The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-10-15
SagrdahOc Comfy Fair

Inc Sagadahoc County Fair opened Wednes-
day under quite fattering auspices. The day
was fine autumn day, with cool sun-iuvigor-
ated wind, and nearly cloudless sky. That
mythical parsonage, generally known as the
clerk of the weather, has an ill-concealed par
TALLY for the fortunate people of Sagadahoc.
No other fair in all New England but that has
stormy day or two. Topsham fair alone is
favored by continuous good weather. 1t is pos
sibe that in days gone by the jewellers by the
banks OF the Androscoggn were ardent wor-
shippers of the great snn-god, and that he
holds in rewarding remembrance their demon
strative fealty.
Fair at Topsham is gala day for Brunswick.
The students are ordinarily fortunate enough
to obtain an adjourn" and flock across the
river in a body, there to lirt and inspect stock,
and join in such foot races as may be proposed.
This year the students were not SO favored as in
times past, and none of them put in an appear
ance. As matter of consequence, the Bruins
wick girls were ''unavodably absent" and
there was scarcely fair face to be seen on the
grounds. Nevertheless, the show for an OPEN
ing day, was unusually good. A change has
taken place in the officers of the Society, and
under the new regime more attention than usu-
al ispaid to the display of stock and the produc-
lions of the farm. Topsham, Brunswick Bow
doinham and Bowdoin each furnish town teams.
Topsham furnishes thirteen yokes, chiefly of
AYRSHIRE stock. Richard Adams has two pairs
seven year elds, grting feet, inches, and
four year olds, girting feet, inches Bruins
wick, (which is quite as much Sagadahoc as
| Cumberland puts in an appearance with four
| teen yokes, all Durhams and Herefords. A
pair of six years old Durhams, belonging to Mr..
Brewer, and eirting feet. 8 inches, and pair
of Herefords, feet, s inches, owned by Albion
Woodside, attracted much attention. Bowdoin
had ten Jokes, the largest of which belonging
to George Potter, measured feet, inches.
Durham Hall had a pair of four years old
Herefords, girting feet, inches. Bowdoin-
ham brought forward thirteen Jokes, all Dur
hams. of which the largest five years old, own
ed by Humphrey Varney. girted feet, 8 inches
Michael Curtis had yoke of four years olds
measuring feet, inches, and j. H. Mllay
Fl re year olds measuring seven feet, inches
Bath had thirteen yokes, the heaviest of which
weighing 1850. measured feet, 2 inches. Gosse
& Sawyer had ship-yard team girting7 feet
inches and six years old. Four steer teams
were entered. Nine yokes of three year olds
by Topsham, nine by Bowdonham, six by
Brunswick, and six of two year Odds by Tops
ham. The large teams were generally excel
lent, but the steers scarcely gave promise of
much in fairs to come. The Durham stock
seems to be the favorite, though the AYRSHIRE
and the Hereford were well represented. Of
Devons we Jaw not one.
There were nine entries of sheep, all of which
with the exception of one flock of mixed blood
were South Downs. They were in excellent
condition, we'll fatted and thick coated after
their kind,
Swine were represented by the Chester whites
and by plebian breed, strong, hardy and pro-
life not known to the bookman and the keeper
of pedlgrees.
Of cows the exhibition was good but not ex-
tensive- Ayreshires were the favorites, though
there was good show of Durhams and Here
fords. Extraordinary and quite incredible sto-
ries were, as is the custom told in regard to the
yield of milk nearly all cream, and capable of
being churned into fabulous amounts of butter
but as no one yielded credence, little harm re-
suited
There were several bulls on exhibition, one of
pure Jersey blood, one of Ayreshire, land several
OF Durham grade. They were all as curly
headed, stupid-looking and home-sick as usual.
All undoubtedly fine animals, but keeping the
qualifications to themselves with their usual
reticence and modesty.
A Mr.. Clark Of Lewiston, brought forward
yoke of mammoth oxen, girting over nine
feet, recalling the marvellous tales told by grey
bearded men when they are gathered about the
stove of country store waiting for the mail in
dead winter.
Of poultry the show was not large. The
Brahma hen was there of course, and the
Thanksgiving turkey, little expecting its fate.
There were several ducks, said to be of wild
blood, but apparently as domestic in their hab-
its as need be.
In the forenoon the examination of neat
stock, sheep, swine and poultry came off. At
p. m. there was trial of strength by oxen and
steers, and at o'clock the drawing match took
place, thirty dollars being offered in prizes.
The prizes and premiums will not be awarded
until Thursday afternoon.
The hall show is not sufficiently full as yet to
justify mention. The omnipresent sewing ma
chine and the inevitable mower were there of
vegetables.
To-day's programme embraces the general ex
animation of horses at 9 a. M, the trial of
strength and discipline of draught horses at 10
a. M, the trial of walking horses at 10. 80 a. M.
the stallion trot at p. M, and the trot for the
| society premiums at D. m.