THE GEKESEE FARMER. 



831 



"was much too small to enable the owners fairly to 

 test their respective merits, or show off the fine 

 points of the best animals. 



The sheep pens wer« particularly attractive. 

 liTearly every description of sheep was exhibited, 

 making in the aggregate a very large show. Mag- 

 oiificent South Downs were presented by Thorne, 

 of Datchess ; Beobie, HuN'Gerpord, & Co., exhib- 

 it-ed large Leicesters- and bh-e French Merinos of 

 J. D. Patterson, of ChaMtauque county, maia- 

 •tained the good reputati'OJa of their owner. Other 

 good sheep were not wanting, but we are without 

 notes from which t© extend the list. 



Of the swine, the less said probably the better. 

 They are seld'Ora favorites at the various fairs, and 

 on this occasion were less distinguished than usual. 



Poultry was sufficiently numerous to speak for 

 tlaemselves. Ot nearly all the prominent and fancy 

 b^reeds, the show was superior, and they elicited, as 

 they deserved, a large share of observation. 



The people — farmers, with their wives, sons, 

 and daughters, — were there, enjoying the sights, 

 and storing their minds with new and useful ideas 

 for future use. On no similar occasion have we 

 noted more enterprise and general intelligence 

 among the mass of visitors. As a result, the Soci- 

 ety have reason to be satisfied with their show for 

 the year 1858. 



PROVINCIAL AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION. 



The thirteenth exhibition of the Provincial Agri- 

 cultural Association of Canada West was held at 

 Toronto, from September 28 to October 1st. inclu- 

 sive. More than the usual preparation was made 

 by the Association, assisted by the public-spirited 

 citizens of Toronto, in the erection of a large com- 

 modious building styled a Crystal Palace. The 

 building is 256 feet in. length, with an extreme 

 width, including a porch, of 144 feet. The struc- 

 ture is cruciform in shape, with walls of iron and 

 glass 16 feet 10 inches high, surmounted by a roof 

 of tin with a, central height of 55 feet to top of 

 dome. The total area of the ground floor is about 

 33,000 superficial feet, to which are added spacious 

 galleries, alFording 11,000 additional feet of flooring. 

 There were four entrances, and the same number 

 of broad stairs leading to the gallery. The whole 

 interior was weU ai'ranged for the purpose, and 

 ornamented with a large fountain in the center, 

 kept in play during the continuance of the exhibi- 

 tion. 



"We have not space to do anything iiie justice to^ 

 individual exhibitors in the palase. la manufac- 

 tures were embraced specimens of almost every 

 conceivable branch of productive industry for the' 

 use of the farmer, meohjinic, or artisan, each exhib- 

 iting skill and finish every way creditable to the 



enterprise and ingenuity of our transontario neigh- 

 bors. 



To us, one of the most interesting quarters of the 

 palace was that devoted to the display of grains, 

 seeds, and vegetables. In these departments, the 

 Canadian show is always a pattern of excellence, 

 and the one for 1858 exceeded in variety and sam- 

 ple any we have heretofore witnessed. Wheat was 

 very fine — equal to the best sample of '• White 

 Genesee" with which we have met in years gone 

 by. Barley, oats, and corn, were equally well repre- 

 sented. The samples of peas were very superior. 

 In addition to vast piles of vegetables for the table, 

 there was a tine display of roots for stock feeding. 

 Carrots, turnips, sugar and mangel wurzel beets of 

 a size that presaged a special care of the denizens of 

 the stable. Is it not a question worthy of consid- 

 eration whether, in the growing of roots for stock 

 to so great an extent, Canadian farmers do not set 

 an example which their neighbors in the States 

 would find it profitable to imitate ? 



The Horticultural department exceeded our ex- 

 pectation. Apples, pears, peaches, and plums, 

 though not presented in very large collections, 

 were of choice varieties and well grown. The 

 show of grapes was very superior. J. B. Fay, of 

 Chautauque Co., N". Y., exhibited a large collection of 

 grap£*s and samples of wine. Tlie Horticultural 

 Societies of Brockville and Hamilton made each a 

 very good display of fruits and ornaments, evinc- 

 ing taste and spirit p'orthy of imitation. The 

 ladies, as usual, contributed their quota of quilts, 

 counterpanes, needle-work, embroidery, paintings, 

 drawings, etc. The whole galleries were orna- 

 mented with the productions of their fair Iiands. 



Out of the palace, the arrangements and show 

 was, as usual, creditable. Under a large tent was 

 a good collection of carriages, sleighs, efee., as well 

 as some novelties in the way of car-coupling, wash- 

 ing machines, etc. The agricultural implements 

 covered a krge space on the field, and exhibited 

 superior workmanship and' finish, though present- 

 ing; no new feature. 



The stock was to us ths most interesting feature. 

 The cattle stalls were badly arranged, rendering it 

 a dirty path to pay them a personal visit. 



Of horses, Canada can boast most worthy speci- 

 mens. We have never seen their heavy draft 

 horses excelled. We note a span of grays belong- 

 ing to R. Armstrong, of Markhara, as very supe- 

 rior. Good ones were also shown by 6. Biack and 

 Ml. SnEPAu:©. The most of these, with a large 

 number of stallions, are known as the " Cydesdale," 

 being ori-ginal'ly a cross between the Flemish horee 

 and the Lanarkshire (Scotland) mares. The mare 

 is reported to be from the district of Clyde, and 

 highly esteemed for heavy teaming and the plow. 



