From the Connecticut Mirror.
To the Executive Committee of the Hartford County Agricultural
Society. The Committee appointed to examine Domestic
Manufactures, and award premiums to those who in their opinion
are entitled to them, respectfully report:
That notwithstanding the unpleasant weather, the articles they
were called to inspect were greater in number, and in general much
superior in quality to those exhibited last year.
There were some woollen cloths of a finer texture and finish, than
that which obtained the premium, but a part of them were not of
the requisite width, and others were dyed in the piece, while your
committee felt it their duty to give the preference to cloth dyed in
the wool. A piece inferior to the premium cloth sold for $2.50 per
yard.
It was with much satisfaction that our committee remarked the
improvement in the manufacture of Carpeting; last year but one piece
offered for their inspection was filled with wool, while this year
most of those exhibited were of that description. They were also
gratified to learn that the premium carpets were all spun and dyed
in the family.
The committee are of opinion that scarcely any thing submitted to
their examination denotes so rapid an improvement in taste and
domestic industry, as the hearth rugs--those which were this year
exhibited displayed an elegance both in their design and execution,
which in articles of that kind is rarely met with.
Many of the flannels were of a quality much superior to those
exhibited last year. A large part of them sold at from eighty cents
to one dollar; and the premium flannel brought $1.25 by the piece.
The premium blankets excited universal attention, and were equally
admired for their beauty and for their more substantial qualities.
We have never seen any superior to them imported from England; they
measured nearly twelve quarters, and sold for $14.25.
The quantity of hosiery was much greater than at our former
exhibition--many pairs of stockings sold at from 80 cents to $1.50.
Premiums were awarded to two very fine elegant finished grass
bonnets, made by the Miss Woodhouses of Weathersfield, and which
are rarely surpassed in beauty by the most costly Leghorns. One
very little inferior was also exhibited, made by Miss Hanmer of
the same place. They were made of the Poa Pratensis or spear grass,
and those which received the premiums sold one for 27 dollars, the
other 30 dollars. Another of a quality almost equal to those just
mentioned was made by a young lady of Windsor, of the sweet-scented
vernal grass, and one of split straw by Miss Capen of Hartford, was
remarkable for its extraordinary delicacy of texture.
The linen diapers were equal to any of English fabric, and the linen
shirting which obtained the premium sold for 4_s._ 6_d._ per yard.
The committee would suggest to such as may hereafter be candidates
for the premium on linen goods, the necessity of bleaching them,
since after that process, their comparative merits can be more
fairly ascertained.
The butter and cheese were excellent--the former sold for 16 cents,
and a large quantity of the latter for 10 cents per pound.
Many articles were also exhibited for which no premiums were
offered, yet which attracted the particular attention of the
committee and the numerous spectators. Among these were some highly
finished treble-gilt buttons, from the manufactory of Mr. Moses
Cook. The carpeting ingeniously manufactured from bul-rushes and
woollen yarn; white silk hose, white linen hose, white and coloured
counterpanes; a vandyke remarkable for its softness and beauty, made
from the silk that covers the seed of the milk-weed; an excellent
imitation of the Scotch plaid; and some elegant paper-hangings from
the manufactory of Mr. George Putnam. While the committee could
not but regret that the state of our funds precluded the offering
premiums for such meritorious articles, yet they were highly
gratified to perceive that it is not the hope of gain alone which
produces such a splendid collection of domestic manufactures, but
that there exists among all classes of the community a patriotic
wish to give interest to our exhibition.
Your committee cannot close their report, without congratulating
you, gentlemen, and the public at large, on the brilliant prospects
of our infant society.
The general superiority of the articles we this year inspected, to
those offered at our former exhibition, together with that lively
interest they excited in the candidates for premiums, and the
thousands of spectators who assembled to witness the productions
of their industry, clearly evince that domestic manufactures are
rapidly gaining that importance in public estimation which they so
richly deserve.
All which is respectfully submitted.
GEO. COWLES, _Chairman_.