Demoine courier., 1854-11-02
THE STATE FAIR.

The State Agricultural Fair, held al Fair
field on the 25ih. Goth. and 27ih of DC.
tober. When we arrived in Fairfield
early Wednesday morning, the hotel,
were full, the streets crowded with Poo,
pie, and il looked very much as if We
should have TO retire 10 the country tt
find lodging; but, thanks TO good fortune
we secured good lodging. and o sea, a
the table of the CLAY HousE. where
We Jared well, as all do who stop there,
By IL o'clock A. Nj. there was a per
feet jam in the streets, which was soon
lessened BY the crowd beating a reirea,
to the Fair grounds, as the exhibi,i, On oI
stock commenced a, .hu: hour. HAVING
an eye for exhibitions OF hi. kind, we
we're promptly on the ground, to see and
repor, 10 our readers whatever was no,a
BILE. The frs, in the programme was
the show uf
HORSES:
In this department. competition was
strong; aad particularly SO in matched
and riding horses, Of which there was
decidedly a fine show, and one that al.
together exceeded our expectaiions.--
Three stations OF The Morgan breed,
one from Jefferson, one from Jackson,
and one from Dubuque counties. attrac.
ted great attention, and were much adj
mired for the symmetry OF their pro.
portions. as well as for superior action
aad good bottom. The Jefferson coun.
~ horse was awarded the premium,
though the popular voice WIS for the
Jackson county horse, and we though,
he ought TO have had il; a more perfec,
specimen Of horseflesh we never saw-as
black as jet, a neck that arched like a
swans, q perfect head and the eye of an
eagle. he fairly seemed TO scorn the earth
he tread upon. But people viii differ.
and the committee on horses may have
Leen RICH. in their judgment. Van Blu.
rem county bore off The premium on
draugh, stallion Of common stock.
MULES AND ASSES:
The show in this class was no, so ex.
l~eusive as that Of Horses. though some
excellent animals were exhibited; among
which were q pair Of mules that took
the frs, premium, owned by our friend
Barton s. Mccoy, Of Keokuk county,
and a pair owned by J. M. Peck. Of
Wapello county. which took the second
premium.
FINE CATTLE:
Ia this department, the show was ex-
tensive, and very good, and among all
the fine stock on the ground, WapelIo
county cattle stood pre- eminent. Our
friend Persons, of Pleasant TIP. arrived
too late 10 enter bis 4 year old Durham
bull for competition. but the popular
voice freely conceded him 10 be the best
brought 10 the exhibition.
SHEEP:
We noticed a large number Of Sheep
in the pens, among which were a loi
from Ohio; though we could not see but
that those raised by our Iowa farmers
were jus. a. good as those from a dis
lance. A lot Of sheep from Keokuk
county, herded BY a couple Of Shepherd
dogs. were much admired. We are plea
sed TO see our Iowa farmers engaging
in ,his branch Of stock raising. as nothing
thrivea bettor 10 this country than sheep,
aad the rarke, for Wool is always q
sure and r~emunerating one.
, HOGS:
In this class the show was small, Blu,
those exhibited were good. A fat,ed hog
shown by Nj. Day. of Van Buren, co.,
was certainly the funniest and fat,esr
specimen of the ~..grun;er" tribe we have
ever seen; and what seemed the mos
remarkable was. that its powers Of loco.
motion, as well IS its propensity TO ..roo
pig or die" we're no. liz the leas, retarded
by lis ro,undisy. This hog was II
months old and weighed 500 lbs.
POULTRY:
And last, though no, least of all. tn
poultry appeared conspicuous. Shang
hais. Cochin Chinas, Brahma Pootras
Black Spanish. &C.. were there, selling
a. $40 per pair. and no drug at that
Ducks, Geese. and Turkeys. of varion'
kinds. were on hand to make up the as
sortment.
The f.st day was entirely devoted Il
the examination Of stock. but in III.
meantime Agricultural and Mechanics
implements, grains, &c, we're fas. filling
up the spaces allotted them. and wher
the Society adjourned for the day, thu