The Portland daily press., 1875-09-22
STATE FAIR.
Meeting of the Farmers, Stock
Breeders and Artisans.
THE OPENING DAY.
What is to be Seen ut the Park and the
HalI-The Fair Well Opcned-The
-4e SGD Trotting, etc.

AOotCAAoy AiolAiuS opCuCu COoL duu ClcdT duu
those interested in the State Fair were greatly
encouraged at the prospect of good weather for
the exhibition. The day was largely spent in
preparation for the shows both in the hall and
at the Park. This was particularly the case in
the hail. where the exhibitors were considera
bly, behind in bringing their materials to the
exhibition rooms. The attendance was not
large at either place, but quite as large as was
expected for the first day. people preferring to
be present the last two or three days of the ex-
hibition.
The exhibition of stock of all kinds is very
large and highly creditabe to the pc ople of the
state. Finer specimens of horses cannot be
found, while all the leading breeds of thorough
breds are well represented by breeders in
Maine, who in point of intelligence and infor-
nation, are not second to any elsewhere.
THE CATTLE.
Popular attention is not so much engrossed
in cattle breeding proper as in that branch of
stock rearing devoted to horses, and doubtless
the latter attract more than their part of the
attention of the farmers Of Maine. 1t is
question not settled whether or not there are
too many horses in Maine to be used with
not there are too many cows and oxen on the
farms of the state, since their presence usually
indicate good farming.
1t would be an endless task to notice in de-
tail all the cattle on the ground with their re-
spective merits, since their stalls extend third
way round the inside of the fair ground inclos-
ure Commencing at the stalls on the right of
the gate near the officers headquarters as you
enter, come first the oxen. Finer specimens
were never seen and the ox-teamsters having
them in charge may be pardoned for the hon.
est and not offensive vanity they feel atihaving
such CRITTERS in their charge. The genuine
ox-teamster-the one who knows an OK and
whom the OK knows, is thorough Yankee,
not a drawing room fellow but be has deal
of good sense and is full of sharp sayings. We
can't particularize to any extent over the oxen.
N. r. Wellington of Albion, has yoke of four
year old lseven-eights Shorthorn and one
eighth Hereford, which measure eight feet and
are models. There is a pair of oxen which are
twins, five years old, which are greatly admir-
ed by those farmers who still delight in oxen.
The greater part of the oxen are grade Short
horns though there is a pair representative Of
bIc hCI6lUIu uiOoA ouUWu ny tu0 WultO ldCSSs
There was one very fine yoke of grade Devons,
the only representatives of the blood on the
ground.
Passing on beyond the oxen and steers one
comes to the Herefords-fne cattle, with their
white faces, compact and fat taking frames. 1t
is hardly necessary to state that the herds of
this blood come from Northern Kennebec and
Somerset counties, George Shores of Waterville
contributing herd of IL head, and Hall G.
Burleigh showing 81 head-botn herds so fine
that none but an experienced fncier could
note the good points of this or that specimens
The bull Compton Boy of Burleigh's herd
seems to be the patriarch of the crowd and is
doubtless the heaviest animal on the ground.
The Herefords are esteemed very highly by
those most acquainted with them, and in some
places are preferred to the Short-horns.
Next to the Herefords come the Shorthorns,
a blood which holds its own in Maine against
all corners. First we come to the herd of Hon.
Warren Percival numbering 16. Mr.. Percival
is one of the best known breeders of this blood
in Maine. Next follows the herd of Mr. Put
nam of Winthrop, Is in number. Mr.. Putnam's
STOCK comes from Mr.. Percivars Howard &
ELLIS OIL l. dttHeiu HdN0 Luc ueAt utdu III
all. One or two large herds of Sh ,rthorns are
unexpectedly kept away from the exhibition.
Next 10 order come the Jerseys. Mr.. G. S
Robbins of Winthrop, has the first herd, IL in
number. Mr.. w. Fl. Haines OF Smithfeld,
shows two fine cows and bull. DR.. Boutelle's
famous Jerseys from the Millbrook farm, IL in
number, are present. Gen. Titon of Togus
contributes II very fine specimens. Gen. Johr
Marshall Brown exhibits very fine bull Of
this variety. Mr.. Alonzo Libby Of Saccarappa
has good specimens on exhibition. Messrs.
j. & N. Dane of Kennebunk heretofore we'll
known breeders of Ayrshires. exhibit herd o.
8 Jerseys "Deuced putty critters" said Mr.. Ok
teamster as he walked by goad-stick in hand,
"but no seven foot oxen" He shook his head
We next come to the Ayrshires. These are
very pretty cattle but do not appear to receive
he appreciation which they merit. A. Libby
of Saccarappa, shows herd of II head-the
largest in the state. David Young of Smith
field exhibits head; G. B. Lakin of Augusta
head, and j. A. Grant of Whitefeld, bull
The Holstein blood was we'll represented BY
Gen, Tltons herd. T. f. Davis has some goo.
specimens. o. L. Tapley of BrooksvilIe show
fine bull of that variety.
OF grades Mr.. W. W. Pease, one Of the stur
diest farmers of Somerset, exhibits fiue here
of grade cows Mr. Pease has a flock of fine
wool sheep, which we will notice bereaf
ter. Tomorrow we shall give little space t,
the sheep, etc.
THE HORSES.
The exhibition of horses is one of the fines
ever seen at fair in the State. The numbe
is much larger than was expected, and yes.er
day morning it was discovered that there Wa
not near stalls enough for their accommoda
ton. Accordingly the trustees ordered tn
erection of fifty more stalls in the rear of til
Park House. Work was commenced at onct
and it is expected that the horses will all be
place this morning. There is general con
plant that exhibitors do not keep their stoc
in the stalls assigned them, but change abo'
to suit their own convenience. This troub