1853, 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



547 



tend its labors. Dr. Crosbv, its late Editor, has 

 retired, with a most graceful bow to his readers, 

 and will carry with him the respect and good will 

 of al! the fraternity. ^Ye are glad to learn that 

 he has no idea of throwing off the harness, or of 

 abandoning this most pleasant field of labor. 



NATIONAL HORSE EXHIBITION. 



Springfield, Oct. 19—6 P. M. 



The first national exhibition of horses ever held 

 in any country, commenced in this city this morn- 

 ing. The first day's exercises are concluded, and 

 it must be admitted they have been such as to grat- 

 ify the projectors as well as those who have been 

 engaged in them. The day has been most beauti- 

 ful, and the marshals and other officers have been 

 polite and attentive, and the horses with their 

 gilded trappings havo appeared to the very best 

 advantage. The number of horses in town is as 

 large, perhaps, as could reasonably have been ex 

 pecttd, considering that this is an experimental ex- 

 hibition. Some of the best animals of their respec 

 tive breeds and classes are present, and the show, 

 there can be no doubt, will be productive of much 

 good. 



The exhibition is held on a large plain adjoining 

 the Armory, and occupies a space of 22 acres — 

 nearly half as large as Boston Common. It is ad- 

 mirably adapted to the purpose for which it was se- 

 lected, except that it is too far from the centre of 

 business — being nearly a mile. The general fea- 

 tures of the ground have already been published. 



The ground at 10 o'clock this morning made a 

 magnificent appearance. The ring upon which the 

 horses are exhibited is just half a mile in length, 

 and it was entirely filled, and some portion of the 

 way two deep, with the best turn-outs the country 

 can produce. The number of horses driven round 

 the ring on tlse grand entree was about 340, sin- 

 gle, double, and fours-in-hand. It was a magnifi- 

 cent scene, there in that warm autumnal sun, to 

 see those mettlesome chargers, with arched neck, 

 eye of fire, and thundering hoof, all dressed in hol- 

 iday attire, waiting for the word to start. 



"The steeds are all saddleil, and snort to the rein, 

 • Curved is euch neck, and flowing each mane — 

 White is the foam of their champ on the bit." 



When ail was ready, Hon. Geo. Dwight, Pres- 

 ident of the local Association, under the auspices 

 of which the exhibition is held, and who is also 

 Chief Marshal of the day, came before the judge's 

 stand, and addressing Hon. M. P. Wilder, Presi- 

 dent of the National Agricultural Society, informed 

 him that the exhibition was ready to open. Mr. 

 Wilder replied in a few remarks, congratulating 

 all concerned upon the happy auguries under 

 which the exhibition opened, and predicting that 

 much good would be the result. With the flour- 

 ish of trumpets, the grand cortege then moved on, 

 and finally dispersed over the field. When the 

 teams had scattered over the ground, the si^ht 

 was if anything more beautiful. 



The exhibition being thus opened, at twelve 

 o'clock came the trial of farm or draught horses. 

 This part of the exhibition was, in plain terms, a 

 failure, as far as to-day is concerned. There were 

 but 4 pairs of horses, and 1 single team upon the 

 ground. The weight of the load for double teams 

 was 5200 lbs. 



The animals drew very well indeed, but there 

 were none that showed the capacity for drawing 

 heavy loads that we see every day in the streets of 

 Boston. 



The exhibition of breeding mares with foals by 

 their side, took place at 2 o'clock. There were but ' 

 9 entries. Some of the colts were good animals, 

 and will probably turn out well. 



At 3 o'clock the exhibition of mares took place. 

 There were 48 animals present, and among them 

 some noble and beautiful specimens of the race. 

 The show of mares was decidedly good. After this 

 came exhibitions of the speed of horses, and there 

 was some "fast driving." There was much ex- 

 citement attending the display of speed by the 

 various animals, and although there was no bet- 

 ting, so far as I learned, there was all the interest 

 of a regular race. One of the most conspicuous 

 objects in the array was the turn-out of Mr. F. 

 Corliss, of Longmeadow, a team of four horses at- 

 tached to a gig. They were well managed, and 

 made a good show. 



The first day of the exhibition may be consid- 

 ered as successful. It is estimated that 4000 peo- 

 ple have been on the ground during the day. This 

 number will be much increased to-morrow and 

 next day. The receipts at the door were $1850. 

 This includes the season tickets, but does not in- 

 clude the entrance fee of the horses. There are 

 now upwards of 400 horses entered upon the books 

 of the Society, and it is confidently expected this 

 number will be increased another hundred. A 

 large number of distinguished visitors are expect- 

 ed on Friday, when the Agricultural Banquet will 

 be held. Letters have been received from Edward 

 Everett, Abbott Lawrence, Gov. CliSbrd, Rufus 

 Choate, the Gov.'s Seymour of Connecticut and 

 New York, Gov. Fairbanks of Vermont, Hon. 

 T. H. Benton, and other distinguished men, who 

 all express a deep sympathy with the objects of 

 the exhibition, and promise attendance if possible. 



The exercises to-morrow (Thursday) will be 

 nearly the same as to-day. The managers have 

 announced that the grand entree of all the horses 

 will be repeated both on Thursday and 'Friday 

 mornings. It is worth a visit from Boston just to 

 see this portion of the exhibition. 



Notwithstanding the immense crowds thronging 

 the streets, everything is quiet and orderly. Pick- 

 pockets are plenty, but I hear of no losses by their 

 dexterity. 



Second Day. 



Springfield, Thursday morning. 



The second day of the Horse Exhibition has 

 opened gloriously. A splendid sunrise has given 

 promise of a golden day, and the fears of a storm 

 are dispelled. The trains of this morning are 

 crowded, and present appearances indicate that 

 many more people will be in town to-day than 

 yesterday. 



Several distinguished strangers arrived in town 

 by last night's trains ; among them Gov. Clifford 

 and his aids. Cols. Ezra Lincoln and W. J. Rotch. 

 They are stopping at the Warriner House. I al- 

 so notice Hons. Julius Rockwell, and Ensign H. 

 Kellogg of Pittsfield ; Gov. Seymour of Connect- 

 icut ; Alexander De Witt, M. C. elect ; Levi A. 

 Dowley, Democratic candidate for Lieut Govern- 

 or ; Gov. Colby of New Hampshire ; and a large 

 number of officers of Agricultural Societies in dif 

 ferent States. 



