much less than on the previous year. Still, the exhibition was as good as could be reasonably expected, under those circumstances, and in some respects was superior to any of our county fairs which had preceded it.

The first day was devoted to the exhibition of farm stock. The second to the exhibition of domestic manufactures, farm implements, and the products of the dairy. A short time was also occupied in listening to an excellent address from E. T. Hayden, Esq., a practical mechanic of our county. In the forenoon of the third day, a spirited and well contested plowing match was held between eighteen competitors, two of whom were lads under the age of sixteen years. In the afternoon, a very able address was delivered by Professor R. K. Sanford, of Wyoming to a large and attentive audience; after which, the officers of the society for the year 1850 were elected, consisting of the gentlemen whose names follow: for president, E. Marks, Camillus; 1st vice-president, C. Moses, Marcellus; 2d vice-president, J. Hansenfrats, De Witt; corresponding secretary, D. L. Pickard, Camillus ; recording secretary, E. H. Babcock, Syracuse; treasurer, L. W. Hall, Syracuse. Also an executive committee, consisting of one member from each town in the county and ward in the city.

At a meeting of the executive board, subsequently held, premiums were awarded for 297 bushels of carrots, raised on one-fourth of an acre; also, for 327 bushels of beets, on a like quantity of land. Other crops of grain and roots were offered for premium; but as the persons who applied had not complied with the regulations of the society, none were awarded.

The receipts for the past year, together with an unexpended balance of the previous year, were,....

Amount of premiums and expenses,

Leaving a balance of,........

$772 64

733 65

38 99

E. MARKS, President.

Fairmount, Dec. 31, 1849.

AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL AND EXPERIMENTAL FARM.

At a meeting of the executive board of the Onondaga County Agricultural Society, held at Rust's Hotel, in Syracuse, Feb. 6th, 1850, a committee appointed for the purpose, consisting of T. C. Cheney of Syracuse, James M. Ellis of Onondaga, and Sidney Smith of Spafford, reported the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted: Whereas, a select committee have introduced into the Assembly of this State a proposition to purchase a farm of 600 acres, for the purpose of establishing thereon a model scientific experimental school;

Resolved, That this society cordially approve of the plan proposed by the aforesaid committee, believing that the establishment of such an institution would not only tend to the advancement of the science of Agriculture generally, and to the more rapid development of the native resources of the State, but also that its benefits would extend, directly or indirectly, to all classes in the community.

Resolved, That in our opinion it would be advisable to afford to the pupils in such an institution the facilities for gaining a practical knowledge of the general principles of mechanics, engineering, architecture, surveying, &c., &c., by providing suitable apparatus, teachers, &c.

Resolved, That we recommend to the members of the Legislature from this county that they use their best exertions to procure the passage of an act providing for the purchase of a suitable location and the establishment of such an institution.

Resolved, That the above resolutions be printed in the papers of this county, and a copy forwarded to our Senator and Representatives in the Assembly. ENOCH MARKS, President.

E. H. BABCOCK, Recording Secretary.

ONTARIO.

The Annual Exhibition of the society was held at Canandaigua, on the 2d and 3d of October. Many more were in attendance than usual. The exhibition of cattle, horses, swine, sheep, and poultry, was remarkably good, exhibiting in their respective classes, attention to improvement, which was eminently successful. Some of the horses were of peculiar excellence, showing that this noble animal is not neglected, but is being improved from the best stock that can be procured. The second day, devoted particularly to the exhibition of domestic manufactures, fruits, dairy products, &c., was very fully attended. The court house, where the exhibition was held, was crowded during the day, and from the reports of the various committees, the quality of the articles exhibited, was of the highest order. An address was delivered in the afternoon, by T. D. Burrell, of Geneva, full of sound, practical instruction, which was very favorably received, and a copy solicited for publication. Hon. John Greig, President, and Judge Phelps, discussed the subject of an agricultural school and experimental farm, under the patronage of the State, which excited much interest, and the evident approbation of the entire assembly.

A resolution was adopted, tendering the thanks of the society to John Delafield, Esq., for a sample of tiles sent by him for exhibition. [Assembly, No. 175.]

34

Officers elected for 1850.-John Greig, President; Elias Cost, Joseph Fellows, Joel S. Hart, William H. Lamport, Hiram Ashley, Vice Presidents; Oliver Phelps, Corresponding Secretary; William W. Gorham, Recording Secretary; Henry K. Sanger, Treasurer.

Butter-George Rice, of East Bloomfield, made 13 lbs, 14 oz. butter per week from his native cow, 9 years old, she gave about 26 quarts

of milk per day.

Grain Crops: Wheat.-Henry W. Wilson, Canandaigua, raised on one acre and 133 rods, 86 bushels, 43 lbs., being at the rate of 47 bushels 18 lbs. per acre, Soules Variety; two bushels seed to the acre, plowed green sward four times, 15 loads leached ashes, crop sowed 7th September. Uriah Beach, East Bloomfield, 47 bushels Slbs. per acre; land under cultivation 50 years; had been in grass five years; mowed in July, plowed immediately after, once only, harrowed until completely mellow, drilled in seed 9th September, two bushels per acre, no plaster or manure used about it, Soules variety. John Rankin, Canandaigua, at the rate of 41 bushels, 48 lbs. per acre, on four acres 68 rods, Soules variety.

Barley.-E. M. Bradley, East Bloomfield, 101 bushels on 2 acres. Orin Smith, Farmington, on 3 acres, 148 bushels, 27 lbs, 461 bushels per acre.

Oats.-E. M. Bradley, East Bloomfield, 327 bushels, 12 lbs., on 4 acres, at the rate of 78 bushels, 3 lbs. per acre. George Rice, East Bloomfield, 78 bushels, 12 lbs. per acre.

Roots: Carrots.-Ira C. Williams, Naples, at the rate of 1486 bushels per acre; D. S. Baker, West Bloomfield, at the rate of 1056 bushels per acre; Elisha M. Bradley, East Bloomfield, at the rate of 728 bush. els per acre.

MR. RANKIN'S STATEMENT.

We give the substance of the statement of Mr. Rankin, as to the method of cultivating his crop of wheat, it being more full than the other statements. It will be seen that all the competitors sowed the Soules variety of wheat, which is at present, one of the most popular varieties, and is much approved by millers. Mr. Rankin's farm is in the town of Canandaigua. Four acres 68 rods of wheat. Soil, a clay loam, having a sub-soil freely pervious to water. It had been five years in pasture; was plowed in the fall, 1847, dragged and cross-plowed in June, 1848, dragged and plowed in July. In the beginning of September, the manure was spread on the surface, and plowed under in lands of eighteen feet wide. On the 18th of September, the whole piece was sown with 8 bushels Soules wheat. The manure consisted of 80 loads rough straw yard manure, thrown into a heap, with 20 loads from the

per acre.

pig pen of a slaughter house, rotted together for some months. Cradled 10th July, 1849. Cost of putting in the crop, was $99.50, about $22, Cost of manuring $58.50, ought to be distributed over not less than four years. The amount raised 18513 bushels, by weight, (60 lbs. to the bushel.) It measured 1827 bushels.

ORANGE.

The Annual Fair of the Orange County Agricultural Society for 1849, was held at Goshen on the 26th and 27th of September. The attendance of spectators was very great. The distinguished Agricultural missionary, Mr. Solon Robinson, of Indiana, was among the number.

The exhibition of cattle, horses, and other animals, and of agricultural implements it is believed, equalled, if it did not exceed, that of any previous year. Of agricultural products generally, the exhibition was creditable. The season had been unfavorable for fruits, yet several beautiful specimens were exhibited. Many articles of domestic industry, of surpassing beauty and skill in the manufacture, were also shown, and it is gratifying to state that the fair contributors were present, in person, to witness the admiration bestowed on the attractive specimens of their handiwork.

The plowing match took place on the second day, was witnessed by very many spectators, and was contested with great spirit. Immediately afterward the annual address was delivered, at the Court-house, by the President; reports of committees were read, and premiums awarded.

The following gentlemen were elected officers for the ensuing year: President, Allen M. Sherman, Newburgh; sixteen Vice Presidents and five Executive Committee; Treasurer, Charles Downing, Newburgh; Recording Secretary, Charles Borland, jr., Montgomery; Corresponding Secretary, Hamilton Morrison, Montgomery.

A single remark in reference to the agricultural fairs of Orange county. They are as interesting and as spirited, it is believed, as the fairs generally, in other counties; but are by no means to be received as the proper evidence of the agricultural skill and prosperity of the county. Our fairs may not rank in the highest grade, but there can be no doubt that our county is eminently prosperous, and constantly improving in its agricultural character and resources.

D

ecember, 1849.

ROBERT DENNISTON, Pres.

ORLEANS.

The Annual Fair and cattle show for this county was held at the village of Albion, on the 27th and 28th days of September. The weather was unusually pleasant, the roads were in fine order; our farmers had generally got well through with the hurry of early fall husbandry, and the result was, a much larger attendance on both days of the fair than upon any previous occasion. At an early hour on Thursday the streets and public grounds of the village were thronged with people, to an extent hardly ever before witnessed in our village, and before noon it was a difficult matter to find a place for the sole of one's foot. The September term of the Orleans county court being then held, the Albion Academy, with its large halls and spacious pleasure grounds, was thrown open for the accommodation of the society. The assembly room was used as a place of exhibition for household manufactures and horticultural specimens, and some of the other rooms in the building were assigned to the committees, but vast numbers of ladies and gentlemen were compelled to remain in the open air. Never, since the organization of the society, has it seemed to have so firm and deep a hold of the sympathies and good wishes of the farmers of our county, and it has never been in a situation so promising as the present year. Indeed there has been. marked and decisive progress every year since the first fair was held, when a mere handful of energetic men, impelled by a noble spirit of enterprise and an ardent desire to advance the permanent interests of agriculture in this little county, which, though among the smallest in the Empire State in territory, is second to none of her sisters in respect to the beauty of its location and topography, the healthfulness and equability of its temperature, the fertility of its soil, and the sturdy industry and enterprize of its farmers. There has been, since eighteen hundred and forty-one, a constant and manifest advancement of our society, in all of its interests, and the annual fair has already become just what its founders intended it should be-the great holiday of the year, a day when the tillers of the soil meet together with their families to exhibit and compare the productions of their industry and skill, and to rejoice over the fruits of their fertile fields.

On the first day was held the exhibition, and there was a fine show of horses, cattle, sheep and swine, together with household manufactures and the productions of the dairy, including many fancy articles of rare excellence and beauty, as well as a vast number and variety of farming implements, with specimens of unusual merit, brought in by our