GALLIA COUNTY.

The twentieth annual fair of the Gallia County Agricultural Society was held at the grounds of the Society, in Gallipolis, on the 6th, 7th, and 8th days of October, 1875. The attendance was extremely light on the first two days, but the crowd came in overwhelming numbers on Friday, estimated at fully four thousand.

The exhibition of cattle was excellent, a credit to the farmers of Gallia county. We have never seen here a better display. There were full-blooded Shorthorn Durham bulls, cows with their calves, steers, heifers, etc., almost without exception the best specimens of their kind. The entire display in this department showed that the Gallia county farmers are not a whit behind their neighbors in their appreciation of good stock.

In horses, the exhibition corresponded well with former years. The Orphan Boy stock seemed to be the favorite, and there were many fine specimens of it in the stalls. The display of vegetables and farm products was the best we have ever seen. Two mammoth squashes were among the curiosities of this department, the largest weighing ninety-one and the smallest eighty-three pounds. They were from the seed of the mammoth French squash, obtained in the West. The smaller attained its growth in six weeks. The peculiarity of this plant is, that under each leaf, where the vine touches the ground, a shoot starts out, which, reaching the ground, forms a root, and through these the plant drains nourishment. The display of potatoes, turnips, cabbage, onions, and seeds of all kinds, were never better.

Altogether, this department was well represented, and was much admired. The poultry department was truly a success (to exhibiters), being an astonisher to the many who have witnessed the "thin" array of entries heretofore made. The many new breeds in this class which have within the last year or two been introduced are worthy of note and merit.

There was heard the hoarse crow of the Asiatic and French breeds, intermingled with the spicy clarion of the bantam, which was caught up and heralded back by the defiant challenge «f the game cock, the "melodious and dove-like quack of the Toulouse geese, Muscovy ducks," etc., forcibly illustrating the excellent selections on exhibition. The premiums awarded were scattering—seemingly to those who made the best entries—but, like in all other classes, exhibiters were not all, but generally, satisfied. Premium fowls were in many cases no better than others of the same variety, and the committee probably knew this; but some must have premiums, and, for instance, as there were a half-dozen coops so nearly alike in merits that an award was difficult, consequently five of the six suffered to carry out the programme of the exhibition, and others because they were not meritorious. Some very fine fowls entered were wrongly named, to correspond with the "standard," consequently were passed.

The swine department, in number of entries, was far in arrear of past occasions, although there were to be seen some very handsome hogs and pigs that figured well up to standard point. We were surprised to see so slim an exhibition in this class, when we are aware that so many pure-blooded, high-classed porkers exist in our immediate vicinity, withal the prevailing fancy indulged for them. We hope to see an increase of entries in so important a feature in the future, as upon this occasion there were but three or four competitors.

In the hall there was the usual display of manufactured goods, specimens of neat and beautiful work, from the rag carpet to the artistic painting. As is always the case, the display of agricultural implements was good.

On Thursday Mr. Ellis, the Master of the State Grange, was present, and addressed a limited number on agricultural topics. He deserved a larger audience, but it seems impossible, no matter how attractive the exercises of the day may be, to get the people out except on the last day.

Altogether, in the number of entries and in the quality of the articles exhibited, the fair was a decided success, and the managers are entitled to great credit for their tireless and self-sacrificing labors in working it up. The present number of members is 90. Crops of all kinds fair, except wheat and fruit, the latter being almost an entire failure. There is a determination on the part of the Board to make the coming fair a success.

We have an indebtedness on our grounds, which cripples us to some extent, but think and hope that we will be able to pay it off soon.