484 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Oct. 



NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE PAIR. 



Wednesday — First Day. 



The Sixth Annual Fair of the New Hampshire 

 Agricultural Society commenced to-day, Wednes- 

 day, Sept. 12, at Manchester. The fair is held upon 

 the "old rye field" where it has been held on for- 

 mer sc:isons. The same area of ground is en- 

 closed as heretofore. The enclosure presents a fine 

 appearance. Near the entrance is the business of- 

 fice, and tlie editor's room — a feature which all gen- 

 tlemen connected with the Press know full well 

 how to appreciate. The room is cool and airy. Am- 

 ple accoramoditions are found. A long table well 

 supplied with stationary, &-c. Connected therewith 

 is a refreshment room, where wholesome and sub- 

 stantial food may be found whenever the reporter is 

 tired of dri\'iiig the quill, or Avhen he returns from 

 the field, where the sun pours down its scorching 

 rays. None better understand the wants of the ed- 

 itorial fraternity than the indefatigable secretary of 

 the society, James O. Adams, Esq., who is himself 

 well known as an editor. Suffice it to say, that, be- 

 ing seconded in his affairs by Frederick Smyth, Esq., 

 the efficient Treasurer, the facilities for reporting 

 are most admirable, and are duly appreciated by all 

 the representatives of the ])ress present. 



Just within the entrance are two of Yale's large 

 tents, one devoted to the display of fancy articles, 

 the other to farming implements and the heavy ar- 

 ticles of manufacture. Other tents are erected — 

 one occupied by a representative from the establish- 

 ment of a caterer well known to the Boston public, 

 J. B. Smith, where the public can find a cup of cot- 

 fee, not to be despised even by an Oriental. In the 

 immediate vicinity are ample accommodations for 

 feasting the hungry multitude expected tomorrow 

 — the great day of the Exhibition. 



Around the sides of the enclosure are ample stalls 

 for horses, of which a large number are already en- 

 tered; also pens for cattle. The stalls and pens 

 are covered to ])roteet the animals from the intol- 

 erable heat. Water carts pass along occasionally, 

 and the animals are treated to a drink, for which 

 we doubt not they are very grateful. Water is 

 forced into hogsheads upon the ground by a hydrau- 

 lic ram, from a brook which gurgles along at some 

 distance from the field. The arrangements through- 

 out are am])le, and reflect much credit upon the 

 committee of lu-rangements. 



Tuesday — Second Day. 



In the afternoon, at two o'clock, a procession was 

 formed and escorted the Governor of the State, the 

 orator of the day, the invited guests and officers of 

 the society to the grounds. While the procession 

 was en route, we took occasion to look at a couple 

 of violins to which our attention was especially 

 called. They were manufactured by Mr. J. H. Arey, 

 a fanner of Boscawen, who has not only an exqui- 

 site taste for music, but great mechanical genius, as 

 some beautiful inlaid work-boxes in the exhibition, 

 the product of his leisure hours, fully testify. About 

 a year since Mr. Arey having read of the scientific 

 pro])ortions of a Cremona violin, took it into his 

 head to try his hand in making one; he did so, and 

 it was sent to Boston to a music-dealer, who at once 

 sold it, we believe, for some $30. Mr. Arey hav- 

 ing heard of the sale, visited Boston, where he Ve- 

 ceived the most flattering assurances of the worth 

 of the instrument, from good judges, who urged 



him to give his whole attention to the manufacture. 

 He has manufactured several since then on rainy 

 days, and during his leisure moments, and they find 

 a ready sale at from thirty to fifty dollars each. 

 The gentleman, we lean., is not satisfied with his 

 present attainments in the excellence of the manu- 

 facture, but means to make them equal to the Cre- 

 monas. He is about to establish himself at Con- 

 cord. This is the way with Yankees. 



The procession arrived upon the ground at two 

 and a half o'clock. The area of a large radius was 

 a sea of humanity, surging to and fro, each wave en- 

 deavoring to dash up to the stand. Occasionally a 

 cry from the ladies told how severely they were 

 moved about, without the least power of resistance. 



The orator of the day, Hon. C. B. Haddock, late 

 U. S. Minister to Portugal, was then introduced to 

 the assembly by the President, Ex-Governor Ba- 

 ker. 



The speaker commenced with a brief notice of ag- 

 riculture under the Romans. The present state of 

 agriculture was next spoken of, that it was now a 

 science — a study. The old times had passed away. 

 The next topic was the ennobling influence of agri- 

 culture. The farmer is the happiest of men. As 

 farmers we should be satisfied — even as New Hamp- 

 shire farmers we have reason to be satisfied, although 

 our soil is sterile and hard to cultivate. There are 

 other lands, beautiful lands, that are more inviting ; 

 but we have compensation for our hardship. The 

 self-denial, the enterprise which compels the farmer 

 to exert himself — the cold winter which fastens us 

 to our firesides, developes the best instincts of the 

 heart. 



We have a great deal to do for agriculture ; first, 

 we need an institution for the benefit of agriculture. 

 In this connection, the orator referred to the pro- 

 fessions, and said that that which was at the foun- 

 dation of all others was neglected. We needed an 

 agricultural school — a national agricultural bureau. 

 The inhabitants of Manchester were not more inter- 

 ested in manufacture than the farmers of New 

 Hampshire in agriculture. He then referred to the 

 true policy of New Hampshire — that it was manu- 

 facturing. There should be a mill upon every 

 stream ; agriculture would thrive thereby. 



Horticulture was also a legitimate occupation for 

 the gentlemen and ladies of New Hampshire. In 

 this connection the orator pictured the loveliness, 

 the beauty, the healthfulness of the occupation ; it 

 was Paradise regained. Horticulture was a teach- 

 er to the farmer — teaching him that a great deal 

 could be i)roduced from a small quantity of land. 



A liberal education is not a disqualification for a 

 farmer. A hberally educated man is a full grown 

 man. It is not neccessary that he should be a col- 

 lege graduate, to be such. The book of nature was 

 ever l)efore him. No pursuit was better than far- 

 ming to develop the powers of the mind. 



In conclusion, he said tliat there was something 

 beautiful in the thought that at last we might close 

 our earthly existence upon the spot Mhich we had 

 cultivated and adorned. The address was one of 

 great beauty, and had the rare merit of being brief. 



At this stage of the proceedings there was an un- 

 qualified political address, by Mr. Botts, of Vir- 

 ginia ! 



Friday — Third Day. 



The morning of Friday was beautifully clear and 

 mild. A hght fog lay in the valley of the Merri- 



