The fifteenth annual fair of the Otsego County Agricultural Society was held at Cooperstown on the 14th, 15th and 16th of September, 1869. The first day was devoted to making entries; the second day to the examination of the articles on exhibition by the several committees ; the third to trying the speed of trotting horses and to the report of committees. There were a large number of entries made. The receipts were about the same as last year. More attention is being paid to the manufacture of butter and cheese; more fine specimens of which were on exhibition. The show of horses, cattle and working oxen gave evidence of improvement in the various breeds. Many of our farmers are giving more attention to sheep, the show of which was fair. The present grounds of the society-fourteen acres, one-half of which are leased-have been sold, and new grounds, embracing about twenty-seven acres, have been purchased, lying near the corporation limits of Cooperstown; and we expect to be two years in getting them in good condition, with proper buildings, for the use of the society. The hop crop was about half an average yield of the past ten years, say 350 pounds to the acre. A large proportion of the yards not well cultivated, which will account for the small yield. Oats. Heaviest yield in many years in this county, and harvested in fine order. Hay as large as we have had in many years. Barley about the same as oats. Corn. This crop was less than an average, owing to our backward spring. Wheat. The crop of last year was not large. Our farmers are paying more attention to fruit; young apple and pear trees, especially, are being put out in great numbers. Officers 1870: President, Henry Roseboom, Cherry Valley; Seoretary, Horace M. Hooker, Cooperstown; Treasurer, Charles F. Hendryx, Cooperstown. HORACE M. HOOKER, Secretary. PUTNAM. The annual fair of the Putnam County Agricultural Society was held on the fair grounds, on September 22d, 23d and 24th. The stock and articles exhibited were about the same in quality and variety as of the last five or six years. The following is a detail of the receipts and expenditures for the last year, and annexed is a list of the premiums awarded, to whom, and for what purpose: RECEIPTS. Receipts for life membership, at $10 each.... Receipts at the fair.... From State Treasurer for 1869... $350.00 1,905 75 92 62 $2,348 37 The laws of the State of New York require that each county agricultural society participating in the appropriation for the encouragement of agriculture, shall annually report its transactions to the State Agricultural Society. This time-honored custom has been complied with by "Old Queens" for the past twenty-eight years. The limited space, however, allotted by the State Society in its published report, compels us to reduce matters to a comparative small area. This year, a number of members, believing that our official position as secretary and treasurer for the past twenty years, has enabled us to collate and preserve documents, which at the present day would be otherwise impossible to procure, have solicited us to prepare them in a condensed form, and incorporate such labors in our annual report, for future reference. We cheerfully comply with their request, with a view of rescuing from oblivion, such records, papers and extracts, as may illustrate the past history of the Queens County Agricultural Society, and submit them for your acceptance. There is good evidence that the first fairs held in the county, origi nated about the latter end of the seventeenth century, from the practice held at the sheep-partings, when the various flocks kept on the great Hempstead Plains were, in the month of October or November of each year, driven to some large central pen, and the claimants, proving property by some ear-mark, drove them to their own enclosures; while those remaining without a claimant were sold at auction to the highest bidder. This sheep-parting, attracting large bodies of men from distant parts of the county, and other places, was considered the great holiday of the year. In alluding to this custom, the author of Historical Sketches says: "Creditors came in quest of debtors; dealers and traders of all sorts made bargains; horses were swapped, and scrub-races, etc., were the order of the day." The first horse show was appointed by Governor Nichols, in 1668, "not so much," says he, "for the divertisement of youth, as for encouraging the bettering of the breed of horses, which, through great neglect, has been impaired." The first record of any fair being held in the county is May 6, 1728. The advertisement reads: "The Jamaica Fair opens to-mor row, and continues four days, when there will be exposed for sale a variety of goods, merchandise, and several fine horses. It is expected the Lion' will be there to be seen." A society was organized in New York city in 1763, combining among its members the most talented and distinguished men in the colony. In their circular, dated December 10, 1764, they commence by stating: "This society is formed, consisting of persons of all ranks, who propose to advance husbandry, promote manufactures, and suppress luxury. Several hundred pounds are already subscribed." This association was very useful in its day, and was intimately connected with the prosperity of Long Island. December 21, 1767, the New York Agricultural Society awarded £10 sterling to Thomas Youngs, of Oyster Bay, for a nursery of 27,133 apple trees. In 1774, by an act of the Assembly, two fairs for Queens county were to be held at Jamaica, on the first Tuesday in May, and the third in October, each to last four days. From 1811 to 1815, the county judges met annually at the court house, to award premiums for the best woolen cloths made in the county. The first meeting toward forming a properly organized agricul tural society, was held at the court-house, November 11th, 1817. Lewis S. Hewlett was appointed chairman, and John I. Cornwell, secretary. The only thing accomplished was appointing a committee to make arrangements for a general meeting in December following; but not finding sufficient encouragement, the matter was passed over. On June 2d, 1819, a meeting was held at the court-house, Daniel Kissam acting as secretary. Then it was voted to form an agricultural society, and adjourned to meet June 21st, when Rufus King, of Jamaica, was chosen president, and the following other officers: Vice-Presidents, William Jones, Effingham Lawrence, Singleton Mitchell; Corresponding Secretary, David S. Bogert; Recording Secretary, Thomas Phillips; Treasurer, Daniel Kissam MANAGERS. North Hempstead.-Jolin I. Schenck, Benjamin Treadwell, Benjamin Platt, Joseph Dodge, Jr. Jamaica.-Nicholas Wyckoff, Timothy Nostrand, Lawrence Roe. Oyster Bay-Lewis Hewlett, Townsend Cock, John B. Coles, Jr., Nelson Lloyd. Newtown.-Col. Edward Leverich, Col. George Gibbs, Timothy Roach, Rev. Evan M. Johnson. Hempstead.-Rev. Seth Hart, Jacob S. Jackson, Thomas Tredwell, Oliver Hewlett. Flushing.-Abraham Cock, Thomas Powell, Richard Cornell, James Lawrence. The first fair was held at the court-house, November 2d, 1819, when $200 was awarded in premiums. The second fair took place at the court-house, November 2d, 1820, The Long Island Star says: "There were more people assembled than was ever before witnessed in the county on any occasion." A premium was awarded to Townsend Cock for the celebrated horse "Duroc," and to the Hon. Rufus King, for the best milch cow. The third fair was held November 7, 1821. The last fair of this society was held October 24th, 1822, when an address was delivered by Effingham Lawrence, Vice-President. Premiums were awarded for cotton raised in the county, to Colonel Leverich, Newtown; Dr. Rogers, Jericho; and Daniel C. Coles, Oyster Bay. For several years the New York County Agricultural Society encouraged agriculture and manufactures by awarding premiums to members residing in Queens county. Among them we find a silver cream pitcher to Mrs. Cornelius R. Remsen, of Newtown, for the |