ei2 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



For tlie 'Seio England Farmer, 

 CATTLE SHOWS. 



Mr. EniTou : A disposition is manifested in 

 some quarters to disparage the utility of rattle 

 shows. That veteran a^^ri.iiltural editor, Mr. Skin- 

 ner, has of late years givL'n unequivocal evidence in 

 print that ho ha? little coniidenCL' in the good results 

 of thc-ic annual exhibitions. Our own State Agri- 

 cultural Society, by discontinuing their shows and 

 appropriating their whole income to the improve- 

 ment of stock, give striking proof to the same effect. 

 And in justification of their course, in this respect, 

 they say in their report, which appears in the Agri- 

 cultural Abstract for the j)ast year, " Our long re- 

 peatc-1 cattle shows were degenerated into holiday 

 gatherings, and tending, in the language of the late 

 Governor Wright, to become arbitrary experiments, 

 based on no philosophical investigation of cause and 

 effect." It becomes those, therefore, who are inter- 

 ested in getting up these shows, and in offering and 

 awarding jjremiums for stock, crops, and farm im- 

 provements, to inquire and ascertain if cattle shows 

 are indeed })roductive of little or no benefit ; and it 

 becomes the legislature of the commonwealth, es- 

 pecially, to learn if the bounty annually dispensed 

 by the state for the encouragement and support of 

 these exhibitions goes only to the encouragem.ent 

 ond support of mere holiday gatherings. 



In taking a general view of the subject, one would 

 suppose that it was pretty strong proof, if not con- 

 clusive proof, in favor of such shows, that they are 

 every year multiplying throughout- the country, in- 

 crea-.ing in interest, and growing in favor with the 

 whole community. True, the public may be laboring 

 under a delusion or mania on some subjects ; but 

 it can hardly be pretended that so great a mistake 

 should be deliberately, and through a long series of 

 years, committed by so many societies, acting inde- 

 pendently of one another. The Highland Agricul- 

 tural Society of Scotland has been in existence for 

 more than half a century, and, besides offering pre- 

 miums for agricultural essays, and supporting a 

 museum and a veterinary school, continues to offer 

 premiums for live stock, agricultural machinery, 

 and farm improvements ; and with what benefits to 

 the agricultural interests of that country, it is too 

 well known to be related. 



In a preliminary notice to their Transactions for 

 18il, in view of the results of their labors, the di- 

 rectors say, "Throughout Europe, and in America, 

 the example of this society has been held forth as 

 one worthy of imitation ; and the director.? rejoice to 

 say, that within the last three years, a sister s jciety 

 has .sprung up, and has been established upon an ex- 

 tensive basis, in Engla id, whi h has already done 

 much, and will quickly do more, for the general wel- 

 fare of that country." 



Is this ancic'it society wrong in its judgment? 

 Are its ca'tle shows, and the numerous agricultural 

 shows in England and in this country, mere holiday 

 gatherings r Surely it will require stronger proof 

 than has yet been adduced that they are so ; the 

 presumption of antiquity and of general consent is 

 in their favor, and no array of hi^jh authorities 

 should be taken as settling the question against them. 

 The burden of jjroof rests with those who maintain 

 that cattle shows have ceased to accomplish any 

 good. 



Indeed, they should he well assured of the fact, 

 before they sow the seeds of discontent among the 

 farming community. It is well known what pains 

 have been taken by the early founders of agricultural 

 societies to satisfy i^ractical farmers of the utility 

 of cattle shows, and to jiersua le them to take an 

 active interest in them. The success attending thc^c 

 efforts have been ao groat, that now the day of cattle 



shows is truly with farmers the great day of tho 

 year. But if the directors of tho Hj^rrcultural so- 

 cieties and the agricultural press turn round and say 

 that they have been all at fault in this matter, 

 cattle shows arc only holiday gatherings, thev are of 

 no service to the advancement of agriculture, and wd 

 must direct our attention to something else, — what 

 are farmers to think, and how are they to decide 

 about it ? But there is little danger that the confi- 

 dence now enjoyed by agrr-ultu al so letios will bo so 

 easily shaken, or that cattle shows will fall into dis- 

 use, because some new way has been sujyposed to be 

 discovered for the adva icement of agriculture. If it 

 be discovered, so much the better; but there seems 

 no reason that in following it, or i i urging others to 

 follow it, any odium should beca^t upon that way 

 which has so generally been adopted and approved. 



The experiment now in process by the State 

 society may be of great benedt to the commonwealth, 

 if not directly, perhaps indirectly, by turning public 

 attention to the improvement of our milking stock. 

 But it may also result only in a failure; the breed 

 of cows introduced by them may be inlerior in their 

 general character to that whirh wi now pos.-ess, and 

 not adapted to our climate and feed. Let us wait 

 and see, before we abandon our cattle shows to find 

 some better way to help along the farmers. 



ALLEN W. DODGE. 



H.VMiLTOX, June 2, 1349. 



Editoria.1- Rem.viiks. — We think it is too late in 

 the day for any one to decry cattle shows with any 

 prospect of success in putting a stop to these exhi- 

 bitions. Throughout this country, as well as in other 

 parts of the world, gentlemen of the highest intelli- 

 gence, and the most skilful in practice, have given 

 their influence in favor of cattle shows. We wiU 

 allow that they are "holiday gatherings ; " but they 

 combine useful instruction with amusement, thus 

 accomplishing a great and important purpose. Shall 

 not the farmer and his boys be allowed one festival 

 in the year in their own peculiar line or profession? 



If cattle shows degenerate into scenes of amuse- 

 ment only, it must be owing to neglect or want of good 

 management in the offtcers of societies. Wc often see 

 at a show numerous ploughmen and teamsters trying 

 their skill and contending for the prize, or for excel- 

 lence, and the officers buisily engaged at their respec- 

 tive duties ; then, perhaps, comes the address often 

 combining important facts with " flights of fancy, and 

 flashes of wit; " and music frequently adds a charm 

 to the scene. Then comes a good dinner. Let those 

 who object to cattle shows call this a mere holiday 

 afl'air, if they please ; but it is what many indulge in 

 at home. Toasts often succeed, combining the use- 

 ful with the s^veet, and short speeches of the same 

 character ; and after a little recreation in this way, 

 then comes the labor of making and reading reports. 



Now, in this round of duties of labor and recrea- 

 tion, all tending to promote the most useful profes- 

 sion.s that ever engaged the attention of man to give 

 a charm and imiietus to industry in its various pur- 

 suits, can any one well acquainted with the subject 

 see any thing that is objectionable ? 



Occasionally, there may be miimanagoraent at a 

 cattle show; but if this be brought as an objection, 

 it will weigh equally heavy against every good thing 

 that is under man's administration. But we may 

 have said too much already on a qucjtion so clear. 



