No. 1. 



AND GARDENER'S JOURNAL. 



For the J\'cw Genesee Farmer. 

 To the Farmers of Nia|;ara County. 



Purely from tho desire that agriciilcirrnl knowldge 

 nioy be disseminated, and our husbandmen thereby 

 rendered more prosperous, inteihgent, and respectable, 

 do I address you a few thoughts, through tho columns 

 of this paper. I am well aware, however, that I am 

 by no means the proper man to perform this task suc- 

 cesfully; for I acknowledge myself but a child inprac- 

 tieal agricuhure; a farmer of only eight years experi- 

 ence, while many of you have devoted a whole life 

 thus for to the pursuit of husbandry. I know my ig- 

 norance, I om deeply sensible of my destitution of ag- 

 ricultural science, and, indeed, I am no less deeply 

 ashamed of it. Nevertheless, I have felt towards this 

 department of business an ardent attachment, as also 

 towards the farming community, for these many years. 

 And if there is about me anything of the nature of 

 pride, it is not of the manner in which I pursue it, but 

 of the calling in which I am engaged. 



There is to me a substantial pleasure in agricul- 

 tural pursuit a satisfaction, peace of mind, a tenden- 

 cy to contentment, freedom from ve.xaiions, and an in- 

 fluence, which leads a man into close intercourse with 

 his Maker, which is no where else to be found in any 

 earthly avocation. It is a calling, the enlightened and 

 scientific pursuit of which gives more substantial in- 

 dependence, more dignity, more stability of character, 



and generally a greater competence than any other. 



It is a fact, not to be controverted, that agriculture, in 

 the broad sense in which J would use the term, is the 

 foundation and support of all others. Would a statue 

 fall on the removal of the pedestal ? So surely would 

 commerce, mechanics and manufactures, were they 

 without the support of agriculture. She is the only 

 produce of material wealth, ond therefore every other 

 trade and profession is, either directly or indirectly, 

 dependent upon her, and they can advance but a step 

 without her. 



But it will readily be conceded, that the peculiar 

 advantages and qualities which are set before the far- 

 mer, and which for the most part are attainable by 

 him, are possessed only bya comparatively few. And 

 why 1. Is it not for the w-ant of agricultural science 

 and intelligence ! If this be the fact, ought we not to 

 make use of all the means within our reach to re- 

 move it? 



And how can this be done more surely, more effec- 

 tually, or more cheaply, than by the general circula- 

 tion of agricultural papers ? There can be no ques- 

 tion that very great advontages are derivable from this 

 course. Some of you, I know, will accede to this 

 Btotement; for, not long ago, a respectable and an ob- 

 serving farmer, whose residence is not five miles from 

 my own, said to me, that merely in passing through 

 the country he could tell whether a farmer was in the 

 habit of reading agricultural journals, by the general 

 appearance of his farm, fences, buildings, stocks, &c. 

 And again. I heard a farmer say, not long since, 

 (and a thorough-going, business man he was too,) that 

 he wished there was not an agricultural paper to be 

 had, for by their influence the crops weie so supera- 

 bundant as to ruin the market. And besides; it was 

 the estimate of the laie.Tudge Buel, that every addi- 

 ticnol subscriber to such journals, increased the annual 

 product of the soil at least ten dollars. So that five 

 hundred thousand new patrons (only the farmers of 

 New York and Ohio) would add five millions of dol- 

 lars to our agricultural productions. 



On the same calculation, suppose the twenty-five 

 hundred farmers in our county, whaare without an 

 agricultural paper, were all to become subscribers, at 

 the commencement of the new year, a net profit 

 would be added to their annual income of more than 

 twenty-three thousand dollars And 1 have no doubt 



the amount of hoppiness, and useful entertainment 

 would be ten fold greater than that. 



A paper, like the New Genesee Farmer, at fifty 

 cents a year, (less than one cent per week) is so low 

 that none can find an excuse for not toking it. We 

 do not consider our true interests, when we neglect to 

 take so valuable works at eo emallan expense; at least, 

 Irom my own experience I do not so judge. I refer 

 particularly to the New Genesee Farmer, in prefer- 

 ence to other papers of the kind, for the reasons that 

 it is, in my estimation, an ably conducted journal; that 

 it is offered at so very low a price; that it is published 

 in our own neighborhood; it is acquainted with our 

 own soil and climate, and it is better adapted to the 



agricidture of Western New York than any other. 



And if we who are in the hobit of reading such jour- 

 nals, would induce one half of our brethren of the 

 plough to become subscribers, I have no hesitation in 

 the opinion, that more than twenty times the cost of 

 the paper would he their advantage. Shall we 

 TRY ? Yours respectfully. 



Thorn Hill, Dec. 1840. W. PARSONS. 



Iliuts about I'oninion Schools. 



Pursuant to our promise for devoting a portion of 

 our paper, regularly, to the promotion of Euccatio.v, 

 we now insert some paragraphs from a friend in refer- 

 ence to Common Schools. Elsewhere, in our col- 

 umns, there will be found some articles ot a general 

 character respecting the advantoges of education. 

 teachers of schools. 



Much as we hear of the difficulty of procuring good 

 school teachers, we believe that an ample sudiciency of 



well-qualified Instructors may he had at all times, 



ISj' if proper encouragement be offered to those who 

 labor faithfully in our schools. 



[CF Offer FAIR WAGES, and treat with proper re- 

 spect the person whom you engage to discipline the 

 "immortal minds" of the rising generation around 

 you. Such a course would commond for our schools 



much of the talent usually devoted to other pursuits 



pursuits which generally ot present offer pleasanter 

 and more prohtable inducements for the exertion of 

 such talents and qualifications as are necessary to con- 

 stitute a good TEACHER. "Supply" would readily 

 follow the " demand" in this, as in the legal and med- 

 ical professions, and in other pursuits, if the ixrucE- 

 MESTs WERE — as ihcy ought to be — eekbebed eri/al- 



LY STRONG. 



ARE TOU A PARENT t 



If you are, the love which you bear your children 

 should stimulate you to cast a friendly eye towards the 

 school- house wherein the children of your neighbors 

 are instructed along with your own. Your presence 

 occasionally in the school-room, with a few remarks 

 from you, showing your respect for the teacher and 

 your solicitude for the welfare of the scholars, would 

 promote the progress of the school far more than the 

 money which you pay in taxes fjr its support. 



DUTIES OF TRUSTEES, ETC 



Were our Common Schools regularbj visited by 

 even one in a hundred of the persons who profess the 

 most zealous regard for the rights and welfare of the 

 people, a spirit of emulation would be incited that 

 would soon benefit teochersand scholars in a manner 

 that woudd shed incalculable blessings on the popula- 

 tion of the State. 



Even of the Trustees of Schools — the men elected 

 specially to promote the welfare of the system of Pub- 

 lic Instruction — there are thousands in the State who 

 scarcely enter the school-house for any purpose dur- 

 ing the year I How can any honest man satisfy his 

 conscience for such criminal disregard of the solemn 

 duties devolved upon him as a Trustee for promoting 

 the spread of knowledge and morality among the 

 youth committed to hie chtirge f 



Genesee Couuly Agricultural Society's £xhi- 

 bitioii and Fair, 



HELD AT ALEXANDER, OCT. I-l, 1840. 



The First Annual Exhibition and Fair of this Society 

 was very numcroutily attended and the conipctilon 

 Sjiirited, considering the time it had been in opcrniion. 

 The Society was not known until ofter the iiiidillu of 

 Julv, and it hod become so late in the season ihat there 

 could be biitliitle competition except in animals, and 

 of them there was a fuir show. 



The preniiuiu 'or the best short-horned iJurham bull 

 wos awarded to Mr. B. Muiphty, of Le Roy; and hs 

 well deserved it, for it is a very line animal. 



The premium i»t the beet Devonshire bull was 

 awarded to Mr. Vernon of L.e Roy. On his imported 

 bull. 



The best Durham bull calf was adjudged to L. E. 

 lleston of Bntavia. The calf was from the herd of 

 P. A. Remsen, Esq., of Alexander. 



Mr. Heston aloo drew the premium on the best 

 yearling steers. 



Mr. Beck, of Sheldon, who exhibited a fine herd of 

 Dcvonshires, drew premiums for best bull calf, best 

 yeorling bull, best cow, and best three yeor old steers, 

 nil Devonshire. Mr. B. sold several ot his animals on 

 the ground at very lair prices. 



P. A. Remsen, Esq., drew the premium on the beat 

 short-horned Durham cow. 



To Mr. S. Allen was awarded the premium for tha 

 best common cow. 



Mr. A. Toney of Alexander, received the premium 

 for the best yoke of oxen; and Mr. C. Dickison tha 

 second best. 



Mr. Samuel Heston of Batuvin, received the pre- 

 mium for the best four year old steers, and the second 

 best yearling steers. 



There being but little competition in horses, Mr J. 

 Hammond received the premium for the best breeding 

 mare, and Mr. Waid of LeRoy, the premium for the 

 best span of working ninres. 



There was a very fair exhibition of Swine. Mr. 

 S. S. Harrison of Darien, received the premium for best 

 boar and sow and pigs ; all Berkshire. Mr. O. T. 

 Knrgo the premium lor second best boar: Essex half 

 black. 



In Sheep tliere was a fine competition. Best buck, 

 for wool, was awarded to Mr. L. E. Heston, of Bota- 



via, and best buck, for buicher, to Mr. J. Heston, of 

 the same place, for South Down buck. Gen. Stan- 

 ton of INIiddlebury, had the premium for the be=t pen 

 for three or more ewes. 



In Field Products there was but little competition. 

 The best acre of Winter wheat wos awarded to Mr. 



Lewis Clark of Dorien; product GO bu^hel8 10 lbs. 



Best acre of Spring wheat to Mr. H. Broinard of Al- 

 exander; product oG bushels 1 qt. Also the best acie 

 of corn: product 6'2 bushels 5 qis. Best acre of pota- 

 toes to Mr. A. R. Taylor; product 400 bushels. 



In the Domestic Arts, there was of nectssity but 

 little competition; the most in silk, however. Thero 

 were some fine specimens shewn of silk in various sta- 

 ges of maufacture, from the Cocoon to very tiite 

 reeled. 



The premium for best 10 pounds of Cocoons was 

 awarded to Col. S. Dunham of Batavio. Best speci- 

 men of reeled silk to Mr. Hort of Le Roy. 



Mr. L. E. Heston received the premium for the best 

 piece of domestic flannel. Mrs. i. Heston of Batavia, 



received the premium for the best '2o lbs. of butter. 



Mrs. E Bishop of Attica, the premium for the best 

 chetse. 



Discretionory piemiums were awarded to Mrs. E. 

 Bishop of Attica, for specimens of linen in thread, 

 stockings and napkins, and ihcy were very line in- 

 deed. Mrs. Herrick of Bethany, for specimens of 

 silk tow stockings. Also to Mr. Churchill and Mr. 

 Duncan for specimens of fulled cloth. 



Mr. L. E. Heston, Rlr. J. Heston. BIr. Vernon, 

 Mr. Beck, Mr. Remson, xVIr. Brniimrd, Mr. Clork 

 and Mr. Bishop, donated their premiums to the So- 

 ciety. 



An address was delivered by the President, and the 

 following persons elected officers for the ensuing 

 yeor : — 



Theodore C. Peters, Esq., of Dorien, President. 



Gen. P. Stanton, Middlebury, E. Bishop, Attica, 

 E. J. Pettibone of Eiba, Truman Lewis of Orange- 

 ville, Phical M. Word, Perry, Holland Eorie, Pem- 

 broke, F. P. Pendcle, Batavia, Jesse W. Drugnid, 

 Le Roy, Vice Presidents. 



C. P. Turner of Bntavio, Secretary. Thomas Bid- 

 die of Darien, Corresponding Secretary. Lewis E. 

 Heston of Batavia, Treasurer. And a ^Manager for 

 each town. Kespectfully vours. 



T.'O. PETEHa 



