all well wrought, and making a display that was the admiration of all.

The annual address by the Hon. Ellis H. Roberts, of Utica, was delivered on the grounds, and listened to by a large concourse of people.

Here, as almost everywhere, farmers do not as yet wake up to the importance of their profession, and are not as ready to aid our fairs as exhibitors as they should be; but we hope for the day when the tillers of the soil will feel that theirs is the noblest of occupations, and will combine to obtain that recognition they are entitled to, from other professions and occupations. To attain this, I think you and the other officers of the State Society, are laboring with good effect. May success crown their efforts.

Officers for 1870: President, G. L. Walrath; Secretary, E. F. Lewis; Treasurer, T. F. Hand.

E. F. LEWIS,

Secretary.

LITTLE FALLS FARMER'S CLUB.

LITTLE FALLS, May 14, 1870.

Corresponding Secretary of the State Agricultural Society:

DEAR SIR.-I forward you to-day the thirteenth annual report of the Little Falls Club. The papers embrace some of the leading discussions before the club during the year. The arrangement of matter and the labor of making the report are due to Hon. Josiah Shull, of Ilion. I trust the papers will be found useful.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully yours, etc.,
X. A. WILLARD,

Secretary.

FARMERS' CLUB OF LITTLE FALLS, HERKIMER COUNTY-DISCUSSION ON THE BENEFITS OF IRRIGATION, FILTRATION, ETC.

The Farmers' Club met at the court-house, in Herkimer, on the 26th of March, 1869, and discussed the subject of the benefits of irrigation.

Mr. S. S. Whitman, of Little Falls, opened the discussion, by saying, that he had not the experience he should have on the subject presented for discussion. He thought the subject worthy of more consideration than was usually given it. That farmers should take advantage of the facilities afforded them, which many times would be of

great utility. He had frequently noticed, as nearly or quite every observer had, where water had been turned from the highways and flowed over the adjacent meadows, that double the quantity of grass stood on the part flowed than where not. In his own experience, he found where the water had been turned over his meadow, the results were very beneficial. A good plan in farming would be to watch the opportunities for irrigation.

Hon. Harris Lewis said some of his lands had received such an excess of irrigation, in 1867, as to destroy quite a portion of the hay crop on his river flats. The next year, 1868, the grass thickened up so that he had a very heavy crop.

Hon. Ezra Graves, of Herkimer, inquired what kind of soil would receive the greater advantage from irrigation; whether a loose, gravelly soil would be as much or more benefited than one of a more compact, or less impervious nature.

Mr. Lewis thought that loose soils received the greater benefits from irrigation. That the water filtrated, leaving the enriching qualities contained in the water, in the soil.

Mr. Graves said the doctrine was fully illustrated by the process of filtration, as practiced in many cases to clarify water of its impurities. He referred to a filter that he saw offered for sale; that he thought it would be well for persons having wells of hard water, to filter it, to free it of the lime that usually developed itself in tea-kettles. He alluded to a filter made of slats, close together, with an apartment filled with charcoal, which was a perfect filter.

Mr. Lewis would suggest to persons having a well of hard water, that an apartment be constructed by the side of the well, of water lime on all parts except adjacent to the water, and that part be laid up with brick and enough water lime put between the brick, to keep the water from rushing through between the bricks. The water would filter through the brick and be relieved of impurities; that water will readily filter through bricks that were not too hard burned. To purify rain water in a cistern, there should be two apartments, the one to receive the water and the other for the pump to bring up the water purified. On the brick wall of the receiver the impurities would accumulate so that it would become necessary to clear it off at least twice in a year, or the water will not filter through the wall.

Mr. Whitman thought water should not be turned on meadows at a time when the water would be likely to freeze. The low places would fill up and freeze ice, which would be injurious to the grass. If turned on when the weather was mild or warm, the water will

absorb. He would prefer turning the water on the meadow in the latter part of the day, that through the night the water would become generally absorbed. If turned on in the morning, evaporation would be much greater and the land would be more liable to bake or harden.

Mr. Geo. W. Pine, of Herkimer, had no doubt but if the small streams could be turned on meadows it would be very beneficial. There are times when moisture is deficient, and if springs or water courses could be turned on the land the results would be valuable. He had the opinion that stagnant water would be more valuable than fresh, that it had acquired properties that would be beneficial. Mr. Pine gave a very interesting account of the manner of irrigation in California and Utah, and its necessity and influence in those localities. DISCUSSION IN REFERENCE TO THE MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT OF DAIRY STOCK-HOW TO PRODUCE THE BEST RESULTS.

The regular meeting of the Little Falls Farmers' Club, was held at its rooms in Little Falls on Friday afternoon, May 14th. The discussion was opened by Hon. Josiah Shull, of Ilion, who stated the question for consideration. The treatment of dairy stock to produce the best results-and spoke as follows:

As dairying is the leading branch of the business of the farmers of this county, it becomes us to study the subject of the treatment of dairy stock, so as to produce the best results. I consider the farmer as much a professional man as the lawyer, doctor, or member of any other profession, and believe that he requires an equally thorough education and study to enable him properly to discharge the duties of his profession with profit to himself and for the good of the community.

A careful study of an animal will reveal the fact that it possesses a certain degree of intelligence, which will be observed in its recognition of the persons who are in the habit of handling it. If the treatment is kind it will reciprocate by friendly action. If the treatment is harsh and unfriendly, it will exhibit fear and a desire to get from the presence of the person caring for it. Fear creates a certain excitement in the animal which is injurious to its prosperity, and consequently to that of its owner. Quietness, ease and familiarity, aside from plenty of food and water, seem to be very essential elements for the production of increased results.

The food, the quality and the quantity, the time and manner of feeding, requires careful study. It will be admitted that a sufficient quantity and of a good quality is necessary.

The natural food for dairy stock is grass. It may be in a green state, or may be dried. When taken in a green state it contains a large quantity of water and is of a very nutritious quality. A plentiful quantity of good nutritious grass, and a good supply of fresh spring water, seem to be the essentials to produce the best results, as is apparent to every observing farmer. Yet, in a large number of cases, this requisite is infringed on by overstocking. Especially is this the case when the dairy products command high prices. In the eagerness for gain, in many instances, this essential part of the subject may be overlooked. There is a season of the year when we have pasturage, in which there may seem to be a surplus of feed, and this sometimes leads to the habit of overstocking. My experience is that no more stock should be kept than can be well kept and well cared for. I should prefer fifteen cows well kept, to twenty poorly kept.

In wintering stock, the quality and quantity of feed and the manner of feeding, require our careful attention. For the proper wintering of stock, a comfortable stable with proper ventilation seems to me to be one of the necessary requisites. The temperature of the stable should be kept as even as can conveniently be done. A tight stable and no proper ventilation is unhealthy for the cattle. Where many are kept, a tight stable will become warm and moist, and the air offensive. But where the ventilation is in accordance with the number, it will be very different. When cattle are kept in a stable that is too tight, they will be affected by the cold when turned out to water and exercise, much more than when the air in the stable is kept circulating. It is the practice of many dairymen to turn the stock out of the stable in the morning and leave it out all day, let the weather be as it may. This is a practice that should be discountenanced. When the weather is pleasant and comfortable, it will do very well, but in case of rains or storms, stock should not be left out any longer than shall be necessary to get water. Every dairyman should have proper and convenient places for the stock to water. The practice of long journeys to some creek down in the lot, is one that has prevailed to some extent. If they are to go to the brook, it should be at a convenient distance.

The food for wintering dairy stock is confined principally to hay and corn stalks. I shall say nothing new to this club when I say that the hay should consist of grass dried instead of letting it stand to become hay on the stalk. The practice of curing grass for dairy stock is obtaining, and I think it cannot be too highly commended.

Experiments that I have made in feeding hay made from early cut

grass and late cutting, has satisfied me that the early cutting is the best for the stock. Stock will eat it up clean, while they will leave a part of that which is about ripe. Place the two kinds before the cattle, and they will readily pick out the early cut grass. There is more weight in the late cutting, but it is not so nutritious; the additional weight being made up of woody fibre of little or no value for food.

The dairy stock should be regularly fed at stated times. At each feeding they should have a sufficient quantity to fully satisfy the appetite. The quantity will vary according to the size of the animal. From seventeen to twenty pounds of good hay is what dairy stock will consume daily.

The practice of feeding varies very much with different dairymen. Some feed twice each day, while others will feed three, four, and even five times a day. I have made inquiries as to feeding in different dairies, and my conclusion is that a dairy fed twice a day (morning and night), have wintered better than when oftener feeding was practiced. When the stock is allowed to make a full meal, they become quiet and enter upon chewing their food, which, as will always be observed in a healthy animal, is done whenever they are not engaged in feeding. The process of chewing and digestion, I think, requires the intervals of two feedings in the twenty-four hours, or one day.

If the stomachs of the animals are continually, or at frequent or irregular intervals, being supplied with additional food, no time is allowed for chewing and proper digestion. Food will be the most beneficial to any animal when it shall be of proper quality and quantity to fully supply the requirements of nature, and allowed a proper time for digestion. Then the stomach becomes prepared to take the next meal.

Mr. Van Valkenburgh followed, and said he had been in the habit in winter of feeding hay twice a day in the stable, and straw in the yard at noon, until last season. He then became convinced that he did not feed often enough, and commenced to feed six or eight times a day. He gave the first feed at about five o'clock in the morning. At about eight o'clock, he fed each cow two quarts of cut potatoes mixed with one quart of meal. The meal was a mixture of corn, oats and middlings. This he fed regularly. He then turned the cows out to water, and if pleasant let them remain out two or three hours; if cold and stormy, but little more than half an hour. After putting up, they were fed light feedings as often as the previous one was eaten up (generally about three feedings); and at about half