Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-10-01
THE VALLEY FAIR.
THE CATTLE,
1t Was a Notwithstanding Show.

More Choice Herds, More Big Oxen,
More Fine Cattle of Every Kind than
Were Ever Seen Before at n valley
Fair.
The excellence of the live stock exhibits
at the Valley Fairs heretofore held has
been unquestioned; but the fair of 1897
has surpassed any of the previous ones in
the show of cattle, sheep and swine.
Though the number of animals exhibited
was very large, the quality more than the
number distinguished the show. AT any
cattle show there are always few animals
exhibited that have no special merit, hut
among the hundreds at the Valley Fair
there were very few of that kind, while
there were many that would win prem
iums at any fair in the country, and many
were winners OF prizes at the largest fairs
of the New England states, and New York
state.
Among the famous herds exhibited that
from the Hood Farm, Lowell, Mass, was,
perhaps. the most distinguished, contain
ing animals of national, If not worldwide
reputation.
Another famous herd was that from the
Forest Park Farm, Brandon, owned by
II. K. 7. Watson of New York city, and
shown by VIM. G.. MclCintock, superin-
tendent.
The Normandy cattle from the Forest
Park Farm on exhibition at Brattle6oro
we're: The bull, Bismark, three years old,
Apr. Is, weight 2300 pounds-an all-round
good fellow. Bull, Bonnechose, three
years old, June 8, weight 1900. Yearling
bull, Beelzebub, 100. The cows, Baleine.
Andorine, Bayadere, and hefers, Bayliene
I'd, and Astarte I'd. These were all i'm
ported from Normandy, France. There
are only two other herds of Normandy
cattle in America.
The Ayrshire cattle from the Forest
Park Farm were The bull, Earl Kirk
aldy, five years old. The bull, Lord Acme,
two years old, and the yearling, Forest
Star. Earl Kirkaldy was from dam
which gave 81 tons of milk in one year.
Bull calf. First Heir, dam gave 5512 pounds
of milk last year. Cows: Grand Duchess :
Grand Duchess has given 1900 lbs. of milk
in one year: Acme, 65l2 lbs. of milk a
year. Myra Douglass, and Lady Smithfeld
has won ten first premiums at fairs and gave
last year over 20 quarts of milk day:
yearling heifer Park Acme.
Mr. Watson claims that the "Ayrshire
cattle are fast advancing in popularity with
the farmers, owing to their hardy qualities,
quiet disposition, and great dairy qualities
passing the grades in their production of
milk
He SAYS regarding the other breed /:
"The imported Normandy cattle are re-
ceiving marked attention in the United
States, this being the third herd imported
into America. They are famous for their
dairy qualities, hardy constitution, docile
disposition, and combine the milk and
beef qualities essential to the farmers cow
They are of large size, weighing from 1000
to 2000 pounds each at maturity, are easily
kept, and do not require more feed
than an ordinary grade to keep them in
prime condition"
There were more exhibits of Jerseys
than of any other breed of cattle, if we eX-
cept the oxen, in which no Jersey mixture
was apparent. The Jerseys have evident
" become the choice of the majority for a
dairy COW. Many fine Jersey bulls, cows
and heifers were to be seen upon the
grounds. Besides the large herds from the
Hood Farm, the Guiford Springs Farm,
the Maple Springs Farm, and c. r. Childs's
herd, there were Jerseys and grade Jer-
seys by great number of other exhibitors.
The well.known herd of highly bred
Jerseys shown by j. o. Frost d Son of
Vernon needs no commentator. Mr..
beginning, as a foundation for his herd,
animals of the highest reputation. 1t is
said that he paid 500 for one OF the cows
here exhibited, and that he has sometimes
paid much higher price for a single Jer-
sey. His herd seems to be much improved
since it was last at this fair. He had %
head of Jerseys on exhibition all evident
" bred with great care from the best thor
oughbred stock, and having records to
boast Of Frost & Son took the first pre-
MUM for the best bull in his class, anoth-
er first premium for the best two years
bull, one first for the best COW, one for the
best hefers, one and two years old, anC
one for the best herd, Their very excellent
and extensive exhibit of Horned Dorset
sheep, birds in great number and variety
and swine, is elsewhere noticed.
The Guilford Springs farm had Is heaC
of cattle, including one pair of oxen, l;
Jersey cows and heifers, and two JERSEY
bulls. The Guilford Springs farm Jerseys
are nearly all thoroughbred and registered
Mr. Richmond, of this farm, always take
a good share of the prizes in competition
wirh other noted herds.
c. X. Chlds of Conway, Mass, exhibit
ed about p head of thoroughbred ant
grade Jerseys, and was awarded the frs
miums on heifers.
There were many other exhibitors o
Jerseys and grade Jerseys, among whom
were E. G. Akley of Vernon, H. l.. Mich
OILS of Hale, n. G. Colburn of West Ches
terrified, n. H., F. Ii. Spaulding, Yves
Brattleboro. John c. King of Greenfield
Mass, showed high bred Jersey bull, /
months old, some of whose maternal an
cestors on the male side have a record Q
20 pounds of butter per week.
There were good representations of tn
old-fashiOned, large, well-rounded, SYN
metrical Durhams in the herd shown b
Geo. Z. Taylor d Son of Shelburne, Mass
Their old bull, Deputy Sheriff, weigh
2300 pounds, and has taken first premium
this fall at five state fairs. Their e
months-old bull, ST. Valentine, I'd, is
grandson of Guy Monarch, winner owe
all beef breeds at the worlds fair a
Chicago. St. Valentine weighs 140
pounds. In this herd was 'Nellie," CO..
having a record of 3l7 pounds of milk i
seven days, which made II pounds of bu
ter. Out of ten head in this herd eigt
have won first premiums at other fairs.
A fine Durham bull and three nice he
ers were shown by E. E. Stockwell of Bra
tleboro. F. M. Waite exhibited som
handsome Durham heifers, yearlings and
year olds and other grade and thoroughbre
cattle.
D. S. Pratt of Brattleboro had one {
the best herds of grade and thoroughbre
cattle IN pvbibitiOn His cows are wort