Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-10-08
THE VILMINGTON FATR.

BIG CROWD OF PEOPLE, A mo SHOW OF CAT
TIE, AND A GOOD EXHIBITION IN ALL DEPART
MENTs-coL. MEAD's ADDREss-THE PRE-
MUM LIST.
Tho Wilmington fair is emphatically one of
the institutions which are ever new and new
err old. Each recurring annual exhibition
seems to confirm the interest of the people in
the success of their show, and with each add
ed year they seem only to have learned how to
make better fair and get more pleasure and
profit out of it. Last Wednesdays exhibit
bition was the 3Oth annual one aud, within
the knowledge of the younger men and wo-
men, at least, none of the twenty nine previ-
Gus fairs have been better or more satisfac-
fory. The departments were all well filled,
the exhibits were numerous and cellent,
and the attendance Of people was very large
probably not less than $500. As usual,
working oxen were leading feature. OF
these there were 90 Jokes on the ground, all
Of them handsome enough to take premium.
A pair of 5-year dds owned by Geo. Hub
bard and Sons led in weight, tipping the
scales at 1895 lbs A pair of G-year olds,
owned by John Rice, followed with weight
of $3.50, and other heavy pairs were L. IT,
Butterfeld's 3SlO O. f. Reads 3GO5, j. II.
Corbett's $3.50, Hiram Cushman's 500, G. r.
| Alvords 1915, Daniel Medborys $500, G. W.
Bissells $3.50, Ophir Haynes's $500, and so
on down through the list. X. p. Ames show
cd fine pair of 3-year-olds weighing 3l3j,
and NJ. l.. Burr pair weighing 2s5O.
Durhams, either grade or thoroughbred,
are the favoritos in Wilmington, and the neat
fietock exhibited was, as usual, mostly OF this
breed. Chauncey Smith had a herd of %
animals on the grounds, comprising, among
others, beautiful pair of twin steers, years
| old, weighing $3.50 lbs and as much alike ms
two peas. Five excellent 2-year old heifers
were in the herd 4 cows, n yoke of oxen, and
several yearlings. The splendid 4.year. old
bull sired by au imported thoroughbred,
and owned by G. Smith and +. II. Smith aud
Chas. Parmeee was on the grounds, as was
also the grade Durham sired by this bull and
owned by j. II. Corbett. Smith and Parme-
lee showed herd Of - cattle which includ-
ed thoroughbred Durham cows, 2.year-
old heifers, and calves. Two of the latter
handsome thoroughbred bulls have been
sold to the Winslow Brothers of Kankakee,
Ill. J. II. Corbett also had q good herd on
exhibition. May and Adams showed pair
of G-mos old calves, weighing $50 lbs, which
any farmer might be proud Of
The display of horses was not large,
but the quality was superior. One of the no
table exhibits in this department was Ashley
Stones pair Of bay colts, full sisters, one 3
and the other years old, perfectly matched,
and differing only 10 lbs. in their weight
One weighed $50 lbs. and the other 800. Z.
c. Boyds yearling colt raised by c. Smith
and sired by "Grandee, " formerly owned by
q. g. Hall of Brattleboro was much admired
Clark Harris showed sorrel 4.year. old colt
weighing 1890, and +. T. Butterield colt
of the same age weighing 1llj lbs. C..
Smiths stock exhibit included two good colts
Only two pens Of sheep were on the grounds.
One of these was owned by +. G. Boyd and
contained IL animals, and the other, owned
by c. Smith, contained lG sheep and lambs
Both pens were grade Cotswolds. OF the
other outdoor exhibits our premium list must
tell the story
In Floral hall there was a large and credit
able exhibition, including fruit, grain and
vegetables and fancy and household articles
in great variety. During the whole day the
hall was thronged to such an extent as to
make locomoton practically impossible. To
make personal examination of these n-door
exhibits was, for this reason, out Of the ques-
ton, and IT is not entirely matter Of choice,
therefore, that, on this point also, the pre-
MUM list is left to tell what the exhibition
was. We cannot, however, in justice, for
bear to mention the samples of maple syrup
which formed prominent feature. This
product is peculiarly representative of Viii
skill and excellence in its manufacture rarely
attained.
Col. John B. Mead. the orator of the day,
was at great disadvantage in view of the strong
wind which prevailed, but he nevertheless spoke
entertainingly for upward of half an hour.
Col. Mead began his address by declaring
that one of Vermont's best products was her
people, saying when look into their faces
and see the general spirit of satisfaction and
contentment with their lot, l understand
something what the key is that unlocks the
secret Of the thrift that is everywhere seen in
the State Referring back to the first State
fair, held - years ago, he remarked the
progress in agriculture and agricultural ex.
hibits since that time. Millions of dollars
have been added to the products of Vermont
by the improvements in dairying alone, and
although western farmers procure premiums
perhaps by questionable means, over US, Yer.
) mont makes the best butter.
More men and women in Vermont are
making dairying a success than ever before
It il not n rare thing to find darymen receiv-
ing 40 and 80 cents a pound for their butter
the year around. But there is still great
field for improvement
Some of the grandest specimens of stocb
Z in Vermont are found in this part of the
State Il have the speaker said, attend
, ed fairs all along this fall and haven't seen
q better exhibition of cattle than I ind here. u
Old oxen, although grand sight, are moi
profitable. PJohts in stock growing are
, found in the first, or at most, the second
! year, let it be a calf, sheep or a pig
r In this section of the State very few sheep
are to be found great many pastures are
/ growing up to shrubs and bushes which
, might be very much improved by sheep, and
not cost very much to keep them. Genera
husbGndry is the best because when the mar
ket is down for one product you generally
, find it up for another. Horses and colts are
grown at greater loss than any other pro
, duct. There are raised hundreds and thou
sands that don't begin to pay their way. We
have got beyond raising fast horses. The
horse for all work is the horse Vermont
wants to raise. Our best specimens of stocl
have been exported. Vermont needs i'm
proved stock.
Farming is not the business in which hal
! way work will answer Reproduce the best
Many Vermont farms are running out. We
haven't the people we should have had if W,
had kept up the fertility of the soil. The sol
should be studied. No calling under the sun
is so full of mysterious and unknown laws
0 which, if understood and obeyed, would
J bring grand results, as that Of tilling the
I soil Among the Romans the tilling of the
soil was the most noble occupation. There
! is not better place in which to live and til
A the soil than Vermont, surrounded by all thai
is luxurious, grand and noble. We have
4 great deal to learn about it yet. / find BY
experiments that / don't know anything
Q about it, This subject should be studied by
J the young men Of today The natura
( sciences, which SO much underlie our work
. should be studied in our common schools,
: In order to have future celebrations suo
S cessful, Col. Mead would have fhe peOpl,
guard against oil questionable means. I'm
sist upon liquor drinking upon your ground
Insist upon no gambling, in any form. speal
of this because elsewhere in Vermont, it il
largely to be seen ON these occasions" Mr.
/, Mead closed by saying that with the asso
Q | Citations of the DeODle of Vermont with fhei