TO IMPROVE THE SOIL AND THE MIND. 
New Series. ALBANY, APRIL, 1851. Vol. VIIL—No. 4. 
rtintl Iptotetf- 
Farming in Otsego County. 
In the month of February last, we made an excursion 
through a portion of Otsego county. This district 
is comparatively new as to agriculture. Until after 
the Revolutionary war, it was only a hunting ground 
for the Indians, and its settlement has been chiefly 
commenced within the present century. Many of the 
first settlers manifested a strong interest in the improve¬ 
ment of agriculture, and to their influence is to be at¬ 
tributed, in a considerable degree, the rapid advance 
which has been made, and the favorable position which 
the section sustains in this respect. 
We learn from a u History of Agricultural Societies,” 
published by the late Elkanah Watson, Esq., in 1820, 
that a society was organized in this county as early as 
1817; and this, indeed, appears to have been the first 
county agricultural society in the state. Mr. Watson, 
who was present, and delivered an address on that occa¬ 
sion, spoke of Otsego as having “ long stood pre-emi¬ 
nent in this state for its cattle and cheese.” In the same 
address, Mr. Watson alluded to the favorable results 
which this new organization was destined to produce 
over the whole country. He said— u A strong presenti¬ 
ment lies on my mind, that the time is at hand, when, 
either through the national or state patronage, every 
county in this state—-I will add, in the United States— 
will follow your example.” The great increase of agri¬ 
cultural societies since that day, has singularly verified 
this prediction. 
The second exhibition of the Otsego County Society, 
was held at Cooperstown, in 1818. Mr. Watson was 
iagan present, accompanied by De Witt Clinton, then 
governor of the state, the late Hon. Stephen Yan 
Rensselaer, and several other distinguished gentlemen. 
The stimulus resulting from these visits, was productive 
of highly beneficial effects, which have been continued 
even to the present time. 
Our observations, which were confined principally to 
the southwesterly portion of the county, could not, 
from the nature of the season, be of a very definite cha¬ 
racter, in reference to the cultivation of the soil. The 
general aspect of the country, its divisions into fields 
and woodlands ; the- external appearance of the farms, 
as to buildings, fences, See., and the character of 
the live-stock, comprised about all that could be seen 
to advantage. This neighborhood has for several years 
been noted for its fine cattle and sheep, of various 
breeds; and we were informed by many persons, that 
agriculture, in all departments, has been greatly im¬ 
proved here within the last twenty years. But the rais¬ 
ing of horses, cattle and sheep, and the products of the 
dairy, are still, as formerly, the chief staples. Wheat 
is produced to but a limited extent; Indian corn, oats, 
barley, and buckwheat, in considerable quantities; the 
yield of the latter grains being, probably, equal to the 
average of the state. 
Besides the County Agricultural Society, which is lo¬ 
cated at Cooperstown, there has been for fifteen years, 
a society which has held annual exhibitions, generally at 
the village of Louisville, in the township of Butternuts, 
(now Morris.) Several hundred dollars are annually 
subscribed in this vicinity, including the neighboring 
township of Otego, which are paid in premiums on -do¬ 
mestic animals, crops, dairy products, and manufac¬ 
tures. The society, though sustained entirely by indi¬ 
vidual aid, (receiving no funds from the state, as do 
county societies,) has kept up its exhibitions with much 
spirit, and with decided advantage to the farming inte¬ 
rest. 
From the acquaintance which our visit enabled us to 
form with the farmers of this section, we were favorably 
impressed with their intelligence and their desire for im¬ 
provement; Many of them manifest an acquaintance 
with the principles of agriculture, and a determination 
to avail themselves of all practical information on the 
subject, through the medium of books, agricultural pe 
riodicals, and all other sources. They have lately or 
ganised a club for the discussion of questions connected 
with husbandry—the members meeting weekly for that 
purpose. 
Much of the improvement of the live-stock of this 
neighborhood, is doubtless attributable to the exertions 
of a few individuals, who have devoted themselves con¬ 
siderably to that branch of farming. Prominent among 
these individuals, is Francis Rotch, Esq., a gentleman 
who has resided here for the last twenty-three years. 
On his first coming into this part of the country, he 
spared neither pains nor expense in procuring and intro¬ 
ducing the best Short-horn cattle, South Down and Me¬ 
rino sheep, &c. He has also been instrumental in in¬ 
troducing the Devon breed of cattle, several specimens 
of which he imported from England; and has introduc¬ 
ed, at various times, improved breeds of swine, poultry, 
&c. The opportunity of acquiring this stock has always 
been offered to the public on liberal terms; and the re- 
