Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-09-11
STATE FAIR-WEDNESDAY.

STATE FAIR-WEDNESDAY.
However painful may be the necessity,
it must be confessed that the exhibition at
the present Fair, with few exceptions
is considerably below the standard of for
ner years. In many of the departments
it can hardly be said to be respectable
With the exception of half dozen nice
cabbage heads, few beets, and hill
Of potatoes" there is not a single vegeta-
bic on the ground, and we saw but sin
gle string of seed corn, and that of only
medium size and quality. In the mechan-
ical department nearly the same dearth
is observable. In other departments the
exhibition is much larger, and is quite in
teresting and valuable. The show of neat
cattle, though not so large as usualis very
fine indeed, and affords convincing proof
that the stock in Vermont is improving,
rather than retrogading. There are sew
eral- yokes Of superior oxen, and some
cattle of the Durham breed equal to any
to be found in New England.
The exhibition of horses is also excel
lent, nearly one hundred entries having
been made. There was grand caval-
cade of horses yesterday at ten o'clock in
the forenoon, and it only needed that one
should look at them for moment to be
convinced that the Green Mountain State
beats the world in raising horses.
In the afternoon the various committees
on the different classes of horses attended
to their duties on the trotting park. The
Sherman Morgans, Bullrushes, and Ham
bletonians were each well represented, by
the finest specimens of their respective
classes Though less number of horses
have been entered than at some former
Fairs, the average merit of those on ex-
hibition this year is considerably above
any previous assemblage of these noble
animals. Among them are many fast
trotters, but the number of matched hor-
ses is not great.
In the department of sheep, both as to
numbers and variety, the exhibition the
present season exceeds anything ever be-
fore seen in Vermont, and we are assured
by several gentleman that it exceeds any
collection ever seen at any Fair in New
England. The great interest felt in sheep
raising just now is probably the reason
for this extraordinary collection, brought
here from all parts of the State, though |
the large majority Of them came from
the west side of the mountain, and more
we think, from Addison than any other
county. 1t is really worth journey
from the remotest corner of the State to
see the perfection to which our farmers
have attained in the breeding of fine
wooded sheep. We might well be proud
TO exhibit our Spanish Merinos by the
side of those of any other State in The
Union, and there can be but little doubt
they would carry off the premium.
Among the meritorious articles on exhi-
bition yesterday in Mechanics Hall, were
some superior specimens of Marble work,
entered by Willis, Magen & Fuller mar
BILE workers of West Rutland, consisting
of exquisitely executed Monuments and
Gravestones. They attracted deserved
attention.
Bowman & Mansfield, of the Eagle
Iron Foundry, Rutland, exhibit about
forty different patterns of wheels, and
other specimens of iron work.
Perhaps the most noteworthy exhibition
in the mechanical department, is that of
the Marbleized Slate, made by the Hyde
vile Slate Company, consisting of Brack-
ct Shelves, Bureau Tops, Lamp Stands,
Chess Tables, &c, &C., in perfect inita-
ton Of Egyptian, Black and Gold, JAS
per, Spanish, Galway, Pyrenees, Broca-
telle, and other rare marbles. These
marbleized States are beautiful beyond
description, and are said to be durable and
cheap. This company also have speci-
mems of superior roofing slate on exhibit
ton, and We may here call attention to
the fact that they manufacture slate black
boards for school houses and academies,
superior to anything else in use.
Thos. Burton, of New York, has a