128 



Western JVeiv York. 



Vol. VIII. 



wanting to confirm its expediency. — Harris' 

 Insects of N. England. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 Western New York. 



To THE Editor, — The dinner at the New 

 York Agricultural Show, lately held at Ro- 

 chester, seems to have been the most ani- 

 mating part of the concern. When such 

 men as Martin Van Buren, Daniel Webster, 

 and Governor Seward, meet at the table, 

 amidst the excitements of such an occasion, 

 and are urged on to their greatest efforts, 

 by the enthusiasm and sympathies of 20,000 

 people, who, they feel, are looking up to 

 them as the great master spirits of the day, 

 we shall not be very likely to look in vain, 

 for those out burstings of the intellect which 

 so delight us, and so irresistibly carry us 

 along with the current, and infuse into our 

 own bosoms a portion of that same fire, that 

 is glowing all around us. 



The newspapers have given ample ac- 

 counts of the exhibition of stock, &c., which, 

 perhaps fully met the anticipations of the 

 public. The cattle, and horses, and sheep, 

 and hogs, as well as their implements of 

 husbandry, plainly showed that western New- 

 York, though but literally a country of yes- 

 terday, is moving on in her agriculture, 

 with the strong and steady strides of the 

 full grown man, conscious of extraordinary 

 and increasing powers. 



The tables were laid in the rail-road de 

 pot, for 1000 persons, and not only was 

 every ticket quickly sold, but many hun 

 dreds who had been promising themselves 

 to do justice at the onslaught, were vvofully 

 disappointed, and obliged to leave the ground 

 with empty bread-baskets .' At seven o'clock 

 the doors were opened — the rush to the tables 

 was tremendous, and the discussion of their 

 contents, we can readily believe, did credit 

 to the craft. After this important matter 

 was pretty well despatched and order was 

 somewhat restored, the speaking commenced 

 Your correspondent, "R.," in the last num- 

 ber of the Cabinet, makes some allusion to 

 the presence of the individual who had the 

 temerity, and the enterprise, and the hope, 

 to scatter the first bushel of wheat in what 

 was then but a great wilderness, and which 

 he now lives to see one of the finest agri 

 cultural districts in the Union. I copy from 

 the Cultivator, a sketch of Francis Granger's 

 speech in reply to a sentiment relative to 

 western New York, in which he refers with 

 a good deal of animation, to the circum- 

 stance just mentioned. I should be pleased 

 to see it in the Cabinet. 



"The distinguished honour conferred upon 

 me," said he, "would seem to demand that I 

 should say something in behalf of western 

 New York, and yet it would appear scarcely 

 necessary, for when I look around on this vast 

 assemblage, I see you are all here — every man 

 to speak for himself! Well may he who speaks 

 for western New York, feel proud of the 

 duty ! I can but feebly express to you the 

 emotions which crowded in my mind, when 

 to-day I took my seat in the cars by the side 

 of the man who raised the Jirst bushel of 

 wheat west of Cayuga lake ! (Cries of 

 'Who is he? — who is hel' iVIr. Granger 

 answered, Abner Barlow, and then three 

 hearty cheers were given for Mr. Barlow, 

 by the vast multitude.) Yes — the man in 

 full health and vigor, who sowed the first 

 seed and raised the first crop of wheat in 

 the West! and yet he was even then in 

 the pride and strength of manhood. The 

 world can present no such instance in its 

 history. What is the history of western 

 New York? It is but as yesterday when it 

 was one vast unbroken forest. When the 

 revolution was over, Yankee industry, Yan- 

 kee perseverance, would no longer consent 

 to be bound down to the iron coast of New 

 England, or even the high hills of Vermont. 



"They sought a milder country, which 

 would give a better return to the industry 

 of man — where they could push sooner the 

 advancements of life, and secure earlier its 

 elegancies — the enjoyments of civilization — 

 a broader field for their energies. What has 

 western New York done? Even in my 

 short day, and short it is, though I am get- 

 ting a little in the gray of the evening — 

 even in my short day, this city of Roches- 

 ter was not even a village! When I moved 

 into western New York, this splendid town, 

 which presents now all the arts of polished 

 life, where the stage proprietor would not 

 even deign to change horses — he only 

 watered and went on, is now a city which 

 packs more flour than any other in the world ! 

 I repeat it, than any other in the world. I 

 have heard this contradicted, but facts and 

 figures will make manifest its truth, and to 

 them I appeal. 



" It has been asked, where are the pio- 

 neers of western New York? The grave 

 has closed over most of them, but there are 

 ma,ny still living among us to give to their 

 children encouragement and advice — to tell 

 them to 'be sure they are right, then go 

 ahead.' I have taken by the hand many a 

 man to-day, who thought an eminent land 

 proprietor mad when he told them that the 

 time would come, in their and his day, when 

 the stage would go twice a week from Can- 

 andaigua to Albany, and yet the little train 



