AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 65 



refined taste and abundant resources. This class of land- 

 owners and land-cultivators are our main dependence for ad- 

 vance in scientific agriculture. They are to lead the way to 

 better systems and true prosperity. 



But, under existing circumstances, the advanced farmer 

 is not a representative, nor is scientific farming the ex- 

 ponent. 



The average farmer's capital is his land and labor. And 

 the problem he has to solve is, how his labor on his land is to 

 feed and clothe and educate his family ; how, without extras, 

 he can secure the best paying crops and dairy products. 



The practical question, then, is, How shall an agricultural 

 fair be managed so as to bring out the best products secured 

 by these two classes of cultivators, and at the same time give 

 due prominence to the results of average farming? How 

 shall we encourage the man of means to exhibit his best spec- 

 imens of stock, and samples of breeding, and of fruit and 

 grain culture, and not discourage the man of labor? 



On the present system of appointing committees, the small 

 farmer knows beforehand that he stands no chance in com- 

 petition with his advanced neighbor. He maybe conscious of 

 shill to use Ms limited means, so as to make large per cent, 

 gains, so as to show a handsome net profit. His experience 

 in the use of simple labor-saving implements, or a carefully 

 digested system, or a judicious use of inexpensive fertilizers, 

 may be of special value to the young man who is beginning 

 with only a pair of willing, strong hands, and a frugal, help- 

 ful wife. But he has little inducement to bring forward the 

 results of his labor and experience. He may make a paying 

 crop of corn or potatoes ; but it is not an extra crop — neither 

 extraordinary in size nor amount ; and the overgrown roots, 

 and the forced growths, and the exceptional yields, are cer- 

 tain to take all the premiums. 



The annual fair is always the test of a society's real pros- 

 perity, as well as its most direct means of usefulness. And 

 to enlist the sympathy and bring out the great bod}^ of formers, 

 with their families and farm produce, is a consideration of 

 prime importance. 



Some of the things to be done to secure this end are ob- 

 vious. 



