454 [Senate 



Owing to tlie previous dry weather, the condition of neat cattle, 

 &c. was not equal to former occasions. But the specimens offered' 

 compared very well with previous years, particularly working oxen. 

 Domestic manufactures also seemed to indicate a commendable spirit 

 of improvement, w^hile mechanical productions hardly kept pace with 

 former exhibitions. The samples of butter and cheese were very 

 good, but altogether too limited for a dairying district of country, as 

 ours emphatically is or should be. 



An address was delivered by Mr. R. K. Sandford. 



This was the sixth annual fair of the Oswego County Agricultural 

 Society, and we hesitate not to say that there has been a general and 

 marked improvement in the different departments of agriculture in 

 the county since their establishment. But there is still a lack of 

 spirit and an indifference pervading the agricultural portion of com- 

 munity incompatible with the improvement of the age. 



As an evidence of the general improvement manifested at the fair 

 compared with former years, we noticed with pleasure the different 

 specimens of plowing, not only in itself considered, but what has 

 been effected for the farmer in the very marked improvement of farm- 

 ing implements. The plowing which received the society's first pre- 

 mium was performed with a plow purchased at the State Fair at Utica. 



It will be seen that notwithstanding the premiums awarded on grain 

 and other field crops were not numerous, yet our country still main- 

 tains her high standing for great yields of Indian corn, she having on 

 several occasions carried ofi" the palm on this article before the State 

 Society. By Mr. Sherwood's statement it will be seen that his crop 

 amounted to over 138 bushels per acre. 



As another instance of uncommon yield, especially for the past 

 season, we cannot forbear alluding to the crop of oats raised by Mr. 

 Nicholas Bort, of the town of Hastings. He raised, as will be seen 

 by his statement accompanying this report, at the rate of over 106 

 bushels per acre, in a field of eighteen acres. 



Mexico, Dec. 30, 1845. 



PETER CHANDLER, Vice-Prest. 



OTSEGO COUNTY. 



Fair held on the first and second of October. 



Olcott C. Chamberlain, President ; H. Spencer, Joseph Gregory, 

 D. Gilchrist, Vice Presidents ; H. Phinney, Treasurer ; C. McLaren, 

 Secretary. 



QUEENS COUNTY. 



The fourth annual fair of this society was held at Hempstead, on 

 the 9th of October, 1845. 



The weather being very inauspicious in the morning, much stock. 



