VOL. XXI.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., SATURDAY, NOV. 27,1886.
NO. 48
Written tor tbe Indiana Parmer.
CHICAGO FAT STOCK SHOW.
The Strong and Weak Points of the Show
—The Victories Won in Lire Stock
Departments.
BT WALTER ELLIOTT.
A number of causes conspired to render
the fat b took shove at Chicago,No v. 8 to 19,
inferior to former exhibitions, the chief of
which  was   the   undoubted   prevalence
of pleuro-pneumonia, in that oity.   The
result  to  the  cattle  department  waa  a
greater loss, numerically, than any other,
although the specimens exhibited were up
to the average, I was informed.  The show
of draft horses was beyond doubt far ahead
of any other similar exhibition held in the
city, witu the exception of  the display
made  during  the  fair.   The   exhibitors
were the same, however, and instead of
showing their entire stables, selected the
choicest   animals.   W.   H.   Dunham,   of
Wayne,   was   the   largest  exhibitor   of
Percheron-Normans,   and   captured   the
lion's share of the ribbons.   His famous
stallion, Brilliant, for whioh he refused
the offer of $10,000, was up to his usual
form, and, of course, carried the visitors
by storm.   I mean by visitors that olasa in
attendance  who dote on  that  breed  of
horses.   The Clydes, Cleveland bays and
roadster classes were largely rilled, and
throngs of admirers flocked around their
stalls every hour the exposition was open.
The Eagllsh Shires were also numerously
and ably represented, and I heard many
expressions complimentary to this noble
and useful breed.   The trotters were not
out in great numbers, those exhibited being chiefly  from the country adjaoent to
Chicago, bnt they received their share of
admiration, particularly from the ladies.
The bracing air of the first few days of the
exhibition,  coupled  to  the  information
that New Yorkers were enjoying tbe first
sleighing of the season, no doubt, made
the latter class of hones numerous friends,
who were impatiently awaiting the coming of the flseoy messengers, and the fair
admirers were Indulging in longings of
this character I am certain.   Right here
let me say this for the trotter: His friends
claim the earth for him, and grow extravagantly loud in their praises of hia
good   qualities,  a proceeding  that  does
harm to the breed oftentimes, but his detainers have never yet seen the day when
the ladies, as a rule, expressed the affection for a draft animal that they do for the
nimble footed creature that Is the souroe
of more real enjoyment to them than any
other animal on the faoe of God's footstool.   Henoe I agree that when a breeder
of any kind of live stock hss the women
on his side of the question hia stock will
sell and make him money despite the declarations to the contrary of all the men
in the universe.   We need the draft-horse
It is true, but it is equally certain that we
need the trotting-bred animal to produce
our carriage, buggy and  business teams.
Ponies were there in abundance, and the
ubiquitous small boy had a grand time
riding and driving the Uttle beauties.   Indeed, on Saturday, children's day, the superintendents oould scarcely control .the
track, so numerous and determined were
toe Uttle fellows for "one more ride."
OATTLE.
The Shorthorn breeders outnumbered
the other breeders In a ratio of 10 to 5, including all classes. The Herefords were
represented by seven of the most prominent dealers of that breed ln the oountry,
while the Aberdeen Angus had fonr
champions, the Devons three, and the
Holstein-Friesian and Sussex one each.
The result of the awards was more than
satisfactory to the lovers of the Herefords,
that breed winning, if I am not mistaken
ln my souroe of Information, all of the
Important prizes, including the grand
sweepstakes on Saturday morning. When
the blue ribbon was handed to the exhibitor of the ourly Hereford he fairly
jumped for joy, and a great shout went up
from all parts of the house. Immediately
thereafter I wandered about through the
crowd to listen for complaints of "setup
jobs," "Hereford committee," and the
usual kicks which emanate from beaten
aspirants, but I faUed to hear any complaints. The awarding of the premium
ln that class occupied the judges for
nearly three hours, and finally narrowed
down to a choice between a magnificent
Aberdeen-Angus and the victorious Hereford. The committee was composed of
butchers, I wa* told. Ail of the representatives of the other breeds of cattle
were up to their best, with the possible exception of the Shorthorns. The Aberdeen-
Angus exhibitors took their defeat in the
sweepstakes I ring like men, but I will
wager my pencil that next year the breed
that beats theirs will have to hnstle.
HOGS AND aaBXP.
The hogs and sheep were not vory
numerous, or exceptionally fine. Of the
former the Chester Whites attracted the
moat attention from the visitors other
than breeders—proof of the attractiveness
of color only, but the Poland China and
Berkshires were not overlooked. The day
I attempted to visit the sheep department
the contest among the butchers drew such
a large crowd as to completely shut me
ont and I was forced to leave without
more than a passing glance at a pen of
Oxforddowns; henoe I am in no poaltion
to impart any information as to that Important part of our husbandry.
DAIRY PRODUCTS.
The dairy men were outdone al every
point, as regards display, by the manufacturers of butterine and oleomargarine
The latter gentleman occupied less room,
bat their quarters were elegantly fitted
up, and with an eye single to making
their wares ss attractive as cut-glass,
flowers, and devices of various kinds,
monograms and busts in butterine oould
make them. Oae enterprising firm had a
Ufe-aize bust of Cleveland made of butterine and displayed conspicuously on one
end of an elegant show cise filled with
samples of fancy prints. Armour A Co.,
tho firm that broke ap the last strike in
Chicago, had a beautiful display, and several polite attendants to lisp tho cleanliness and health fulness of their brands.
In the Jersey department of genuine butter the exhibitors used firkins in almoat
evary Instance, and so lost the dazzling
effect produced by their more enterprising
neighbors and competitors. There were
asvaral very creditable displays, however,
bnt the butterine bugs seemed to have
broken their hearts, and at no time did I
see one-half the orowd that thronged the
room occupied by the butterine-makers.
POULTRY.
Twelve hundred entries in thla department constituted the number of fowls to
be judged by the experts, but I believe
that the number on exhibition besides
those regularly entered for the competition would sweU the Ust at least 100.
Light Brahmas out-classed nearly all the
other breeds for quality, bnt the admirers of Plymouth Ricks out-ranked them
in quantity ,one breeder alone having made
90 entries. Wyandottes were a very good
class, but no extra-high scoring birds
were reported to me. The Cochins, Leghorns and games, and bantams of various
breeds showed up largely, and contained
some excellent Individual birds. The
turkeys were not numerous, bnt good,
likewise the ducks and geese.
INDIANA.
It la to be regretted that the Indiana
breeders of oattle and horses were so few,
for when the Hooslers do attempt te win
they generally oome oft with their
share of blue ribbons, even ln Illinois.
The larger establishments of our State
were represented by suoh light contributions as to exolte ridicule only,among our
neighboring Mates, bat Indiana wiU not
bear suoh imputation long, else I very
much mistake the grit and enterprise of ber
citizens. I am inoUned to the opinion that
their absence waa caused, not by a lack of
choice stock or the fear of being beaten,
bnt the Impression has gone abroad that
the committees were selected among gentleman financially Identified with Chicago's interests, and that self-protection
demanded a big tribute to Hlinoia breeders at their hands. I cannot scarcely
credit such rumors, for there seemed to be
a general desire on the part of the management to please everybody, and to
frown upon fraud should any attempt be
made to perpetrate It.
WUmarle Stock Farm, ShelbyvUle, Ind.
Ohio  Valley Fat Stock Show.
Editors Indiana Parmer:
In your issue of laat week the question
is asked, shall we have an Ohio VaUey
Cattle Growers' Association T I answer
yea, why not? It is true, as suggested by
Judge Jones, that tbe fat stock shows of
Chicago and Kansas City contribute largely to the business of those cities. Yet it
Is as I think equally true, that those ahows
faU to furnish for the Oblo valley, the education we ao much need. The most important matter to the breeder of thoroughbred stock is to have a ready market for
it, and perhaps the surest means by which
that market can be secured, la to convince
the average farmer that It ia to hia inter-
eat to purchase, and breed from that kind
of atock.
Fat stock shows are but objeot lessons to
be studied by the persons who visit them.
If they are valuable to visitors mainly as
object lessons it is all important, that they
be held where they can be aeen and
studied by the persons whose appreciation of the lessons, wiU tend most to the
advantage of the oountry at large. In
otber words that they ahoald be held at
such times, places and under such circumstances aa will insure the most general at
tendance of the ordinary farmer.   The fat
stock shows of Chicago and Eansaa City,
are doubtless well attended by the breed-
era and farmers of the immediate neighborhoods, and it la quite aa true that the
mass of the farmers of the Ohio valley do
not attend them.
The result, therefore is, that the desired
progress ln the general Improvement ln
stock breeding is not made. Can this be
remedied T To my mind, the formation
of the Ohio valley oattle growers' association would be a long stride ln the right
direction, and would so far as that vaUey
Is concerned, ultimately result ln the accomplishment of the desired objsct.
If the organization should be effected,
and it should be determined to hold fat
stock shows, It might be well to bold them
alternately, at Cincinnati, Indianapolis,
Louisville, and suoh other points ln the
valley as may be agreed upon.
I suggest as a means of starting in the
direction of such an organization, that the
presidents of the different Shorthorn
breeders association in the vaUey open a
correspondence with each other upon the
propriety of the proposition, the time and
place of the first meeting, and If necessary
let each president consult his association.
Why not presidents Jones of Ohio, and
Mitchell of Indiana work this project Into
tangible shape as a starter.
1 thank President Jones for his article of
last week and believe that good may come
of it. J. S. Buckles.
Muncie.
 .   SBJ^	
No Manure Heap.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
Hereafter there shaU be no manure pile
ln my barnyard. It must go, for two important reasons:
1. If left in the yard about half of ita
value will be washed away. After heavy
rains or 11 >oda sometimes the black inky
substance wiU run off for days into the
highway. I would feel much ashamed
for any one to see my wastefulness. And
how unhandy It Is to get about when the
manure Is left ln the yard for six months!
2 And what a j >b It is to haul manure
in the spring when the ground Is soft and
manure heavy; besides, the team not used
to heavy pulUng! I will haul it oat aa
soon as a load is accumulated, either with
a sled or cart; then when spring oomes I
wUl be done hauling manure—the farmer's greatest dislike. Then it will not
hinder getting the crops out in time, and
all the waah is left on the farm. It is beat
to spread It as onoe aa It ia difficult to
scatter evenly If packed on a pile. II
wanted for top dressing wheat It oan be
hauled on a large flat heap to rot, fork
over onoe, and oover with straw to prevent drying out. John Bennett.
—We like this plan, and suggest that it
wonld be a good idea to have a ahed buUt
over the spot where the manure pUe haa
been, and keep an old oart, or dray, standing there for the purpose of receiving the
refuse of the stalls. This wiU prevent the
necessity of rehandllng.—Eds.
George Straw, a farmer living near
Weed Patch, Brown oounty, signed a
lightning-rod contract for (6.60, and a few
days later an "innocent" "purchaser"
called and presented a note of $260 signed
by Mr, Straw in his own band, whioh he
' paid by compromising on f 160.