1851. 



THE GENESEK FARMER. 



237 



TENTH ANNUAL FAIR OF THE N. Y. STATE AGRI- 

 CULTRAL SOCIETY. 



Taken as a whole, the Exhibition just closed in this 

 city, indicated a steady advancement in all the im- 

 portant features of farm implements and the arts of 

 husbandry. Stock breeding', in particular, evidently 

 commands increased attention. The show of Devons 

 has never been approached in numbers, nor equalled 

 in excellence. One gentleman who was a large ex- 

 hibitor, and constantly on the ground, estimated their 

 number at 500 ; we thought 350 nearer the truth. — 

 Mr. Wainwright, of Duchess, exhibited an impor- 

 ted bull of a light red — a very popular color in Eng- 

 land — which was a most beautiful animal, as may 

 be inferred when the reader is informed that the 

 owner refused $300, which were oftered for him. — 

 He took the first premium among Devons over three 

 years old. The same g-entleman was honored with 

 the first premium on Devon cows. 



Col. Sherwood's bull, "Earl Seaham," took the 

 first premium in class A. as the best Short-Horn 

 over three years old on the ground. Mr. Morris, of 

 Westchester, received the first premium on cows in 

 this clas-5, and the second on bulls. 



Mr, Ayrault, of Geneseo, won the prize on Her- 

 eford bulls, and Mr. Prentice, of Albany, that on 

 Ayrshires. The exhibition of Neat Cattle was very 

 creditable to the State, and their number was not 

 less than 700. Mr. Wadsworth, of Geneseo, took 

 the first premium on working oxen. 



It has always been a source of regret to us that so 

 few dairy cows are to be seen at tnese annual shows. 

 No other domestic animal is more useful, or better 

 deserves every possible improvement. The fat cat- 

 tle were all that the most fastidious taste could de- 

 sire. The Hon. Adam Ferguson, Messrs. Wade, 

 Gapper, and others, of Canada West, honored the. 

 occasion by exhibiting several attractive animals 

 from that province. We hope ever to see a kindly 

 feeling cultivated between the people living under the 

 two governments ; and we have reason to believe 

 that such a wish is the prevailing sentiment, alike in 

 the Canadas and the United States. 



The high price of good horses, and the liberal pre- 

 miums of the Society, have operated to turn public 

 attention to the rearing and improvement of this class 

 of animals. In skilful hands with sufficient means, 

 the production of horses promises to be very lucra- 

 tive. There was a large number exhibited, and not 

 a few deserving of notice and commendation ; but we 

 have no room in this paper for particulars. Mr. R. 

 F. Pennell, of Somerset, Niagara Co., took the 

 first premium on brood mares ; and a special premium 

 was awarded to " Morgan Hunter." Mr. Burnett's 

 thorough bred horse, " Consternation," having by 

 previous premiums been excluded from the list of com- 

 petitors, received a certificate as the best horse of his 

 class on the ground. Of matched and single car- 

 riage horses there was a fair display. 



Sheep were abundant, particularly long and middle 

 woolod. The show of Saxons and Merinoes was 

 smaller than usual. Mr. D. Hillman, of Avon, took 

 the first premium on Merino bucks, and Mr. Church, 

 of Vernon, Oneida Co., took the first premium on 

 Saxon bucks* Of mutton sheep, our Canada friends 

 exhibited several pens of fine animals. Mr. Gapper 

 and Mr. Pierce were among the most successful 

 competitors from Canada West. 



Swine did not attract particular attention, although 



there were about the usual number on exhibition, 

 and some were all that could well be desired in the 

 hog line. It is to be regretted that so little atten- 

 tion is paid to the actual cost of growing pigs, sheep, 

 and wool, per pound. 



Of Poultry, there was a good show. The Exec- 

 utive Committee appear to think Malays and Dork- 

 ings are the only fowls worthy of encouragement. — 

 We shall say something further in our next, on this 

 point as well as others. 



The Plowing Match was quite spirited, and Mr. 

 Alex. Rumsey, of Ogden, took the first premium. 



In no other department was improvement so con- 

 spicuous as in that of Agricultural Implements. It 

 would fill a volume to describe those which were 

 really meritorious. Mr. McCormick was present 

 with his world-renowned Reaper ; Mr. Ketciium, of 

 BufTalo, with his admirable Grass-cutter. Steam 

 engines were travelling about on wheels, over rough 

 ground, as steadily as ox-carts ; and wheeled culti- 

 vators, gang plows, seed drills, clod crushers, grain 

 threshers and separators, straw cutters, draining tile 

 and pipe machines, harrows, plows, shovels, axes, 

 hoes, ox-yokes, and farming tools of every descrip- 

 tion, were shown in almost endless variety. Messrs. 

 Rapalje & Co., of Rochester, were the most suc- 

 cessful competitors. 



In Manufactures, the display was not v/hat it ought 

 to have been. The dust, however, and the rough 

 handling to which fine goods are occasionally sub- 

 jected by the million-, doubtless prevented manufac- 

 turers from sending in their best ^oods for exhibition. 

 Mr. Barton, of Rochester, made a fine display of 

 edge tools. Mr. White, of Buffalo, deserves notice 

 for a similar exhibition. Stoves of every description 

 were shown ; and many of them were alike beautiful 

 and useful. 



The show of Fruit we have never seen equalled. 

 Messrs. Ellwanger &. Barry exhibited over 100 

 varieties of pears, and a large number of apples. — 

 The nurserymen and fruit-growers in the vicinity of 

 Rochester, prosecute their business with a degree of 

 talent, energy, and success worthy of all commenda- 

 tion. Nor are those who reside elsewhere in West- 

 ern New York undeserving of praise ; but it is not 

 our province to attempt a critical award of profes- 

 sional claims to each. There are several gentlemen 

 from whom we should have rejoiced to hear public 

 l^tures on fruit culture, during the Fair. The oc- 

 casion should be improved to communicate orally to 

 thousands, with specimen trees, both for root-pruning 

 and top-pruning, and specimen fruits before the lec- 

 turer, a large fund of practical and scientific knowl- 

 edge. We sought instruction, and got very little ; 

 and others fared no better. This business should be 

 managed better in future. 



Nothing pleased us so much as the sight of so 

 many sober, intelligent, and happy people ; of whom 

 100,000 or more visited the exhibition. 



The address of Senator Douglass was very well 

 received, particularly by free-traders. It was mainly 

 devoted to political, rather than rural economy, — 

 Independent of its political character, the discourse 

 abounds in usefui suggestions. It has been exten- 

 sively circulated in newspapers. 



There were over $15,000 received at the Fair for 

 tickets of admission, and for membership ; and as 

 the city of Rochester paid all the incidental expenses 

 (some $6,000) the Society has saved a handsome 

 sum after paying its numerous and liberal premiums. 



