Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-11-12
,,,,, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.
The Virginia State Fair.
RICHMOND, Va, Nov. 4th, 1869.

n.,r Journal Yesterday I sent you
.,ort letter promising to give you an &C
saupt of the State Agricultural Fair here.
y, SOW that it is a success.would very far fall
r,rt of giving a true idea. 1t is com.
I,ta a grand success. AS you know the
Inject of my visit here was to see the Fair,
ron will excuse little indulgence in de-
,,iIs and descriptions of the useful.
The Grounds occupy the site of Soon
.,derate Camp Lee" and are surrounded
-. substantial Enclosure about eight feet
t;rb On the North side, Immediately
NON the Fredericksburg Railroad, is the
,n+rance for parties on foot, and opposite
. = IN the South side is the entrance Tor
,,,sos and carriages Near the centre OF
.ho Grounds are arranged the different
hr;Idiugs. The largest, of very pretty
..rla and convenient arrangement. Is the
u,rticnItural and Pathological Hall, two
tories high, built Of wood. North of this
.ovords the foot entrance are the different
offces in a brick building, two stories
,,;ob with piazza. South Of the main
aiding is Fine Art Hall, octagonal in
.bape and lighted from above. Just South
ofthis is a building set apart exclusively
for the use of ladies with every comfort
and convenience, where stewardesses at
tend to every want, South Of this are two
lniIdings for Mechanical Art Exhibitions
ond a shed for commercial manures. West
# The Horticultural Hall is the Mineral
Department.
Within the enclosure are two race tracks,
one mile and the ether half mile around.
The first makes complete circuit of the
grounds, the second passes partly over the
first, but lies entirely west of the buildings
On the short track the animals are visible
1t every point, on the long one the build
jnps interfere to cut off sight from parts OF
sbe course, Just where the short track
leaves the long one at the South is the
judges stand, and opposite are raised STAIR
steps seats for thousand or two specta-
tors. There is stand on the short course
iust opposite Fine Art Hall, where the AMI
mails are passed for exhibition. Both these
courses are almost perfect for trotting,
great care and labor having been expended
on them.
BEGINNING near the first entrance and
running west along the enclosure are the
ponItry coops, next to these pens for hogs,
ihen sheen, At the northwest corner OF the
grounds begin the horse sheds and extend
about one.fourth around, and Immediately
following are the cattle sheds, reaching to
near the main stand at the south of the
course. The only fair criticism OF an OBJ
iectionable nature which can be made to
any part of the arrangements Is the mar
rowness of the horse stalls and lack OF
facilities offered to parties seeking egress.
Having given you brief but full de-
scription of the grounds and offered my
censorious remark, proceed to speak OF
the articles on exhibition. First, fruits.
Apples in greater variety and superior
onality to eny have ever seen filled q
large space in their apartment. L should
weary to attempt an enumeration. few
magnificent pears of the improved kind,
and a small quantity of one or two varle-
ties of grapes, excellent in quality, Joined
the display of apples. Irish potatoes OF
several kinds, principally early rose ano
peach blows, we're in great quantities, anC
specimens weighing nearly or quite
pound each were numerous. Sweet pc
tatoes, cabbages, onions, celery, squashes
beans, peas and many other vegetables
as fine as ever charmed the eye o.
graced the table, were exhibited IN large
Quantities. Many curious, beautiful, anc
fragrant eXotics and native flowers gave
variety and beauty to the Hall.
Domestic manufactures showed that thu
world wide fame of the Virginia house
wife is as we'll merited as it is extended
bread, butter, hams, honey, preserves AM
pickles abounded. Cloths, hosiery coun
terpanes, and crochets, showed an appre
citation for the comforts, while embrolder.
and fancy articles, almost numberless
satisfied all of the universal refinement II
Virginia houses.
The display of fine arts was not very eX
in ordinary. Some fine specimens of tn
pbos graphic art attracted much atten
ton.
The me, hanicaI department was largel..
represented IL portable steam engines, I'M
proved machines for reaplng, moving
and sowing grains and grasses while ;, Tn
number, variety mrd evident excelien
quality of agricultural implements espec1
ally pIows, were amazing. Inc peopl
seemed to be thoroughly alive TO the I'm
portance of introducing gene-ally ana eA
tensively labor saving machinery Oh III
best quality. Many varieties of tie sulA
plow were on exhibition, and the yer
great advantage of these and other lmproy e
ments induced US to try and persuade tn
exhibitors 10 send their various lmple
ments to our Fair week after next. Amon
other useful machines was one invented
by gentleman from Norfolk for picking
and cleaning peanuts. 1t is as simple
an ordinary fan-mill, can be worked b
hand, horse or steam power, and costs Oni
$l25. and will pick and clean 500 busheI
the day. I could write columns descrlI
tive of different implements, but shall
trust TO having some of the many at on
Fair.
Among the manufactured prodocts
was shown cigars from the establishment
Capt Witenbaker and was told Il do no
smoke) that they could not be exceeded
Capt. Gomegling had lager beer and al
made in Richmond and it was pronounce
frSt-rGte by the numberless persons VIII
imbibed. These gentlemen promised t
send samples to our Fair, and hope ths
our Virginia friends may get some of on
patronage instead CT giving it to those NJ
our friends further North.
And now of the live stock I keep III
best Tor the last. The chickens were mail
~ OF the different varieties of game, I'll
black halA .fooal nd