File:WayneCoFair 18Oct1866 p2 0003.pdf

• E. Foreman

• Wayne County Fair

The show of Spanish Merino sheep was excellent. Such pioneers of improvement in this class of sheep as P. Reddick, Amos Brown, Mr. Hedges, John and Henry Mysers, made an excellent show of as good sheep as was ever shown in the County, and we doubt if they can excelled in the State. It is to be deeply regretted that very many of our best wool growers did not bring out their stock. True, the weather was unfavorable, with a strong prospect that the Fair would prove a failure, but failure would have been an accomplished fact, had every one reasoned and acted thus.

Much credit is due A. Aylesworth Esq., for his fine exhibition of "Long Wools." It is much to be desired that the "Downs" should be more largely into our sheep husbandry. For freedom from foot rot and other diseases, their adaptability to our variable climate and t5heir peculiar fitness for the butcher, should commend them to the favor of our farmers.

Of the swine family, there were very few specimens on the ground. Those were fine representatives of the various popular breeds of this region. The state of the roads prevented a larger show. There is room for improvement in this department.

There was a very small show of poultry, and that not of the best. Evidently, there is too little attention paid to this branch of husbandry. Every farmer out to be able to exhibit better specimens and a greater variety, than was show at the Fair. While there is no investment about the farm or homestead, that yields a larger profit with judicious care, it is too often so neglected or badly managed that it becomes a source of loss instead of profit. Instead of the small, almost wild and mixed varieties, which we see for sale in our markets, that attain a weight of from 1 1/2 to 4 lbs. each, we should rar those that at six months old will weight from 8 to 12 lbs. We would not disparage those shown at the Fair, but would impress our citizens with the fact that any one can do better.