The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-10-27
DANv1LLE, October "a, 1868.

DANvILLE, OCTOBER "a, 1905.
The Border Agricultural Fair closed its
annual meeting and exhibition to-day. r
nm sorry to say that the list of premiums
cannot possibly be gotten at to-day. There
is some want of system here. This lis
ought to be presented fresh and hot. Il
ought to be made out earlier in the week
SO that reporters could get chance at it
1t is all for the good of the Society that i
should be-.
The exhibition was not large, but in some
departments was very good. The cattle
were few in number, and in very ordinary
condition. One or two evidently fine bulls
appeared to disadvantage. They were like
gentlemen at ball who had not properly
attended to their toilet. 1t is said, however
that there is an unaccountable defect in thu
clover this year. The best farmers In
formed me that it will not fatten: So, oil
though these gentlemen bovines are said t
have "been in clover" they show little adj
vantage from it. Clover is the maIn-staJ
of southside farmers; indeed, the only re-
source of those who do not save their fod-
der and stalks, and the number Of these il
legion. The critical period of the tobacco
crop comes just as the corn ought to De Gu,
down, and this, together with the unsettled
condition of the labor of the coun try, Is OIL
fered as the explanation of the immense
fields of corn which still stand untouchea
with their dead and useless blades fylhg 10 q
the wind, entirely lost for the purpose OF
food. So the why Of the bad CONDITION OF
the clover is a question all the more lmpor-
tant, It is much discussed among FARMERS
Some suggest that it was the excessive
moisture of the season. :,
There were several horses Of fine blood.
The most prominent of these were noticed IN
q former letter. 1t is due that correction
sbould be made with reference to MAJOR
Sutherlin's Satan, whose groom, laboring
under a strange error, announced that ne
was Morgan horse. Sultan is one OF the
very best-br horses of his day. he Is by
Revenue, and his dam by Tranby, and IS
ono of the best put-up and most snowy OF
his Kind. CAPTAIN Gaines, of Charlotte,
axb;hited some fine blooded mares.
The department of fruits and vegetables
was slim enough, but contained some hne
specimens, This will, l know, be improved
at future fairs. Few regions Of country are
blessed with a kindlier and more fruitful
soil than the Valley of the Dan. We're 1t
fairly represented at an agricultural fair
there would be such fruits, such magnltl-
cent rewards of labor and art displayed, as
would astonish the beholder. A proper
spirit of emulation and generous rivalry
has not yet possessed the people. One more
fair will bring them up to the point, and
make them feel that they are to be some
hing more than mere spectatcrs-that they
ire indeed the exhibitors, the Fair being
intended as display of their industry and
heir skill in agriculture. "
The ladies did better! Indeed, If there
IS ANYBODY behind in works for the-ad-
Of public Improvement it Will
not be the ladies'. They not only lend their
bright charms TO cheer in all good under
akings, but they contribute whatever their
fair hands may do as material aid for their
The department OF mousse
hold industry and art was Represented! oy
specimens Of taste and patent
.oil. 49,.
The agricultural implement department
vas almost wholly supplied oy richmond.
It was every way credltaole. Inc pre-
NUNS speak for themselves.
One machine from Baltimore deserves
,sneeial notice. 1t is the Montgomery
improved Locomotive Wheat Fam" manu-
foctnred by Whitman & Sons. 1t is the
nost nerfect machine, as l am informed by
and farmers, yet invented.
r. cleans wheat more rapidly and more per
fectly than any machine Of the day.
The blowing match-or rather the test
of the plow by plowing-was highly
interesting, and attracted large crowd.
The land was wet and heavily covered with
weeds, and much Of the blowing was very
fine. especially that done by Mr.. Shopper
son, of Henrico, with the Watt Knight
nlow. He is master of the art, and
might set up school, now that blowing,
I hope, is not only to become honorable,
but fayorite vocation. Indeed, Shopper
son was SO good q plowman that it is a
question whether candidate for q pillow
premium had not better employ some one
else to hold the handles-there is so much
substracted from the merits of the pillow
on account of the great skill of the plow-
man. Starke's pillow that got the hrst
premium is new one, and attracted much
attention and admiration. ;.
Wallace Sons (of Riehmond) Mountain
Dew Whiskey," which won q medal, also
g." attracted much attention" Mr.. Capers
who exhibited it, had troops of friends
Fortunately, being little near-sighted, il
was quite convenient for him not to know
them too many times or the "dew y
would not have appeared after two morn
ines 1t had smooth flavor, pleasant
bouquet, and genial influence, that made
friends most rapidly
l feel that l will do public good in call
ing attention to the exhibition OF seeds by
Mr.. George A. Deitz, of Pennsylvania. He
has an experimental farm near Chambers
burg, in the famous Cumberland Valley
and devotes his labors to the cultivation and
testing Of all varieties Of seeds. His prac-
teal experience and intelligence make him
every way capable of conducting SO import
ant an enterprise, and for the good of the
agricultural community it is hoped he will
be well rewarded. 49,
At the Danville Fair he exhibited thirty
bushels of wheat, twenty Of them new va
rieties of red, amber, and white wheat
There were the French red and French
white chatf Mediterranean-said to be valu-
able varieties also the Pennsylvania red
Rochester red, German amber, white chat
amber, Salla amber, Bohemian amber, and
other red wheats California, Deihls white
Weeks white, Bouton white, blue-stem
white, American, and other whites.
He exhibited, besides, several varieties
of oats, California spring barley, and a bag
of Swedish clover-one of the best kind
known to agriculture. ,lm. -yF-a-
A new variety of the potato, called thu
"early rose" was exhibited by Mr.. Deitz
1t is valued for its rapid maturation as wei
as its excellence for the table, being very