Smyrna times., 1878-10-23
Agricultural Fair held at Sacramento
City.
THE WONDERFUL PRODUCTS OF CALIFORNIA.

Our readers whose minds have been re-
Gently turned to the subject of Agricul
tural Fairs, will find the following graphic
letter written by lady to the Philadelphia
Press, no doubt. highly interesting:
In the other, the Agricultural Park, are
the grounds of the society, one mile from
the city. There are exhibited the live
stock, machinery, vehicles, etc. There,
too, is the finest speed track, mile in
length, in the United States. No pains or
expense are spared by the directors to
make these occasions attractive, successful |
and advantageous. Over $4,000 were eX-
pended for premiums by the association, |
and $4,000 by the citizens of Sacramento. |
| Of the objects of interest and attraction for |
the week, were a ladies' geand equestrian |
tournament, stock parades, trap shooting |
competitive drills of military companies, |
trotting and running races, grand assembly |
and military review of all the troops, in |
fantry, artillery, cavalry and cadets, target |
practice, pony races for the children, a
grand civil and military reception to Post
master Gen. Key, banquets, and brilliant
| display of fireworks on Saturday evening.
A varied programme in which all classes
and conditions could find something to
amuse and interest.
At the Pavilion our eyes were gratifed
by display of fruit and vegetables, that
for size and variety can no where but in
California be seen. There were banana
trees in all stages of growth, cocOanuts,
pineapples and pomegranates; five varie
ties of lemons, IA of oranges, l6 of peaches,
II of plums, S5 of pears, and l23 OF apples.
The foot hill peaches and the plums are
worthy of special notice, for handsomer
and more lucous ones are no where to be
| found. Some of the peaches were 90 and
S 10 inches in circumference, and of the
8 plums, it took but to make & pound.
a There were plump rosy-pulped green figs,
! walnuts, soft-shelled almonds, long thick
D peanuts (the children's delight, and
/ Japaneses butternuts. Tobacco in all stages
, of growth and stalks already cured. Cali
e fornia cotton, and an exhibition of the silk
i business from the mulberry tree to the
@ cocoon. Corn 19 feet high. Hops, cheese,
e and honey made from the orange blossoms
e of Los Angeles. Among the vegetables,
a we saw white spine cucumbers, yard long,
@ and the same in circumference. Potatoes
d large enough for pillow. Cabbages, one
e of which would make sourkrout sufficient
d for Dutchman and his frau the winter
# long. Yellow and green feshed mush-
d melons as big as watermelons, and water
d melons it would require pulley and tackle
n to place upon the table. Squashes weigh
d ing l60 Tbs. Pumpkins won't grow here
le but once. You plant pumpkin seed, and
a the first year it will grow pumpkins; then
- plant their seeds, and after that they are
n. SQUASH The soil here is too high-toned to
re grow anything as common as pumpkins.
le Time would fail to tell of the size, variety
,e beauty and flavor of the grapes. California
G. grapes are world-renowned. Among the
es handsomest are the white Muscat, black
h, Hamburg, flaming Tokay, black Morocco
ID and rose of Peru. The grapes of most o
lg the varieties are as large as our plums, anC
10 the punches reminding one of those the
ut spies carried on a staff out of the land o
I'd Eshcot. Each variety has a charm peculia
st to itself, and their abundance places then
ed within the reach of the poorest. Thousand
te of tons will this year be converted int
he raisins. We visited the fruit forwardin
er. house of NJ. T. Brewer & Co., Of Sacramento
ch in order to be able to give you from head
DR.. quarters the prices at which this fruit
ed selling This firm have already forwards
re this season over 800 tons of grapes t
?; Chicago, Philadelphia and New York. TIL
". finest varieties can be bought at retail fror
he 5 to cents per fb., and from the grower
at in large quantities at 2 cents per tb. Th
ks native or Mission grapes retail at two BIZ
he Us cents) for 20 tbs, and wholesale at ST
ar a ton. The other varieties, the foreign
ell from $l2 to 500 a ton. Surely, this is
land flowing with milk and honey.
The great point of attraction during fa
week is the Agricultural Park, where al
the live stock and where at o'clock eac
afternoon the races begin. From in til
morning till dark something novel; interes
ing and exciting is to be seen. The stoc
parade is to many the finest feature of tn
exposition.
i L IL
for all the stock to leave their stalls an
take their place in the line. (The paraC
, takes place in the speed track, and IL
IKE spectators have fine view from the gran
ied stand) The Chief Marshal and his aids al
me flying backwards and forwards on hors
ole back, busy giving orders and arrangr
stock in the order of march. Cattle a.
believing, horses neighing, calves baain
his herd bells tinkling, boys shouting, cir
ly laughing, and voices buzzing, making up
the argon of sound, pleasant, if not musics
the Now all are in order, and at a signal fro
the President who is on the Judges stan
the band strikes up, Hail to the Chief
ist. and the procession starts, led off by tt
A Grand Marshal and Superintendent. II
it line was nearly mile and a half Ion
:. many of them walking double. First can
the gentlemen's roadsters, followed
thoroughbred stations, runners, trottel
III horses of all work, draft horses, mares, col
oi Shetland ponies, jacks, jennies and mule
'eS' Some moved with measured step, otht
danced to the music, and few gave tho
who led them as lively time as any o.
ysi- could reasonably enjoy. Following t
es- horses came the cattle. First, shorthorn
ave Durhams, waddling like elephants, tn
the Ayrshires After them one snow viii
Holstein calf; then the Devons, Alderney
ing Jerseys; winding up with the graded catt
Her we were particularly attracted by he
!, is of shorthorned Durhams, belonging to G
Yunger, of San Jose. Among them wal
year old bull, Red Thorndale. He haC
hoe small and beautiful face and head, "
th;n majectc as a lion and gentle as kite
nO0 The Colonel values him at $4,000 He
wv a dark brown, with as fine and glossy cC
as a thoroughbred race horse, and receiV
IN. all the attention and care given one
oota them. We visited his quarters and fou
him blanketed and having his toilet maC
His feet, which are very small, were bel
-. cleaned and oiled. Then the hair on
u L i'a gentle, expressive face was parted a
mas combed, and his attendant brushed a
smoothed and patted as if he were tenc
baby-a pretty heavy baby though, as
ema- weighed nearly 2,400 TBS. We patted
hree brawny back and stroked the SOFT sill
hair over his brows without fear. T
herd consist of 20 head, for which
been Colonel was awarded gold medal.
I. And now for peep at the farmers pa