REPORT UPON THE HORSE-EXHIBIT.

BY 8. M. CHERRINGTON.

To the Honorable Ohio State Board of Agriculture :

As reporter of the Horse department for 1887, I have the honor to submit the following:

The Ohio State Fair, under the management of the State Board of Agriculture, began August 30, and lasted until September 2, inclusive. The principal feature of this great fair was the horse-exhibit, being most magnificent as to quantity and quality. There is seldom seen is this or any country such a large collection of fine and valuable horses. Every class was represented, and well represented. Two classes deserve especial mention, viz: the draft horse and roadster. The draft horse has, for some time, held a prominent place in northern and central Ohio, but it is only within the past few years that they have been given much attention in southern Ohio. But the farmers and stock men are rapidly finding out that there is twice as much money in a good draft horse as there is in the inferior horses they have been accustomed to raise, it costing very little, if any more to raise a horse worth from one hundred and fifty dollars ($150) to three hundred dollars ($300) than it does to raise one worth half as much.

Farmers shoul give this matter their careful attention, for therein lies their silvation. Horse-raising is the only business that will pay on a farm in this section at present, and the future does not look much brighter. Cattle and hogs are low, and all kinds of grain are below cost of production, but it is an accepted fact, that no matter how dull the horse-market, a good horse always brings a good price.

Great credit is due C. D. Bailey, the member of the Board having charge of the horse department, for his excellent selection of committees and judges, and for the careful manner in which he looked after the interest of all who had any connection with this department. The decision of the judges gave almost universal satisfaction, it being evident that they were men well fitted for the position, and certainly were impartial in all their decisions.

The horse-exhibit began Tuesday, the morning of the 30th, and it taxed the superintendent and committees to their utmost, working from Tuesday morning until Friday evening, to do all classes justice. However, by hard work, patience and good management, every class was exhibited and given a fair show. In several classes the horses were so equally matched, that it was difficult for the judges to decide where to put the ribbon; especially was this the case in draft and roadster classes. But everything passed off smoothly, and the fair was declared to be a grand success.

The first class called was horses for general purposes. In this very important class there were a large number of entries. The first premium for stallion four-year old and over was awarded the horse called En lymion. He is a seal brown, 16 hands high, and weighs 1,300 pounds, owned by S. O. Miniger, Fostoria, Ohio, a splendid horse, and well merited the first premium.

The second premium, to Falkenberg, a rich bay stallion with black points, 16hands high, owned by H. S. Denny & Bro., Morningside Stock Farm, Ligonier, Pa. Stallion 3 years old and under 4.-The first premium was awarded to Lord Logan, a beautiful bay, owned Abraham MeNuttle & Co., Lewisburg, Ohio.

Second premium to Cassius Clay, Jr. He is a promising horse, sired by Cook's Hurrah, dam by Bronx, ɛon of imported Monarch, Sr. He is owned by D. W. Matthews, Jeffersonville, Ohio.

Stallion 2 years and under 3.—Only two entries in this class.

Humphrey's Boy, a fine bay colt, owned by C. Humphrey, West Hayden, Ohio, took first, and Prince, also a bay, owned by C. Unbanks, Dublin, Ohio, took second. Stallion 1 year old.-Three were shown. Both premiums were awarded to colts owned by George Geyer, Alton, Ohio. Both were good colts.

Mare 4 years old and over.-In this class there were three shown. Gazelle, a fine gray, 16 hands high, sired by Billy Mohawk; dam, Granite, owned by J. H. Walker, Plain City, Ohio, took the red ribbon.

Mare owned by O. P. Chaney, Canal Winchester, took second.

In the three-year old class, D. Hickman & Son's bay mare Lizzie M. took first premium. She is 15 hands high, weighs 1,100 pounds; sire, Killbuck Tom; dam, Topsy; both sire and dam having a fast record.

The second was taken by John McCoy, West Jefferson, Ohio.

Gipsey, owned by H. W. Davis, Dublin, Ohio, took first premium in two-year old class. She is a bloo l bay, and a very promising colt, sired by a Hambletonian, dam sired by an English horse. This filly took premium last year in one-year old class. Second premium was taken by Lady Pennypack, a chestnut-sorrel, 15 hands high, weighing 950 pounds; sire, Pennypack; dam by Woodstock. This filly shows great speed. She is owned by A. R. Miller, Pataskala, Ohio.

In the one-year old class only two were shown. The first premium was awarded to a colt owned by 8. D. Cordin, Dublin, Ohio, the second to Alta, a black filly, owned by A. R. Miller, Pataskala, Ohio, sired by Alert.

Brood mare with foal at her side.—Five competed for the red ribbon in this class. A bay mare owned by Dwight Gay, of Columbus, Ohio, took first honor. Second was taken by Goldust, owned by Elmer Armstrong & Sons, Hebardsville, Ohio. The next class shown was saddle horses. Five were exhibited. First premium awarded Jack, a black gelding, owned by J. J. Maxon, Gallipolis, Ohio. He is a splendid saddle horse, having seven distinct gaits.

Dandy, a sorrel gelding, owned by G. W. Crawford, Newark, Ohio, took second. He is a promising young horse, and only wants age and practice to make a numberone saddle horse.

Clydesdale and English Dratf Horses.-This class was well represented, there being a large number of the best horses in the State shown. It seems to an ordinary observer an impossibility to improve upon these horses, they seemed so nearly perfect of their kind. Most of them had, not only immense size and great strength, but as great activity as many horses of half their size. The first premium was awarded Bendigo, a black stallion, six years old, imported, a most magnificent horse, owned by Abraham McNuttle & Co., Lewisburg, Ohio.

Young Salisbury, a bay hɔrse, weighing 1,900 pounds, sire Lord Salisbury, dam Dykesdale, owned by Taylor & Price, Plain City, Ohio, took second.

Three years sold and under 4.-First premium awarded to brown stallion, belonging to Bell Bros., of Wooster, Ohio, a horse having good action, great strength and good

style.

Second premium was given to a bay stallion belonging to John McPherson, Marion, Ohio.

In the two-year old class, the first premium was awarded Vanguard, a gray stallion, owned by Bell Bros., Wooster, Ohio.

Second premium was given to Tug, a dark bay, weighing 1,500 pounds; sire, Young Salisbury; dam, Black Leopard; owned by Taylor & Price, Plain City, Ohio. There was a close contest between the two horses.

In one year old class, Silver, a gray colt, belonging to Chis. T. Sandford, Rosedale, Ohio, took the red ribbon.

Second was taken by M. Bradfield, Lilly Chapel, Ohio.

Mare 4 years old and over.-In this class Mary Bell was given first premium; a splendid animal, 17 hands high, weight, 1,900 pounds; owned by J. P. Myers, Wooster, Ohio.

Second was taken by a brown mare, Lottie Burns; weight, 1,700 pounds; sired by General; dam, Fannie; a fine animal. The contest between the two being very close. She is owned by J. Q. Smith, New Carlisle, Ohio.

In three-year old class, but one animal was exhibited. This was a roan mare, called Lady Lucy, owned by J. A. Vanness & Bros., Mechanicsburg, Ohio.

Two-year old class.-J. P. Myers again came to the front, taking premium with his bay mare Daisy, a fine young animal, 15 hands high; weight, 1,500 pounds.

The blue ribbon was carried off by Bell, owned by Z. E. Taylor, Plain City, Ohio. In the yearling class, Lucy, a fine bay filly, belonging to J. H. Vanness & Bro., Mechanicsburg, took first honors.

Second, by Lady Clyde, black mare, sired by seven-eighth bloɔd Clydesdale horse ; dam, seven-eighth blood Norman.

Brood mare, with a foal at her side.-Only one exhibit. Bay mare Darling, owned by J. P. Myers, took first premium. Size, 17 hands; weight, 1,875 pounds, with a fine colt.

Percheron and Norman draft horses was the next class called. This class, like the preceding one, was well filled with fine horses.

In the four-year old and over class, the first premium was given to L'Ami, a dark dapple gray, heavy mane and tail; 16 hands high; weight, 1,850 pounds. Sired by Brilliant; dam, Suzon. He is a low, heavy horse, with extraordinarily good back and loins, and as perfect a horse of the kind as you will ever see. He is owned by Pringle & Breniger, Cardington, Ohio.

Raspial, owned by G. W. Handley, Richwood, Ohio, took second. This was also a splendid horse, being almost, if not quite, as good as the one taking first premium, it taking the judges a long time to decide.

In the three-year old class, Coco, a finely developed young horse, belonging to J. W. Brown, Yellowbud, Ohio, took the first premium. This is an imported horse, 15 hands; weight 1,600 pounds.

In the two year old class, a stallion owned by D. B. Stewart, Ballou, took first premium without competition.

One-year old. In this class, first premium was awarded Lion, a magnificent young