Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-21
THE STATE FAIR.
The First and Second Days-GeneraI
APpearance1FIOral Hall and ITS
Attractions - Premium Hall and
Hts ExhibitIOn-Several Minor Mat
ters-Racing. Etc.

.
Attractions = Premium Hall and
Hts ExhibitIOn-Severa Minor Mat
ters-Racfng. Etc.
MACON, October l9-Editor Morning Nesos:
The State Agricultural Society has had a
varied, although in many respects a brilliant
career since the war. At one time the pride
and admiration Of the entire populace, then,
anon, fighting for its very existence before
the Legislature. Even among the farm
ers themselves dissensions were rife,
and many were ready to crush
the society out of existence. Amid
all this fighting without and contention within,
the society has gone forward in its mission,
and coming forth out Of every conflict stronger
and better prepared to meet its obligations.
Some OF its exhibitions have been models of
their kind and the fair of 1881, under the strain
or peculiar circumstances, is one OF the most
creditable yet given. Many things have con-
spired to interfere with its success-the un-
paralleled drought cutting off every variety of
vegetable and field crop, and consequently
making money exceedingly scarce Again, the
International Cotton Exposition, being in a
state or unreadineSs, In Atlanta, hundreds of
people who had made arrangements to attend
the State Fair and pass on to Atlanta immedi-
ately have been confused by the fact that they
cannot take in both exhibitions in one trip.
The attendance, however, ia good, although not
equal to expectation, and the receipts, we
trust. will be ample to meet all obligations.
In Floral Hall, on the first floor, are the mer-
chants displays. They are the most elegant
and elaborate ever made on the fair grounds.
They represent every department of business.
Messrs. l.udden & Bates, OF Savannah, have
the most extensive display Of goods in their
line ever brought to the grounds. Messrs. ].
W. Burke & Co., of Macon, have similar dis
play of musical instruments, but ornamented
With V1in and
establishment. Messrs. Van Sickle and G. w.
Burr. in house furnishing goods; Messrs. Ju-
han & Co., dry goods; Aessrs. Winship & Cal
l0way, j. II. Hertz, @. Wachtel & Bro, in
clothing; Messrs. Thomas Wood, w. &EP.
Taylor, in furniture, all have large and exten-
sive displays.
On the second floor, Floral Hall. is the ladies'
department Of fancy work. Though not as ex-
tensive in quantity, it Is superior in quality.
The contest in some lines Of goods is quite live
ly, and much interest is manifested as to the
final result.
The rivalry In cooking among the young
ladies is very attractive feature, and evokes
much commentator
In Premium Hall one of the most extensive
and varied exhibitions is to be found. There
has never been anything to equal it but once
in the history Of the State Fair.
On entering you come upon the exhibit of
the Ocmulgee Farmers Club, of Bibb county.
This is one Of the oldest organizations of the
State dating back over forty years. Its men,
bers live in the upper end of Bibb county.
farming lands in Middle Georgia are to be
found in this section, as well as some of the
most intelligent people This display embraces
everything that can be found on the farms
from = tumbler Of jelly to a bale OF cotton.
They represent seven different kinds of long
forage Among the number is bale of ground
peavine hay, the first 1 have ever seen. Col.
Wimbush's Bermuda hay attracts considerable
attention. The contribution OF Captain Parks
to this display is large and the articles are
OF most excellent character. He has six va
rieties of hay and five varieties of sugar cane,
and his good lady an extensive display of
wines, jellies and preserves.
Next in order comes the Talbot county dis
play, which is the largest and most attractive
richest sections of the State and intelligent
farming is one of the chief characteristics of
that people. While they have lost much of
their property by the misfortunes of war, they
have lost none OF their pride of character nor
intelligence. The number OF articles are too
numerous to mention. There is collection of
needle work by young lady which would be
hard to surpass. suit Of jeans-the wool
raised, corded, spun and woven, and the suit
cut and made in Talbot county. Its ap-
pearance carries us back to the days of the
pounds and a squash weighing seventy-five
pounds are among the curioSities The finest
corn in all the land is to be found in the dis
play, and the specimens OF wheat and oats are
exceedingly fine. There was q collection of
varieties Of wood on the plantation Of Colonel
W. 7. Dennis near Talbotton. There were
eighty-two different kinds Adjoining this dis
play, and forming part of it really, was the
immense collection Of articles from the farm
Of Colonel John B. German, the noted Euro
peau traveller. He has eleven varieties of corn,
all well developed; twelve varieties of peas
with every other article that can bs found in q
well-regulated farm. His small grain was ex-
ceedingly fine. He had a good selection of
minerals sent him from upper Georgia. His
aged mother had also the largest display of
domestic goods, containing one hundred and
twenty different articles.
Along side of this display was that of Col.
J. Fl. Black, of Sumter county. He had thirty
three varieties Of field crops All the speci-
mems were first class, and only shows what
Sumter could have done in general display if
she had set her head to do it.
Next in order came the display of seeds by
DIR. w. B. Jones Co., Of Herndon Burke
county. The readers of the NEWS have so
often heard of this model farm and its gentle
manly proprietors that any minute detail
would be Superf1uous. They have arranged in
elegant glass jars fftY- three varieties Of vege-
table seeds. Then they have twenty-seven speci-
mems OF field crops. making one of the most
attractive displays upon the ground. They are
selling large amounts of their seeds to visitors
Mrs ]. W. Bryan. Of Dillon, Walker county,
sends dozen winter apples that are perfect
beauties as to size and color. She has several
other varieties of fruits on exhibition. among
them some late or October peaches, which re-
semble in freshness and color the July or Au-
gust peach.
Mr. Berckmans of Augusta, has a magnifi-
cent collection of trees and evergreens. He is
doing more than any single individual to make
Georgia what she should be-one of the fore
most fruit-growing sections of the South.
Among the practical and useful displays was
that of watermelons and pumpkins. Some of
the finest specimens are to be found here ever
seen in the State They are superb.
Among the curiosities in this hall are some
Japanese persimmonS, almost as large as the |
common apple of this section. DR.. Jones had
a specimen of egg plant that weighed eight
and half pounds, and Solicitor Hardeman
had one that weighed eight and three -eighths
pounds. They were splendid specimens Mrs.
E. R. Mound, Of Talbot county, had a box Of
silk cocoons from which she gathers many g
thread. But the most attractive curiosity Is q |
small pair of pants conSplcuously displayed,
which were worn by Count Johannes B. German
over forty years ago. They are preserved in
tact, and his venerable mother verifles the fact
of their age, and says it was not common for
boys in that day to wear breeches until they
were ten or twelve years of age.
To day many additions have been made to
exhibits and nearly all the gaps filed up.
Messrs. Bern & Bros. have a very extensive
display Of saddlery and harness This is one
of the largest manufacturing establishments in
the South.
The racing has been good, and quite a num-
Der OF the best horses have been held in re-
serve for tomorrow. Coup, with his circus, |
will be here. The crowd has been large to-day |
an inf I0r