The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-11
The State Fair.

the union of the state society with that of
the Champlain Valley Association. The
weather, which is always an important fac
tor in the success of fairs was remarkably
President Hooker, nothing seemed wanting
to make the joint exhibition success.
THE SHOW OF CATTLE
was smaller than at some former years, but
this deficiency was made up in some re-
spect by the superior merit of the animals
shown. 1t is well known that the Billings
herd of Jerseys at Woodstock and the herd
of the same breed at the Green Mountain
stock farm at West Randolph are the finest
herds of this class of cattle in this country,
and lovers of all kinds of stock We're highly
pleased to see representatives of these two
famous herds on the ground. All of the
animals from these herds had aristocratic
pedigrees and most excellent butter records
to back them. Mr.. Billings showed seven
teen head and Mr.. Moulton thirteen. These,
with two or three exceptions, comprise the
best of Jerseys. The Ayrshire exhibit was
also confined to two leading herds, those of
&. Nj. Winslow of Brandon and l.. S. Drew
of Burlington. Mr.. Winslow's herd at
tracted much attention in Vermont and
elsewhere on account of its most excellent
butter record, and the animals on exhibi-
ton were almost perfect types of this desir-
able breed of cattle. DIR. Drews herd is re-
markable for its general uniformity and ap-
parent excellence of each animal. Ten head
of Guernseys from the herd of S. II. Weston
of Winooski completed the list of animals
of this breed which completes with the Jer-
seys as butter breed. The Devons are a
popular breed of cattle in many parts of
New England on account of their hardness
uniform color, butter qualities and general
adaptability for " mixed farming. The ami
mails on exhibition were from the herds of Ed
ward Hungerford of burlington and Edwin
pf Oft a1 hoy IF In1C aiTS
was much the smallest that we have
seen at the state fair for some years. Why
this should be we are unable to understand
This popular breed should have been largely
represented. A dozen head by three eXhib-
itors-J. A Shedd of Burlington, Peck &
Post of Hinesburgh, and III. e. Colley of
Jonesville-comprised the entire list of
thorOughbreds on the grounds. The beefy
Herefords and Polled Angus were shown
by l.. B. Harris of St. Johnsbury. Mr.. Har-
ris has as fine types of thoroughbreds as
can be found in New England. 1t is to be
regretted that the tendency in the show of
cattle is towards representatives of famous
herds, to the exclusion of individual ex-
hibits of superior animals from all parts of
the state. 1t is possible that the low price
OF cattle for several years may have its in
t1uence in this direction, but it hardly seems
that this can be the entire cause for this
change. If farmers could be induced to
bring out their cattle as they do their horses,
this feature of the fair would be of much
greater value than at the present time. The
show of working oxen has for some years
been special attraction and this year has
not been an exception. About thirty yoke
were to be seen, and every pair good one.
The weights varied from 3, 900 to $500 pounds
per pair. The drawing match drew crowd
and the oxen pulled for call they were
worth" The heaviest load drawn was
1920 pounds on stone boat.
THE HORSE SHOW
was the best that has ever been seen at a
state fair. Our space forbds detailed ac
count OF the many superior stock and driv-
ing horses on the grounds. The Morgans,
with such leading representatives as Ben
Franklin and AriStos, with their numer-
GUS progeny, will take the lead in Vermont
for many years to come. Too much praise
can not be given to the men who have
stuck to the MOrgans and kept them at the
front on their merits alone. The horses
drew the crowds. The races were interest
ing, and some of them were holly contested.
Between the races, stations and horses of
merit We're shown and some of them were
given a half mile to let the people see what
they could do. f. f. Brownell of Burling-
ton carried off good lump of premiums ON
standardized horses. There were seven
very fine pairs of driving horses on the
grounds and the gentlemen's driving horses
would be hard to beat anywhere. The
brood mares, with colts by their side,
showed that the interest in breeding good
horses in Vermont is still on the increase.
Visitors from other states said that Yer
mont horses could not be beaten even by
Kentucky.
THE SHOW OF SHEEP
was never better. The Merinos are picking
up, and sales of stock in the state have been
unusually large for the past month, with
fair prices, and the Merino pens were all
full and every sheep shown was good one
But the mutton breeds are pushing their
way to the front and We're by far the
greater in numbers than the fine woods
The tlocks of the two most noted Cotswold
breeders i'll the state We're well represented
Mr.. Billings herd Of Downs was well rep.
resented, as were those of A. W. * j. i
Wilcox of Bridport and l.. b. Harris of st
Johnsbury.
THE SWINE EXHIBIT
was confined mostly to small Yorkshires by
L. S. Drew of Burlington.
THE POULTRY DEPARTMENT
was well filled.
AGRICULTURAL HALL
was found to be too small for all that was
to be seen in this line, and the many ex
hibitors were gratifed at the throngs o
farmers who carefully examined the va
rious machines and implements for farm
work, The show of fruits and vegetables
might have been better. The specimens o
apples and potatoes showed that this il
surely an " off year " for Vermont, but il
homegrown seeds the exhibit was the hes
we have seen. The show of dairy product
was remarkable for its insignifcance es
pecially in the butter line. We are at los
to know why this most important Vernon
industry rs so meagerly represented at tn
state fair, and would suggest that the man
ayers look the matter up and see if som
means cannot be used to draw out larg
dairy exhibit, and show to the world tina
Vermont is dairy state. Some fine spec
mems of maple sugar and syrup shOwe
what can be done in this line, but the eX
hibit was meager one in comparison wit
the extent of the maple sugar industry i
the state. 1t might be well for the mapl
sugar exchange to look into this matter am
in the future see that a much larger show /
made in this line
FLORAL AND MECHANICS HALL
was well filed with dairy implements
stoves, ranges and wares of various kinds
The ladies' department was not neglecte
and the handiwork of the fair sex wa
greatly admired by the crowds whic
thronged the hall.
Taken all in all, the fair was grand SUI
cess both as show and in the number VIII
m