184 BOARD»OF AGRICULTURE. 



racing only, and not a IVw have bi'i-n abandonod altogothcr. Therefore 

 the future of the county fair is a problem worthy of serious considera- 

 tion. 



Some people believe that the day for these meetinj^s is past, and that 

 under present conditions there is no natural necessity for them. Be that 

 as it may, it must be admitted that linancial and social conditions are 

 constantly chanijinji-, and it is now more ditfieult to please the popular 

 taste in many thin.us than it was twenty or tliirty years ago. Those 

 past years Avere times of wonderful agricultural development. In those 

 early days the timber and swamp lands were being converted into fertile 

 farms, and to tliis end the industrious farmer hailed with enthusiasm the 

 helpful advantages of the annual fair. It was there that he first saw 

 the pedigreed live stock so recently imported into this country. He saw 

 its preference over the scrub stock of his vicinity. He saw there the 

 first twine binder, the best farming implements, and many other neAV 

 things. These meetings were attractive novelties, combining the essen- 

 tials of a school, circus and general outing. In those years there were 

 no world's fairs nor big international shows to divert public attention, 

 hence every environment warranted success, and under any ordinary, or 

 even inferior management a popular event might be expected every year 

 in any county. 



However, these circumstances of growing ■wealth and rural tlu'ift 

 soon began to work changes, and a crisis in fair management was pre- 

 cipitated, for with the introduction of high-priced live stock, exhibitors 

 and visitors demanded better accommodations. The leaky board roof 

 stable gave way to the shingle roof, outdoor pens to more sanitary enclo- 

 sures, hydraulic water plants displaced the Avooden pump. Higher 

 premiums had to be offered and bigger purses hung on the Avire. All 

 this, of course, involved a larger attendance, and a heavier draft upon 

 the gate receipts, or a financial shortage AA'as inevitable. It was then the 

 prorata clause was inserted in the premium lists, and in many sad 

 instances, especially in counties of small population, the income failed 

 to meet outgoing expenses and the premiums being prorated, or, still 

 A\^orse, not rated at all, the credit of the association was lost, and the 

 enterprise Avas a failure. The Darwinian theory of a survival of tlie 

 fittest, governs all living things, and applies to the fair situation specifi- 

 cally. The county fairs that have passed away, died chiefly because they 

 were unfitted to the conditions of their locality. It is mistaken manage- 

 ment for every cross roads or village association to build their outfit upon 

 the same costly plan as is proper in the more wealthy and pojnilous coun- 

 ties. Every fair can not be a State fair, not even in outline, for to be 

 useful there must be adaptation to local surroundings. In almost every 

 community Avhere such institutions are desirable there is some special 

 industry, in which a large number of persons are interested. If so, this 

 pai'ticular feature should have a special prominence, and thus give the 



