Hju-sliitn&tn. 
EDITED BT HENRY B. RANDALL, I.L. D. 
THE N. Y. ANNUAL SHEEP FAIR. 
The third Annual Fair of the N. Y. State 
Sheep Breeders’ and Wool Growers’ Association 
•will be held at Auburn, May 8th, 9th aud 10th. 
A cordial invitation to attend tfl extended to all 
persons, in or out of the State, who feel any in¬ 
terest in sheep husbandry. All, too, are invited 
to bring pens of fiheep for exhibition—the more 
the better. The premiums, it iB believed, are 
larger and more numerous than have ever been 
paid by any other Society or Association in our 
country, and they are open to all comers. The 
citizens of other States or countries compete on 
the same terms, inRll particulars, with citizens 
of New York. We hope to see the breeders of 
Canada on the ground with their Hplendid Long 
and Middle Wools—the breeders of Vermont, 
Ohio, Pennsylvania and other States, with their 
renowned Merinos and English sheep. We cul¬ 
tivate no clannish policy. New-Yorkers have 
been repeatedly beaten for leading prizes at our 
previous Fairs, lie who carries u prize out of 
the State does ns more of a favor than we do 
him, for he places a higher standard before our 
breeders, shows them that improvements can he 
made in their Btock, and exhibits to them what 
those improvements are. This information is 
immeasurably more valuable to us than the 
money we could make or save by shutting out 
foreign competition. 
Our farmers can in like manner learn from 
each other. Tie who has the best sheep of liis 
neighborhood or county, and goes not abroad to 
examine other flocks, is very apt to imagine 
himself at the top of the ladder, when In fact he 
may be many rounds below. By placing his best 
animals side by side on the Fair ground with those 
of the eminent breeders of a State, he has the best 
possible opportunity to learn bis own Inferiority 
and in precisely what that inferiority consists. 
This cannot be done half as accurately by visit¬ 
ing widely separated flocks at home, and making 
comparisons from memory. Sometimes the 
thing works the other way. A gentleman ex¬ 
hibited sheep at one of our Fairs who did not 
dream that they were equal to those he had read 
eo much about. But he took them there to 
learn wherein lie could improve them, and, like 
a public spirited man, to swell the show, lie 
wen several, and some first prizes, and Bold a 
ram for eight hundred per cent, more than he 
had repeatedly offered him lor at home. Ho 
went to the Fair without any public reputation 
as a breeder —he left it a breeder of reputation, 
and has since derived all the benefits of that 
reputation In his sales of sheep. His exhibition 
was worth $ 10,000 to him. 
The present Fair is Ireld In one of the finest 
farming regions of New York, and in the out¬ 
skirts of one of Ita pleasantest interior cities. 
The Fair grounds arc within a short walk of its 
principal hotels, and not far from the freight 
depot of the N. Y. Central Railroad. Covered 
pens and liny will he provided for the sheep on 
exhibition and good water is easily accessible. 
The grounds will he watched at night by a police 
force. Every assistance which is practicable 
will be rendered to exhibitors by the active ami 
efficient General Superintendent, A. M. Ci-ark. 
The New York Central Railroad will carry sheep 
to and from the Fair free of charge. Ow ing to 
a mistake, freight was ^collected last year, hut it 
was subsequently refunded to every exhibitor 
who presented, on the published call of the 
Treasurer of the Association, the proper receipts 
and certificates, within the time specified — and 
the time given for presentation was an ample 
one. To show Hie mode in which the business 
will be conducted, this year, the official letter of 
the Superintendent of (he Rond is given: 
New York Central Railroad, ) 
General Superinlcndent's Office. - 
Albany, March 19th, 18(17. \ 
Henry 8. Ranuai.l, Kso., 
Pres't A. Y. S. 8. />■ >(' IV. O. Assoc'n ; 
Dear Hoc: In relation to the transportation of 
sheep to and from vour Annual Fair to he held at Au¬ 
burn on the 8th, 9th and 10th day* of .May next, 1 boa 
to say that the sheep Intended for exhibition at that 
Fair will be shipped by this Company at the regular 
freight rates— the charges to he paid at Auburn. On 
the return or the sheep, the owner* or persons in 
charge shall exhibit to tin; Freight Agent of that place 
(to whom the charges were paid) a certificate from the 
Secretary "f the. Society that the sheep have been on 
exhibition, and have not chanced ownership. Then 
the charges previously paid will be rettaided by the 
said Freight Acent; and the sheep will be hilled free 
to the place Of shipment, it. the owner's risk of loss 
or damage from any and every cause. No claims for 
refunding will be allowed unless made within ten 
days alter the close of the Fair. 
Respectfully yours, Julius A. Spencer, 
Assistant Sup't. 
It is understood that all the hotels at Auburn 
will charge only their usual rates during the 
Fair. The ladies of one ol' die City Benevolent 
Societies will provide meals on the show grounds 
Owners of agricultural and household ma¬ 
chines aud implements are invited to exhibit 
them on the Fair grounds, subject to the direc¬ 
tions of the General Superintendent, on the same 
terms as the exhibitors of sheep. For permis¬ 
sion to introduce on the grounds any machine or 
implement., or any article for sale, except those 
above specified, or any animals except horses, ' 
mules, neat cattle and sheep, application must 
be made to the President. 
The terms of admission will be as follows:— 
To Exhibitors, $1; to a single person, Boots.; to 
a person riding or driving a horse, 50cts.; to a 
two-liorse carriage, containing not more than 
two persons, 75 ets. Every additional person to 
the number above specified in a one or two-horse 
carriage will pay 25 cents. Wagons or drays, 
bringing animals or articles entered for exhibi¬ 
tion, will ho admitted, with driver, free; hut 
will not be permitted to remain unnecessarily on 
the grounds without permission of the General 
Superintcudent. Clergymen, Editors, Report¬ 
ers and their wives, and the ladies ol the Benev¬ 
olent Association w T ho provide provisions on the 
grounds, with their necessary assistants and con¬ 
veyance wagons, will be admitteed free. 
Meetings of the Association will be held on 
the evenings of the first and second days of Uie 
Fair. One of the subjects brought before it will 
be the rules and recommendations in regard to 
the preparation of wool for market, and in re¬ 
gard to the buying and selling of wool, adopted 
at a late Western New Y r ork meeting of wool 
buyers. A general attendance is invited. 
THE 8ELECTI0N OF CUSTOM HOUSE 
SAMPLES OF WOOL UNDER 
THE NEW TARIFF. 
We learn from a letter received from Hon. 
Hugh McCui/LOcn, Secretary of the Treasury, 
that Ids Department “ has been fortunate in se- 
curing the services of George W. Bond of Bos¬ 
ton, in the preparation of the samples of Wool 
and Hair required under the act of March 2d, 
1867.” lie further states: “ The samples when 
prepared will be open to the criticism of all parties 
interested, aud should It be discovered that, from 
uny cause, a mistake has been made in the clas¬ 
sification or arrangement of the distinctive sam¬ 
ples of wool and hair, the Department will not 
be slow to correct. It.” 
Without in the least impugning the good faith 
of the Secretary of the Treasury, or the integ¬ 
rity and other qualifications of Mr. Bond, we 
have to say thgt so far os uv possess any inform¬ 
ation in the premises, no accredited ageutof the 
wool growers was consulted in making this ap¬ 
pointment; arid that when the tariff on wool and 
woolens was drawn up by the Committees *f 
Growers uud Manufacture rs, mid one of the Com¬ 
missioners of Revenue, In the winter of 1865-0, 
that Commissioner (Hon. Stephen Colwell,) 
assured us that both interests would be repre¬ 
sented, aud equally represented, in the Commit¬ 
tee to select samples — that it would only be 
necessary to apprise the Secretary of the under¬ 
standing to ensure its adoption by him—and that 
he (the Commissioner) would see that he was so 
apprised. As the bill did not pass during the 
Session of 1865-6, it is very probable that Mr. 
Colwell did not inform the Secretary of this 
understanding, and Mr. C. had nothing to do 
with the matter during the last Session of the 
Thirty-ninth Congress. But, without knowing 
the fact, we take it for granted that the mem¬ 
bers of our Committee in Washington called 
Secretary McCulloch's attention to the ur- 
rangment. 
Secretary McCulloch will be asked to submit 
the samples prepared by Mr. Bond to the exam¬ 
ination and revision of a Committee of Growers 
and Manufacturers, selected by themselves, be¬ 
fore the samples are adopted as standards • and if he 
accedes to tills, his plan will have the same effect 
with the original one. We cannot, suppose that 
Secretary McCulloch will refuse to comply 
with a request so palpfibly just and reasonable. 
His language which we have quoted ought to be 
understood as substantially Implying so much. 
His decision in the matter will he placed before 
our renders as soon a* it is received. 
Wc think that we cannot misapprehend the 
views of the wool growers of the country in act¬ 
ing on the hypothesis that they will not rost 
satisfied with having the entire selection of the 
custom house samples of wool confided to one 
man, whatever his qualifications—or to any body 
of men in which the growers are not equally 
represented with any and all opposing interests. 
If we are wrong in this supposition, let the agri¬ 
cultural prcBs or our country and our own cor¬ 
respondents set us right. We call for their opin¬ 
ions on the subject. 
Condensed Correspondence, Items, &c. 
Wool Growers’ ami Buyers' Meeting.— We pub¬ 
lished last week the resolutions and recommendations 
of a Wool Buyers’ Convention held In Rochester on 
the 19th ult. in regard to the. mode of preparing wool 
for market and to the rules which should prevail in 
buying and selling It. The Convention adjourned to 
meet in Rochester, May 0th, extending an invitation 
to the growers to meet with them As this Conven¬ 
tion will precede the State Sheep Fair but two days, 
it is obvious that the attendance of the growers must, 
at best, be but local and limited—and not Include 
anything npproaehing to a representation of the 
State. Under these circumstances, we respectfully 
suggest that the buyers again adjourn, and that they 
meet the growers at Auburn on the evening of May 
8th, (the first day of the Fair,) When the subject will 
be taken up by the State Sheep Breeders' anti Wool 
Growers' Association. The wool buyers of the whole 
country are invited to attend and participate in the 
proceedings. It is to be Imped that a fair comparison 
of views and discussion of farts may lead to an ami¬ 
cable understanding aud to some salutary reforms on 
both sides._ 
Sheep for Missouri. —W. M. Banes, Metamora, 
-, asks us “What kind or sheep would be best 
for the southwest part of Missouri—what priced sheep 
— aud where would be the host place to buy 500S’ 
For wool growing on a large scale, and in a situation 
so remote from mutton markets, we have uo doubt 
whatever that the best kind of sheep Is the Merino. 
Five hundred Ml bloods would however coBt far too 
much to start a flock with. Wc rceommeud Mr. 
Banes to buy grade or common ewqs as near as prac¬ 
ticable to the point where he intends to settle, where 
he must of course pay the ordinary prices of the 
country. But let him under no circumstances use 
any but full blood and good Merino rants. He will 
find that his Dock will “ cross up ” aud increase in 
value rapidly. _ 
Fine Merinos at the Fair.—W c regret to learn 
that owing to the absence of Mr. Hkyne, the manager 
of Mr. Chamberlain's flock of Silesian Merinos, 
these sheep, which have so successfully competed in 
the class or “Fine Merinos” at cmr previous State 
Sheep Fairs, will not be represented at Auburn. Mr. 
Hetxe goes to G ermany to purchase sheep. W e hope 
other enterprising breeders will endeavor to see that 
this class is fully sustained, in numbers and quality, 
at the Fair. _ 
Sheep in Minnesota.— Tt is stated in a Western 
paper that In I860 there were in Minnesota 18,123 
sheep producing 22,710 lbs. of wool. In 1865 the 
number of sheep was about 500,000, and the export of 
wool about a quarter of a million pounds. 
Hairn UqiarTmcnl 
THE DAIRY BUSINESS - OHIO. 
At a recent convention of the dairymen of 
Ohio, Anson Bartlett, Esq., an experienced 
member of the fraternity, delivered an address 
on the subject of dairying which met the warm 
approval of the Convention. We have room to 
notice only a few points touched upon in the 
address. He deprecated the practice of import¬ 
ing dairy stock from the Southwest, as it intro¬ 
duced an inferior grade of animals, often Infected 
with diseases fatal to much of the stock raised 
at the North. Home raised cows he asserted 
would produce at least one-third more butter 
and cheese than the others, while they were free 
from the diseases Incident to those bred in the 
section referred to. 
Alluding to cheese making, Mr. B. suid that 
success in this depended greatly on the character 
of the rennet used. He thought the practice of 
using the curd in the rennet bag, as some did, 
was erroneous as it affected prejudicially the fla¬ 
vor of the cheese. Among the older and most 
skillful dairymen It is deemed host to Kill calves 
for renuet at about five days old — not suffering 
them to take food on the day of killing. With 
respect to cheese making varion6 suggestions are 
made which we find condensed in the, Utica 
llerald:—“The use of whey is recommended in 
soaking rennets in tread of water. ITe says ren- 
nete soaked in whey will keep perfectly sweet 
any length of time, while it is difficult to keep 
the rennet sweet aud clear of taint, if water is 
used. 
Whey which flows from the press is as good as 
any for the purpose of salting rennets, Salt 
should be added same as if water Is used. 
In working milk in which putrifaetivc fermen¬ 
tation exists, or when milk is tainted, or If milk 
is fresh from the cow and is perfectly sweet, he 
recorntnends half a gallon of very sour whey to 
be added with the rennet for every 100 gallons 
of milk. 
The whey should be two weeks old, and should 
have a clear vinegar taste; would take the requi¬ 
site quantity of rennet and requisite coloring 
material and mix with the sour whey; then di¬ 
lute with an equal quantity of water and stir all 
into the milk together. When cheese is made 
twice every day, and the milk Is to he made up 
fresh from the cow, would have the temperature 
86 degrees to 88 degrees when the rennet Is ad¬ 
ded, instead of a lower temperature.” 
*” • 
SPRING MANAGEMENT OF COWS. 
As the “season” is at hand when cows begin 
to drop -their calves, a few hints about their 
management may not be out of place. I wifi 
not pretend that the suggestions arc new to every 
one, hut they may he to some. In the first 
place an ordinary cow should go dry at least six 
weeks. Commencing about two weeks before 
calving, she should have half a bushel of pota¬ 
toes, or other roots, each day, until she drops 
her calf. If roots cannot be had, a few quarts 
of good mill-feed (not corn meal,) wet up with 
boiling water, and fed as warm as she will eat It, 
will bo a good substitute. 
As soon as she drops her calf, she should be 
milked as clean as possible — add a little warm 
water to the milk aud stir in about a quart ol' 
rye meal, eanel, or shorts, and give the mess to 
the cow. If she has been mil brought up, she 
will eat any kind of slop, but if she is daiuty, 
give her milk alone. She will always drink that. 
If yon take this course, my word for it, you will 
rarely have trouble about your cows not “ clean 
biff." If the cow is very weak, great care must 
be taken for a few days not to over-feed her. 
After recovering from the effects of calving, 
the feed should be liberal, and at least one feed 
each day should he roots. If you have potatoes, 
feed them—if not, give carrots, beets or turnips 
—if yon have neither, buy potatoes, if you have 
to pay seventy-live cents per bushel. They will 
pay well, even at that price. Potatoes that are 
partially diseased or those that have been frozen, 
if fed in moderate quantities, arc good for cows, 
much better than to keep them on dry feed alto¬ 
gether. If cows are out to grass, of course roots 
are not so indispensable; but they are good at 
any time. A very common mistake is made hy 
many farmers in wintering cows poorly* They 
should have the pasture in good condition, and 
irnve the btst feed on the farm all winter. If this 
course is taken, the reward will be sure to come in 
the brim full pail and the rich cream at a season of 
the year vhen butter generally brings the best 
price. Tvo good cows well kept will do you 
more gooc than a half dozen halt starved frames. 
Another very important matter is to have a 
good mUbr. But that opens auother branch of 
the subject of too much consequence to he put off 
with a few lines. Perhaps I may touch upon 
this point again. p. p. u. 
GARGET IN COWS. 
In response to a correspondent’s inquiry, E. 
Mink, Yet. Surgeon, Lyons, N. Y., sends us the 
following article: 
“‘Garget,’ ‘Inflammation of the Udder,’ or 
‘ Mammitis'j has one of the following termina¬ 
tions—resolution, induration, suppuration, gan¬ 
grene, or mmifieation. Treatment. —In the early 
stage give m active cathartic—l'j oz, Epsom 
salts, 1 oz. ringer,; .1 pint molasses dissolved in 
one quart of warm water. If the inflammation 
is superficial, bathe continuously with cold water. 
If it is deep seated warm fomentations are best. 
Take a large cloth, through which holes should 
he made lor the teats; place it over the udder; 
fill in with wool or cotton, and keep constantly 
wet with warm water in which a few hops have 
been infused. If, after the inflammation has 
subsided, induration (cake) is left, then rub 
daily with iodine ointment, and give iodine 
| potassium, internally, twice a day, 20 grains at 
a dose, dissolved in a pint of water, for ten days 
or two weeks. If suppuration occurs, lance the 
parts freely, and bathe with a solution of chlo¬ 
ride of zinc—1 scruple to 1 pint of rain water." 
Cows Leaking Milk — Prevention. — “A 
Reader,” Gardner, Mass., wants to know “ what 
will prevent a cow from leaking her milk.” We 
do not know of anything more effectual than to 
milk three times, instead of twice a day—nnlees 
it be to consign her to the custody of the butch¬ 
er. If any of oar readers know of a better plan 
than this, let the public be informed of it through 
the columns of the Rural. 
$ur*l gotes and items. 
About Blowing Other People's Horns.— We bog 
to state, for the information of all our readers inter¬ 
ested, that this journal was not established for, and 
never has been used as, a puffing machine or free ad¬ 
vertising medium for anybody. PnbliUjccs, patent¬ 
ees, and ail othera who are anxious for ns to benefit 
ourjreader*. by commending their wares , are respect- 
hilly advised that we liave expended over Fifty Thou¬ 
sand Dollar* in Advertising, Premiums, &c., &c., to 
secure the circulation and influence which the Rural 
New-Yorker has attained, ami hence submit that 
those wiio n*e it for their personal benefit should pay 
therefor. For example, if the Rural benefits a pat¬ 
entee to the amount of $1,000. it is but just that be 
should pay it a tariff of $100. Yet it bas gratuitously 
benefired many to the amount of thousands of dollars, 
and never charged a farthing for any editorial nolice 
or expression of opinion. Though it does charge for 
publishing cut* and descriptions of patented machin¬ 
ery, etc., any editorial endorsement that can consist¬ 
ently be given in connection is always free, albeit 
often of great benefit to the patentee or manufacturer. 
— The above paragraph is given for the benefit of 
all who are trying to till the Rural's reading pages 
with wbnt we denominate free advertising —such 
notices of their wares as ought to be given in special 
notice or advertising columns and paid for accord¬ 
ingly. AimoBt daily we are bored by requests to 
publish this or that in reading columns, ostensibly 
for the benefit of the public, but really to promote 
the interests of individuals. A few days ago a com¬ 
pany owning a certain patent for preserving fruit 
took us to task for not blowing their horn gratis, arid 
gravely asked us to define (by letter) oar position in 
regard to our duty to the public concerning “ scientific 
Inventions.'’ By reading the Rural carefully (in¬ 
cluding this article) our friends will be likely to 
ascertain our platform—one plank of which is that it 
is not our duty to enrich any man or company, tho' 
the public may be incidentally benefited. If invent¬ 
ors will forego patent royalty the Rural will freely 
do its full share toward introducing all uscfhl im¬ 
provements to the public. Next to patentees, pub¬ 
lishers and authors are apparently the most benevo¬ 
lent mortals ou earth. Iu their view it is of the 
utmost importance to tin; public that certain books 
and periodicals rhould be strongly and longly com¬ 
mended, including price aud much other legitimate 
advertising matter—all pro bonO publico. For example 
wc cite one of the Rural's latest invitee on thi* siili- 
Ject:—The wealthy publishers of the new Horticultu¬ 
ral Journal in Boston write u? a letter (not the first 
of the kind from the same source) saying they have 
sent u* the March No. of that remarkable monthly, 
and modestly inclose a notice (the insertion of which 
In our special notice column would cost forty dollar.-) 
with this request— “ Should the ideas of inclosed 
notice meet your approval, will you be so kind as to 
embody them in your review of the samel” We 
should be glad to be “kind" to our friends, could we 
do so consistently, but they ask a little too much— 
especially when they desire us to announce among 
their contributors a prominent horticultural writer 
and nutbor who repudiates any connection with the 
magazine 1 And, beside, wc really don’t think the 
journal, though it emanates from “the hub," merits 
the praise of its manufacturers. This is only one of 
numerous instances of combined brass and benevo¬ 
lence we might cite in this connection.—but we must 
leave the matter, like the Ledger's stories, “ to be 
continued.” 
-- 
About Sheep Books.— (A. G. P., Ohio.) Y’ou are 
right in your inference, for The Practical Shepherd is 
Dr. Randall’s latest and best work on sheep hus¬ 
bandry. The work advertised by Judd & Co., aud 
others, os " Randall's Sheep Husbandry ” is really 
Dr. R.‘s “Sheep Husbandry in the South," first pub¬ 
lished over twenty years ago, and of course not adapt¬ 
ed to the present time, or the wants of flock-masters. 
Wc have heard of several instances in which per¬ 
sons have been " sold ” (as well as the book) by pur¬ 
chasing this old work with an abbreviated title. Of 
course we need not add that Dr. R.’s Practical Shep¬ 
herd is the best work on American Sheep Husbandry 
extant, as it contains the gist of hie former ones and 
the result of his life-long observation, experience and 
research pertaining to tlie subject. 
Growing Broom C’orx— Information Wanted.— 
J. D. K., Wallonla, Kv., writes us as follows:—“I 
want to ask for information as to the best mode of 
growing broom coni—the soil most mi! table—how 
prepared—bow planted—how cultivated, cut and got 
ready for market ? Would it not pay the raiser better 
to manufacture Into brooms than send to market V If 
so, at what price could machinery suflicieut to make 
brooms on a small scale be fitted up 5 Will some kind 
friend give me the result of his experience in the 
management of broom corn, also model of machinery 
necessary to make up what might be raised by one 
farmer and what he could buy ou reasonable terms 
from his neighbors T ' Will some of our readers reply 
to some or all of these queries ? 
A Good Sample of Silesian Wool.— Some time 
ago we received from Theodore N. Davisson of Jef- 
! fersonton, Culpepper Co., Va., a sample of grade 
Silesian wool of excellent quality. If a fair sample 
of the wool of his flock, Mr. D. is on the track of 
improvement.—(The sample 8liould have been for¬ 
warded to the Editor of our Sheep Husbandry depart¬ 
ment on receipt, but being mislaid has just turned up, 
and we notice here to prevent further delay. If flock- 
masters will send samples direct to Dr. Randall, 
| Cortland Village, N. Y., they will be likely to re- 
I ceive early attention.) 
I' The Address of Hon. T. C. Peters, our Southern 
Corresponding Editor, is Wevt Friendship, Howard 
Go., Md. Those who have written us about this, aud 
all others interested, will pleuse note.—We expect, to 
visit brother P. in a few days, and if so may “make 
a note ” of his surroundings. 
A Good Agricultural Address. — Our spier 
Special Contributor, Maj. H. T. Brooks of Wyoming 
occasionally delivers an agricultural address, and 
always succeeds, we imagine, in both pleasing an- 
Instructing his auditors. We are in receipt of a 
pamphlet copy of bis address at the last Fair of the 
Niagara Co. Ag. Society, which is pleasing from the 
quaintness of many of the expressions used, and con¬ 
vincing from the evident mastery of the subjects dis¬ 
cussed. Alluding to the institution of Fairs Maj. g 
says:—“ Formerly men came together to witness ex¬ 
pensive ceremonials, tournaments, grand military 
displays, beastly and bloody exhibitions of strength 
and skill. Now, a pastoral people meet in these fields, 
forgetful of war, unmindful of kings and courts, to 
exchange friendly greetings and wise counsels, each 
one expecting to carry back more than he brought, 
without robbing anybody" Among the important 
points in farm education are those of being able to 
detect the faults and excellencies of the various kind? 
of Eann stock, and to determine as to tbeir relative 
value. On these points we quote“ To be a critical 
Judge of farm stock should be a part of every, farm¬ 
er's education; and since all the professions and 
trades occasionally deal In domestic animals, this 
knowledge should be extended to all. Some men 
miss no opportunity of canvassing the merits and de¬ 
merits of different kinds of property. Others give 
very little attention to such matters. They don't 
know sicemey from heaves hy sight; they can appre¬ 
ciate a dead pull, they have a horror of a baulk, but 
style and action are beyond their care or comprehen¬ 
sion. As a consequence they ask too ranch for an 
Indifferent animal and so lose the sale they wish 
to make, and balance the account by selling a good 
one for half Its value." The address, ns a whole, 
is replete with practical ideas germain to the subject 
of faming operations, and highly creditable to the 
judgment, observation and good taste of its author. 
Transactions N, Y. State Ag'l Socustt.—W e 
have received from Col, B. P. Johnson, Secretary, the 
volume of the State Ag'l Society’s Transactions for 
the year 1865. It Is a decided improvement on pre¬ 
ceding Reports of the Society ; it reflects great credit 
on the Secretary, and, in the execution of tho work 
and value and Interest of contenta, ranks far above 
the publications of any other State Agricultural Soci¬ 
ety. It is a book that should be in the hands of every 
farmer In the State. We have not space to give even 
a brief synopsis of Its contents, and can only mention 
a few of many valuable articles It contains. The Re- 
port of the State Fair, held at Utica, is admirably 
done by X. A. Willard. K*q., who also furnishes a 
paper ou the Comparative Profit of Butter and Cheese 
Factories, and bis observations among the butter 
makers of Orange Co.—an article of great Importance 
to dairy farmers. There Is also an excellent article 
on Cheese and Butter Manufacturers, by Mr. Powell 
of Herkimer. A report on machinery for manufactur¬ 
ing flax cotton is furnished by Dr. J. Stanton Gould. 
The subject of “Forests—their influence, use* and 
reproduction,” Is discussed bv Winslow C. Watson, 
Esq., of Essex. Col. E. C. Frost of Schuyler, con¬ 
tributes a very valuable illustrated article on “Rural 
Homes aud Surroundings,” and Dr. S. J. Parker, 
Tompkins, one on “Training, Pruning and Improv¬ 
ing Grapes.” The agricultural discussions during 
the evenings of the Fair—the closing address by the 
retiring President, Don. T. C. Petrus — Hon. Lewl- 
F. Allen's discussions of the “Fruits of Western 
New York "—the synopsis or the State Census, and 
the reports of the county and town associations arc 
not the lea-t intersting portions of the volume. 
Trial of Horse Haw-Forks.— Wc have received a 
lull report of an exhibition and trial of these imple¬ 
ments which took place at Rye, Westchester Co., 
March 4th and 5th, under the auspices of a Committee 
of the American Institute Farmers’ Club. We regret 
being unable to And space for the full Report; the 
prizes awarded were as follows:—First award in Class 
No. 1, to “Palmer's Excelsior Sickle-tlned Fork," 
entered by Palmer & Wakerhagcu, Hudson, N. Y.; 
second prize, Class No. 1, to John H. Chapman, Utica, 
N, Y. Second Class—First prize, Harpoon Forks, to 
C. C. Blodgett, Watertown, Jefferson county, N. Y.; 
second prize, to 8. C. & L. B. Sprout, Muncy, Pa. 
From the report of the trial, we learn that there were 
18 entries, including the more prominent patents be¬ 
fore the public. The Committee consisted of Messrs. 
S. Edwards Todd, Chairman; Wm. 8. Carpenter, 
Jonah H. Macy, P. T. Quinn, Hicks Field and Wm. H. 
Smith, assisted on the first day by Mr. Nathan C. Ely, 
Chairman of the Farmers’ Club. 
To Advertisers, —We are again compelled to defer 
several advertisements for waut of space. That ad¬ 
vertising in the Rural generally pays all parties— 
advertisers, readers and the publisher—is true, yet 
we must not give “too much of a good thing,” all at 
once, 
DOINCS OF AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
Erie Co. Ag. Society.—Officers for 1867: Pres't— L. 
C. P< Vaughn of Springville. Vice Pres'ts — Alka 
Potter of East namburgh ; Carnes Hopkins of Sar¬ 
dinia. Sec'y—B. Chafee of Springville. Treas.— Pliny 
Smith of Springville. Directors— B. F. Cballicott. C. 
White and Alexander Scobey. 
Cattaraugus Co. Ag'l Society — The officers of this 
Society for 1867 are: Pres't— Chaunckt A. Snow. 
Vice Pres't — Lorenzo D. Cobb. Sec'y— Horace S. 
Huntley. Treas— Erastus N, Lee. Directors — Sam¬ 
uel R. Homer, Halsey Saflord, Zino Dudley, Samuel 
S. nuntley, Joseph Smith, Cyrus A. Fuller. 
Omego Co. Cheese Manufacturing Association.— The 
officers of this association for 1807 arc : Pres't— Hi- 
ra.u Walker of Union Squure. Vice Pres'ts—AMn 
Lawrence, Joseph Tuttle, Henry Sommers, Stephen 
Griffith, Horace J. Trumbnil, Simeon Coe, T. H. Aus¬ 
tin, Alvin Moon, Mr. Stevens, Sec'y and Treas.—f- 
C. Taylor of Mexico. 
The Lenox Farmers' and Mechanics' Association. 
Madison Co., has elected the following officers for 
1867: Pres't — Newell M. Chaffee. Vice Pres' Is— 
E. C. Saunders and J. L. Mansfield. Treas.— T. F. 
Hand, Sec'y — E F. Lewis, Executive Corn— C. B. 
Crouse, D. P. Lamb, G. D. Davis, J. Watkins, O. E. 
Messenger, S. B. JOhnson. F. M. Whitman and R. 
n. Avery honorary members. 
Lancaster (Pa.) Hort. Society. — Pres't — Levi S. 
Reist, Vice Pres'ts—J. B. Garlear, E. M. Hosteller, 
W. L. Diffendcrfer, Casper Hiller. Sec'y — H. M. 
Engle. 7 >m?.—li. L. Landis. 
East Pa. Ag'l Society. — Pres't — John Kennedy. 
Vice Pres'ts—S. E. Hartranft, P. M. Hunter. Treas — 
Charles Hurst. Sec'y— S. K. Stoat. 
Bucks Co. (Pa.) Ag'l Society— Pres't— William 
Stayely. Vice Pres't —Adrian Cornell. Sec'y— Henry 
T. Darlington. Treas.— 1 Cyrus Hillbom. 
