No. 105.] 449 



number of fine sheep were brought out, of a great variety of breeds 

 and grades. In fact, we thought that in this department, our county 

 show W£S not far behind the State fair. Some good swine were also 

 present, and for the first time, we beheve, there was a show of poul- 

 try ; we hope to see it better attended to next year. 



Squire M. Brown, of Elbridge, President ; George Geddes, John 

 F. Clark, Vice-Presidents ; Russell Hebbard, of Syracuse, Recording 

 Secretary ; James M. Ellis, of Onondaga, Corresponding Secretary ; 

 Thomas A. Smith, of Syracuse, Treasurer. 



ONEIDA COUNTY. 



To the JY. Y. State Agri. Society. 



The officers of the Oneida County Agricultural Society respect- 

 fully submit for your perusal, a brief account of the doings of their 

 society for the past year. In connection with this report, they will 

 also refer to the former action and history of the society, sufficiently 

 to show, that since its organization in April 1841, to the present 

 time, its course has been onward, and that no effiart has been spared 

 by the enterprising farmers of this county, to elevate and improve 

 the standard of agriculture among us. This county did not wait for 

 the passage of the law appropriating funds to the aid of county soci- 

 eties, but organized their society with the determination to sustain it 

 if possible, either with or without pecuniary aid from the State. The 

 small appropriation made by the law of 1841, and since renewed, 

 was however a very acceptable one, and has enabled us to accom- 

 plish far greater results than could otherwise have been accomplished. 

 The proportion of money for this county is $255. The society has 

 raised each year much more than an equal amount by voluntary con- 

 tribution, and in some years nearly twice the amount received from 

 the State. These contributions, with a few exceptions, have been 

 received in sums of one dollar each for membership, a source to 

 which the society has looked mainly for its funds. 



It will be gratifying to all friends of agriculture, and more especi- 

 ally to the members of the Oneida County Society, to be assured that 

 this society has, by its uniform and impartial action, and by avoiding 

 all causes of jealousy and complaint, secured, and now enjoys the 

 confidence of the farmers and other classes who have manifested an 

 interest in its welfare, and that its prospects of usefulness are highly 

 flattering. It is worthy of notice, that the county contains a popu- 

 lation of more than eighty-five thousand persons, and that within its 

 borders may be found nearly every variety of soil. A great propor- 

 tion of the county is well adapted to dairying and to the raising of 

 cattle and sheep, another is peculiarly adopted to the growing of 

 coarse grains, and a small part of the county is properly classed 

 among our best wheat lands. Let it not be understood that these 

 particular branches are pursued exclusively in the respective portions 

 of the county, for here the growing of grain and the keeping of cat- 



