320 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Oct. 
The Vermont State Fair. 
The fourth annual fair of the Vermont State Ag. 
Society was held at Brattleboro’, Sept. 12th, 13th, and 
14th. It seemed not inprobable that the dry season 
and general cry of “ hard times,” might lessen the 
show of stock and the attendance of visitors somewhat 
below the expectations a good season and easier mo¬ 
ney market would excite. We were on this account 
the better pleased to find the Vermont Exhibition the 
exact reverse of all our fears,—to learn as we did. that 
the receipts this year were nearly double those of last, 
(say $5,600,) and that the indefatigable labors of its 
officers had received a happy and well merited reward. 
The weather was, until noon the third day, all the most 
sanguine friends of the society could have wished,— 
an air, clear and bracing, a bright sun, and roads, nei¬ 
ther uncomfortable from mud or dust. 
The Grounds were about a mile to the south of the 
village, and contained nearly forty acres. The sur¬ 
face was generally level, excepting where it declined 
on the southern extremity to a little stream, and the 
hill-side thus afforded, shaded by a fine grove, was 
put to the best purpose, (of which hereafter,) by the So¬ 
ciety, as indeed was every other natural facility of¬ 
fered them. For instance,—the water of the stream 
was pumped to the top of the hill by a simple hydrau¬ 
lic contrivance, and thus afforded in abundance to sup¬ 
ply the wants of the stock,—being carried in pipes to 
different parts of the field. On the farther side was 
the track for horses, entirely distinct from the remain¬ 
der of the grounds,—thus obviating the continual 
crossing and re-crossing necessitated where a track 
winds among, or circles about, the other buildings. Its 
length was a half-mile, and it was broad enough and 
graded with sufficient accuracy to render it one of the 
very best for its length we have ever seen. 
The Structures. —There were buildings to the south 
of the track, denominated as usual, “ Mechanics ” and 
the “ Floral ” Halls. The stock pens were stretched 
along two sides of the field, and near the halls were 
in several rows for the accommodation of sheep. They 
were all roofed to a greater or less extent, affording 
shelter, as well for the dumb animals who cannot com¬ 
plain of driving rains or beating sun, as for the own¬ 
ers of them, who have sometimes at exhibitions found 
ample tongues to hint the want of these necessary 
appendages. At the foot of the hill-side mentioned 
above, was placed a platform, shaded and roofed, 
where the address was to have been delivered, and 
along in rows above this, seats for the audience, after 
the manner of an amphitheater,—these last also in 
some measure shaded and roofed by the trees that 
here and there dotted the declivity. But the rain that 
came on the last day was too much for their light pro¬ 
tection, and the address had to be delivered in Mechan¬ 
ic’s Hall. There was also a notable structure to over¬ 
look the trotting course, upwards of 200 feet in length, 
and containing some 15 or 20 tiers of seats. This was 
securely built, and if any declined to take its fine birds- 
eye view of the whole grounds as well as of the course, 
it was because there was a small charge made to pay 
the expenses of its erection, and not that the firm tim¬ 
bers that could be seen upholding and bracing it, left 
room for the slightest fears as to its security. There 
was little want however, of the absentees. During 
Wednesday the staging was estimated as containing its 
full quota, upwards of 2,000 ; and the next day it also 
drew a large attendance. 
We have spoken thus at length of the excellent ar¬ 
rangements at the fair, not only because they embraced 
facilities the most superior in almost every particular, 
and are thus worthy of the attention of all those en¬ 
gaged or connected in the supervision of such exhibi¬ 
tions, but also to unite with others in commending the 
hearty and well directed exertions of the President of 
the Societjq Hon. Frederick Holbrook, and the ex¬ 
ecutive ability and economic care displayed by the Su¬ 
perintendent, Mr. Lyman P. White. Other officers 
no doubt there were, worthy of credit for their part, 
but it would be unjust to omit the names of these two, 
on whom rested the greatest burden. And we must 
add that we heard not a dissenting voice from the ge¬ 
neral satisfaction. The quiet demeanor and well-bred 
appearance of the great body of the visitors was also 
noticed,—and the entire absence of intemperance and 
disturbances of any kind added no little to the univer¬ 
sal enjoyment. 
We must be brief in noticing the several objects ex¬ 
hibited. The greatest show was of course made in 
Sheep and Horses, although that of Working Oxen was 
also fine. 
Horses. —The exhibition of Horses was not quite 
as large as that of last year, though we understood 
that the average excellence was perhaps greater. The 
Sherman , Bulrush and Woodbury Morgans were 
pretty well represented, the first by the largest num¬ 
bers. The show of Matched Horses was not large, 
though including one or two noticeable pairs. There 
were a considerable number of Foreign Horses pre¬ 
sent. 
We understood that a gelding, 6 years old, got by 
Black Hawk, was sold to leave the State for $1800, 
the object being of course merely his speed. If we 
are not mistaken in the animal, he made a mile on the 
track during the Exhibition between 2.40 and 2.50, 
and the “ Flying Morgan,” to whom was awarded a 
first prize, accomplished the distance in about the last 
mentioned time. Flying Morgan is said to be entirely 
blind , and is accompanied in his trotting by a boy 
riding a running horse abreast. He is a remarkable 
animal. A match between him and the “ Merrick 
Horse,” was talked of, though we believe it did not 
come off. 
Cattle —The Exhibition of cattle was not very 
large, Durhams, Devons and Mixed Breeds, being 
the principal varieties shown. The best of these were 
the Devons, among the exhibitors of which Mr. San¬ 
ford of Orwell, had fine animals, imported and from 
imported stock,—Mr. Walbridge of Bennington and 
Mr. Stickney of Chester, some very fine pure and mix¬ 
ed. The sole representatives of the Herefords were a 
cow and calf, shown by A. L. Bingham of Cornwall. 
Among the exhibitors of Durhams were Messrs. Syl¬ 
vester Smith, Bingham, Hubbell, Carpenter and others. 
Mr. Levi A. Dowley of Brattleboro, exhibited, not 
however for competition, a pure Hereford Bull, a 
splendid short-horned bull of the noted Bates stock, 
and several other animals, which were said to have 
been very fine, though we did not see them, nor hear 
of their being present until it was too late to do so. 
The exhibition of Working Oxen was unusually 
good. At one time there were upward of 200 yoke 
upon the field. They were marked by a very general 
superiority. 
Sheep. —The famed Vermont importers of French 
and Spanish sheep, all exhibited largely. Our friend 
S. W. Jewett, of Middlebury, to whom we were in¬ 
debted, as well as to several others, for very polite at¬ 
tentions, and Mr. A. L. Bingham, were among the lar¬ 
gest of these. Messrs. Edgar Sanford of Cornwall, 
Saxton of Vergennes, Sherman, Wright and Dean of 
Cornwall, all exhibited fine animals. Mr. Geo. Camp¬ 
bell of Westminster West, exhibited a large and fine 
assortment of his imported Silesian Merinoes. 
We understand that very high prices have been lately 
realized for imported animals of the French and Spanish 
Merino breeds; and we were told that upwards of 
