24 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
AUGUSTA, GA: 
VOL. XIII, NO. 1. JARUABV, 1855. 
A HAPPY NEW YEAE! 
At the opening of 1855, and the beginning of our 
Thirteenth Volume^ we most cordially tender to all our 
subscribers and friends, old and new, the compliments of 
the season ; with the hope that our united efforts during 
the present year may do much to advance the cause of 
Southern Agriculture and rural improvement. 
EXCHANGE PAPEKS, 
Especially those of the South, are respectfully request- 
ed to notice the beginning of our new volume, our terms 
of subscription, the aims and objects of our journal, &c. 
THE DECEMBER (1854) AGEICULTDRAL FAIR. 
In accordance with previous announcement, the Ninth 
Annual Fair of the ^'■Southern Central Agricultural So- 
ciety ” was held near this city, during the week, com- 
mencing on Monday, 4th of December, 1 854, 
The Fair had been twice postponed — a fatal pestilence 
had lately raged in our own and neighboring cities, bear- 
ing on its wings death and desolation, and spreading 
fear and panic far and wide — the crops throughout the 
country had yielded but a partial and meagre harvest — 
the year was far advanced into the “sere and yellow” of 
winter, and the present unexampled stringency of the 
money market was just beginning to press heavily on all 
classes ; and yet, in the face of all these discouragements 
and drawbacks, it cannot be denied that the exhibition, 
upon the whole, was highly creditable to the taste, skill, 
industry and enterprise of Georgia and her sister States — 
many of which deserve great praise for their liberal contri- 
butions, and the large delegations of their worthy sons and 
lovely daughters, who honored us with their presence. 
The number of articles on exhibition was not as great 
as on some former occasions, but we did not notice any 
marked difference even of quantity in any of the more im- 
portant departments. As regards the quality of most of the 
contributions, we are pleased to state that the progressive 
improvement of our Fairs during the past few years was 
strikingly observable in the greater portion of the animals 
and articles shown ; and that the spirit and interest gener- 
ally felt among the members of the Society, augurs much 
for its permanent advancement and success. 
The Premium List (which we publish elsewhere) may 
be taken as a fair indication of the opinions of the Judges 
on the merit of the articles submitted to their inspection ; 
but as we do not feel disposed either to accept or reject 
their awards in toto, we will give such a brief summary 
of the exhibition as we were able to gather amid the 
bustle and excitement incident to the occasion j aiming 
to avoid all invidiousness or partiality toward exhibitors 
or articles : 
Field Crops and Samples op Field Crops.— In this 
department there were about 70 entries — the slight fall- 
ing off in quantity from last year being clearly traceable 
to the very unfavorable character of the late planting sea- 
son. Fine samples were shown and good yields reported 
of the different crops mentioned in the premium list. 
Messrs. T, J. Smith,* T. P. Janes, W. W. Stone, R. J. 
Willis, John Speer, George W. L. Twiggs, A. J. Lane, A* 
Pope, Dr. J. S. Whitten and Henry P. Hampton, were the 
principal exhibitors of Cotton, most of which was of good 
quality, and some extra. Cnm.— The fine yield of 103 
bushels and 9 quarts was reported by Y. H. Wynn, a 
youth, of Habersham co.— 41 bushels and 5 quarts by 
another, and 20 bushels, 22 quarts, by another. Ex- 
cellent samples of bread and stock Corn were shown 
by Dr. J. M. Turner, M. M. Anderson, Y. H. Wynn, 
A. W. Shaw, William J. Eve, J. W, Tench and others. 
Sweet Potatoes of mammoth size and superior quality 
were shown by Middleton Seago, W. W. Stone, E. T., 
Shepherd, A, Griffith, &jC. Wheat, of various kinds 
byR. C. Daniel, C.T Shelman, J. E. Burch, the Cun- 
ningham Mills, Barley, byR. Peters and Jno. Dimon 
— Oats, by W. A. Lenoir,. R. J. Butler, H. P. Hampton,. 
G. M. Magruder, &c.—Pye, by John Bimon—Peas, by 
W. W. Stone, W. J. Eve, M. Seago, &.c.-Irish Potatoes, 
by Dr. Geo. Battey, and A. Pope— Ground Peas, by Jno. 
Dimon and Dr. George Battey— Turnips, by Louis A. L. 
Boisclair, A. Griffiith, &lc.— T obacco, hy 'SN. F. Butler 
and G. Volger; and various articles of similar character by 
other contributors. ^ 
Cattle.— The number of entries in this class were 
about 50, though more animals were shown than these 
figures indicate. In Devons and Ayrshires, R. Peters was, 
as usual, the largest exhibitor ; and all his stock wa& 
of Its uniform and well known excellence. A fine Ayr- 
shire Bull (imported) was exhibited by A. Griffith. 
Cols. A. G. Summer, and J. W. Watts also presented 
some very fine Devens. [We were informed that 
the so-called Devon(I) Bull to which the first 
premium was given is of more than doubtful pedi- 
gree; but, of course, the Judges were (or ought to 
have been) satisfied on this point before making their 
awards.] Durhams.— A very good lot of thorough- 
bred and grade Durhams were shown by Col. J. W. Watts, 
A. S. Lenoir, Geo. W. L. Twiggs, Jon. M. Miller, W. j 1 
Eve, Dr. Whitten and others. Grades and Natives (many 
of superior milking properties) were presented by Phineas 
Butler, Aaron Roff, R. Peters, W. J. Eve, &c., &c. 
W'orking Oxen and Fat Cattle were few in number, but 
of fair merit. Wm. J. Eve, W. T. Lightfoot, George’ W. 
L. Twiggs and A. S. Lenoir, were the principal exhibitors. 
The show of Cattle, upon the whole, was excellent and 
encouraging. 
Horses. Considerable more than 100 animals were 
shown in this department, ail the classes being fairly and 
well re[)res<- d, except that of ^'Morgan, Canadian and 
Imported Horses,''^ in which there were no entries. The 
show of Horses of all Work, Blood Horses, Matched and 
Single Horses, &c., &c., was very satisfactory ; but as we 
do not claim to possess great nicety of judgment in equine 
matters, we dare not attempt to discriminate in regard to 
the points of excellence or demerit presented by each ani- 
mal. Nearly all were of good quality and many really 
superior. We do not think this show of Horses has ever 
been equalled or even approached at any of our previous 
Fairs. The list of exhibitors of Horses, (too loiig for our 
present limited space) will appear in our next. 
Jacks and Jennettes. — We can say very little for this 
* For residences of the contributors named, see Official List of 
Prem urns in present number. 
