1852.J 



AGRICULTURAL HALL. 



55 



table. At one side of tlic entrance two barrels of boue-diist, of 

 different degrees of fineness, sliowed that attention is now being 

 directed by our farmers to tlie subject of special manures. 



Butter in numerous kegs, firkins, pots and dislies, occupied 

 about one-half of the east side of the table and elevated platform, 

 the remaining portion being filled with a pretty largo variety of 

 cheeses, including the Stilton from the dairy of Rdph Wade, jun., 

 Cobourg. 



The narrow platform in the centre of the table was covered 

 with samples of biscuits, maple sugar, a model straw stack, 

 manufactured chicorj', &c. At the south entrance of the hall 

 we noticed some splendid specimens of Indian corn growing in 

 boxes, some of the stalks of which coidd not be less than four- 

 teen feet high. 



Although we were very favourably impressed with the satisfacto- 

 ry evidence, oflered by the contents of the Agricultural, Hall of the 

 progress of husbandry in the Province, yet in some instances our 

 expectations were not fully answered. The show of roots was 

 very defective, the specimens exhibited were few in number and 

 generally not distinguished by those excellent peculiarities of size 

 and figure which one expects to meet with in AgTicultural shows. 

 The gi'ain was unquestionably good, a splendid evidence of the 

 admirable adaptation of our climate and soil to the growth of 

 the cereals. The disjjlay of butter and cheese was not large, 

 nor, if we except Mr. Ranney's monster cheeses, and Mr. Wade's 

 excellent Stilton and double Gloucester, not particularly note- 

 worthy, either in appearance, quantity or quality. We looked 

 in vain for many varieties of vegetable produce which should 

 especially engage the attention of the farmers of this magnificent 

 Province. To advert to two classes of agricultural plants only, 

 viz., dye plants and oil plants; why are their representatives 

 absent from our annual exhibitions ? It is true that hemp and 

 flax are gi'adually coming into favour, and thanks to the Canada 

 Company, they will soon, we hope, become a stajjle article of 

 growth and manufacture ; but, where were the spiecimens of oil 

 from their seeds, from the white and brown mustard, and the sun 

 flower; where was the oil cake for feeding cattle ? And 

 respecting dye plants, the bastard saftron, yiekhng the rich Tm-- 

 key red, and of which upwards of $2,000,000 worth is aimually 

 produced in the neighbouring States, found not a place in the 

 exhibition nor in the prize list. Madder was alike unrepresented, 

 and othei-s which might jirofitably be introduced into our 

 exhibitions. 



In glancing at the prize list, after the awards were published! 

 we were surprised to find that, in some instances, three j)rizes 

 were given to one individual for specimens of the same descrip- 

 tion of article, in other cases but one p)rize was awarded, although 

 there appears to have been no competition, and yet two or three 

 prizes offered by the Association. We think the regulations for 

 the entry of articles for competition should limit the exhibitor to 

 one specimen of each kind. Under present arrangements, it 

 appears to us that a successful cultivator of any variety of vege- 

 table may secure to himself the whole of the prizes offered for 

 any one article, by sending to the exhibition as many specimens 



as prizes. Every one knows Low frequ-.^ntly it happens with 

 field produce, that where you succeed in obtnining one bushel of 

 fine roots or seeds, you may gcnei'ally select half a dozen very 

 little inferior to the one desiguod for exhibition. 



The regulations for the guidance of Judges do not appear to 

 be sufliciently exp)licit ; and we feel sure that the very existence 

 of any description of rules could not have been credited by the 

 Judges of Ayrshire Cattle. In their report to the Association 

 they state that, — 



"The Judges of Ayrshire Cattle beg to submit their regret at the 

 hmited competition in this class of animals, there being only twenty- 

 one entered for twenty-four prizes The competitors were also few. 

 The Judges, if they had the option, would not have awarded all the 

 prizes when there were so few competitors. In the class of Cows, for 

 iustance, all were owned by one gentleman. The undersigned respect- 

 fully suggest the expediency of leaving to the discretion of Judges in 

 future to withhold prizes under such circumstances, unless in case of 

 very superior merit in the animals exhibited." 



The report was presented in the face of the subjoined regula- 

 tion of the Association attached to the prize list : — • 



'^' 8th. In the absence of competition in any of the Classes, or if the 

 Stock or Articles exhibited be of iuferior quality, the Judges will 

 exercise their discretion as to the value of the premiums they award. 



Many discrepancies also occur in the award of discretionary 

 prizes; some Judges ai'e inclined to be too liberal, others too 

 exacting. Prizes are awarded because an article possesses novelty, 

 or exhibits ingenuity, though without profitable application, or 

 shows a disposition on the part of the contributor to add to the 

 interest of the show, or evinces sharpness and energy in advertis- 

 ing his wares, &c. &c. 



We are inclined to question the projDriety of awarding a prize 

 to Bi-ide Cake, to Soda Biscuits, to specimens of Biscuit baking, 

 with the name of the manufacturer in broad letters on his boxes, 

 to Four Reversible Coats and one pair Pants, to an assortment of 

 Wigs, or to an Over-coat, all of them articles which are unques- 

 tionably very useftd and creditable in their way, but which 

 scarcely have a right to come in for a shai'e of the prize money 

 of the Agrictdtural Association. 



We would respectfully urge upon the Association the pro- 

 priety of preparing and pubhshing a series of regulations for the 

 especial guidance of Judges. They should be printed upon the 

 first page of each prize book placed in the hands of the Judges 

 before going their rounds ; and they should be of such a general 

 character as to make them applicable to onr county as well as to 

 our Provincial Expositions of Agricultural Industry, thus leading 

 to that uniformity and exactness which is so greatly to be desired. 



AGRICULTITRAL PRODUCTIOM-S. 



JilDUES — Jos. Webster, James Williams, James L. Green, James Craw- 

 ford, Wm. Matthie, Thos. Hatt, James Wright.^James Rogers, 

 J. P. Gage. 



The Canada Company's Prize of £25. 

 For the best 25 bushels of Fall Wheat, the produce of Canada West, 

 being the growth of the year 1852. The prize to be awarded to tha 

 actual grower only of the wheat, which is to be given np to, and be- 

 come the property of the Association, for distribution to the Connty 

 Societiee for seed. J B Carpenter, Townsend, £25 ; 9 (by the Asso- 



