No. 112.] 503 



OTSEGO. 



Report of FRA^CIs Rotch, Chm. Execttiv e Committee. 



The annual exhibition of the Otsego County agricultural Soci- 

 ety, was tliis year held at Morris, (formerly called Butternuts.) 

 on Wednesday and Thursday the 22d and 23d of September. 



Its removal from Cooperstown was by arrangements with the 

 local society, known as the " Farmers' Agricultural Society,'' 

 which has for seventeen years existed and held its meetings at 

 Louisville, but which on this occasion relinquished its annual ex- 

 hibition, and the arrangements, as it so happened, fell wholly under 

 their management ; and certainly the long training, experience, 

 and unanimity of its members produced a great and manifest im- 

 provement, compared with all former exhibitions of the county 

 society. 



Theretofore there had been very little classification of animals 

 and mongrel competed against mongrel without any reference to 

 parentage or degress in purity of blood, or distinction in breed. 

 On the present occasion there was a most thorough classification of 

 the pure breeds, of their respective grades, and of native stock, so 

 that every animal was brought in competition with those only of 

 its own cast, and breed, and though the neighbourhood abounded 

 in pure bred animals yet, in consideration to the practical farmer, 

 by far the largest amount in premiums were given to grade and 

 native stock. 



The ground was well selected, spacious, level, and dry ; and 

 contained a sufficient number of convenient w.ll built pens fojm- 

 ed of moveable pannels of narrow rough hemlock lioards nailed 

 on to the end pieces of the same and stillenetl by a center sirip, 

 these pannels were secureil by oak pins to square posts driven 

 into the ground, making the cost of a fourteen feet pen, every 

 thing included, not to exceed one dollar and ten cents. Tliey 

 answered the intended purp'^se admirably, not an ei«ca])e of either 

 cattle, >hee}),or h >gs liaving occured ; and wlien taken dciwn, tho 

 pannels met witli ready sale to our farmers, who find tin m very 

 . useful in forming yards &c., for the convenience of dividing and 

 better wintering their stock. Asagricuhural exhibitions take place 



