The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-10-28
BlEps'.EYE VIEW OF THE GROUNDS.
THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS Wis
rTEn AND DESCRIBED.
THE SIDE SHOWS AND OBJECTS OF
INTEREST.
GRE RACES AND TffE WINNING;
HORSES.
PROGRAMME FOR TO-DAY.

~
State Agricultural Society commenced yeSier
day Gu The grounds, near this city. The
weather, without whose favor no uudcrtak-
Ing OF the kind can be entirely success sful
was rs fine as the loyelieSt day OF Indian
summer could render il. From morning
until night there was not cloud TO dim The
brightness of the sky. and the sun shoue in
autumnal splendor-warm enough TO make
outdoor exercises comfortable, and SO fresh
and pleasant as to cause none to regret hay
ing left home.
The State Fair has become great inSttu
ton, and the people who anuu lily congre.
gate here from other cities and the country
grow better and better acquainted with oul
folks year after year; and the friendly re-
latlopS and business connections thus eStab
liShed are OF the happiest character, aud will
prove Of lasting value. While esch section
Of the State has right 10 be proud OF
its local Fair, and dies we'll to jealousy
guard its reputation and Interests, the State
Fair is one IN which every FIrginian is OF
ought TO be concerned, and its success should
be the glory OF the whole Commonwealth az
II Is of the metropolis.
The management of the Society during
the present year has been characterized BY
unusual activity and enterprise. The fruit;
OF It's laborS are seen everywhere on the
grounds. The new arrangement of the eX'
hlbtiOu buildings, the grand stand, the
comfortable dining.room. the improved
form Of The track, the tidy appearance and
Increased system of every department. and
the fountain throwing up "tbe sparkling
waters, are So many witnesses of its energy
taste, and desire TO please. With the means
II n f1,f
Society is stronger, and the encouragement
from cur businessmen is greater, it will
doubtless do better still.
Of this Fair it may be cardidly said that
the cattle, horse. sheep, poultry, hor,icutu'
raj, manufactures, and machinery depart.
mcnts are very superior, while the raw INA
tciiaI and produce and tiuc arts departments
are, perhaps, somew hat small .er than we have
been uccuslomedto.
The condition Of the grounds is credi'a.
bic. save as TO the dust. That renders the
racing much less enjoyable than it other.
wise would br; proves highly detrimental &c
ladies' fall styles, and is utter destruction tc
silk hats aud Prince Albert coats
and destroys the comfort OF all who
attend the Fair. After tie nanagc
meut has done so much to win the
approval Of the Socie;l's patrons it will be
strange, indeed, il, for the sake Of a few dol
lars, it hesitales - employ sufficient NUN
Der Of waler-carts TO lay the dust. There
were one or two carts at work yesterday
evening. and they did good service, but
their number must be trebled or quadru
pied to-day, if possible. The Society viii
lose ten times as much by not pursuing a.
bv pursuing this common-Sense Flau. l.
will be impossible for any one bayiDS any
regard for truth to recommend ladies aDU
gentlemen TO venture out there with asst
rance of a moderate degree Of enjoyment
unless ali the water-carts obtaDable are EN-
ploycd and put to work.
Thc Poultry.
The Poultry Department occupies its &C
customed place on the grounds, and is The
frs, to meet the eye of the visitor as he en-.
tiers by the northern gates. The exhibition
il always tiue, but this year is better thar
ever before, not only in plumber and charac
Ter OF specimens, but in varieties. The chic
exhibitors ere james Duke, c. NJ. Kedd, q
f. Rowe, j.. +. Conway, j. I. Acrce, w
", Elicit, Henry Metzger, Asa Snyder, a
Z. Ball. ID. VI. Hanes, Thomas Quits, NJ. A
Tyndal, T. L. Payne, DR.. T.J. Woodbridge
J. w. Newman, A. G.. Babcock, &. Il. EppS
{. B. Lip.comh, w. Fl. Jennings, B. r. and
II. L, Powers, j. l.. Hill, Mrs. Benton. "
II. Stitb, ]. +. Palmer, q. W. Mayo, J. )
Avis. y. II. Currie, +. G. Blair, and q. W
Taylor.
There are many exhibitors who have only
one or two coops. and among their specs'
mems are some of the very finest fowls or
the grounds.
Under The head of the poultry depart
mcpt are found chickens, ducks, geese, tur
KEYS, .uIneaS, pigeons, and rabbits. In
cllidcd in the varieties Of game chickens. are
Boston Red, Clay Bank, Berkeley, White
Dominique, Stoncfencp. Irish Red, Irish
GRAY. Imported English, White Albion,
GRAY Albion, Tartar, Fleary Eye, and game
ban,ams of all sorts. There are white. red
and sreckled bantams, Gold Lace Sea-
brichts. Blue Mutf, Dark Brahms. White
Hrahma. White Leghorn, Light Brahma,
Spotted Bantam; aud turkeys, wild aad do:
nestle ducks, geese, white guineas, and
pigeons of all kinds that ever delighted the
hearts of BOYS or become the pride OF Older
"fanciers." This poultry department. Is
worthy of close and careful examination
No farmer or farmers wife can pass it by
without commenting upon the glorious
members of the Gathered tribe there assem-
blcd.
Sheep.
AS YOU pass beyond the poultry depart
mert YOU come TO the sbeep-pens. You
wonder that the ravaseS OF the dogs nave
left for exhibition such a multitude OF nue.
snecilncns. Mcssrs. r. S. Cooper, DIR. John
Il. Woods. f. w. Cbiles, s. S. Bradford. a.
NJ. Bowman, Mrs. w. I. Rlves. Is. ). Aien'
samuel Frank, A. Z. Rowe, ana otoefs, gave
sent rams, ewes, and lambs ol Inc Co.s"oiu
grade. imported Cotswold, Leicester, SCUM
down, Merino. Fine.wool, Shropshire, m'a'
dIe.wool and other varieties, ana fat sneep
ready for the butcher. Judges declare tnc
sheep as fine if not finer than any ever
shown before at our State Fair. Nearly
every pen Is occupied, and nearly every
breed which has found favor in tue si2hl OF
Virginia sheep.raiscrs is represented.
Hogs.
There is no creature that has the iook OF
contentmenl OF a good, fat hog. His "grunl,
:. grunt. y srunt," laziy uttered as he rests
under the warm rays Of the sun, - slghih'
can't of a point of happiness to which human
nature never arrives. The latest and laz'est,
tho bcst.scd and the most contcnted hogs ID
Virginia have been broue httrom home 10
foI M one of the croWning glories OF the grand
exhibition. There they are, basking In lhe
sUnshipc-boars, sows, and pigs. Only a lew
varieties are represented-among them,
Berkshi,e. Shropshire, Yorkshire, Glouces'
fer. Essex, and Chester; Enslish-sotindihg;
names. and Ebslish.descended hogs OF gooa
breed. The Berkshire seems the laVorite'
Judging from the number exhibited.
Near The hog-pens is coop containing tWo
fawn. Their graceful forms, slender iimos,
and Intelligent faces. are In strange contrast
with the bovine specimens near by.