8 ANNUAL REPORT. OF THE Off. Doc. 



by the payment of the difference between the value of the goods pur- 

 diasod and goods delivered; and in each case where we have required 

 such seltlenient, we have recjuired also that the person purchasing 

 and using the fertilizer be paid a fairconsideraliou for his loss in crop 

 production on acccount of not having the fertilizer suited to the 

 special crop to which it was applied. What such damage should be 

 was agreed upon by the parties; but in every case it was stipulated 

 that the party that purchased and used the goods must sign a state- 

 ment that full satisfaction had been made, which statement was 

 forwarded to this Department. 



PURIFYING COUNTY FAIRS. 



This Department was very much gratified during the past year to 

 note the excellent work done by the press of the State in the way 

 of exposing, and through exposure, abolishing some of the unjusti- 

 fiable practices of certain county fairs. The statement was made 

 that, in some instances, "side-shows," with immoral exhibitions, were 

 permitted for good, big license fees, and that certain forms of gam 

 bling were indulged in, the profits being shared equally by the gam- 

 blers and the fair management. That there was room for such state- 

 ments, in a few instances, cannot be denied. 



A few of our county fairs seem to have forgotten the purpose of 

 their creation: the advancement of that which is good, true and 

 beneficial to agriculture; and the fair is only made the means of 

 getting crowds of people together, and the cloak for covering the 

 transactions of vulgar and immoral showmen and the* practices of 

 astute gamblers. 



The last season showed a much more healthy state of affairs. 

 Many of the features so objectionable in the past were entirely 

 absent, or, at least, so far eliminated as to make the change quite 

 noticeable, and for this greatly needed reformation, the people of 

 the Commonwealth ow^e a debt of gratitude to the press of the State. 



FAIR JUDGES. 



About the time that county fairs are ready to open, many letters 

 are received at this Department asking for information as to where 

 competent judges can be secured for passing upon exhibits of live 

 stock as well as upon displays of grains, vegetables, fruits, etc. 

 When we are in possession of information that we feel sure is relia- 

 ble, we do not hesitate to give the information sought, but it is 

 quite difficult to recommend persons for special work in this line 

 who will prove satisfactory, unless fair managers exercise proper 

 judgment in assigning to each the work that corresponds to his 

 tastes and for which he is peculiarly fitted. It is not reasonable to 

 suppose that the same person shall be able to decide intelligently 

 upon the merits of all classes of farm animals. There is no more 

 reason manifested in assigning a fancier of swine to the work of 

 judging a flock of sheep than there would be in employing a wheel- 

 wright to build a house. A successful dairyman who has studied 

 carefully the distinguishing characteristics of the several breeds of 

 dairy cattle and the points that should be prominent in each, may 

 know very little of the location of the "valuable cuts" for which the 



