a few 

 years since the North Vassalboro' Manufacturing Company ex- 

 hibited goods at the World's Fair in Europe, for which they 

 received a first prize, and what is the result ? Why, the fact that 

 they have received a gold medal at London or Paris calls the 

 attention of people to their goods, exhibitions are being held all 

 over the State, other companies exhibit their fabrics along side of 

 Vassalboro', and each is obliged to produce about as good a sam- 

 ple as the other or be driven from the market, and every consumer 

 of Maine cloths to-day gets better goods in consequence of that 

 one prize. Again, suppose I go to my friend Whitman the manu- 

 facturer of implements and machinery at Winthrop for any thing 

 I may want in his line about my house, barn, shop or farm, what 

 then ? Why, he looks at me and says within himself, " There has 

 been a fair at Portland, another at Readfield, and others all over 

 the State ; my goods have been shown there beside those of Bar- 

 rett, Hussey, Holbrook, Dunham and other manufacturers, this 



