Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-10-13
The Grand Isle Fair.

HE last one took place september 2s and 20,
in the basement Of the Methodist church,
in the town of Grand Isle, and was very
full and successful exhibitions well at
tended, much enjoyed, highly crcditable
and, we believe, profitable to all concerned
II is well understood that our island
county is specially adapted to fuit-groving,
and that this branch of horticulture is in
an increasing aud prosperous condition
there. Nearly all the principal farmers also
have good fruit vegetable aud flower gar |
dans, aud prida is taken in the perfection |
of their products, which are well displayed /
at these meetings. Bat when il comes to /
The domestic animals, the islands do not
come out very strong in improved breeds.
This is, however, on the point OF being
remedied, and there is little doubt that
herds of tlr various breeds will soon he
started We shall think it pity il some
successful attempt is not made there to con
centrate upon one or two choice breeds of
cattle for the dairy-say Ayrshircs and Jer-
seys-and not waste time and money upon
those less adapted to the circumstances Of
the people.
The fair, last week, was conducted upon
the principle recently suggested in our agri-
cultural department no premiums being
given and no charge made Ton admission
the expenses being paid 10y contributions.
The success and satisfaction attending it
fully justified the belief that thi. method
has many advantages, and does away with |
most of the sources of dissatisfaction with |
fairs, as usually managed
The articles for exhibition were very
neatly arranged upon tables in the base
ment hall aud by Tuesday noon the space
was nearly filed, though by little closing
up room was found afterwards for some
very fine additional displays, mostly from
South Hero.
In the afternoon, gooily number assem-
bled in the upper audience room, and lis
tened to AN address from the agricultural
editor of this paper, upon The Intellectual
and Moral Elements of Success in Agricul-
ture." The address was followed by dis
cussion upon topics connected with the sub
iect and especially upon the improvement
Of farms through means suggested by scien-
tific Investigation, Messrs. +. y. Douglas
of Whiting. j. A. Chamberlain William
Brown, and other gentlemen Of Grand Isle
taking part
In the evening, there was a large and IN
tlrested audience gathered and discussion
was had upon the subject, chiefly, of feeding
stock, in which the freer use of roots was
warmly advocated 10y several speakers
Quite a number took part in the discussion.
and the interest was well sustained. Alto
gether, it was a profitable session.
Wednesday morning, large audience as
seinbled to listen to an address upon Butter
Making" by Mr.. Douglas. This, with the
answering Of numerous questions from in
terested auditors, consumed the forenoon, and
the hearers seemed 10th TO let the lecturer
90 when the hour for adjournment arrived
Mr.. Douglas is so thoroughly practical and
plain in all he says, and so willing TO explain
every detail clearly, that his address met
with unanimous approval. He is probably
the most really useful agricultural speaker
our state possesses, and this fact is now
very generally recognized. both at home aud
abroad
We are indebted to the notes of u. w.
Dixon, Esq, Of the st. Adams Messenger,
for the following record of articles on exhi.
bition, etc. 1t will be seen how full and va.
ried was the display, especially of apples
and pears, the quality of which we have
never seen surpassed elsewhere
FRUIT.
The number OF varieties of apples was
very large, and included the following
Baldwin, Seek-nofmther Blue Pearmain,
Il. !. Greenng, Roxbury Russet, Porter,
Champlain, Pound English Russell Cat-head
Greening Fall Pippin, Spitzenberg, Maiden
Blush, Fameuse, Swaar, 1olman Sweeting,
Yellow Bellefeur, Reinette, Ribston, Pomme
Grise, Minister Newtown Pippin, Northern
Spy Nonsueh, Rambo, Domino, Gravenstein,
Ladies Sweeting, Belmont, Peck's Pleasant,
burlington Pippin, Rome Beauty, Baileys
Sweet, Tobias Black, Honey Greening, King
of Tompkins Co.. Danvers Sweet WAGNER,
Sweet Paradise, Peach, Tobias, GilliAower,
Primate, Rose, Bow, Douse, Gloria Mundi.
Beauty of Kent, and many other kinds.
There were several kinds that originated in
Grand Isle. II must not be supposed that
all the varieties named are adapted TO- or
are profitable for cultivation in this latitude;
probably third are not desirable varieties
for our fruit-growers
or pears there were the Bartlett Flemish
Beauty, Oaondaga, Duchesse de- Bordeaux.
White Doyenne, Jackson, Queen Of Low
Countries, Belle Lucrative, Seckel, Winter
Nelis, Dsarboru's Seeding, Louis Bonnie Of
Jersey Ghislain, and some others. In this
connection, Mr.. Daniel G. Sampson. of
Grand Isle, who has experimented largely
with pears, has furnished the following list
Of varieties which have proved hardy with
him, and those which have failed after fair
trial
Hardy Beurre d Anjou, Flemish Beauty,
Glout Moroccan, Passe Colmlr, st. Ghislain.
Skinless and Winter Nelis.
Not hardy-Bartlett, Bsurre Bose Blood (
good Citron, Dsalbou's Seeding. Dix. /
Duehesse d Angoem,, Golden Beurre of
Bilboa' Gray Doyeune, Louise Bonnie Of
Jersey Madeleine, Marie Louise, Seckel.
Summer Franc Real, Urbaniste, Vicar of
WINFIELD and White Doyenne.
The grapes exhibited included the Con.
cord, Hartford Prolific, Diana, Lyman,
sweetwater, Delaware, Northern Mnscadine,
Adirondack, and several others.
We found 1t impossible to obtain the
names of all exhibitors of fruit, as some of
them had neglected TO label their contribu. |
TONS but the following list is as complete
as we could make it
benjamin Macombsr exhibited forty va
neties of apples "a fine lot also several |
kinds OF pears, plums aud grapes
a. ;. Pearl twenty-six varieties apples.
nine OF pears and seven of grapes-a hand. .
some display aud well arranged
Abner H. Macomber, fifteen kinds Of
apples 1--WE OF pears, four Of crab apples and .
plums--aL excellent and well arranged.
WIN. Chamberlain, several varieties Of
apples, a new Seeding pear Of tine flavor;
also grapes and higl-bush cranberies.
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