precision. From 1,904 cows, were produced 456,180 lbs. of cheese, 154,208 lbs. of butter, being upon an average 240 lbs. of cheese and 81 lbs. of butter from each cow.

There is doubtless an increase of lands under tillage, for all purposes including the cultivation of hay and grass; but for plowed crops there is probably a decrease of acres under tillage, as the skim and skin process is being done away with.

There is evidently an increase of animal stock in the county, especially that of cattle, with much less of indifference in breeding for both the dairy and the shambles, and also for their general good appearance. Much attention is also paid to the rearing of good horses; while sheep have become much diminished in numbers, on account of the low price of wool, and their place supplied by cattle; although the fine Saxons of Vernon are yet quite numerous, and seem to stand pre-eminent at our State and county fairs, among that class of sheep, while many other towns in the county sustain the reputation of the other breeds of sheep. There is evidently less attention paid to the production of good hogs, than any other animals raised in the county, which is to be regretted. There seems to be no settled criterion whereby to breed hogs, as being of the best breed. We have had many jocose and witty reports from the judges of the State Society, but none properly defining that which constitutes a good hog.

There is doubtless beginning to be more scientific attention paid to farm culture than formerly, which is probably aroused by the diffusion of intelligence through the potent aid of the Press, together with observations and comparisons made at our State and county fairs.

There is an increased price of farms in the county, but more particularly along our thorough-fares, plank-roads, cities, villages and manufacturing districts, which is attributable in an eminent degree to the domestic market afforded by the great manufacturing interests as well as by improved buildings, orchards, fruit gardens, ornamental grouuds, &c., to which may be added an improved state of husbandry generally.

The central position of Oneida county, with the great thorough fares passing through its center, and with its productive soil, extensive manufacturing establishments and facilities for market, bring to it advantages equal to those enjoyed by any other county in the State.

ONTARIO.

REPORT. E. M. BRADLEY, SECRETARY.

The Annual Fair and Cattle Show of the Ontario Society was held at Canandaigua, on the 1st and 2d days of October, 1851; and was by far the largest and best exhibition ever had in the county. The display of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, articles of domestic manufacture, and agricultural implements, was far better than we have seen at a county exhibition in many a year; and was an evidence of the growing interest felt in the improvement of our farms and farm stock. The concourse of people on the occasion, was immense, and yet the greatest possible good. feeling and order were manifest throughout the exhibition. Mr. John P. Norton delivered an address in the court house, on the second day, which was listened to with much interest. After the address, the following list of officers was chosen for the ensuing year: Harlow Munson, Esq., President; Henry Howe, Corresponding Secretary; Elisha M. Bradley, Recording Secretary. The winter meeting of the society was held at Canandaigua, February 10th, and was highly interesting. The attendance was much larger than usual, and a deep feeling manifested in the welfare of the society.

Premiums awarded on Grain Crops.-For the best acre of winter wheat, to E. M. Bradley, of East Bloomfield, 41 bushels and 31 lbs. per acre, on 5 acres. For the best acre of Indian corn, to E. M. Bradley, of East Bloomfield, 93 bushels per acre, on 51 acres. For the best acre barley, to J. J. Cobb, of Phelps, 58 bushels 21 lbs. per acre. 2d best, to Thayer Gauss, of East Bloomfield, 39 bushels and 40 lbs.; the committee recommended a premium of a Vol. of Trans. for the best acre of oats, to J.

acre;

J. Cobb, of Phelps, 73 bushels per acre; for the best acre cf peas, to E. M. Bradley, of East Bloomfield, 44 bushels per for the best one-fourth acre of white beans, to Nathaniel Smith, of Gorham; for the best acre of clover seed, to Henry Metcalf, of Gorham, 5 bushels per acre; for the best onehalf acre of potatoes, to George Merrill, of West Bloomfield, 113 bushels; for the 2d best do, to George Merrill, of West Bloomfield, 97 bushels. Premiums were also awarded on fat cattle and sheep.

Clover Seed.-The following is the statement of the cultivation and management of a field of clover of 22 acres and 17 rods, by Henry Metcalf of Gorham:

The field is rolling; soil clayey, with a mixture of sand and vegetable mold; previous crop barley, plowed and sowed in the spring of 1850, between April 15th and 30th, with barley, at the rate of two bushels per acre; seeded down with clover; sowed four bushels of clover seed mixed with one bushel of timothy, on the field, immediately after the harrowing in of the barley, and as soon as the barley came up, sowed on the highest part of the field one ton of Cayuga plaster, which was about two-thirds of it. Sowed on the remaining third, one half ton of plaster, (same as before used) in the month of November following-no other manure used. The first crop was cut for hay; commenced mowing the 23d of June, and finished about 9th of July. Commenced cutting clover seed the 8th of September, the seed was raked with a horse rake, and drawn into the barn; finished the 19th of September; commenced cleaning seed about the 1st of January, with one of Burrall's clover machines, and have cleared up one hundred and twenty-eight bushels, besides three or four bushels of screenings not included in the above statement.

HENRY METCALF.

Barley.-Two acres, 58 bushels 21 lbs. per acre, Jeseph J. Cobb, Phelps. The land upon which the crop of barley grew was nearly level; soil a gravel and clay loam; the previous crop potatoes,

with about thirty-five loads manure from the barn yard; the cultivation for the barley crop was simply plowing once, about ten inches deep; seed sown broadcast three bushels to the acre, the harrow being passed over once each way after being sown; seed sown 10th May, without manure. The field is three feet above the level of the Canandaigua outlet; crop cut with a hand cradle, bound and set up in Dutch shocks; thrashed with machine with separator. Harvested the 30th July; thrashed September 1st; cleaned, measured in a sealed half bushel, and found to yield 110 bushels by measure; one bushel weighed 51 lbs., making in all, by estimation, 116.42 bushels of good merchantable two rowed barley, being 58.21 bushels per acre, (two acres being sown.)

Expenses of the crop, for putting in, harvesting and thrashing, was....

Value of the crop at 80 cents per bushel,....

Leaving net profit $73.20, or $36.60 per acre.

$20.00

83 20

JOSEPH J. COBB.

The statements were duly verified in these cases by the affidavits of the grower, surveyor and persons who harvested, measured and weighed the crop in each case.

Extracts from the address of Mr. Harlow Munson, President of the society, delivered at the Annual Meeting, February 10, 1852: This society was organized in 1840, and has had twelve public exhibitions of animal stock and fairs, and awarded premiums to the amount of more than $5,000, and caused an expenditure of more than three times this sum in time and money, in attending the meetings and fairs. For the expenditure of this $20,000, the farmers should have been benefited, the cause of progress should have advanced and we should have acquired and diffused some information in that branch of business which is confessedly in need of these exertions and has undoubtedly received aid by them But whatever advantage this association has been to us, it is both useful and proper for us to ask, can we make it more productive of good or can we increase its benefits by any acts of ours.

The objects of the society as expressed by its originators is "the elevation and improvement of agriculture." One of the means employed for the promotion of this object is to offer premiums to the most successful cultivator of crops, and to the owner of the best samples of animal stock, as well as the best specimens of domestic manufactures. I would suggest, when any meritorious article is exhibited, a particular account of the means employed for its production, should be had, and kept on file, or put on the records of the society, and the publication of such information might help promote the object of our organization.

Improvement of the Breeds of Cattle and Sheep.-May we not with advantage, encourage the application of science to the improvement of domestic animals. We now give premiums to the owners of the best animals, let them obtain them as they may. This is well. But would it not be good policy to encourage directly their improvement in breeding, that is, that the progeny may be superior to the progenitor; or in other words, offer encouragement to that system of breeding that shall tend to improve the animal in the valuable qualities and reduce the objectionable ones, as in the sheep, retaining the heavy fleece and improving the quality, or retaining the fine fleece and improving the weight, and thus producing what is said cannot now be found; a very fine and very heavy fleece on the same sheep. As for the cow much remains to be done to establish a race of good milkers. It is true the production of such results as hinted at is of itself a sufficient reward.

I believe the society has yet done nothing to produce or encour age directly scientific breeding. If those men engaged in the work can be induced to come here and exhibit their productions, it might help to advance the enterprise and diffuse the knowledge among the many now in the possession of the few. Well regulated and carefully conducted experiments are a source of vast and valuable information, and this society might do much to produce and disseminate knowledge obtained from such trials. Every means in our power should be used to acquire information of prac