AGRICULTURAL FAIRS AND THEIR PURPOSES. 57 



men of the community are present on purpose as committees to 

 examine and pronounce upon stock, crops, fruits, produce of all 

 sorts. The opportunity for comparison is present to every one, 

 and his conclusions are corrected and guided by the carefully 

 formed opinions of those about him best fitted to decide the 

 point. In this contact and clash of opinion, there cannot fail to 

 be instruction. To these sources of information is added the 

 annual address, which is, or at least ought to be, another source 

 of ideas. On the whole he is a very smart man or a very stupid 

 one who has been in faithful attendance on a agricultural fair, 

 and has gained nothing worth his labor. The first should con- 

 sole himself with the fact that he may have given something to 

 others, and the last with the thought that he would not probably 

 have profited much anywhere. 



To these influences of the fair are to be added prizes, which, 

 if well offered and justly bestowed, serve to direct attention to 

 the right points, to push improvement in the most important 

 directions, and to call forth a little pleasant rivalry among the 

 bright and progressive ones. To do anything better than his 

 neighbors, makes a man think well of himself, and inclines him 

 to try again. Steady improvement in some branch of farming 

 is often to be dated from a prize taken years ago, and followed 

 by a goodly succession in the same direction. The premium 

 gives a direct motive and a definite end, which we often want, 

 and for the lack of which suffer opportunities to slip from us 

 close at hand. They get one agoing, and with a yearly joy, 

 keep him agoing in the line of improvement. 



A last advantage of the fair to be mentioned is, it magnifies 

 the farming community, puts enthusiasm into it collectively and 

 individually. It is good to have a grand rush of one's indus- 

 trial kin once a year, to feel that your name is legion, and that 

 there are a variety of things possible to you. To be choked with 

 dust, crowded and discommoded generally by one's kindred in 

 labor, is profitable in the elevation it brings, the sense of impor- 

 tance and power. No man is worth much in a calling who has 

 no enthusiasm in regard to it. That farmer is the best farmer 

 who believes, with profound conviction, that a big calf or a big 

 pumpkin, is a big thing ; and how can he, unless he is to open 

 the eyes of a thousand people with it, and carry it in the back 

 of his wagon for the envy of a hundred more ? It may seem 



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