350 KEPOKT OF OFFICE OF EXPEEIMENT STATIONS. 



EXBLIBITS AT FAIRS. 



That the agricultural fair presents an opportunity to the farmers' 

 institute for rendering service to agricultural people not fully appre- 

 ciated is evident from the little attention that the institute has hith- 

 erto manifested in this institution. The farmers' institute, standing 

 as it does for advanced agriculture, ought to be represented at these 

 exhibitions by some visible demonstration of its ideals and teachings. 

 If the institute can show valuable results secured by the methods it 

 advises, its influence for the betterment of agriculture will be greatly 

 strengthened and its teaching will be more generally accepted and 

 adopted. 



If therefore the institute were to undertake systematically a line of 

 demonstrations for the orchard, stable, and in household economics 

 that could be shown at State and county fairs, exhibiting the results 

 obtained from following the teachings for the improvement of agri- 

 culture and the rural home that the institute offers, it would add 

 materially to its value as a public educator and would reach a much 

 larger number than has been possible through the institute assembly. 

 The records show that in 1909 there was an attendance upon the 

 county fairs of 15,791,000 persons. Most of these people could have 

 been reached through suitable exhibits by the farmers' institutes. 



Whatever is shown should be accompanied by a skilled exhibitor to 

 call attention to its character and the method of its production. It 

 should also be well advertised throughout the grounds by placards in 

 large letters calling attention to the fact that this displaj^ is on exhibi- 

 tion and where the exhibit may be found and that the exhibitor will 

 give full information respecting its character. 



Where the exhibit is sent out by the State institute department, it 

 should contain more than one or two articles if it is to be commensu- 

 rate with the dignity and importance of the department. A plan 

 that has been adopted with satisfaction in a foreign country ^ has been 

 to prepare two exhibits, one for the larger and a smaller one for the less 

 important fairs. The exhibits are classified, and each class is kept 

 separate from the others so as to constitute an exhibit by itself, and 

 yet aU are grouped in the same building and contiguous to each 

 other. The grouping adopted is the following: 



(1) General crop exhibit. — These contain samples of the principal crops grown in the 

 country. 



(2) Crops recommended. — These are crops that have been tested by the department 

 and found to be adapted to the country and profitable to cultivate. 



(3) Fertilizers. — Samples of various fertilizers with the analysis of each and recom- 

 mendations for their application. 



(4) Implements. — A collection of such as can be recommended and demonstrations 

 of their use by actual trial, testing their work. 



> Recommendations for the work of the department in assisting the agricultural work of Bengal Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, Bengal, 1910. No. 2. 



