NINTH ANNUAL SHOW OF THE N. Y. STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
301 
see this favorite breed spreading over the fine feed- 
ing grounds of every part of this state. 
The Short Horns were not behind the Devons in 
quantity nor merits, but they did not bear that excess 
in numbers they have generally done. The bull 
and two heifers, recently imported by Col. Sher- 
wood and Mr. Stevens, were on the ground ; and 
though in only indifferent condition, they received, 
as they richly deserved, the highest premiums, for 
their unmistakably high-bred qualities. There 
were many other very choice animals in this class 
upon the ground, one of which, belonging to Mr. 
Bell, of Westchester, was cheaply purchased at 
The Herefords were exhibited by their veteran 
importer Mr. Sotham, of Black Rock, Erie county, 
and by the Messrs. Bingham, of Vermont. The 
last were descendants of the importation of Messrs. 
Corning and Sotham, and equally with them, 
showed great merits of blood and breeding. Most 
of the latter were offered for sale, and they ought 
to command the favorable attention of graziers 
throughout the country. 
Of Ayrshires there were not a large number on 
the ground. They were, principally from the herd 
of E. P. Prentice, of Albany, and possessed great 
merit ; we saw a few others, without being able 
to learn their ownership. 
Native and Grade Cattle.— Oi the former, very 
few were shown, and most of these, we should think, 
were brought forward by some of the most invete- 
rate sticklers for blood, to show off, by contrast, 
the wide disparity between the improved stock and 
the unadulterated native. They were incontestibly. 
lean specimens of a leaner species. 
Some of the grades were magnificent, especially 
among the milking stock, fat, and working cattle. 
These were mostly crosses with the shorthorns, 
and evinced the rapid improvement these invaluable 
animals are capable of producing, when judiciously 
crossed with good subjects. The numbers did not 
compare with the magnificent teams heretofore 
driven in by the stock raisers and graziers of west- 
ern New York, and as shown at Auburn, Rochester, 
and Buffalo. But they were good, according to 
their numbers, and sufficed to convince any one, 
who needs convincing at this late day, the decided 
improvement any breeder has it in his power to en- 
graft upon his unimproved herds. A few choice 
cows were shown by L. G. Morris, of Westchester, 
a cross of the shorthorns and Dutch cows. These 
are famous milkers, as described in another article 
in our present number, and deservedly received 
some of the best premiums. 
Fat Bullocks. — Some immense specimens of these 
were on the ground, and though few comparatively 
in this class were exhibited, they were mostly good 
animals. But we saw none that possessed much 
merit, that did not apparently derive their principal 
excellence from some of the improved breeds. 
Sheep. — In one respect, the exhibition in this de- 
partment far excelled anything ever before offered. 
The distinguishing peculiarity consisted in the nu- 
merous splendid specimens of the French Merinos, 
recently imported by Mr. Taintor, of Hartford, and 
now owned- by the Messrs. Bingham, of Vermont. 
There were about fifty in all, as we estimated, 
mostly grown ewes and lambs; and with their 1 
massive fleeces, shearing from six to sixteen pounds 
each, covering carcasses of great size and perfec- 
tion, they seemed to embody the perfection of the 
medium-wooled species. Large prices have been 
paid for such of these as the owners could be in- 
duced to sell, and we trust this importation will be 
the means of extensive improvement in this valua- 
ble race. There was, in addition to these, tolera- 
bly full representations from other flocks of Meri- 
nos, Saxons, Bakewells, and South Downs, many 
of which were excellent specimens of their respec- 
tive classes. 
After this commendation of these large improved 
breeds of sheep, we wish it understood, that we do 
not underrate the value of those of a medium size ; 
on the contrary, we advise all those to retain their 
present stock, if they possess good constitutions, 
and are of fine points, at least, till they are pre- 
pared with a superabundance of feed, and have in 
the way of barns and sheds, all necessary accom- 
modation for larger and finer bred animals. 
The Swine did not exhibit so great an array of 
numbers, but some of the leading breeds, the Berk- 
shires, Leicesters, and their crosses, showed great 
excellence in their flesh. 
Of Poultry, there was a more meagre show than 
we have ever before seen. Some very pretty spe- 
cimens of what were labelled Java Bantams, clean- 
legged, plump-bodied, well-shapen, little bipeds of 
assorted colors, white, speckled, and grey, made 
up all there was of interest on the premises, in this 
department. Some half dozen Bremen geese, and a 
less number of common-looking dung hill fowls 
comprised all the balance. 
In Dairy Products there were several choice spe- 
cimens, embracing some variety, especially in the 
style and character of the cheese. But the quan- 
tity was not so large as we had expected to wit- 
ness, in the long-practised and successful English 
making cheese districts of Oneida, Herkimer, Mont- 
gomery, and other neighboring counties. 
The Domestic Fabrics — Home-modes. — The handi- 
work of the farmers' help meets were few and 
comparatively unimportant. We miss the long 
files of substantial flannels, the nicely-spun yarns, 
the huge bundles of soft, woolen socks and mittens, 
the glowing comforters, tempting almost as the fair 
hands that knit them, and make one almost wish 
for a frosty day for the pleasure of wearing, and 
the daintily-made coverlids — spreads and counter- 
panes are the modern terms, we believe. Few of 
all these we saw, and their absence elicited rather 
melancholy musings, as we thought of the stores 
of these substantial realities, that make the far- 
mer's home comfortable, healthful, and happj r , our 
good old patriotic revolutionary mothers would 
have proudly set forth on any similar occasion, had 
agricultural shows been the fashion sixty years 
ago. We have changed all this, say the modern 
belles. Ah ! but have you changed it for the bet- 
ter ? Machinery has been made to do a large part 
of this department of women's work, but in miti- 
gating their labors and diminishing their cares, we 
hope it may not have lessened the stock of those 
genuine homely virtues, that afford the surest 
pledge of manly heroism and self-denying, laborious 
patriotism from the other sex, when these may be 
demanded. In our next number, however, we shall 
