488 



NEW ENGLAND FAEJklER. 



Oct. 



I intended to make a few more suggestions, but 

 this article is already too long, and as I am not 

 used to writing for the papers, it may not prove 

 acceptable. In that case — time enough wasted. 



AQBICULTUBAL FAIHS. 



State and county cattle shows and fairs 

 have been held annually in nearly all sections 

 of New England for a great many years. 

 But while the hoes and the spades used in 

 1870 are very different articles from those 

 used fifty years ago, the agricultural Fair of 

 this year is little more than a repetition of that 

 held half a century since. The most striking 

 change that has been made on the earlier pro- 

 grammes is seen in the introduction upon the 

 fair grounds of the ancient horse race. We 

 are not pleased with this change. It looks to 

 us like progress backward, rather than forward. 

 We should much prefer some such plan as is 

 proposed by a writer for the Prairie Farmer, 

 from whose article we copy the following sug- 

 gestions : — 



Without any disparagement to its labors, it may 

 be said that the agricultural society hardly com- 

 pares with the horticultural society or the dairy- 

 men's association as a working society. These 

 last named associations do very much in the mat- 

 ter of investigation and experiment that, it appears 

 to us, the State agricultural society would do well 

 to imitate. They lay out work to do and assign 

 men to perform it. They hear of blight and mil- 

 dew, or hutfy cheese, and the case is investigated 

 and remedies found out. They determine the 

 localities best adapted to the production of fruit 

 and dairy products, and give the result of their 

 labors to the world. They are not content to be 

 simply recorders of progress, but they help on the 

 work of progression. They hold few fairs ; but 

 their meetings are for the purpose of comparing 

 experience, drawing out discussion and settling on 

 determined results. There is as much need of 

 having the new varieties of corn and grain tested 

 in ditJ'erent parts of the State, and the result pub- 

 lished, as there is in the case of new varieties of 

 pears and blackberries, and on whom would the 

 work so appropriately fall as the members of the 

 State society ? 



There are many farmers in our State who have 

 made themselves proficient in many branches of 

 hiisbandry, who take little interest in fairs. 

 While other men have been feeding cattle and 

 swine, they have been studying the application of 

 manures and the curing of grass. These men 

 might contribute nothing to a fair, but in a far- 

 mer's convention, conducted like those recently 

 held under the auspices of the Maine State Society, 

 they would contribute facts that would be of im- 

 mense advantage. Assemblages of this kind 

 would serve to bring out talent that has heretofore 

 been hidden, and would furnish the compiler of 

 our reports with the most valuable materials for 

 publication. The facts that were brought out at 

 the Madison County Farmers' Convention last 

 winter, and the interest that was attached to them, 

 plainly shows that great good would result if sim- 

 ilar meeting could be held at accessible points, 

 under the management of the parent society. 



We are aware that the efforts that have been 



made to introduce discussions of agricultural 

 subjects at these fairs, have not always met 

 with very encouraging success. It has been 

 difficult to enlist the interest of farmers in 

 these exercises, as they have been conducted. 

 Somehow they do not seem to be in harmony 

 with the stir and bustle of shows as usually 

 managed. And the question is. What changes 

 in the management of these exhibitions will 

 secure the desired result ? Would a style of 

 proceedings somewhat similar to that adopted 

 by pomological societies at their stated ses- 

 sions prove efficient, and is such a change 

 practicable ? Questions of this kind are much 

 more easily asked than answered. Evidently 

 some change in the agricultural fair is de- 

 manded, and we think that which has been 

 taking place of late years is not satisfactory. 

 What then shall be done ? Let us bear these 

 questions in mind, as we attend the exhibitions 

 this fall, and prepare ourselves to suggest and 

 adopt such improvements as will make these 

 annual fairs more useful and more instructive. 

 The increase in the number and circulation of 

 agricultural books and newspapers has been 

 very great since agricultural fairs were first 

 held in this country. Farmers read much 

 more now than formerly. And this fact sug- 

 gests to our mind the character of the im- 

 provements needed in the meetings and 

 shows of agricultural associations . 



PEBSONAXi. 



The death of Benjamin F. Cutter, of Pelham, 

 N. H., aged 68, is announced. In years past he 

 was a frequent contributor to the New Englani> 

 Farmer. His last article, on 'Trimming Pine 

 Trees," was published in 1868, and was dictated, 

 as from a lameness in his hand he was unable to 

 hold a pen. His articles were marked by practical 

 good sense and extensive information. He em- 

 ployed most of his time on botany, pomology and 

 entomology, and contributed largely to agricultu- 

 ral and scientific publications. 



The Mirror and Farmer, received since the above 

 was written, says his death occurred on the 14th of 

 August, from dropsy. It adds, that he was one of 

 the most systematic farmers of the State. He was 

 a native of Pelham, and was always content to 

 make the old homestead his dwelling place, though 

 through excellent taste he had added greatly to its 

 value and its attractiveness. He was the origina- 

 tor of that popular berry knovrn as Cutter's Seed- 

 ling Strawberry. The loss of such a man will be 

 felt beyond the circle of home, and even of the 

 town, which he has benefited by his industry and 

 skill. 



