82 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
horses, breeding mares, stallions, and colts 
were well represented. The “ trotters” 
were in the ascendant, and attracted thous¬ 
ands of persons to the ground who would 
have come for nothing else. The sports of 
the race-course were fully participated in 
without its usual objectionable accompania- 
ments. 
To give a full and just account of this de¬ 
partment would require more space than we 
can devote to our entire report. 
Mules. —The only specimens of this im¬ 
portant class of animals noticed by us, were 
two beautiful and admirably trained spans, 
which are owned by Mr. E. B. Bishop, of 
New-Haven. As they were driven together 
before a carriage, they exhibited almost as 
much gracefulness of motion and perfection 
of training as the best spans of horses. 
SHEEP. 
The show of Sheep was quite limited. 
They were chiefly from Litchfield County. 
Mr. J. T. Andrews, of West Cornwall had 
some fine animals, including his New-Ox- 
fordshire yearling buck, weighing 204 lbs., 
which took the first premium at the recent 
New-York Show, and an imported ewe, 
which took a discretionary premium at the 
same place. 
Mr. T. L. Hart, of Cornwall, showed a 
noble long-wooled buck and several fine 
ewes and lambs. Two of the latter—twins 
—are very good, being now as large as the 
common full-grown sheep. We also noticed 
five excellent specimens of New-Oxfordshire 
lambs, exhibited by Mr. Hitchcock, of Wash¬ 
ington ; Saxons, grades, and natives, by Dr. 
Gold, of Cornwall; and Silesian bucks and 
ewes, by Mr. Geo. Campbell, of West West¬ 
minster, Yt. 
SWINE. 
There was comparatively a small show' of 
these, and we made few notes worthy of re¬ 
cord. Those showing the best animals were 
P. T. Barnum, of Bridgeport, imported Suf- 
folks ; Josiah P. Isbell, of Bridgeport, one 
fine native sow, and another with 12 pigs ; 
Mr. Gates, of Hartford, a superior Suffolk 
boar; H. Olmstead, of East Hartford, Suf¬ 
folk sow and pigs ; C. E. Chapman, of the 
same town, a fine native sow and pigs. 
POULTRY.^ 
1 he show of the feathered tribe was cred¬ 
itable in the highest degree. Shanghais of 
every hue, Black Spanish, Bolton greys, 
games, Bantams, frizzles, turkeys, geese, 
doves of several varieties, &c., &c., joined 
in one chorus their harmonious and unhar- 
monious notes. Among the exhibitors we no¬ 
ticed P. T. Barnum, Bridgeport; J. G. North, 
of New-Haven; Wm. L. Wilson, of New- 
Britain ; J. C. Albro, of Stonington; Win¬ 
field Cox, of West Meriden ; Geo. E. Malt- 
by, of Fair Haven ; R. R. Bunnell, of Sey¬ 
mour ; Mr. Richards and N. Beers, of New- 
Haven ; and E. Bassett, of Hamden, who 
showed a very fine collection. 
PLOWING MATCH. 
This took place on Thursday, and was one 
of the best things of the Show. There w r ere 
20 competitors, including one subsoil and two 
Michigan or double plows. Nearly all did 
the woik admirably, and in considerably less 
than the allotted time—one hour to the 
eighth of an acre. The three highest prizes 
were taken by Julius A. Gorham, of Ham¬ 
den; T. L. Hart, of West Cornwall; and A. 
& T. Jerome, of Bloomfield. The subsoil 
plowing was a timely introduction, and we 
trust it will hereafter be assigned a more 
prominent place in all plowing matches. 
We would add the same remark in regard to 
the Michigan plow'. Many farmers who 
here saw these in operation for the first lime, 
will go home and commence their use upon 
their farms. 
At New-Haven, as at all former State and 
County Shows, too little encouragement is 
given to good plowing. We think the 
highest premium should be $50, instead of 
$15. 
We suggest that next Summer there be 
held a National Plowing Match, open to all 
plow's and plowers in the Union. Which of 
the Springfields or other towns will set the 
ball in motion I 
FARM IMPLEMENTS. 
The show of these was a tolerably good 
one. Improved implements of husbandry 
are among the most important things con¬ 
nected with agriculture. Through many 
parts of the “Yankee Notion” State, we 
have noticed a sad deficiency in this depart¬ 
ment. Among the principal exhibitors were 
Munson and Johnson, of New-Haven, R. L. 
Allen, of New-York, Ruggles, Nourse, and 
Mason, of Boston, and Horace Emery, of 
Albany. 
DAIRY PRODUCE, GRAIN, VEGETABLES, &C. 
This department was v pretty w r ell filled. 
We have not room now for an enumeration. 
DOMESTIC AND OTHER MANUFACTURE. 
Two large buildings were literally cram¬ 
med with these. We must pass them over, 
however, with a brief notice of two articles, 
which are new and specially interesting. 
One of these is a combined center and work 
table, and Melodeon. The general appear¬ 
ance is that of a rosewood center or card 
table, about four feet square, with the 
corners slightly rounded, the top part being 
five or six inches in thickness. This is sup¬ 
ported upon a center standard with four 
branching foot supports. Two small pedals 
project from one side. On turning up one 
side of the cover, the key-board of the Melo¬ 
deon is presented, the bellows and reeds 
being within the table, and on the opposite 
side, you open a case containing the neces¬ 
sary copartments of a lady’s work-box or 
work-stand. This was exhibited by the in¬ 
ventor and manufacturer, Mr. W. P. Gardner, 
of New-Haven. 
The other article alluded to, is Plimpton’s 
combined Secretary, Bed-stead and Toilet 
Table—it is essentially all of these. As you 
look at it, it appears like nothing but a fine 
Secretary, with writing desk, drawers, &c. 
In thirty seconds it can be cflanged to a good 
style bedstead, with bed all arranged and 
made, and a separate toilet stand, with all 
conveniences for washing, shaving, boot 
blacking, &c., &c. This was exhibited by 
H- R. <& J. L. Plimpton, of Westfield, Mass. 
CARRIAGES. 
We expected to see, in New-Haven, such a 
display of vehicles on wheels, as could be 
produced in no other place in the country ; 
but this department was almost a complete 
failure. The cause of this we did not learn. 
CLOSING EXERCISES. 
These consisted of a short speech from 
Gov. Hoppin, of Rhode Island, who chanced 
to be present, of which we will give a report 
hereafter, and the annual address by Gover¬ 
nor Dutton, of Connecticut, which is to be 
published in full by the Society. 
Fayette, Ky., Ag. Society Show. —The 
Louisville Journal says: It will be seen by 
the list of awards, Mr. Robert A. Alexander, 
of Woodford, was the most successful con¬ 
testant of all the exhibitors. His imported 
herds are the largest, and comprise, without 
doubt, the finest stock in the United States. 
Possessed of an estate in Scotland that 
yields him an annual revenue of $80,000, he 
is devoting his time and means to a great 
extent to the improvement of the different 
breeds of cattle. Upon his native homestead, 
in Woodford, he has recently erected stone 
stables,at a cost of $18,000. Among the hand¬ 
somest improvements on the fairgrounds are 
the stabling accommodations he has had 
built for his stock. 
For the American Agriculturist. 
FARMERS’ LYCEUM IN GREENE TOWNSHIP. 
Messrs. Editors : Having recently enjoyed 
the pleasure of attending a meeting of the 
“ Greene Township Farmers’ Lyceum,” I 
place at your disposal a few lines respecting 
it. The Lvceum numbers as its members 
about a dozen enterprizing farmers, most of 
whom reside in the vicinity of Cheviot, six 
miles from this city. They meet monthly, 
usually accompanied by their families, at 
the house of some one of the members, and 
after enjoying an hour or two in social inter¬ 
course and partaking of an excellent dinner— 
such as is seldom met with except at farmers' 
houses where, during a large part of the year, 
most of the edibles are fresh from the gar¬ 
den or field—they spend a few hours in the 
discussion of some agricultural question, se¬ 
lected at the previous meeting. 
The question on this occasion was, “ The 
best modes of making butter and cheese.” 
Several of the ladies participated in the dis¬ 
cussion respecting butter making, convincing 
us that they understood the theory as well 
as practice of it. One of them gave the pro¬ 
cess adopted by her neighbor, Avho, several 
weeks ago, sold her butter readily in this 
market for 35 cents per pound, while others 
sold at 20 cents. An English lady described 
minutely the mode of making Devonshire 
cream—which I presume might with propri¬ 
ety be called butter—a luxury on any table. 
One gentleman insisted on the importance of 
cool spring-houses, or drains, for keeping 
milk and butter, believing that if their wives 
and daughters are furnished with them, they 
will not fail to be supplied with good butter. 
He said that if butter, in the making, is left 
in a soft, warm state, no after-treatment can 
restore it to the firm condition desirable. 
But he did not underrate the importance of 
having cows of good butter-producing quali¬ 
ties, and of proper feed and management. 
A mutual improvement being the object of 
the Lyceum, the members obtain and dis¬ 
tribute among themselves seeds from abroad, 
try experiments, &e., reporting the results 
at their meetings, which are very pleasant 
as well as profitable reunions. Among other 
fruits exhibited on this occasion, was a large 
green almond, grown in the vicinity. 
Cincinnati, Sept. 10,1854- D. D. S. 
