admiration which this department of the fair elicited from visitors, was the highest tribute to their taste and industry.

The halls were filled-we may say packed-with female handiwork, both useful and ornamental, and were the chief points of attraction. They presented a display which was matter of general encomium.

The whole number of entries was 516. The show of horses was large, but the quality was only medium. They were generally good, but few reached excellence. The exhibition of cattle was very fine; many of the animals were of the best imported blood, and superior of their kind. The stock of sheep and swine was not large, but very fair in quality. In table comforts, fruits, vegetables, domestic manufactures, and mechanical productions, there was a large and interesting display.

The exercises of the two days were arranged by printed programme, and their direction placed under the control of J. B. Fulwiler, Esq., as Chief Marshal; to whom, and his assistants, the society is under obligations, for the order which marked the proceedings throughout. There was an efficient police in attendance, night and day, during the fair, and no theft, no fighting, no disorderly conduct of any kind occurred, to mar the general joy and good feeling of the occasion.

A very attractive portion of the ground was the ring, which, under the judicious management of the marshal, always presented something novel and exciting, and thus relieved the large audience from the fatigue of dullness and monotony.

Quite an animating feature of the exercises, in the ring was the contest between the ladies for the premium on equestrianism. Some objection is made to this feature of an agricultural fair, on the ground that it has no connection with and does not tend to promote the objects for which they are held. On the other hand, those

who favor this feature regard the annual fair as the farmers festival, and think a little innocent amusement may be combined advantageously with the more serious business of the occasion. In a financial point of view it has helped our fair greatly.

The examining committees closed their labors and made their awards by three o'clock of the second day, the hour set for the address. The Rev. F. S. McCabe was the speaker on the occasion. He delivered an able and appropriate address, which was ordered to be printed in the county papers.

MONROE.

The annual fair took place on the 29th and 30th of September, and 1st of October, and was more largely attended than any previous fair. The entries this year were numerous, more so than at any former fair, and a deeper interest was manifested than heretofore. The entries of horses were far more numerous than heretofore, and there was a fine exhibition of "the noblest animal of creation." In this department more interest is taken than in any other. Cattle are commanding more attention than in past years, and the fact that good cattle are cheaper than bad cattle, is becoming more generally known. Our principal exhibitor in cattle was Henry Eller, the former President of the society, in whose praise, for his energy and activity, too much cannot be said.

In hogs there was some competition, but so little that a difference as to merits could not be well distinguished. Of sheep the same might be said, there being but one exhibitor of long wooled and one of fine wooled sheep. Of agricultural products the entries were but few. The display of fruits and vegetables was a very fine one.

Our farmers are purchasing fruit trees from the different nurseries, and show a strong desire to improve the quality of their fruits. The result of their efforts will not be marked for some years, but they can scarcely fail to be important and lasting.

The ladies department of the fair was well filled. The various articles were generally deemed to be superior of their kind and better than at prior exhibitions. A lively competition existed, and much interest was evinced by visitors. The address was delivered by Col. John McLean. It was an extemporaneous effort, plain but practical in its bearing, and left a good impression on the audience. No copy can be transmitted as no notes of it exist.

OWEN.

The last fair was superior to that of any previous The exhibition of stock was fine, particularly year. in horses, cattle and hogs. The exhibition in grains and vegetables was also good.

PARKE AND VERMILLION SOCIETY.

Five annual fairs have been held by the society since its organization on the 3d of October, 1851. Three of these fairs were held at Rockville, in Parke county, and the last two have been held at Montezuma, also in Parke county, but nearer the center of the two counties and easy of access to both.

The fair for 1857 was held on the 23d, 24th and 25th days of September, and in many respects exceeded those which had been heretofore held. The premiums offered

were based upon an expenditure of nearly $1,000 in silver ware. No money premiums were offered. The ware was triple plated, and manufactured to order in New York City.

In the list for horses for general purposes there were fifty-five entries, and many fine animals were on exhibition. The improvement which has been made in the breeding of good horses here in the last few years is very great, and we can boast of as fine and fast horses now as any in the States, even though we may live "out on the Wabash."

The number of entries of heavy draught horses was fourteen. The breeding of horses of this class is but little practiced. Farmers prefer those of medium size, not requiring as heavy loads but quicker time.

In the class for matched and single driving horses there were forty-three entries. In this class the exhibition was uncommonly good. In no fair of like pretentions have we seen it excelled, and it was equally as good as our last State fair. The premium was awarded to a splendid pair of black mares.

In the class of trotting and pacing horses there were eleven entries. A black mare bore off the palm. In trotting she is a splendid traveler, and has yet to be beaten on the track.

The sweepstake on horses was quite exciting. The victory was decided in favor of a fine Halcorn horse, four years old. There is no department of the fair so well represented as that for the horse. A laudable competition exists, the result of which has been to introduce into the county the best breeds of horses which can be had. A great deal of money has been invested in stallions of superior blood. The efforts of those whose enterprise led them to the outlay are being richly repaid, not only in dollars and cents, but in witnessing the fine specimens of that noblest of all animals, the horse, which yearly appear at the fairs.

Of cattle there were seventy-eight entries. These included Durhams, pure blood and grades; Devons, oxen, fat cattle and steers. No premiums were offered for native stock. Of Devons there are but few in the district; the breeding of them is confined to but few individuals; they are prized by some for their dairy qualities and for oxen; popular feeling, however, is against them, and they gain ground very slowly. Of thorough bred Durhams there are a considerable number in the district, and as a breed they are highly prized by the people. Several of our citizens have done much toward their introduction. The improvement on cattle here is probably as widely marked as that of any other stock; there being but few sections of country but where their crosses are found. The raising of cattle is a great source of profit to the farmers of the district, the neighboring prairies of Illinois furnishing rich pasture for grazing, and hundreds are yearly taken and summered on those fertile plains at but small expense to the owner.

In the class of jacks and mules there were seventeen entries. The raising of mules is carried on to a great extent, and is a source of considerable wealth. There. are several fine jacks and jennets owned in the district, of the best Kentucky blood, and one imported jack, a genuine Maltese.

In the sheep department there were twenty-five entries, including middle, fine and long wool. The climate and country are both well adapted to the raising of sheep, and farmers are engaging more extensively in the rearing of them both for mutton and wool. The South Down and Cotswold are considered the best for mutton and the merinos for wool. There are two woolen manufactories now in operation in the district and another in process of erection.

Of swine there were twenty-five entries. Some fine specimens were on exhibition. The most noted were