Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-10-11
TnR srArr ram.

TAR STATE FAM.
The fourteenth annual Fair Of the
State Agricultural Society. held at
Citation last week. was Z success in
every respect-more encccssfnl, il
fact. than Any which preceded it.
Whether We regard the perfection OF
the arrangements, the receipts at the
ga,es, or the character Of the exhibi-
tion itself. We shall have occasion to
feel proud Of our State aud of her
Agricultural Society. It VAS our
pleasure to Re on the grounds during
the first three days of the Fair, and
Ne could not fail to note the perfect
s!ysten and harmony with which the
complicated arrangements Cor the i'm.
mease exhibition were carried out, and
the efficiency and courtcsy Of the cAi-
Gers and employees in charge.
Tho grounds, comprising thirsy.6ve
acres Of level plateau, are situated
midway between the cities Of Clinton
and Lyons. and only a short distance
from the Mississippi River. Entering
the grounds from the eset, We find a
large portion Of the area on the RICH,
par,i,icued off for = haif.milc track,
facing which, on the south. is q vast
an,pitheatrc. capable Of seating Eve
thousand persons. To the front We
discover the business ~ofices. and s,ill
further on. suitable buildings for the
exhibition of fruits, vegetables and the
products Of art. On the left, and X
tending half way around the area, are
the stalls and pcns for cattle, horses,
hogs and sheep.
When we entered the groupas on
Tuesday afternoon, Oct. i.t, and the
frat day Of the Fair, tho entries hal
been only partially made and the dis.
play in most departments was s,ill
very incomplete; but by Wednesday
noon, nearly everything vas in its
place. ready for inspection aud cri,i-
ism. At o'clock r. n. Of Tuesday,
Peter Melendy of Cedar Falls, the
President Of the Society. delivered
the opening address, which viii be
found on our drst page. aud viii spe K
for itself. The attendance. on Tues
day, VAS unusually large, for the first
day. On "wednesday the crowd had
increased very considerably. but only
reached its elimination on Thurs
day, when It Val estimated at over
twenty thousand. On Friday the
closing day, Notwithstanding a cold
and disagreesb,e rain. the attendance
VAS estimated at ten thousand. The
entire receipts OF the Fair were o..
ee4.
We canaot undertake . detailed
description Of the several depart.
ments, but will endcavor to give q
general idea Of the merits Of the CT.
hibition in accordance with our i'm.
mature judgment.
The display Of cattle Wal not large.
bnt choice. especially that Of Durham
stock. John Murphy. Of New Mallery.
took sixteen premiums on bulls and
COWS. Alterd Noble, Of Monticello.
took the 6rst and second premium on
two year old cows. and the premium
for the best buek.
Our friend, J. w. Myers, who was
on the ground, called the display OF
sheep very fair, and took pains to
point out specimens Of the very first
order, which would hare done credit
to any exhibition.
Ofhogs We can only say that the
nn.nbcr ON exhibition was not large.
consisting mostly Of Chester Whites.
The famous horses Of the State
verc at other Fsirs, rendering the
display less interesting than was ex-
pected. We do not deem it necessary
to mention particularly the various
trials ef speed, IS there VAS no re-
markab,e time made, and It would be
Ant a repetition Of second rate figures.
The racing, however, attracted CON-
siderable attention, and created some
enthusiasm. In Northern iowa, p,
G. Yates, of Anamosa, took the first
premium on two year old stallions,
G.. II. Barnum. Of Marion. the frst
premium on matched carriage team,
and J. s. Wolf, Of Cedar Rapids, the
FIRST premium for horses fast and
far"
FLORAL HAII.
This "a well filed With remarkably
nae displays OF both flowers and fruit.
The array Of dahEas. ~fusch:aa, roses,
koiiage plants DC, formed M o. tbs
nos charming attractions Of the fair,
ard Wa said to be far superior to
anything before seen in the State.
We we're greatly pleased with the ez.
Litition Of fruit, especially in view Of
the sorn out cry that Iowa is no fruit
country. Seseral hundred pl.tes Of
The fines, looking ai.paee from all parts
Of The Stytc attested that that branch
Of fruit culture, al least, is successful.
9. 4. Knowles of La Porte. Black |
hawk county. displayed forty o. fhy
varieties Of apples. many Of them fine
seedlings produced by himself. He
also exhibited . plate OF fine looking
peaches, raised 10 the open air with
out protection 70 the trees, other than
tssk aGordcd BY the snow. Many !
6ne specimens Of pears we're exhibi-
ted. The display Of grapes 90 mea-
GEE Several # oar c~ultivators could
~qoal il. Mr.. Knowles, Of Black Hawk