The Vermont Watchman

The State Fair.

The joint exhibition of the Vermont State Agricultural Society and the Champlain Valley Association, held at Howard Park in Burlington last week, was by far the most successful one of the kind ever held in Vermont. The exhibits were excellent and complete. In farm implements and machinery there was a very large display indeed. Floral hall was well filled and presented a highly attractive appearance. Of horses, cattle, sheep and swine, there was a splendid exhibition. The collection of poultry was small, but good. The only failure was Machinery hall, the doors of which were closed on Monday. That day was devoted to the arranging of exhibits. Tuesday was to all intents and purposes the first day of the fair. The weather was clear and bright, the only drawback being the heat, which was intense. The attendance was large. The exhibition of horses was the finest which has been made in the state, and one of the finest, undoubtedly, ever made in New England. All the classes were quite full. The exhibit of cattle was unusually large, quite overtasking even the extensive accommodations afforded by the long cattle sheds in the south, west and north sides of the grounds, and necessitating the erection of a large open tent near Machinery hall, capable of accommodating about forty head. The herds of blooded cattle made a splendid showing, all being very choice specimens of their respective classes and in excellent condition. The races of Tuesday were those of the stallions and three-year-olds. The former was won by "Onawa," owned by C. N. Mosher of Lawrence, Mass. The three-year-old race was won by "Engineer Boy," H. S. Town of Montpelier, owner. The second day of the fair was a genuine roaster. This, however, did not prevent a large attendance and a successful exhibit. A three-minute and a two-thirty races were trotted. The former was divided, because the owners of the ten horses entered desired a division, and refused to start under any other conditions. The purse was also divided. In the first division Page's "Upstart" of Burlington won, best time 2:35. In the other division "Lady Patsy" from Chazy took first money, best time 2:34½. In the two-thirty race Kendall's "Bluebell" of Worcester, Mass., took first money, best time 2:29½. There were fifteen thousand people on the grounds Thursday. At two o'clock a tremendous gale and thunder storm occurred, doing considerable damage. Only one race was trotted—the four-year-old, purse of $100, won by "Kate," owned by G. N. Roberts of Shelburne; best time 2:44. Friday was by far the most comfortable day of the week. The attendance was large and everything passed off nicely. The races were more interesting than those of any other day and were witnessed by a crowd fully twice as large as on the last day a year ago. The unfinished two-thirty-five race was trotted off in the forenoon, and was easily captured by "Overlake," best time 2:34. The races trotted in the afternoon were those of the two-forty-five and free-for-all classes. J. N. North of Shoreham, J. W. Cramton of Rutland and Herbert Brainerd of St. Albans were the judges. "Brother" won the two-forty-five race, best time 2:34½. The free-for-all was captured by Mosher's "Onawa," the winner in the stallion race, best time 2:27. Mr. Vanderbilt's span, "Aldine" and "Early Rose," were not at the fair. Mr. Vanderbilt decided that the risk of bringing so expensive a span was too great to be repaid in a stay of only two days. First premiums were awarded to the following persons for exhibits of horses, cattle and sheep: On stallions, to J. E. Haring of Ticonderoga, George H. Whaley of Charlotte, H. S. Towne of Montpelier, F. S. Hale of Rutland, C. F. Holmes of Charlotte, F. A. Woodbridge of Vergennes, C. W. Potter of Shelburne and C. H. and E. D. Weed of Hinesburgh; on brood mares, to C. F. Holmes of Charlotte; on geldings and fillies, to L. R. Joslyn of Waitsfield, William Ellis of Fairhaven, H. G. Holcomb of Isle La Motte and L. A. Drew of Burlington; on matched horses, to J. and T. M. Tierney of St. Albans and M. S. Bowman of Isle La Motte; on single horses, to B. F. Haviland of Danville. On cattle, short horns, to G. L. Reynolds of Burlington, F. and L. E. Moore of Shoreham and C. R. Page of Morrisville; on Devons, to Kelly Watson of Winooski, C. W. Smith of Tunbridge and George F. Davis of Windsor; on Ayrshires, to C. M. Winslow of Brandon, H. A. Soule of St. Albans and Fred Drew of Burlington; on Holsteins, to H. W. Keyes of Newbury and George F. O. Kimball of Vergennes; on Jerseys, to C. W. Brownell of Williston, Kelly Watson of Winooski, J. W. Leonard of Barre, H. R. Thomas of Ferrisburgh and J. C. Sherburne of North Pomfret; on Guernseys, to S. H. Weston of Winooski, J. C. Sherburne of North Pomfret and Le G. B. Cannon of Burlington; on grade or native, to G. F. O. Kimball of Vergennes, O. E. Reynolds of South Burlington, C. W. Brownell of Williston, W. S. Freeman of Richmond, Brigham and Walker of Burlington and William Millham of Shelburne; on oxen, to Joseph Ballard of Georgia; on cows, to George L. Reynolds of Burlington. On Spanish merino sheep, to H. C. Burwell of Bridport, Moore and Stickney of Shoreham, E. N. Bissell of Shoreham, and Stickney and Williams of Shoreham; on long wools, to R. G. Hill of Elmore; on middle wools, to H. S. Towne of Montpelier and D. S. Pratt of Brattleboro. First premiums amounting to $41 on poultry were awarded to J. H. Haynes of South Royalton, to J. E. T. Wright of Burlington, C. C. Payne of Bethel, Fred Drew of Burlington and A. A. Davis of Burlington.