organizations in other counties, and even in 
one other State, to visit the Bergen Count}' 
Fair of 1878, and ascertain their methods and 
the result. These official visitors were as 
hearty in commendation as the 
tlumselves. We learn that the st 
thee fairs are about as follows : 
No. Entries. jNo. Visitors. 
handful of twine and a shovel to remove the 
soil from the base of the tree. We will now 
suppose we have a cherry tree, Fig. 1, an inch 
or more in diameter, which we wish to graft. 
The soil is first to he removed from one side 
of the tree, and a deep, smooth incision made 
into the side of the trunk, as represented at a. 
A. cion, b, Fig. 1, is to he selected as long as can 
be conveniently secured, say from one to three 
feet in length. The lower end at b should be 
"You may be right," remarked Mr. Martin, 
“but the Cotswold is a noble sheep. Look at 
the ewe that weighs 100 pounds, and not half 
fat yet. And, moreover, it is uow an accli¬ 
mated citizen and as hardy as a native, as. in¬ 
deed, most of our flocks of this breed now are. 
It is true, combing wool is bard to sell iu 
country places, but there is a permanent and 
growing home market for it, and iu the cities 
it is always salable at some few cents per 
pound higher than any other wool. 
“Ail that is true,” replied my old neighbor ; 
“if I did not keep South-Downs, I would 
choose Cotswolds.’’ 
“And we would raise lambs by crossing 
them on Merino ewes,” remarked William. 
“I see," I reioiued, “it is a case of ’not that 
1 love Cotswolds less, but South-Downs more; 
and I think you are right, but I would include 
along with the South-Downs all the black- 
faced breeds which have their blood, such as 
the Hampshire Downs, and the Oxford 
Downs.” 
“There is no question,” rejoiued Mr. Mar¬ 
tin, “of the advantages from sheep to our ag¬ 
riculture. They are close feeders; easily 
managed; if well provided for, they will man¬ 
age themselves, in fact; they pay two profits. 
Like a National bank, there is a dividend half- 
yearly—one is the fleece, and one is the lamb ; 
there is a reserve fund accumulated, which is 
the manure heap, and the capital, which is 
the carcass, is guaranteed by Die butcher. It 
costs little to start a flock; the poorest farmer 
can go into the business as well as tbe richest; 
but a small flock is apt to pay better than a 
l&rgc one. It is otic of tltc most suipiisiug 
things in existence to me, that so few flocks 
are kept now. I suppose it is the result of a 
change in our habits, and our coutempt for 
6mall things in our grand attempts to grasp 
something big; for iu our fathers’ days, when 
all kept a few sheep, folks were satisfied if 
their backs were ■warm aud their stomachs 
filled, aud never expected to carry around a 
pocketful of dollars, to go shopping with.” 
“That is your old story," 1 replied. “You 
are always harping on the good old times, and 
our old friend here confessed, the other day, 
that we were ail as happy aud well off now as 
then. The change is one of those which occur 
periodically; one of the ups and downs of 
farm life. There is more inquiry about sheep 
now than for many years, and when the boys 
are buying a tbousaud ‘Shepherds’ Manuals’ iu 
six months, you may he sure there will soon 
be plenty of young shepherds. Twenty-five 
sheep may bring in $100 clear every year, and 
every farmer’s boy—or girl, too, if she would 
—could soon get up a flock of Diat size and 
manage it successfully, and in live years in¬ 
crease tbeir profits until a thousand dollars 
would he earned. They don’t see it and don’t 
think of it, that is all; and it is somebody’s 
business to let them know of it. Let them 
never mind what kind they begin with, only 
let them begin ; they will soon learn bow to 
manage tbeir little flocks profitably. 
in improvement. A marked feature in this de¬ 
partment is the increase of the number and 
styles of portable steam-engines for farm pur¬ 
poses, and of self-biudiug reapers. There are 
also noticeable improvements in plows, culti¬ 
vators, seed drills, corn planters, etc . of which 
I have not Urae or space to write in detail. 
Of eatUe, we always have splendid shows of 
Short-horns. Some Ohio herds arc known to be 
as good as any in the world,.and as none but the 
best can gain premiums at our State fairs, but 
few others are seen there. A larger number 
than usual of Jerseys were at this fair, and 
they attracted considerable attention. The 
cows arc sought for by towns’-people, aud 
some others, so that a few sales were made. 
Horses were quite numerous and good—the 
fast-trotting part being seemingly most in 
favor ; and tbe trials of speed in tbe ring were 
a more promiuent feature than most of our 
people desire. They were only excused as a ne¬ 
cessity for increasing the attractions of the fair 
and the funds of the Board. This motive will 
not exist the coming year* and it is hoped that 
there will be less catering to mere amusement 
at tlie fairs hereafter, aud more effort to in¬ 
struct the people. 
Hogs aud sheep wore specially abundant, 
aud the breeds or varieties were so numerous 
that every one’s fancy could he suited. The 
same was true of poultry. 
The departments of farm products aud 
domestic manufactures, have never been very 
well filled at Columbus—the central and south¬ 
ern parts of our State not being occupied by 
farmers wbo devote much attention to the class 
of articles usually exhibited iu ibis line. Some 
of the county fairs of the Reserve, or northern 
section of the State, make better displays in 
these departments. The mechanics aud manu¬ 
facturers of Columbus made very good displays 
of their work, aud the citizens generally seemed 
to do all iu their power to add to the attract¬ 
iveness and success of the fair. 
The fruit aud floral halls were well filled aud 
highly attractive, although it is not the bear¬ 
ing year with our orchards—there being a very 
scant crop of apples aud uo peaches at all, ex¬ 
cepting along the lake shore. There was a 
fair display of apples, a very good oue of 
pears aud also of grapes, although the time 
Receipts. 
Year. No. Exhib¬ 
itors. 
About $ 32 
•• 250 
•* 525 
1*78. 
1*77. 
1878. _ _ 
These figures indicate rather a remarkable 
progress for a young organization, and the 
present stage of proceedings gives promise of 
unflagging interest aud continued success. 
The methods practiced in the administration 
of this county fair are only these: A simple 
organization ; few officers; plain rules ; econo¬ 
my iu expenses ; no money prizes, but in place 
thereof practical works, agricultural papers, 
implements and diplomas. Added to these are 
efforts to incite a healthy rivalry in rural mat¬ 
ters. So far the association has managed to 
steer clear of “ boss trots;” believing that ex¬ 
perience teaches that couuty fairs fail when¬ 
ever they get into this rut. A slight examina¬ 
tion of the premium lists of those associations 
generally, is sufficient to show the rock on 
which they split. “ Too much of one thiug 
good for nothing ’’ is a homely proverb, that 
county fair managers might well bear in mind, 
aud a farmers’ fair, to receive a farmer’s sym¬ 
pathy aud support, must include, and treat 
fairly, all the interests of a farmer’s calling. 
To those of our friends wbo wish to see for 
themselves how this can he done, I recom¬ 
mend a visit to Bergen couuty about October 
first, and to those who cannot make the visit, 
I presume the officers will he glad to com¬ 
municate their ideas when requested. v. 
wedge-shape, as in common cleft-grafting, 
taking advantage, in making the wedge, of 
any curvature of the cion, as represented <u 
the figure, for convenience iu fastening to the 
tree. The cion should then be inserted at a, 
Fig. 3, and pressed firmly to its place. Fasten 
them securely, as at c, to the body of the tree, 
or to one of the branches, if more convenient. 
Then replace Die soil about the body of the 
tree, taking care to press 
it very firmly about the 
n base of tbe ciou, and 
|I heaping it a little at the 
same time, as represeut- 
ed in Fig. 2. d. When 
the cion gives uuiuisiak- 
able evidence of growth, 
|i and not until then, cut 
H the old tree down to a 
1 mere support for the 
JPi'Q' 1 i si graft, as shown iu Fig. 
v * ^ W 3 This support should 
a iM- __ remain until about tbe 
1st of August, or, in 
some cases, even later, 
care being taken to keep 
all suckers from Die old tree. The support of 
the old tree can now be dispensed with, and 
we have a young tree of the variety desired, as 
represented iu Fig. 4, which is an exact copy 
of a graft now (Aug. 11) growing upon my 
departments. Of cattle there was a nue ms- 
play of Short-horns. Devons, Ayrshircs and 
Jerseys ; a single exhibit of Ilerofords, two ot 
Guernseys; three ox Iiolsteins; four of Swiss, 
and a goodly show of grades aud “natives,” be¬ 
sides a long list of working oxen. The horses 
included stallions for general use; mares, 
geldings, matched horses and fillies. Of sheep 
there were a few exhibits each of Cotswolds, 
South-Downs, Middle-wools aud Merinos; of 
the latter two exhibits of American and one of 
Spanish. Of Bwiue aud poultry there was also 
a nice but not numerous display. Corn, 
wheat, oats, grass-seed, fruits, vegetables, but¬ 
ter, home-made and factory-made cheese, 
household manufactures, etc., etc., also made 
a fair show. So did Ex-Gov. Long, Gov. Head, 
Attorucy-Geuoral Devens, Ex-Gov. Boutwell 
and some smaller celebrities, most- of whom 
also delivered speeches appropriate to the occa¬ 
sion. The attendance was good, and the fuir, 
it is to be hoped profitable, financially as well 
as educationally. 
COUNTY FAIRS, 
NEW YORK STATE FAIR 
(Special Correspondence.) 
Utica, N. Y., Sept. 12 , 1879. 
The weather was the great drawback to a 
brilliant fair. As it is, the Society will barely 
have receipts sufficient to meet expenditures. 
The exhibits in all departments are good- bet¬ 
tor than usual, notably the stock. Although 
the entries were linger than last year, there 
was not more than a third or a half represent¬ 
ed iu auy class. 
The same faults are manifest iu this as iu 
previous years. Exhibits are spread over too 
much ground ; they should be grouped more 
closely and with more uniformity. H the 
Society should require the judges to make a 
report incorporating such suggestions regard¬ 
ing improvements as seemed to them needful 
iu their several departments, I tbiuk tbe Socie¬ 
ty would profit by the Information. Especially 
among the implement men wus Die “ magnifi¬ 
cent distance” between things spoken of, with 
an accompaniment of growls aud complaints. 
In other respects the fair is as skillfully man¬ 
aged as usual, and with all its imperfections, 
it is about the best agricultural fair that we 
have. Machinery and stock notes are deferred 
until next issue. 
Manufacturer!*’ Ilall, 
is halt filled with the usual collection of bed 
quilts aud pianos so dear to the hearts of the 
ladies. Oue hundred and fifty feet and foui 
tables are set aside for farm and dairy products, 
and a beggarly show they make. The Queens 
Co. fair makes a much finer exhibit in Dus 
line. Mr Oscar J. Lewis takes first premium 
on the best collection of potatoes, which com¬ 
prises 850 varieties. The plates are filled with 
well-grown samples. He tells me that Beauty 
of Hebron is in high favor iu his neighborhood 
(Sebaodack Centre, N. Y.,) owing mainly to its 
haviug been popularized by the Rural through 
its Free Seed Distribution last season. Mr. L. 
grows seeds for Price & Knickerbocker, who 
also make a fine display. Bliss and Sons and 
Lewis Brower have good collections of pota- 
NEW AND SUCCESSFUL MODE OF 
GRAFTING. 
PROFESSOR KLBRIDGE GALE. 
The art of fruit culture is so far perfected, 
and the demand for choice fruit so imperative, 
that a seedling tree can scarcely be tolerated. 
Aud yet seedling trees of some kind are found 
every year, springing up about all places where 
fruit is grown. These are, in a great majoiity 
grounds, aud made as above described, last 
spring. The following figures will indicate 
the value of this mode of graftingThe cion 
iu this case was two feet nine inches long; the 
graft is now two inches in circumference at 
the ground, and the united length of the eight 
new shoots is 16J feet. 
OHIO STATE FAIR A SUCCESS 
Our State Board of Agriculture has been uu- 
der a cloud, financially, the past year, but the 
fair held at Columbus the present week has 
made the skies bright again. The weather was 
simply perfect, excepting on Monday, and so 
were all the arrangements for the exhibition. 
Everything wa6 well advertised, aud all the 
railroads pledged to carry people to and from 
the fair with facility aud at very low rates, so 
that the rural population, with that of the 
small towns forflfty miles or so around, seemed 
to turn out en masse for a day or two at the fair. 
On one duy, (Thursday) it was showu by the 
tickets sold, that over 40,000 people entered the 
grounds, and about half that number on Wed¬ 
nesday aud Friday. 
of cases, valueless; but if their tops could be 
changed, they would not only be au attraction, 
but a source of profit iu coming years. How 
can this change he made ? The writer knows 
of no mode so simple, safe and successful as 
the one here described. We will suppose that 
tbe trees are auy where from oue-half inch to 
three inches in diameter at the crown. The 
grafting is to be done at the crown, so as to 
replace the entire top. 
The tools needed are a sharp knife, a sharp 
chisel at least an inch wide, a light mallet, a 
