A DESCRIPTION OF PREMIUM IMPLEMENTS. Drilling in Wheat and other Grain. The advantages claimed for drill culture are: 1. A saving of seed.-Five pecks of wheat drilled in is equal to two bushels sowed broadcast; every kernel is neatly covered at a uniform depth. 2. A saving of labor.-Any person that can manage a team can complete in the neatest manner from ten to fifteen acres per day. 3. An increase of crop.-Small ridges of earth are left between the rows of wheat, which by the action of the frost slides down and covers the roots, thereby preventing winter killing. Light and heat are ad'mitted between the rows and prevent injury by rust. A vigorous growth is given to the young plant, and its position in a constantly moist place prevents injury from drought. Palmer's wheat drill-To which was awarded the first premium, as the best wheat drill presented at the late exhibition of the Society. The advantages claimed for this drill are,-That it possesses all the advantages of every other drill in use, and is at the same time free from their imperfections. It performs its work in the handsomest manner, is not liable to be injured by coming in contact with fast stones or roots, and can be used upon quite rough ground. It is simple and substantial in its construction. The teeth-any one or more of them-can be raised so as to pass over stones or other obstructions a foot and a half high, and by a simple contrivance, held in that position at the pleasure of the operator. By a slight movement the whole internal structure of the drill can be seen, and during the operation of sowing the seed is in full view of the operator. It is also adapted to planting corn, peas and beans in drills, and sowing other small grain as well as wheat. Manufactured by Palmer, Brockport, N. Y. Grain drill and corn-planter, known as "Atkin's seed sower, manufactured by Fitch, Barry & Co., Brockport, Monroe co. This implement was very highly commended at the late exhibition of the Society, and the following description is given of it: It is claimed to sow wheat, oats, barley, buckwheat, peas, and to plant corn in hills, all of which this drill is said to accomplish in the most perfect manner. The frame is nearly square, with two front and one rear rail, and two side and two middle ones, with a hopper resting on the frame. The axle is of wrought iron with cog gearing on each end, one for propelling the distributors for sowing wheat and other small grain, and the other to propel the same distributor for planting corn in hills; the distributors are of cast iron and placed directly under the hopper, and so constructed as not to cut the grain; there are two ground wheels of 4 feet diameter. The drills or teeth are each attached to a wrought iron beam about 3 feet in length, these beams are hung on hooks fastened to the front rail, thereby giving the drill teeth a chance to undulate with the ground; there are two rollers laying horizontally in the frame on the back side of the hopper, and each drill is attached to these rollers and by a handle in the frame hitched to the rolls, the teeth are lifted from the ground, each distributor has a separate slide to shut off the grain, and the sowing can be entirely stopped by throwing the distributors out of gear, which is done by pushing a handle very conveniently placed for that purpose. Price from $60 to $65. Seymour's Grain Drill, with apparatus for depositing manure, to which first premium awarded. This machine combines the advantage of sowing in drills or broad cast, and of depositing manure with the seed. Its construction is such, that the drill teeth and all the fixtures necessary for drilling, and not needed for broadcast sowing, can be removed in five minutes, and a complete broad-cast is left, ready for sowing any kind of grain, plaster, &c. Wet wheat, oats or white caps in the wheat which so readily clog many machines, are no obstacle in this; and those who prefer thrashing their wheat for seed with the flail, to avoid the injury done to the seed by thrashing with a machine, will find this drill suited to their wants. When drilling with this machine, the grain falls from the hopper to the tubes, (a space of about six inches,) in full view of the person attending it, so that in case of any obstruction, it is immediately noticed and can be readily removed. The above cut represents the improved drill barrow, with attachment H, for planting corn, beans, &c. It is light, strong and durable, and can be used by one man, as its whole weight will not exceed 70 lbs., or can be drawn by a horse, when a large amount of work is to be done. It is at once simple, strong, and easily managed, and equally well adapted to drilling or planting in hills admitting, by a simple contrivance, of 28 variations of distance between hills, from 3 inches to 8 feet, and drops from one to any required number in a hill. It admits of the same number of variations for drilling, planting the smallest, largest and most difficult seeds with great precision. Being worked by gear instead of hand, it never fails by slipping when in motion. It can be thrown out of gear when desirable to stop its action. Its advantages are, precision, making its own furrow, measuring, dropping and covering, and compressing, all at one operation. It will plant from 10 to 13 acres per day. The general form is similar to a plow without mould-boards, with a hopper placed upon the beam. The seeds are dropped by two wooden slides or arms, which are moved alternately by a crank motion in and out of the bottom of the hopper, these arms having cups or cavities which are filled with corn, and as they are drawn out over the pipe or tube, are dropped into it and fall to the ground beneath the share. Price, $15.00. PLOWING MATCH. 28 Entries. Judges.-Wm. Ottley, Phelps; Hugh Brodie, Cote St. Pierre, C. E.s J. P. Fogg, Rochester; Micah Bradley, Salina; Lewis W. Cleveland, Skaneateles. The first premium, $10, awarded E. Davis, Watertown, Jefferson county; the second, $8, W. G. Brainerd, Rome, Oneida county; the third, $5, Samuel Phillips, Onondaga; the fourth, Transactions, H. D. Preston, Elbridge; and the same to Sam'l Lyderman, Geneva; Enoch Marks, Fairmont; O. Howland, Cayuga; Thomas Miller, Homer; J. F. Moschell, Clay; Wm. Willett, Onondaga; Rich'd Taylor, Mottville; Thomas Mix, Auburn; N. Kniffen, Scipio; John Becker, Parish, Os wego; J. Potter, Onondaga Hill; J. T. Hill, Lenox; Wm. Heming, Onondaga; John Morris, Onondaga. The plowing, in the opinion of the judges, as well as of the numerous spectators present, was pronounced the best which has ever been performed at our State Fairs. The ground was very dry and hard, yet the work was most thoroughly performed, with great neatness and perfection; showing not only the skill of the plowmen, but the superiority of the plows used It is believed, that in no branch of farm labor, has more improvement been made; and every intelligent farmer is satisfi ed, that unless this important branch of farm labor is properly performed, he cannot expect to succeed as he should in his crops. It is hoped that the Society will increase its premiums, and require the kind of plows used to be entered by each competitor, as well as the name of the plowman; and that premiums be awarded to the plowman, as well as to the person who enters for competition. PLOWS. Judges.-A. Van Bergen, Coxsackie; Wm. Buel, Rochester; Sanford Howard, Albany. The premium, diploma and $8, was awarded to E. J. Smith, Delhi, Delaware county, for best side hill plow; diploma and $5 to A. A. Sweet, Pompey, for best roller for general use: a valuable roller, which excited much interest. The number of plows entered for trial were 56, by 22 competitors. From the great number of persons in attendance at the Fair at Syracuse, it was found impracticable to have such a test of plows as was required by the Society and desired by the competitors. The judges, with the approbation of the President of the Society, and also of the competitors generally, accepted of an invitation tendered by the officers of the Oneida County Agricultural Society, and adjourned the trial to the Oneida County Fair, to be held on the 25th September, at Hampton. Mr. Sanford Howard was the only member of the committee who attended (the other members having been prevented by unforeseen engagements from being present.) Mr. Howard laid the matter before the competitors, ten of whom were present, and with their approbation the trial was abandoned, much to the regret and disappointment of the public. (The Executive Committee feel the importance of a thorough trial of plows, and in order that the same may be obtained, they would suggest to their successors the propriety of selecting a week in the month of June for the trial. By this method, proper regulations to govern the trial being adopted, the value of the different plows in use, for the various soils and crops, may be ascertained with reasonable certainty, and great good result to the agricultural interest. By selecting this season of the year, the judges will have ample time to conduct their examination, until each competitor is satisfied, and the results of the trial when published, will, after such a trial, be for more likely to secure the confidence of the public, than a hundred trials made at the Annual Fairs. DAIRY, BUTTER-40 samples. Entries 12, by girls under 21 years. Judges. Joseph Cary, Albany; Ebenezer Robbins, Lee; E. R. Evans, Marcy. For best lot from 5 cows in 30 days. Nelson Van Ness, of Mayville, Chautauque county, made 221 lbs.; and John Holbert, of Chemung, 264 lbs. The statement of Mr. Holbert having been mislaid, was not before the judges, and they awarded the first premium, of $25, to Mr. Van Ness. The Executive Committee, on examining the statement, and the judges having certified as to the superior character of the butter of Mr. Holbert, award him the same premium of $25, which he would have received from the judges had his statement been before them. Statement, of John Holbert, Chemung; 5 cows, native breed, with slight mixture of Durham; fed on grass only, and owned previous to first February, 1849. Statement as to weight, milk and butter, and verified by the affidavits of Edmond Brown and Mary O'Grady, and by Mr. Holbert: Method of manufacture, (vide Trans. 1848, page 271. Salt used, Turk's Island and sack salt.) 3 Chemung, May 23d, 1849. Began to weigh the milk and butter of five cows: 1st 184 lbs. of milk, E of butter. 16, .... June 21st, 122 lbs. of milk, made 9 lbs. of butter. Statement of Nelson Van Ness, Mayville, Chautauque, verified by certificates of Ann Van Ness, Marcus Van Ness, and Lydia A. Van Ness, that the rules of the Society had been complied with, and 221 lbs. of butter made in 30 successive days. Mr. Van Ness certifies that their statement is correct, and that the five cows above mentioned were owned by him one year previous to the time of trial, and that they were the common native breed of cows, and were fed with nothing but pasture during the whole of the trial, (no grain slops, nor roots, nor corn stalks, were fed.) Weighed the milk on the 11th of June, Again, on the 25th,.... Weighed last, the 2d July,.. ... 185 lbs. 205 190 167 747 lbs. Weight for four days,.. The milk was set in tin pans, and sat from 36 to 48 hours, till it soured, then skimmed and churned every day, the butter put into the worker, till the butter-milk was freed from the butter, then salted with 1 oz. of salt to the pound of butter, then put into a bowl covered so as to exclude the air from it, and set in a cool place till the next day, then put into the butter worker and worked till sufficiently dry, then packed into the tubs, all of the time taking care to keep it from the air as much as possible. The above cows were milked three times a day; milk weighed about eight pounds to the gallon; the latter part of the trial the weather became hot and dry, and reduced the amount of milk and butter; salt used from the Pacific Rock Salt Company. For the best 25 lbs., made in June, $10, awarded John Shattuck," Norwich, Chenango county; second, $5, John F. Clark, Onondaga ;" third, Transactions, Abram Adams, Preble, Cortland county. John Shattuck's statement.-Keeps twenty cows. The milk is strained in tin pans as soon as drawn, and kept on racks in the milk room, until the cream is removed, which is always done in hot weather before any |