Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-10-02

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Attraction.
Although the number of cattle on ex-
hbition must have been materially lessen
ed by the heavy rain on the morning of the
first day and the night before, the exhibit
fully sustained the high reputation of the
Valley Fair The interest in the cattle
was greatly increased by the presence of
rare breeds and representatives of famous
herds that have not before been seen in this
part of the state. Among the most inter-
esting of these were some Galloway
(Scotch) cattle shown by j. c. Reeder of
Westlhoreland, N. H., and owned by A.
II. Overman of Chicopee, Mass, the man
ufacturers of bicycle wheels. These ami
mails were jet black with long, somewhat
curly, glossy hair. They had no horns.
They were almost perfect in form as judged
from beef standard. They were brought
from Michigan to the Atlanta exposition,
where Mr.. Overman purchased them. The
hides of these cattle, when the animals
have been converted to beef and have no
further use for them, would make beauti-
full sleigh robes, and might be taken to
have been worn by the black bear. To the
profits of bicycle manufacturing our people
are, perhaps, indebted for the sight of
these unique cattle.
Normandy Cattle.
Another kind never before exhibited
here was the French Normandy cattle.
There are only three herds of these cattle
in the United States and two of them
were represented at this fair The only
herd of Normandy cattle in this country
besides the two represented at this fair
is upon New Jersey farm owned by the
New York millionaire and sugar refiner.
Havemeyer. One, consisting of IL, was
owned by Chester w. Chaplin of New York
city, and exhibited by Z. Elmer, manager
of Brown House farm, Chcopee, Mass.
They are very large, broad hipped breed,
usually of a brindle color mixed with white
markings, and the cows have immense
capacity of udder, showing room for great
quantities of milk When the reporter
remarked that one of them seemed to have
room for half a barrel of milk the exhibitor
modestly claimed that it had given only "a
pounds a day, but that another one from
the same herd had given 10 pounds. Three
of the cows shown here were of the first i'm
portation to this country.
Seven other Normandy, or as sometimes
called Norman cattle, owned by II. X. e.
Watson, were shown by Vim. G.. McClin-
took, superintendent of Forest Park
farm, Brandon. Mr. Watson's Normandys
were very similar in form, size, color and
other characteristics to those of the other
herd, which has been described. The
specially of Mr.. Watson's Forest Park
farm has been the breeding of pure blood
ed Ayrshires of which were exhibited at
the Valley Fair II head of fine specimens,
Mr.. Watson Is also breeder of Hamp-
shire Down sheep, and these will be nored
in another place.
Another comparatively new breed for
this country is the Swiss cattle. There
were three or four exhibitors of these.
The largest herd was shown by O. A.
Kelley Il o. A. Kelley, jr. of Worcester,
Mass.-in all by these exhibitors, 20 head.
The Swiss cattle have long, straight, hoary
gray hair about the ears, neck and other
parts of the body, which, with their gen
eral form and color, gives them very dis
tinguished appearance.
One of our home farmers, John Nesbltt
of West Brattleboro, is breeding the swiss
cattle and had some good specimens on eX-
hibition for which he was awarded several
premiums. Mr.. Clark of Brattleboro also
took a premium on Swiss heifer.
Durhams.
The Durhams, once almost the only
breed of improved cattle here, had no pure
breed representatives on the grounds, and
only three or four grades. II. G. Clark
of Brattleboro had a grade Durham COW
for which he took first premium, and j.
w. Thurber of Brattleboro had two or
three grade Durham yearlings or calves
for which he also took premiums.
Jerseys.
There was a large number of Jerseys and
their grades, we cannot mention all of
them. There were two or three large herds,
thoroughbred, besides many smaller eX-
| hibits in the two classes. The largest herd
was from the Guilford Springs farm, II. j =.
Richmond, proprietor. Stoughton & Burn
ham of Montague Mass, had Is head. The
prizes for pure bred, registered Jerseys
were divided pretty equally between Mr..
Richmond and Stoughton & Burnham, the
latter taking the premium of $15 for the
best herd, and the Guilford Springs $40 foI
herd, and first for three-year-old bull. W.
T. Nichols of Guilford, V. T. Haynes OF
Brattleboro, n. G. Colburn of Chesterfield
II. L. Nichols, w. w. Bennett of Vernon
and others exhibited Jerseys and grade
Jerseys.
HOIsteIn FTIesIan.
An exhibition of 25 or 80 head of Hol
stems from the Retreat farm was one thai
it would not be easy to equal. The Retreat
management is entitled to greet credit fol
their valuable free contribute 20 the fail
none of its exhibits being ntered fol
premiums-and all of them being of the
highest order of excellence. But few en-
IT,. were made of thoroughbred Holsteini
but there were large number of grade
Holsteins on the grounds. S. E. Miner o
Brattleboro was awarded a first premium
for pure bred yearling Holstein bull, anC
first for two heifers. Exhibitors of grad,
Holsteins were Arad Hunt of Brattleboro
A. Ingraham of Guilford, II. L. Nichols o
Hale, NJ. D. Thayer of Guilford, j. P. In
graham, L. NJ. Amidon, West Chesterfield
N. H., and others. Several pair of yer,
excellent, heavy, grade Holstein oxen
owned by different parties, were also ex
hibited. Chas. H. Wright of Keene, N. H.
exhibited pair of twin Holstein steers, Il
months old, which weighed I760 pounds
They were handsome yoke, and attracted
much attention from their unusual size ant
weight.
DeVOns.
There was considerable number of tn
beautiful bright colored dark red Devons
including one large herd of "a head exhib
tied by w. H. Neal of Meredith, N. H. Il
this herd were four bulls, 16 cows AM
heifers and four calves. His three-yeaI
old thoroughbred Devon bull was a grea
beauty, Mr.. Neal displayed large mum