Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-09-10
Mad River Valley Fair.


members, and the character Of the people in the
valley, will expect to see the society go down,
until something better takes its place. The eighth
annual fair was held on the Fair Ground in
waitsfeld, on Tuesday and Wednesday, septem-
Der I'd and Sd, and, although little too early in
the season for some crops, was on the whole very
successful
We believe dust and heat invariably attend
Mad River Valley Fair whether early in the sea-
son or late; but there was no rain on either day,
and on Wednesday good breeze made the heat
to say the least, bearable. The irst days attend
ance was rather light, but a large number OF
membership tickets were sold, and all were active
and busy getting stock etc. in readiness for ex-
hibition. On Wednesday the attendance was
very good, though perhaps not quite 20 much so,
as N the State Fair was not so soon to be holden
at Montpelier, as many will take the opportunity
to attend there
HORSES
The show Of horses was very fair; fifty-four In
number, and some OF them very handsome and
well-buit. We think William Ward Of Duxbury
had the most in number, and his stallion two
years-old, is a fine animal OF matched horses,
there were not 30 many entries as last year, but
they were very good
CATTLE.
In the cattle-pens we could not count quite
30 many az last year, but we think there
was a marked improvement in size and quality,
and that is saying q good deal, for everybody
knows the valley is noted for good stock. We
missed the splendid stock OF Florence Mccarthy
which was here last year, but l.. r. Joslyn of
waitsheld had his large herd Of fu-blood Dur
hams, as usual, and some thoroughbred Dutch
cattle. N. d. Phelps had some very large young
stock of Durham breed, and E. W. Bisbee a
splendid yearling Durham bull There was
one pair Of steer calves, Durhams, we be-
lieve, and also twins, owned by Moses and
William Palmer, which were tremendous great
fellows and very handsome, red and white, and
precisely alike. We learn they have already re-
fused fifty dollars for the pair In the trial of
working oxen Mr.. A. f. Hanks Of Warren took
the first premium; and also second premium on
steers three-years-old. Mr.. Hanks came ten
miles and drove splendid herd of ten head of
CATTLE Durham grades, and the premium list will
show that they were prize lot. His heifers
were very fine and large, and we would like
records next year OF what they will do in the line
Of milk and butter. Jerseys are decidedly gain
ing in numbers and popularity in this vicinity,
Alfred Joslyn Of Waitsfield has quite full stock
Of pure blood, and g. o. Boyce of fayston has a
thoroughbred Jersey bull, which he will keep
another year. To the Devons we must always
give the preference for beauty and the full herd
exhibited by one of our young farmers, N. D..
House OF Wsitsfield, were very large fat and
handsome. We judge Mr.. House to be farmer
who puts brains into his work, and has an eye
on the business of stock-raising; his good success
is plainly seen in his cattle. His three heifers,
two-years-old, were particularly fine; and al
though the Devons do not, as a breed, claim so
high figures in butter-making as the Jerseys, yet
one cow of this flock made eleven pounds OF
butter from thirty-two pounds of milk per day in
one week, from grass alone, last June. Her
weight is now ten hundred and sixty pounds.
SWINE
The show OF fat hogs was unusually good o.
c. Wilder had three very large ones, and nothing
could be said against them only that they were
black, while Otis Wallis had two which we think
nearly or quite as good.
1t was noticeable that all the entries in each
breed of sheep were made by just one man. and
So of course, he took all of the premiums in that
line. Now we know from personal observation
that this was not because there was no compet
ton, for we say that there really superior
animals in every pen. The flock of o. c. Wilder
| OF Wal sfeld is judged by some men to be equa
| to any in the state, and no doubt Messrs Boyct
| and Joslin each think his own is little better
| than Mr.. Wilder's. Now as we know them all t.
| be shrewd practical farmers, we conclude that
each breed is very desirable for sheep-husbandry
| and that each man knows how to bring then
| up. Mr. Boyce exhibited two black ewes eacl
| of which has raised a pair of black eve lambs
| the present year.
POULTRY.
| Last year we had no turkeys, but this veal
there were some at the fair We take 1t as a good
omen of better times, and a suggestion of thanks
| giving But still the need of better show o.
poultry is apparent, and more interest in this di
rection would add greatly to the general exhibi
| ton. viii not our boys and girls take this mat
ter in hand and stir up spirited competition
| Make some nice commodious coops during th'
leisure hours of winter, and raise some splendid
fowls of every name next summer, and brins
them ont to the fair next fall. The coop and thu
bantams shown by Dorrin Stoddard were very fine
FLORAL HALL.
This department was very well filled with tn
usual articles for household use and decoration
The prettiest of all was the show of pot plants b.
Mrs. C. Spaulding of Moretown, twenty-five il
number, and very many of them blooming pro
fusely We counted some over thirty blossom
on double-spotted petunia, very rich, and tn
| fuehsas we're very fine a good many other pot
were tastefuly arranged in the same group, max
ing lovely show. Cut flowers were abundant
the richest and largest being a bouquet Of dahlia
from Mrs J. r. Boyce of Fayston; and a mos
exauisitely delicate bouquet of yerbenas from
Mrs. n N Phillips of Dnxburv was very fine
rha ,,,,.. 80, ,ia,aa .,a nan, cha, ,h,na
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h;s addrass that notbny ia so good but tina, tber
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