S82 



THE GENESEE FARMER, 



feSSia* THE AGRICULTURAL FAIRS. 



A few of our Agricultural Societies, on account 

 of the excited condition of the country, decided to 

 hold no exhibitions this year. The great majority 

 of them, however, held their Fairs as usual, and, 

 as a general thing, the wisdom of this policy was 

 clearly shown by the result. So far as we have 

 seen and heard, the attendance, though not as large 

 as in more peaceful times, was fully equal to last 

 year. 



Great honor is due to the enterprising officers of 

 these societies, who, in the midst of discourage- 

 ments and uncertainties, are found unwilling to 

 abandon these annual gatherings, or to give up 

 ought which experience has proved favorable to 

 agricultural improvement. 



If there ever was a time in our history when all 

 classes were interested in the advancement of 

 agriculture and kindred pursuits, that time is now ; 

 and we cannot but rejoice that there are found so 

 many men of intelligence who are willing to use 

 all their influence for the promotion of this impor- 

 tant object. 



YERMONT STATE FAIE. 



The first State Fair of the season was that of 

 Vermont, held at Rutland September 9-12. The 

 Society was organized in 1851, and has done much 

 •towards improving the breeds of horses and sheep, 

 for which the State is so justly celebrated. In 

 these two classes of animals the show this year 

 was, as usual, excellent. The other departments 

 of the Fair did little credit to the farmers of the 

 State. Horace Greeley delivered the address. 

 The attendance was large, and the Fair, in a pecu- 

 niary point of view, quite a success. 



During the first day of the Fair a ""Wool 

 Growers' Convention" was held, at which the Sec- 

 retary of the State Society, Daniel Needham, 

 delivered an interesting address. He thought 

 there was no danger of getting too many sheep, as 

 we annually import, as wool or woolen fabrics, the 

 product of thirteen millions of sheep. There was 

 a favorable prospect of high prices for wool for the 

 next few years. The -supply of cotton was cut off, 

 and the demand for wool for army purposes was 

 very large. The farmers of Vermont thought the 

 Spanish Merino best suited to their climate and 

 mountain pastures. It seemed to be the opinion 

 of many of the wool-growers present that it was 

 better to shear sheep without washing. 



THE OHIO STATE FAIR 



Was held at Cleveland September 16-20. Great 

 fears were entertained for its success. The week 



previous the rebels threatened to attack Cincinnati, 

 and the whole State was thrown into great excite- 

 ment. Still, the Fair was held, and proved a suc- 

 cess. Over thirty thousand people were on the 

 grounds during Thursday. The display of articles- 

 was highly creditable to the State. In the sheep 

 department especially the show was large and ex- 

 cellent. A Vermont breeder informs us that he 

 has never seen, at any Fair, a better display of fine- 

 wooled sheep. There were eleven exhibitors from 

 Vermont, and many sales were effected at good 

 prices. 



Some pens of Cashmere goats, exhibited by S. S. 

 Williams, of Jonesville, attracted much attention. 

 It is said that these animals shear from three to 

 five pounds per head, and the wool sells for eight 

 dollars per pound ! 



THE MICHISAN STATE FAIR, 



Held at Detroit September 23-26, was in many 

 respects quite successful. Here, as in Ohio, the 

 entries of stock were not as large as usual, but the 

 quality was superior. Parson Brownlow delivered 

 the address on Thursday, and the rush of people 

 to the grounds was unprecedented in the annals of 

 the Society. The total receipts were $2,656 more 

 than last year, and the Society is again in a flourish- 

 ing and prosperous condition. 



THE PROVINCIAL FAIR OF CANADA WEST 



Was held at Toronto September 23-26. It was, in 

 many respects, the best Fair we ever attended on 

 this side of the Atlantic. The show of cattle and 

 sheep was truly magnificent. There were three 

 hundred and sixty-three different exhibitors in the 

 stock department alone ! The number of entries 

 in this department foots up eighteen hundred and 

 fourteen ! 



The Society published this year for the first time 

 a catalogue of the entries of stock. It made a 

 handsome volume of one hundred pages. It was 

 a great convenience both to visitors and exhibitors, 

 and if possible we hope the plan will be adopted 

 by our State Societies. 



Let us take a glance at the Fair — it must be but 

 a glance; and first for the Shorthorns, or, as they 

 are still called in Canada, the Durhams. What a 

 grand display ! There are one hundred and twenty- 

 two entries! The Durhams are evidently the fa- 

 vorite breed in Canada. Fred. W. Stone, Esq., 

 President of the Association, exhibits, as usual, some 

 splendid animals. He has taken the sweepstakes 

 for the best herd of Durhams. John Snell, Geo. 

 Miller, and other prominent breeders, are also 

 well represented. 



