126 WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
plement or machine, is not without its attendant cost to the exhibitor, and im 
many cases the items of expense are very heavy, and have to be borne by 
mechanics and laboring men, who are induced to exhibit their wares or in¬ 
ventions as a means of advertising their usefulness, and in hopes to reap some 
benefit from their outlay of expense. It strikes us that it is the interest of 
the society to render this laudable object as successful as possible, by not 
only granting all proper facilities for exhibition, but to render some test of 
its appreciation of meritorious machines or tools, either by awards of diplo¬ 
mas, medals, or at least by “ honorable mention,”—something that meritorious 
exhibitors may use to advantage outside the enclosure of the fair grounds. 
We therefore recommend an extension of the premium list, not with a view to 
trench materially upon the financial resources of the society, but such official 
mention as will induce competition and stimulate a commendable rivalry— 
multiply the objects of this display, and consequently intensify the popular 
interest in the annual exhibitions. 
The judges feel constrained to urge attention to another matter, with a 
view to making known and encouraging the production and introduction of 
the best harvesting and mowing machines. The present plan of placing 
these machines in repose on the fair grounds, with artisticly displayed paints 
and varnish glittering in the sun, at a season of the year when they cannot 
be tested, is but a show to please the eye of fancy, but accomplishes no 
practical good, either to the manufacturers or purchasers. The interest of 
the former is to find sales at remunerative prices; the interest of the latter 
centers wholly in the best machinery. The best machine may not be the one 
that can cut over the greatest area of land in a given time. But the question 
for the husbandman is, by what machine can he harvest 10, 15, 25 or 100 
acres with the least possible outlay of money—all things considered, nothing 
short of actual field work can determine this matter. As well might a race 
horse be tied to a post and judges appointed to examine and report upon his 
speed and powers of endurance, while thus in a state of inaction, as to de¬ 
termine and report upon the relative merits of reapers, harvesters, mowers, 
&c., by merely looking at them as inert objects beautified by paint. 
If our annual fairs were only intended to mass citizens and strangers to¬ 
gether to look at a museum of curiosities and have a good time generally, 
then these remarks would be out of place, but as the avowed object is to 
make our annual exhibitions practical educators of a large and worthy class 
of citizens—with a view to cheapen the means of production—to stimulate 
invention so as to secure the greatest results from the smallest outlays of 
labor and capital, our annual fairs should be utilitarian and instructive a3 
well as amusing. 
To this end, the judges assigned to the duty of examining machinery are 
unanimously of the opinion that one or more state tournaments ought to be 
inaugurated under the auspicies of the agricultural society, to practically 
test the relative value and usefulness of harvesting machines, at least during 
the season of harvest. To this end the judges recommend that a time and 
some central place or places be designated for the practical' trial of harvest- 
