STOCK RAISING AND SOIL FERTILITY 



205 



movement has spread all over the coun- 

 try, but most extensively developed in 

 the central states. 



Premiums offered at fairs — At these 

 fairs, prizes are offered for the best 

 animal, or group of animals, represent- 

 ing all the more prominent breeds, and 

 in addition, prizes are offered for exhibi- 

 tions of the best grain, animal products, 

 like butter, cheese, etc, exhibits of farm- 

 ing implements, and the products of 

 domestic arts, like canning, breadmak- 

 ing, etc. At small county fairs as much 

 as $5,000 may be offered in cash pre- 

 miums for live stock exhibits, while at 

 the state national exhibits $20,000 to 

 $50,000 may be offered in premiums. 



At the present time about 900 fairs 

 are held annually in the United States. 



The fair is considered from the stand- 

 point of its educational value to the 

 farmer, and this phase is kept upper- 

 most. In addition there are many at- 

 tractions of a legitimate nature, such 

 as horse racing, athletics, bands, games, 

 good speaking, etc. It has come to be 

 a recognized fact that in order for fairs 

 to be successful certain aid from the 

 state, by way of cash appropriations, is 

 essential. 



The management of many fairs gives 

 permits for various side show exhibits 

 on the fair grounds, wheels of fortune 

 and various fake and bunco games. 

 These kill any fair. They should be 

 absolutely prohibited. They detract 

 from the main purpose of the fair, 

 which is the exhibition of the best prod- 



Fig. 147 REAR VIEW OF SHROPSIIIRES PROPERLY PREPARED FOR EXHIBITION 



EN THE SHOW RING 



Tn many of the states, appropriations 

 are made to encourage both county and 

 state fairs by the offering of cash pre- 

 miums. In Iowa and Wisconsin, for 

 instance, the state contributes 40 per 

 cent of all the premiums paid. Ohio 

 contributes $4,000 to each county fair. 

 In 1905, Illinois appropriated $26,000 

 for prizes; Minnesota, $22,000; North 

 Dakota, $10,000; Missouri, $145,000 for 

 permanent improvements ; Colorado, 

 $12,000; Michigan, $5,000; New York, 

 $260,000 ; Alabama, $5,000 ; North Caro- 

 lina, $2,300; South Carolina, $2,200. 



Successful agricultural fairs — In 

 the states in which fairs are most suc- 

 cessful, every department of farm work 

 and farm life receives representation. 



uct of the farm and stables, for the 

 encouragement and improvement of ag- 

 riculture and the farm home. 



Newspapers and magazines — Finally, 

 we may well speak of the great value 

 of the newspapers of the country to the 

 live stock industry. These papers in- 

 dustriously report the market conditions 

 of live stock throughout the country 

 daily and weekly. They record the suc- 

 cesses and the failures of thousands of 

 men who are engaged in the business, 

 and, in season and out, discuss all the 

 thousand and one intricate problems and 

 questions that come up during the year 

 in the handling, management and mar- 

 keting of stock. They popularize and 



