The Farm

The near approach of the season of agricultural fairs renders the methods of conducting these Autumn festivals subjects of intense interest to the farming community Few will dispute that the main object of a farmers' fair should be its educational features, manifested especially in the exhibition of choice farm produets, whether of cattle and sheep, grain and roots, fruit and flowers or agricultural implements and machinery. That exkibition which approaches nearest this standard will exert the most beneücial influence on its participants and upon its visitors. Agricultural fairs should cease to represent only museums of curiosities, collections of monstrosities, or exceptional produets. Neither should these societies attempt toinclude within their encouragement articles foreign to the direct interests of the farm and the farmer. From an impartial and unprejudiced standpoint the New York State Agricultural Society, in the management of lts annual fairs, is without a peer on this continent, and furnishes a model well worthy the imitation of the numerous societies in other States. The New York society seems to be conducted in the interest of the practical farmer, and tor the sole purpose of the advancement of the art of agriculture. Many other prominent societies are too often enlisted in the self-glorification of ambitious officials, in the promotion of pet and selflsh schemes, and in the establishment of questionable pr?ctices not calculated to promote true and progressive farming. Gross abuses have gradually worked into the management of the average fair. The endorsement of tuis or that society is no longer accepted as a prooi of superior merit in articles exhibited. The award of prizes is not always viewed as evidence of mature judgment, guided by worthy motive and honest criticism. The proceedings of many societies in this connection have fallen into disrepute. It is recorded in one of our exchanges, that at a leading fair last year a flrst prize was giyen to a sample of barley which was ridiculously white, the color having evidently been bleached out of it through the use of sulphur. Again, prizes have been awarded to roots that were industriously sand-papered, and made to present a preternaturally smooth appearance. In order to discourage the oyerfeeding of breeding animáis for exhibition, the judges of the New York State Fair are instructed to make allowance, in all cases, for difference in condition, and are cautioned against being deceived thereby. Premiums are not to be awarded to stock simply gotten up for exhibition purposes, and devoid of natural and intrinsic merit. This same grand principie is earnestly offered to the consideration of the managers of agricultural fairs, in judging of the intrinsic merits of other offerings than cattle. It should embrace horses.sheep, swine, poultry, as well as the cereal and vegetable department. Nothing should be esteemed worthy of a prize that does not illustrate some fact or method, or principie worthy of prominence, and calculated to forward the interests of remunerative agriculture.