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THE NEW GENESEE FARMER, 



Vok. 



Cattle Show and Fair at Albany—September 



37, 28, 39, 30. 



We bad prepared the suti joined account of this feeti- 

 val for the last number of the Fanner, but though sei.- 

 Bonably mailed, it was unforuinutely not received in 

 season. Our account must be imperfecl for two rea- 

 Bona; first, because we are necessarily restricted in our 

 limits; theeecond, because having been placed upon 

 the committee for the examination and testing of 

 ploughs, we were, in the discharge of our duties, tor 

 nearly the whole of three days exiled from the field, 

 and had no opportunity of doing more than to take a 

 passing glance at the exhibition. 



The Show was held at a distance of about two miles 

 from Albany, in an enclosure of more than twenty 

 acres, known and used as the trotting course. A wid'i 

 and smooth drive encircled the field The outside of 

 the drive was occupied by a few booths, though the 

 greater part of the booths were without the enclosure; 

 the ground within the drive was entirely devoted to 

 the objects of the Fair. A large wooden building was 

 erected for the exhibition of dairy products, vegetable 

 product-i, silk, maplesngar, fruits, flowers, email agri- 

 cultural implements, euch as hoes, spades &c. &c., 

 bee. hives, cocooneries, various niodclsof an agricultu- 

 ral character, specimens of the product of the spinning 

 wheel, the loom and the needle, and many other nrti- 

 cles of this description, which the reports of the vari- 

 ous committees will hereafter describe. There was 

 on the field likewise a large marquee for the office of 

 the Secretaries of the Society and the E.xecuiive Com- 

 mittee, and the tents of a military company were erect- 

 ed upon the field (or shelter in case of rain. The 

 threshing and fanning mills were exhibited in the 

 rear of the enclo^ure ; the ploughs, straw-cutters, 

 corn-crackers, sowing machines &c. &c. &c. in 

 front ; two or three ranges of pens were^formcd for 

 the exhibition of the swine ond sheep, and calves ; 

 and the principal animals were tied to stakes, within 

 and around the circle. The weather for the three firs; 

 days was never more propitious. The fourth day, de- 

 voted to the public sale of animals and goods, was 

 slightly rainy in the forenoon, but no one was serious- 

 ly inconvenienced. The attendance during Wednes- 

 day and Thursday wos very large, not less than 8000 

 tickets of admission having been sold the first day ex- 

 clusive of those which were given away ; and a badge, 

 which entitled the bearer to a free admission at all 

 times was presented to every gentleman known to be 

 from out of the State. The money received at the 

 gate was exclusively devoted to the actual expenses of 

 the occasion and the objects of the Society. The ar- 

 rangements throughout were excellent; and although, 

 as was to be expected, and, as in such coses was un. 

 avoidable, mistakes may have occurred, and omissions 

 moy have taken place which are to be regretted, and 

 improrements may have suggested themselves, which 

 actual experience only could point out, yet the ar- 

 rangements throughout reflect great credit upon the 

 gentlemen who made them and whose laborious ser- 

 vices were all rendered gratuitously, among whom, 

 without invidiousness, may be named, Mr. Tucker o( 

 the Cultivator, Mr. Prentice of Albany, Mr. Wads- 

 worth of Geneeeo, President of the Society, Mr. Nott 

 of Guilderland, late President of the Society, Mr. Be- 

 ment of Albany, and Mr.Walsh of Lansingburgh. To 

 the latter gentleman is without doubt due the honor of 

 laying the foundation of the Society ; ond of having 

 watched over and assisted its progress with disinterest- 

 ed and parental assiduity. To soveral other gentle- 

 men, who cheerfully tendered their assistance on the 

 occasion, the agricultural community are greatly in- 

 debted. 



The show of ploughs was beautiful ; thirty.three 

 bavins been entered fur pomnptition mirt »vV.;K:f;nr, 



ful construction. The show ol other implements was 

 numerous and respectable. The show of animals, 

 especially of the Improved Durham Short Horn, of 

 the Hereford Stock, of Southdown, Cotswold, 

 Leicester, Dishley and fine Saxony sheep, for 

 quality, at least, has probably never been equalled in 

 this country. The admirable Durham stock of Mr. 

 Prentice and Mr. Vail, and the Hereford stock of 

 Messrs. Corning and Solham, the perfect specimens 

 of Southdown sheep fjoni Mr. Uotch cf Butternuts, 

 of Cotswidd and Leicester from Mr. Dunn of Albany, 

 excited universal admiration. Three of the Cotswold 

 sheep of Mr. Dunn weighed together 889 lbs. There 

 were other fine specimens of sheep, the names of whose 

 owners we could not learn. The swine we had no op 

 portunity of inspectmg ; but Mr. Lincoln of Worces- 

 ter, one of the committee, celebrated for his Porcelli- 

 an skill, will give a full account of them in his own 

 good humoui. The horses were on the ground only 

 in our absence. In specimens of native stock, as far 

 as we could see, there was an almost entire deficiency, 

 which was much to be regretted. In fato.wn, though 

 the number was small, yet the show was magnificent. 

 Mr. Ives' cattle were excellent ; but the ox of Mr. 

 Rust of Syracuse, and the two oxen of Mr. Godfrey 

 of Geneva may chollenge the world for their equals. 

 The live weight of Mr. Rust's ox was 4100 lbs, and 

 he is still gaining rapidly. The famous cow from 

 Maine, for her size and fatness, of her kind probably 

 the most extraordinary animal ever seen, was therefor 

 privote exhibition. One yoke of Devon working ox- 

 en attracted universal attention and admiration. In 

 appearance we have never seen their superiors. But 

 we connot now farther particularize. 



The trial of ploughs took place on a field distant 

 half a mile from the show-field. Fifteen different 

 ploughs were entered for examination. The points to 

 be ascertained were mainly the power of draft requir- 

 ed to move the plough, aud its general const.-uction, 

 durability, and expense. The dynomometer was 

 applied to each plough, and four dificrent observations 

 token and the whole compared ; but from the imper- 

 fection of the instrument, from the nature of the pow. 

 er applied, different teams and different harnesses be- 

 ing necessarily used in different cases ; and from the 

 impossih^ty, with the imperfect arrangements which 

 had been made, of making the trial equal to all the 

 competitors, the committee determined to submit to 

 the competitors themselves, the question whether a 

 decision on the partial and unsatisfactory grounds 

 which the committee possessed, should titeii, be made , 

 or whether the whole matter of premiums in thiscase 

 should be abandoned until another year, when the so- 

 ciety would be expected to make such arrangements 

 for the trial, that the committee might arrive at a fair 

 decision; at least one which would satisfy themselves. 

 The competitors perceiving all the d.illculties of the 

 ease and knowing how very important to their inter- 

 ests a decision would be, expressed their unanimous de- 

 sire that the decision for this year should be omitted ; 

 and their request that the money designed for premi- 

 ums this year might be applied to the increase of pre- 

 miums for the same object at the next show. 



The ploughing match for a sweepstake of 100 dol- 

 lars came offon Thursday forenoon. Ten teams en- 

 tered the lists ; and ploughed each one quarter of on 

 acre. Nine of these were teams ofonepairof horses; 

 one, a team of one yoke of oxen. A greater part of 

 the ploughing v/as admirable ; and for its skill and 

 beauty could not be exceeded. The diflTerent lots 

 were merely numbered; and no name was known to the 

 judges, who were not on the ground until the teams 

 liad left. The points to which their examination was 

 directed, were simply the depth and width of the fur- 



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clusively the mojority of the committee decided 

 vor of lot No. 1 : John Keeler, who drove the 

 entere.l by Mr. Hillhouee. The plough used ii 

 case was from the plough factory of Ruggles, N 

 & Mason at Worcester, Mass. one of the most e: 

 sive eetablishmenta for the manufacture of ploughi »' 

 other agricultural implements ill the country 

 grounds of the judgment of the committee wei 

 trcmely limited ; but were presented to them b 

 managers. What would have i)een the decisi 

 the committee had the whole subject of ploughini 

 (ho skill of the ploughmen been taken into vie? 

 Iiave no means of knowing ; but the result ; 

 have been different. 



The society met on Thursday afternoon at the 

 tol, to listen to an admirable address fiom Gov Jf, 

 Seward. Its subject was general ; the impor 

 rif agriculture, iti economical and political bear 

 its improvements ; its debt loscienceand its proi 

 of advantage from science, and the value of edui 

 to the agricultural classes. Iii relation to these t< 

 though brief, it was sensible, judicious, and pit 

 in sentiment, ond perspicuous, beautiful, and 

 nate in its style and illustrations. It comm||jt 

 universal attention and respect. 



The farmers and others interested in agricultui 

 its improvement held a meeting on Tuesday ev 

 at the room of the Young Men's Association, t 

 Wednesday evening a very crowded nieetin 

 Capitol, for the discussion of subjects colinected 

 agriculture. Judge Sackett of Seneca Falls pre 

 The subjects considered were the condition of t 

 ricultural classes, their just claims to protectit 

 patronage from the government, ond CEpecio 

 importance of provision for the edueotion m foi 

 sons, the establishment of agricultural schools a« i, 

 perimental farms. The meetings were addrew 

 Mr. Meriam of Boston, Mr. Johnson of Oneid 

 Fuller of Michigan, Mr. Ilolcombof Delawar 

 .\ldler of Virginia, Mr. Peters of I'ennsylvanii 

 Baldwin of Syracuse, and Mr. Stone ofNcwi 

 Other gentlemen participated in the discussiort 

 committee of eight, one from each Senatorial t 

 was appointed to draft a memorial to the Legi 

 on the subject of Agiicullural Education, 

 meetings were conducted in the best spirit, and*' 

 ed a strong and enthusiastic interest in the cd 

 and improvement of the rural classes. 



An agricultural dinner was given at the K 

 bocker Hall on Thursday evening, where a lai 

 ty of gentlemen enjoyed, in a high measure, thk 

 vities of the occasion. The sitting was protro" 

 a late hour, and rendered interesting and agree- 

 a very handsome and appropriate address fr 

 President of the society, Jas. S. Wodsvvorfj 

 by speeches and sentiments from Lieut. Gi 

 Bradish, Gen. Tallmadge and Col. Stone o. 

 York, Mr. Nott, Dr. Beekman, Mr. Viel 

 G. O. Choales, Mr. Barnard of Congres' 

 Baldwin of Onondaga, Mr. Marx of Richmo: 

 Dr. Thompson of Del., by a speech in Dulc 

 Judge Van Bergen of Coxsackie,and by a most 

 siastic, loyal, speech from Mr.FeigUton of Dun 

 Canada. Mr. Ferguson, by his excellent humi 

 the waters of good fellowship, active, brigl 

 sparkling through the whole evening, Mr. 

 Albony Co ; in this matter, likewise ployei 

 band. The company separated in good scan 

 the best wishes tor each other's prosperity ( 

 bright hopes of a repeated interchange of kin 

 tious and sympathies at the next ouniversary. 



Railway Speed.— -The lines upon wh 

 trains travel nt the greatefrt speed are as f 'lli 

 Average speed, exclusive of stoppage"-. Nort 

 Eastern, 36 miles per hour ; Great VVoslein. 

 London ond Brighton, 30, Newcasile and 



