LEWIS.

The Fair was held at Turin, 20th and 21st September. The weath er was exceedingly fine for such an occasion-the sky clear and just of that temperature which makes September a charming month. It was attended by a very large concourse of people, who manifested much interest on the occasion.

The cattle on exhibition were superior in number and quality to the exhibition of any previous year, and showed conclusively in connection with the other articles presented an increased interest in the improvement of agriculture. It is to be hoped that hereafter there will be a full representation both of manufactures of various kinds and of the products of the county.

The address before the society which secured the undivided attention of a large audience was delivered by Hon. Charles E. Clarke, of Jefferson county. The spirit of deep inquiry, of sound practical observation and judgment, the scientific nature of the researches, the timeliness of the suggestions, the beauty of illustration, the wit and sarcasm which occasionally sparkled like dewy flowers among more ordinary productions, and the judicious and sound observations in regard to home industry, all contributed to make this a truly great agricultural address, one every way honorable to the speaker and the society.

At the annual meeting held 20th December, premiums were awarded on field crops. Indian corn, S. D. Mason, 821 bushels per acre. The following officers were elected for the year Hiram Mills, President, Lowville; Harrison Blodget, N. J. Beach, Samuel Brinkerhoff, John Benedict, Major Coe, E. A. Brown, Vice Presidents; S. P. Mills, Recording Secretary; Harrison Barnes, Corresponding Secretary; Moses Smith, Treasurer, and an Executive Committee of five.

S. W. NORTHROP, Secretary.

LIVINGSTON.

The Annual cattle show and Fair of the Agricultural Society of this county was held at Geneseo on the 4th and 5th days of September. The weather was pleasant, and quite early in the morning of the first day and until noon, the avenues leading to the show ground were crowded not only by the numerous visitors to the fair, but by a large

number of domestic animals owned by the farmers of the county, and brought up for exhibition at this annual agricultural fair. The prejudice against agricultural societies which for years past has troubled many of our farmers, seems to have nearly subsided. The marked improvement in the farm stock of our county, since the formation of the agricultural society, is so convincing that it is now generally conceded that the objects of the society are worthy of attention, and should receive countenance and support. A very laudable ambition to have the credit of owning and exhibiting the best animals seems to prevail, and is extending into all ranks and classes of our agricultural community. The improvement in agricultural products is not the only benefit derived from our annual fairs. At these gatherings, husbands and wives, sons and daughters, rich and poor, from all parts of the county, meet on common ground, where new acquaintances are formed and much valuable information gathered from the free and cheerful interchange of views on matters connected with the various objects of the society.

The two days devoted to the annual fair have indeed become the great holidays of the year, and for weeks before the time arrives, thousands are looking forward to it with an anxiety which eight years ago could not have been anticipated except by those who had witnessed the effect of similar proceedings elsewhere. From the formation of our society up to the present year, there has been a steady increase in the number of animals annually exhibited and an improvement, in the quality of the various kinds of farm stock exhibited which reflects much credit on the farmers of our county.

At the fair in 1848, the number of cattle exhibited was 172. At the late fair 293 head of beautiful cattle were on the ground, showing an increase over the number exhibited last year of 121. To speak of the fine forms and excellent qualities of a portion of these animals, and omit to give a particular account of another portion, would seem to reflect discredit on the latter portion, which would be improper. Justice to all concerned would seem to require that the whole lot of cattle on the ground be spoken of as a herd of unusual beauty and excellence. Durhams were the most numerous and are esteemed more highly by the farmers of this county than any other breed. Devons, Herefords and natives were on the ground, many of which attracted particular at

tention.

The exhibition of horses was good, 82 in all. There were nine pairs of matched horses, all valuable. If any among them deserve particular notice it is a pair of bay horses owned by Mr. H. A. Wilmerding. They were much admired and drew the highest premium. The num

It

ber of sheep, though not large, was highly creditable to the wool growers of the county. Charles Colt, of Geneseo, had on the ground a pen of 20 Saxony ewes, which were admired by all who saw them was generally admitted that for fineness of wool, size and form of the animals, all taken into account, their equal had never been seen in western New-York. The swine at the fair, as well as those which may be seen at the yards of most of our farmers in this county, clearly show that this department has not been entirely overlooked. Many among us seem to have come to the conclusion that it costs no more to keep and fatten a good hog than a poor one.

There was almost a season, consequently Articles of domestic

The ladies' department on the second day was attended under a large tent procured for the occasion. This part of our annual fair furnished, as usual, many attractions, and to this part of our exhibition are we to a a considerable extent indebted for the very numerous collection of people who were present, and who on all such occasions seem delighted with the great variety of articles to be seen as well as with one another. On account of the extreme drought of the past summer, the exhibition of flowers, though quite creditable to the ladies, was not what it would have been under more favorable circumstances failure of peaches and apples in the county this the exhibition of fruit was somewhat limited. manufacture; various specimens of needlework, evidencing ingenuity and taste; horticultural productions, very fine, though not very numerous. Several specimens of wine made from grapes raised in the town of York, were exhibited. Mr. McDonald and Mr. Warren, the manufacturers of the wine, are entitled to much credit for the attention they have given the subject, and for the success which has attended their efforts. The wine which they exhibited at our fair shows conclusively, that we may have good wine without sending out of our county for it. Articles of fancy and implements of various kinds showing mechanical ingenuity and skill were to be seen in great abundance.

A plowing match was held on the second day of the fair, under the superintendence of Mr. Wm. J. Hamilton, who was appointed for that purpose. Other duties so fully occupied my time that I was not able to visit the plow-field and therefore cannot give any particulars of the trial.

The crop of wheat, which is the great leading article of produce in this county, was a full average crop, the quality fair, though not quite equal to last year. The price of wheat since the last harvest has varied from eight to nine shillings. Corn, oats, and barley, light, owing principally to the long continued drought of the past summer; the crop

of hay, fair; potatoes less than an average crop, those planted early small, in consequence of the dry summer, those planted late were brought forward by the fall rains and produced well. At the usual time of digging potatoes the crop was found to be uniformly sound and healthy, and I have heard of but two instances since where there were signs of disease.

The amount of cash awarded as premiums at the fair was $212.

The number of books on hand when our premium list for the year was made out, was as follows, viz:

The following statement relative to funds was received from Charles Colt, Jun., treasurer of the society, 9th October, 1849:

$31 12

255 00

$286 12

$21 25

16.00

83 00

$120 25

$165 87

The following is a list of the names of the officers of the society for the ensuing year, viz: Charles H. Carroll, President; Benjamin F. Angel, Secretary; Charles Colt, Jun., Treasurer.

JEDEDIAH HORSFORD, President.

Moscow, 14th December, 1849.

MADISON.

Officers for 1850.-President, Lewis Raynor, of Cazenovia; Vice Presidents, Elijah Morse, of Eaton, David Maine, of De Ruyter, Sanford P. Chapman, of Lenox; Corresponding Secretary, Thomas A. Clark, of Chittenango; Recording Secretary, Charles D. Miller, of Peterboro; Treasurer, Alpheus Morse, of Eaton.

The Madison County Agricultural Society has closed its eighth year under circumstances which give a gratifying assurance of past usefulness, and warrants the expectation that its future action may still farther promote the prosperity of the section of country through which its organization extends.

The Fair was held at Morrisville on the 19th and 20th of September, and was attended by a greater number of visitors than ever before; forming an assembly such as is rarely seen in a country village, remote from great thoroughfares. One of the most attractive features of these annual gatherings is the promotion and renewal of friendly intercourse and acquaintance among those whose occupation so generally withdraws them from society. The farmer, who for months scarcely passes the limits of his estate, in some secluded valley or retired hillside, finds a double advantage in attending the county fair; extending his circle of acquaintance, while at the same time he gains information of the most practical and useful kind.

While our fairs have been productive of the best results in this way, they have well accomplished their main purpose, of developing and advancing the practical husbandry of the county. There are among our farmers none who follow their pursuit merely for amusement and occupation; and the Agriculture of Madison county is conducted strictly with a view to substantial profit, and for the main object of supporting and enriching the proprietor of the land, who almost universally bestows his own personal labor on his fields. For this reason, the introduction of expensive improvements has been cautiously undertaken, and only to that extent which has promised profitable returns in the present condition of the country. The improvement in stock has therefore been rather by a gradual advance in general quality, than by the introduction of a few very perfect animals.

The same reasons have prevented any very expensive undertakings in the way of subsoiling, thorough draining, and similar practices, and have not encouraged the erection of farm buildings of the most complete and systematic arrangement. Still, the advance in all these re