using a pail sufficiently large to bold all, without ] 
the necessity of changing. Cows are very sensi¬ 
tive, and the pail cannot be changed nor can the 
milker stop or rise during the process of milking 
without leading the cow more or less to withhold 
her milk. The utmost care should be taken to 
strip to the last drop, and to do it rapidly, and not 
in a slow and negligent manner, which is sure to 
have its effecton the yield of the cow. If any milk 
is left it is re-absorbed into the system, or else 
becomes caked, and diminishes the tendency to 
secrete a full quantity afterwards. If gentle and 
mild treatment is observed and persevered in, the 
operation of milking appears to be one of pleasure 
to the animal, as it undoubtedly is, but if an oppo¬ 
site course is pursued—if, at every restless move¬ 
ment, caused, perhaps, by pressing a sore teat, 
the animal is harshly spoken to—she will be likely 
to learn to kick as a habit, and it will be difficult 
to overcome it afterwards. To induce quiet and 
readiness to give down the milk freely, it is better 
that the cotvs should be fed at milking-time with 
cut food, or roots, placed within their easy reach. 
The same person should milk the same cow regu¬ 
larly, and not change from one to another, unless 
there are special reasons for it. 
To Prevent Cats Killing Chickens, &c. —In the 
new London paper Once a Week, Miss Harriet 
Martineau, is publishing a very interesting series 
of sketches, entitled, “Our Farm of Two Acres,” 
in one of which sketches she gives the following 
as a sure preventive against the killing of chickens 
or birds by the cats:—When a cat is seen to catch 
a chicken, tie it around her neck, and make her 
wear it two or three days. Fasten it securely, for 
she will make incredible efforts to get rid of it.— 
Be firm for that time, and the cat is cured—she 
will never again desire to touch a bird. This is 
what we do w T ith our own cats, and what we recom¬ 
mend to our neighbors; and when they try the 
experiment, they and their pets are secure from 
reproach and danger henceforth. AVild, homeless, 
hungry, ragged, savage cats, are more difficult to 
catch; but they are outlaws, and may be shot 
with the certainty that all the neighbors will be 
thankful. 
HUNGARIAN GRASS. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:— Some weeks since 
I read a short article in your journal from the pen 
of my friend, the Hon. A. B. Dickinson, on the 
subject of Hungarian grass. He is a man to whom 
I am indebted for many valuable hints on agricul¬ 
ture, and I have ever considered him a strong 
practical man on such subjects. I confess I was 
somewhat surprised at his views, as they were so 
contrary to my little experience and observation. 
I would like to know how he comes to the conclu¬ 
sion that it is nothing but the old-fashioned mil¬ 
let, and that it is no better than barnyard grass 
for stock. I aver, without the fear of contradiction 
from any practical cultivator of the two kinds, that 
it has no more similarity than has barley and 
spring wheat, and that you can no more ama'ga- 
mate the two kinds by sowing the mixed seed of 
them together in the same field than you can of 
other grain; nor is the kernel of the two kinds 
any more similar in appearance than that of barley 
and spring wheat. 
As to barnyard grass I yield to him the palm , 1 
having had no experience in the use of it as food 
for stock. My ambition as a farmer has always 
been to wage a war of extermination against its 
growth. Its good qualities for stock I will not 
therefore speak of, but I may perhaps venture a 
reason why I prefer the Hungarian grass as a crop 
to the barnyard variety. 
Early in the season of 1853, having seen favora¬ 
ble notice of it in several journals, I ordered a 
bushel of the seed from a seed store in New York, 
and paid the humbug price of $5 per bushel of 50 
lbs., (reminding one of the days of China tree corn 
and Rohan potatoes.) The grass seed I divided 
with my neighbors, retaining only six quarts for 
myself, which I sowed on one side of my barley 
•field, it being on wheat stubble ground, and no 
manure. I cut from two-thirds of an acre over 
two tuns and put i^into my barn and fed my lambs 
(some eighty in number) a foddering of it every 
noon. At first they did not seem to relish it, but 
within a week they ate it with avidity, always pick¬ 
ing for the heads first. I also fed other stock with 
it with the same success. My lambs improved ap¬ 
parently as well as they would had I given them 
the same quantity of oats in the sheaf. 
Last spring I sowed on oat stubble ground with 
a slight dressing of manure, one acre and two- 
thirds. It came up nicely before the disastrous 
frost and by that was entirely killed. I re-sowed 
and harrowed in the second time, which has pro¬ 
duced me over six tuns, that is housed in good 
order, for which I would not take less than $12 per 
tun, while I will sell good hay for ten. 
I have said I had no experience in barnyard 
grass as food for stock but some in its destruction. 
One fact must be obvious of the superiority of the 
Hungarian to the barnyard as feed. The head of 
the Hungarian is very tenacious in holding on to 
its seed, not shelling in the process of cutting and 
securing. It is very hard to thresh, the most so 
of any grain I have ever attempted to thresh, thus 
bringing with it to the feed rack all that it has 
produced, while the barnyard variety cannot be 
cut and cured without the loss, almost entirely, 
of its seed, thereby greatly reducing its value as 
food. Again, the superiority of the Hungarian 
over its competitor, is the fact that you are in no 
danger of its becoming a noxious weed to curse 
your grounds and damage your future crops—no 
more so than oats or wheat. To raise it you must 
sow it every season as it will not lie in the ground 
over winter and propagate the next season, but 
leaves the ground clean for a future crop. I have 
recently seen an article in the New York Observer 
from a western writer, saying that it foundered 
horses and stiffened the limbs of horned cattle. 
Such cases I presume are isolated, and in my own 
mind is no more argument against it than against 
oats or corn, which will do the same thing if 
overfed to stock for a long time. I would not 
advise the entire feeding of sheep or other stock 
on it no more than I would of oats or other grain 
in the sheaf, but feed it as you do other grain in 
the straw and you will have like beneficial results. 
I am not very enthusiastic about Hungarian grass 
as a crop, and do not advise its culture to the ex¬ 
clusion of others, (barnyard excepted,) but 1 
would place it with other crops for food for stock. 
For a small farmer, who has but little meadow 
land to spare, an acre or two will prove of great 
value; and to large farmers I would say, try it for 
yourselves. A neighbor of mine has sowed some 
ten acres on muck bottom land, and is now har¬ 
vesting the crop, which is a large one, a part of it 
being estimated by some farmers as high as five 
to seven tuns to the acre. I think it over-estima- 
ted. 
You will pardon the length of this article as it 
is the first I have ever offered to the public on Ag¬ 
riculture, and feel desirous that Hungarian grass 
should not be smothered in its infancy in this 
country before its merits are fully tested. 
Yours truly, Jas. H. IIotchkin. 
Prattsburgh, N. Y., 1859. 
HEN STATISTICS-PROFITABLE POULTRY. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker: — A relative of mine 
has six hens and a rooster of the breed known as 
Black Polands. They were hatched June 1st, 1858, 
and commenced lajiDg the 25th day of December 
following. Up to the first day of September inst., 
there had been layed seventy-six dozen eggs, 
worth, at a moderate estimate, ten dollars. The 
whole amount of feed purchased for them during 
the same time was four bushels of oats and one of 
corn, at an expense of three dollars. Besides this 
they have had crumbs and other refuse from the 
table of a small family. Most of the time they 
have been confined to a small yard and barn. 
It will be seen that these hens have averaged an 
egg each every forty hours since they first com¬ 
menced laying, and that the nett income from 
these equals the legal interest on one hundred dol¬ 
lars. Of course the hens have not been permitted 
to lose any time raising chickens, a pleasure which 
they are more willing to forego than any other breed 
I know of. The laying season is nearly over, but 
my frieud expects to realize eighty dozen from 
them before the year comes round. She says she 
gave the hens a stint on the start to lay sixty 
dozen, but they accomplished that so easily she 
increased it to eighty. They are in a fair way to 
accomplish all that is required of them. 
If any of the readers of the Rural can beat the 
foregoing hen statistics, let them send on their 
facts and figures. c. c. b. 
Syracuse, N. Y., Sept., 1859. 
PLOWING-MY MODE, 
Messrs. Eds.:-~As I believe in progress and im¬ 
provement as well as the rest of the boys, and 
having read the late numbers of the Rural with 
much pleasure and benefit, I would beg permission 
to offer a few suggestions about plowing. There 
are a great many ways of plowing, as there are for 
doiDg almost all agricultural work, but in my 
opinion there is only one right way, howsoever 
little it is followed. You see a great many large 
farms, and to judge how all the work is done on 
them, you need look no farther than the plowing. 
Here is a man plowing in a field of forty acres, we 
will say. Now, the mechanic and artizan both 
have rqles in performing their business, but this 
^man has no rule; he starts from one side at no 
particular place, for the other side, and by dint of 
many crooked strides aDd a much crookeder fur¬ 
row he arrives at the opposite side, without tres¬ 
passing, it may be, on his neighbor’s land. But I 
will give my way and have done. 
Pace off an equal distance at both ends—say ten 
paces, for the first land, so that it will not be too 
wide for back-furrowing. Set a stake at the oppo¬ 
site end, and another about six rods from it. 
Make a mark with the foot at the place you start, 
from; before starting tie a loop in each line, so 
that they shall be tight. Take hold of the plow 
handles, and do not look back. A. Walker. 
Millon, Rock Co., Wis., 1859. 
WINTER FALLOWING-INQUIRY. 
Messrs. Eds: —I saw in the Rural of Sept. 17th 
an article on winter fallows, and as I am young in 
scientific farming, and decidedly opposed to doing 
a thing half way, I thought I would consult you 
aDd your many correspondents in regard to it. I 
have an orchard just in its prime, that has been 
rather badly dealt with. The soil has been badly 
run, and one day a man got in with an axe and 
made sad havoc among the trees. Two years ago 
it was sowed to clover and timothy, and has given 
good crops. The soil is loam with a mixture of 
gravel. Now, will winter fallowing work on this 
for corn? My plan would be to plow about the 
middle of October, and leave in furrows until 
spring; then, as soon as the ground would work 
in the spring, go and harrow and plow just before 
planting; giving it a dressing of barn yard ma¬ 
nure to be plowed under, and then, after it is 
plowed, give it a dressing of swamp muck, or de¬ 
posit from water, mixed with lime, to be harrow¬ 
ed in. I wish to know if the sod will rot so that 
the grass will not be troublesome in the com, and 
if lime and muck will work well together, and 
how much unslaked lime is best to be applied per 
acre on land that is not used to such treatment, 
and if there is any manure within reach of ordi¬ 
nary farmers that would be better. 
Yates Co., 1859. Young Farmer. 
SORGHUM “STILL LIVES.” 
In the Rural of Sept. 17th, is an article upon 
“Sorghum—where is it?” The writer thinks he 
has got Sorghum and Sorghum men in a tight 
place. He says—“ How is Sorghum ?” but more 
particularly,” where is it the current year ?” 
To these questions I can say that Sorghum is 
growing, that I have some over ten feet high, and 
if AV. B. P. will wait till November next, for a 
small consideration I will send him a barrel of 
Sorghum Syrup, grown in 1859, on the 42-45 par¬ 
allel. Then he can taste, see, smell, and handle, 
and believe that it is no humbug, and that it will 
be a standard crop as loDg as corn is. 
Let anti-sorghum men who are short for sweet¬ 
ening, send on their orders for syrup. That will 
be facts, and Sorghum men won’t dodge. 
Skaneateles, N. Y., Sept., 1859. W. E. Clark. 
Rural Spirit of tlje fkess. 
Breaking Colts. 
A writer in the Country Gentleman says:—• 
“ As some of your subscribers are troubled with 
their horses hugging the reins, I will give you my 
method of breaking colts. First, I put on a high 
part mouth bit,—(bridle with no blind;) put on 
the harness one hour in the forenoon, and one in 
the afternoon, with breechen straps hanging about 
the legs—cruppet-pad six inches round. Do this 
for one week, tying him on both sides of the stall, 
reined moderately. Then change the bit to a 
chain-bit., placing him between the poles of a 
double-wagoD, between two steady farm horses, 
and have him so regulated by the reins that he can 
neither pull too much nor fall back—the old 
horses having control over him by the breechen 
and reins. Keep him in daily, till he learns all 
that is necessary when he is spoken to, seldom 
driving off of a walk. Never hitch a young horse 
to a harrow, plow, or cultivator, till he is thor¬ 
oughly at command in the wagon—which will take 
often six months. Drive with blinds if the colt is 
timid or lazy. 
If disposed to kick in handling, tie up his head 
as high as possible alongside of the barn, and then 
give him a white birch bush till he can be handled 
quietly. One good dressing will do the business. 
Bitting a colt as some do, and allowing him to 
walk about the yard, I have found to spoil him. 
Standing quietly afterwards, when my colts are 
broken they need no hitching, however wild when 
taken in hand, but are trusty in all respects. 
Never give a colt in the hands of a brute of a man 
to break, if you ever expect him to be docile, for 
like gets like—a mulish man turns out a mulish 
horse. 
If you wish a serviceable horse, four years is as 
young as he should be deemed a horse; he can be 
well broken before that by my method, with little 
hindrance about a farm, and is worth three horses 
that are put to draft at two past. 
P. S.—You will perceive the pad of the crupper 
being made large, not only breaks the colt of that 
hugging practice in putting on the crupper, but 
he carries a better tail, and ba3 never the power 
to hug the reins, and if disposed to bolt, a few 
rods with the reins with a chain-bit, will quiet him 
for that. Never check a young horse too much 
when walking in harness, for it is apt to spoil his 
reach and give him a hitebinggait.” 
Coal A.slies as a Fertilizer. 
We have noticed several communications and 
editorial disctwoDs in that valuable Agricultural 
paper, the New England Farmer, remarks the 
editor of the Boston Commercial Bulletin, upon 
the properties of coal ashes as a fertilizer. To 
solve the question nffirmatiyely would be of great 
importance to farmers and gardeners, especially 
those living in the vicinity of cities and towns 
where coal is used for fuel. Without any preten¬ 
sions to a practical knowledge of the subject, we 
are tempted to give our experience in a small way. 
Upon a half acre of land, partly in grass and 
partly cultivated, we have tried the experiment as 
follows, with great success: 
In November we cleare dtput of the cellar ashes 
made the previous se^sd^WT^ seven tuns ofi 
anthracite coal, mixed wilh|^B[ ashes of one-halt 
cord yellow pine wood used ii^Rdling ; to this n® 
added equal parts of horse i^Biure and loam, well 
mixed together. A part of this was used at the 
time npon a piece of grass ground more than 
twenty years in the sward, put on about two 
inches thick as a top-dressing, which has this year 
produced two crops of fine grass, in place of white 
weed and other nuisances, and the ground has 
shown no signs of being affected by the dry 
weather. The balance lay in a heap till spring, 
and was used on the cultivated ground, both for 
spreading and in the hill. 
Results. —While in foimer years the early pota¬ 
toes planted from the same kind of seed have 
invariably rotted before the time for digging, this 
year there has been the most productive crop of 
the largest and best quality. The sweet corn aver¬ 
ages nine feet in the stalk, the leaves of a clear 
green, and the ears perfectly filled, and so with all 
the other vegetables in the garden. We believe 
coal ashes have been rejected without a fair test. 
The great hue and cry made about their destruc¬ 
tiveness to the trees on our Common, instead of 
leading to careful investigation, resulted in a sum¬ 
mary condemnation. The same result might have 
followed, if lime, plaster, or even wood ashes had 
been used, as the coal ashes were,—to the depth of 
two feet or more, unmixed with loam or sand. 
We hope the experiment will be fairly tested, as 
everything which helps build up the farmer’s ma¬ 
nure heap is beneficial not only to him, but to 
those who depend on him for their vegetables. 
Use of a Clieck Rein. 
The N. E. Farmer makes some excellent sug¬ 
gestions upon this subject:—“Any person whose 
attention has been called to the subject, and who 
still persists in the use of a tight check rein, ought 
to have his bead placed in a similar position to that 
which he has cruelly subjected the horse. If I 
were the Grand Sultan, every man who torments 
his horse with a check rein, should hold his arm at 
right angles with his body for an hour at a time, 
once in twenty-four hours, as long as he continued 
the use of the check rein. The practice of draw¬ 
ing in the heads of team horses, by means of this 
pernicious strap, is especially cruel. The horse, 
in endeavoring to expend his strength, needs the 
free and natural use of his head and neck. The 
cramping position now enforced, is alike severe 
and injurious to horses, and in business, and 
should be eased off till nature is at free play.” 
New Agricultural Journals.— We are in receipt 
of The Farmer and Gardener, a neat appearing 
monthly just commenced at Philadelphia, Fa,, by A. 
M. Spangler, at one dollar a year. It has the look of 
success, but so many agricultural journals have been 
started, temporarily flourished and died in Phila., that 
this must be regarded as an experiment. We have 
also received the firatnumberof The Western Farmer's 
Magazine, an octavo monthly of 82 pages, published 
by Birdsall Bros., Chicago, Ill., at $1. While we 
wish success to all meritorious enterprises, we hardly 
think such a monthly as the Magazine can succeed, or 
is required, while so good a weekly as the Prairie 
Farmer is in the field. 
'Agricultural iHiscellartg. 
Tnp, Weather proved most unpropitious for the 
Fairs held last week. A heavy rain storm prevailed on 
Tuesday, Wednesday and part of Thursday over a large 
area of this State, eo that the County and Town Fairs 
were seriously damaged. In several instances the 
exhibitions were continued through Friday, thus secur¬ 
ing one fair day. The present week opens warm and 
sunshiny—with a promise of fine weather for the shows 
and farm operations. 
P. 8.—Tuesday.— Another rain storm has set in, and 
we fear the week will be unfavorable for Fairs, &c. 
N. Y. State Agricultural College. —We learn that 
at a meeting of the Trustees of this Institution, held at 
Ovid on the 22d ult., Maj. M. R. Patrick was unani¬ 
mously elected President of the College, and signifled 
to the Board his acceptance of the appointment. This 
is a most important and progressive step-one which 
cannot prove otherwise than highly gratifying to the 
friends of the College and all acquainted wiih the ap- 
appointee, who is, in many respects, eminently qualified 
to discharge the duties of the responsible position. A 
graduate of West Point, and for many years in the 
Army, Maj. Patrick has the reputation of being an 
excellent and thorough disciplinarian and executive 
manager—essential requisites for the head of snob an 
institution. Moreover, he is a practical man, having 
retired from the service many years ago, and devoted 
himself to the practice and science of Agriculture, 
Under his supervision we may confidently hope that 
the Agricultural College will soon regain the reputation 
lost by the appointment and administration of his pre¬ 
decessor, and prove more than an experiment. Con¬ 
sidering the appointment eminently fit and proper,— 
calculated to inspire confidence and give the institution 
a prestige of success,—we congratulate the Board, and 
friends of Agricultural Education, upon the election 
and acceptance now announced. 
— We arc informed that the College building is pro¬ 
gressing to completion—will be under roof In two or 
three weeks—and preparations for finishing the inside 
are already progressing. 
The Rural Festivals-Fairs— of tho present Au¬ 
tumn are attracting unusual attention in all parts of the 
country. From the great National Show at Chicago to 
the humblest Town Fairs, the exhibitions thus far held 
seem to have been largely attended and richly enjoyed 
by contributors and visitors. Our exchanges from 
nearly all parts of the Union contain gratifying reports 
of these exhibitions, which are annually augmenting in 
numbers, usefulness, and popularity as occasions of 
festivity or “ harvest home ” celebrations. 
— We have often urged the importance of Ag’i Fairs 
as affording recreation and needed holidays to the great 
producing class of the country, aside from their useful¬ 
ness in promoting improvement and the pecuniary 
interests of individuals and community. On this point 
the New England Farmer of last week well says: — 
“The agricultural exhibitions which are now being 
held come very opportunely to relievo the tedium of 
the long interval between Independence and Thanks¬ 
giving Days, which, with Fast day, constitute almost 
the sole relaxation allowed to themselves by the inhabi¬ 
tants of New England. The pursuit of the ‘almighty 
dollar,’ which is often held up as a reproach against 
the Americans as a people, allows of no recreation to 
the overtasked powers of mind and body. Too little 
relaxation from labor, and too close confinement to tho 
counting-room or work-bench, we believe, are product¬ 
ive of more physical evil than any other cause. Wo 
do not mean to advocate idleness nor extravagance, 
but we think that we have too few holidays for our real 
welfare. Wo are, therefore, a zealous advocate of the 
farmers' festivals, aside from their value from an agri¬ 
cultural point of view, as they afford us the desired 
opportunity of refreshing our wearied bodies, and en¬ 
joying a rational and profitable enjoyment.” 
BouGnxoN Wheat. —We have received a very fine 
sample of this wheat, grown by Mr. Wm. R. Duryee, 
of Nunda, Livingston Co., N. Y. One bushel was sown 
about the 25th Sept,—winter-killed a good deal, and 
the yellow birds destroyed at least one-third of the crop. 
It produced fourteen bushels by measurement, and 
weighed 65 lbs. per bushel. Mr. D. has sown the four¬ 
teen bushels, and hopes to have a fine crop next season. 
. — Speaking of Boughton Wheat, Mr. John Holmes, 
of Burnt Hills, Saratoga Co., writes us that he last year 
obtained a bushel from Baltimore, and sowed it about 
Sept. 1st, on oat stubble, plowed once and without any 
manure. Balance of field sowed at same time with 
Mediterranean. Nearly the whole field wintered well. 
From the bushel of Boughton he obtained sixteen 
bushels of wheat weighing 64j4 lbs. to the bushel. It 
was harvested ten days earlier thaii the Mediterranean. 
Mr. n. says he is so well pleased with the result that he 
shall sow (or has sown) his entire crop of Boughton 
this fall. He hopes to hear from all who have tried new 
varieties of wheat the past year. 
Transactions of a Farmers’ Club.— We are in¬ 
debted to the Publisher, D. Ayer, of Little Falls, for a 
well printed octavo volume of 257 pages, entitled 
“Essays and Discussions on Agriculture, before the 
Farmers’ Club of Little Falls. Edited by the Secretary 
of the Club. Published by Resolution of tho Associa¬ 
tion.” The work is mainly comprised of Essays and 
Remarks read and delivered by members of the Club, 
aud which evince much intelligent investigation and 
successful practical experience. It is certainly highly 
creditable to all concerned. The simple fact that such 
a volume of Transactions is issued by the modest 
Farmers' Club of a quiet town in Mohawk Valley, is 
one of the best “signs of the times” we have noted 
for months, and most encouraging evidence that the 
cause of Rural Progress and Improvement is quietly 
but surely advancing. Success to all Farmers’ Clubs! 
Victory Town Fair. — We learn from Mr. D. L. 
Halsey, Secretary, that the Victory (Cayuga Co.) Fair, 
Sept. 22d, was one of the most pleasant ever held by 
the Society. The show of Stock, of all kinds, was full 
and fine. The exhibition of Fruit was not beaten in the 
county, and there was a decorative display of flowers 
and fancy articles. Of Vegetables the show was the 
finest ever seen at town or county fair. An excellent 
address was delivered by Dr. S. H. Plumb, followed by 
some sound, practical remarks from H. S. Harris, Esq., 
on Drainage,—who also, on behalf a Viewing Com¬ 
mittee, reported a general and encouraging improve¬ 
ment through the Town under the influence of the 
Society, and specially noticed two Instances of success¬ 
ful swamp drainage—one of 8 and the other of 11 acres. 
Curing Corn Fodder. —In arecentletterMr. Nelson 
Payne, of Auburn, says :—“ I huve formerly bound my 
com and lost much of it. Last year I tried an experi¬ 
ment in curing corn sown for fodder. It maybe cut 
with the mower or with the scythe; when wilted put it 
into cocks (using forks) until cured. When mowing 
away for winter use it is a good plan to put alternately 
a layer of corn and dry straw'.” 
Ag. Fairs next Week.— State Fairs aro to he held 
Oct. 4-7, as follows-New York, at Albany ; Michigan, 
at Detroit; New' Hampshire, at Dover. Now York 
Union and Town Fairs—Clymer, Oct. 5, 6; Livonia, 
6th; Hammond, Oct. 6,7; Pavilion and Covington, Sth. 
Bkw York State Fair—Programme.— The 1#^ 
Annual Fair of the N. Y. State Ag. Society is to be 
held at Albany next week. Tee Show Grounds aro on. 
the Albany and Troy Me Adam road, about one mile 
from the city limits, where the Business Office will bo 
open for entries, sale of tickets, &c., on Monday. ty c 
annex the Programme of the Fair: 
Tuesday , Oct 4.—Arrangements for exhibition com¬ 
pleted an<1 visuors admitted. Judaea are desired to 
report themselves at the Business Office. 
Wednesday, Oct 5—Judges will be oalled nt9 o’c'ock 
—receive their boons of entries and commence their 
examinations. Exhibition of Cable, Horses, Sheep, 
Swine and Pounry; Implements and Machinery In 
operation; Trial of horses in the rings prepared for the 
purpose. Cattle will be examined ill the rings prepared 
ferihem, and prizes affixed by the Judges before the 
cat’lo leave the rings. 
Thursday , Oct 6—Exhibitions continued : Plowing 
and Hpad'na Machines; Floral, Mechanical, Domestic 
and Dairy Halls; PaintiDgs, EDgraviDgs, &c., open lor 
examination. 
Friday, Oct . 7.—Prize Anima's wi'l be publicly ex¬ 
hibited under the direction of Maj. Patrick, General 
Superintendent. At I o'clock the Address by Hon. 
John a. Dix. At the close of the Address the Pre¬ 
miums will be announced, and paid by the Treasurer 
at the Business Office on (be Grounds. 
The Executive Comm’t'ee will meet every evening 
at the State Agricultural Rooms. Public Mee'ings will 
he held every evening at the Lecture Room of tho 
Society, in the Slate Agricultural Buildings corner of 
State and Lodge streets. M»j Patrick, General Super¬ 
intendent, will have charge of the arrangements for 
carrying out tho Fair in all ihe departments. The 
President will have his Office upoa the Fair Grounds, 
where every attention will he given to the guests and 
visitors who may be present. 
Tna Onondaga Co. Fair— at Syracuse, Sept. 20-22 — 
was rendered meagre by the almost continuous rain 
during the first two days. We visited tho Fair Grounds 
on the 21st, but tho exhibition of Stock, Implements, 
&c., was slim indeed. Among the few implements, 
SnERWOOD’s Binder was the most noteworthy. It is 
said to be practical and perfect by those who have used 
it-doiog the work of five men; it costs some $80, and 
is readily attached to a reaper. A new wire-tooth 
horse-rake—on wheels, with seat for driver—was shown 
by J. Grinnell, Jr., of Fayettville, and had the appear¬ 
ance of being a good thing. A self-regulating wind¬ 
mill, operating a pump, worked admirably and attracted 
much attention. It was invented and manuiactured by 
quite a yoUDg man-E. W. Mills, of Amber—and can 
be furnished at a cost of $25. Indoors we found a fair 
display of Fruits, Vegetables, Dairy Products and Do¬ 
mestic Manufactures. AmoDg the fruits, C. Pope, of 
Syracuse, exhibited 16 varieties of Grapes grown under 
glass —a very fine and creditable display. We met 
some progressive farmers and horticulturists - non. 
Geo. Geddes, S. N. Holmes, Esq , and several officers 
and members of the Society —but the attendance of 
exhibitors and visitors was very limited. Indeed, bad 
as was the weather, the show and attendance were not 
what we anticipated in good old Onondaga, and we 
fear some cause other than the temporary storm - per¬ 
haps the reign of General Apathy-must be assigned 
for the apparent lack of interest manifested. 
Cortland County Fair.— It was onr good fortune to 
pass two days at and in the vicinity of this Fair, held 
on the grounds of the Society, between noiuer and 
Cortland, last week. The weather being unpropitious 
during the three days selected for the exhibition, it 
was continued through Friday. On visiting the Fair 
Grounds—Thursday morning—we were agreeably sur¬ 
prised to find quite a fine exhibition inmost depart¬ 
ments, and a large attendance, notwithstanding the 
unfavorable weather. The fine grounds contain 13 
acres, and are pleasantly situated, being nearly equi¬ 
distant from the villages already named. The finely- 
decorated Floral Hall comprised a creditable exhibition, 
of Fruits, Flowers, and Vegetables, with some good 
samples of Grain ) also, a fine displajf of Domestic and 
Fancy Manufactures, and several pencil drawings, oil 
paintings, etc. We can hardly do more than speak of 
this and other departments of the Fair in general 
terras ; and though we observed many things worthy of 
commendation, can only note a few. Mr. William M. 
Elston, of Scott, exhibited 33 varieties of apples (from 
over fifty cultivated) and 10 of pears. Messrs. J. M. 
SonERMEaiioRN and J. & P. Barber, of Homer, made a 
good display of grapes grown under glass—including 
some of the finest clusters we ever saw. In the floral 
department. Mr. Paris Barber, of Homer, (a gentle¬ 
man of fine taste in that line) was a prominent contribu¬ 
tor. Of Tools, Implements and Machinery there was 
quite a large and excellent display—much better than 
we expected to see, even in fair weather. Messrs. 8. 
D. Freer of Cortland, and J. W. & A. Stone of Homer, 
were the most prominent exhibitors, each making a 
very creditable show, including leading articles of the 
best manufacture. Emery’s Horse Power, Thresher, 
&c., was shown by E. W. Cady of Dryden, and a new 
Cheese Yat by D. W. Maples of Homer. There was a 
large display of Stoves, Tin-ware, &c ,-principally by 
Geo. Murray of Homer, and S. D. Freer of Cortland 
—aud an excellent show of Harnesses, &c., by Ciias. 
II. Wheadon of Homer. Most of the Live Stock had 
been removed from the grounds. We however saw 
eleven full blood Devons and six grades, exhibited by 
Mr. John Corp, of Freetown—a very fine herd, includ¬ 
ing several superior animals, such as bull “Jupiter,” 
and cows“ Fanny,” “ Nancy Dawson,” and“ Leonora.” 
J. Henry Corp (a lad of 15,) had an admirably trained 
yoke of three year old steers, (grade Devons.) Mr. 
Lyman Murdock, of Venice, Cayuga Co., exhibited a 
yoke of fat cattle —grade Short-horns — which were 
extra; taken all in all the finest pair of fat cattio we 
have seen. They are six years old, said to actually 
weigh 6.400 lbs., and to have gained 2,700 lbs. in 27 
months. They were eired by the Short-horn bull 
“ Gcoeseo,” from the herd of J. S. Wadsworth, of 
Livingston Co. An exhibition of Deers, owned by 
Col. Crocker, of Braghampton, attracted much atten¬ 
tion—and the deer chase, on the grounds, was an 
exciting affair. But we cannot particularize further. 
Considering the unpropitious weather the Fair was 
remarkably successful, in both display and attendance, 
evincing the right spirit and action on the part of the 
people of the county. Both Tnursday and Friday the 
grounds were thronged with persons of the right class 
— intelligent, enterprising and progressive producers— 
and we were glad to make the personal acquaintance 
of many whom we had only known previously on 
paper. And we may add that the attention and recep¬ 
tion given by a large audience to the address of a 
junior in years and experience, (and delivered under 
unfavorable circumstances,) was both complimentary 
and gratifying. 
— We would fain add some “ sight notes ” relative 
to the pleasant villages of Homcrand Cortland and the 
beautiful valley in which they are situated, but time and 
space forbid details. A drive through the villages, and 
a portion of the surrounding valley, in company with 
Mr. Paris Barber— a zealous and influential promoter 
of Rural Improvement—impressed us most favorably. 
The villages, with their flue academies, churches and 
residences, are both beautiful, while the adjacent coun¬ 
try presented a charming appearance. The combined 
valley and hill farms of Messrs. Barber, Hobart, Hitch¬ 
cock, Hawloy, Hubbard, Merrill, Goodell, Bullard, 
Chamberlain, liandall, and others in the vicinity of the 
two villages, possess beauties and advantages rarely 
found in so small a compass. But we must closo this 
hastily penned and imperfect notice. 
