264 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



He replied that he had not noticed that it was so bad, or even thought as it 

 could be plowed to prevent it. 



We have been called hero for the purpose of exchanging ideas — assembled 

 for the special benefit of those engaged in agriculture — here for the purpose 

 of talking. Some of you will give us your ideas this evening, others will sit 

 here, loaded perhaps to the muzzle, but will not fire till we meet you on the 

 street or at your homes. If I have made any mistakes, or misstatements, 

 have said anything that does not coincide with your views, I hope you will not 

 be backward or bashful, but jump up and punch holes in my paper. 



HOESE KACING AT AGRICULTUKAL FAIRS. 



BY P. C. PURDY. 

 [Read at Caro Institute.] 



While I am of the opinion that ''trials of speed" are all right and proper 

 in their appropriate places, still I think they should not monopolize the great- 

 est share of the time nor be the prominent feature at our fairs. Formerly 

 the trials of speed — now really the race track — were merely an incident, a sort 

 of tail-piece to the general exhibit of agricultural and horticultural products, 

 implements and modes of culture, and of generally useful domestic animals. 

 Latterly the tail seems to wag the whole body, and the largest premiums and 

 most attentions are paid to trotting and running horses. Thus we see pre- 

 miums offered in the premium list something like the following : Horses for 

 all work, single mare or gelding, 4 years old or over, first premium, $3; sec- 

 ond premium, $2. While in race No. 6, open to all : first premium, $35; 

 second premium, S25 ; third premium, $15. The poorest race horse gets five 

 times the amount which the best horse for the farmer gets. 



Comparatively few of the public spirited men who get up and manage the 

 fairs fully approve of this feature, but deem it a necessary evil. The execu- 

 tive committee reason that while the body of staid old farmers will come for 

 the sake of the real object of such fairs, the trials of speed attract a large 

 floating population, who care not a fig for agriculture, but whose admission 

 fees supply the sinews of war. 



That the fairs in many parts of the country are deteriorating is certain. Not 

 a few of the best farmers are questioning whether fairs are on the whole 

 useful. There are certainly a good many who are disgusted with the growing 

 influence of the race track, and are unwilling to bring their families under 

 such influence. If all of this class are alienated will not our fairs soon become 

 little more than an annual race course. There are many instances which it 

 might be well to consider in this connection. The Orange county, N. Y., 

 agricultural society not long ago, says an eastern paper, fearing the race 

 track would get the supremacy, abolished speed premiums. Many pre- 

 dicted failure, but tiie results last year and the year before show the 

 contrary. Instead of the race all the exhibited animals were marshalled in 

 grand cavalcade each afternoon, and, preceded by a band of music, marched 

 in classes following each other around the track and in view of all present. 



