Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-09-25
JAMAICA TOWN FATR.
A Good show Of working Oxen and y
Generally succeasfuI Exhibition,
COZ. HOOKERs ADpREss.

ANhig kobh uhbW VI llObh VI huo DNnbE utBhNt-
ments. There were between fifty and sixty
pair Of oxen and steers, ALL or nearly all
from Jamaica. The show Of oxen was nota-
Bile for the average heavy weight there be-
ing but few light steers or light cattle Of any
age among them. Without counting, we
should say that there we're about twenty yoke
that would weigh over 5000 pounds each.
The heaviest pair we're owned by A. aud o.
Howe, and weighed nearly 1000. II. M.
Thayer had pair weighing 5000; Ned Pierce
a pair yrs. old, weight 300; Eugene How
ard, pair yrs. old, 3400; VIM. A. Boyle
a pair, $3.50; s. Foskett pair, 1926; II.
Howard, pair, $500 s. d. May, pair yrs.
old, 1856; j. q. Gleason, pair yrs. old, BIO;
Geo. Wilder, pair yrs old 3O4O. Nearly
all Of the above were worthy to be called pre-
MUM cattle, and there we're doubtless others
among the cattle OF more than 5000 pounds
weight better than some of these noted.
nice, smooth, well matched pair Of yr. old
steers we're shown by Dexter Torrey their
weight was 1850 A good pair Of steers yrs.
old, weight 2700 was shown by Seneca
Howe, and also good pair yrs. old. Benz.
Jennison had fine yoke Of steers, 3 yrs. old,
weighing 2765; W. j. Howard, pair yrs.
old, weight 2400; N. f. Sage good pair of
well.matohod yrs. old cattle, weight 200;
Benz. Pierce, pair of the same age, 2S00:
and Others perhaps some Of them of equal
merit, were exhibited. pair of Dutch
yearling steers we're shown by Fred johnson.
Very few young cattle Of any kind we're on
the ground.
A Jersey COW was shown by NJ O. Skinner
and another Jersey by J. O. Robinson. Mr..
Robinson's COW Is said to have made 80 ounc-
es OF butter from quart of milk. Two or
three other COWS completed the exhibition in
this line. A rather serious old black nose
eve, with good lamb by her side, was the
only representative of the hocks.
There we're seven or eight exhibitors of
brood mares and colts several pairs of driv-
ing horses, and a number OF single drivers.
running race with horses ridden by boys
took place In the street. j. Bemis won the
first prize, r. Howard the second, and ].
Bemis the third.
The show of poultry consisted OF one brown
Leehorn cock, pair of buff Oochins, aud
few untitled fowls.
Fruits we're shown, not in large quantities
but Of good quality. The vegetables were
also good. Pearl of Savoy and white ele-
plant potatoes, six or eight inches long,
were shown by Slas Pike Moses johnson
had very fine aud large late rose potatoes, w.
W. White and several others exhibited pota-
toes of extra quality. G. W. Holton and G.
NJ Ruby were fortunate with pumpkins,
both showing samples of large size. The
squash family were fairly represented by
samples from four OF five exhibitors. Leroy
Allen showed nine varieties OF clean, nice
beans. Apples and other fruits were shown
by Seneca Howe, A. T. Allen, Geo. Shafner,
@. E. Allen, A. Frost and NJ. F. Howard the
latter had l04 varieties Of apples, Of pears,
and Of grapes, and one fig grown in Jamai.
ca. A stalk OF enslage corn measuring IL It.
I inches was shown by A. F. Allen. For 9TH
er articles in this department, see premium
list.
A tub Of excellent butter was shown by H.
N. Fits OF Wardsboro, and good lump butter
by Mrs. A. NJ. Butler. q. E. Allen Of Brat
tleboro exhibited many varieties OF gladioli,
and 100 varieties Of pRnsies which, with 9TH
er floral work on his table, made an attract
i've show. The exhibit OF rich merchandise
by Edwards d Lillis, with the black bear
standing guard, was also much admired as
was the fancy sewing machine work by Scott
Dunklee.
There was an attractive display OF ladies'
fancy needle work, etc, for which, not being
a competent judge, we refer the reader to the
premium list, and also for the drawings,
paintings and various other articles.
Little was shown in the line OF manufac-
lures. Geo. w. Holton exhibited his folding
wssh-tub stand, and other articles OF wooden
ware, and mechanics tools; and L. n.
Sprague, samples Of white bronze monumen-
tai work.
Nine boys participated in the foot race ;
the winners were Chas. Wood, LIST John
Peck, 2l; Willis Wyman, Sd.
The Address.
Col Hookers address was delivered from
the platform on the fair grounds at o'clock
in the afternoon. 1t was mistakenly suppos-
cd by some that the colonel would be little
out Of his orbit in speaking of matters per-
tanning to the farm but all such ideas were
dissipated as he proceeded in an unpreten-
tious style, to speak Of matters near by and
practical. He suggested various ways by
which the profits OF the farms in Jamaica
could be largely increased doubled, trebled
or multiplied ten fold. Farmers should keep
sheep they are renovators of run-out pas
tuFe lands, which they improve so much that
even if they yield no direct profit there is q
great gain in the improvement Of the soil.
Every farmer In Jamaica ought to raise at
least one colt each year-a colt can be raised
to the age of four years with about the same
expense that steer can be raised 10 that age.
He advised farmers to take up some specially,
and make themselves masters OF II 10 study
to learn all that is or can be known about it (;
to do toeH whatever is undertaken. There is
always a quick sale and high market for the
best. He noted several individuals who had
made fortunes by their knowledge and skill
in the production Of some specially, and rath-
or surprised his hearers by his apparent prac-
teal knowledge Of bu ter making and other
speoialties of the farm.
A valuable part of Col. Hookers address
was that concerning the health of farmers
families. To preserve the health is one of
the first duties OF farmers little can be done
without It. The utmost care should be taken
that there be nothing in the water or food
which will breed disease that the drainage
should be perfect, and that there be nothing
about the premises TO contaminate. Were
the laws of health understood and observed
as they should be, the doctors would be starv-
cd out Of Jamaica and the graveyards would
grow alowlv. He recommended strict adher-
once to regular hours for meals regularity
in the time OF taking food he believed essen.
tial to good health. And cattle, also, should
be fed regularly. very successful cattle
feeder whom he named would not allow his
animals to be fed FIVE minutes before the reg
ular time.
One OF the special crops that he recon-
mended for cultivation In Jamaica was cab
bages the number of heads that could be
| grown on An acre was estimated, and theil
value computed at several hundred dollars II
all the tillable land in Jamaica was ploughed
up and planted with cabbages, 1t would bring
80 much money into the town that the banh
would have to be reestablished to receive the
farmers deposits the village would grow
and everything prosper beyond anything evei
before known in this region. He wanted tC
J see Jamaica planted to cabbages. Other spe
, oial crops that might be raised here as we'll al
| In the towns of Massachusetts, and elsewhere
where they are grown at great profit, are
beets, strawberries, etc. You can start YOU
produce on the narrow-gauge in the morning
and 1t will be in Springfield at noon, in Bos
ton little after noon, and in New York thu
same night. A man might be sent to taxi
charge OF and market the produce of a gTea
many farmers or of the town. He proposed
to make an effort to establish a farmers mar
ket day In Brattleboro, which would affor(
facilities for the farmers to exhibit and sci
their products.
He urged the preservation and planting o
forest trees for the timber and for the pre-
vention of the washing of roads and lands
There might be grown on an acre $40 popla
trees, which in 20 years would be worth S
each or S640 per acre.
Farmers have more leisure than persons il
other occupations. Hard work has to be don
to succeed In anything. Farmers work fewe
hours than persons in any other kind of bust
ness, excepting bankers. The address wa
well received, and, at the conclusion, tn
| ,.,as rnunaIu annlaudaA