230 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



Oct. 



N. ]}. State :2lgricnltural Bocutg. 



i 



FAIR FOR 1850. 



OiR cnliimns are too much occupied with the list of 

 prerniunis awarded on articles exhibited at the late 

 State Fair, to allow of any extended remarks of our 

 own. We can nut, however, refrain from a word 

 or two. Tlie fair was lield about one and a half 

 miles I'roin Albany, on the Troy road. It was of 

 easy access both from Troy and Albany, and persons 

 were carried to the grounds for a shilling. In this 

 «ork was engaged horses and vehicles of every de- 

 scription, from the fine carriage and omnibus to the 

 one-horse lumber wagon The road was continually 

 thronged with these vehicles, making the journey on 

 foot unpleasant if no! dangerous. About thirty acres 

 of uii'adow was enclosed by a good fence, for the 

 exhibition. We fust made a visit to the grounds on 

 Wednesday morning. In consequence of previous 

 heavy ruins, the grounil was in a very wet condition, 

 making it unpleasant to get about, particularly for 

 ladies. This evil was partially remedied by laying 

 beards in the principal halls. We rather think that 

 a little previous attention to draining would have 

 been advisable, and that a little money spent in that 

 way would have been very profitably expended. The 

 first thing done by the officers of the Royal Agricul- 

 tural Society of England, in preparing for their exhi- 

 bition, is to well drain the ground. The display on 

 the whole was good — perhaps never exceeded. The 

 show of Stock surpassed anything we ever saw. 



Tlic exhibition of Fruits, Flowers, and Vegeta- 

 BLiis, in Floral Hall, was hardly what we expected, 

 and with the exce])tion of Foreign Grapes, we shall 

 bo much disappointed if it is not far surpassed by the 

 exhibition of our County Society and the Horticultu- 

 ral Society of the Valley of the Genesee, to be held' 

 on the 2Gtli of September. The display of Foreign 

 (!kai'es was very line. We noticed twenty-two 

 varieties from Van Renssalaek's Clinton Point 

 Vinery, among them the Black Prince, Victoria Ham- 

 burgh, While Muscat of Alexandria, and Palestine; 

 twelve varieties from L. R. Colt, of Patterson, N. 

 .f., among ihcm Muscat Blanche, Victoria Hamburgh, 

 and Brown Damascus. Also, several varieties by H. 

 Vail, of Mt. Ida, Troy, and a fine young plant of 

 Black Hamburgh, in a box, about six feet high, bear- 

 iug seven large bunches. The Floral Ornaments 

 were superb — a Gothic Arbor, by Herman Wf.nhell; 

 a Chinese Temple, principally of verbenas, by J. 

 Dl^av^'^:l.l., of .\lbany; a Floral Peacock, by Mrs, J. 

 Va.n Nama. of Pititowu ; and a Floral Harp, by Mrs. 

 Mabbktt, of Mcchaiiicsville, were particularly wor- 

 thy of praise. 



In Mami-acilrer's Hall there was a fine coU 

 lection of manufactured articles — chairs, bedsteads, 

 quilts, locks, patent milkers, Jic. But this hall was 

 liot half large euougli t-i accommodate tho articles 

 ( xliibited, iTiuoh less the crowd of visitors. There 

 should have been two h:iil- — .one for the exhibition 

 of articles of ladies' uiauulacture. With proper room 

 for disphiy, Ibis would have been the most brilliant 

 exhibition on the ground. 



In Mechanic's Hall was a great collection of 

 ^toves, pinning and savviug machines, Sic. But the 

 great point of attraction was the steam press, on 

 which was worked the Slate Fair Hourly BuUelin, 

 a little paper set up and printed on the grounds. 

 The exhibition in Dairy Hall was meagre. 



although we noticed some very fine cheese, mostly 

 from Herkimer county. 



Emery fc Co.'s Implement Hall was the pret- 

 tiest building on the ground — indeed, it was the 

 only building laying any claim to taste in construc- 

 tion. Perhaps those having charge of the business 

 might learn a lesson from Mr. E., and in future exer- 

 cise a little taste in the erection of the buildings, 

 without adding materially to the expense. This hall 

 was filled with a collection of implements that for 

 beauty of workmanship, and utility of design, it 

 would be very difficult to surpass. In front of this 

 hall was a fountain and water ram in operation, add- 

 ing much to the beauty and interest of the place. 



In the open ground was a good collection of See^ 

 Drills, Horse Powers, Threshers, &.c. Ketciium's 

 Mowing Machine, as it passed over ground, nicely 

 clipping the short grass, attracted a crowd. 



There was a fair collection of Sheep and Hogs. 

 The Poultry Show was small. We noticed only 

 tn<o lots of Polands and a pair or two of Shanghaes, 

 with several chickens, and atily one lot of Dorkings. 

 There was quite a variety of the more curious, such 

 as Bantams, Silver Pheasants, SiC. 



We would suggest that in future no refreshment 

 tents be permitted upon the grounds, unless under the 

 control of some person of honor, who is both willing 

 and competent to do the fair thing. Allowing per- 

 sons to come within the enclosure and erect tents 

 ostensibly for the purpose of feeding the hungry 

 crowd, while the real object appears to be to rid them 

 of tlieir money without a fair return, is dishonorable 

 to all concerned. 



Haydn's Oratorio of the Seasons was performed 

 by the Albany Harmonia Society, on the several 

 evenings of the Fair, We only had tho opportunity 

 of hearing it once. The execution of the piece was 

 all that we expected — all that could be desired — 

 worthy of the great composition and its great author. 

 But we regret that the audience was so small. We 

 fear the circus had more attraction for the mass than 

 the sublime, soul-stirring conceptions of Hatdn, 

 Tho following, representing tho clearing up of a 

 thunder-storrn on a summer's evening, we thought 

 peculiarly beautiful ; and the latter part, after the 

 fatigue of traveling and attendance at the fair, we 

 could fully appreciate : 



*■ Now cease the conflicl of the winda 



And fast the gloomy <'Unuis reiiro : 



The sky sublimer swells. 



Pure, azure spreads around. 



.\nd o'er liie fields the setting huh 



Displays the sparkling robe of ioy. 



His llock secure. lUe shepherd hies 



Liglit-henrteti lo liis home ; 



The quail repeated ealls her miilB . 



Around tho col tho crickets chirp ; 



While cro.ik the iVc^s within lUc pool ; 



.\nd talis the evening bell. 



Now shines ihe glill'ring host of stars 



The hour of sweet repose is near. 



Welcome, welcome, gcntie kloi p I 



Soothing balm of every ixiro I 



O, Ihoti that in the cot of toil 



Deligbt'st to close the lids of lieulth 



Welcome, welcome, gentle sleep : 



To rest, to rest, nway !'' 

 The number of people in attendance was imiT»et>se, 

 and the receipts for admission lo the grounds over 

 ijtl 2,000, far exceeding that of any pi'^vious year. 



The view of the show grounds on next page, will 

 give those not fortunate enough to be present a 

 pretty correct idea of the arrangement. 



