forward to, with immense interest. It was at one time feared, that as they recurred in successive years, the interest in them would diminish; but the reverse has been most peculiarly observable, in regard to all our exhibitions. Each succeeding year, largely increases the number of exhibitors, as well as the number in attendance. The occasion is now one which is longed for by the people, not from the State alone, but by the Union, and the British Provinces, and it is a matter of congratulation, that this is so, evidencing, most strongly as it does, the strong hold which these great exhibitions of the improvements of our age have upon the affections of the people.

It is this encouragement which the Society receives from the people, that encourages them to devote their entire energies, to accomplish the most they can for the people; and they can but reassure the citizens of our State, that so far as they are concerned, no efforts shall be relaxed, no means left untried, that have a reasonable prospect of making these exhibitions more and more worthy of the confidence and patronage of our whole country.

The farmers of the State of New-York, have never assembled in greater numbers, or under more gratifying circumstances, than attended the week of their Annual Fair, so pleasantly and satis factorily held at Rochester.

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The display of cattle exceeded in number and excellence all preceding exhibitions; the same remark is true as to the horses sheep and swine. The improvement in farm implements, tools and machinery, was decided, and their number larger than at any previous exhibition, covering in quantity several acres of the fair grounds. Farm products evidenced an increased attention among farmers to the principles of their profession; and though the Society may congratulate its members upon its continued successful efforts, yet it must not be forgotten, that improvement is but now beginning to shed its influences and benefits upon the people; that renewed and strenuous efforts must be made to extend these influences; to secure the largest amount of good to the greatest number of indivi. duals...

It is reasonably estimated that not less than 100,000 persons visited Rochester and the fair grounds during the exhibition week, and it is found that the receipts of the Society are increased beyond any former year-presenting now, a limited, though perhaps sufficient security against failure hereafter, and a hope also that the premium list may, to some extent be increased or enlarged, in accordance with the great objects of agricultural improvement.

The receipts in 1850 amounted to

in 1851 66

$10,465 00

11,954 25

The entries at the business office in 1851 were nearly as follows: Class A, 482 entries, comprising 2,014 head of cattle, horses, sheep, swine and poultry.

B, 283 entries of grain and other farm products, agricultural implements, machinery, vegetables, &c.

C, 358 entries of domestic manufactures, flowers, fruits, &c. D, 400 entries of stoves, furnaces, hardware, silverware, jewelry, cutlery, machinery tools, &c., &c.

In regard to the display of Agricultural Implements, it is not too much to say, that in respect to the variety of articles, and the extent of the competition, it was superior to any exhibition ever before had in this country. The advance which has been made in this department, is one of the most marked indications of the improvements which are taking place in the agricultural class itself, in all the operations connected with their profession. Who can doubt, that improved implements indicate improved husbandry, increased crops-as the land is more thoroughly cultivated, the crops are better-and thus the farmer increases in wealth, while it is undoubtedly true, that in very many instances, his expenses are diminished.

It has ever been one of the most interesting features of our annual exhibitions that the Chief magistrate of the State, and other State officers, have been present to witness the success of the far[Ag. Trans., 1852.]

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mers and mechanics, as exhibited before the entire population. His Excellency Gov. Hunt, was present on this occasion, deeply interested in all that was presented before him, and gratified to meet on this joyous occasion so many of the farmers of New-York, who were equally pleased at the presence of the respected Chief Magistrate of the State among them. As in former years large numbers of the representatives of the people were present; many of them officiating as judges at the exhibition, and all warmly appreciating the contributions of the farmers and mechanics of this State, presented before them.

The Society was favored on this occasion with the attendance of Lord ELGIN, Governor General of the British Provinces. His Excellency, deeply interested in the cause of Agriculture, familiar with all the improvements in Great Britain, and particularly in those of Scotland, than whose farmers none more enterprizing and successful can be found in the world, devoted himself assiduously to the examination of the exhibition in all its departments, and expressed himself in the highest degree gratified with the display made by the farmers and mechanics of New-York. It was not among the least of the pleasant circumstances connected with the visit of his Excellency to the show ground, that he was permitted to witness some of the finest cattle and sheep on exhibition from Upper Canada, and to find his own countrymen there, giving him a most cordial welcome to our great exhibition, to whose interest many of the enterprizing farmers of Canada have for many years largely contributed. The Governor General was attended by the. gentlemen of his staff who were highly gratified with the exhibition. It was, to the officers of the Society, a matter of deep regret that his Excellency, on account of another engagement, was under the necessity of leaving before the final close of the exhibition.

His Excellency, ex President Tyler was also in attendance, interested as he ever has been in the advancement of the great cause of agriculture. There were in attendance many distinguished men of our country, and the officers of the State Agricultural

Societies of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan, the Provincial Societies of Canada, and delegates from County Societies, and gentlemen from nearly every State in the Union.

His Excellency, Governor Wright, of Indiana, was present and devoted himself most thoroughly to the whole exhibition in all its details, making himself familiar with every thing appertaining to it, desirous to prepare himself fully to carry out the great improvements which were presented before him, in the flourishing State over which he had been called to officiate, as their Chief Magistrate.

It was a matter of regret that His Excellency, the President of the United States, himself, a son of New-York, and ever devoted to her welfare and to her advancement, could not be present. He expressed to the President of the Society, his regret, that his public duties and previous engagements, prevented his acceptance of the invitation extended to him. His annual Message, since delivered, in which the importance of Agriculture, and the necessity of its being given a prominent place among the subjects which receive attention from Congress, affords the best evidence that could be given, of his desire to see this great interest prosper and occupy the position which, from.its importance in our country, and its best interests, it is so preeminently entitled to.

The farmers of Western New-York, as they had promised the Society, and their promises are ever sure to be fulfilled, presented, so far as they were concerned, one of the finest displays of stock and articles of domestic industry, which has been shown in this State. Nor is it to be disguised, that among the great attractions of the show, were the contributions of stock, implements, and machinery, and domestic manufactures, from Central and Eastern New-York-thus showing, what every returning exhibition more clearly does, that this is emphatically an exhibition of the Empire State, and that such it may ever continue to be, is the ardent desire of every sincere friend, to the advancement of the great cause of Agricultural Improvement.

The arrangements of the Fair Grounds, under the direction of the President of the Society, aided by the citizens of Rochester, were most admirable-many very marked and valuable improvements having been introduced not before seen at the exhibitions. The crowd in attendance exceeded all former occasions, and although an immense breadth of ground was enclosed, every part of it was fully occupied, at times, and it was often difficult to thread one's way through the great throng of people, all intent on seeing the whole exhibition, and often, by their very eagerness preventing the accomplishment of what they most desired. But it is most evident that unless we have the people in great numbers, they will not be satisfied with the show-and although, for the time, they speak of the crowd as so great that they will not again attend, yet, after they return to their homes, it is one of the great events of their lives, and they refer with the deepest interest, to the fact that they were present at the Great Fair, the greatest ever held-and if spared another year, again will they be found in attendance. Such is human nature-and well that it is so-for in this desire to be present, on this great occasion, arises the necessity of making it an occasion suited to their expectations.

We have not time or space to particularise all that was attractive in the Exhibition. The Floral Tent, however, under the charge of L. A. Ward, Esq., and arranged by the gentlemen and ladies of Rochester, presented a scene of attraction which has never been excelled in this State. It continued to be thronged by admiring thousands during the whole Far-alike admiring the display of fruits and flowers, and the beauty of the arrangement of the tents.

The display of Fruits was such as to do credit to Western NewYork, which, as a fruit-growing region, it may without doubt be affirmed, equals, if it does not excel, any other portion of our country.

In 1843, the Society held (at that time) one of its most successful fairs at Rochester. The people then came in numbers, far sur