Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-12-08
Sampson County Fair.

Agricultural Society.
We found the gathering on the Fair grounds very
large quite large that of last year. which was re-
arkable turn out. The show of articles, in the way OF
stock, agricultural productions and domestic manu-
features very fne not larger perhaps than that
of the year before but exhibiting marked indications of
progress, and the diffusion of spirit of Improvement.
To illustrate this we will mention that the number OF
gentlemen exhibiting blooded cattle was much larger
than at the preceding fair and so with other depart
ments Without particuarizng we think we may say,
without hesitation that in this department the Sampson
fair was superior to the State Fair
The hogs were very fine indeed Inthe matter ofat hogs
we really think that we so many terrific fellows
together. How much any one Of them that there
might have weighed VIC cannot say-there would appear
ohave been no scales big enough to weigh them. They
enormous There were also several families of remark
ably fine pigs The list of premiums shortly to be pub
lished will show who the successful competitors
for the prizes offered We are sure that none were i'll
bestowed and we think that the Committee only regret
ted that they could not give premiums to all.
The Messrs Ashford and Mr.. Afford King, exhibited
some magnificent fat cattle, upon whose plump corpo
rosities the members Of the Wilmington delegation
gazed with much satisfaction. We picked out steak
from one benevolent looking OK, who never seemed to
suspect our carnverous popenscs but looked around
patiently, as much as to say" fat, but don't
mean any harm by it, and amt proud bit"
In the sheep line the show small but good. While
every white person keeps dog ard every negro two
there is not the protection for Sheep the encourage
mems for sheep raising that there ought to be.
The show of horses was good but not remarkable
The first premium given to "TOuchstone," some
fair troting was DONE the quickest time being about
minutes % seconds.
There were mules, jacks and ennets, for heard
them but did not examine them, although we under
stand that they were very good. All mules and jacks
look to us pretty much alike so that we could not tell
one from another hardly.
The poutrygecse, ducks etc, might be said to have
been in full feather, and one fellow crOwed quite bravey
They all looked very well. We hardly think the num-
Der was as large as last year.
Farmers Hall was well stocked with the good things
of this lifc-bects potatoes pumpkins, hams, corn,
wheat coewortS, everything almost, and all good-the
pumpkins were so large that unable to remem-
Der their weight.
There were bugges made in Fayetteville and in Gin
ton, also very ingenious poughs the latter made
by 3. r. Hood, of Clinton. There were some washing
machines, churns, ETC.
Floral Hall was even better filled than last year-so
much so that there was considerable talk Of charging
it. On one side we found domestic goods homtspuns,
countcrpancs, quilts ETC. On the opposite side we
found embroidcries, paintings and other objects
of taste. In the centre were fruits, preserves,
jelies, pickles, native wines, cordials ETC., and
moving around generally were fair ladies and devoted
swains We could not pretend to do justice to Floral
Hall or the fair ladies whose taste filled and adorned it.
What we lack in description however, we made up In
genuine admiration. No community not possessing a
large measure of cultivation and refinement could have
contributed the articles on exhibition in Floral Hail.
At one o'clock, the hour fixed, A. H. McKoy, Esq,
arose and introduced the orator of the day. T. D. Meares
ESQ.,, preacng the introduction by some weltmcd and
feeling references to Mr. Meares distinguished father
who had been an honored citizen of Sampson, and had
done much to improve trc stock of the county. Mr..
Meares followed in his fathers footsteps as ntei-
gent and scientific agriculturis and he felt both pride
and pleasure in introducing him on this occasion.
Mr. Meares, after acknowledging the compliment paid
to his father and to himself referred to the happy days
of his boyhood spent almost sight of the stand he then
occupied Had he been called upon to address the Samp
county that he knew in his bOyho0d, he might have
INDUCED the hope of being able certainly to amuse and
per maps instruct audience the subject of agrcul
ture But things had changed Intelligence enterprise
investigation had taken the place of apathy and compar
alive ignorance, and it now with considerable diff
denCe that he venured to offer some suggestions, more
with the view of directing their attention to the sub
jet discussed than with any weaving pride of opn
ion in his own views and recommendations.
Capital and labor have been directed to the produc
ton of naval stores. That business was passing away
The capital and labor would also pass away from GU
State unless turned to agricultural pursuits. The wis
statesman and the patriotic North CarOlinan woul
seek to retain our labor and capital rather than suffer
to go from To dose must faster agriculture an
manufactures. His plans were the imposition of di
eliminating tax upon all northern and foreign goods sol
in the State and the introduction Impractical agrcutur
as branch OF instruction in Colleges and Schools
Mr.. Meares Tariff views we could not sustain, bU
we fully sympathised with the high southern feein
that prompted them. The agricultural instruction
right all over. Time will not permit us to notice IL
address more at length 1t able and striking, an
delivered with the orators usual mpaSsiOned earnes
ness.
There was a ball on Thursday and Friday nights in
AeW anu muCn larger ana more convenient Hall Iau Iut
formerly used. The beauty and the chivalry" a.
peared to enjoy themselves very much On the ground
in the town and at the hail. the utmost order and gu
etude prevailed.
We might return our thanks for the kindness ar
courtesy Of the people of Sampson, but that habi
ual with them that we cease ia remark it, though v
shall never cease to remember it with gratitude.