1846. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
319 
THE STATE FAIR AT AUBURN. 
View of the temporary buildings on the center of the Show-Grounds. 
The Fair held on the 16th and 17th of the past month, 
was regarded as a whole, as about equal to that of 
last year; and the unabated interest of the people was 
evinced by the myriads which poured in upon the 
grounds from all parts of Central and Western New- 
. York. 
A piece of ground consisting of 12 acres on Capitol 
Hill, east of the village of Auburn, was chosen for the 
exhibition, which commanded a fine view of the sur¬ 
rounding country, extending forty miles west to the 
blue hills of Yates and Ontario counties. The general ar¬ 
rangement was nearly the same as that of last year, and 
the exterior aspect of the exhibition similar; but a most 
striking improvement was the architectural appearance 
given to all the buildings. Floral Hall was 150 feet 
long and 50 feet wide, with an irregular Grecian out¬ 
line, the whole front with its fascades and portico, 
being densely clothed with evergreen. The light was 
admitted into the interior through a broad line of open¬ 
ings on each side above, softened by curtains of mus¬ 
lin, extending the entire length. This hall, in design, 
extent, arrangement, and finish, far exceeded any for¬ 
mer one. A wide boarded platform or floor, 25 feet 
wide extended through the middle of the hall, on which 
were placed the terraced shelves for the exhibition of 
the flowers, vegetables, and fruits, and leaving a fine 
broad walk on either side. This line of shelves was 
interrupted at the centre of the building by a superb 
evergreen gothic temple 22 feet high, on a base of ten 
feet square, which added much to the imposing aspect 
of the interior, while the softened light from above on 
massive green columns and wreathes throughout the 
hall, gave the whole a truly magnificent appearance. 
This hall, and its decorations were designed by Dr. 
Alexander Thompson, of Aurora. 
The three other halls, which were about 100 feet 
long and 30 wide, exhibited in their exterior design, a 
pure architectural taste. Two of them, one for the 
“ Dairy,” and the other for the “ Farm Implements,” 
were in simple massive Grecian style, and the third, de¬ 
voted to the exhibition of “ Domestic Manufac¬ 
tures,” was a beautiful building of the pointed Gothic 
form. These were all designed by George Casey of 
Auburn. 
Great credit is due the enterprising citizens of Au¬ 
burn and its vicinity, for the unsparing liberality which 
they evinced in thus preparing for the exhibition. The 
untiring efforts of the ladies, who exerted themselves 
personally with the most praiseworthy zeal in these 
preparations, are also deserving of high commendation. 
Cattle. —The exhibition of Durhams was much 
more limited than on former occasions, though some 
very fine animals were on the grounds, from the yards 
of Messrs. Sherwood, of Auburn, Vail, of Troy, Allen, 
of Buffalo, Bacon, of Waterloo, Wake man, of Herki¬ 
mer, Parker, of Ballston, Button, ofNewark, and Wells, 
of Johnstown, Hyatt, of Rochester, and some others. 
But few Herefords were exhibited; among them were 3 
cows and a bull calf from Wm. H. Sotham, of Albany, and 
a very fine bull and cow from T. H. Hyatt, of Rochester. 
The display of Devons was excellent. Among the prin¬ 
cipal contributors were H. W. Washbon, of Otsego Co., 
S. M. Brown, of Onondaga, and L. F. Allen, of Buffalo. 
In the collection of H. N. Wash bn, were a bull, two 
yoke of very fine steers, and other animals which the 
owner, with great public spirit had driven nearly one 
hundred miles to the fair, and which notwithstanding 
the fatigues of the journey, were unsurpassed on the 
ground. A pen of nine Devon calves, belonging to the 
same collection, excited very great interest, and indeed 
there was no part of the exhibition which was more 
interesting and beautiful. The native cattle and crosses 
were, with scarcely one or two exceptions, few and 
poor; and unless there is a reasonable prospect of an 
improvement, we think the suggestion of the chairman 
of the committee for their examination well worthy of 
attention,—that the amount of premiums on them be 
reduced, as some of these premiums are actually higher 
than the whole value of the animal itself. These re¬ 
marks are of course not intended to apply to the superb 
display of working oxen, consisting of 16 yoke from 
Jas. S. Wadsworth, 10 yoke from J. M. Sherwood, and 
11 yoke from several enterprising farmers of the town 
of Sennett. These attracted a great deal of attention 
from the congregated thousands on the ground, and as a 
whole w r ere doubtless superior to those of any previous 
fair. But few fat cattle were exhibited; among them 
were two fine yoke from W. A. & J. Boies, of Homer, 
and two yoke from A. Pine, of Pittstown, and some 
cows from J. S. Wadsworth. 
Horses. —This part of the exhibition would com¬ 
pare very favorably with former years. There were a 
large number of stallions, and with very few exceptions, 
they were decidedly fine, some of them truly excellent. 
The Gifford Morgan Horse, 20 years old, possessing 
all the vigor and action of youth, from F. A. Wier, ot 
Walpole, N. H., and his colt, 6 years old, from C. Blodget, 
Chelsea, Vt., excited universal admiration. A five year 
old stallion from C. Gaspar, Marcellus, Onondaga Co., was 
perhaps unexcelled for his beauty of outline, and ap¬ 
proached as near the beau ideal of a handsome animal 
as anything we have seen. Several fine young horses 
of the Alfred stock, owned by Mr. Ford on, of Geneva, 
were much admired. Some of the matched horses 
were excellent. Mr. Fordon had also on the ground 
for exhibition, “ Alfred,” which took the first premium 
at the State Fair at Rochester, and the mare and colt 
to which Was awarded the first premium at Utica. 
But in so fine and numerous a collection, it is im¬ 
possible to point out within our brief limits, all 
thal are worthy of attention, and for further particu¬ 
lars, see the premium lists. We ought here to no¬ 
tice the excellent recommendations of A. Ferguson, 
chairman of the committee, on the great importance of 
the establishment of veterinary schools, that scientific 
and concentrated knowledge may be brought to bear cn 
