1854. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



25 



be an apparatus for steaming or boiling, where the 

 several articles of food can be prepared and tem- 

 pered with economy and ease. Apples are excel- 

 lent for feeding swine, and if boiled or steamed 

 and mixed with corn and cob meal, will be found 

 to contribute essentially to the economy of fatten- 

 ing not only of swine, but of other animals. A 

 person who was some years since engaged rather 

 largely in fattening pork for the northern market, 

 assured us that he preferred apples and meat to 

 any other diet. lie expressed his belief that pork 

 could be fattened on this food, for four cents per 

 pound — less even, we thought, than upon any 

 kind of grain. In this economical manner the far- 

 mer may every year fatten pork not only suiEcient 

 for his own use, but frequently a surplus for the 

 market, and it will be of the best quality. 



Fnr the New England Farmer. 

 MARYLAND CATTLS SHOW AND FAIR. 



Mr. Editor : — The Annual Cattle Showand Fair 

 of the Maryland State Agricultural Society was 

 held near this city, last week. Your readers may 

 perhaps be interested in reading a brief account of 

 the manner in which such exhibitions are con- 

 ducted in this region. 



The show occupied four days. Admission was 

 obtained, only by paying twenty-five cents. In 

 New England, this farmers' festival is free to all ; 

 as free as the light of the sun. But there are rea- 

 sons why an admission fee should be exacted here. 



The ground occupied, being near the city and 

 being devoted exclusively to the interests of the 

 Society, is subject to a ground-rent. The fixtures 

 being of a permanent character, are more costly. 

 On three sides of the lot, containing, I should 

 judge, twenty-five acres, there are substantial, 

 covered stalls, opening toward the centre, neatly 

 whitewashed and numbered. Near the centre, 

 there are a number of buildings, designed for the 

 accommodation of exhibitors of mechanical and ag- 

 ricultural implements, and for ofiices. These build- 

 ings, though slightly built, are in good taste, — are 

 very commodious, and make an imposing appear- 

 ance. There is also a building in whicn hay and 

 grain are kept for the accommodation of exhibitors. 

 In front of these buildings is a race course, or hip- 

 podrome, the track being covered with tan-bark, 

 and the whole enclosed with a railing. These 

 buildings and fixtures necessarily involve much 

 expense. 



Then the amount paid out in premiums is much 

 greater. Thirty-five hundred dollars was, this 

 way, disbursed last week. FurthermorCj there 

 seems to be propriety in imposing a tax upon the 

 multitudes, who go out from a large city, like this, 

 to gratify an idle curiosity, and who contribute 

 nothing to agricultural improvement, except in the 

 consumption of her products. 



Tlie State, I am told, has made no appropriation 

 to agricultural societies, so that if progress be 

 made, it will be attributable to individual enter- 

 prise and liberality. 



Our national government, as well as many of the 

 State governments, seems very reluctant to re- 

 cognize agriculture as among the departments of 

 human industry which deserve protection and en- 



couragement. Four-fifths of the whole popula- 

 tion of our country are agriculturists. And yet 

 while millions are annually expended for the ben- 

 efit of commerce and manufactures, agriculture 

 gets only a Patent OflBce Report, once in a twelve- 

 month. 



But I must to the show. The exhibition of 

 Horses was very good. There were some valu- 

 able studs, breeding mares and matched geldings. 

 The Morgan breed seemed to be in the ascendant. 



The farmers of Maryland have hitherto paid but 

 little attention to the raising of horses. As good 

 horses may be found in Baltimore as elsewhere ; 

 but most of them are brought in from other States. 

 IVeat stock was in great abundance, but not in great 

 variety. I saw no working oxen, nor any steers. 

 Of bulls, old and young, and milch cows and heif- 

 ers, there was a great abundance. The Durhams 

 and Devonshires seemed to predominate. Of these 

 breeds there were several very superior animals, 

 both bulls and cows. There w^re also Ayrshires, 

 Alderneys and Natives, and fine specimens of each. 

 I should judge, from this exhibition, that prefer- 

 ence is given, in this region, to the Devonshires. 

 They doubtless e:^cel in symmetry and beauty of 

 form and color, and perhaps in hardihood. But 

 for the dairy, I think them inferior to the Ayr- 

 shires, and for the stall, by no means equal to the 

 Durhams. 



The show of Sheep was excellent. A great num- 

 ber and superior specimens. The Bakewell, 

 South Downs and Native breeds, were the princi- 

 pal. Three Iderino bucks of recent importation, 

 "could not be beat." I know not why Maryland 

 may not successfully compete with Vermont in wool- 

 growing. In this climate, sheep need no shelter 

 in winter, and will do well with but little hay or 

 grain. 



In the department of Swine there was a very 

 liberal show. The Berkshires were fully repre- 

 sented ; the Chester breed, and the Native also. 

 There were a few SufFolks, which were much ad- 

 mired and sold for a high price. The Berkshires 

 are favorites with the farmers in this region, on 

 account of their hams, which are thought to be 

 superior. The Chester hogs, from Chester coun- 

 ty. Pa., are popular in this State, if popularity can 

 be predicated of a brute animal, on account of 

 their size. They .are sometimes made to weigh as 

 much as seven hundred pounds, dressed. 



There was one pen of hogs, from Virginia, which 

 were greatly admired. There were fifty-one, all 

 of them very fixt, and said to be only sixteen 

 months old. I. think they would average three 

 hundred and fifty pounds dressed. The tender said 

 they had had no meal ; their food being dry corn 

 with water. It was a spectacle well calculated to 

 make the mouth of a Gentile water. 



The show of Poultry would not suffer by com- 

 parison with the great "Hen Convention" which, 

 whilome, came off in Boston. Such a clucking 

 and cooing and cackling and crowing as was kept 

 up in the grove, occupied by this department, 

 must have been a rare treat to ornithological ama- 

 tuera. The chicken mania must have taken strong 

 hold, and been widely diffused in this region. All 

 the "improved" breeds, from the majestic "Impe- 

 rials" down to little sputtering bantams, were ex- 

 hibited, finer specimens I have never seen. There 

 wore also in abundance, geese, ducks, turkeys, 

 peacocks, Guinea-hens, pigeons and nondescripts. 



