Connecticut western news., 1899-10-05
THE GREAT HARRINGTON FAIR.

The 5Sth annual cattle show and fair of the Housatonic Agricultural society at Great Burlington came to & close Fri. day about 5 p. m. With good weather and large attendance the opening of this queen of fairs early Wednesday morning was grand sue ess.
 The first day, which for 58 years has been cattle show day, was devoted to the exhibition of all domestic animals except horses and the display of articles in the hall and agricultural implements on the lawn, near the poultry house.
 In the afternoon came the races in the 2. 3S and 23 class, but as the winners were announced in THE NEWS of last week they arc herewith omitted.
 Iu the various divisions of cattle, sheep and swine the most important first premiums were awarded as follows: six yoke of oxen from yearlipgs to four year-olds. W. H. Hawley of Sandisfield; {; draft oxen, W I. Walker; fat COW. H s Chapiu; stock COW, W. s. Wilcox, both of Sheffield; two-year-old grade Guern- sey, c. B. Brewer of New Marlboro; yearling heifer, Frank Royce.
 The Housatonic fair for many years has enjoyed an excellent reputation for it's exhibition of registered or herd book stock and at the show now closed this high standard was maintained. The following we'll known gentlemen were awarded first premiums: where no town is ment oned Great Harrington Is under stood: Jersey stock, E. l.. Van Deusen of Sheffield, Frank H. Wright and F. G. Tefft; Holsteins, Fl. z. Candee of Sheffield. N B. Turner. Warren Crissey Oscar Hall; Durham hsrds. Fred Abbey, N. B. Turner. Of Ayrshire stock W. I Walker exhibited 20 head and received several first premiums on COWS, bulls. heifers and calves. The fine Guernsey bull of c. F. Dsggett of Sheffield took the highest award ard on choice herds NJ. I. Wheeler was the chief exhibitor and received several first prizes.
 In the department of swine the num- Der of entries W about on a par wish previous years. The animals shown were not only good breeders, but choice porkers fit to be salted in the meat bar rel of any farmer. For Berkshire SOW and pigs M V. Thompson of Monterey came first; Cheshires. NIB. Turner; Po- land China, L.. Fl. Boardman of Shef- field.
 Sheep. Merinos of 20 in flock, L. M. Joyner of Egremont; Southdowns, W I. Walker; Hampshires. E l.. Boardman of Shefield; fat sheep. H. Comstock; 1; grades, O. A. Spur of Egremont, O. F. Post of Afford. The most attractive dis play of sheep were of fine and almost pure white Dorsets by William ID. Sloane of Lenox. Csptsin Hugh M. Johnson came second with a number of the same breed.
 The exhibition of poultry through the entire fair was 100 entries above last year, or about 325 in all. To accommo- date this large number 50 extra coops had to be provided. Of choice fowls o. R Brewer exhibited 22 coops. Jo- seph Keefer of lIenox was a large exbib- itor of the Asiatic breed; R. M. Dowd of Lee. nine varieties of Bantsms; w. NJ. Shsylor of the same town, white Holland and bronze turkeys; l.. T. Os- born of Afford, Ham burgs and Leg horns, and there were scores of others whose names we should be pleased to mention did space permit.
 Thursday, the second day the attend ance was immense; estimated at over 20,0O0. By noon all the hitching places
  noon races the great grand stand with it's new addition of 60 feet was not large enough for the multitude that desired seats. It is said that 1000 persons had to be turned away from the ticket office aud several hundred stood ithin the enclosure. The exhibition of articles in the hall continued through the day. The display of flowers though good was not equal to previous years, a marked deficiency being in foliage and green house plants. In winter and fall apples, plums, pears, grapes and canned fruits the exhibition was large and many of the varieties were very tempting. Shelf field is large fruit growing section. es- pecialiy in apples. Of fall apples A. M. Hewins, Jr., had six entries, while C.ar. ence Warner of the same town exhibited a variety of fruit. E. W. Rhoades dis played delicious looking Porter apples and John H. Turner of Ashley Falls some mammoth 20.ounce apples. Of winter apples W. ". Clark of Sheffield had 10 varieties and Ralph Hubbard displayed ne,thern spies and Hubbards. The collection of plums by T. Bsrthol- omew and single varieties by D. Rhcades showed that this delicious fruit if right ly cultivated is not extinct in South Berkshire.
 The vegetables displayed were fully equal to last year and all previous years Charles W. Warner was a leading exhib- itor of choice varieties of potatoes, cab- bages. onions and other vegetables and consequently took several first pre-. miums.
 The second day was noted for the ex- hibition of horses on track and lawn. Of carriage horses l5a hands high or over Miss Saphira Ourtiss of Sheffield. being the best lady driver in Southern Berkshire, was awarded the first prize of ST, and the same amount was award ed to Charles M. Camp for his carriage horses under 15i hands. .....
 Best single horse which never trotted in 8 race, J. M. Mccormick of Lee; best single horse for general purposes. John P. Pomeroy. Best horse four years old or under. E. l.. Boardman of Sheffield. Gentlemen's road horses, Frank H Wright
 The races of the afternoon were what attracted the crowd at the grand stand though there was evidence that the special features on the program amused the people full as much as the horse trots. The first trial of speed was the 2 27 class for purse of $250 divided in th usual way among the winners.
 The starter in all the races was George B. Mills an expert of Goshen. N. ' while the judges were Hardy Stewart and E E. Griggs of Athens. N. Y.
 Owing to the sad death of R. Mott Collins his horse Prussianeer as we'll as Aristino, owned by his brother, J. H Collins, did not appear. The race was the most peculiar one on this track for many years and was only decided after six heats, In fact the final heat had 10 be trotted the afternoon of the last day At last the race was won by Willow, br b, William Miller of Albany. The summary at the conclusion of tue race was as follows: