Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-11-06
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP,


read various accounts Of nearly all Of then
| occurring in oil sections Of the confederacy,
and derive the impression that they prove the
fact that such shows, previously occurring,
| have been of incalculable advantage to the
practical agriculture Of the country. Thai
| is: that the quantity and diffusion of i'm
proved varieties of stock, grains, vegetables,
implements, &C., 30, have been very great
indeed; the result being manifest in the fact,
that while there have been fewer specimens
(thsn heretofore) exhibited Of great superb
ority over every thing else Of the kind shown,
highly improved specimens seemed to be in
many more hands than ever before. The
meaning of this is, that farmers of all degrees
Of means in the United States, are rapidly
coming to avail themselves of the advantages
Of improved agriculture, which are now ex-
tended to almost every thing appertaining to
the plantation, farm and garden.
In the region around Washington, for in.
stance, where one farmer ten years age, pos
sessed Durhams, Devons, or Aldernays, there
are thirty who own them now. So, also, with
improved fowls, fruits, vegetables, and imple-
ments. This il the key to the fact that the
uninitiated at the recent cattle show and fair
Of the Maryland Institute were not struck as
some years since with the remarkable ap-
pearance of Individual specimens exhibited
Nearly all being greatly improved, the differ
ence between them was not so striking as here
tOfore; and the fancy farmers who are ac-
customed to spend enormously to make the
most striking impression on the fair ground,
now decline the trouble and cost of the extra
! grooming, training, and feeding because
| others, without it, Lave come to be able to
! show specimens perhaps equal to theirs for
practical recruits, which the competent farmer
realizes at o glance.
However, nothing has been doing more for
! the interest of our country within the last i've
years, than these shows. We regret to see
! that they are being turned, as far as possible,
into race courses, after the cid and bad fashion;
| in some eases with braien-faced women for
| the riders. Such sports Of course increase the
sale Of tickets Of admission; but they give rise
to perhaps more gambling, drinking, ami
! other dissipation, than grew out of the old
fashioned race, as thousands on thousands
| (including thousands Of fenales) visit the
agricultural fair races, who would not be
| seen at an ordinary race course.
We trust tina. the next fair of the United
| States Agricultural Society may be held in
| this city or its immediate vicinity. 1t is the
most central point for the Atlantic coast States
and most accessible. If held here im,ne-
diately after the naxt harvest, it will be at
tended by many thousands of the first minds
of the country engaged in agriculture, who
would go nowhere else merely to be present
at such an exhibition. This is because Con
gress will be in session, sni the Presidential
election cauldron viii be boiling over; both
of which circumstances will so to make
Washington at that time unusually attrac-
tive to persons Of means residing sfay of
And more especially to men Of leading minds
and inauencs-men who, if they can be in
duoed to give more Of their attention to agri-
cultural improvement, will, in the end, work
wonders for the cause. We trust that the Ma.
tionsl Association, TO which We refer above,
will take this suggestion into consideration
Held elsewhere, these shows are necessarily
attended, principally, by persons from coun-
ty, State, or 3 section only. If held here
at such a season as we suggest, of the perhaps
twenty thousand persons from a distance who
will attend, there will probably he due pro-
portions from every State in the Union.
To-Day-ths New York and N assac husstts
State elections come OF In Massachusetts,, i,
Is probable that the straight Wings will ad
here to their own ticket though the Boston
Daily Adrsrttser plainly intinates a prefer
ence for the election Of Beach, the Democratic
nominee for Governor, over Rockwell, the Re-
publican candidate; and also for the success Of
the Democratic candidates fer the Legislature
in preference to those Of the Republican or
ganisation. Though this sentiment must pre-
vail extensively in the straight Wing ranks
throughout the State, unless the abandonment
of their Wing or animation is very general, il
seems to us, there can be little hope If the
triumph of the Democrats there; though their
leaders, In writing to Washington, are very
sanguine Of success.
In New York, Il Is likely that the Prince i.
to prove true prophet, the chances being
strongly in favor Of the Democratic (Soft)
ticket Hardism has fairly died out there;
most Of those of tie Hards who have not join.
ed the Know Nothings, having gone back into
the regular organization Of the party. The
straight Wings, too, design voting the regular
Democratic ticket with great unsnimity, in
order to be certain of tho defeat Of Mr.. Sew.
ard party. 1t is not 10 be doubted that, on
consultation among their leaders, this policy
has been formally determined on.
| Too smau.-Ws often realize the embar.
rassment consequent Of want of space in the
Star-ani never more than on yesterday
when, had it been In our power, We would
hav' republished ct length, the powerful ar.