576 STATE BOARD OF AGRlCUI/rURE. 



ill the increased margin of profits that has resulted from these improvements? In the 

 bringing about of these results the agricultural societies have been largel}' instru- 

 mental, and to the men who have earnestly worked for their prosperity and useful- 

 ness the community owes a debt of gratitude far greater than it can ever pay. 

 Occasionally we meet a farmer who prides liimself ou tlie excellent order and 

 management of liis farm. lie can point you to his liorses, cattle, sheep, etc.. and 

 say, "These are quite as good as any of my neighbors, and yet I have never troubled 

 myself nor fooled away any of my time or money with county societies or farmers' 

 clubs." All very true, but when you see such a man, very likely you see one througli 

 whose vest tlie idea of a noble, generous, unselfish act never penetrated; a man 

 whose little soul never seemed to have tlie capacity for an impulse of generous 

 recognition of indebtedness or obligation toward the men by whose labors he has 

 profited, l)ut whom he has never helped. 



Nowhere has progress been more manifest than in regard to improvement in agri- 

 cultural implements and machinery, and agricultural societies have done much through 

 their annual exhibitions to foster the inventive genius which has proved so great a 

 blessing to the farmer and which the genera) advancement in society has rendered an 

 absolute necessity. 



On the fair ground the farmer has the opportunity of viewing and examining the 

 implements put upon the market by the different manufacturers. lie can compare 

 views and experiences witli his neighbors in regard to what have been found to be the 

 excellencies or defects peculiar to those that have been tried, and he goes home a 

 richer, because a wiser man, wiser in regard to that practical knowledge which helps 

 him in his work. In consequence of these exhibitions, " mechanical principles are 

 better understood and more intelligently applied." We have combined simplicity of 

 construction with economy of power. A better knowledge of the strength of mate- 

 rials has enabled us to reduce the size of all the parts of farming tools, and so to avoid 

 the clumsiness of the older style of implements, and at the same time, to secure mucli 

 more effective work. 



It would be easy to dwell at much greater length on this part of our subject, but 

 you are met for business ratlier than to listen to an address, so I will now turn to 

 state briefly what few suggestions I have to make. It Is something of a tax upon my 

 modesty to make any suggestions at all, knowing very well that X am speaking to 

 men of far more experience than myself in the management of agricultural societies 

 and the conducting of their annual fairs. 



"What agricultural societies may reasonably be expected to do for the best interests 

 of farming is simply what they are capable of doing under tlie wisest and best man- 

 agement. 



There are so many tilings to be taken into consideration in the management of an 

 agricultural exhibition that few, if any, outside of the earnest workers themselves, 

 have any idea of what a tax their management imposes upon the thought and energy 

 of the officers. These officers require to be the most capable and active men, who are 

 in full sympathy witli the agricultural interest. I notice that a recent writer on the 

 subject of agricultural societies strongly advocates rotation in office. He claims 

 that many of these societies are alUicted with a "fatal 'ring' consumption," and 

 claims that while rotation might involve some loss of valuable experience, there 

 would be such a gain of popular sympathy and support as would more than counter- 

 balance it. I do not believe it would be best to have any iron clad rule in regard to 

 this matter. Organizations are generally the better for having a proportion of fresh 

 elements wrought into them, but the circumstances are so widely varied, that Avhat 

 would work advantageously in one case, might be disastrous in another. Probably 

 the via media or middle way is tlie best. It is always unfortunate to have such a 

 'ring' management as would shut out popular synipath}', yet I do not think this is so 

 often the case as tlic cry of a few malcontents miglit seem to indicate. On the other 

 hand, a competent ofiicer who adds experience to natural ability, had better be lield 

 on to if possible till the society is reasonably certain it can fill his place. 



There are one or two features of our .agricultural fairs in which I tliinlv it will be 

 generally conceded that an advance movement siiould be made. 1 will not call it a 

 new departure, for the things to wliich I have reference are not new either in regard 

 to their advocacy or even in their adoption in some localities. 



First, I think every society sliould at least look forward to the ultimate exclusion 

 of everything from tlie fair ground that would detract from its primarj' object as an 

 inrhistrial exhibition. In some of the newer counties, perhaps, where tlie sources of 

 amusement and recreation are very limited; or in cases where tlic Society is unfor- 

 tunately struggling under tlie burden of a debt, it may be deemed excusable to pan- 

 der to some extent to that popular sentiment which seems to require something to 



