502 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Nov. 



confidence that a bushel of corn cured in the was not a failure, after all, for the interruption 

 shock, will not weigh so much as a bushel cured which it experienced showed how much the peo- 



standing in the hill. , , . , , , , pie regard and cherish the festival. It was not 



It would be a good plan,! think, for those who '„ ., ..i i, i ^ .1 



. ,. 1 ^° ^ li -^ t v^ti, „,„„„ a failure, either, because what goes to make up 



are so inclined, to try the experiment both ways, , ., . . -, ,, , , , 



note the result in harvesting, and send in their an exhibition loas there, although the people 



experience for the columns of the Farmer. i were prevented from seeing it. Some 500 cattle, 



Lcxi7igton, Aug., 1859. J. Underwood. 30O horses, 100 sheep, swine, poultry, bees and 



_^ honey, grains and vegetables, fruits and flowers, 



THE MAINE STATE PAIB. 



household manufactures, paintings and pictures, 

 I and a respectable collection of farm implements 

 The farmers' autumnal festivals have been tak-j^nd machines, were presented to be examined, 

 ing place during the past ten days in such num-^f j^g^ ^.^cre were the usual arrangements for 

 bers, that the utmost limit of our columns would pio^j^g^ drawing, and the exhibition of horses, 

 scarcely contain a brief account of each. Re-j The stock, much of it, was excellent, especially 

 cording the awards we long since abandoned, as ^j^g working oxen ; it would be difficult to find 

 Ihey can have but little interest for any beyond ^n equal number having so many points of ex- 

 the locality where they are awarded. It is ourl pgUgj^^e as the teams from the town of Starks. A 

 aim to catch the spirit of the thing, if ve can, and ^erd of Devon cows exhibited by the Shakers of 

 transmit it to the reader, so that he can judge, Lebanon, was very fine. There was also a large 

 without having been present at the exhibition, ^jj^^^j^y ^f j)^^}^^^^^ ^^qpI^^ grade and pure, some 

 whether what was said and done will tend to^^^f which was very good. A few full blood Jer- 

 promote the general results which it is desired to.gyg ^.^^.^ presented by Dr. Holmes, editor of 

 gain. In doing this, it will be proper to notice ^^^ ^^^-^^^ Farmer, and they are among the first, 

 with some particularity articles of striking ex-]^,^ understand, introduced into the State. The 

 cellence, whether they spring from the genius of! ^j^^^ ^^ implements and machines contained 



the inventor, the skill of the mechanic, or the 

 wisdom of the tiller of the soil ; and so, if strik- 

 ing defects in the system of management, or in 



many attractive articles. 



On the evening of the day we were present, a 

 discussion took place at the State House, upon 



the execution of plans, occur, it becomes our du-j^j^^ question-" What is the best breed or race of 

 ty as public journalists to notice them in a prop-| ^.^^^1^ ^j. ^^e State of Maine ?" The discussion 

 er spirit, and thus the greatest amount of good I ^.^^ animated and interesting, but assumed a sort 

 from the time, talent and money expended, may I ^ ^^^^_^^^^^j,^^, f,^^.^^ ^^^^ ^.^_^.^^ f^^, ^r^i^^^\e 

 possibly be secured. facts were elicited. It was generally conceded 



The annual State Fair in Maine opened at Au-Lj^^^ ^j^^ g^^^^ ^^^ „ot at present a breed the best 

 gusta, on Tuesday, the 20th inst., and was to be adapted to the wants of the people, but none of 

 continued through four days, but the threatening ^^^ speakers informed us how such breed is to be 

 aspect of the weather on Tuesday resolved itself secured ; it is to come from crossing, but what 

 into a decided storm on Wednesday, and arrest- j^^gg^jg g^^j j-^ces are to be mingled, was notsug- 



ed its further progress. There was no "make- 

 believe" about it, for the rains descended, the 

 winds blew, and the floods came, and every liv- 

 ing thing "caught the dumps'' at once. The cat- 

 tle would not low, the cocks would not crow, nor 

 the hoi'ses go — it was an effectual damper all 

 round. The auctioneers grew hoarse while the 

 icy rain drizzled down their necks, and soon be- 

 gan to pack up their traps ; the jockeys lost all 

 their grit, and the boldest of them didn't believe 

 there was a horse on the ground that could trot 

 a mile in ten minutes ; the men suddenly came 

 to the conclusion that "discretion is the better 

 part of valor," and departed to get up a flame 

 within themselves, or find one at their hotels. 

 There was a regular stampede among the women, 

 and the field, so lately sparkling with feminine 

 beauty and grace, became damp, dull and de- 

 spondent, and the winds and rain had it pretty 

 much to themselves. 



gested. In this lies the whole difficulty of the 

 matter. 



Among the manufactured articles, we were es- 

 pecially pleased with ^furnace for heating dwel- 

 lings, where wood is used as fuel, the invention 

 of Mr. E. D. NoRCROSS, of Augusta. We saw 

 this in operation at our lodgings, and felt its ge- 

 nial influences on coming in from the storm. 



Another article was a patent carriage shaft 

 shackle, for attaching shafts to the axle-tree. It 

 is a simple invention of Mr. George Kenny, of 

 Milford, N. H.,— is a cheap, safe, and durable 

 article, and allows no noise, such as we hear in 

 other attachments. It is highly worthy the atten- 

 tion of carriage-makers. We also saw "Torrefs 

 Maine State Dee Hive," and the bees at work in 

 it, ami formed a high opinion of its value. If 

 this is confiimed by a more quiet and careful 

 examination at home, we shall find opportunity 



to say a word to lovers of the apiary at another 

 But the Maine State Show for the year 1859JjjjQg_ 



