The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-09-28
be exhibited at the State Fair. Our
friend Middlemist, Of Mill Point, was on

The show ofpears, plums and grapes was
very meager, though we noticed fine
specimen of the two latter from the gar
den of Mr.. Severens, of Ottawa Center,
who also received the premium thereon.
But few dienizens of the poultry yard
were brought forward. Some half dozen
turkeys, about an equal number of geese,
few ducks and cage or two Of fowls,
composed the lot. AS to the show Of
cattle and horses, but few of q superior
kind were on exhibition. In fact, the
poor condition of the domestic stock gen.
orally, must have been noticed by the
careful attributed to the barren
state of the pastures, scorched and dried
by the long continued drought of July
and August; so much SO, that farmers in
some localities, have been under the ne
cessity of foddering their stock as much
as during the months of December and
January. The show however was credit
able under the the peculiar circumstances
of the case. A brisk little team of hor-
ses belonging to John Corlis, of Crock
cry, took the first pemium as working
horses, but large share of the premiums
for horses Of various ages and conditions,
seemed to have been awarded to Timothy
b. Lille of Wright, one of the Oldest
settlers and best stock raisers Of that
town. We noticed several yoke Of work
ing cattle that were worthy of note both
as respects size, strength and the facility
with which they "obcyed orders" But
few mich cows were on the grounds and
none that we deem worthy Of particular
note. A few sheep or swine only were
visible. One pair of large porkers, with
a litter of pigs, the property, we believe,
of Miner Hedges, are worthy of special
note.
The attendance on Friday, notwith-
standing the forbidding aspect of the
weather, was greater, by far, than that
Of the previous days. The programme
of proceedings was headed by an eques-
TRAN exhibition. Three ladies, Mrs. VIM.
Thompson, Mrs. John Spoon and Miss
Angel, entered the ring for the prize
After fine display of skill in this most
hcalthful exercise, on the part of each
competitor, the first premium was
awarded to Mrs. Spoon, the second to
Mrs. Thompson. Miss Angel is an easy
and graceful rider, and many judges, COM
petent no doubt, thought her entitled to
the prize.
The address of Prof Fisk, acting Pres
ident of the State Agricultural College,
followed the equestrian exercise, and was
listened to with much interest by the hardy
yeomanry present. 1t was replete with
useful hints to the farmer, relative to the
proper management of the farm, making
of compost heaps deep ploughing, drain
age, rotation of crops, DC. In making
compost heaps, he would recommend a
careful saving of the refuse of cook room,
the garden, the trimmings of borders
around the walks of the door-yard and
garden, the refuse of out-buildings, soap
suds of washing days, dish water, ashes,
SCOT, &C., DC, all combined in one large
pile, the surface of which should, now
and then, be sprinkled over with plaster
which forms sort of coating that pre-
vents the escape of any of the fertilizing
elements therein contained, but DO lime
should ever find its way to the heap, as
it facilitates the escape of the ammonia
and other gases essential TO the fertility
of the soil. Every farmer can by an OK
pendture of little time, and little
; pains-taking, have fine heap of compost,
each year, for his garden or field, that
will yield him a large per cent of interest
on the investment.
He would recommend the farmer to
plough deep. 1t is not the broad acres
but the deep acres that best reward the
husbandman. Deep ploughing prepares
Che soil for receiving and retaining much
larger amount of the moisture of the at
mosphere than would otherwise be enjoy
ed, makes ample provision for the extern
sion Of the roots of the plants, and by
mingling different elements of the soil,
induces greater fertility, and thereby in
sures far more abundant crop than can
ever be realized from shallow ploughing.
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