The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-09-10
THE MERIDEN STATE FAIR
AN UNUSUALLY FINE TOT or Ex-
 HIBITS THIS YEAR.


 Features of the Fair.
 With an abundance of big yellow pumpkins, sleek and fat cattle, and ev- erythlng else in abundance that goes to make up the farmers delight, the state fair at Meriden was yesterday well un- der way, fellows with their best girls, all jogging the finest, being out in force and the peanut stands doing a rushing business, to say nothing of the festive merry go- round crowds. According to the verdict of competent judges who know about these things the exhibits are "a darned fine lot, by gosh"
 The crowds in attendance at the opening day of the fair were fully up to the expectations of the management in point of numbers, but yesterday, oW- ing to the threatening weather in the afternoon, the attendance was rather light The poultry exhibit this year is larger than it has ever been at Con- necticut state fair. While last year there were only 500 head of poultry there are this year 1000, besides the pigeons and other smaller birds. One of the largest poultry exhibits is that of c. P. Jordan of this city, who shows white Polish bantams, Silver Sea brights, white Leghorns and American Dominicks. MT. Jordan received first premium on all his white Polish fowls, on all his white Leghorns, and on the ten pair of American Dominicks His prairie state hatcher and incubator, which is now matching chicks, is an ob- ject of great interest and is continually surrounded by a large crowd. Albert Storer of Fair Haven has on exhibition fine lot of Barred Plymouth Rocks, on which he received one first and two second premiums and the special pre- mium offered by the Pratt-Ford com pany. F. c. Reynolds shows a pen of Black Langshones, on which he receiv- ed first premium. Ives Brothers of Branford have on exhibition beautiful lot of Black Javas, on which they re- ceived two first premiums and one sec, ond. On their Mottled Javas they re- ceived one first premium; also first on a pen of Black Spanish fowls; second on a pen of Golden Polish. and first and second on Muscovy Ducks. c. M. Moore of Southington received first and Dorkings. The Westfield grange has an exhibit of farm products unique in character. A short bicycle tracks has been built Of corn of various kinds, and on this Is bicycle with the figure of a rider trimmed in corn leaves. Ar ranged around this are fruits and vege- tables of various kinds. w. $. Platt of Cheshire has a fine large exhibit of fruit, apples and pears, on which he has secured several first and second premiums. Other exhibitors of fruits from this vicinity are A. P Haugh and Haugh & Barnes of Wallingford. Vice President of the Fair James A. Bill of East Lyme has entered herd of twelve Devon cattle, a number of Durhams, eighty-four Hampshiredown, South down and Spanish Merino sheep and several Angora goats. On nearly all of these MT. Bill received sweepstake pre- miums. D. B. Wilson of Waterbury ex- hibits herd of Belted Dutch cattle, the only ones at the fair, on which he received sweepstake premiums.
 The poultry show continues to draw large crowds, who saunter leisurely about, inspecting the many choice va rieties on exhibition.
 The incubator shown by a New Ha- vener, c. F. Jordan of the Prairie State company of Homer City, Pa., is an object of great interest to many of the visitors A large number of eggs were placed in the box just twenty-one days ago, and yesterday morning most of the eggs were broken, and the little, downy chicks strutted about When the chicken is ready to be matched, the shell begins to crack on the inside. A slight abrasion is noticed on the shell; short time after, the shell falls apart, and the chicken steps forth. It takes about four hours for it to dry, and it is usually left in the in cubator from twenty-four to thirty-sx hours. Then it Is ready to do business on it's own hook.
 MT Wilson also shows five beautiful full Shetland ponies and jackass,
 MT Wilson also shows five beauti- which the judges recommended should receive discretionary premiums. D. c. Warner of North Haven has a large se- lecetde exhibit of field crops, on which he has taken several premiums.
 At the town hall a large exhibit of pretty, valuable, and useful fancy ar ticles is shown and the hall is continu- ally filled with ladies who express great admiration at the articles on ex- hibition.
 There are better entries of speed horses this year than ever before, but there are not so many horses on ex- hibition as in previous years.
 An event which attracted much at tention yesterday was the exhibit of the single horse class. There were sev- en entries, among them being horses owned by Miss Dora Smart, w. G. Comstock, G. H. Bowker, Nelson Hall, Reuben T. Cook, Gunner TohIin and ". S. Shaw.
 A large crowd watched this event, as in previous years. The horses were put through the various tests and their prizes were awarded to G. H. Bowker, first, who took the first prize last year: w. c. Comstock, second; Reuben T. Cook, third, and Nelson Hall, fourth
 The races for to-day promise to be good ones, as some speedy horses are entered. The entries and classes have been published in previous issue of the Courier.
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