EDITOR'S TABLE. 



355 



TATE Fairs. — As a general thing, the State Fairs the 

 sent year have heen very successful. AVe have attend- 

 as many as possible, but our limits will not permit of 

 ended notices. We ma}- refer to some particular points 

 uture. 



!'he Xfw York State Fair, at Elmira, was all its friends 

 Id desire. If it was deficient in any respect, it was, 

 haps, in horses. In fruit, tiowers, implements, cattle, 

 , it was very good — and the people were there to see 

 learn. 



'he New Jersey State Fair, held at Camden, was the 

 . ever held in the State. It was entirely successful, 

 ♦r. Kenmcott, the Secretary of the Illinois State Ag- 

 Itural society, writes us that their fair was all the most 

 lusiastic could desire. 



he Pennsylvania StAte Fair, we regret to learn from 

 papers of that State, was considered almost a failure, 

 believe there was some feeling in regard to the loca- 

 , of an unpleasant nature. The farmers of this great 

 prosperous State must take hold of the matter them- 

 es. If there are evils existing, correct them, but sus- 

 the society. " In some articles, however, the exhibi- 

 was quite creditable and abundant. In poultry it has 

 Uy been surpassed, and in rich quilts and needle work 

 ould vie with any before it. In agricultural machinery 

 implements the exhibition was most gratifying. And 

 ome of the fruits, pickles, preserves, flowers, &c., it 

 ample, creditable and gratifying." 

 Ihe Maine State Fair (the first ever held) is reported to 



been very successful. 

 he ^Michigan State Fair, at Detroit, a correspondent 

 es us, was a good and successful fair, 

 t the Provincial Fair, held at Cobourg, was an excel- 



show of cattle, and working horses we never saw 

 lied on this continent. "We should encourage this class 

 orses more in this country. Good working horses are 

 t we need. The long-wooled sheep, which they called 

 testers, were exceedingly fine, and too large for pure 

 esters. The exhibition of field vegetables could not 

 •excelled in old England. Such ruta bagas, mangel 

 tzels, &c., we have not seen equaled in many a day. 

 w fine apples were shown, but the exhibition of fruit 



not very creditable. 



he "Wisconsin Fair, we see by the papers, was highly 

 lessful, and the display in many departments very supe- 



EATH OF Prof. Johnston. — Late advices from Eng- 

 i state that Prof. Johnston, the eminent agricultural 

 mist and author, died at Durliam on the 18th of Sept., 

 d fifty-nine years. He visited America a few years- 



I, and upon his return to England, published bis 

 otes on North America," which have been republished 

 lis country, and have found numerous readers. He was 

 author of several scientific works, the most celebrated 

 vhich were "Lectures on Agricultural Chemistry and 

 logy," and " The Chemistry of Common Life." He 



endowed with rare talents, and his loss will be deeply 

 lored by the scientific portion of the community. 



The Third National Exhiuition of the United 

 States Agricultural Society, at Boston, commenced 

 on Tuesday, the 23d of October, and continued during the 

 three following days. The opening on Tuesday was all 

 that could be desired by the officers and the friends of the 

 exhibition generally. On M'€d7iesdai/ the rain, which has 

 so generally interfered with the State Fairs this season, 

 cast a gloom over all concerned in this 'great national ex- 

 hibition. It rained on "Wednesday all day, but ceased du- 

 ring the night. On Thursday, although it was not pleas- 

 ant, it did not rain, and this was the great gala day. Stores 

 and schools were closed, and the banks suspended. The 

 crowd on the ground this day was immense — estimated at 

 sixty thousand. As we delay the press to make this an- 

 nouncement, we have only time and space to say that the 

 arrangements were made with ability and good taste, and 

 the greatest credit is due to the President, Marshall P. 

 "Wilder, and the other officers of the Society. 



James "Vick. of the Genesee Farmer, made a few hu- 

 morous remarks on the subjects under discussion, alluding 

 to the discrepancy between the statement of Solon Rob- 

 inson that 200 D>s. of guano would give an increase of 13 

 bushels of wheat per acre, and that of Joseph Harris, 

 that 336 ffis. were required in England to produce an in- 

 crease of 10 bushels over the unguanoed portion of the 

 field. — Coinitry Gentleman. 



The above alludes to remarks we made at the agricul- 

 tural discussion held during the State Fair, at Elmira, N. 

 y. Now, although we made no particular effort to be 

 humorous, yet certain statements made about the wonder- 

 ful eftects of guano, were enough to affect the risibilities 

 of even the most seriously disposed. "We have tried gua- 

 no at various times and under almost all circumstances ; 

 and while we are willing to admit all that can be reasona- 

 bly said in its favor, we know it will not accomplish im- 

 possibilities. "With potatoes at 37A cents per bushel, and 

 wheat at $1.50, it will not pay to use guano. The increase 

 in the crop will not pay the cost and trouble, but with po- 

 tatoes at 75 cents per bushel, and wheat in proportion, we 

 would use it liberally, and expect a good crop in return. 

 Guano was tried this season, under our advice and inspec- 

 tion, on potatoes, The ground was light. In the spring 

 of 1854: clover was turned under and corn planted, which 

 yielded well. Last spring it was plowed well, and planted 

 to potatoes the last of April. Every alternate four rows 

 of an acre was treated to guano, one ounce to a hill, ma- 

 king 153 5)s. to the half acre that received the guano. 

 Blue Mercers was the kind planted. They were dug and 

 carefully measured about the I5th of October, and the 

 half acre that had received no guano yielded G9 bushels, 

 and the guanoed half acre yielded 85 bushels, making 16 

 bushels to be credited to the guano. These IG bushels, 

 at 44 cents, the present price of potatoes here, would bring 

 S7.04. The guano, including transportation, cost $4.59. 

 The guano was put in the hill and lightly covered before 

 the potatoes weie planted. 



We tried this season to see how many potatoes we could 

 raise to the acre by the use of an extraordinary quantity 

 of well rotted barn-yard manure and ben dung, and on 

 the thirteenth of an acre we raised of Blue Mercers at 

 the rate of 470 bushels ; and on another piece, the tenth 



