Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-10-17
Whitingham Agricultural Fair.

Tho third annual Exhibition of the Nottingham
Agricultural Society was held at Nottingham
Center on Thursday, Oct LIST. 1t was every way
successful, and was acknowledged by those present
to be the greatest exhibition of the kind they ever
attended. The morning was pleasant and the day
promised well; and Mt early hour both bipeds
and quadrupcds were astir and might be seen
winding their way over the hills in appearance not
unlike the Israetes with their locks and herds
"making tracks for the promised land.
The great attraction Of the morning was the in
gress Of the "long tcams''-lohger and more po-
tent than those that in days gone by used to
be "htched on' to draw refractory politicians at
Montpelier. There were four of these with car
riages extemporised for the occasion, to say moth
ing of those Of lesser preensons.
At half past nine team of oxen might be seen
entering from the east, like the wise men of old
laden with rich gifts and inspired by the dulcet
notes Of good inusic-almost the only notes that
are never protested. The national flag floated over
beautiful carriage from Jacksonville, which bore
not only the Wilmington Brass Band, but a far
richer argosy-about n hundred fair women and q
more Of sweet misses. This carriage was
36 feet long, covered with white and hung with
drapery of red which was gracefully looped with
cords and tassels, and trimmed with evergreen,
hoquets Of natural flowers and fruits Of the farm
To the flagstaff in front was fastened the branch
of an appc-tree loaded with rich fruitage High
er up might be seen deer's antlers, which right
ly interpreted was suggestive Of the dears seated
below. Following this a sort of family wagon
curtained with white and decorated with red ma
pie leaves, and drawn by six pairs of cattle. Sew
eral pairs of cattle not in season for the post of
honor on the big team brought up the rear
Next came the team from "Sawdawga" on the
west, with 40 pairs Of cattle drawing carriage 26
feet long, built, covere and loaded similarly to the
first except its drapery was below trimmed with
red stars The cattle this train were of superb
ore1cellence and its appearance awoke hearty pau-
dts that made the wckn ring. Then came the
train from the south, nearly half mile in extent
team from the southeast part of Nottingham,
with additions from Heath and Rowe Mass. next
appeared with carriage made for the occasion by
mounting two huge spruce trees partly trimmed on
two carts, with frame work for the accommodation
! OF passengers and the sides partly trimmed with
shrubbery and festooned with monster pumpkins
and mammoth squashes, baskets Of fruit, garlands
Of corn. and like rural beatitudes, while through
the green branches CLEANED sparkes from bright
eyes like diamonds studded with emeralls Fol-
lowing close after this the team from the south
west part Of Nottingham and Readsboro, and Rowe,
Mass, with large opeu carriage, appropriately
ornanented and loaded like the others, while their
music was that from the drum and FIFE Such
were the entrees to this gala-day and high festival
Of the farmers of Nottingham.
There we're exhibition from 80 to 325 pairs
OF oxen and steers goodly number Of bulls, cows,
heifers, calves, sheep and swine, besides poultry
but even these departments might have been more
iuily represented there, did not many people think
1t too prohiess task to get out their stock on such
occasions. With little effort the value Of the
show could be greatly increased and made to cor
respond with that in some other departments
Among such n collection of cattle from 50 small q
district it cannot be expected that all will be of an
extra quality. But there were many animals o,
superior worth and which would make mark a,
any show however extensive Mr. David Chase ex.
hiohed pair Of oxen five years old which weighed
4216 pounds; Cyrus Briant pair Of twins four
pears old weighing nearly 5000 pound Alfred
Fuller pair OF three years old weighing 1884
pounds. All Of these were very uniform and close
ly matched. There were many others on exhibit
ton nearly good as these but our space will not
allow us to particularize. There were several nice
pairs from Heath and Rowe, Mass, that deserve
! particular notice but they were not weighed nor
labeled, hence We are left in the dark as TO their
ownership or size. A pair Of two years old steers
owned by S. Benson of Heath, and driven by a
small boy manifested Il remarkable degree of train.
ing
The show Of horses and colts was very large and
Of the first quality. There were several on e1hbi.
ton that would do credit to any Fair
The sold Westinghouse was converted into Ar
Agricultural Hall for the exhibition of fruits veg.
etables and grain, as well as for the display O
handi-work Of fair ladies. The products of tn,
held' garden and kitchen, of the "plow, loom and
anvil' were here arranged with taste, and made
fine display
want OF space makes our mention brief W.
must notice chest of tools exhibited by Can't
Thomas f. Warren, consisting of about $50 differ.
ent implements for working both wood and iron. Of
the most perfect workmanship and finish, and al
~ nimseil. a cotton plant in full
maturity, grown by Mrs Martin Stickney. with tn,
ripe cotton and manufactured slave in the act Of
picking the ball. attracted much attention.
The music was furnished by the Wilmington
Band and their performances did much to epliver
the entertainment. The Marshals performed their
duties admirably, and no accident occurred TO ma,
the festivities The show was worthy of all praise
and it is hoped was made the instrument Of some
good to all present on the occasion.
1t was ascertained that about 6S tons of mania
sugar were made in town last spring.
The following are the premiums awarded
tns 90 w. stallion years old and over Henry Cor
us ~ 40 corridor simonds. Heath; "a do Russell Hss
COM Halifax best stallion years old Henry Corkins "a
99S' faukn,r best stallion years old d. Faulkner,
"a do, Waters Gillet; Sd do Vim. Guild " s'i
.UN'-best q Years old colt James Roberts ID do y
haynes, Wilmington 3D. do James Roberts, 4th do Whit
man "neeeri best years old colt r. Morley: ri do
~ saukner I'd do Samuel Wheeler; 4th do Isaac Es,v
Read ooro host yearng colt Z. L. Roberts; Ia Do PrI
! Jr. ' ~ Wv Nenehiah Sprague,
Matched Fancy aud SPEED HorSes-Best nalr rs,oh,
morse Ira L@rnbee, Halifax I'd do H. T. Buter6eld WI
wnson best fancy horse orson rhay en- Marlboro VI do
~.