No. 129.] 157 



mate to contend with when compared with the localities of a 

 large proportion of our brethren. Added to the disadvantages 

 of climate ; our county was not blessed with a particularly invi- 

 ting /ace, which operates disadvantageously in regard to early 

 engagements. Although tlie general aspect of our county, in a 

 state of nature, was forbidding, yet through the persevering in- 

 dustry of those whose lot was cast in this region, they have so 

 far overcome natural impediments, that many parts of it have 

 become desirable as places of residence, affording not only an 

 equal share of the comforts of life, but a fair share of the luxu- 

 ries also. We feel bound to make the best we can of our locali- 

 ty, and improve the talents committed to our charge by a wise 

 Providence. 



I am delegated to represent the agricultural and horticultural 

 interests of our county ; but it affords me gratification to find 

 that the progress of arts, in it, are favorably represented here. 

 Our starch and flour occupy conspicuous niches in your exhibition. 

 Of these two articles we manufacture more than four million of 

 dollars in value annually ; and we also produce respectable quan- 

 tities of butter and cheese for the eastern markets, together with 

 beef, pork, wool, and many other farm productions. From our 

 orchards we are now sending and are prepared to send to this 

 market Jiffy thousand barrels of apples of the finest quality pro- 

 duced in the United States. 



Situated as Osv/ego county is between 43" and 44" of north 

 latitude, on a parallel with the southern part of Maine, an infer- 

 ence might be drawn that the climate was too frigid for the suc- 

 cessful cultivation of the finer and more delicate fruits of the 

 middle States ; but such is not the case. Bordering as we do 

 upon Lake Ontario, whose waters never freeze, the influence 

 upon the surrounding atmosphere is such that the temperature 

 never falls more than 8^ below zero, hence the cherry, apricot, 

 nectarine, and peach, thrive and perfect their fruits as well, or 

 better, than in the New England States. 



The commercial advantages of Oswego county are already 

 commanding considerable attention. In addition to our domes- 

 tic trade, which bears a large proportion to that of all the lakes, 

 we have an increasing foreign trade with the Canadas, which 



