The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-10-24
LOCAL MATTERS.

AE tih0tNiA NAL i hih
The preparations for the Virginia State Agri
cultural Fair, which commences on Tuesday
next, are wel.nigh completed-at least, the
arrangements at the grounds-and the pre-.
sent indications are that this annual eXhibi-
tion will be success, and probably superior
i'm many respects to any held since the war.
The Society has caused many improvements
to be made ut the grounds, which will add
materially to the comfort of exhibitors as
we'll as visitors. "..I.4st t-.st
On entering the grounds by way Of Broad
street the first thing which meets the eye
after crossing the race-track and approach
ing the pavilion is the amphitheatre, which is
already two.thirds completed, but which
will hardly be flushed this season, owing to
the want of time. Within the enclosure
the booded horses arc to be exhibited.
while outside seats have been put up suffi-
cient 10 accommodate several thousand spec
tatorS.
The grounds, it will be remembered, con-
tain about siXtv-three acres, and are in n most
beautiful condition The Society value their
real estate at $4,000. The track for trials
! of speed has been put in most excellent or.
der, and the trotting this year is expected
| to be very fine. The Judges stand has been
raised about four feet, and Il room con-
structed below, in which the drivers are 10
be weighed. But there are many o:her lm-
provements of various kinds which have
been completed and are progressing:
Among the latter is miniature fountain ana
| pool, in the vicinity of the poultry'coopS,
which will be entirely finished and in opera
tion In day or two.
a number of fine horses, cattle, sheep, and
hogs have already been entered by various
persons in the State, and q corresponding
number Of articles in almost every depart
| ment Of the exhibition are to be sent out to
the grounds on Saturday and Monday.
A new feature in the exhibition this year
will be the display of large number OF
specimens of agricultural products of the re-
eion traversed by the Burlington and Mis-
souri, River ralrosd, which will be exhibited
by Mr.. O'I!Hwd, the agent Of that company.
The shell, grains, such as corn, wheat,
rye, oats, bi. ~, buckwheat, flaXsesd, DC,
will be showi: ~ glass jars. uniformly mum.
bered aud lub,I d, with plain statement
| attached to near every lot, indicating
where raised, who l'y, when planted, when
| harvested, the yield ler acre, and the weight
| per buShel.
! Flour, meal, hominy, Nebraska salt soils,
| sub-soils, and variety of other matters, are
| shown In similar shape. Corn in the ear
and husk will appear in great variety, and
| all distinctly marked In like manner. Oh
grasses and grain in the sheaf, cornstalks,
Sc, the display, simple as it is, will, it is
said, be very beautiful and plainly illustra-
tive of the strength and fertility Of the soil
which affords so rich and luXurant growths,
Some will be shown as cut, and others with
roots and soil attached.
The specimens of large woods, in section,
| indicate the growth and quality Of the wood-
| along the water-courses and in regions
where the prairie fires have not eXtermi'
mated them. They comprise white oak,
| burr oak, cottonwood, locust, white ash
mulberry, sycamore, elm, black walnut. &c.
some Of them very large, and all of clear
| growth, close grain, and compact fibre
| while the collection Of small woods grown
in southern Nebraska, also shown in section
indicate Enthusiastically that now that prai.
rie fires are no longer of annual occurrence
woods need but to havea chance, and groves
and forests will spring up and cover the
| wide area in less time, and with far less labor
and expense, than in the wooded regions oil
New England. Michigan, and other parts il
has cost to clear the ground and prepare i,
for tilage.
The young woods, so shown, are hickory
apple, Eastwood, plum, elm, cottonwood
linn, larch, cedar, black walnut, oak, &c.
and glance at the thickness of the annua
rings will show to any man that he need no
want long for wood lot OH Nebraska soil
even though he plant his first crop Of corr
on farm without single tree upon it.
The secretary Of the Virginia Suite Agri
cultural Society has also been in correspond
ence with Mr. C. p. Bolnar. travelling agen
of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rail
road Company, who. in behalf of that com
pany, desires to exhibit, in space Of abou
twelve feet, the agricultural products of tn
country through which his road passes. !
is thought that these articles will reach Rich
mond in time for the Fair.