The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-09-09
Waits River Valley Fair.

The sixth exhibition of the Waits River
Agricultural Society, held at East Corinth,
September 2, 3 and 4, was a success. The
weather on Thursday morning, when the
fair practically began, was threatening; yet
there was good attendance and the
weather was not inclement until late in the
afternoon, when a furious shower arose
which continued for more than an hour.
The weather of Friday was fine.
| The low price Of horses seems to have
nearly destroyed the interest in breeding
them; so the entries were few of drivers,
and only two brood mares with colts, and
no stations with their stock, were entered.
Sidney Hood of Topsham and j. b. Far
well of Corinth showed two year-old and
and three-year. colts, and three-year-
old stallion was shown by Frank Hutton Of
Corinth.
Town teams of oxen were entered by
Bradford and Corinth-about fourteen pairs
from each town, containing some fine ami
mails. There were about thirty entries of
other cattle, embracing cows, bulls, heifers
steers and calves. Thoroughbred Jerseys
were entered by G. s. Prescott of East Cor
inth and John Hood of Topsham. The rest
were mostly grade Jerseys and grade
Guernseys.
OF sheep, there were sixteen entries. j.
W. Stevens exhibited his flock of Merinos,
j. P. Dickerman pure-blood Cheviots, w.
II. Richardson, Corinth, Southdowns, and
William Merrill, Bradford, Shropshires.
The display of poultry is seldom equaed
at a local fair, and not always at state
fair. The number Of entries was about 1876,
embracing four varieties of Wyandottes
golden and silver-spanged Seabrights,
barred and white Plymouth Rocks, Minor
cas-, Houdans, four varieties of Leghorns,
and of White Langshans, light and dark
Brahmahs, Polands and Spanish There
were also Guinea fowls and many varieties
of beautiful pigeons or these exhibits, B.
r. Davis of Bethel entered 81 pairs, G. G.
Paine of South Randolph 80, w. W. Kib.
bee Of Williamstown IS, H. w, Heath of
Bradford IS (also Belgian hares and Guinea
pigs), and smaller numbers by A 8. Jewett
and j. w. White of Topsham and Charles
Page of East Corinth.
The exhibit OF grain and vegetables was
small in quantity, but good in quality. 1t
was chiefly made up of mammoth squashes,
rye, oats, buckwheat, and varieties OF other
articles. The main display was of potatoes,
the most attractive of which were Carman,
No l. raised by j. w. White. Last year
he raised peck from one very small potato.
Farm machinery and vehicles were ex-
hibited to limited extent Fred Eastman
OF East Corinth, fourteen years old, showed
miniature bicycle, made by himself and
finely finished.
Side-shows were not numerous The
most interesting was miniature illustra-
ton OF the working world by means OF au-
donations; but the places of the two.head9d
three-head Shiny serpents generally three
in a gang) who ran gambling devices OF va
rious sorts. There were enough Of these 10
disgrace any fair or any civilized commuu-
ity. One prominent man is reported to
have lost $50, another SIS, besides large
aggregate in small sums from the crowd.
1t is said some were opposed TO the admis-
sion of merry-go-round because of the
large sum OF money it would carry away.
How about that carried away by the thin
ble-riggers?
The Floral Hall exhibit was better than
ever, consisting, in part, OF cotton, worsted
silk and satin quilts, tidies napkins, wear
ing apparel, and the thousand and one other
articles-ornamental, useful and useless
displaying to equal advantage the ingenu-
ity, taste, skill, industry and patience Of
the contributing ladies. There was fine
exhibit of paintings some of rare merit
contributed by Arvilla White OF West Tops
ham, Carrie ID. Sargent of Corinth, Mrs.
Blake Of Bradford, and others.