368 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Dec. 
ten hills was 9J pounds. I am fully satisfied from the 
result of this experiment, that farmers should preserve, 
not the largest ears which grow on the stalk for seed, 
but those growing nearest the root of the stalk. John 
Bennett. Bloomingbui'gh, Sullivan Ca., Oct. 15. 
Seneca County. 
Ten years ago-, and this county did not assemble a 
score of animals for exhibition ! This year about 400 
animals of full blood and high grades, were exhibited 
on a beautifully arranged fair ground in the busy 
manufacturing village of Waterloo. 
This village, covering a wide area on both sides of 
the Seneca river, resounds with the hum of the woolen 
and cotton factories, the heavy blow of forgo hammers, 
and the musical click'-clack of grain mills. This vil¬ 
lage, rejoicing in its own prosperity-, induced the lords 
of the soil to hold their annual festival within their 
corporate bounds, by the solid argument of $650, con¬ 
tributed to the funds of the society. Thus reinforced 
The Fair Grounds were substantially inclosed by a 
high board fence, covering an area of six acre3. The 
entrance gates,—business office, and ticket offices, 
were on the southern side, occupying the lowest por- 
n of the grounds. Ascending a gentle slope directly 
in front of the main entrance, you reach the speakers’ 
tent, elliptical in form, with seats rising in tiers to the 
top of the wall screen, affording comfort to 2,500 per¬ 
sons—the area was floored with planed and jointed 
boards. The speakers’ platform was wide and large 
euough to give luxurious seats to all the officers and 
the executive board; chandeliers, and lamps pendent 
from the huge tent poles and temporary frames, indi¬ 
cated a prolonged visit to this fairy palace. Hear to 
this spacious tent was the Santa Claus, or Saint Nicho¬ 
las tent of the society ; furnishing a steady stream of 
viands, for the thousands whose appetites seemed to 
grow with the very food it fed on; pure water was the 
beverage which, by unanimous consent. alone stimu¬ 
lated the pleasures of the week. Beyond these tents 
were large inclosures of cattle, sleek, fat and inviting. 
We understand that 30 head of noble beasts were sent 
in by a farmer Judge of Seneca Falls ; five noble yoke 
of sturdy oxen, the property of a Seneca farmer, pro¬ 
duced irresistible influences upon the pockets of eastern 
visitors. A prominent farmer of Cayuga, carried off in 
triumph four remarkable animals of the short horn 
breed, raised by Mr. Bacon, one of the earliest friends 
of that class of animals, and whose public spirit led 
him to the importation of the best stock from England 
in 1834. The President of the society had very fine 
stock on the ground. He was proof against temptation, 
intending, as is said, to give the new agricultural col¬ 
lege, the benefit of his choicest stock. Sheep and swine 
in large numbers were found arranged along the entire 
northern and western fences of the inelosure; and 
along the southern fence was a display of the feathered 
tribe, far exceeding in beauty of plumage and of ar¬ 
rangements for their protection, any thing seen at the 
State fairs. The horse and cattle rings occupied areas 
of 200 feet diameter, affording space for a display of 
horses of all ages and characters, such as is rarely seen. 
Thousands of eager spectators, amateurs and purchasers 
thronged the horse ring for two days ; so great was the 
number exhibited. 
The Mechanics’ tent was not as full as might have been 
expected in this County. The Floral tent, and House¬ 
hold products, made ample amends for the deficiency 
of Mechanics—extraordinary needle-work, in a varie¬ 
ty of styles, evinced the handy-work of Seneca’s fair 
daughters,—so also did the butter and cheese, while 
Horticultural products proved that these fairs have 
done more than any other means to awaken farmers to 
improvement, and the laudable desire to excel. Many 
new varieties of fruits, flowers and vegetables, orna¬ 
mented the long ranges of tables, presenting new ele¬ 
ments for rivalry. A long list of articles under the 
head of discretionary objects, or articles, contained 
matter for consideration and thought. 
A reference to the list of awards can alone present 
them duly to the public eye. They were far too nu¬ 
merous for this rapid notice. It was supposed that 
4.000 persons were on the grounds during the first day. 
And on the second day, we heard the number estimated 
from 6,000 to 10,000. The society’s immense tent was 
crowded by seven o’clock, p. m. The President, with 
his lady and party, appeared on the floor a few minutes 
after seven, and a collection of happier persons never 
was before assembled; the dancing opened with fifty 
sets of cotillions—a full band gave life to the scene, 
and sustained the nimble spirit of mirth, till the morn¬ 
ing opened her golden gates, and the busy day claimed 
the attendance of all her industrious sons,—and made 
even “ a July’s day appear as short as December’s.” 
Nearly twenty-five hundred persons were thus made 
happy and joyous by the Harvest Horne. 
On the last day, multitudes gathered on the farm of 
the Rev. Mr. Lane to witness the plowing match. 
Thirteen plows started for the prizes—many of which 
were doubly won. by excellent work. 
At one o’clock of this day the large tent began to fill; 
every seat was occupied before two o’clock, when tho 
President, Mr. Delafield, called the Society to order. 
A beautiful extempore prayer, filled with praise and 
thanksgiving, was offered by the Reverend pastor of 
the Dutch Reformed Church of Waterloo ; at the close 
of which, Mr. Delafield stated that “ Colonel B. P. 
Johnson had not yet arrived, from whose lips all pres¬ 
ent would have gathered wisdom, and from whose ex¬ 
perience all w’ould have derived improvement in their 
agricultural systems and practice.” Mr. Delafield 
apprehended that some accident, or unavoidable event 
had interfered w 7 ith Col. Johnson’s intentions and the 
farmers’ hopes. He then proposed reading the reports 
and awards of the Judges, which occupied the Society 
the remainder of the day. The President made ap¬ 
propriate remarks and adjourned tho meeting after 
three days of festivity, free from every appearance of 
error—days entitled to the top of admiration, and 
worth what’s dearest to the world. * 
