1856. 



NEW ENGLAND FAEMER. 



531 



it to their contributors, though not large in num- 

 ber ; the fat cattle had a large quantity of beef 

 steaks, which I more than once felt a clisijosltion to 

 discuss during my stay on the grounds. The 

 working oxen were large and well-formed, but how 

 well trained I had no opportunity of judging, — 

 More Durham stock has been entered since my re- 

 port yesterday, and among them is a bull by Mr 



many of them bulky, awkward, and inefficient ma- 

 chines. I cannot mention even a tenth of the im- 

 plements that are useful and eminently adapted to 

 tlie farmer's use. The large manufacturers and 

 dealers are represented in the most creditable man- 

 ner. T'he Messrs. Landreth, Pascall, Morris & Co., 

 and one or two other companies of Philadelphia, 

 and some of the Boston houses, make shows of the 



A. Belmak, of West Chester Co., Pa., weighs most attractive character. Nourse, Mason & 



2,552 pounds, and is a finely formed animal. This 

 department has been considerably improved to-day. 



In the department of Swine, there are several 

 Bpecimens of the old, immense fellows, that occu- 

 pied the ground many years ago, growing up to 

 six hundred or a thousand pounds, with legs like 

 those of an English draft horse, and ears that 

 might be coveted by the farmer who lacked plank 

 to cover his drains. They appeared healthy and 

 exceedingly vigorous, and crossed with our fine- 

 haired, and fine-meated Suffolks, Mackays, Essex 

 and Berkshires, would make an exceedingly valua- 

 ble variety. The display of swine is large, and it 

 has specimens of the highest excellence, and it 

 shows what improvemimt may be effected in this 

 department of rural industry. 



The show of Sheep is fine. That of English sheep 

 such as Southdowns, Cotswold, Leceister, Bakewell, 

 &c., is very large — that of the fine-wooled varieties 

 is rather limited, but excellent in quality. Daxiel 

 Kimball, of Rutland, Vt, has 20 French Merinos, 

 Geo. Campbell, of Westminster, Vt., has Spanish 

 and Silesian,W. CiiAMBEELAiN, of Red Hook, N.Y., 

 Mr. Blakely, of Conn., a few Spanish. Mr. Camp- 

 bell has crosses of the Spanish and Silesian, which 

 commanded much attention. I saw two Oxford 

 Downs weighing 200 pounds each, belonging to 

 C. A. Murphy, of Wilmington, Del., and two Tar- 

 tar sheep, or Fat Tail breed ; they breed twice a 

 year, and bring two to four at a time. The tail of 

 one of them was some ten inches wide, about the 

 Bame length, and appeared to be a mass of fat. The 

 sheep, on the whole, made a good appearance, and 

 attracted much attention. 



The collection of Poultry was large, and included 

 many specimens of great merit in all the different 

 classes. It was well arranged, and made a point 

 of a good deal of attraction. 



In the department of Agricultural Implements 

 and Machines, there is a collection which has prob- 

 ably never been equalled in this or any other coun- 

 try, as to their excellence of manufacture, and for 

 their practical utility. There are some, to be sure, 

 whose unwieldiness or manifest want of adaptation, 

 excite a smile, and show how little their originators 

 knew of the laljors to be performed by them, and 

 the general results to be secured. But they afford 

 a fine contrast with the others around them, and 

 enable spectators to see the progress actually made. 

 The number of reapers and mowers is quite large, 



Company, Boston, have presented seventy Plows 

 of their own manufacture, no two being alike. 

 They were taken from their common stock, and in 

 their construction and finish represent those which 

 they are sending out in such remarkable quantities 

 every day from their manufactories and workshops. 

 This part of the exhibition is eminently full, excel- 

 lent and attractive, as the crowds that constantly 

 throng it bear ample evidence. This is as it should 

 be. 



In the Fruit and Vegetable department, thereis 

 a fair general show, and in some particulars, strong 

 attractions. The show of pears by Col. Wilder 

 and Mr. Ho'V'EY, of Boston, has been rarely excelled 

 any where. Several varieties of corn, some wheat, 

 rye, turnips, potatoes, &c., were very fine. Some 

 white rye weighed GO lbs. per bushel. The corn 

 was remarkably large, the ears being of a mon- 

 strous size. 



We saw no butter or cheese — not being products 

 of the farm, no premium was offered on them ! 



Mr. Langstroth's patent hive, with the bees at 

 work, was on the ground, Mr. Phelps was there in 

 person with his, and his bees industriously attend- 

 ing to their own affairs. 



THIRD day. 



Fowelton, Oct. 9, 1S58. 



I date and write to-day on the grounds. The 

 weather is propitious. The morning opens glori- 

 ously, and the city is early in motion. All the world 

 is going to Powelton. Omnibuses, hacks, carts, drays 

 and every available vehicle utterly fail to get the 

 people along half as fast as they desire to go. The 

 "buss" that I got on was loaded until its ribs broke 

 and it collapsed, squeezing two or three young la- 

 dies something more than tenderly, driving a gen- 

 tleman out of the back door, and doing sundry oth- 

 er disagreeable things. The crowd to-day has been 

 immense — 70,000 must have visited the grounds, 

 for the Treasurer reports the receipts to-day at 

 $15,000 — yesterday, about $7,000, and the first 

 day $3,000. 



Yesterday, as I was walking among the neat 

 stock, I met Senator Sumner, his brother, and the 

 Rev. Mr. Furness. Mr. Sumner is much thinner 

 than when I saw him last autumn. He told me 

 that his bodily health is good, and he has appetite, 

 but that any continued effort of the mind brings 

 nervous excitement, which utterly forbids exertion 

 at present. He chafes under this restraint as does 



