354 
SARATOGA-COUNTY AGRICULTURAL FAIR. 
Halliday, Mr. Anthony, Mr. Eaton, Mr. Hovey, 
and others, who were mentioned by many on 
the ground, however, in connection with premi¬ 
ums, but rest the argument on the single ani¬ 
mal specified, to whose performance, as above 
stated, we had two credible witnesses on the 
field; for, in our simplicity, we thought the yield, 
for so young an animal, somewhat marvel¬ 
ous. 
“ Now we do, in all sincerity and respect, re¬ 
quest of this committee a little explanation in 
their report. There is some error, or misunder¬ 
standing, somewhere. We claim to know some¬ 
thing about cows, if it be but little; and we 
cannot easily believe that three cows in the 
state can exceed this yield, allowance being 
made for age. If there are those, we would 
walk some distance, over some stony roads, to 
see them, and drink to their owner’s and the 
cow’s long life, some molasses and water, 
tepid. 
“ We will venture to propose to the owners of 
the three premium cows, to show this animal 
against any of those three cows, before three 
judges to be elected by the parties, for a silver 
pitcher worth $50 to be made by Gorham & 
Thurber, whose display of silver ware, at the 
show, reflected so much credit upon the state. 
“ And finally, we beg the committee alluded to 
herein, to believe that these strictures upon 
their decisions are made with a view solely to 
the eliciting of truth and for the general good.” 
One thousand and twenty quarts in sixty days! 
And from only a four-year old cow, too! Well, 
friend King, this is not to be deplored, at least, 
however much the decision of the committee 
may be; and you have the intense satisfaction 
of reflecting that you got plenty of milk for 
your tea and coffee, although you received no 
premiums. Now this is some consolation, we 
opine; and then there is the honor of possess¬ 
ing a good milker; and some satisfaction in 
letting the public know it; so go ahead again, 
keep moving, and above all, improving , and you 
may have better luck next time. 
SARATOGA-COUNTY AGRICULTURAL FAIR. 
In a tour recently made through some of the 
northern counties of this state, I attended sev¬ 
eral of the county agricultural fairs which were 
so well managed, and evinced so much spirit 
of emulation, as well to deserve a notice in 
your journal. 
On the 17th and 18th of September, Saratoga- 
county Fair was held at Mechanicsville. This 
exhibition proved to be all that had been antici¬ 
pated. When such men as Whalen, the presi¬ 
dent, and Cory, the secretary, have an enter¬ 
prise of this kind, a failure need not be ex¬ 
pected. 
As to matters of improvement, this society 
has abolished the free-admittance system. Until 
the present year, the fairs have been held in 
such places as best suited the notions or con¬ 
venience of the majority. Consequently, they 
were dependent upon the receipts of member¬ 
ship, and individual donations for sufficient 
funds to entitle them to the state appropriation. 
They have now an enclosure of about four acres, 
secured by a tight board fence, through which 
no one can pass except by the gate, and not 
then, without first paying a shilling. 
Visitors to the enclosure were amply remu¬ 
nerated by rambling up and down the well- 
laid-out grounds, reclining among a profusion 
of fruits, flowers, &c. In the middle of the 
ground, they have a permanent two-story 
building. The centre of the pit was devoted to 
the exhibition of flowers, which, let me say to 
the ladies of Saratoga, exceeded anything of the 
kind that I have ever met with. The designs 
were noble, reminding the beholder that none 
but that fairest of all flowers, (woman,) could 
contrive and complete, of such materials, such 
splendid temples, birds of Paradise, and more 
to be admired than anything else, a weeping 
willow formed of vines and bedecked with 
nearly 50 varieties of dahlias, and over 160 
varieties of flowers of nearly as many colors 
and sizes. Thus it will be seen that my path 
has been strewn with flowers. On each side of 
this department were manufactured articles in 
great varieties. 
The second story was devoted to the exhibi¬ 
tion of quilts, counterpanes, and other speci¬ 
mens of needle work, each of which was well 
represented. 
The exhibition of stock was very fair. Dur- 
hams, Devons, a cross of both, and some fine 
native breeds. It is said the best horses exhib¬ 
ited were the Black-Hawk stock, though there 
were some beautiful breeds of other pedigrees. 
The department for farmers’ implements was 
not so full at this, as at some other fairs, of 
which I shall say something hereafter; yet, 
sufficiently so to show that Saratoga county will 
soon be a powerful competitor for her neigh¬ 
bors that are much older in matters of this kind. 
A railway washing machine, exhibited by Mr. 
M. P. Coons, attracted much attention. It is said 
a child ten years old can do the washing of a 
small family, with the machine; if so, it is what 
has long been needed, a “ helpmeet ” for woman. 
Mr. J. H. Hedley, exhibited a patent bee hive of 
very curious construction. The only idea I can 
give you of it, is, a bee hive filled with bee hives. 
This hive is said to be the best one yet invented. 
Mr. Hedley also exhibited some specimens of 
honey made in common glass tumblers, placed 
in the hives. 
This fair, taken all in all, indicated progress¬ 
ion. The receipts show an increase of more 
than 800 per cent. 
A. Sherman. 
To Measure Hay in Stacks.— “ More than 
twenty years since,” says an old farmer, “ I 
copied the following method of measuring hay, 
from some publication, and having verified its 
accuracy, I have both bought and sold by it, 
and believe it may be useful to many farmers, 
where the means of weighing are not at hand. 
Multiply the length, breadth, and height into 
each other, and if the hay is somewhat settled, 
ten solid yards will make a ton. Clover will 
take from ten to twelve yards per ton.” 
