Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-10-13
Grand Isle Fair.

''ar annual tar at Maple Shade hall.
~'nth Hero, beginning September 2lst,
nj lasting three days. The first day
US mainly occupied in bringing in and
ronging articles for exhibition. The
iond day opened cold, and it looked in
'.h morning as though the fair would be
lure; but in the afternoon things began
look encouraging, rs many who did not
-'me the first day began coming in. bring
~ their exhibits with them, until nearly
Poll of the unoccupied spaces were filled up.
There was not 50 large an exhibit of
yricultural implements and ladies' fancy
cork as there was last year, many people
linking that because they exhibited arti-
'eS last year it would not do to bring the
me things again; but what there was
was good
The show of stock was good-much
letter than ever exhibited here before.
,nowing that the farmers of Grand Isle
q beginning to wake up in this one par.
t.cularly neglected branch of industry.
The show of fruit was good, and the
elections nearly us large Us last year.
some of them being noticeably fine; those
If William Allen and II. c. Allen being,
'rhaps, the finest specimens in the whole
objection, for having been grown on young
rees they were much finer than those
rpming from old orchards.
Che Delaware grapes exhibited by
William Allen were the finest specimens
ever saw. Owing to the dry weather on
he island this season the grape crop has
been light, and the clusters very small
nd irregular, How Mr. Aliens escaped
he fate of others, | am at u loss to know.
There was good show of fowls. Quite
y growing interest is taken in the i'm
rovemrnt Of fowls here. Many farmers
.eem to think that the keeping of poultry,
specially hens, is one of the things of
least Importance connected with the farm,
md that anything in the shape of hen
hat has feathers is good enough, when, in |
act, it is one of the most important things,
proof of which can be shown in many
Ways, and it is quite encouraging to see
the awakening interest taken in it,
The Grand Isle agricultural society has
adopted the rule of inviting experienced
men in the different voca,iuns connected
with farming to meet with them during
heir fair, and discuss such topics con
nectcd with farming us they are best
acquainted with, so that what was lacking
IN material has been more than made up
ny the valuable papers read before the
society by distinguished men of Vermont,
pntcttcM men who knew by experience
what they were talking about.
The society has never yet given any
premiums, hut the matter is now being
much talked about among the members,
md no doubt, another year, if the farmers
and mech mics of Grand Isle county will
Jtke hold OF the matter, and do all that
hey can to help it along Instead of stand ,
my back and growing" because the
society does not give premiums. when they !
have nothing with which to give premi- ,
ums the society would then be clad to !
rive premiums, and the fairs would be- ,
come permanent thing for the material +
is here in these two towns alone, to make i
one of the best and most instructive fairs /
in the state.
The society has never had permanent a
place for holding its fairs, and have held l.
Them alternately at Grand Isle and L
South Hero. During the last season l.. b i
Macomber OF South Hero put up large t
and commodious building well adapted for t
the purpose of holding our fairs. 1t is l
nicely located almost on the line between :
the two towns The grounds about it are t
level, with plenty of room for the exhibit |
ton of stock; and what is more, Mr. Ma. ,
comber is Il genial, accommodating man,
with ample hotel accommodations ut rea- Z
sonable rates, and only few steps from
the grounds.
The society held its fair in this building
this year, and everything went off we'll.
| cannot see anything to hinder its becom- !
ing permanent thing now, excepting
little more energy and vim on the part of
the people of Grand Isle and South Hero.
During the evening of the first day Mr.,
o. 5. Bliss of Georgia, secretary of the
Vermont dairymens association, spoke
upon the subject of dtirying. was not
present; therefore cannot give Il summary
OF his remarks. | learn there was IL good
attendance, and that the subject drew ou
considerable discussion.
During the forenoon of the second day
DR.. 7, IL. Hoskins of Newport, Vt, dis
cus3ed the subject OF fruit growing in Yer
mont. He spoke mainly of the kinds of
apples that he had found from experience
to be best adapted to growing in his To-
callty. He finds that the kinds that do
well along the Caamplain valley and in
the southern part of the state will not
succeed in his locality, unless it be Il few
exceptions of some of the most hardy |
kinds, such as the ST. Lawrence, Blue
Pelrmain, Peach apple and Duchess of
Odenb1rg; thinks the Duchess of Oldrn
burg the most profitable summer apple
the Red Astrachan popular and does well !
st. Lawrence only profitable October va
riety.
OF the several kinds of Russian apples
imported by the department of agriculture
the Yellow Transparent is the best; looks ,
very much like the Early Harvest, but not
quite so early.
Of other fall and winter kinds men
toned, We're the Magog, Red Sroak, Fl.
meuse. SCOTS winter red, and Wealthy,
the best winter variety so far that he has
discovered. Mr.. Iloskins spoke highly of
the Fameuse Sucre, or Sugar Famru,r, an
apple that originated in Canada-coor of
mahogany red, with light streaks; keeps
well; flesh very tender; neither sweet nor
sour; in fact, thinks it the best apple he
ever tasted.
Mr.. Iloskins does not believe in raising
but one crop in an orchard he THINKS that
orchards will do well if kept in grass.
provided the soil is kept rich enough about
the trees; and then allow he sheep 10 run
in the orchard to pick up the apples which
fall to the ground. In this way the insects
that deposit their eggs in the apple will
be destroyed.
On Wednesday afternoon Prof A. H. !
Sabn of the University of Vermont
read paper on the relation of plants to
the soil. A brief description of plant
was given, and the principal use of the
different parts was briefly explained; the
functions of the roots being to feed the
plant; of the leaves to digest the food
material ahsorhpd nv the roots and / ha