The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-09-28
FAIR or THE 0TTA WA COUNTY AG-
z RICULTURAL SOCIETY.

l@hilOut, uuIliig tflo louTth ahhuoi 'i' vi
the society, which took place on Wednes-
day, Thursday and Friday last Though
the weather was, for the most part, quite
uniayorable and uninyiting, owing to the
slow drizzling rains that prevailed at
short intervals during the existence of the
fair, vet there was a goodly attendance OF
the hardy yeomanry, the bone and sim
CIV" of our county, and the entries of the
different classes of horses, cattle, sheep,
swine products Of the farm, garden and
orchard, domestic manufacture, DC, &C.,
bore very favorable comparison with
those of other years, when the season has
been far more favorable than the present
for the successful prosecution of the labors
of the husbandman. Frost and blight
have as seriously crippled the resources of
the farmer in Ottawa county as in any
other portion of our State, and even far
more so than in most other localities; and
though for while, during the prevalence
of the desolating frosts, Encouragement,
and even dependency, were plainly dis
cernable in the countenances of our best
TODD farmers, yet hope again springs up
afresh, since the very favorable weather of
the present month has enabled them to
commit to the bosom of mother earth a
large quantity of precious seed, that TO a
great extent has already sprung up and
is taking the strong root that will enable
the germ of the future wheat to with
stand the frosts and cold of the coming
winter and, we trust, will yield an abun-
dant harvest in due time, thus giving an
ample supply of "seed to the sower and
bread to the eater"
Tie first day Of the Fair seemed mere
ly preface to those that followed--but
few persons in attendance and the entries
quite meager. The blowing match, how
ever, attracted considerable attention.
Three horse and one OK team were enter
ed for the contest and prize. But the OK
team was subsequently Withdrawn, being
unable to compete with horse teams in
speed-inasmuch rs time was one of the
data upon which depended the award Of
the premium. 1t would doubtless be
much more satisfactory to the parties in
terested in display of skill in this most
important branch of husbandry, if the ex-
ecutive committee Of the society would
offer two prizes, one for horse and anoth-
or for OK teams, that none may be debar-
red an opportunity of showing their skill
in upturning the deep-marked funow, and
bringing TO air and sun the elements Of
soil that will furnish the food best adapt
ed to the growth and perfection Of each
variety of grain and vegetables. We are
unable TO give in the present issue the
names of the successful competitors, but,
hope to do so ere long.
The second day, Thursday, dawncd with
DRILLING rain, and the skies gave indi-
cation of foul weather." but at an early
hour teams attached to wagons loaded
with various articles for exhibition, and
domestic animals entered for premiums,
arrived in rapid succession, and ere noon
the time limited for making entries
the list had become quite large aud the
several departments exhibited very res
pectable, if not complete assortment, tho
we could but notice the great deficiency
in the display of agricultural implements.
We account for this from the fact that
there is no establishment of any consid-
cradle Importance within the limits of our
county devoted 20 that branch of mechan
ical industry, to wit: the manufacture Of
farming implements, and the farmer seems
but little disposed TO bring for exhibition
the pillow, harrow, cultivator, reaper, NOW
or, planter, sower or thrasher, that ha;
seen q season or two of service among tho
roots and stumps with which most farm;
are as yet abundaptly supplied; but the
few that were on exhibition showed that
the owners were fully acquainted with the
latest valuable improvements in farming
implements, and brought them to the fail
ground, rather that others might avail
themselves Of an opportunity of witness.
ing such improvements, than for the pre-
NUNS offered for the most excellent.
In the mechanical department we motto
ed fine specimens of churn and washing
machine, the manufacture Of Messrs