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INDIAN AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION. 
A correspondent who was present furnishes an account of an exhibition made 
by the civilized red men of New York: 
On the 30th day of September, and the 1St and 2d of October, the ninth annual exhi- 
bition of the Iroquois Agricultural Society was held on the Cattaraugus reservation, Catta- 
raugus county, New York, near Versailles. 
The Indians of the State of New York are the remains of the several tribes which once 
formed the powerful confederation known as the Six Nations. To the thoughtful observer, 
this, their annual fair, was an event of exceeding interest and of great significance. While 
the ery of ‘‘extermination” is heard, not only from the brutal, mercenary, and unprincipled, 
but from the lips of men in high positions and of otherwise humane disposition, it is sug- 
gestive to behold such an unanswerable argument of the capacity of the red men for self- 
support and for civilization. 
The Cattaraugus reservation contains about 52,000 acres, and a population of about 3,000. 
Upon it are a number of farms in a high state of cultivation, weli fenced, well stocked, and 
partially worked by means of modern labor-saving machinery. The horses are, as a gen- 
eral thing, of superior character, and give evidence of great care, both in breeding and train- 
ing. 
The Agricultural Society own a well-situated fair ground, with a building for the exhibi- 
tion of vegetables, fruits, and domestic articles, and an excellent track for trials of speed. 
The extent and character of the exhibition were far beyond the anticipation of the writer. Not 
only was there a variety of articles, but the character was generally superior. There were 
corn, beans, potatoes of fine size and various kinds, such as Peach-blow, Clinton, Meshan- 
ock, &c., beets, pumpkins, and peas, apples, peaches, pears, quinces, plums, and grapes, 
bread and cake, beadwork of exquisite patterns, beautifully embroidered needle-work; but- 
ter as nice as could be desired; honey, fowls, Chester hogs, of great size; Merino sheep, 
young steers, yoked and driven by boys; more than thirty milch cows, calves, bulls, oxen, 
mares and colts, some of the colts being of great size and beauty, doors, window-sash, boots, 
a straw-cutter, sled, maple-sugar, and other articles that were not noted. There were many 
samples of grain, such as red and white wheat, spring wheat, barley, and oats, most of it of 
superior quality. 
Jt must be remembered that none but Indians are allowed to compete for premiums, and 
the above list comprises, therefore, the actual productions of their gardens and farms. 
On the afternoon of the lst of October, an address was delivered by Benjamin Hallowell, 
of Sandy Spring, Maryland, who had been invited to visit them for that purpose, which was 
listened to with interest and attention ; and he was invited to write out his remarks for their 
more deliberate consideration. 
Mr. Hallowell presented to the society 15 volumes of agricultural publications, and 64 
choice packages of seed-wheat, that had been forwarded through the kindness of Commis- 
sioner Capron, with both of which they seemed highly gratified. The speaker explained to 
them that should this seed produce at the ratio of some fields near Rochester, during the pres- 
ent year, (40 fold,) the amount sent would, in the fifth year, reach 204,800,000 bushels, or 
more than sufficient to seed 3,340 reservations as large as Cattaraugus and Allegany 
together. 
Some remarks were made by another gentleman present, encouraging them to plant trees 
and flowers and otherwise beautify their homes. 
The attendance was very large, many citizens from neighboring counties being present. 
The only cases of disorder or intemperance noticed were among a few whites. The Indian 
girls and women (many of them of great personal beauty, and with fine manners) were 
dressed with taste, the garments all being of their own make. The affairs of the society are 
managed entirely by Indians, the secretary being Singleton H. Parker, an accomplished 
gentleman, and brother of Colonel E. M. Parker, of General Grant’s staff. Nothing strikes 
a stranger with more force than the dignity of bearing and propriety of demeanor of these 
descendants of a warlike and rude people. They are industrious, ingenious, and some of them 
highly educated. It is true that there are occasional instances of intemperance and idleness, 
but these failings are not confined to our red brethren. 
The exhibition described above gives abundant evidence of thrift and industry upon the 
part of many, whereas if only one should show such capacity for improvement, it is clearly 
the duty of a great and professedly Christian nation to endeavor to civilize the fast-fading 
and much-suffering races beyond the Mississippi. Not only would it be doing its duty in 
a manner worthy of the enlightenment of the 19th century, to these foster children whose 
lands we oecupy, and adding to its wealth by converting consumers into producers, but it 
would be done at one-tenth the cost of the wars that are now desolating the frontiers and 
hardening the hearts of all who are brought in contact with these unfortunate people. As 
has been remarked by Rev. Asher Wright, a benevolent missionary, who has devoted thirty 
years of his life to the welfare of these Indians: ‘‘If the New York Indians could live and 
pass the crisis, and begin to thrive and to increase in population steadily and permanently, 
as shown by the reports of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, by the census returns, and 
