The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-09-20
Great State Fair and Cattle show Of the
New York state Agricultural society-Im-
mense Acknowledgements Farming Interest
In the Ascendant.
From our Special KePorterI
PouGHKEEpsIE. "Wednesday Sept. IL, ISL

mense Acknowledgements Farming Interest
In tho Ascendant.
From our Special RePorterl
PoUeHKEEpsrE, Wednesday, Sept. Is, lS44
Feeble indeed must be any attempt TO give any
thing like faithful living, breathing picture ofthe
stirring scenes which have been passing to-day,
andthe diversity OF pleasing and absorbing objects
which have on every hand been strewed and group
ed in profuson before the eyes OF many thousands
To-day has been dedicated to the grand exhibition
of Cattle, farming products, and implements used
in agriculture and is to continue tomorrow also but
as the ploughing match andIaddress Of Mr.. Bancroft
are to take place also on that day, the exhibition
will not command an equal interest to that mani
tested to-day. So early as six o'clock this morn
ing, and from that hour till 10 o'clock, every pas
sage to the fair ground was literally beset with
men on horse and foot, vehicles in all shapes
aad sizes, and quadrupeds toiling along with pa
tent submission amidst clouds of dust, land beneath
the heat of the sun, which quite too ardent to
make exertion pleasant. On arriving a. the ground,
the spectacle was most animated; the number Of
spectators even in the forenoon, closely approxima-
ting to the maximum of those expected to be pre-
sent at any time during the show. In order 10 OBJ
viate Inconvenience and confusion, which nevlta-
bly, would result from the meeting Of such pro-
miscuous assemblage as the aggregate of the con.
tents of the field would compose, there is sepa-
rate entrance set apart each for footmen, carriages
cattle, &c BY this means the entrances and exits
are effected with much facility and good order.
Nothing can be finer than the display of Black
Cattle of every description to-day. They occupy
a strip of the field extending around the whole
circumference Of the oval enclosure, and are so
disposed Of to allow of full front and view
Of the whole line, and passage for spectators in
both positions. | do not think / ever saw more
fine cattle on one field, and it would be difficult TO
match the collection behed with lively satisiac-
lion today oad for sss weight symmetry breed
merits Of stock are estimated Horses are less nu.
meIous, yet there are some superb specimens Of
the noble animal ,prancing and snorting and paving
pride at being exposed to public exhibition.
Swine are largely represented, as well as that
full anmal-the sheep; many of the latter appear
TO be- between the heat OF the weather and that Of
their ample feeces, III a considerable stew; but
the swinish multitude, with unfinching assiduity,
busily occupy themselves in working out their own
salvation from the ardor Of the solar heat, with
their shouts, by which means they in many cases
succeed to excavate temporary subterranean re-
fuge, 0. which it is one consolotary circumstance,
at least, that they remain in undsputed possession.
A detailed description of the thousands of Gu
rious machines. and ingenious contrivances for
curtaillng, expeditlng, and facilitating agricultural
labor, and which are spread all round about,
would take good sized volume, if the writer did
them any thing like justice. There must be of the
plough alone, specimens amounting 70 hundreds in
number. There are harrows and rakes, hoes and
spades; there are machines for churning, reaping,
threshing, winnowing, and grinding; machines for
sowing, some tor cutting straw, cornstaks, &c,
and great variety OF ingenious horse powers to
you may be sure, quite numerous, but we cannot
torbear to mention. whilst on the topic of machi
merry, two bells of another description, made at
Meneely's foundry, West Troy, the tones Of
weighs $50 pounds, the other 1925 pounds, and are
excellent specimens in their line.
In abiding lately to the general outline OF the
Fair ground, / mentioned the several buildings
erected for the accommodation of the ladies', the
farmers, the manufacturing, and the horticultural
productions. These severalerections are each and
all OF them the object of high curiosity, and
thronged with spectators to-day. The Farmers
Hail." contains models of farming and culinary
utensils, stoves, cottages, wagons, and specimens
OF -four, salt, and many other things, which could
form long list. The 6 Manufacturers Ha' is
richly garnished with the products OF mechanical
skill, as well as those OF the mill and loom; wool
len and cotton fabrics, and carpetings OF home
manufacture, household furniture and appoint.
play of fancy and staple wooen cloths, from
the Middlesex Mills, Massachusetts; model Of
the famous brewery OF Messrs. Vassar IL Co Of
Poughkeepsie, with all the implements and uten-
sls used therein for the manufacture of 30 900
barrels Of beer per annum. Having visited person
ally this extensive establishment, it was found to
fully recompense the time employed in its exami-
nation. One OF the Messrs Vassar planned, pro-
rangements Of this establishments and three OF
those gentlemen superlntend in person its operation
which goes on like clock-work. An ingenious
conirivance OF Mr.. Townley, OF Canal street, New
York, called the Sell Protecting Beehive" was
exhibited, fully occupied by teeming swarm Of
most industrious tenants; who labored away in
their cells with as little lnermisson though there
was no State Fair, and no one OF Its thousands
gazing at their household economy. In the :" La
dies House," We're to be seen rare and curious
specimens of needlework, embroidery, and useful
aud ornamental articles of general use, not forget
ting the attractive assembage Of the fair ones
themselves who were present.
The Horticultural department. however, or as it
was termed, in large and tastefuly devised letters,
" Floral Hail. Was above every other in point oil
The decorations and the beauty Of the display Of
articles there arrayed. Its interior presented,
lndeed, beautiful appearance Throughout lis
whole extent, canopy, composed of iestooned
branches OF eyergreens and fresh culled foliage.
enwreatned with flowers, was seen pending over
head. The walls were richly 0rnamented with
pictures, mostly on rural subjects and not few
of them the work of the students of the Pough-
keepsie Collegiate School; an establishment now
conducted with distinguished success, and whose
every branch is taught by Professors fully adequate
TO their respective duties. Upon the long bench,
or desk, which ran down the centre OF the building,
stood groups Of flowers, in elegant vases and gor-
geous wreaths and garlands were dispersed, in
elegant negligence, around the prominent parts OF
the roof and walls. In the centre of the table was
placed unique and characteristic device in the
torn Of giant bouquet, placed upon miniature
Iron Plough Share, the whole surmounted by the
motto, Speed the Plough" and embellished with
mammoth Indian Corn Stalks; right wing was
added thereto by the array of many choice speci-
mems OF native American Silk and Fancy Goods,
small wares and books, surmounled with the motto,
Manufactures" the American Eagle spread his
protecting wings over this whole group; which, as
well as the other decorations, were in good keep
ing with the designation of the hall, which was
represented to be "A Temple dedicated to Agri-
culture and the Arts''
But these pretty devises took up but small
portion OF the spacious bench, whose strength and
solidily was put to the test by the weight OF the
piles of the produce Of the farmers industry and
skill, which were spread thereon. On the outside
portions OF the table. and occupying by far the
larger part OF It. such collection Of cereal grains,
fruits, water melons, pumpkins, squashes, and
escuent vegetables and roots OF all descriptions,
never can be Tar excelled Several of the
frnm 100 Ia l5Q lhe In .uoirht and