APPENDIX. xli 



1,745 pounds. Of sheep, the Cotswolds and Southdowns were not 

 to be excelled. Of swine, there were superior specimens of the 

 Berkshire, Suffolk and Essex breeds. One handsome litter of the 

 young brought the exhibitor a premium of $8. Of the feathered 

 tribes there was a fine show. Some specimens of the poultry were 

 of the more profitable kinds, while others would seem to indicate 

 the varied tastes of their owners. There were the candidates for 

 Thanksgiving dinners, including turkeys, ducks and geese, and also 

 a large variety of fancy pigeons. The stalls for the animals gener- 

 ally,, and the spacious stables for the horses, rendering it convenient 

 to retain them over night, showed the good attention given to all 

 these wants. In one section of the area the capacities of the work- 

 ing oxen were tested. On the track walking oxen were plied to the 

 utmost of their speed in that gait, one pair — trotting a little, how- 

 ever — performing the half mile circuit in 6.25 ; here also followed 

 trials of horses of various classes. 



On the second and great day of the show the extensive grounds 

 were all life and animation. Neither quadrupeds nor bipeds were at 

 all bashful in apprising us that it was their gala-day as well as ours. 

 It was sunny and balmy, and they seemed bound to put on their 

 gayest colors and most imposing airs, and neigh, low or crow, as 

 became the species. 



The people of all ages and classes were there — stalwart men, 

 matronly women, hale j'oung gentlemen, and the young of the fair 

 sex — beautiful in facial lineament and elegant in attire ; and last, 

 but not least, the children in throngs, the embryo farmers and their 

 prospective wives, — all were there. Estimates of the numbers 

 present on that day varied from 8,000 to 15,000 ; so that, as some 

 one remarked, the grandest show of all was that of people. 



The programme, for the time on the course, was duly observed. 

 The most interesting hour of all was that in which the various 

 classes of neat-cattle and horses entitled to premiums, to the num- 

 ber of about 100, were conducted along on the track near the grand 

 stand, where, halting in turn, the awards of the various committees 

 were announced by the president, in course, and a tag of ribbon, the 

 color of which was to indicate the degree of premium awarded, was 

 thereupon attached to the horn of the meriting neat-animal, or to 

 some article of tackling on the horse, as the case required. To some 

 of the most successful of the latter rosettes were attached, instead of 

 simple ribbons. 



A procession, as is the custom here, with music, brought us to the 

 upper hall at the hour for dinner, where tables were richly and plen- 

 tifully spread for some five or six hundred persons, the seats at 

 which were soon occupied. Following the discussion of edibles and 

 6* 



