228 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



Oct. 



bled on the discovery that the lifeless earth thrown 

 i iii of a well, a cellar or deep ditch, has fertilizing- 

 qualities. Such marls without vegetable matter will 

 often grow grass, wheat and corn — evidently deri- 

 -i ing carbon from the atmosphere, in rains and dews. 

 The riches in the sub-soil, which deep draining and 

 ; oiling will develope, are not at all appreciated. 



TAIR OF THE STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Ik many respects the Fair at Syracuse excelled all 

 ding ones of the Society* Several thousands 

 of visitors were in attendance more than were ever 

 :i any previous Rural Festival in this State, or 

 the Union. The general and deep interest taken in 

 these annual exhibitions of the choice products of 

 agricultural and mechanical skill, indicates a juster 

 appreciation of the character and importance of the 

 Fanners and Mechanics of the country. Instead of 

 being looked down upon with ill-concealed contempt, 

 as something servile* by the learned, the wealthy and 

 the distinguished, productive industry is now begin- 

 ning to be looked up to as the source of all power and 

 property in the land. This is looking in the right 

 ;ion. The union of highly cultivated intellect 

 with manual labor, successfully exerted in the field, 

 the garden and the work-shop, makes a new era in the 

 history of agriculture and the mechainic arts. 



To foster both mental culture and artistical im- 

 | rovement, annual Fairs are of inestimable value. 

 They furnish cheap and agreeable facilities, by which 

 fifty or one hundred thousand people may teach each 

 other a thousand useful lessons* Farmers see, and 

 have an opportunity to purchase, hundreds of new 

 contrivences for abridging human toil in all tillage, 

 haying and harvesting operations. Improved imple- 

 ments of husbandry constituted a prominent feature of 

 the exhibition at Syracuse. Manufacturers and deal- 

 ers from Boston, Albany, Geneva, Rochester, and 

 other places, made a large and attractive display. It 

 is impossible for us to give full particulars, where the 

 articles exhibited are so numerous, and often compli- 

 cal d in their structure. We shall publish a list of 

 the premiums, which will give names, residences and 

 opinions of competent judges. 



S« veral Agricultural Warehouses were very fully 

 represi nted. Ivai-ai.je &- Briggs, of Rochester, ex- 

 hibited a great variety of superior implements, ma- 

 chines, tools, Ike. They received the premiumfor the 

 greatest collection — embracing implements of hus- 

 i if i.ll descriptions. The Albany Agricultu- 

 ral V. arel . (H. L. Emery,.) was largely repres- 

 ented, as usual. Among the implements from this 

 establiehmem we saw, in successful operation, the 

 one and two-horse Railroad Powers, threshing grain 

 with the well know n overshot thresher — sawing wood 

 with the portable Saw-Mill, and cutting stalks, hay, 

 straw, &c. — without any apparent exertion of the 

 eping in motion on the inclined plane. 

 Mr. E. also exhibited some 30 plows, 18 hay 

 cutters, Gcorn shelters, and 12 churns of different pat- 

 terns and prices; two of Emery's corn and seed plan- 

 I rs and any quantity of Partridge's celebrated cast- 

 steel hay and manure for] many of them of extra- 

 try high finish. The articles from thi i 

 D mounted to upwards of $"-\200, over ifU,G00 

 of which were manufactured in this State. The 

 proprietor has put in operation, during the past .-< ;>- 

 son, one of the most oxtensive machine and imple- 

 ment manufactories in this country, which is now so 



pressed with work as to be in constant operation, day 

 and night. E. J. BuRRALL,of Geneva, exhibited a 

 large assortment of well made machines and imple- 

 ments—among them some new inventions and im- 

 provements, which we think will prove of great val- 

 ue. He obtained the premium for the greatest and 

 best collection manufactured within the state. 



Of Neat Cattle the show was highly credita- 

 ble, there being some 300 on the ground. * Mr. Hi- 

 ram Sheldon, of Cayuga, exhibited a fat ox which 

 weighed 3,400 lbs. Others only a little smaller 

 were present. A fat cow T which had been spayed, 

 weighed 2,200 lbs. There were several yokes of 

 matched oxen which attracted much attention. Mr. 

 L. G. Morris, of Westchester, had 1 1 head of grades 

 and pure blood cattle at the show. Mr. Sotham, of 

 Black Rock, had a fine lot of Herefords. The De- 

 vons, however, were more numerous than any other 

 breed, and seemed to be quite popular. Those exhib- 

 ited by Messrs. Bingham, WASHBORN,and others, at- 

 tracted much attention. The short-horn Durhams 

 appeared to good advantage, and we believe sold well. 

 Mr. S. P. Chapman, of Clockville, exhmiten several 

 very fine animals — among others, his bull " Buena 

 Vista,' (portrait and pedigree in our August num- 

 ber,) and cow "Charlotte." Col. Sherwood exhib- 

 ited the animals imported by Mr. Stevens, and notic- 

 ed in August number of Farmer. Messrs. Z. B. 

 Wakeman, of Herkimer, Bell of Westchester, and 

 other gentlemen, contributed to the show of short- 

 horns. We were not present at the sale of stock. 



The show of stallions, brood mares and colts, and 

 of matched and single horses, was decidedly the best 

 that we have ever seen in the State. We regret that 

 we are unable to particularize. 



Of Sheep w T e counted some fifty pens, and alto- 

 gether the number on exhibition was unusually laro-e. 

 Merinos, Saxons and Southdowns were most numer- 

 ous. Some of these were choice animals. There 

 were a few mammoth Leicesters from Canada. 



Swine w T ere not numerous, nor particularly note- 

 worthy. There were a few extraordinary fat pigs 

 and large hogs, of both sexes.. 



In Poultry the show was barely respectable. 



Dairy products were less, in the aggregate, than 

 we have witnessed at preceding Fairs" The cheese 

 looked tempting, hut we did not belong to the " tast- 

 ing committee' 1 in that department. The butter 

 was small in quantity, although handsomely put up. 



In wheat flour there was a prettj sharp competition : 

 but in corn meal the Georgia State Fair wen!,: I 

 beati ii the samples out of sight. 



Stoves, household manufactures, needle work, and 

 other fabrics of fancy or utility were almost endless 

 in variety and beauty. 



Floral Hall was neatly arranged, and embraced a 

 fine display of fruits, flowers, vegetables. Sec. This 

 department, and the Porno! ivention,4a more 



particularly noticed in our Horticultural pages. 



We did not hear the address of Prof. JohnstoS — 

 although, by competent judges, it is spoken of in terms 

 of the highest praise. Of course it will be published. 



Many gentlemen of distinction from abroad, were 

 present — and all with whom we conversed, expressed 

 themselves instructed and gratified by what they saw 

 at the Fair. The grounds and buildings, tents. Sec 

 were well arranged : and good order was preserved. 

 considering the unusually large number of persons in 

 attendance — reflecting much credit upon Col. John- 

 son and other officers of the Society. 



u 



