60 
CATTLE SHOWS AND FAIRS IN KENTUCKY. 
variety, and quality of the manufactured arti¬ 
cles reflected much credit upon their exhibitors, 
especially upon the ladies, and led us to ex¬ 
pect much at future fairs. Too much credit 
cannot be awarded to the ladies of Kentucky, 
for the interest they feel, and the influence they 
exert in behalf of our fairs. On the second day, 
the products of the field, flower and vegetable 
gardens, orchard, and dairy were brought 
together. This is a new feature in our exhibi¬ 
tions, and excited much interest. Notwithstand¬ 
ing the lateness of the season, the display was 
fine, especially of apples, peaches, and grapes, 
of which several varieties, grown under glass 
by Mr. H. T. Duncan, near Lexington, attracted 
much notice. After the award of the premiums, 
the fruits and flowers were disposed of at auc¬ 
tion, at very fair prices, the proceeds going into 
the treasury of the society. 
On the third day, cattle, sheep, and hogs 
were brought upon the grounds for exhibition 
and competition, and together, formed a splen¬ 
did display. Of cattle, none were exhibited but 
shorthorns. You may remember a conversa¬ 
tion between ourselves at the Albany fair, in 
which you expressed an opinion that Kentucky 
breeders had not paid sufficient attention to 
quality , and therefore that our stock were defi¬ 
cient in that important essential of a fine animal. 
I thought of this during the exhibition, and 
wished that you were present. I think that you 
would have acknowledged your mistake. Our 
judges paid due attention to handling. [We 
are very glad to hear this.— Eds.] The animals 
of the same class were led into an ample ellip¬ 
tical enclosure, (around which seats were ar¬ 
ranged for spectators, a large portion of whom 
were ladies,) and compared, side by side, the 
awards being proclaimed by the marshal. The 
competition, in many instances, was close; and 
many of the animals exhibited, I believe, would 
be considered fine, even in old England. [We 
fully believe this, judging- from what we have 
seen of Kentucky stock.— Eds.] A two-year- 
old bull, owned by Mr. C. W. Innes, which took 
the premium at both fairs, of fine form and 
quality, weighed 1,763 pounds. The show 
of bulls throughout was most excellent. The 
premium sucking calf, bred by Mr. George M. 
Bedford, of Bourbon, sold for $150. The cows 
and heifers would compare with any 1 ever 
saw. The fat cattle exhibited, were very fine. 
The premium and certificate bullocks classed 
as aged, owned and fed by Mr. Charles W. Innes, 
of Fayette, who also received the premium in 
Bourbon, weighed 2,740 and 2,710 pounds. 
This gentleman has thirty-nine fat cattle, which, 
as a lot, taking into consideration finish, quality, 
fat, and size, cannot, I think, be beaten. With 
his permission, I send their weights. The pre¬ 
mium three-year-old bullock, owned and bred 
by myself, a thorough bred, by Goldfinder, 
(2,066,) weighed 2,250 pounds. The premium 
two-year-old bullock, at Paris and Lexington, 
owned by Mr. T. Hughes, of Fayette, weighed 
2,074 pounds, an extra weight for his age. I 
may here remark, that these weights are owing 
more to fine fattening quality, and not to size 
and coarseness of form. Kentuckians have 
learned that stock of the latter description are 
not profitable. Of sheep, there were the Cots- 
wold, Leicester, New-Oxfordshire, Southdown, 
Saxon and Merino. The four former were 
classed as sheep for mutton; the two latter, for 
wool, the classification which I hope will be 
changed, and a similar one to that of the New- 
York Society, be adopted—“long, middle and 
fine wool.” A lot of Cotswold wethers, bred 
and fed by Mr. James S. Matson, of Bourbon, 
would have weighed 250 pounds, or upwards, 
each. Of hogs, the Berkshire, Irish, and crosses 
of the improved breeds were shown. Not so 
much attention as formerly is paid to the 
breeding of swine, though a pretty good stock 
of hogs are kept in this part of Kentucky. 
On the fourth day, horse, Jack and mule 
stock were exhibited; and good judges, who 
had witnessed many exhibitions, pronounced 
this superior to any they had ever seen, both as 
regarded the number and quality. There was 
the horse of fine blood and finish; the showy, 
well-formed harness horse; the fine-moving 
saddle horse; and the heavy-set, powerful 
draught horse. The competition on Jack stock 
was very spirited, most Of the finest animals in 
Kentucky being brought together. Mules of 
extraordinary size were shown. This is con¬ 
sidered the most profitable kind of stock, and 
numbers are bred for the southern market. A 
neighbor has a large lot of colts which cost, at 
weaning, $50 per head. The same person sold 
a lot of yearlings for $80. 
The fifth and last day was set apart for the 
exhibition of professional manufacturers’ im¬ 
plements, &c. The number of articles was not 
very large, but were very creditable to their 
makers. Our whole fair went off finely, to the 
gratification of the members of the association, 
who indulge in the hopes of the long prosperity 
and usefulness of the Kentucky Agricultural 
and Mechanical Association. 
The prices of fine stock have not materially 
