The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-10-31
THE VIRGINIA STATE FAIR.
Prospects for tho sixteenth Annual
Exhibition.

A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE ENTRIES IN DIFF
FERENT DEPARTMENTAL FINE DISPLAY
orHcATTLE AND HoRsEs-TEE VIRGINIA
RID1NG-cLUB RACEs-PRoGRAMME FOR
To-DAY-MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE OF THE AGRICULTURAL So
CrETY LAST NIGHT-IMPORTANT AMEND
MENTs TO THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
MEST OF COLONEL KNIGHT, &C., &C.
The sixteenth annual exhibition OF the
Virginia State Agricultural Society COM
mences to-day at the grounds OF the Society,
two miles west from the city. II we may
Judge from the number Of entries already
made the Fair promises to be o success.
Indeed, in nearly all Of the departments the
entries are quite as numerous as they We're
last year, and in some the number is greater
than any year since the war. It is to be
hoped that the attendance will be large.
All day yesterday exhibitors were busy
preparing for the opening to-day. They
were engaged in putting their articles in
position, getting quarters for their horses
and cattle, and putting their sheep and pigs
in pens. The scene presented at the Fair
Grounds was very busy one. The officers
Of the Society had their hands full in enter
ing. arranging, and Classifying the articles
to be exhibited. ~
The entries in Department V. (horses and
mules) are very numerous. Virginia Is we'll
| REPRESENTED in fine horses this year, and in
addition to those exhibited By our own peo-
pie there will be a number of noted trotters
| from other States. There are more fine
horses to be exhibited this year than any
season since the war.
In Department vi. (cattle) there will also
be fine display of fat stock. G. Julian
Pratt, one OF the noted cattle-raisers Of Vir-
ginia, and A. NJ. Bowman, OF Augusta,
have entered their herds Of Jerseys and
Shorthorns. MIR. Pratt's Jerseys took
the first premium two years in sue
cession at the Augusta-County Fair.
He also exhibits several pens OF
fine Berkshire hogs, besides Southdown
sheep. Mr.. Bowman, whose herd received
premiums at the Culpeper and Lynchburg
| Fairs, also exhibits q number OF fine hogs
and sheep. Mr.. +. w. Chiles, OF Louisa,
has entered number Of Devons, besides
pens OF Poland, China, and Essex pigs.
R. 81. Fife, OF Augusta; Charles 'Harman,
Of Staunton; and Colonel S. S. Bradford,
will also exhibit fine cattle, sheep, and hogs.
Mr.. \. Berkeley, the farmer at Blacksburg
College, brings down, not to contest for q
premium, but merely to show what can be
done there, several fine Berkshire pigs raised
at the college farm.
The display in the poultry department
will be particularly fine this year. 1t will
be in charge Of the Virginia Poultry Asso-
citation.
The exhibition OF agricultural imple-
ments will be particularly interesting to
farmers and planters, and will be found to
be very extensive this year.
In all the other departments, except farm
products, the entries are very numerous,
and even in that the indications last night
were that the exhibition would be credita-
BILE.
THE VIRGINIA RIDING-CLUB RACES.
The Virginia Riding Club, which was Or
ganized in 1871 by number of gentlemen
in Richmond for the purpose of improving
our riding-horse stock, will add greatly to
the interest OF the Fair. Their desire has
| been from the start to make it a Virginia
Riding Club in fact-that is, to number
among its members every gentleman in the
State owning fine horses. It is the rule OF
the Club that no horse can be entered in its
contests but those belonging to members OF
the Club, and the horse must be ridden by q
member. How these contests have enliyen-
ed Fair-week during the year since the or
ganization of the Club, the crowds attending
them should amply testify. This year, on
account OF the improved condition Of the
| Club, they are able to offer an additional
race besides their regular ones. This race
will be open to all horses. The following is
list OF the races:
Tuesday, October 31st-" The Youngsters
Prize "a single dash of one mile, open
only to four-year-olds. and under. To first
horse, plate Of the value OF $3.50; to second
horse, bronze OF the value OF $40. 81:
Wednesday, November 1st-" The Her
mitage Cup "-mile heats; best twoin three,
open to all ages. To first horse, cup OF the
value of $3.50; to second horse, plate OF the
value of $75. fso9 - 80
Thursday, November 3D." The Roadster
"-trotting race under the saddle,
heats three miles each, best two in three,
open to all ages. To first horse, cup OF the
value OF $275; to second horse, plate OF the
value Of $500.
Friday, November 3D." The Planet
Plate pa single dash OF two miles, open
| to all ages, plate Of the value OF 1915. "The
Centennial Stakes '-heats two miles each,
best two and three, open to all ages-welghts
$3.50. Fifty dollars to the second horse, the
balance to the first. 49,, ...s.t.s
The Club will occupy special building
at the Fair Grounds, where the prizes to be
contended for will be on exhibition, and q
rroper person be- in attendance all the time,
who will furnish all information desired in
connection with thu? government of the
CAPTAIN philip Haxali is president and
Mr.. Thomas L. Crouch. is secretary Of the
CllD!ts>( - -i;3 tshts- - 1874 tst}s&
I..5s 9GI 1.-THE BLACKsBURGt CADETS.
| The corps OF cadets OF the. Virginia Agri.
! cultural and Mechanical College, located at
Blacksburg, arrived here yesterday evening
| by the Danyille train. They number, i6i,
and were divided into four companies,
General Lane, the military instructor, being
! i'm supreme: command. Many OF the cadets
are quite youthful in appearance, arr but IN
! their neat gray uniform and soidieriy
esuipmentst they make q fine show. Their
movements eyince careful training They
were met at the depot by detail OF eight or
ten men from each OF the companies OF the
First regiment and the regimental band, the
whole under the command OF LieutenaLI i :
Jones, of Company 81 I Walker Lignt
Guard). After the usual military cou5-
tesies at the depot the line was IS. foprmea' 70
the city soldiers at the head fioi Iat.
AS they passed through the streets 70
the FAIRGROUNDS crowds filled the SIDE
walks and fair heads appeared at the VIII
dows, welcoming the cadets to RichmonQ,
They went into camp at the Fair51 51Sropnds
last night, and will remain there during the
1fffu{ ftln