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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 1883)
V Q VOL. XV. TWENTT-THIRD ANNUAL FAIR OF THE ORE GON STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The State Fair of 1883 lias been a suc cess in many respects, and deserves to have been attended by a much larger number of people than were present. The attendant circumstances combined to mike the week delightful. For over four months there had been little rain and the roads were dusty in the extreme. This would have made travel over the roads very uncomfortable, but the fine shower of Monday evening laid the dust very thoroughly and freshened all our sur roundings. Since the railroad can run trains to and from Salem the great number of hacks that used to run between Salom and the Fair Grounds, two miles apart, is done away with in great measure and that lessens the appearance of activity both in town and on the grounds. There is no doubt that the State Fair was more numerously attended ten years ago than of late years. Why this is so one does not easily make out. Perhaps, in former times there was less of excitement and people through the country were more dependent on the State Fair for a means of enjoyment. Now, the country is more populous and we possess more variety to interest and amuse. It is also true that when Port land had not half her present population her citizens took much more interest in our State Fair and sent more things to exhibit as well as more visitors to inspect. That city has just been through a very exciting period, the climax of its history, in fact; no doubt that prevented Port land mprnhnnts mid nermlfi from takin&r JhJ' the interest they ordinarily do in the State Fair. In all material respects the exhibit made last week was a good representa tion of Oregon products and was credit- j aoio in every particular, xne aispiay 01 j j cattle was excellent, even though some resented. The new intereet taken in dairy stock was shown by the presence of numerous Jerseys and Halstiens ; Short Horns were there in good number and many superior animals, though not pam pered stock. These showed what this breed will do with good, ordinary care ; running on fair range but not handled as evpert breeders manage prize cattle. The Short Horn remains at the head of meat producing cattle. There was a fair displays made by G. W. Dimick, of Hubbard, Marion country, who makes a specialty of that breed. He is building up a good reputation ae a reliable breeder of Short Horns, and his herd improves. He shows a bull calf seven months old, that weighed 798 pounds when last on the scales, a very fine animal; also a even months heifer with excellent points. James Richards, of Oakland, Douglas county, shows four full bloods and two Short Horn grades. Also some excellent Cotswold sheep. Richards is a success ful breeder and makes good use of the Umpqua hills, which are intended by Nature for flocks and herds. Henry Meyer, of Dallas, Polk county, is another old-time breeder. His fine, thoroughbred bull Short Horn wore three ribbons for different prizes taken. Meyer's herd grows better as his young stock comes in and show the advantage of careful breeding. The display of Jerseys was good and shows how the interest in dairy stock in creases among us. There is abundant 'room for such improvement since our butter comes in great part from Califor nia. There is no place in the world lere a thorough dairyman can go to ork with better assurance of success, nd few countries where facilities lor irying are better than in our favored :alities. D. H. Looney took many prizes lor nis W l.aw1 ? UoAiifiil vmincr JpreVH. The Looney settlement is in Marion county, twelve miles south of Salem. There is no better stock region than that beauti ful Santiam valley. He showed nice ani mals and all took first premiums but one. J. H. Albert, of Salem, had six Jerseys I on exhibit and they made a fine addition to the stock show. One heifer he sold to a well known cattle man for f 300. Gov. Moody, of Salem, has a herd of choice Jerseys that were exhibited and merit attention for performce in filling milk pails with rich and profitable milk. The Governor pays more attention to milk than to fancy points. His cattle don't wear many prize ribbons, but they are true Jersey stock and fulfill the con ditions of giving rich milk according to traditions of that stock. Another herd from Wasco county at tracted attention. They were entered by S. R. Thompson & Sons, of Jersey Farm, The Dalles, five head in all. Holsteins divide the honors partially with Jersey cattle as dairy stock, though their great value seems to be as cheese makers rather than for butter. D. C. Stewnrt, formerly of North Yamhill, now of Forest Grove, Washington county, shows eight head of white and black Holsteins that are good specimens of that race. The Stewarts are heavily interested in stock, but transferred their fine Short horn and other stock to their land East of the Cascades. R. W. Carey, of Waldo Hills, Marion county, exhibited several head of polled cattle, the black hornless, Scotch cattle that are coming to the front of late as eompetitors to the Short-horn as beef cat tle. These are fine animals and speak well for the breed. They cost largely and attracted much attention. Mr. Carey is enterprising and shows a variety of good stock. - There were good animals of various grades that show the value of crossing common stock with Short-horns. The fine herd of Reed and Ladd was not rep resented, that is said to be as good Short-horn stock as the country can show. M. Wilkins and sons have Davons that are worth attention, as that breed thrives well in. this rogion. Also, there are Hereford cattle in our State that aie good specimens of that breed. The ex hibit was good, but might have been much larger if all sections had sought repre sentation. Our country is especially a good sheep region, and we have a growing reputation for quantity and quality of wool raised. At tho late Fair the exhibit of sheep was good and creditable to Oregon. It was entirely an Oregon exhibit, also. Of course the Merinos led off as the staple article. We excel in Spanish Me rino but can make a good showing in French and American as well. The late exhibit was the best for many years. David M. Guthrie, of Dallas, Polk coun ty, showed French, Spanish and Ameri can Merinos, in full assortment, and of course carried off the full assortment of colors. He is one of the most successful sheep men and knows the point of a sheep and of a fleece to a nicety. He rather makes a specialty of French Me rinos and showed some fine stock of all kinds named. James Richards, of Oakland, Douglas county, had three pens of Cotswolds, very fine animals. He is one of those who heartily believes in the Cotswold as an animal wo can grow to advantage in Oregon. This year there are a number of pxcellent lots of Cotswolds and it is ev ident that the interest in Cotswold sheep is increasing. The greater demand for and improved price of mutton must have something to do with it. He also showed a fine Merino buck. Wm. A. Taylor, of Macleay, Marion county, showed four pens of Merino grades that took several premiums. T. L. Davidson, of Salem, had an ex hibit of thoroughbred Merinos. He has been a successful breeder in the past and has quite a good eye for the points of a fine animal. D. W. Stearns, of Oakland, Douglas county, showed five French Merino ewes ; five ewe lambs; five buck lambs, and took four blue ribbons for his entries of sheep and fino wool. R. W. Carey, of Waldo Hills, shows a Shrophshire ram and a pen of Cotswolds PORTLAND, OREGON, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1883. ami four pens of Merinos. His Shroph bhircs are very fine animals and attracted much attention. They and those exhib ited by Mr. Geo. W. Hunt, to be men tioned later, are all of this superior breed in our State. Mr. Carey took a number of premiums. He is commanding attention as a breeder and has a natural tact for business. His Polled Angus cattle show tli.it he is not afraid to lead off in a new direction. G. W. Hunt, of Whiteaker, Marion county, shows three Shropshire sheep that are very handsome, with good size and all the points for good mutton sheep. They weigh largely, and with black noses and points one can see that they are very hardy. Mr. Hunt has several yearlings and a seven months Iamb that is half as big again as an ordinary sheep. Tho two ewes weighed, for fleeces, this spring, 10 and 14 pounds. Tho buck's fleece weighed 15 pounds. Ho got snagged in the breast and died at harvest. This is a misfortune, but Mr. Hunt goes East with the Pioneer Expedition and will bring back a car load of the finest stock Tho Shrophshires run with his band of sheep and thrive better than even his hardy Merino grades. He is so well pleased with the hardihood and heavy fleeces as well as tho heavy weight of mutton they produce that ho will pur chase another buck and a number of ewes. Mr. H. exhibited two grade yearling ewes, one of which shows strongly of Shrophshire and the other reverts chiefly to its Leicestershire dam. The difference is striking. We saw there a Leicestershire lamb that M. Wilkins was making a present to a friend that should have been a candi date for premiums and would have cer tainly won a blue ribbon. Judge T. C. Shaw, of Marion county, showed four grade Merino bucks, and six graded lambs, with one thoroughbred. The Judge has a good turn for fine stock and has a fine placo on Howell Piairie to raise them. We hope to bee him come to the front as a sheep breeder. Davied Craig, of Waldo Hills, Marion county, showed eleven Cotswolds and took four first and two second premiums. The Craigs live near Aumsville, in a beau tiful rolling country admirably fitted for sheep. They have great faith in this breed and we expect to seo them succeed well in it. They are the kind that don't easily give up what they have faith in. R. C. Halley, of the Red Hills, south of Salem, exhibited three Merinos. Robert is a son-in-law of John Minto and inherits a turn for Merino sheep on the wife's side. He came off with rcspectablo winnings-, Mr. James Withycombo, the well known vetrinary surgeon, of Portland, whose farm is on Tualitan Plains, took sweepstakes for best families of both Cots. wolds and Merinos, a double honor that says more than we could get into a whole column of particulars. He showed eight Merino ewes, a buck and five lambs ; five Cotswold ewes and Cotswold buck, and five lambs. When it comes to careful selection and proper handling of stock we doubt if many men can excel Mr. Withycombe. Angora goats do not excite as much attention as formerly, but they have well proved their value for clearing ofl' brush land, so they are kept in sight and some persona are breeding them up with care, Mr. Franklin Vocum, of Sheridan, is always on hand with wll bred goats and was not absent this year. He divides honors with G. B. Miller, whose animals wear a number of blue ribbons. Swine may be unclean beasts but a slico of nice bacon for breakfast, or a rasher of ham with a couple of eggs to take the unsavory nature away, are points that need no argument. Breeding hogs has become a fine art and Oregon pork is equal to any made, especially when made by Thomas Cross or D. Howard. When traveling in the Palouso country or south of Snake river, we have seen largo lots of well bred porkers running in the fields, and here at the State Fair we could traco the creatures back to their breeding I ground. Chancing to meet Mr. Thomas Cross, we secured his services as pilot and visited the swine row with the privilege of his knowledge at command. Ho had no pigs entered for premiums but had on exhibit some forty head of very choice animals well worth seeing. He said that so many refused to show when he took stock there that he stood aside and made no entries, merely placing some choice stock in the pens for the public to look at. So we will review his exhibit: First pen Extra fine Berkshiro boar, raided by himself, and ono Poland boar that ho imported. Second pen Imported Poland sow and one sow of his old Borkshiro stock. Third pen Tho great imported sow which he bought of Corbitt & Mac leay two years ago, a splendid animal weighing near 800 pounds and with very high pedigree. Fourth pen Berkshire sow and pigs. Fifth pen Imported Po land sow and pigs. Sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth pens, each have a lot of fine shoats. R. W. Carey, Waldo Hills, before men tioned in cattle and sheen lists, shows threo Berkshire pigs that aro as pretty animals as you ought to wish to see and a boar imported from Illinois. We ven ture to beliovo tho choice, imported boar is not up to the pigs he bred himself. Oregon Berkshircs aro hard to beat, but his mingling of blood may, and no doubt will, produco good results. Carey took premiums on all entries. E. J. Chambers, of Salem, showed a fine Berkshire boar. T. H. Mclntiro, of Salem, showed three Berkshire sows under ono year and took all possible premiums. Wm. Harritt, Polk county, opposite Salem, took first premium on Berkshire boar two years old. John West, East Portland, had two 1st premiums and ono 2don three Berkshire sows. R. C. Halley, Salem, took 1st premium on Berkshiro boar ono year old and sweepstakes for best boar on tho ground. That locality of tho Red Hills "got away with" a nico lot of coin in prem iums on pork. HOUSES. The display of horses was good, as us ual, and corresponded with tho generally improved exhibit of all kinds of stock. Thoroughbreds aro well trained and and wo havo some breeders whoso stables contain horses with the best blood in the world. The Upper Country always rein forces our running stock in the fall. That was tho caso tho present year. John Young of Wulla Walla took first premiums on two animals. Some fino animals wero shown by breeders from this valley as tho premium list as the synopsis of races explains. In horses of all work thero was an ex cellent showing. This classification in cludes about all thero is of a horso for or dinary uses and represents the animals wo aro particularly successful in raising. Tho entries are numerous and wero brought from different sections, east and west of the Cascades. Thero wero many entries, also, of heavy draft stock. In this class Clydesdales and Percheron-Norman horses mantain a sharp contest with friends of both ready to take sides. Tho immense Norman horso or heavy Clydesdale do not answer tho question but serve as a breeding urco for supplying Norman and Scotch grades of tho heavy draft and their half or three quarter breeds mako excellent sires for the best of work stock when bred to our ordinary stock of mares. Of farm teams there wo a good show ing. The premiums wero awarded to animals of considerable excellence. It is not easy to draw tho line in classifying horses. Every farmer with a good, ser viceable maro can experiment to advan tage in breeding for all work, or for draft or for roadsters, and so long as tho ani- mal can be entered in cither class tho owner chooses, it is difficult to make a closo distinction. We find under the head of Farm Teams, two pair of "Car riago Horses." Evidently these wero misplaced. Tho classification of road sters was added to tho entry book and theso wero probably entered before that class was provided. Roadsters, as we just said, was not an original classification but was adopted after tho entries wore commenced. Some entries previously mado wero transferred. Tho business is rather mixed and should bo carefully revised and prepared for use before another fair is held. Our PoriUr.d daily contemporaries havo never had a correct report of tho award of premiums on stock during tho twenty-three years that fairs have been held. Their fair re porters take an entry book and draw off the list of premiums correctly enough so far as a horse is a horse, but not so far as a horse is a thoroughbred, or of all work, or some other classification. Giving a list of men who took premiums on stock and not classifying tho stock is simply rcdiculous. In sheep there aro a dozen classifications of families of shcop and goats, also of cattle. When a man takes a premium on a cow tho farmer who reads of it would like to know whether It was a Jersey or a Short-horn. So of a horse ; it may be a thoroughbred, or a Clydesdale or a Shetland pony. A sheep may be a small Spanish Merino or a largo fleeced, mutton producing Cotswold. Many good animals wero exhibited but not entered for premiums. As in tho case of Hon. Wm. Galloway, of Bellevuo, Yamhill county, who is interested with Luto Lindsay in Hamblctonian-Mambri-no, a magnificent trotting stallion, brought here by Messrs. Reed and Ladd and sold two years ago at their sale. This animal, and others liko him, was shown without being entered for a prizo. It has proved so successful as a breeder, representing aa it docs the best trotting blood ever known, that tho present owners could tako over four times for him what was paid at tho 1881 wile. FABM PRODUCTS. Tho display of Agricultural products; of all kinds, was admirable. Last year wo heard the remark mado, that any good grocers storo in Portland could furnish for exhibit as good a display of fruit and garden products as wero seen at tho State Fair that year. Tho remark was drawn rather wide of tho mark but verged upon the truth. The pavilion is u largo build ing well adapted to its uses and this year it was pleasantly filled, chiefly with farm and garden products. Tho display of dairy products was small. Thero is whero wo lack, greatly ; dairying should bo an important business and it is lamcntablo to say that our valley towns uso Califor nia butter and cheese nearly all tho year. If any Eastern reader understands dairy ing and has somo means to invest, thero is no better placo to establish a good dairy business than Western Oregon. Several counties had good exhibits, to wit : Clackamas, Lane, Marion and Wasco. To givo Eastern Oregon its duo tho exhibit made by Seufert Bros., of Tho Dalles, of fruits and vegetables gathered from that region of Wasco near tho Cas cade range was very fine. It had been shown by the Bereau of Immigration, at Portland, and they permitted Mr. D. D. Prettyman to remove it to Salem to show at tho State Fair, for which material im provement of display tho society is much indebted to Mr. Paul Schulzo, Manager of tho Bureau. Theso fruits and vege tables were raised on unirrigated land, a fact that is strong evidence as to quality of soil that could show such products in ayearof unusual dryness. This display included melons and corn from dry bunch-grass land, by D. Creighton; pears, grapes and peaches from S. Creigh ton : turnips, cantaloupes and other melons, sugar corn and a large squash from Robert Cooper; similar exhibits from J. B. Welch, Theodore Mesplio and others ; C. W. Denton showed forty va rieties of apples, eight of pears and other articles, forty varieties of luscious grapes and mammoth sunflower discs. Others showed Italian prunes, monster turnips, a squash of 82 pounds, a cabbago of 24 pounds, berries, asorted vegetables, fruiU NO. 33. etc., so that Wasco county could not easily havo been better represented. Marion county was represented fcy the enterprise of- K. L. Hibbard and some others, who had gathered a handsome collection of products from various sec tions. These were on oxhibition without being entered for premiums, they includ ed seventeen sheaves of wheat, twelve of oats, three of ryo, twenty-one sheaves of nativo and cultivated grasses, tall corn stalks with red or golden cars protruding, eight specimens of corn on tho cob, also beans and peas. A large collection of grain was shown in jars. N. H. Looney, of Jefferson, took a bluo ribbon for tall amber cano and tho committee favored giving him a premium for a remarkable sheaf of California wheat, grown on land that yielded 35 buhels to tho aero in 1882, and nearly or quite equalled it 1883. Tho remarkable fact in connection wai that iho land has been in cultivation almost without interval, since 1843, which shows tho lasting nature of our soil. Judgo N. W. Randall, of Clackamas, had a display from his his county woll set forth at tho right of tho ontcrance, It included 44 grains and grasses, apples, plums, hops, tomatoes, corn and a box of remarkably fino peaches. Theso came from different persons and different lo calities. Theso county exhibits provod very attractive and wo hope tho Society will hereafter try to encourago such dis plays by awarding diplomas, or making somo appropriate recognition to encour age them in tho future Lano county was ably represented by Hon. M. Wilkins, long timo Presidont of of tho Society, who grouped tho products of Lano county around and on the first stand to tho left of tho entrance Thero wero 42 varieties of wheat in tho sheaf, suven of oats, 20 of grasses, fivo of corn, ono of barley and ono of rye. A remark able fact is this, that while six grains in a mesh is tho largest yield supposed to be possiblo in white winter wheat, ho shows heads that havo sovon. Thoso who study wheat points will appreciate this fact. Lane county shows hops, a remark able seedling grown by Samuel Bonnet, also a mammoth seedling from Hammot, of Mohawk. Tho exhibit contained var ious vegetables and grains and was all noticeable, but tho most attractivo feature was tho wool cards of Mr. Wilkins, whero washed and unwashed specimens of fleeces, including those from 21 Merino lambs, very fine, in 42 samples, unwashed, and another card of Now Oxfordshire locks, 12 inches in length. Theso cards wero greatly admired. I). D. Prettryman, who has been trav eling through Eastern and Western Ore gon added much to tho valuo of tho an nual exhibit by arranging in attractivo shajM) 108 sheaves of wheat, 30 of oats, 10 of barley, 4 of ryo and 40 of various kinds of grasses. Ho had traveled from Uma tilla to Roseburg, over four hundred miles of Oregon wheat fields, hud visited Wusco and Umatilla and Willlamotto and Ump qua valleys and gathered everywhere 8j)eciinens of different varietios of grain and grasses. Ho had in all 275 siccl mens in sheaf, a string grass from Uma tilla 29 feet long, and a pea vino grown by R. C, Halley, Salem, 14 feet long. Among his collection wero grapes of tho Muscat of Alexandria variety, of very treat sio and exquisite flavor, grown by J. W. Presley, of Columbus, W. T. Along tho Columbia river, wherever they can find soil enough to plant trees or vines, peaches and grajies can bo grown to per fection, as tho deep canyons protect them from frost and secure tho summer warmth lacking here. California nover sent ns as fine grapes as thoso. One of them measured 3x3 inches and was but little abovo tho average. Through tho center of tho pavilion were arranged tho usual assortment of bread, cakes, jellies, wines, canned goods, dried and preserved fruits, pickles, butter and cheeso and small dairy products, pyramids of flour from great mills, and various things that wo do not core to par ticularize. At the further ond was fancy work that needs a lady's pen and a wo man s stock ol knowledge, ilio Mora! display was good, but the floral annex (iwiuw q nrru titt.l