The New Hampshire Gazette

Rockingham Cattle Show, &c.

The Annual Meeting and Exhibitions of the Rockingham Agricultural Society, were at Exeter, on the 16th and 17th of this month. By a vote of the Society last year, the custom of meeting in the spring, for the choice of officers, &c. was abolished and it therefore became necessary to appropriate two days instead of one, to the business of the society, at its annual meeting. The recent anniversary being the first under this new arrangement, it was not to be expected that the exercises and exhibitions could be divided between the two days with so much convenience and satisfaction to the public, as can be done hereafter, with the aid of our present experience. The complaints which have been made on this head, will doubtless be obviated at the next anniversary by those alterations in the arrangements of the business, which the recent experiment has suggested, and of which the Directors will give public notice.

The fine weather, on both days of the late show seemed like the smile of heaven on its enjoyments and duties. The meeting of the members was full and punctual, and the concourse of strangers, large and respectable.

The morning of the first day was occupied principally in preparatory business, and in the admission of new members, a large number of gentlemen from different parts of the county having this year joined the society.

The public are already apprised of the unfortunate failure of the annual Address, by the sudden indisposition of the appointed Orator, (Rev. Jacob ABBOT, of Hamptonfalls,) and it is but just to say, that the regrets expressed at this accident were most deeply felt by those who best knew this gentleman's merits as "a practical farmer and a ripe scholar."

The exercises of the morning were followed by a dinner served up for the society on the lower floor of the Court-House, under the direction of Col. Burleigh, in his usual style of elegance and abundance. The beautiful and appropriate decorations given on the occasion, to this spacious room, attracted crowds of admiring visitors and gave an acceptable pledge of the welcome which the society will ever find among the citizens of Exeter.

The afternoon was partly occupied in the examination of specimens of household manufactures, &c. which were displayed in the senate chamber. This part of the exhibition was perhaps inferior in variety to that of last year. It gave however many gratifying proofs of the capabilities of the county in this important branch of useful industry. The reports of the several committees render it unnecessary to allude to any articles but those the mention of which the committees were compelled, from want of time, to omit. Of these the most prominent were the specimens of Carpetting, offered by Mr. Theodore Moses, Miss Martha Gilman, of Exeter, and Mr. Kent, of Chester. Although the filling in that of Mr. Moses' was wholly of woolen rags, the beauty of the piece attracted much praise. The Hearth Rug offered by Miss Sophia Smith, of Exeter, was much admired and was highly creditable to her taste and industry.

A pair of Morocco Shoes were exhibited by Mr. Lewis Wentworth, of Exeter, made from the skin of a sheep which was living ten hours and thirteen minutes before their exhibition in the Court-House. They appeared to be well and skilfully manufactured. A beautiful grass Indispensable, and a handsome Basket, made of muskmelon seeds, were exhibited, the latter by a young lady of Portsmouth, and a neat Silk Purse knit by Mrs. Brown of Kensington, who has been blind seventy-seven years. We cannot omit to mention the Flannel Cloth, presented by Mr. Stevens, of Brentwood, "which obtained the first premium and which was much admired for the fineness and firmness of its texture."

There were also in this Hall, and in the Dining Room, several remarkable natural productions, and specimens of skilful culture, well worthy of exhibition; among which were the Apples exhibited by Capt. Nathaniel Paul, of Newmarket, twenty of which weighed 214 pounds. They were natural fruit, from one tree, and of good flavor. Two Apples were exhibited by that skilful horticulturist, Nathaniel Adams, Esq. of Portsmouth, being the first and second growth of a tree in his garden. The apple of the first growth was of good size, and that of the second weighed more than six ounces. Some Apples in fine preservation, the growth of 1820, were exhibited by the Rev. Isaac Hurd of Exeter. Several other productions of the garden, of an extraordinary size, were exhibited by different individuals. The Watermelon raised at the alms-house in Exeter, proved at dinner to be of fine flavor, weighed nearly thirty pounds.

In the course of the afternoon session, the society proceeded to the annual election of officers. At the suggestion of several of the present board that the interests of the society would be promoted by frequent changes, there were but few of the former officers elected. The election resulted in the choice of the following gentlemen :—

Gen. SAMUEL RICHARDSON, of Pelham, President.
Gen. E. H. Derby, of Londonderry, Vice President.
Amos Kent, Esq. of Chester, Lib and Cor. Sec.
Col. Peter Chadwick, of Exeter, Recording Secretary.
Col. John Rogers, of Exeter, Treasurer.

DIRECTORS.
Hon. Jeremiah Mason,
Col. Joshua W. Pierce,
David Allen, Esq.
Mr. Wells Healey.
Boswell Stevens, Esq.
Hon. John Harvey
Gen. Benjamin Butler,
Mr. Joseph W. March.
Hon. John Folsom,
Col. Joseph Cilley, Marshal.
Maj. Charles W. Cutter, Dep. Mar.

The thanks of the society were afterwards unanimously voted to the Hon. Nathaniel Gilman, (who had held the office of President for the three last years,) for his faithful, assiduous and valuable services.

It was voted, that the Rev. Jacob Abbot, should be considered as the Orator at the next anniversary, and Nathaniel A. Haven, Jr. of Portsmouth was appointed Orator for 1823, who will deliver an address at the next anniversary in case of a failure on the part of Mr. Abbot.

THURSDAY, THE SECOND DAY.

Was devoted, according to the previous arrangements, to the exhibition of Cattle, the trial of the strength of the Working Oxen, the Auctions, and the reports of the different examining committees, and these most substantial parts of the show, were attended by an unusually large number of citizens from various parts of the county. A very interesting report was read before the society in the morning by Ichabod Bartlett, Esq. Chairman of the committee on Butter, Cheese, Wine and Cider. As this report will be published at length and read we suppose by every farmer, (and what is of much more consequence, by every farmer's wife,) in this county, we shall only state that the committee awarded the following premiums.

For the best Butter, to Mr. Bradbury Rollinson, of Greenland, the first premium of
For the next best specimen, to Mr. Biley E. Thing, of Brentwood, the second premium of
For the best Cheese, to Miss Mary Adams, of Londonderry, the first premium of
For the next best, to Benjamin Sanborn, Kingston, the second premium of
For the best barrel of Currant Wine, to Mr. Samuel B. Stevens, of Exeter,
For the best barrel of Cider, to Col. Nathaniel Gilman,

The different Committees being arranged, the society marched in procession to the pens, which were filled with some of the best animals in the county. As the reports of the different committees, which will be laid before the public, contain full and detailed accounts of most of the excellent animals exhibited, we shall mention only a few which were particularly admired, and some which were not particularly noticed by the Committees.—there was not, we will venture to say, a single farmer present at the exhibition, who did not visit more than twice the pen which contained the fine imported Cow, owned and exhibited by Col. Joshua W. Pierce, of Portsmouth, and which was very remarkable for its extraordinary size and beauty. Her girth was over seven feet, her weight probably exceeded fifteen hundred pounds, and all the distinguishing marks of a good cow were seen in full perfection, in this beautiful animal. The Bull of Gen. Derby, of the Holstein and English breed, and the Bull of the W hidden breed, owned by Capt. Nathaniel Gilman, of Exeter, were well entitled to the premiums, which they received, and it is certainly a matter of deep interest to the farmers of this county that two such fine animals are kept in different parts of it. The yoke of fat Oxen, (weighing 2200 lbs. each,) the Cow and two Heifers of the improved short horned Durham breed, exhibited by Capt. Nathaniel Gilman, the fine Bull of John Thompson, of Stratham, a yoke of uncommonly large two year old Bulls of Seth R. Shackford, of Newmarket, which unfortunately were not entered in season for a premium, the large Calf of John Moulton, of Exeter, the Bull Calf of Mr. Wells, of Hamptonfalls, remarkable for its rapid growth and fine shape, and the yoke of Steers of Henry Butler, of Nottingham, were very much admired. A team of several yokes of strong and beautiful working Oxen, from Kensington, gave interest to the exhibition and reflected great credit upon that town, distinguished as it has long been for its excellent farmers. The Sow and Pigs exhibited by Col. Walker, of Exeter, the Swine of Mr. John Gordon, of Exeter, the quarter blooded Sow of the Cobbet breed, owned by Col. Chadwick, and the Boar of the same breed, of William Lane, of Exeter, remarkable for the shortness of its legs, and snout, and its depth and thickness, were much commended by the Committee. Several excellent colts were exhibited, and the Stud Horse of Jonathan Clark, Esq. of Northwood, was pronounced by the Judges worthy

At 2 o'clock the trial of strength commenced. The yoke of working oxen, (5 years old) of Capt. Benning W. Sanborn, of Deerfield, drew the load which weighed sixty-three hundred, up Spring st. with great apparent ease. They were immediately put upon the drafts, facing the load, and managed it well, and gave satisfactory evidence of their being well brought up. The yoke of working oxen owned by Samuel French, of Nottingham, drew up the same load, and exhibited uncommon strength and good training. The load was drawn up by the yokes of Samuel Dearborn, and Dearborn Blake, Esq. of Kensington. This part of the exhibition was followed by a trial of the strength of the purse on the floor of the court house. The sales of Butter and Cheese were uncommonly brisk; all the articles set up went off quickly at most encouraging prices, and the sellers, if not the buyers, agree in pronouncing the auction the most profitable and interesting part of the show. The Butter of Bradbury Robinson of Greenland, which obtained the first premium, (and which would be considered of the "first sort." in any market,) was purchased at 47 cents per pound for that warm and steady friend to the agricultural interests, Capt. Morris, of the United States navy; and the lot of Biley L. Thing, of Brentwood which obtained the second premium, was sold for 42 cents a pound, to Mr. James Rundlet, of Portsmouth, who has, we have no doubt, the best wishes of the seller, and his brother farmers, for the success of the "spindle, the loom and the shuttle."

After the sales, the reports of the different committees were read.

The committee on Swine, consisted of Hon. Josiah Butler, of Deerfield, John W. Adams, of Londonderry, and Levi Lane, of Hamptonfalls. The committee recommended the following premiums:
To Gen. E. H. Derby, of Londonderry, for the 2 best Sows,
To Col. John Rogers, of Exeter, for the best Boar,

The committee on Sheep, consisted of Hon. William Plumer, of Epping, Horatio G. Cilley, of Deerfield, and Joseph W. March, of Greenland. After some very pertinent observations on the expediency of encouraging three breed of Merino Sheep, the committee awarded the premium—
For the best Merino Ram, to Stephen M. Weeks, of Greenland.
For the next best, to Gen. E. H. Derby, the second premium of
For Merino Ewes, to Hon. Nathaniel Gilman, the second premium,
For best mixed blooded Ewes, to Gen. E. H. Derby, the first premium,
For next best, to Capt. Daniel Conner, of Exeter,

The committee on Domestic Manufactures, consisted of James Rundlet, of Portsmouth, Thomas D. Merrill, of Epsom, and Jonathan Clark, Esq. of Northwood. The committee express in their report, the pleasure with which they observed the numerous specimens of manufactures, "many of which surpassed any of the kind heretofore exhibited in the county," and they awarded.
For the best piece of Fulled Cloth, to Edward Stevens, Jr. of Brentwood,
For next best do. to Horatio G. Cilley, Esq. of Deerfield, the second premium.
For the best piece of carpeting, to Abraham Morrill, of Brentwood, first premium.
For a next best: do. to Horatio G. Cilley.
For the best piece of Plaid, to Benjamin Sanborn, of Kingston, first premium.
For the best piece of Flannel, to Hon. N. Gilman, first premium.
For the next best do. to Moses Sanborn, of Kingston, second premium.
For best piece of Sattinet, to Isaac Marshall, first premium.
For next best do. to James Patterson, of Salem, second premium.
To Abraham Morrill, of Brentwood, first premium on Woollen Blankets.
To Mary Adams, of Londonderry, first premium on Diaper.
To Harriet Weeks, of Greenland, second do.

The committee recommended the following premiums which were afterwards voted by the Directors:-
To Mary Cor, of Newmarket, for the best Counterpane, $2.
To Dolly Morrill, of Brentwood, for a Cassimere Shawl, $1.
To Susannah Grover, of Atkinson, for a Grass Bonnet, $2.
To Mrs. Mary Durant, of Exeter, for a sample of T thread, $1.
To Miss A. Kent, of Chester, for a Hearth Rug, $2.
To Mary McCullum, of Londonderry, for a sample of fine Thread, $1.
To Mary Pickering, of Newington, for a Straw Hat, $1.

The committee mentioned in terms of high commendation a pair of Blankets offered by Horatio G. Cilley, Esq. of Deerfield, and some uncommonly good specimens of Book-Binding presented by Francis Grant, of Exeter. A Grass Bonnet made by Miss Nancy Fletcher, of Hampstead was presented after the committee had reported, but it was of such a remarkably fine and nice work, that the Directors awarded 5 dollars.

The Committee on Working Oxen, consisted of the Hon. John Kimball of Exeter, Samuel Gove of Nottingham, and Robert Carter of Kingston. They awarded the following premiums:
To Benning W. Sanborn, of Deerfield, for the best pair of Working Oxen, first premium, $12.
To Samuel Dearborn, of Kensington, for next best do. second premium, $8.
To Samuel French, of Nottingham, for next best do. $5.
To John Thompson, of Stratham, for the best pair of Steers, the first premium.
To Ebenezer L. Bennett, of Northwood, for next best do. $5.

The Committee on Crops, consisted of Edward Cutts, Jun. of Portsmouth, Hon. Hall Burgin of Allenstown, and Sherburne Blake of Raymond. The committee, after expressing their regret at the small number of applicants, awarded the following premiums:-
To Samuel R. Gordon, of Epping, for the largest quantity of Wheat on an acre, being nineteen bushels and three pecks on a piece containing one acre and five rods, $8.
To Gen. E. H. Derby, of Londonderry, for the largest quantity of Carrots on a quarter of an acre, being 174 bushels, $6.
To Gen. E. H. Derby, for the largest quantity of Potatoes on an acre, being 391 1-2 bushels, $10.
To Moses Sanborn, of Kingston, for the largest quantity of Barley on an acre, being 55 bushels on one acre and eighty rods, $8.
To Nathaniel Gilman, of Exeter, for the largest quantity of Corn on an acre, being 93 bushels, $12.
To Thomas Ayres, of Greenland, for the next largest do. being 87 1-8 bushels, $8.

The Directors awarded $5 to Charles Glidden of Northfield, for a crop of Corn, 96 bushels on an acre, which was not entered early enough for a premium.

The Committee on all Neat Stock excepting steers and working oxen, consisted of David Allen of New-Salem, Stephen Osgood of Hopkinton, and Stephen M. Weeks of Greenland. They awarded the following premiums:--
To Gen. E. H. Derby, of Londonderry, for the best Bull, the first premium, $12.
To Capt. Nathaniel Gilman, of Exeter, for next best do. $8.
To Ebenezer L. Bennett, of Northwood, for next best do. $5.
For the Cow imported by Capt. Woodward in ship Harmony, 1st premium, $12.
To Jonathan Clark, Esq. of Northwood, for next best do. $8.
To John Moulton of Exeter, for next best do.
To Horatio G. Cilley, Esq. of Deerfield, for the best Heifer, 1st premium, $8.
To Ebenezer L. Bennett, of Northwood, for next best do. $3.

The Committee on Horses and Colts, consisted of Peter Patterson, Esq. of Londonderry, Col. Joseph Towle of Epping, and Henry Butler, Esq. of Nottingham. They awarded-
To Edward Langmaid, of Hampton Falls, for the best Stud-Horse, $10.
To Hon. John Harvey, of Northwood, for the best Colt, $5.

It must be very gratifying to the Society, to see their fellow-citizens, of all ranks and conditions, selecting these anniversary agricultural exhibitions, as days of thanksgiving and rejoicing. This full attendance of the people is calculated to produce a very favourable effect upon the competitors, who are placed before the eyes of the county, and who feel that their successful exertions will be spoken of, and well spoken of, in every town. It is confidently hoped that there will be exhibited at the future shows, more products of female industry and ingenuity, more proofs of the skill of our intelligent mechanics and manufacturers, and more testimonials of the interest which all our citizens are beginning to take in the improvement of that profession which has been justly characterised as the "noblest, purest and best."--Let every man in the county who wishes success to the plough, and who is willing to aid the society in rendering their 'Cattle Show' a powerful auxiliary to improvements in agriculture, domestic manufactures and the mechanic arts, preserve and send to the future exhibition, 'any extraordinary natural productions which his garden or field may furnish, or any curious agricultural implements which he may use. And let the good yeomanry of the neighbouring towns send, or which would be far better, come themselves, with their best working oxen, to enjoy the farmers' holiday, and to give interest to the trials of strength, and the ploughing matches.

The Committee are requested to state that Capt. Nathaniel Gilman of Exeter has generously relinquished his premiums to the society, & to present the thanks of the Directors to the Marshals, and to those gentlemen who kindly lent their aid to carry into effect the previous arrangements,

JOSEPH TILTON, Jun.
WILLIAM SMITH
GEORGE LAMSON.
Committee.