401 



The exhibition of poultry was fair, and would have been much bet-" 

 ter, but for a mortality which prevailed, by which some who devote at- 

 tention to this branch of domestic economy, lost their finest birds du- 

 ring the past year. 



With the exception of plows, the show of farming implements and 

 miscellaneous articles, was meagre and inferior. The apathy, which 

 the mechanics of the county have heretofore exhibited to the objects of 

 the Society, and which the committee noted last year, still exists, and is 

 much to be regretted. Agricultural and mechanical industry are so 

 closely allied, that one cannot flourish where the other languishes, and 

 the committee are happy to know that the various improvements in 

 progress, already referred to in the commencement of this report, have 

 created an almost unexampled demand upon the activity of the me- 

 chanics of the county. This engrossment of their time may partially 

 account for the absence of the products of their skill at the Annual 

 Fair, from want of leisure to prepare articles for exhibition. However 

 that may be, it is hoped hereafter they will unite more extensively with 

 their agricultural brethren, in manifesting to the public the true state of 

 advancement of the county in industrial resources. 



There was a full display of domestic manufactures. Carpeting, cloth, 

 and hosieiy, were of the highest excellence ; many specimens speaking 

 most commendably of female skill and industry. 



In the more oraamental departments of the exhibition — as needle- 

 work, fancywork, flowers &c., the superiority of female taste shone con- 

 spicuously. Every side of the hall was ornamented with a profusion 

 of the most exquisite specimens of woman's finger-work. The beauti- 

 ful arrangement of the floral hall, by the ladies of the committee, re- 

 sembled an attempt to realize the oriental poet's description of the fa- 

 bled Persian Gardens ; and the Society and its visitors are under deep 

 obligation to all the ladies who thus devoted their time and taste to in- 

 creasing the attractiveness of the exhibition. So long as the mothers, 

 wives, sisters and daughters of the citizens of Genesee, take such meas- 

 ures as these, to evince their desire to encourage her agricultural exhi- 

 bitions, their course cannot have any tendency but onward. 



In general, the specimens of fruit brought forward were not equal to 

 former years. This must be attributed to the unfavorable season ; for 

 without doubt, there is annually an increased amount of attention given 

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