256 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



CLINTON COUNTY. 



The twelfth exhibition was held on the fair grounds about one-half mile south 

 of the city of Frankfort, August 25 to 29, 1884. 



The grounds are admirably adapted to the purpose for which they are used, 

 there being an abundance of shade, plenty of water, and ample buildings, since the 

 erection of the new power hall the past summer. There was a very full display in 

 of the finest specimens of imported Clydesdale and Norman horses exhibited that the 

 nearly all departments, there being a total of over 2,000 entries. There were some 

 State affords ; also, some of the high steppers from the famous Bluegrass region of 

 Kentucky, some very fine animals of each breed being owned in this county. The 

 exhibition of cattle was all that could be desired so far as quality goes. The only 

 breeds shown in the ring, with the exception of a lone individual, were Shorthorns 

 and .Jerseys. The latter is not a favorite with the general farmer, who wants some- 

 thing more than butler; yet there is generally a lurking fancy manifested by the 

 lady visitors at our fairs for the mild-eyed, frail-looking pets. The Shorthorn 

 breeders should show more milking animals at our fairs, and try to disabuse the 

 public mind of the idea that the Shorthorn is good for nothing but beef, and that 

 it generally takes two cows to raise one calf decently. 



In the sheep show many fine animals were exhibited, representing most of the 

 improved breeds. The sheep is sadly neglected in this section, farmers generally 

 paying so little attention to this meek, unobtrusive inhabitant of the farm yard as 

 to scarcely know of the existence of many of the improved breeds. To what ex- 

 tent this is to be attributed to the dog law, or want of a dog law, I am not pre- 

 pared to say. It seems to make little difference what the nature of the law, the 

 dog remains a fixed quantitj'. Every house in the country villages can boast of 

 one or more, and generally the owners pay little tax on dog or anything else. 



O; hogs, the Poland Chinas largely predominate with the Berkshires a good sec- 

 ond. The .Jersey Reds, with their pendulous ears and razor backs, adorn an occa- 

 sional homestead, adding perhaps more of the picturesque than the beautiful to the 

 landscape ; but "comparisons are odious." 



The mechanical display was by far the best ever on the grounds. The new 

 power hall, with shaft for running machinery, added very materially to the attrac- 

 tion in that department. 



Our fair is held too early to furnish as fine a display of agricultural and kin- 

 dred products as could be desired, but do not infer from this that empty shelves 

 and bare walls prevailed in Agricultural Hall. All the leading cereals wei-e out 

 in force, though the corn loosed as though it had laid aside its jacket a few days 

 too soon. I think, as far as possible, these shows should be held when farm crops 

 are more fully matured — 



" When the frost is on the pumpkin 

 And the fodder's is in the shock," 



we could all be in readiness to enjoy more fully our coming together. 



