Agricultural Shows.

Feilding Star, Volume XIX, Issue 72, 22 September 1897, Page 2

Agricultural Shows.

Br Forbes Burn, F.H.A.S. Tbe popularity of Agricultural Sbows is beyond a doubt, but whether or not these institutions are really educating to the agricultural world is questionable. The motto of tbe Royal Agricultural Society of England is " Practice with Science," and that ought to be the watchword of every kindred association. Keeping in view tbe purpose for which sbows were instituted, viz., for tbe encouragement of developing an excellence in all matters connected with the agricultural industry, and to serve as a practical demoastration to these who ware anxious to obtain information. I am afraid that in many instances societies have lost sight of these motives and have become cater ars for public amusement. Financial success has bee a more thought of than the distribution of usefal knowledge. Men are holding posi* tions on committees of management who have no claim to be termed agriculturists — either practical or scientific This should not be, yet it is too frequently the case. Too often do we find the same prize lists published year after year without any attempt to alter, improve, or to keep the Agricultural and Pastoral interests abreast of tbo times. The agricultural interest must be progressive or else the loss is a national oue Societies cannot by their present mode of precednre show whether or «ot they are progressive — I mean in the true sease of the term. Acquiring commodious show grounds and having a good financial result is no critetion. It is necessary in teaching that you require explanation and that is precisely what agricultural societies do not do, It should be compulsory for judges in each class to give their reasons in black and white bow they arrived at their decisions. These should be printed and distributed oa the show grounds. This could be easily done where there is a two days sbow. To the capable judge would be an enviable distinction, to the exhibitors satisfactory, to the agricultural public interesting and instructive, and to tbe society a creditable fact that they were endeavouring to forward the prao* tice and science of agriculture. We cannot force nature bayond a certain stage and many of our breeds of cattle, sheep, aad horses cannot be improved on. Men like Bakewell with tbt Leicester, the Collins Brothers with Shorthorns, McCombie with tte Polled Angus, have left us great bmrlooms, and we must endeavour to keep such legacies up to a required standard. We can, however, with judicious skill and practice produce types that lire best adapted for local surroundings. Many departures from the beaten track, in offering prizes in tbe sheep classes for instance, would be very interesting and instructive. If a prise or prizes was offered for two tooths in the wool, these sheep to be judged first in the wool, then shorn on the groand, and tbe animals symmetry taken into account ; each fleece to be weighed and valued, and tbe merits of each individual animal put together. Tbe animals would then be branded with the society's mark, and grazed together in tho locality until the next annual show, and the same routine gone through. Tbe results accruing from such a course would bft very interesting to flock masters. In New South Wales a few societies follow this out. Sbow yard fashions have been, also, detrimental — being carried to extremes. Such as a superfluous quantity of hair on tbe legs of our draughts, or the abnormally small teats of our Ayrshire*. Statistics relative to tho merits and demerits of exhibits should be kept, so that year by year the agricultural pub* lie could compare for themselves, A museum would be an advantageous adjunct to an agricultural show, where specimens and samples of wool, grain, seeds, etc , representing past exhibitions, would be in itself a proof or not of the society's labours, and the rato of progression it waß makinp. Finances must be forthcoming to carry oat tbe work put before Agricultural and Pastoral Societies ; at tbe same time they are too apt to allow wronff channels to produce them, Their prize li^ts become an advertisement sheet for merchants, storekeepers an 3 others who by offering a few " specials " pose as patrons of progressive agriculture. Opportunities at agricultural shown that could be properly utilised for discussion and debate on agricultural and pastoral matters, are •acrificed to tho shrine of entertainment of distinguished visitors or political magnates.