bucket. If the Legislature should double the appropriation, it would no more than pay the yearly expense of keeping up the fences, buildings and fixtures for the fairs (and other necessary expenses) of the several counties from whence so much good has arisen. I hope the State Society may press this matter upon the Legislature. The fact that so much good has arisen to all parts of the community, calls for the fostering care of our Legislature, heretofore so little bestowed in proportion to the en couragement given by it to most of the professions.

The eleventh Annual Meeting, Fair and cattle show or the Saratoga County Agricultural Society, was held at Mechanicsville on the 9th, 10th and 11th days of September, 1851, and was more numerously attended than any previous exhibition of our county society, notwithstanding the sultry and dry weather. Since last year, through the liberality of a few citizens of Mechanicsvile, another large building has been erected as a floral hall for the special convenience of the ladies, always an essential part of these exhibitions. With this addition, we have a fair ground complete for several years to come. The first day was devoted exclusively to the entering, registering and arranging the animals and articles for exhibition. The second day was devoted to the inspection and examination by the judges. At two P. M. of the third day, the society and a large number of spectators assembled around the staging in the show grounds to listen to the annual address and the reading the reports of the committees. The address was delivered by the Hon. J. W. Fowler, Principal of the State and National Law School at Ballston Spa. His address, which occupied near two hours, and was listened to with rapturous delight, was a most masterly effort, fully sustaining the high reputation of the speaker for true eloquence and unsurpassed oratorical powers. The receipts at the gate during the fair were about $550, being some twenty-five or thirty more than any previous year, and $50 for life membership, making $600, nearly as much as was taken in five or six years previous to the establishing the fair at Mechanicsville and of enclosing the grounds.

1

The exhibition of horses surpassed in number and quality any previous exhibition of the society, and equal to any county exhibition I ever attended. The exhibition of cattle was uncommonly good, there being a very large number, and many very fine animals; the oxen could not be beat by any county in the State; sheep and swine were few in number, but excellent in quality; the small number present, was owing to the extreme hot weather, the thermometer ranging between 90 and 100 in the shade. The same cause, undoubtedly, prevented the farmers from bringing larger quantities of butter and cheese. The show of vegetables and fruit was large and fine, and would have done credit to the most extensive gardeners and nurserymen; there were large assortments, and some extraordinary fine specimens both of fruit and vegetables. The collection in the floral department was not so extensive as last year, in consequence of the dry hot weather; but the specimens were quite as beautiful, and reflected great. credit on those who sustained this part of the exhibition, the center of attraction and a great source of revenue to the society. The show of household productions was very satisfactory, and exceedingly creditable to the industry and skill of the competitors. A great variety of articles was exhibited under the head of miscellaneous, all of which contributed much for the exhibition. Some beautiful specimens of linen thread manufactured by F. W. Farnham & Co., Cohoes, New-York, were exhibited, and excited great attention; they had specimens of thread and flax of the American, Irish, Dutch, Flemish and Russian flax, and are carrying the art of manufacturing thread to the highest degree of perfection. I am informed that the machinery is to be moved to Mechanicsville, and that the business is to be carried on under the name of the American' Linen Thread Company. In fact, all parts of the exhibition were well sustained, and exceeded any previous exhibition of the society. The following are the officers for 1852: President, Hon. Abraham Leggett, of Stillwater; 1st Vice President, Philander Bennett, Mechanicsville; 2d Vice President, George B. Powel, of Milton; Treasurer, Charles W. Farnham, of Mechanicsville; Corresponding Secretary, S. G. Eddy, Stillwater; Recording Secretary, John A. Corey, Saratoga Springs; with an

executive commitee of two from each town. Our accounts for the

REPORT. JOHN L. EASTMAN, PRESIDENT.

The last Annual Fair and Cattle Show of the county of Seneca, was celebrated on Thursday and Friday, the 9th and 10th of October, at the village of Waterloo. The weather was beautiful, the roads dry and good, every inducement for the farmer and mechanic to attend, and to bring with them such articles as they might have worthy of exhibition. I am much gratified in being able to state that the attendance was unusually large, many of our friends were present from different parts of the county, and evinced an increased interest and zeal in its prosperity and welfare. They were truly holidays.

The first day was devoted to the exhibition of stock, household products, machinery, mechanics, agricultural implements, fruits, flowers, and vegetables. The second day to the plowing match, annual address, reading the reports of ths various committees, and announcing the premiums to the successful competitors.

The show of cattle was not as large as on some former occasions, especially working oxen, but those that were on the ground, were as a whole, superior cattle of the different grades.

The display of horses was good and highly creditable to the county. There has been evidently an improvement for the last few years, growing out of the importation of the Alfred and Morgan stock. The former for the farm, the latter for the carriage and road. The exhibition of sheep, for a wheat-growing county, was large. Among the different breeds, the merino was the most numerous, and to my fancy, are the most profitable, when we take into consideration the amount and quality of wool shorn. Reed Burritt, of Tompkins county, exhibited his French Merino buck, a late importation, a noble animal, worthy of commendation. I trust he will be amply rewarded for his trouble.

Under the head of swine, there was but one exhibition, which is very much to be regretted, when we have in the county many breeds that are very valuable, such as the Berkshire, Leicester, Byfield, and a late importation of the China and their crosses.

The household products were not as numerous as on some former occasions, but were good, and worthy the premiums awarded them. The woolen shawls from the Waterloo factory were superior articles, attracted much attention, and added much to the beauty of the court-room, but were not entered for premiums. The articles that came under the list of discretionary premiums were very numerous and variegated, many of them exhibiting much taste, elegance, and ingenuity. Under the class of mechanics. and machinery, many valuable articles were exhibited, though far less than we ought to expect, at our annual fair. It is to be regretted that the display was not larger, and that our mechanics (who merit the name,) would not all enroll their names as competitors, that their work may be better known throughout the county.

The committee on draining, drain pipes and tiles, gave a very able, interesting and instructive report, which ought to be printed and spread far and wide, setting forth their advantages, &c I would remark, that many of our farmers, have, within the last few years, given their attention to reclaiming their low lands, by means of under-draining, and have been much pleased with the

result; in many instances have been remunerated in the succeeding crop. When stone are not to be found on the farms to lay in the drains, our farmers are procuring tile from Mr. Whartenby's manufactory, in the village of Waterloo, where orders can be furnished to almost any reasonable amount.

The exhibition of fruits, flowers and vegetables was very fine, when we take into consideration they were more or less affected by the mildew, blight and early frosts. On the evening of the first day, the Rev. Edward Lord, of Romulus, delivered an address on horticulture, to a numerous audience, at the court house, which was listened to with much interest and pleasure.

On the morning of the second day, the society repaired to the ground which had been selected for the plowing match; the number entered as competitors was unusually large, about twenty. The plows used were the Seneca county, the double Sub-soil Michigan, and others from different manufactories; as a whole, the work was well performed, but the double sub-soil, of a small size and drawn by two horses, was considered by the committee the best specimen of plowing, leaving the ground in a very loose and friable state. This plow, in the north part of the county, where it has been most used, is held in high estimation.

The annual address by our friend and fellow citizen, Mr. Sentell, of the Seneca Observer, was delivered to a full audience, in the Presbyterian church, (the court house being insufficient to accommodate the mass of people,) which was followed by J. Delafield, President of the State Society, in his usual happy manner, and full of instruction. The address by Mr. Sentell, evinced a knowledge of his subject, practically, as well as scientifically.

The winter meeting of the society was held pursuant to notice, on the 5th inst., at the village of Berrytown; the treasurer's report was read and accepted, which stands as follows: Balance of last report,....

Balance of voluntary subscriptions from Ovid, as of last

year, in full,

Waterloo subscriptions in full,..

....

$29 93

35 00

287 00