The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-09-24
Mad River Valley Fair.

and the exhibition OF stock and In the floral
hall was as good or better than that at any
former fair.
There were about sixty entries of horses and
colts; the show of drivers, both single and
double, was very good indeed the number OF
colts was smaller than last year, though in the
parade OF horses, L. r. Joslyn OF Waitsfield
had ten or more sired by the famous Phil Sheri-
dan, and there were several others equally
meritorious
The cattle pens were well filled and the ex-
hibit was pronounced by good Judges to be
even better than 1t has been for several years,
calves especially being large and handsome,
and steers well matched There were thirty
three pairs Of oxen and steers entered on the
secretary's books, but we were unable to get
the weight Of many Of them. Otis Wallis
Of Waitsfeld had a bull calf six months old,
that weighed six hundred ninety pounds.
John Esgan of Warren, two bull calves,
thoroughbred Durhams, one weighing six hum
bred ten, the other six hundred ninety pounds;
also one pair OF steer calves weighing ten hun
dIed fifty pounds, and one pair ten hundred,
all dropped since the first OF March and fed on
SKINNED milk, fine feed and bran. o. G.
Wilder Of Wsitsfeld had Durham bull, one
year old, that weighs twelve hundred seventy
five pounds and John Somerville OF Waitsfieid
one that weighs twelve hundred twenty. N.
D. House had the largest herd Of any one ex-
hibitor, about twenty in all, of the we'll known
Devon breed, and he also had several fine
wool sheep.
The hogs were nearly all Of the Berkshire
breed, and at the poultry stand we found a
large and fine show of hens and chicks of sew
eral diff erent breeds, but no geese, turkeys or
ducks. The training of steer calves was lust
perfectly we'll done-certanly the OK can no
longer be called dull or unteachabe brute.
Bert Barnard of Waitsfield had large red pair,
very handsome which obeyed the commands,
!" Gee, Tom and Haw, Bill " without the
slightest hesitation; each one would lie down
for the Othar N i'm troip cd
by Wendal Bowman Of Duxbury were quite as
obedient, and would walk up plank, balance
and see-saw, and, when the lesson was over and
the driver sat down with hat off, caressed him
with evident kindly regard. The whole enter
tainment was simply wonderful and better
than any circus.
The trotting could not be called quite salts
factory, though it was spirited and the races
well contested when there were any; but the
entries for purses one and four we're not filled,
though the directors were very lenient and va
ried the rules for trotting as much as possible.
Floral Hall, under the superintendent of j.
b. Fassett and lady OF Moretown, with volun-
teer assistance from ladies interested in the
work, presented a very attractive appearance
Flowers, pot plants, paintings fancy work and
domestic manufactures were abundant, rich
and tastefully arranged. There were no less
than twenty quilts and bed spreads, all of them
very nice, and If time was to be reckoned at
true value, would as well deserve premium as
tTOttlnR nOTbe; several a1gnanS or carriage
robes were very rich and elaborate, while
tides of all varieties were very numerous and
seemed to vie with each other as rivals of
beauty and intricacy of construction Mrs
Lizzie Beech of Duxbury had six foliage plants,
or begonias,. very fine and thrifty and all in
blossom. Mrs j. B. Fassett had the largest
collection, tastefuly arranged above their
organ, which furnished good music both days
OF the fair. j. &. Griggs of Waterbury had
two organs on exhibitions Worcester organ
with three sets of reeds. and Woods organ
both of excellent tone and capacity. There
was fine exhibition of oil paintings creditable
to the art and much of it was done by quite
young ladies, Mary Moody of Waterbury and
Edith Walbridge of Waitsfied, each thirteen
years old Hattie L. Fitzpatrick of Fayston and
Mrs. L. T. White OF Mortified each had very
nice worsted wreaths. Abby H. Holden Of
Waitsteld had bouquet OF lovely flowers
made from the silky down of milk-weed pods
Miss Mary Morrissey of Waterbury had
beautiful silk quilt, and Mrs. Persons of Gran
vile one similar in work and material and also
pieced, painted and embroidered that nothing
could be spoken against either except the
name s. crazy quilt" The last was brought in
too late for entry but kindly allowed to be put
on exhibition. Mrs. A. S. Provost of Water
bury exhibited patterns for ladies' and chill
dren's clothing cut by diagram, which system
she will teach to any one who may desire, en-
ablipg them to cut and easily fit garments for
themselves and families this was offered too
late Tor entry on the society's books, so no pre-
MUM could be awarded The everywhere
present and useful sewing machine was repre-
sented by j. c. Griggs of Waterbury in the
White machine, and by j. A. Renait of Montpe-
lier in the Singer machine, who entered for
premium machne-work done in the hail. both
doing so well that the judges could not agree
a. to which WAS best but with true republican
principle allowed the majority to rule in the
award of premiums
Agricultural Hall never was before quite so
fully up to the highest mark of merit, nearly
every vegetable usually grown on the farm
and IN the garden being exhibited in great per-
fection-cabbages and pumpkins especially
large; there were no fewer than twenty entries
OF potatoes. The judges in this class report
serious business " to decide what was best
where all were so good. The exhibit of the
dairy was exceedingly meager, but the maple
sugar and syrup were nice indeed. This is
one of the best interests Of the valley, taking
into account the cost Of manufacture, and our
maple honey and sugar finds Its way to a
ready market East, West and South. Wher-
ever Vermonter has gone-and where has he
not ?-he calls the sweets of the Green Noun
tain State to follow him.
In mechanic arts and agricultural nipple
ments we noticed seed-sower, entered by |.
d. Robinson Son Of Moretown, which has
been tested by farmers in the vicinity, and is
well liked 1t sows grass and turnip seed
o'ohiJ Gnu Woh anu, Wueu ulleu Win SEED
ready to suspend from a mans shoulders,
weighs about eighteen pounds. o. N. Eaton
had Royal range, tinware and horse-rake,
and d. L. Fuller & Son of Montpelier exhibited
the Lansing spring-tooth harrow, ensilage and
fodder cutter, and Mann's harrow and seed
sower combined E. p. White had three mat
tresses, and elegant furniture, lounge, easy
chair and rocker, which he upholstered in
Mortified
Everything considered, we regard this as one
more successful step towards the upbuilding OF
agricultural interests, and the Improvement OF
farming In this valley. The officers of the 60
ciety have endeavored to do all possible to
make 1t interesting to the young as well as the
older members. The president, B. D. Bsbee Of
Moretown, himself young farmer, was every.
where present on both days, directing and
planning for the general good of ALL as indeed
he has been for these many weeks. The ad
dress by DR.. Cutting was full Of practica
lessons from his own experience in farming
and experiments in chemistry, and cannot fai
to do good. Waitsfeld cornet band was pres
emit on both days and gave a liberal treat o.
good music. Providence gracously granted
fair weather and the people generally were
well satisfied with the fair and the good orde
in which all the work was done.
DIR. CUTTINGS ADDRESS.
duced the speaker, DR., III. A. Cutting of Lunen
burgh, practical farmer and chemist, VIII,
spoke an hour or more on fertilizers and how t,
get the best results from their use He com
plimented the society on their excellent exhibi
tion of their stock and produce, showing tina
the soil is adapted to the best results. Still
thew doubtless felt q loss from tho All M nutio,