254 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



CLAKK COUNTY. 



The twenty-sixth annual fair of the Clark County Agricultural Society was 

 held at Charlestown, on September 9th, 10th and llth. The exhibition was un- 

 usually good in nearly every department. Horses were fully up to the times in 

 general purpose and draft classes. A very singular feature of the present fair, in 

 the Horse Department, was, that there were no fast rings made up. The firemiums 

 offered for speed were liberal, but were not taken. Usually a large per cent, of 

 the premiums paid by the Society is for fast horses. This year was an exception, 

 an<l the indications here are that fast horses can be put in the background at fairs 

 and not at all interfere with the success of the exhibition. Fast hor?es are not the 

 most useful thing to the average farmer, and should not be encouraged by large 

 premiums. 



The exhibition of cattle was much better than former years, and showed an in- 

 crease of interest in tlie production of better cattle of all breeds. The Holstein 

 cattle, lately introduced in this county, are giving fair satisfaction as a milk and 

 beef stock combined. The show of hogs and sheep was creditable, and showed that 

 they had been bred with care and skill. 



Agricultural products were very fine, and show that our farmers fully under- 

 etand how to grow corn, wheat, oats, potatoes, etc., to perfeclion. 



In the Horticultural Departmeat the exhibit was not large, but the specimens 

 were good. 



The display of textile fabrics shows that our ladies have attained a high degree 

 of skill. Some of the quilts on exhibition showed not only skill in their makers 

 but a great deal of patience and perseverence. Some of our ladies have not for- 

 gotten the use of the spinning-wheel and hand-loom, as was shown by the display 

 of hand-made fabrics. Our women are equal to the very best, too, in their knowl- 

 edge of the culinary art, for the fine samples of bread, cake, preserves, jellies, 

 canned fruits, etc., could not have been prepared with more practical skill. On the 

 whole, the fair was a success, giving pleasure and profit to those who attended. 



The condition of agriculture in this county is fairly prosperous ; some com- 

 plaint of dull times and low prices, but there is no abatement in effort on the part 

 of farmers ; they seem to be doing more thorough and systematic work in the culti- 

 vation of the soil. Nearly every variety of soil may be found in this county. Cat- 

 tle raising seems to be receiving more attention in the last few years, and in conse- 

 quence more land is sown to grass, and less corn is being cultivated, a course 

 which, if it had been adopted forty years ago, would have been much better for 

 the preservation of the soil, than raising corn and hogs. Farm buildings in this 

 county are of th-e most sul»tautial character, both dwellings and barns, so that 

 farming here is a fixed business. 



Agriculture is the leading business of the county, though dairying is carried on 

 to a considerable extent. There are numerous manufactories in the county, such 

 as boat building, glass works, cement mills, cooper shops, car works, etc., which 

 give employment to several thousand men. We have three railroads through the 

 county, and the Ohio river along the southeast border. The great citits of the 



