The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1916. A GREAT SUCCESS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 3, 28 November 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1916. A GREAT SUCCESS.

Epw institutions of a similar kind can lay claim to tho successes scored by tile Stratford Agricultural and Pastoral Association and every year that passes adds to its strength and popularity. Tins is again made manifest by. the splendid entries that have been received for the Annual Show which opens to-morrow. The unprecendentedly bad weather which has prevailed of late may prevent some of the stock from the back country being brought into the Show ring, and this

is matter for great regret. The value of Stratford’s Show is well recognised, and at least sonic of the very marked improvement winch one to-day may find in the stock of this great dairy-j ing province, must he fairly attri-j tinted to the standards set and the Incentive given to improve the herds which Show competition induces. The very greatest credit is due to the men who, since the Association was; started seven years ago, have devoted so much time and energy to its wel-| fare, and by no means least amongst) them is Mr E. Jackson who this year) worthily holds honourable office of j President. That the weather condi-) tions should have so interfered with! the good work done is unfortunate,! but this matter is quite beyond us, poor mortals, and it is at least cheer-j ing to know that the weather prophets—even the faithful Bates himself—hold out great hopes that the actual Show Days may he fine, and that the last big storm of the present series, has blown itself out. Nothing' but fine weather is now needed to 1 make the Stratford Show this year, the I>ost the Association has ever held. The quality of the stock entered has never been higher and in many important sections there is the keenest competition. The past year; lias been a prosperous one for the farming community and it is difficult to realise that our Empire is in the' third year of the greatest and most terrible war the world has ever seen. In this favoured land, protected as it is by Britain’s mighty Navy, we have, been able to pursue the avocations of peace and to produce to the fullest' for the food supply of Britain and the Allied nations. Wo have also sent our sons and brothers to take part in the great task, forced upon the civilised nations by Germanism and all the unutterable evil that , the world now knows Germanism to mean ; and some of them return no more. Naturally pleasure-seeking has, to some extent, been modified by tlm sorrows that surround us, but it is not wise to face the outlook with other than the spirit of resolute

optimism. There is no reason at all why old friends should not again foregather at our Annual Show, and if the weather is hut kind there is likely •this year to be the greatest gathering the spacious grounds of the A, and P. Association have yet witnessed.