354 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
MONROE CO. AG. SOCIETY—RURAL ARCHITEC¬ 
TURE, &c. 
Friend Tucker— The Annual Fair and Cattle Show 
of our County Agricultural and Horticultural Society, took 
place in the city of Rochester, on the 8th and 9th inst. 
The exhibition, upon the whole, was tolerably good, but 
not what it should have been. The apprehension that 
this fair, at best, would contrast but meagrely with the 
brilliant and imposing pageant, and the successful results 
of the State Fair, which was held at this place the last 
year, instead of inspiring our farmers with renewed zeal 
(as it ought to have done) and arousing among them a 
more determined spirit of emulation, served rather to 
dampen their ardor, or at least to discourage their efforts. 
The first day was principally occupied by the exhibi¬ 
tion of stock. There was a very fair display of horses, 
some tolerable specimens of Berkshire hogs, and some 
very fine sheep of the Merino, South Down, Cotswold, 
and Paular Merino breeds—of the latter, there were se¬ 
veral beautiful samples from the justly celebrated flocks 
of Mr. Jewett, of Vermont. They were purchased and 
brought on here by Gen. Harmon, the enterprising Pre¬ 
sident of our County Society, to improve his already 
highly cultivated flock. The show of cattle was quite 
slim. There were one or two pretty good Durham bulls, 
two or three fine yoke of oxen, but three or four cows 
that were passable, and of young stock, not over half a 
dozen head, or thereabouts, in all; among these, howev¬ 
er, I noticed the full blooded Durham heifer (now own¬ 
ed by Mr. Sidney Allen, of this city,) which took the 
first prize at the State Fair, last year, as the best heifer 
calf—and yet this, probably the best blooded and most 
perfect animal on the ground, did not obtain a premium, 
because, as the committee stated, she had no competitor 
of the same blood. Mr. Latta, of Greece, had one or 
two very fine grade cows and heifers, nearly full blood 
Durham; and Mr. Smith of Brighton, had several good 
looking cows and heifers of the Holderness breed, (near¬ 
ly pure,) the former said to be excellent milkers—one 
cow, in particular, it was stated by her owner, had given 
forty quarts a day. There were none, I believe, 
but grade cows, on the ground; there was not, to my re¬ 
collection, a single pure Durham, Devon, or any other 
improved thorough bred cow, among them; nor did I see 
a single cow of our native breeds. Of this latter fact, at 
least, I think the farmers of our county ought to be asha¬ 
med; they, themselves, I have no doubt, would be slow 
to admit that they did not possess some as good native 
cows as any county in the State can produce; then why 
not bring them out and exhibit them with a statement of 
their dairy properties l If they have not yet made up 
their minds to adopt the thorough-bred, improved stock, 
on the ground that they consider their native breeds the 
best, why not bring them out and exhibit them side by j 
side, so that ail may see, compare ami judge for them¬ 
selves ? For my own part, I have made up my mind from 
some little experience, and a good deal of observation, 
reflection and investigation, that the true policy for our 
farmers, in this matter, is to adopt the most approved 
breeds of thorough-bred, improved stock, such as the 
Durham, Hereford, Ayrshire, Devon, &c., then select 
out the best of our native stock, for the purpose of cross¬ 
ing or of comparison, and the remainder knock on the head 
and sell to the butcher; for all must admit that it costs no 
more (if as much,) to feed and raise a good animal, than 
a poor, mean one, that will not fetch, when it is three 
years old, as much as the straw it has ate would be worth 
for manure. But I am digressing. 
If the meagre display of cattle at our Show, were to be 
attributed to the want of any other good stock in the 
county than that exhibited, the owners of several fine 
herds that were not represented at all, would be as pro¬ 
voked at the imputation as those present had reason to be 
at the absentees, for their negligence or want of spirit. I 
could name several owners of fine herds of improved cat¬ 
tle, who had not a single animal at the Fair, although the 
day was unusually pleasant and favorable. 
The horticultural exhibition, on the second day, was 
very respectable, though not as extensive as it might and 
should have been, ©f vegetables, there was a very good 
display; and also of some varieties of fruits, apples in 
particular. The productions of the dairy were somewhat 
limited. There was a goodly display of farming imple¬ 
ments. 
The address was delivered by Dr. Lee, of Buffalo; it 
was an able, scientific production, illustrating some of the 
more important principles of agricultural science, in a 
very clear, concise and intelligible manner. I meant to 
have given you a synopsis of its contents, but my limits 
will not allow of it; but as it is to be published with the- 
transactions of our county society, you will have an op¬ 
portunity of perusing it ere long. The list of premiums 
awarded, you will find in our city papers. 
My thirst for the quiet luxury of rural life, with its in¬ 
vigorating, healthful, tranquilizing pursuits, does not 
abate in the least; it is growing into a ruling passion. 
There is more true satisfaction in planting and rearing 
one choice fruit tree—in making “ two blades of grass 
grow where but one grew before,” than in proselyting 
or colonizing a regiment of political parasites—and I be¬ 
lieve it to be at least of quite as much profit to the best 
interests of our common country; and yet, if we were to 
contrast the overwhelming political gatherings which 
take place almost daily in our midst, with the recent slim, 
annual ingathering of the farmers of our county, and that 
too, at their “ harvest home” jubilee, one would be irre- 
sistably led to the conclusion that the great mass, even 
among our agricultural brethren, are more zealously bent 
on accomplishing the latter than the former of these 
objects. But another month will produce a “ turn” in 
this political “ fever,” when, it is presumed, the body po¬ 
litic will have its healthful, legitimate functions restored. 
I am making some improvements in my fruit, poultry, 
&c., and hope another year, to get my little “ Rural 
Home Farm,” in successful operation, with a small va- 
rle'v of the choicest stock, &c. I have got up a plan of 
a “ Rural Home Cottage,” which I design building on 
my place, next spring. It is in the “Rural Gothic” or- 
jder, and an improvement, I think, as to beauty, simple 
!elegance and convenience of arrangement, even upon 
I the excellent and well-digested and tasteful designs of 
j Mr. Downing, whose inimitable works on “ Landscape 
! Gardening & Rural Architecture,” “ Cottage Resiliences,” 
j&c., I have perused and re-perused with so much inte¬ 
rest and delight, and I trust with no little profit also. My 
plans are drawn by Mr. Austin, formerly of New-Ha- 
ven, and an architect of rare taste and ability in his pro¬ 
fession, as his elegant specimens of workmanship will 
abundantly testify. I will furnish you with the drawings 
for your valuable paper, if you wish it, and can find room 
for them, in some future number. Your efforts, and those 
of Mr. Downing and others, to disseminate among our 
rural population a more correct architectural taste, are in 
the highest degree commendable, and are doing much 
towards advancing that too long neglected improvement. 
Rochester, Oct. 12, 1844. T. H. Hyatt 
MUSTARD SEED. 
The Farmers’ Cabinet contains a letter from C. J. Fell 
& Brother, of Philadelphia, by which it appears that 
our friend, J. H. Parmelee, Esq. of Duncan’s Falls, 
Ohio, has reared the past season an extraordinary crop 
of brown mustard. Twenty-seven acres of land were 
appropriated to the crop. The seed was planted in rows 
one foot apart one way, and two feet the other. The 
crop was well worked during the season, and when near 
ripe was cut with sickles, laid on sheets or waggon cov¬ 
ers, hauled to the barn in the sheets, and there threshed 
out and fanned. 
The Messrs. Fell have purchased of Mr. Parmelee a 
part of the crop. One hundred and fourteen barrels, 
containing 382 bushels, weighing 52| lbs. per bushel, 
making 20,100 lbs., for which they paid him 8 cents per 
lb., making,.... $1, 608 00 
Mr. Parmelee has 100 bushels of tailings, 
which he estimates to clean up 75 bushels, 
say 50 lbs. per bushel, making 3,750 lbs. 
at 8 cts.,.... • 300 00 
Giving as the product of 27* acres,. $1,908 00 
or $70 66 per acre. 
