The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-10-22
LOCAL MATTERS.

| tn. Agricultural Fai,.-The United Agrlcul.
tural Fair and Cattle Show of the Virginia
| State and Central Societies, which com mences
! to-day. will impart to our city during the
/ present week an aspect of liveliness and eaiety
observed at no other period OF the year The
| annual festival of the farmers and stock
| faisers Is anticipated by our people as an oc.
| casion when all should put their houses in
| order, assume their best attire and brush up
with more than ordinary care; for strangers
| come among us by thousands, and Richmond
| is never so anxious as then to produce favor
| able impressions. This feeling extends to all
| classes. Not only do the merchants and the
hotel-keepers indulge in large expectations,
but every body, old and young, rich and poor,
makes most extensive calculations upon hay.
| ing a gay time during the Fair. With this
assurance, we may safely state that the me-
| tropolis of Virginia was never so well pre-
pared as a the present time to receive and en- =
| tertain her friends from the country.
As this is the first Fair under the auspices
| Of the two great Agricultural Societies of the
State combined, it is quite natural to expect t
| q show of unusual INTEREST," and to this end
| the gentlemen who have the general SUPER
vision of matters have industriously and per-
severingly exerted themselves. The extensiy @
and beautiful grounds of the Central Society
west of the city, have been improved in va.
rious respects and in the general arrangement
nothing whatever is lacking The new build
ing in the centre of the grounds affords all the
necessary accommodations for the miscella-
neouS department of the exhibition, and WIS.,
itors will find il a most agreeable place of re-
sort. A general appearance of neatnpss per-
vades the entire locality. The avenues are In
excellent order, the grass plats and groves are
inviting, and the buildings all in good repair
Notwithstandingt the prevalence of unfavora-
BILE weather las week, the trottIne track seems
in good condition, and the fast horses may
whrl around the course without any danger
of breaking the necks of their drivers. A view
of the grounds will satisfy every one that the
managers of the exhibition have faithfully
discharged the duties assigned TO them. All
that remains TO be desired is good weather,
which is The requisite of success but that IL
Is unnecessary to say, Is beyond human con-
troll.
A visit to the Fair Grounds yesterday led us
to expect large and IN teTesting exhibijion.-
True. large amount Of material is to be con-
veyed thiIher to-day, bur speak only of
what we saw. In the way of agric uitur raj i'm
plements, machinery, &c, we entertain no
doubt that the display will be varied and at
tractive; for our man utac cturers know better
than to lose such a tavo able opportunity for
exhibiting the evidences of their superior
skull and ingenuity. They will be there, in
imp sing array. So, also, with regard to the
farmers and gardeners, with their wonderful
aud beautiful vegetable aud floral pr cd uc tons.
We hope and expect To see Il vast number of
rare and charming roses mamm 9TH turnipS,
magnificent dahlias, capital cabbdges, variega
ted Verbe0aS ana practical potatoes and pump
kins. The ladies, too will exhi bit specimens
OF skill in housewifery and needlework, which
have heretofore consiitute ted an important fea-
ture in the annual Fairs.
We observed several coops OF fowls of the
popular varieties, whose names are not rs IA
miliar as household words TO us. The cattle
department is very creditabiy filled. Many of
the quaGru peds TO be there are Of remark
able size, and all will interest the admirers OF
good AMI prof table stock. Bat in the horse
departm ant the greatest excellence is found
l will give the reader an idea of its extent, to
learn that there were not stalls enough, by
huudred, to accom- mmodate all that have been
en- tered, although nearly two hundred were
prepared for them. We were informed that
more stalls would he constructed this morn
ing. Among the horses are good many IA
nous for speed and endurance; one from Balti-
more that has "done'' a mile in 22s; and most
of the favorites that have successfully con-
tested for prizes here and elsewhere. We can
assure the public that this part of the exhi bi-
ton will exceed any of former years The
grand trotting match will take place on Thurs
day or Friday; though there will be trials of
speed throughout the week that will in nterest
and crafty the spectators.
The gates will be opened for the admission
Of members, this morning al O'Clock. To
morrow the public generally will have an
opportunity OF visiting the Fair. Arrange
ments have been made by the Richmond and
Fredericksburg Railroad Company TO convey
visitors to the grounds and back, cheapiy and
expeditiously. We devoutly hope that the
weather may prove favorable, that nobody
may meet with accidents or have their pock
cts picked, and that every visitor may have
full share of enjoyment during the week of
the Fair.