Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-10-03
KeMnebec Agricultural show and Fair.

| hemneb bee Agricultural show and Fair.
| The Kennebec Agricultural Show and Fair,
opened Tuesday at Readfeld. The pleasant
weather was favorable and the farmers of
western Kennebcc assembled in large num-
bers. The President of the society is John
+. Brainerd of East Winthrop; the Secretary
is j. b. Low of Rea,lfield; both live. encgetic
men. The association is not excelled by any
other in the State of similar character.
| The first day was devoted to the cattle
exhibition proper, which was never excelled
| by any previous exhibition. There were about
800 head of neat cattle ON the ground. The
oxen were not quite so heavy as usual, but
there were more nice young cattle. The
greater part of the stock was jersey. Here
ford and Durham-thc Jersey predOminating
among the cows, and the Hereford among
the oxen. This year for the first time in many
years, the show ofcattle excited more interest
than the show of horses; indicating that the
farmers of this society are giving more at
tention to cattle and less to horses
The show of horses was not quite SO good
as last year. There were 60 entries of hors-
es and colts. The drawing by oxen and
horses was excellent.
| OF sheep the number of entries was larger
than usual. Farmers are beginning to find
sheep raising a profitable business. 1t has
paid well the past year, and is increasing
We were told of one man in Readfield, who
| butchered and sent to Boston this season l3
lambs, for which he received in cash S94 net.
The number of entries of swine was large,
of various kinds, making a superior show,
but interest in pork-raising is not
very great in kcnnebcc. Cattle and horses
arc the favorite animals in the estimation of
our farmers for raising.
| L.. . LANA H.. tl.r..
usual. There were many samples of fancy
varieties, enough and good enough to suit
| the most critical.
| The first day was undoubtedly the most in
teresting and important day of the exhibition
And it was good thing to notice that the
farmers generally congratulated themselves
upon the fact that they had ''cattlc show"
that was worthy Ofthe name and of the idea
which prevailed originally in regard to these
exhibitions.
The second day was devoted to ex-
animation at the hall, of the agricultural
implements, with some horse trotting
thrown in in the afternoon for amusement.
The articles of greatest merit in this part
of the show were the dairy products.
There were SO entries of butter and cheese
Think of that We who attend shows with less
than dozen specimens of these articles g..
And such butter and cheese 4 king might
be proud of it, This is not the ten cent kind
of butter we have heard so much about but
such as brings a good round price right along,
either at home or abroad. Nothing smacks
more of good, wholesome living, than good
butter, cheese and milk, with good bread to
match
OF fruit there were 20 entries-apples,
plums, pears, peaches, grapes and cranberries.
There were three specimens of hOme-raised
peaches, large and well developed, but
whether ripe OF not we would no; swear
without examining them more closely than
we were able to do The display of fruit as
whole was very fine, but after all it was but
a small exhibition of the great wealth of fruit
raised in Kcnncbec county. The large or
chards seen on all sides are well loaded this
year with fruit of excellent quality.
| The vegetable show was small compared
with other years, though there was a fair dis
play. The universal cry is that potatoes
are rotting badly. Corn makes a meagre
show this year. Much less than usual is cx-
hibited and of an inferior quality. The corn
| crop is not success. OF grain there was
fair show, but it is too early in the sea-
son for full display in this line. The award
of premiums for grain is not made until No.
vember, SO as to afford means for more cor
rect and full information than can now be
| had
OF agricultural implements there was the
largest display for years. Hitherto there has
been no building for this very important part
of agricultural exhibitions, but this year the
society erected a building for implements of
husbandry, and the consequence is good
show, the largest part Of which is of Kenne-
bee manufacture, and chiefly from the smart
and enterprising town Of Winthrop. W. +.
Whitman of that town had IA entries in that
| line, and Alden & Keith, of the same town,
had ID entries, all very superior articles.
One of the most curious exhibitions in this
department was La Dow's .J0inted Pulverz-
ing Harrow, which looks like anything but
the old-tashioned harrow, but which it is said
is an admirable invention as was proved by
experiment in field near by.
The display of household manufactures
falls little below the average, but was,
however, very substantial and interesting.
The sewing machine exhibitors were on
hand with their new and improved machines,
which attracted great deal of attention. The
new machine now selling by Fowler, IIamlen
& Smith received special attention.
The Readfed Manufacturing Company
displayed Is styles of wooden cloths made
by them, of excellent quality. This cOmpa-
ny has been doing a profitable business the
past year. 1t is n great addition to the bust
ness of the village of Readfeld. We under
stand there is prospect of charging the
business very soon, which will require more
mill room. The largest part of the money
which is disbursed by this company goes di-
rectly into the pockets of the farmers.
There was trotting in the afternoon to divert
the multitude, but this society is not carried
away with the horse trot epidemic. The
Readfeld Band, which is very praise-wOr-
thy musical organization, gave its services
gratuitously to the exhibition, and added
very much by its excellent performances to
the pleasure of the occasion.
On the last day the reports of committees
were read, and Gov. Garcelon delivered an
address.
North KenMebec agricultural Society, Cat
tie Show and Fair at Waterville,
Der. lst-SECoND DAY.
There was quite a large gathering of peo-
pie and teams at the park Wednesday fore
noon but very little interest was manifested