in the production of fine stock, but a spirit is awakened upon the subject that will not be suffered to slumber until there is an entire change in the stock-growing interests of the county. Many excellent cattle are driven into this county from the western part of this State and Ohio, and are fed for New-York market; some of which were exhibited that reflected much credit upon those that engaged in that branch of husbandry. Some fine specimens were exhibited by Mr. Wilcox, of Norwich; Juliand, of Greene; and Ross, of Preston. A fine Short-horn bull was exhibited by W. H. Amsbry, of Otselic; he was got by Meteor, now as formerly owned by George Vail, Esq., of Troy; we may look with confidence for an improvement in the stock of his neighborhood.

A pure bred Devon bull, and two cows with their calves were exhibited by Mr. Miner, of Guilford, that attracted considerable attention; they were fine animals and the cows with their calves were sold on the ground, (being myself the purchaser,) for prices that well remunerate for the raising of blood stock. Splendid specimens of sheep were on the ground, among which were a pair of French merinoes, owned by Messrs. Davis, of Sherburne, and purchased of Mr. Bingham, of Vermont. Two buck lambs of the same breed were exhibited by Mr. Hakes, of Pitcher, and bred by J. A. Taintor of Hartford, Connecticut. The introduction of such animals as the above, though few in number, cannot fail of doing much for the improvement of the stock of our county. The display of horses and colts was good. Many rare specimens of mechanism were exhibited, which show most conclusively that the farmers and mechanics of Chenango county go hand in hand for improvement. Having taken a general view of the field, let us direct our attention to the department under the special supervision of the ladies. The court-house having been tastefully decorated by the ladies of Norwich and vicinity for the occasion was the center of attraction. It was literally filled with the fair, and on all sides were exhibited fine specimens of their handy work, and to them are we indebted for a great portion of the interest excited at our fairs. The show of fruits and vegetables exceeded any former exhibition. The show of the products of the dairy

was quite limited, considering the importance of the dairy interests of the county, although very fine samples of cheese were exhibited.

The morning of the second day was spent in examining the numerous articles presented for exhibition, and preparing reports for the award of premiums. At one o'clock P. M., we were summoned to the Baptist church, where a large and intelligent audience listened to an able address delivered by the Hon. Henry Bennett of our county, at the close of which, the award of premiums was announced, and the multitude dispersed, deeply impressed with the salutary influence our agricultural society and our annual fairs are exerting upon the agricultural and mechanical interests of the county.

The receipts and disbursements of the society are as follows: Cash on hand,....

$66 95

The Annual Meeting of the society was held on the 6th inst., and the following premiums were awarded on field crops:

George Davis, best acre wheat, 30 bushels.

Officers for 1852.-Calvin Cole, of Oxford, President; James H. Smith of Norwich, Secretary; Jonathan Wells, of Norwich, Treasurer; seven Vice-Presidents, and a manager from each town in the county.

The following report, by J. W. Collins, is in answer to the circular issued by the President of the State Society:

In relation to Chenango county, it is not strictly a dairy, grain, or wool growing county; different portions of the county being well adapted to each of the above.

1. I consider butter and cheese to be the chief products of the county. An effort was made by the officers of our society in 1849, to ascertain the quantity of butter and cheese that was sent to market, and the result was, as near as could be ascertained, 2,185,476 lbs. of butter, and 1,150,284 lbs. of cheese, without making any estimate of the amount consumed in the county; and the last year will exhibit a large increase upon the above.

2. The number of acres occupied iu its production, would be difficult to state. Chenango dairies have obtained some celebrity in market, and I think that a large portion will rank with the first. Yet I must in honesty say that a considerable proportion sent to market is of an inferior quality.

3. The condition of other important crops. The valley of the Chenango is well adapted to the cultivation of corn, and much is raised. Barley and oats flourish well, and those crops are gererally good throughout the entire extent of the county. Very little wheat is produced, principally spring wheat. The winter wheat does very well in the valley.

4. Cannot answer as to increased number of acres under tillage 5. Increase of animal stock. Very little attention has been paid to the improvement of breeds until within the last three years, which have exhibited a marked improvement in the breeds, and more interest is felt at the present time than at any preceding. Some fine Short-horns have been introduced into the county. I have been engaged for the last two years in rearing a herd of Devons, and have some fine animals on hand. Devon bulls are kept in different parts of the county, but I know of no full-bred cows, except those in my possession. I have also a pure bred Shorthorn cow, bred in Rensselaer county, from which I am getting some good stock. The watchword seems to be, onward. Woolgrowing has formerly been a prominent business in our county, but the low prices of wool, and the foot-rot have pretty much exterminated the sheep from our farms, but it is receiving a new im

pulse. Some valuable sheep of the French and Spanish merinoes, have recently been introduced, and there seems to be a growing interest in the rearing of the improved breeds of stock of all descriptions.

6. With few honorable exceptions, there is almost an entire absence of scientific attention to cultivation. Yet I think a star is rising that will diffuse its light over the hills and through the valleys of Chenango county.

7. The value of farms is pretty much stationary.

CLINTON.

REPORT. JONATHAN BATTEY, PRESIDENT.

The undersigned, in presenting this, the tenth annual report from the Agricultural Society of Clinton county, feels highly gratified in being able to state that a steady advance in the improvement of our agricultural interest is from year to year evidently going forward. This is evinced, not only by the increased and annually increasing interest in our agricultural fairs, but by the general improvement in the appearance of farms, a gradual increase in the average of crops, a greater attention to improvement in breeding and the management of stock, the introduction of improved farm implements, increased attention to the cultivation of choice fruit; in short, by improvement visible in every department of husbandry, in everything connected with the cultivation of the soil.

That all the credit of producing these results is due to this Society is not claimed. The influence of the State Society, through its Fairs and its annual volume of Transactions upon the agricultural interests of this county, has undoubtedly been salutary and beneficial in the highest degree; yet without a county Society to bring its influence to bear upon the minds of our agricultural population, that influence must have been comparatively inoperative.

The time was, when the utility of agricultural associations was doubted, nay when, with "book farming," they were denounced

as a public nuisance, when indeed some of our farmers went so far in their opposition to these societies, as to style the whole system one of "legalized gambling." But that time has happily gone by. The utility of associated action in aid of agricultural improvement, as of improvement in other industrial pursuits, has with us come to be universally conceded. Even those who were once loudest in declaiming against such institutions, are now either actively enlisted in their support, or, if too proud to "own up," are yet silently and unmistakeably betraying their conviction, by their readiness to attend the annual fairs and to bring their families along with them, and by their attentive and studied examination of the varied products of skill and improvement which are thus brought together.

The Clinton county Agricultural Society has now been organized ten years. During the first seven years of its existence, its progress was by no means very flattering Its members were few in number, and its pecuniary means necessarily limited; and the array of prejudice and opposition it had to encounter, was really so formidable, that it had about as much to do as it could well accomplish, to keep up its organization; and hence, during the early stages of its career, no very striking traces of its movements were left, to mark its progress. It was, however, even then fulfiling an important mission. By its comparatively feeble efforts, it was silently sowing the seed, from which it is now beginning to reap a harvest of golden fruits.

In the year 1849, a project was started, having in view the establishment of the Society upon a more permanent basis. The plan proposed, contemplated the erection of permanent show grounds for the accommodation of its fairs. For this purpose an appeal to the liberality of our citizens for the requisite means, became necessary. The appeal was made, with a result highly successful; and before the time appointed for holding its annual fair for that year, the Society became possessed of a beautiful site, containing nearly eight acres of ground, conveniently located in the immediate vicinity of the flourishing village of Keeseville, substantially