Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-09-13
Blakes Prairie Fair.

exhibition. The last and most i'm
portant day of the fair opened with
very disagreeable prospect; the
rain tho day previous softencd the
roads, and heavy clouds in the morn
ing threatened to impair the success
of the exhibition. AS late as 8 A.
Nj. there was talk of postponing the
fair tor couple of weeks. The
people of Bloomington, whose en-
terprise and public spirit had organ
lied the society and who prided its
existence, seemed for a while fated
to disappointment. But soon every
avenue to the town showed that
hundreds in the country were.not to
be robbed by rain, mud or clouds
of their promised day of pleasure
and profit at the Blakes Prairie fair.
The crops which in this part Of the
country proved generally good were
all harvested and in store or market
Long lines of teams from Patch
Grove and Beetown, Cassvillc, Glen
Haven and other vicinity towns ar
rived and emptied their loads of
living freight and articles for exhi-
bition upon the grounds. The clouds
cleared away and by noon OF Friday
Bloomington had never witnessed a
larger assembly. The business GEN.
ter of that thriving town was quickly
transferred from the village to the
campus below. We looked around
expecting to see some confusion in
arrangements and provision for the
sudden assembly, but the officers of
the society, whose selection seemed
to have been we'll made for cmergen-
cies, had mastered the duties of the
hour.
The previous discouraging pros
poets no doubt kept many from
bringing articles for exhibition, and
in some departments the showing
was light. Although not having
time to make full report Of the
days proceedingIwe passed around
the ground and collected some notes
stock and articles entered for the
awards,
HorSeS-In the different classes of
this department there were about so
entries. John Bate showed a fine
blooded stallion and John Duncan
the best four year old mare. In the
class of horses for all work there
were the most entries. VIM. Himer
exhibited the best mare over 4. d..
Perrin and +. Elwell got the awards
for best stations. Hale & Stanley
exhibited a well matched team of
carriage horses, land Messrs Kilbourn,
Crithclow and Pace took prizes for
best spans of draft horses. There
were also several very noticeable
exhibits of saddle and single carriage
horses.
Cattie-There was a very good
showing of short horns, r. Kilbourn,
A. Hale, Jas. Paul and r. A. Welsh
making tho best entries. Cattle of
this breed are valuable for their fat
tening qualities. They are perfect
in form, and the smallness Of their
bony structure gives them advanta-
ges over all others as beef cattle.
A chief characteristic of the breed is
also their remarkable docility and
indispostion to break through con-
tinement. Of crosses and natives
there was large display, Messrs
Welsh, A. Parker, Hale d Stanley,
r. Newman and Kilbourn carrying
away the first prizes. For best pair
Of steers Edwin Dodge took the
award and ID. Perrin for best yoke
of oxen. Altogether there were
80 exhibits of cattle.
Sheep and ,S,oine-The entries of
Of sheep were mostly Of the long
wooded kinds. Several pens by
Edwin Dodge, a pen Of lambs by j.
HAUNT and fine buck by NJ. Wood
were ticketed for prizes. OF hogs
there was a fine exhibit of the large
breeds, the large Berkshires owned
by Edwin Dodge receiving the most
attention. There were some fine
exhibits by him of Berkshire and
Chester crosses. We noticed some
fine specimens Of the Essex stock
This breed seems too small for fat
tening purposes but it is generally
thought they will cross well with
some of larger breeds of natives
d. Perrin and II. l.. Sprague exhib-
tied pure Berkshires, and Il. r. Bing-
ham an extra large boar of same
breed.
There was but scant exhibit of
farming implements. ]. G. Trainer
showed some of his famed and match
less plows for fall work and break
ing. Trainers wagon and carriage
factory also furnished fine display
of buggies and wagons. Mr.. Ira
ner's success in these departments of
industry has been of wonderful
growth, and his trade now extends
over a great part of Grant, Crawford
and Vernon counties.
In the household and dairy de-
partment there was very good ex-
hibit. We noticed that A. N. Brack-
EFT secured the prize for best cheese /;
also Fred. Critchlow for best bread,
and John Lewis for best butter.
OF -four, grain and seeds there was
some 40 exhibits, and as good dis
play of vegetables. The exhibits of
fruit were few, but a good display
of canned fruits, wine, honey and
preserves.
The fine art hall was well filled
with specimens of the fine arts, needle
work, curiosities and fancy work.
Vandewall, the Lancaster artist,
exhibited some photographed work,
which was generally admired. Par
ticularly noticeable vas the agricul-
tural wreath made ny Mrs. Maker
of Bloomington, boqu sts of cultivated
| II lowers hv Mrs DIR tnrintar Of Clan