506 ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW- YORK 



that time upon the produce of dairy for the purchase of bread, 

 almost every farmer has raised his acre or two of wheat and corn, 

 with rye, oats and buckwheat, as his wants have suggested. It 

 is almost a universal expression with farmers, " I will try to raise 

 my own bread as long as I have land to do it." 



Dairying and raising stock is the main dependence of the 

 cctinty. There are some good flocks of sheep, but their numbers 

 are yearly diminishing. 



The amount of butter made the present year is probably some- 

 what short of the quantity made in 1855, with a slightly dimin- 

 ished price as compared with that year. Most of the butter has 

 been sold in New- York, at from 23 to 26 cents per lb. 



The Society held its fifteenth annual fair at the village of Wal- 

 ton, on the 24th and 25th of September. The concourse of people 

 assembled was probably never equaled in the county. The ground 

 enclosed for the exhibition contained nearly five acres, was well 

 furnished with tents, buildings, pens, stalls, &c., and nearly every 

 department filled with animals or articles for exhibition. 



The total number of entries was 576, among which were 64 

 horses and colts, 207 head of cattle including 50 yoke of oxen 

 and steers, each class containing superior animals of their kind, 

 with a good show of the different breeds of sheep and swine; 13 

 entries in the dairy department; 79 of fruit and vegetables; 21 

 for sugar and honey of a quality seldom equaled, with the usual 

 quantity of miscellaneous articles, many of them deserving a 

 more special notice. The ladies' department was one of the most 

 attractive in the exhibition. The articles were well arranged 

 and a credit to those presenting them. There were 66 competi- 

 tors for premiums, and $120 awarded, each drawing according to 

 the merit of the articles exhibited, none drawing less than the 

 amount paid for membership. 



The fair closed with an address by the Hon. A. E. Dickinson, 

 delivered in his usual forcible and impressive manner, containing 

 much general and practical information and was listened to with 

 interest by the thousands who were able to get within reach of 

 his voice. The hearty cheering at the close manifested the spirit 

 in which it was received. A copy of the address was requested 

 for publication. 



