9 
21 
on the “best bushel of potatoes” when his 
potatoes were much larger than any ex¬ 
hibited by his competitors and having the 
mistaken notion that “bigness” constituted 
goodness, he found fault with the judges 
and all connected with the fair, and de¬ 
clared he would never take anything there 
again, and we believe he has kept his word. 
Had he properly understood the import of 
that word“best” he would have seen that 
the basket of overgrown California pota¬ 
toes, covered with prangles and clothed in 
soil, were not as good as the more sym¬ 
metrical peach-blow washed clean and 
shown in a brand-new basket by his neigh¬ 
bor. A basket of vegetables of medium 
size, washed clean and exhibited in a tasty 
manner on plates or otherwise, generally 
attracts more attention and favorable com¬ 
ment from competent judges than over¬ 
grown specimens exhibited in a slovenly 
manner, and when an exhibitor gets a 
name for putting his articles in good shape 
for exhibition to advantage it is not at all 
strange if we hear of his winning the first 
prizes and having plenty of customers for 
his products at largely remunerative prices. 
Manufacturers count largely upon fairs 
and exhibitions as a means of advertising 
their wares, and we see no reason why far¬ 
mers should not do the same. If they 
would show a little more interest in exhib¬ 
iting and advertising their products pur¬ 
chases would be more plenty and those 
having really good articles to dispose of 
would receive more remunerative prices. 
Thus we think we have clearly shown that 
the county fairs are a benefit to the farmers 
if they will avail themselves of the advan¬ 
tages they offer, even if they do not re¬ 
ceive premiums sufficient to pay for the 
time and trouble required to make a fair 
exhibit. Let us all arouse and try to make 
some sort of an exhibition of our products 
at the fairs this fall and help to retrieve the 
good name that we as farmers and gar¬ 
deners have lost. Connoisseur. 
Snodgrass says the nearest approach to 
luck he ever knew was the finding of a coun¬ 
terfeit ten dollar bill on a broken bank. He 
says if anybody else had found it, it would 
have been a ten dollar gold piece. 
NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
Marketing Pears, —Pears, whether early 
or late, should never remain on the tree until 
they become mellow. Whenever they have made 
their growth they should be gathered. It is easy 
to tell the proper condition by observing the 
ease with which the stem parts from the tree. If 
on taking hold of a pear and lifting it the stem 
readily breaks away from the spur to which it 
is attached, the fruit has received all the nour¬ 
ishment it can get from the tree and the sooner 
it is gathered the better. Pears are sent to mar¬ 
ket in crates and half-barrels; especially fine 
specimens are sent in shallow boxes, only deep 
enough for a single layer of fruit, and each 
pear is wrapped in thin white paper. Extra 
specimens of any standard kinds will bring 
enough more to pay for this extra care in pack¬ 
ing. The early varieties mature quicker after 
gathering than the later kinds, but all should 
reach the market in a firm and hard condition. 
As with all other fruit, it will pay to carefully 
assort pears. Make three lots, firsts and seconds 
for market, and the third for keeing at home— 
for the pigs, if need be, there is positively no 
sale for poor pears in the market. 
This annecdote is told of the late Commodore 
Vanderbilt: At Saratoga, on one occasion, when 
sitting on the piazza of a hotel, a somewhat over¬ 
dressed lady approached and claimed his ac¬ 
quaintance. The Commodore rose and talked 
affably with her, while his wife and daughter 
sniffed the air with scorn. “Father,” said the 
young lady, as the Commodore resumed his seat, 
“didn’t you remember that vulgar Mrs. B-as 
the woman who used to sell poultry to us at 
home?” “Certainly,” responded the old gen¬ 
tleman promptly, “and I remember your mother 
when she used to sell root beer at three cents a 
glass over in Jersey, when I went up there from 
Staten Island peddling oysters out of my boat.” 
As this homely reply was heard by a group sur¬ 
rounding the family, there was no farther at¬ 
tempt at aristocratic airs on the part of Ihe ladies 
during that season. 
A medical journal says croup can be 
cured in one minute, and the remedy is simply 
alum and sugar. The way to accomplish the 
deed is to take a knife \>r grater and shave off 
In small particles about a teaspoonful of alum; 
then mix it with twice its quantity of sugar to 
make it palatable and administer as quickly as 
possible. Almost instantaneous relief will fol¬ 
low. 
