404 [Senate 



Flax is extensively raised, producing a full rich seed, sought for 

 with avidity by the proprietors of oil mills : the manufacture of Lin- 

 seed oil has tended to check the production of linens, but the farmer 

 derives a valuable article for feed, in the refuse of the mills, known 

 as oil cake. The export of this article to England has tended to 

 keep the price too high to admit of very general use. 



Hemp has not yet received any attention in this county, though 

 many localities are admirably situated for its profitable culture. 



The grass crop has been most abundant. Clover and timothy are 

 the grasses sown almost exclusively : clover is extensively sown as a 

 manure crop, turning it under when in luxuriant flower. Large quan- 

 tities of clover seed are also produced with advantage. 



Potatoes have suffered in many towns from a disease not under- 

 stood : they have decayed in the ground in the months of August and 

 September, and during a period of drouth. Many farmers thought it 

 prudent to dig and house their potatoes in September, but in many 

 instances the potatoes then dug, and fair to the eye, soon showed ev- 

 idences of decay, and were totally lost. It is believed by many that 

 we have too long and too often planted the same kind of root on the 

 same soil. Be that as it may, we want knowledge on this important 

 matter, which has lessened the crop of 1843 not less than ten millions 

 of bushels, as appears by a report to Congress at its last session ; and 

 this season we may well suppose the diminution to be from fifteen to 

 twenty millions of bushels, a loss of edible products necessarily af- 

 fecting the value of all others." 



TIOGA COUNTY. 



The annual Fair was held at Owego on the 7th and 8th of October, 

 1844, in which the usual interest was manifested. The address was 

 given by H. S. Randall, Esq. The report on crops states that 

 wheat has been produced at the rate of 48 bushels per acre, oats 101 

 bushels, and barley 40 bushels. 



Officers. — Charles F. Johnson, President ; Clark Hyatt, Wm. 

 B. Bement, Vice-Presidents ; John Carmichael, Treasurer ; John J. 

 Taylor, Corresponding Secretary ; L. H. Allen, Recording Secretary. 



TOMPKINS COUNTY. 



The Society held its Fair on the 4th and 5th of October, 1844. A 

 decided improvement is spoken of in the agricultural condition of the 

 county, as exhibited at the Fair. The address was delivered by 

 Ebenezer Mack, Esq. Among other premiums on crops, one was 

 awarded for 93 bushels of corn per acre ; two for wheat, 59 h and 57^ 

 bushels per acre, the excellent culture given them described under the 

 proper head in this volume ; and one on barley, 52 bushels per acre, 



Officers. — William Carman, Hector, President ;] Amos Lewis, 

 2d, Isaac L. Smith, Henry Brewer, J. J. Speed, Jr., E. L. B. Curtis, 



