48 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



The Fairs. 



At no time during recent years have the agricultural, fairs of 

 the State enjoyed such a run of good weather, for scarcely a 

 fair this year had bad weather. Attendance in most cases was 

 good, but often considerably reduced by the presence of infantile 

 paralysis, which prevailed during the late summer and early fall. 

 The general average of exhibits was high, although the hall ex- 

 hibits in most cases were smaller and not quite as good as usual. 

 Cattle were reported in abundance and of high grade. Certainly 

 after the no-cattle fairs of 1915 it was pleasing to see the good 

 showing made this year. Sheep, swine and poultry were made 

 of special interest in many places, while in others the children's 

 work formed an important part of the fair, although the infantile 

 paralysis referred to did a great deal toward reducing the children's 

 exhibits. 



There still seems to be a tendency among certain fairs to give 

 a great deal more prominence to amusements and fakirs than 

 is warranted in an agricultural fair. Those who contend that 

 these things are necessary should take a lesson from the experi- 

 ence of the exposition at Springfield, when, during the entire ten 

 days of the National Dairy Show, not a fakir or other form of 

 amusement was allowed on the grounds, and yet no one could 

 complain of the attendance. 



The rise of the small town fair during the past few years is 

 undoubtedly going to make serious inroads upon the attendance 

 at many of the regular fairs, and unless the fair management is 

 willing to meet this situation there is no doubt that quite a 

 number of our older societies will have to discontinue their 

 exhibitions. One possible solution of this is for a more frequent 

 change in officers. New blood' is often needed to get things 

 started in this way, as the community may have changed. 

 Now that access to fairs is made easier and distances are not so 

 important, larger membership could easily be obtained by reach- 

 ing out into the towns surrounding the fair association. There 

 should be less dependence placed upon the wealthy man in the 

 association who is willing to make up the deficit, and an increased 

 interest obtained by increasing membership. Some of these one- 

 town fairs with their meager equipment are equaling the exhibits 



