218 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



explain its details in such a public manner that the community shall be- 

 come interested and actively engaged in the preparation of their best 

 specimens of hand and brain work for the coming prize contests. When- 

 ever you can get everybody thinking about the fair and talking aljout it, 

 then, and then only, is your meeting well advertised. 



Therefore fair managers should always have the public good in mind. 

 Their pUins should be Avorthy of public confidence. To gain this con-' 

 tidonce the lirst prerequisite is intelligent organization and honest admin- 

 istration. These of themselves are good advertisers. The next active step 

 begins with the premium list. If well prepared, this is the A-ery best 

 possible advertising medium, but, if awkwardly arranged and printed on 

 Dad paper, indicative of careless preparation, the effect is not good. A 

 bad catalogue is a handicap to the meeting it represents. 



The magazines that are read today are all made up in the best style 

 known to the printer's ai't so as to attract attention. In like manner the 

 fair catalogues that are destined for the library table and to be read at- 

 tentively should be in good form and readable pul)lications. The prizes 

 may not be large, but the classification of prize items should be carefully 

 considered. Special prizes for home productions and for the work of the 

 children of the vicinity should be offered, hoping thereby to awaken their 

 attention and self-interest. No local industry should be overlooked. All 

 branches of mechanic arts that are known in the country should have a 

 place at the fair. In former years Indiana was an exclusive agTicultural 

 State, yet now about one-half of her population are engaged in other 

 pursuits, hence the mechanical industries should liave full recognition, 

 so that all the people from the factory can meet their neighbors from the 

 farm at the fair. 



The preiuiuin list should have an educational effect. Its classification 

 of exhibits should be in accordance with the best authox-ities on scientific 

 l)roduction. These lists should have a wide circulation. As far as pos- 

 sible a copy should be in every home, so that the old and the young shall 

 each become familiar with its contents, for in my observation there is no 

 better lucans of advertisement than a good premium list and the reading 

 matter this book should naturally contain." Also, it must be conceded that 

 in nearly every instance the exhibits are the most valuable part of the 

 show. The amuseinent features of fairs are only incidental, and side 

 shows usually do their own advertising. 



The relative merits of side shows and other exhibits as competitive at- 

 trac-tions was illustrated at the recent World's Fair, in which nearly 

 every amuseinent concessioner lost moiu-y. The Pike was well advertised, 

 but the twenty millions of visitors went to St. Louis to study the objects 

 of art and handicraft in the industrial buildings, caring but little for th<> 

 Tike. 



Tlie most successful fairs are those that .-irc lilted to the natural 

 conditions of the locality in which they are held, and the particular 



