318 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKEBs AN AGRICULTURAL, LITERARY AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
KWJIWKni^MW 
THE OHIO STATE FAIR. 
We spent nearly two days at Columbus 
during the State Fair week before last. It is 
now four years since we attended the first one 
held at Cincinnati, and the contrast, both in 
the exhibition and the attendance, is most 
flattering to the people of Ohio. Ihe 
grounds selected at Columbus were beauti¬ 
ful, and, but for the heavy rain of Tuesday, 
would have been the finest that could be found 
in any place. 
In Cattle and Horses the show was mag¬ 
nificent, the entries in the two classes being 
nearly seven hundred. In Sheep it was bare¬ 
ly passable, and not creditable to a State so 
largely engaged in wool growing. It was but 
little better in Swine, for next to sheep, hogs 
are the great crop. The spirit of improve¬ 
ment is perhaps more manifest in this branch 
than any of the others. There was a good 
show of Jacks and Mules, and the raising of 
mules continues to be a profitable business 
The Short-horns are the prevailing breed of 
cattle, and a beautiful display was made. No 
better can be seen in any State. There were 
a few Devons, and less Herefords,—each choice 
samples. It is doubtful, however, whether 
there is any stock to be preferred to the Short¬ 
horns in the rich and fertile West. They, 
with the hogs, seem to be the best machines 
for converting corn to money. 
In Horses, as usual, there was a spirited 
competition, and more important in many re¬ 
spects than ever before, as the two great sec¬ 
tions were brought into the riDg,— Vermont 
Morgans, and Black Hawks, against the best 
Southern blood. The thorough breds are 
determined to not only maintain their ground 
but to drive out the interlopers,—a few years 
will decide the matter. 
There was a good show of Agricultural 
implements,—in Plows the best ever seen at 
any Fair in the State. The Dairy was not 
well represented,—but, although there was a 
partial failure in some departments, yet, as a 
whole, it was a grand Show and speaks vol¬ 
umes of encouragement to those who have 
labored so long in the good cause. 
The general appearance of the people indica¬ 
ted a high state of mental and moral cultiva¬ 
tion. A better behaved crowd-we have never 
seen in our owe or any other State. We 
have always found such places the best to be¬ 
come familiar with the popular mind and 
manners. We heard neither profanity or vul¬ 
garity, and we saw everywhere a most mani¬ 
fest desire to extend to each other and to all 
the civilities the courtesies of good breeding 
and refined society. 
Our time would not permit staying to the 
close, and we left on Thursday afternoon. The 
best of the show was yet to come in the exhi¬ 
bition of young ladies on horseback. We 
regretted it the more from the fact that most 
of these exhibitions we have ever seen were 
in circuses, and we confess to some scruples as 
to their propriety. Hence we had a strong 
desire to witness the scene, that, if our notions 
were a little old fashioned, they might be 
modernized. With our present feeliDg3 we 
should rather our wife or daughter would not 
ride in the ring. Still we don’t say it’s im¬ 
proper. But if they get in the habit of manag 
ing so noble an animal as a horse, and find 
it so easily done, won’t they try their hand on 
man ? We pause for a reply. 
To the President, Gen. Worthington, and 
to the other officers of the Society, as well as 
to very many others, our thanks are due and 
heartily tendered for the many attentions re¬ 
ceived while in this noble State.— p. 
Some persons send them to market with 
their intestines in. This, to say the least, is 
a dirty, slovenly practice, doing great injury 
to the flesh, as it partakes of the flavor of the 
excrements when suffered long to remain un¬ 
dressed, and is otherwise impaired from the 
stagnant blood. After removing the intes¬ 
tines, wipe out the blood with a dry cloth, 
but no water should be used to cleanse them. 
With a moist cloth take cff the blood that 
may be found upon the carcass, and hang 
them up in a cool, dry room, until ready to 
carry to market-, or otherwise to be used. Do 
not remove the gizzard from its place, but if 
the fowl be very fat, make a larger hole, turn 
the leases out, and fasten them with a small 
skewe”. When prepared in this way, your 
poultry will be much nicer, and entitled to 
better price ban when butchered and dressed 
in the ordinary way. 
We have often noticed the careUsi. slovenly 
manner, and little attention pa d to the ex¬ 
ternal appearance of poultry offered for sale 
in our markets ; and we have also noticed the 
rapid sale and higher price where due regard 
was paid to have the skin allsound ( and clean; 
the breast not mutilated by a long cut, the 
shrinking skin exposing the drying meat cov¬ 
ered with hay-seed or chaff, but well covered 
all over with fat, of a rich golden yellow.— 
Much of the poultry exposed for sale has been 
through the process of scalding to facilitate 
picking ; this practice should never be resort¬ 
ed to. It turns the rich yellow of the fat into 
a tallowy hue, and oftentimes starts the skin, 
so that it peels off, unless carefully handled. 
Much care and attention is required after 
the poultry is dressed and cool. It should be 
carefully packed in baskets or boxes, and 
above all, it should be kept from the frost. A 
friend, who was very nice in these matters, 
used to bring his turkies to market in the 
finest possible order, and always obtained a 
ready sale and the highest price. His method 
was to pick them dry, while warm, and dress 
them in the neatest manner ; then take a long, 
deep, narrow, tight box, with a stick running 
from end to end of the box, and hanging the 
turkeys by the leg over the stick, which pre¬ 
vents bruising or disfiguring them in the least. 
Too much should not be exposed at a time 
for sale, nor should they be hauled over too 
often. Appearance is everything with pou! 
try, as well as other articles, and has great 
influence on the purchaser. 
“ To preserve poultry in winter,” said the 
late Judge Bcel, “ about the 15th of Novem 
ber I purchased a quantity of poultry for 
winter use. The insides were carefully drawn 
their place partially filled with charcoal, and 
the poultry hung in an airy loft. It was 
used through the winter, till about the first of 
February, and a-though some was kept sev 
enty days, it was not the least affected w’ith 
moist or taint, the charcoal keeping it sweet.’ 
Agricultural ISkdlmm. 
County Fairs.— Althougk'w devote con¬ 
siderable space to brief notices oi the various 
Fairs recently held in this region, we cannot 
consistently give full particulars in any in¬ 
stance, and therefore refer those of our readers 
specially interested to local papers for de¬ 
tailed reports. Notices of several other ex¬ 
hibitions will be given in our next. Mean¬ 
time, several communications, and notices of 
sundry matters, are necessarily deferred. 
State Fair for 1856.—The citizens of 
Watertown recently held a meeting to take 
into consideration the location of the State 
Fair for 1856 in that village. Northern New 
York is clearly entitled to the next Fair, and 
if Watertown can furnish suitable accommo¬ 
dations its location at that point would proba¬ 
bly be advisable. Jefferson County has sus¬ 
tained a most efficient Agricultural Society 
for nearly forty years —we believe an organi¬ 
zation has been kept up regularly since 1818 
_acd become celebrated for its excellent ex¬ 
hibitions. That and the adjacent Counties of 
Northern and Central New York would un¬ 
doubtedly contribute greatly to the Show, 
while the location would secure a large repre¬ 
sentation from the Canadian Provinces. 
Tiik Ontario County Fair, —held on tha 
Society’s enlarged groundsill Canandaigua, on 
Tuesday and Wednesday of last week,—was 
one of the finest and most numerously attend¬ 
ed Country Exhibitions we ever witnessed.— 
The show of Stock, and especially of the im¬ 
proved breeds, far exceeded our expectations. 
Durhams were well represented in both cum¬ 
bers and quality. There were but few Devons 
Jefferson County Fair. —We learn from 
the Jeff.ir.son Union, that this Fair (held at 
Watertown, 19th and 20th ult.,) fully main¬ 
tained the reputation of the Society. The 
value and quality of animals and articles pre¬ 
sented for exhibition, manifested a vast im¬ 
provement over former years, though the num¬ 
ber was dimini-hed. The show of Cattle was 
very fine indeed. They were mostly of the 
shown, but they were generally superior ani- improved breeds, and many of them of the 
mals. The display of Working Oxen was highest grade of Herd Book animals. There 
large and fine—evincing the skill and atten- was a large display of Horses, including 
tiou of exhibitors in breeding, matching and many superior animals. The trial on the sec^ 
training Of Horses there was also a supe- ond day attracted very general attention, and 
PREPARING POULTRY EOR MARKET. 
[The following article on this important subject will con¬ 
stitute a Chapter in the forthcoming new and improved 
edition of the “American Poulterers’ Companion,” 
by C. N. Behest, to be published by Harper & Brother 
of New York:] 
If you wish to prepare your poultry in the 
nicest manner for the market, so that it will 
invariably secure the best price, observe the 
following rules, viz : 
First, fat them well, and allow them to re¬ 
main in the pens twenty-four hours without 
food, previous to being killed. Then, when 
you kill them, instead of wringing their necks, 
cut their heads off at a single blow with a 
sharp axe or hatchet, hang them up by their 
legs and allow them to bleed, and pick them 
immediately—picking off their wing feathers, 
as well as the others, while warm. Some, 
however, prefer to run a small penknife into 
the jugular vein by the side of the neck, just 
under the jowls. In this case let the heads 
remain on ; pick them as above mentioned; 
in pickiEg, great care should be taken not to 
tear the skin ; the wings should not be cut 
off, but picked to the end. If the head should 
be cut off, the skin of the neck should be 
neatly tied over the end. Most people like to 
see the heads of fowls left on — it makes a 
better show. The heads of ducks and geese 
should be cut off. No cut should be made in 
the breast, all the offal should be taken out 
behind, and the opening should be made as 
small as possible. 
CHALLE NGE AC CEPTED, 
Eds. Rural Some one from the Prairie 
State, elated by the for once fair quality of 
wheat grown in that State, throws his glove 
into the ring and challenges Old Genesee to 
the trial whether her famous wheat and flour 
can yet maintain their superiority over all 
others, or concede the paiin of excellence to 
Southern Illinois. 
We accept the challenge on behalf of Gen¬ 
esee, and say that neither Illinois, nor any 
other State on this continent, has yet pro¬ 
duced wheat which will make as much or as 
good flour per bushel, as good Genesee ; and 
no other proof of its superior quality need be 
sought after, except the daily market reports 
of the city of New York—showing that, not¬ 
withstanding the serious damage resulting 
from fourteen days continuous rain, Extra 
Genesee flour still sells at from fifty cents to 
three dollars per barrel higher than any other. 
And as to yield of flour per bushel, we are 
content to leave that to the Rochester or any 
other millers who have ground both Genesee 
and Illinois wheat, and who therefore know 
sufficient to say which gives the best yield. 
Scottsville, N. T., Sept. 26, 1 855, _ Gk.vesek. 
FATTENING SWINE. 
At the present high price of corn it is 
necessary every farmer should economize in 
order that the account, “ Pork vs. Expendi¬ 
tures,” may show the balance on the right side. 
During the present month we begin to pen our 
hogs, feeding potatoes, pumpkins, apples, 
skimmed milk, slops, &c., boiled together with 
a little corn meal. In October feed corn al¬ 
most entirely. The corn is ground in a corn 
and cob mill, and all the food cooked, as we 
believe a saving of 25 to 30 per cent, is made 
thereby. At this period we turn our pork¬ 
ers into fertilizers, in other words, set them up 
as manufacturers, giving them the droppiDgs 
of the barn, swamp muck, straw, leaves, and 
all sorts of refuse to turn over daily, sprink¬ 
ling this compost freely with charcoal. In 
the “ reckoning up ” this comes in as “ quite 
a pile ” on the credit side, and if we do not 
derive anything “ very handsome ” from the 
pork, we have somethiEg to deposit with mo¬ 
ther earth which we have reason to know will 
cause her to honor our drafts hereafter. 
Franklin Square, N. Y., Sept, 1855. W. T. K. 
Illinois State Fair.— We are indebted to 
Dr. Kennioott, for a cordial invitation to at¬ 
tend this Fair, at Chicago, 9th to 12th inst., 
—and to the Ill. Central Railroad Co. for a 
polite note extending the privileges of their 
road, during the proposed excursion of distin¬ 
guished gaests thereupon, after the Fair—each 
document accompanied with tickets entitling 
the holder to certain immunities worthy of ac¬ 
ceptance. We have anticipated great pleas¬ 
ure in attending this Fair, and meeting West¬ 
ern friends, but greatly fear that home duties 
will prevent so desirable a consummation. 
The American Institute Fair opened at 
the Crystal Palace, New York, on Wednes¬ 
day, 3d inst., to be continued for two or three 
weeks. The Tribune of Monday says:—“We 
believe the applications for space already 
largely exceed all precedent, and the show of 
American inventions, machines, and fabrics 
will doubtless be more extensive, more multi¬ 
form, more suggestive, than at any former ex¬ 
hibition of this society. There will be no 
Cattle Show in this connection this year, but 
a fine display of Fruits, Flowers and other 
products of the soil. We shall be disappoint¬ 
ed if this does not prove a most interesting 
and useful Fair, and we trust thousands will 
be attracted hither to study and eDjoy it. 
We hope to see in it some reminiscences of 
the better days of American manufactures 
some auguries that those days have not passed 
never to return.” 
rior exhibition. The show of Stallions in¬ 
cluding Black Hawks, Morgans, &c.—fully 
sustained the high reputation of Ontario 
county in that department. The show of 
Sheep was quite large and excellent, both the 
fine and coarse-wooled breeds being well rep¬ 
resented. The Swine and Fowls were also 
penned and cooped in respectable numbers— 
comprising choice specimens of Berkshires 
and Suffolks, and Shanghais and Brahmas — 
The display of Ag. Implements and Machine¬ 
ry was good and attracted marked attention. 
The exhibition of Fruits and Vegetables was 
decidedly superior for a County Fair. The 
display of Apples, Bears, riums, &c., was 
particularly noteworthy in both quantity and 
quality, while the correct naming of most 
varieties evinced attention to nomenclature. 
The tent appropriated to Farcy Work, &c., 
by the ladies, was so constantly crowded by 
admiring spectators that we were unable to 
give the department even a cursory examina 
tion. The great feature of the Fair—the ex¬ 
hibition of Female Equestrianship on the af¬ 
ternoon of the second day—was sadly inter¬ 
rupted by the heavy rain which commenced 
just after some fifteen or twenty ladies were 
fairly mounted. There was, however, some 
excellent riding, notwithstanding the torrents 
Chenango County Fair. —A letter from 
Mr. G. D. Phillips states that this Fair, 
which closed on 27th ult., was one of the most 
pleasant and animatirg ever held in the Coun¬ 
ty. The show of Cattle was the largest and 
finest ever made by the Society. Some of the 
animals were trained to such perfection that 
they performed evolutions like well drilled and 
disciplined troops. The Sheep and Swine 
were unusually fine, while the Shanghai and 
other noted breeds of fowls were well repre¬ 
sented. The exhibition of FruK was much 
larger and finer than usual, manifesting in¬ 
creased attention to both quality and varie 
ty. The Ladies’ Department was highly 
creditable, and particularly noteworthy in the 
large display and choice samples of Butter 
and Cheese. The managers of the Dairies of 
Chenango are making commendable progress 
toward perfection, as the products shown fully 
demonstrate. There was a good show 
Giaia and Vegetables, comprising many choice 
specimens. In the Mechanical Department 
the display was unusually meagre, but the 
articles exhibited were superior in workman 
ship and beauty of finish. P. T. Barnum 
(who was conveyed from the depot to the 
grounds in an omnibus drawn by twenty yoke 
of oxen,) delivered the Address. The fitting 
up of the buildings, &c., and general arrange 
ment of the grounds, is said to have been 
highly creditable to the people of Norwich 
and the Managers of the Society. 
The Cattaraugus Co. Fair is to be hel 
at Little Valley, on the 17th and 18 th of 
October, as we learn from the official an¬ 
nouncement of the Society—the time having 
been changed from that heretofore designated 
some weeks in advance of the proper time.— 
Liberal premiums are offered, and such ar 
rangements in progress, that a large attend 
ance and successful exhibition may be confi 
dently anticipated. 
The Steuhf.n Co. Fair, —at Bath, 27th 
and 28th ult.,—is said to have been altogeth 
er the most successful of any ever held in the 
County, while the attendance was immense 
We have no particulars, but presume some 
friend will report as to the progress made by 
and at the exhibition. 
sustained the established reputation of Jeffer¬ 
son Co. for raising fine horses. Of Sheep there 
was a moderate show of very choice animals 
representing most of the approved breeds. 
The display of Implements was good,—credi¬ 
table to manufacturers, and to the mechanics 
of Watertown who added largely to the exhi¬ 
bition. The show of Domestic Manufactures, 
including the various useful and fancy articles, 
excelled former displays, and was really ad¬ 
mirable. Of Fruit there was a sufficient 
quantity presented, and of such fine quality, 
as to prove the adaptation of Jefferson county 
to fruit growiDg. The address, by Col. B. P. 
Johnson, was listened to by a very large au¬ 
dience. 
Ag. Fair of Montgomery County.— This 
was held at St. Johnsville, Sept. 26th and 
27 th. A large variety of articles were ex¬ 
hibited, mostly well worthy of praise. We 
thought more attention was paid to Flowers, 
Embroidery, and other products of female 
skill, than to the Agricultural and Stock de¬ 
partments. The specimens of Papier Mache, 
Embroidery, Boquets, &c., were very attract¬ 
ive. The display of Fruit and Vegetables 
was quite the best represented. We are quite 
certain this exhibition will not deserve the 
name of Cattle Show, for, although Montgo- 
of rain, and consequent sudden dispersion cf mery Co> can boast as g 00 d an d extensive 
the thousands who had assembled to witness dairies ag any other, not a cow was to be seen 
the display. In consequence oi the severe tbe g roun d. There were, however, several 
storm, which continued until evening, tLe horses “ drawn up ” for premiums. One 
Address (which was to have been delivered (perhaps twenty-one years old,) evi- 
by the Editor cf this paper,) was postponed dently cong i der ing the circle around the Judg- 
until the Annual Meeting. gg» stand a proper place to “ spread himself,” 
— On the whole the Fair was in all re- drove a mettlesome gray around the ring, per- 
spects highly creditable to the Society and f orm j n g divers equestrian feats to his own 
County. The receipts were over $1,700.— prodigious satisfaction. In one of his extra 
The successful exhibition and prosperous con- fl our j s kes the sulky was overturned, and the 
dition of the Society must be most gratifying next j ns tant the horse was dashiDg with 1‘ght- 
to the farmers of Ontario, as it is highly hon- niu g a p ee d } n the crowd of spectators. Three 
orable to Messrs. Hildreth, Munson, Dick- i £M jj eg> ^[j sg jj. Ingebsoll, Mrs. 0. Flander, 
inson, Granger, Cooley, Howe, and other 
efficient officers and supporters of the truly 
progressive association. 
and another, name unknown, were very much 
injured—and many others more or less seri¬ 
ously. So much for culpable, reckless driving. 
Another thing ; we noticed within three rods 
of the tent a half dozen gamblers in full blast, 
fleecing the verdant and unsuspecting. In 
Livingston County Fair. —This was cele¬ 
brated at Geneseo, Sept. 27th and 28:h, un¬ 
der very favorable auspices — the weather keeping with this, and about the same distance 
being fine, especially on the second day, the opposite, could be obtained any quantity of 
show magnificent in most departments, and “ fresh imported ” from the whiskey barrel up 
the attendance very numerous throughout.— 
The show of Stock on the first day is said to 
have surpassed any preceding exhibition in 
the County, celebrated as it is for superiority 
in that department. Many good judges con- 
town. With exception of the accident above 
named, every thing passed pleasantly.— e. g. s. 
Importation of Stock. —V e learn that the 
packet ship Southampton, which arrived at 
sidered the display better than that at some of New York from London last week, brought 
our State Fairs. The show of Cattle was eight Alderney cows for Mr. Iaintor, of 
not only large, but superior—making it the Hartford, Conn., who is a frequent importer 
feature of the exhibition. There were also of valuable stock. By the same vessel eight 
good displays of Horses and Sheep,—while 
those of Swine and Poultry were not as large 
as anticipated. But not having the pleasure 
of witnessing the first day’s exhibition, we 
are unable to particularize in regard to the 
show in the departments mentioned. What 
we saw on the second day, was most gratify¬ 
ing,—yet the most satisfactory feature was 
Lincolnshire sheep were received for a Mr. 
Cubit, of Canada. 
people 
many County and other Fairs, and can truly ^ dance* but" 
affirm that we were never more favorably can talk a little French, 
impressed with the appearance, manner and 
action of any assemblage on a similar occa- 
The 
Why Butter is Dear.—Is the following, 
from a New York city paper, true or fabu¬ 
lous ? 
Hiere is a fine pasture all over the country 
now, and the price of butter ought to be 
down to a shilling a pound. Why isn’t it? 
the immense multitude of intelligent, good Because the women aud girls don’t know how 
natured, sociable and progressive appearing to make it For twenty years past the girls 
in attendance We have attended butter-making education has been sadly neg- 
in a.tendance. \ o na a They can play the piano, but cannot 
’ ' cannot skim milk ; 
can taiK a nun; r reuuu, but don’t know how 
to work out the buttermilk. The women who 
made the butter in Westchester, Dutchess and 
Z iMi f , rbe RWS- TtS ££ 
display was, however, noteworthy and not un- J That , 8 why butter ia bigb . 
observed,— though we are obliged to refer to 1 
local papers for particulars. The Society is p I1IE and Salt. —A discussion took place 
among the most prosperous and progressive j as t we ek in the N. Y. Farmers’ (flub, re¬ 
in the State. Indeed, it has probably accom- specting the combination of salt and lime. It 
plished more, this year, than any similar or- has been said that salt and quicklime, when 
J . ti i a i i v i mixed together, unite chemically, and form 
gamzation. It las rented most beaut.fu ate 8 of BM j a and chloride c/lime. This 
grounds, (eligibly located, and neaily covered wag denied by Mr. Judd, in opposition to 
with a fine grove.) for a term of years, and gome chemists present. He asserted that no 
expended $2,500 in permanent fixtures and chemical change took place in the mixing of 
improvements. The receipts from life mem- these substances, and requested those who 
hers is about $2^00—annual members, $516 thought^ 
and some ten thousand shilling tickets ’ft ere ^ be remained master of the contest. W e 
sold during the Fair. And all this has been ratber think he is right, for we cannot con- 
accomplished since the re-organization of the ce ivehow carbonate of soda could be produced 
Society in June last! The officers and active 
friends of the Society—among whom Judge 
Carroll, Messrs. Barber, IIammatt, Kersu 
ner, and scores of others, ought to be named 
—are entitled to great credit for their exer 
lions in placing the organization upon a basis 
so permanent and prosperous. When its 
next Fair is held we hope to be present, but 
assure our Livingston friends that we shall 
not again, on any occasion, attempt to ad¬ 
dress so many thousands as they congregate 
_a task which proved, for our weak lungs 
and voice, altogether too Herculean. 
from a mixture which contains no carbon.— 
Scientific American. 
The Potato Crop in Britain. —The Mark 
Pane Express, in its General Report tor Au¬ 
gust, says—“ The advices respecting the pota¬ 
to crop are less conflicting than for some past 
seasons. In most quarters, the growth is a 
most luxuriant one ; very few traces of disease 
have been met with, and the supplies forward¬ 
ed for sale have been immense. In the event 
of the disease not spreading, much influence 
will be exercised upon the value ot the better 
kiuds of food, more especially as the extent of 
land under potato culture is unusually large. 
