Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-09-28

Groton Town Fair.
The Farmers and Mechanics Club of Gro
ton held their annual Fair yesterday. The
day was so beautifully clear and inviting that
large attendance was the result.
Aplowing match, drawing match for oxen,
and horse exhibition came off in the fore
noon. The exhibition of cattle and stock COM
pared favorably with that of former years.
The exhibition of fruits, vegetables, manu-
featured articles, &C., at Liberty Hall, was in
some respects superior to former exhibitions
Especially was the collection of apples notice
able for their large size and fairness as well as
quantity 1t was handsome exhibition and
ahead of those of late years. There were eight
cen varieties from the farm of E. Needham.
Hon. G. S. Boutwell, exhibited some handsome
fruit.
One plate of small-sized fruit was from pa
triarchal apple tree on the estate of Col. Tar
bell. The tree has been constant bearer for
more than century the spread of its branch
es is over sixty feet in diameter, and the trunk
measures thirteen feet in circumference. The
Porters, "Fonteneles," Badwins, Pearmans,
Hubbardston, Pumpkin Sweetings, and other
varieties were of excellent quality.
There were but few pears, and still fewer
grapes and peaches. There was of the latter
one plate containing about twenty hard look
ing specimens. Another exhibitor showed
two-all he could raise
Among the distinguished vegetables were,
from A. Spaulding, monster cabbage weigh
ing 40 pounds; from Alden Warren, winter
squash, which weighed ll6 pounds, and meas
ured two feet in diameter; from Isaiah Greg
in curiosity in the shape ofeighteen marrow
fat squashes on one vine-all the product of
one scotland weighing altogether PAP
pounds. The squashes were very nearly of
size.
There was very good display of almost eve
rything, not forgetting brown and wheat
bread, butter, &c. Nourse, Mason, & Co.
showed some agricultural implements Just as
they are sold to farmers, that is without the
finish which adds to the cost without augment
ing the value. A caloric engine, made in Gro
ton, Travelled about the streets in full opera
ton.
THE DINNER.
At about l o'clock, nearly five hundred
found their way to the dinner tables spread in
the unfinished new Town Hall Hon. Geo. S.
Boutwell,, the President of the Club, after a
time, made the Introductory remarks. He fin
ished by christening handsome variety of
apple, known here, where it is a native, as the
Founding" the Fontenelle. The apple was
first discovered on the land of one Fontenelle,
a French exile, who settled in Groton, and it is
supposed that the name " Founding" is cor
ruption Of Fontenelle. The newly named APP
pie was received with great applause.
Remarks were made by DIR. Emerson of
Winthrop, the clergymen of Groton, j. Q. A
Griffin of Maiden, Gen. Dana of CharIestown,
and Hon. Amos A. Lawrence, all former citi-
zens of Groton. The latter characterized the
New England soil as more fertile than that of
the West and he thought the young men who
had gone out there had made a great mistake
though he excepted the Kansas emigration.
He styled the show of apples superior to the
Boston exhibition last week
One of the pleasantest things at the dinner
festivities was the singing of genuine farmers
glees by glee club of seven young men of the
town. There was also music by the Groton
Cornet Band
The various premiums were announceda AT the
table, and Hon. Geo. S. Boutwell, was successful
in carrying off the prize for the best hefer calf,
for the best four cows, also premium for but
ter. Mrs. II. B. Lewis took the first premium
for butter, while the awards for good wheat
bread were given to Mrs. L. Rand and Fanny
E. Wright, and for the best brown bread to
Miss Mary Fitzpatrick. A girl only twelve
years old also entered the lists and obtained a
gratuity for her loaf. One of the farmers who
obtained a yield of twenty-five bushels of rye
to the acre took the premium for the best rye
field.
1t was a very spirited and satisfactory town
fair, and reflected credit on the farmers of
Groton.