The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-06-08
The Centennial Agricultural Show,

The agricultural show is of very great
interest and variety, though I've never
vet found any great throng in the build
| ing.
The majority of the people, fancy, are
deceived by the name and only those
specially devoted to tillage of the earth
go to see it, unless enlightened as to the
general character of the contents.
These may be divided into implements
and machinery used in agriculture; seeds
and other first products of the soil; man
ufactured products in an almost infinite
variety; and an exhibition OF the
processes and results of mans battle with
the sea as sailor and fisherman. You can
easily see that much of this display hard
ly comes within the legitimate province
of agriculture, while it hes some indirect
bearing on it. 1t is another example Of
the extreme difficulty of systematic
| classification where there are so many
complex and muitifarious interests to be
covered.
Were disposed to catalogue the con-
| tents of the agricultural department, l
shonld feel like giving up in despair be-
fore commencing, like the little girl in
the fairy story, to whom the malign fairy
| gives the task of sorting out and arrang-
ing within the hour odds and ends of
pictures of every variety of color, size
and form gathered from the ends of the
earth. The agricultural readers of the
Times, with their special knowledge of
the theme, can use their imagination and
obtain sufficiently vivid idea from a
few general and cursory sketches, even if
they are taken from the picturesque
| rather than from the unitarian stand
point.
The display of machinery, wherewith
men have learned to tickle the earth, tina,
it may laugh with harvest, and gather
the harvest afterward is extraordinary,
and Canada makes great effort to rival
the States in her exhibits. You see in one
section of the nall an endless confusion
of plows, gang plows, steam plows, reap
crs, mowers, threshing- machines, horse
rakes, cultivators, ETC., and a large num-
Der of patents in each. / never fully
realized before the extent to which the till
er of the soil is indebted 10 the machine
shop. | am told there are some 800 differ
ent factories represented in these stands of
arms, so to speak, by which art and in.
dusuy subject nature and make her their
bond slave. The practical farmer, OF
course, will be greatly interested in study.
ing these different forms of machinery,
but suppose the general observer will
go by them with yawn, and for fear the
reader will treat my brief description OF
them in the same discouraging fashion.
will pass to what may be called really
artistic feature of the display. These are
the manufactured products from the fruits
OF the soil, and the method on which they
are arranged. The exhibitors have shown
wonderful taste in arranging their articles
on the different stands and cases, so that
erly subserved, and the most picturesque
impression left on the eye. Some of these
would not be unworthy of the professional
artist. was particularly pleased with
the exhibits of manufactured tobacco,
canned products, fruits, meats, etc., and
preparations of corn-starch. What might
be called the mise en- scene, viewed from the
middle OF the hall, is quite a glowing
spectacle.
Why!' said an artist who was sketchine
for Harper's Weekly, "that sight would be
perfect study for the painter in harmo.
NOUS colors. Where have to draw a
thing like that regret one can't get color
on wood"
He was right. Out of plain and pas.
sive things the exhibitors had succeeded
in making very remarkable effects OF
form and coloring To enumerate even
by name simply the variety Of agricultural
products, that had been treated by some
process would be an endless task. sd
One of the most picturesque shows is
the exhibit of the Gloucester, Mass, fish.
cries. Gloucester is the largest fishing
port in the world, sending out about SOC
vessels and employing capital OF 81, OOO,.
600. The terrible disasters that Otter
overtake these hardy fishermen, thei1
boldness and fortitude, the immense i'm.
portance Of their industry, invest them
with peculiar interest. Yankee ingenu
ity has succeeded In making quite vivid
picture Of the fishery interest. A large
tank, thirty feet by twenty, perhaps, float
dozen little vessels, full sailed anG
rugged, and exact models Of the differen
styles Of smacks used, one being after th.
old model IN vogue century since. on
one side of the miniature sea is a whar
with curing establishment on it and {
drying frame outside. Small boats anG
dories float alongside the wharf.
Behind the tank is an elaborate cast
displaying all tho articles used by tn.
fishermen from tarpaulin hats and Indis
rubber boots to fish hooks, from massive
anchors to case-knives. This is aregulal
marine museum in itself and the effect j.