Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-11-13

The great FAIR Of the State Agricultu-
raj Society was opened on the 31st ult.,
for the admission Of members Of the So
ciety aud their families; Of whom there
were not a few. The large Fair grounds,
beautifully laid out and appropriately
planted with evergreens, were soon throng.
ed with the most brilliant concoiitsc Of
people we have ever had the pleasure of
behoding. Never have we felt prouder
of the Virginia character than ON this
OCCASION, on which that renowned hospi.
pitality, courtesy; generosity and .e-isbils
ity Of the Virginian, was SO fully dis
played.
There was on exhibition almost every
conceivable variety Of agricultural, hor,i-
cultural and mechanical production. Here
the lover Of fine horses could see them dis
played in the spacious arena provided for
that purpose to his heart. content. And
this was one Of the greatest attractions Of
the occasion.
There were not as many horned cattle
exhibited as we expected; but there ere
representations Of many Of the fine boods
present. The sheep wefe not SO hume.
rous, but nearly all Of the fine breeds were
represented. The Cottswolds and South
Downs were very fine. There were
swine without stint Of every vatiett. Bur
the lovers of poultry exceeded all othef
branches in the number and variety Of the
fealhefed tribe exhibited.
The articles Of needlewoth Ec,, pre-
pared by the Ladies, exhibited highly
cultivated taste, and many ofithem were
really beautiful. One o. the best guaran-
tees Of the success Of the Agricultural So
ciety, consists in the lively interes. which
the ladies have taken in it.
On the second day the Fair was opened
to the public generally. The assemblage
was immense. At eleven o'clock the Hon.
w. B. Preston delivered the annual adj
dress before large and intelligent audi
ence; bat the crowd was so great that
scarcely one 1.-THE hear what he said. So
far as we heard, we were we'll pleased
with the address. Mr.. P. is very grace.
full speaker. 1t was ieall7 amusing to see
the zeal with which the inventors and
manufaetors Of the various machinery e4-
hlbited their respective works; from the
steam engine down to the hand. mill, and
from the coarse mortar-grindeI t, the neat
sewing machine.
To excite entulasf5n smong the friends
Of the society. in raising the necessary
funds TO endow it, the Sotiety at its pre-
Siots annual meeting resolved to present
= handsome banner 10 thxt ccr,hy whlch
should subscribe the largest sum Of money
in proportion to its population. The
county of Powhatsn having exhibited the
greatest liberality, on the third day pref
ty banner. with suitable inscriptions and
devices, was awarded her, accompaniedb7
a handsome speech from the president Of
the Society. Soon after, come off the
great ploughing match in an neighboring
field. Here there was pleasant excite.
ment among the ploughmen, in endeavor-
ing to excel in this ancient and grea,
branch Of agriculture. We were surprised
| to find so many ploughs lilly adapted to the
use for which they were designed. We
have long since Thought that but little sci.
ence has been appirrd in the manufacture
Of ploushs.
On the fourth day the vale dictory adj.
dress Was d.li.ered BY q. johnson Bar
bour. young man OF fine talents, who
seems to be deeply interested in the great
est Of all pursuits-agrieulture. On this
day, also, The premiums were announced
and awarded. Those OF our county who
received premiums were, J. II. Irwin, for
the second best Mare for heavy draught,
$40, w. A. Burdett, for the best 2 year
old colt, $40; S. b. Fidley for the best
COW three years old and upwards. $50
Henry Wrad for the sccond best sow, not
less than six months and more than eigh-
teen months old, So; MIS-. }. A. Van
Lear for piece Of second best linsey,
woven by hand, So. There We're other
articles exhibited from tins county which
ranked among the best OF their kind for
which no premiums were offered. There
were great nsny specimens Of -four ex-
hibi,ed from the fine mills Of this and 9th.
er counties, but there were no premiums
awarded, owing, we understand, to- the
great difficulty of deciding between the
close competition. A premium Of $50
was awarded DR.. G. N. Kinney, OF High.
land for the best yoke Of Oxen over four
years old.
The State Agricultural Fair was moi ::aa
only SUBJECT e! Great interest. There was
also the opening and inauguration Of the
Mechanics Institute. This noble enter.
prise has but recently been commenced
by the energetic and patriotic mechanics
OF Richmond, and has been thus far most
successfully prosecuted. The opening
address was delivered by Mr.. o. p. Bald
win. On the second night All address was
delivered by 1x.President Tyler-Goy
Johnson being present. was called up and
made some appropriate remarks. At
subsequent meeting MIR. Mayo. the Mayor
of the city. addressed the Society. The
number Of articles Of curious work ma nship
- hih,fed af their In II IL varr rra.t W.. |