28 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



Of the superiority of steam for the purpose of threshing, grinding, cutting 

 roots and fodder, there can be little doubt. But it is a power, the use of which 

 must always remain beyond the reach of the ordinary farmer. Not only the 

 expenditure connected with the purchase of an engine, but the expense and 

 diiliculty of repairs, and, Avith ordinary care, the rapid depreciation in value, 

 are obstacles of no small magnitude in the way of general introduction of steam 

 apparatus. 



RECAPITULATION. 



In the department for horses some eight premiums were divided among five 

 hundred and thirteen horses entered for exhibition, the premiums ranging 

 from fifty to four hundred thalers. The entries in every class in this depart- 

 ment were highly meritorious animals. Although the horse is a leading feature 

 of an American agricultui-al show, at this exhibition it faile'd to excite more 

 interest than the animals of other departments. The grooming of the horses 

 was constant. In no instances did a groom have in charge more than one 

 horse ; and it was no unusual thing to see two servants, hours at a time, at 

 work upon the same animal. 



There Avere nine hundred and four entries of cattle. Independent of these 

 were tAVO or three herds not entered for premiums. One hundred and fifty-six 

 prizes Avere aAvarded, ranging from twenty to one hundred thalers. 



The number of sheep entered for premiums was seventeen, hundred and 

 seventy-one. Some three hundred more were on exhibition, but not entered 

 for premiums. Nine hundred and thirteen were of the class of Merinos, two 

 hundred and twenty-four South Downs, three hundred and sixty-nine Leicesters, 

 and two hundred and seventy-six Cotswolds. The prizes awarded to the sheep 

 varied from twenty-five to fifty thalers. Eighty-six prizes were taken, large 

 numbers of which, in the classes of South Downs, Leicesters, and Cotswolds, 

 were taken by England. 



The class in which the American sheep contested was the Merino, and con- 

 tained three hundred and fifty entries. The American prize sheep called Ver- 

 mont Merinos took three premiums — tAvo first and one second. One first 

 premium Avas taken for length of staple ; the other for weight of fleece. These 

 sheep were bred by George Campbell, of West Westminster, Vermont, and 

 were accompanied by him to Europe. No other sheep or animals were on 

 exhibition from the United States. Mr. Campbell Avas the only American 

 Avho dared to take live stock across the Atlantic and the German oceans, that 

 the results of skilful American breeding might be compared Avith those of 

 European breeding. The effort of Mr. Campbell was attended Avith great 

 expense and risk, but he Avas well rewarded in the satisfaction which he expe- 

 rienced in gaining for America that which no other nation had given her credit 

 for possessing, and Avhich few of her oAvn citizens appreciated Avas her due, 

 the honor of breeding the heaviest fleeced Merinos, and Merinos having the 

 longest staples, of any in the world. 



No gi-eater surprise could have been created on the continent of Europe than 

 was aAvakened by the announcement that the American sheep had taken tAvo 

 first premiums in the class of Merinos. At first it was not credited by the 

 breeders and exhibitors gathered at the fair. 



Not only had it been supposed that America would not take a premium in 

 this department, but there Avas a general conviction, sympathized in by the 

 German press, that Ave could have nothing in the class of Merino slieep Avhich 

 could at all compare with the celebrated flocks of Prussia, Saxony, and Silesia, 

 all of which Avere fully represented. After it Avas rumored and generally 

 credited that the tAvelve American sheep on exhibition had taken two first 

 prizes, the surprise Avas so great that a feeling of doubt and incredulity respect- 

 ing the wisdom and impartiality of the decision was quite apparent. Deter- 



