STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
31 
forced to retreat to places where the air is damp and moist. 
When the uplands, the ploughed fields, are parched with drouth, 
the Midge cannot abide in them; it must go to the lowlands 
along the margins of streams, where it must remain so long as 
the drouth continues. Here it must lay its eggs and rear its 
young, depositing them probably in the grass growing in these 
situations. 
And, hence, we also learn, that if the last half of June is 
unusually dry, our wheat that year will escape injury from the 
Midge; but if the last half of June is very wet and showery, 
this crop will be severely devastated. Time forbids my pursuing 
this subject further. 
ASA FITCH. 
The President, Mr. Geddes, then introduced Hon. Henry S. 
Randall, of Cortland, who was present at his request to read a 
paper upon sheep raising and wool growing. Mr. R. occupied 
upwards of an hour in a summary review, particularly of the 
Fine Wooled Sheep of the country, their introduction, character 
and successful improvement. This paper included several 
extended tables, and much information gathered from the pre¬ 
vious writings of the author and others, as well as by his recent 
observations in this and other States, and by correspondence 
with our best sheep breeders. Biased strongly in favor of the 
fine wooled breeds, few advocates of that class of sheep could 
have made out a stronger argument in its favor. 
At the conclusion of Mr. Randall’s essay, Hon. Wm. Kelly, of 
Dutchess, seconded by Mr. Peters, moved a vote of thanks and 
that a copy of the paper be requested for the Transactions of 
the Society. Adopted. 
The essay of Mr. Randall will be found among the valuable 
papers prepared for the Transactions. 
The subject of the location of the State Fair for 1862, for 
which there were proposals, was referred to the Executive Com¬ 
mittee. 
The Society adjourned to meet at the Agricultural Hall on 
Thursday. 
Thursday, February 13/4. 
The Society mot at the Agricultural Hall, lecture room, Presi¬ 
dent Geddes in the Chair. 
