180 NORTH KENNEBEC SOCIETY. 



more neat stock ; our farms need their dressing, and our farmers 

 their sure, steady work. There was a good variety of sheep 

 exhibited ; South Downs, by William C. Pearson, William P. 

 Blake and the Burleigh Brothers ; Merinos, by A. G. Ricker and 

 William II. Pullen ; Cotswold, by William P. Blake and G. G. 

 Ilanscom of China. These were all thoroughbred of each kind, 

 and were very handsome animals. I forgot to mention two flocks 

 of thoroughbred South Downs, by Dr. N. R. Boutelle and E. A. 

 Cilley. I think the flock of Dr. Boutelle is the most perfect flock 

 I ever viewed, and I entertain doubts if its equal can be anywhere 

 found in the State of Maine. The desire to raise large sized early 

 lambs, is increasing in this part of the county, consequently the 

 farmers sell ofi" their smallest ewe lambs and their buck lambs, and 

 save the largest sized ewe lambs to increase the size of their 

 sheep. Sheep-raising is receiving closer care and attention from 

 the members of this Society. The Trustees divided the swine 

 into large and small breeds. Mr. Joseph Percival exhibited some 

 thoroughbred Yorkshire, and John Mathews some Essex, (though 

 of the small breed) while Messrs. William V. Hayden and J. P, 

 Ellis produced Chesters that were very nice. Mr. Hayden's pigs, 

 (ten in number, four weeks old) weighed, some of them, from 25 

 to 30 pounds each, and found ready purchasers, and I think they 

 were all sold before they left the show ground. There was one 

 Berkshire, one Yorkshire and one Essex boar entered ; all were 

 good of their breed. Four breeding sows, one Yorkshire, one 

 Chester, one Berkshire and one Essex, all of them, with their 

 litters of pigs, as good as desirable. Big porkers are on the 

 increase in this Society. I hardly know how to do anywhere near 

 justice to the department of poultry. There were forty coops 

 entered upon the Committees' book ; nearly all the same coops 

 had been exhibited the week before at the Somerset Fair, at Skow- 

 hegan, and as I understand, came under 3'our observation at that 

 place. I hesitate not to say, it was the finest display of poultry 

 ever exhibited at this fair. The Cochin family of fowls was well 

 exhibited by the Jones Bros., of Winslow, also by B. Hersom, 

 West Waterville, A. L. McFadden, A. J. Alden, Waterville, E. A. 

 Cilley, Dr. G. M. Twitchell, E. R. Mayo, F. E. McFadden and C. 

 V. Lawrence, Fairfield, also CD. Miller and Flagg Bros., Skow- 

 hegan. I cannot describe them, but it was decided by competent 

 judges to be the best show ever seen here at Waterville, and the 

 best exhibition outside of a special poultry show. Since our show 



