308 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, 



time uot ouly to compaie but to discuss the different specimens, thus en- 

 abling the farmer to improve his crops and obtain better results for his 

 labor. I Avould suggest that one of the first and most important things 

 to be done is to educate the people to the importance of the agricultural 

 department. It is time this department is considered of more importance 

 at the present time than it was a few years past, and the first to realize 

 this fact were the merchants, manufacturers, etc., for they know that 

 on the success of the farmer hinges the success of all other departments 

 of business. While the list of the agricultural department of the district 

 and county fairs only covers a part of the farmer's work, crops grown 

 from the soil, and also has cattle feeding, dairying, feeding of hogs, rais- 

 ing of cattle and many other different lines of work, yet these are lai'gely 

 dependent upon the crops that are grown from the soil. If I could say 

 something that would cause the tiller of the soil to be more contented and 

 to feel that his occupation was at the top of the list, that his work is 

 with Nature and is closer to God at all times than any class of profes- 

 sional work, I would feel well paid for my trouble. I would say to the fair 

 managers, place the agricultural department where it belongs — not in a 

 shed, but in a well-arranged and attractive building. Do not place the 

 value of the premium on the individual exhibit, but place the value of the 

 prize in proportion to what it represents. If the value of the corn crop 

 is more than the A'alue of the horse industry, or the cattle industry, why 

 should not the value of the prize be in proportion to what they repre- 

 sent? If the wheat grown in the United States has an equal value with 

 the dairy interests, why should not that .stand on an equal footing in 

 the list of prizes? The live stoclj: men would reply by saying: "We have 

 a large number of breeds of live stock and great progress has been made 

 in the improvement of the different breeds." Which is true. But would 

 you stop and consider that there are a larger number of varieties of grain, 

 and that the same pi'ogress is being made by scientific breeding, and that 

 the wealth of the country is being increased faster by the improvement 

 of farm crops than through any other industry? I am only making these 

 comparisons to prove the importance of the agricultural department, and 

 hope to increase a general interest in this department Avith the Board of 

 Fair Managers. Not to look at the exhibitor of the agricultural de- 

 partment as a class of men only farming because they do not have the 

 ability for any other profession, but that they are agriculturists from a 

 matter of choice, and deserve a proper recognition. I would suggest that 

 the superintendent of this department be an active, energetic man, one 

 that has the confidence and respect of the people and has made a success 

 of farming and is familiar with the different standard varieties of grains 

 and vegetables. The most disgusting thing that occurs in the agricultural 

 department is from the visitors who remark. "I wish that I had brought 

 such and such a thing that I had at home, as it was far superior to the 

 article on exhibition. " Possibly this is true, but as a rule ho has over- 



