366 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



forth thousands, not in their streets, but on 

 their well appointed farms. 



After which, on motion of Mr. Bondurant, 

 the Assembly adjourned sine die. 



VA. STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



FOURTH ANNUAL EXHIBITION. 



On Tuesday, October the 28th, the officers and 

 members of the Society only, were admitted 

 within the showgrounds. The judges of award 

 were organized under the direction of the Ghief 

 Marshall and furnished Avith books, in which 

 to record their awards. The day was occupied 

 b}'' the Judges in examining, comparing and dc- 

 ci<ling upon the relative merits of the various 

 subjects for premiums submitted to their ad- 

 judication. 



On We inesday, the 29th, the grounds were 

 opened for the admission of the public general- 

 ly, and at 11 o'clock A. M. the Fair was inaugu- 

 rated with prayer, by Rev. Mr. Edwards of the 

 Methodist Church. Ilis Excellency, the Gov- 

 ernor of Virginia, at the request of the Presi- 

 dent, then delivered an impromptu address, at 

 once eloquent, original, and forcible, which was 

 received with evident satisfaction and delight 

 by the numerous and respectful auditory, which 

 crowded the spacious area of the large central 

 payillion. He said he could not but y'leld to the 

 solicitation of the President to address the So- 

 ciety. He was about to attempt — it perhaps 

 raslily — without previous preparation, but that 

 min 1 must be dull and insensible indeed, which 

 would not be awakehed and quickened by the 

 inspiration of the spirit of intelligence which 

 informed the living multitude before him. For 

 himself, he could not look upon the glorious 

 2^h}/sique of Virginia as there represented in the 

 noble type of her men and women, without 

 glowing with emotions of patriotic pride, and 

 seeking to find utterance for the fulness of his 

 heart in the language of gratulation. He re- 

 viewed the progress of the physical sciences 

 since the discovery of the American Conti- 

 nent, providentially opened to our enter- 

 prizing countrymen as the appropriate theatre 

 for their development ; spoke of the discoveries 

 of the power of steam, of electricity, and other 

 f )rces of nature through the researches of Nat- 

 ural Phylosophy and closed Mdth an eloquent 

 and earnest appeal in behalf of a comprehensive 

 system of public education by means of which 

 the Agriculturalist, the xirtizan and the Me- 

 chanic, being endued with the power of know- 

 ledge, would be able to adapt all their operations 

 to the well-known laws of nature, and render 

 her forces subservient to the whole economy 

 and practical business of life. 



The Horses, of which there were on exhibi- 

 tion an unusual number, and many rare speci- 

 mens of excellence in their respective classes, 

 were submitted to the examination of the 

 Judges of award. 



On Thursday the 30th, the trial of ploughs 

 and of skill in ploughmanship was conducted 



near the Fair Grounds and the premiums award- 

 ed. The remainder of the day was spent on 

 the grounds in witnessing the performances 

 upon the horse track, and in examining animals 

 and articles on exhibition. 



On Friday 31st October the President read ab- 

 stracts of the report of the Judges of award, 

 wtych with other reports afterwards received, 

 are as follows : 



PREMIUMS AWARDED 



BRANCH L 

 Experiments. 

 No. 6. For report of experiments on 

 Irish Potatoes, J. L. Campbell, Washing- 

 ton College, $25 00 



16. For report of a series of experi- 

 ments. Dr. Ro. Harrison, Prince George, 10 00 



BRANCH II. 

 Essays. 



36. For essay on the importance of al- 

 kalies and alkaline earths to agriculture, 

 &c., Dr. Ro. Harrison, Prince George, 50 00 



41. For essay on cultivation of Fruit, 



Dr. T. J. Pretiow, Southampton, 20 00 



42. For essay on Overseers, F. G. Ruf- 



fin. Chesterfield, ^ .20 00 



43. For essay on Summer Distemper of 

 Cows and Oxen, Dr. John P. Mettauer of 

 Prince Edward, ^ 20 00 



51. For essay on cultivation of Indian 

 Corn, R. W. N. Noland, Albemarle, 10 00 



52. For essay on Rotation of Crops, 

 Edward Hill, King William, 10 00 



BRANCH III. 

 Best entire Crops of different Farms. 



73. Best average product Indian Corn, 



Ro. M. Taylor, Henrico, 50 00 



74. Best average product of wheat, Ro. 



M. Taylor, Henrico, _ 50 00 



92. Best average product of Irish Po- 

 tatoes, Francis Staples, Henrico, 20 00 



93. Best average product of Turnips, 



Dr. L. B. Starke, Henrico, 20 00 



BRANCH IV. 



HORSES. 



Tliorougli-Bred. — \st Class. 

 98. For best thorough-bred Stallion, J. 

 M. Botts, Revenue,'' * 40 00 



100. For 3d best thorough-bred stal- 

 lion, Thomas S. Tabb, Gloucester, " Wa- 

 terloo," Certificate of Merit. 



101. For best thorough-bred mare, T. 



W. Doswell, " Nina," 20 00 



102. For 2d best thor©ugh-bred mare. 



Dr. A. Crump, " Camadeva," 10 00 



103. For 3d best thorough-bred mare, 



Wm. C. Scott, " Pauline," Certificate of Merit. 



104. For best entire colt foaled since 

 January 1853, Mr. Dean, . 10 00 



