of butter is the poorest, giving rise to the suspicion of fraud, when the fact is that in packing the successive layers are more exposed to the atmosphere than the top of the firkin, which is carefully covered with salt when filled. The system of preparing and marketing butter in warm weather in this State can be improved. The butter is injured in packing, and being sent forward in ice cars, is subjected to a low temperature, and then unloaded and carried to the market probably in a broiling sun, which sudden and violent change is enough of itself to ruin the best article. Families in hot weather buy a few pounds at a time, which in turn is again exposed, together with that remaining in the firkin. No wonder nearly all butter is in a spoiling state when it reaches the table of the consumer. In Pennsylvania a better practice prevails. The butter is made into pound rolls, nicely stamped and packed in tin pails with a reservoir in the bottom and on the top, filled with ice, the whole then packed in a wooden tub with a close fitting cover. In this way the butter can be kept at nearly an even temperature, and retailed to the consumer in a fresh and excellent condition, netting the producer from at least forty to fifty per cent more than by the system of whole firkins and ice cars, as we have stated. A considerable quantity of butter contains the elements of decay or decomposition, which are infused into the milk by the cow eating weeds and drinking impure water; hence too much care cannot be taken to purify the pastures. The same remarks will apply to milk designed for the manufacture of cheese, as bad milk will make bad cheese. But little cheese is consumed in this country as compared with Great Britain. In the latter it is made an important article of food. Here it is used as a relish or an appetizer; our own people generally having a taste for rank or strong cheese, a little of which goes a great way. The Englishman prefers a mild cheese, a considerable quantity of which can be eaten without detriment to the stomach, as is not the case with strong cheese. The former can be preserved much longer, and being healthier, it is apparent our tastes should be changed on our own account and for the benefit of the dairymen. Makers should strive for a more even standard in the manufacture of cheese, and to help obtain this desirable end, I would recommend to the Society to establish a scale of points requiring uniformity, and establishing a degree in color, size, condition and taste, upon which to award the premiums. Until this plan prevails and our dairy maids give up over-dosing the cheese vat with so much rennet to hurry up the curd, and get the cheese out of the way, we must expect a large per cent of inferior cheese and loss to the makers.

Smaller cheeses are required for home use, so that the last end may be used up before it spoils. An important improvement can be made in cheese houses. They should be lined on the inside to keep out the heat and to enable the dairyman to graduate the temperature, so that it may be kept if possible at a uniform degree. With greater care in the manufacture and a standard of uniformity, we shall increase the number of consumers, and place the making of cheese upon a more perfect and permanent basis.

FRANK D. CURTIS,

Executive officer in charge.

Of the show of fruits and flowers (in which department it is but just to say that Col. Frost made the most of the limited resources at his command), Vice-President Angel reports as follows:

FRUITS AND FLOWERS.

Several causes combined to make this department somewhat less attractive than it was last year. It will be remembered that the Fair last year was held in the very center of one of the best fruit and floral regions of the State, in the immediate vicinity of extensive nurseries, highly cultivated gardens and well stocked green houses; and, besides, the early period at which the Fair is held this year prevents any very considerable show of fruits. The early closing of the entry books is another reason, suggested by many cultivators from other parts of the State. This is especially true in regard to grapes.

In the floral department, however, the display was much better than could reasonably have been expected. The large tent was very artistically arranged, under the immediate superintendence of Col. E. C. Frost, of Watkins, and all who visited the exhibition will bear testimony to the taste and order which prevailed in this department. Nor should we omit to mention that Mrs. Humphrey, of Elmira, contributed essentially to the display, by sending many beautiful specimens of hot-house plants from her valuable collection, which were arranged under the canvas with much skill and taste.

From the experience of this year, it is submitted whether an exception as to the time of closing the entry books might not be profitably made for this department.

B. F. ANGEL, Executive officer in charge.

The publication of the awards should not be made without an expression on behalf of the Society of the thanks due to the gentle

men who served as judges. The duty, often embarrassing and occasionally unpleasant, devolved upon the judges at our Fairs, is of the highest responsibility; since so far as the awards are not rightly made, so far the teachings of the exhibition are injurious and false. That the prizes have been given this year with discretion and impartiality, is testified by the almost unanimous approval of both exhibitors and visitors.

The thanks of the Society are rendered also to Messrs. Hubbell, Rowland and Bell, the contractors for the buildings, for the alacrity with which they performed all that was required of them by their agreement.

The address, delivered on the Tuesday evening, by Professor Buckland was a well considered and valuable essay, and was received with hearty approval. The discussions on the Wednesday and Thursday evenings were well attended, and thanks are due to Mr. Harris, of Moreton Farm, Rochester; and Mr. Lewis of Herkimer county, for their kindness in accepting, and the ability with which they performed the duty of opening their respective subjects.

EVENING DISCUSSIONS AT THE STATE FAIR.

CAPITAL IN FARMING.

CAPITAL EXPENDED ON CLEANING AND UNDERDRAINING THE LAND-ON THE REMOVAL OF STONES-ON IMPROVED STOCK-WHEREIN THE IMPOVEMENT OF STOCK CONSISTS, AND THE NECESSITY OF BEGINNING WITH IMPROVEMENT OF THE LAND-CAPITAL INVESTED IN IMPLEMENTS AND MACHINES AND TEAMSLOSS FROM THEIR IMPERFECTIONS OR INABILITY.

On Wednesday evening the subject of discussion was: "In what way and to what extent can farmers invest more capital to advantage on their farms?"

Joseph Harris, of Rochester, opened the discussion. After a few preliminary remarks he said that it seemed to him that we could use capital to advantage in killing weeds. Capital enables us to wait some time for the returns from our labor, and it is from unwillingness or inability to wait six months or a year longer for a crop that our land has become so foul. Weeds carry off more than half our profits. He would not say that it would pay to kill weeds; he would not say that it would pay to farm at all; but unless we are to give up farming altogether, it will pay to kill weeds. He described his method of "fall fallowing," breaking up say a three year old clover sod in July, and afterward keeping down the weeds by the use of the cultivator; plowing the land again in October, and, if possible, again before winter sets in; sowing it to barley or spring wheat in the spring. The object of many farmers seems to be merely to check or retard the weeds for one crop. He wanted to get all the weed seeds in the land to germinate and then kill the young plants.

Capital might be employed to great advantage in under-draining. There are thousands of farms where under-draining, the destruction of weeds, and the consequent pulverization of the soil would double the crops and quadruple the profits.

On many farms money and labor might be employed to advantage in getting out stones and building fences. On many farms there is a good deal of the very best land that cannot be more than half plowed on account of the stones. Every stone removed "leaves a