Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1872-09-17
Blakes Prairie Agricultural Exhibit
ion


Fair day at Bloomington never fails
to be attractive. 1t was our fortune
to be present on Friday. the last day
of the fair given by the Blakes Prai
rie Agricultural Society at Bloom
ington. This is the fifth year in the
history of this society. 1t seems to
be properly named after the large
prairie tract, near the centre of which
the annual fairs are held, for nearly
every man, woman aud child on
Blakes Prairie seem to regard it as
pet institution, and annually patron
ize the fair in some way. At least
so we found on Faiday. The Blakes
Prairie region has population of
about 5000 souls and that was iust
the number who attended the fair
The best of order prevailed through
out the day, and the official manage
ment of the fair was satisfactory to
everybody.
The day was the finest for an out
door exhibition, and the number of
entries in the thirty odd classes was
full upto that fprevious exhibitions.
In the several departments OF stock
horses, cattle, sheep aud hogs
there was the usual large number of
exhibits. There were some so en-
tries of different classes of horses and
next q small number of them as
blooded horses. Among the exhibit.
ors in this department we noticed
the names of well-known breeders of
horses, the Miners, ellis, Graves.
Woffenden, Hickok and KiIbourn.
The Cattle department was espec-
tally attractive and full. Judging
from the relative number Of exhibits
in the classes, the short. horn Durhams
are yet in highest favor for all pur.
poses with the Blakes Prairie breed
ers. Mr.. James Paul's herd was
well represented in the class of full
bloods, 2lso those of James Miner.
Edwin Dodge, A. Wech ard the Pri
deauxs, both of full bloods and native
crosses. Mr.. K A. Welch exhibited a
beauty of this breed-being a full
blood calf, 5f months old and weigh
ing $50 lbs. The calf was sold for
$3.50 on the ground. OF swine, the
greater number of exhibits were
Berkshires, but the Poland Chinas
entered by l.. r. Bingham attracted
the chief attention. This breed of
hogs is thought by many breeders TO
excel the Chesters as growers as we'll
as fatteners-that they grow larger
and will tatten at any age.
The exhibition of farm products
was large, as also that of cereals,
and productions in the household and
domestic arts. We noticed some rs
entries ofpreserved fruits, jellies, &c.
One hundred varieties of choice kinds
of apples were the attractive feature
of the day for fruit growers. In the
mechanical department there was a
poor showing generally, except of
foreign work. We will, however ex-
cept the fiue buggies displayed by
Sam'l Birch, manufactured at his
shop in Beetown.
AS whole the fair was judged by
those present as q good success, GER
tainly in point of attendance and en-
tries, and, the Secretary informs us,
financially, the excess Of receipts
over expenses leaving balance in
the treasury of near 5000. The Off
GERS Of the society are we'll chosen
for the several duties, and much cred
it is due the President, Mr.. l.. r.
Bingham, Superintendent Wood
house, and Secretary Brooks for the
successful management of this the
fifth exhibition by the society. We
are indebted to the efficient Sec
rotary for the full report of premi-
um awards which We publish in
this connection:
List Of Premiums Awarded al the Fifth Animal
Fair ofthe Biakes Prairie Agricultural socIe-