298 
SHOW AND FAIR OF THE STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Gr<’f ng the Pear on Quince Stocks. —Mr. Cum- 
ings a proved of grafting the French pear and other 
kinds • medium or dwarf growth, on quince 
stocks . but the famous Bartlett pear, as well as 
some o her varieties of larger growth, he thinks 
will not succeed well unless they are grafted on 
pear stocks. 
Fruit .—Several gentlemen presented fine speci¬ 
mens of the fruits of the season, among which 
were superior varieties of French pears, and the 
pound sweeting, or Somerset harvest apple, the 
latter literally weighing a pound. 
EIGHTH ANNUAL SHOW AND FAIR 
OF THE 
State Agricultural Sorietg. 
This was held at Buffalo on the 5th, 6th, and 
7 th of September. In the number of visitors, the 
interest excited, and the number, variety and qual¬ 
ity of the specimens exhibited, this show has far 
exceeded any that has preceded it. This is con¬ 
clusively shown by the fact that $6,300 were re¬ 
ceived on the ground against $4,034 last year, at 
Saratoga, and $4,333, at Auburn, the year previous. 
It was estimated that nearly 50,000 persons were on 
the grounds at one time, and that over 70,000 visit¬ 
ed them during the exhibition. The result of this 
show has disappointed two sets of croakers; the 
one predicting from last years results, that the 
society was on its last legs, and would hardly sur¬ 
vive the present year, and the other, that, although 
it might get along very well if the show were held 
in the eastern, or central part of the state, yet, that 
Buffalo was decidedly too far west for any success¬ 
ful assemblage of intelligent farmers. 
It is one of the best features in the rules of the 
society, that its annual meetings are of a locomo¬ 
tive character, and that new points are constantly 
selected for them. If continuously held in any one 
place, it would beget apathy and extortion; while, 
as at present arranged, the rivalry for securing it, 
ensures a spirit of accommodation on the part of 
the town where it is to be held, highly conducive 
to the convenience of the society and the comfort 
of the visitors. 
It also awakens a spirit of emulation on the part 
of the farmers in wdhose neighborhoods it is held, 
which is constantly striving to excel the previous 
exhibitions. We do not doubt, that while the 
number attending from other states, and especially 
from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Canada, 
much exceeded that upon any former occasion, 
then were more farmers and citizens of our own 
sia,-.-- present than ever before. The truth is, 
Buffalo is eminently a concentrating point, and 
speaking in the most enlarged and comprehen¬ 
sive sense, it is located in one of the best agricul¬ 
tural regions on the face of the globe ; and the fa¬ 
cilities for bringing people together at that place, 
cannot he exceeded, if equalled, by any inland town 
In theUnion. The. inhabitants in that wide-spread 
region too, are generally men of enterprise and in¬ 
telligence — men who feel their responsibility in 
setting a proper example as farmers, and who at all 
times manifest a proper spirit in whatever relates 
to their profession, or duty. They are, besides, not 
tied down to ancient usages and systems, as in 
some of the older states, or in eastern portions of our 
own. They are not only willing to learn, but are 
ambitious of improving every opportunity of doing 
so. To this spirit, and this character, we think, 
must be attributed the unusually large and anima¬ 
ted spectacle presented at Buffalo, in September. 
Pomology .■—The show was preceeded by a Po- 
mological Convention, held at the same place, 
commencing on the first, and continuing to the 
fourth ult., inclusive. This, we believe, is the first 
eneral meeting of the kind, ever held in the United 
tates; and if we can judge of the future by the 
spirit evinced in this, we must infer that pomology 
is destined to assume a high stand hereafter among 
the objects of attention in this country. About 
300 delegates were present from half the different 
states of the Union. The number of specimens 
presented was immense. The discussion on the 
merits of the various kinds was scrutinizing, and 
generally just. We deem this a valuable begin¬ 
ning for the lovers of fine fruits, and one eminently 
calculated to assign a just place for the varied 
kinds cultivated in this country. The fact was 
here fully corroborated which had previously been 
found in isolated instances, that fruits change in 
character and excellence from a change in locality* 
soil, climate, and cultivation. 
We trust the recent attention to this important 
brapch of horticulture may result in giving an im- 
petus to the enlargement and perfecting of our nur¬ 
series and orchards, which they have long needed. 
Nothing contributes more to our enjoyment, nour¬ 
ishment, and health, in the shape of food, than abun¬ 
dance of choice, ripe, seasonable fruit. It may be 
used without stint by old, young, and middle aged ; 
cooked, raw, or preserved, in almost any form, or 
manner. It must be a vitiated system that it will 
injure, and a sadly-vitiated one that it will not 
cure. 
The Show Ground .—This was beautifully located 
on the elevated lands that so gracefully sweep 
around the northern and western skirts of the city 
of Buffalo. Its entire length was nearly half a 
mile, with a width varying by rectangular additions 
from about 300 feet at its entrance, to 800 feet in 
the rear. The front was a gentle slope, and was 
occupied by two buildings, containing the treasu¬ 
rers and secretary’s office, /rearest the street; by 
the mechanics 1 hall, the dairy, gfain and seed hall, 
and the manufacturers’ and miscellaneous hall; 
then followed the great horticultural tent, 120 by 
80 feet on the ground; next the horse parade, over 
200 feet in diameter : then the society’s tent, 120 
by 90 feet; near which were numerous minor 
buildings for committees, refreshments, and various 
subordinate purposes. 
Four or five hundred feet in length of commodi¬ 
ous, welbroofed sheds, made perfectly tight, with 
latticed fronts, was appropriated to the feathered 
tribes and rabbits ; nor was this found adequate to 
contain the candidates for the honors and emolu¬ 
ments of the society. Near a thousand feet of 
pens were filled with woolled and bristled quadru¬ 
peds while acres of a well-wooded lawn gave shade 
and retirement to the varied families of the homed 
i stock. Besides their course for examination, exer- 
