SKANEATELES. This society during the past year has simply sustained its organization, and held an annual fair. Our fair was held on the 12th and 13th of October, with the average success that attended last year's exhibition. It was carried out on the same plan, and was, perhaps, too much a mere copy of previous enterprise. The following is the list of officers of the Skaneateles Farmers' Club, for 1870: President, Jedediah Irish; Secretary, C. B. Thorne ; Treasurer, Wm. J. Townsend. C. B. THORNE, Secretary. SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY. The thirteenth annual fair of the Susquehanna Valley Agricultural Society was held at Unadilla on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, October 6th, 7th and 8th, 1869. The weather was fine on all three days of the fair, and as a consequence, there was a large turn-out of people and a good show of stock and articles. The entries were large, showing that in the eight towns embraced within the jurisdiction of the society (in Otsego, Delaware and Chenango counties), the farmers and others were alive to the importance of having a good display. An immense crowd of people congregated on the last day to listen to Solon Robinson, of the New York Tribune, who delivered an eloquent address, replete with practical suggestions and interesting facts for the farmer and others. This society has done and is doing much good in this section of the State, and its influence is felt and seen in better farms, and better manner of farming, better stock and better everything in our rural home life. GEORGE B. FELLOWS, Acting Secretary. SPENCERPORT." Our meetings are held every Tuesday evening from October to June. Subjects discussed the last season were: How to grow wheat, corn, barley and oats, and keep our lands in good condition. Each crop occupied two or three evenings. The profits of keeping milch cows compared with grain growing, also, was discussed for two or three evenings. Also, the care of farm stock in the yard and stables during winter, etc. The Sheep Shearing Association joined the Farmers' Club for a show and fair in May last, and the result was very satisfactory. Fellows and Pierce sheared from their buck (French Merino), one years' growth, thirty-three and one-fourth pounds unwashed wool. There was a very creditable show of sheep, among which was a pen of Cotswolds from the farm of Joseph Harris that attracted special attention. No address. No races. The officers of the Sheep Shearing Association are: H. H. Goff, President; J. D. Harroun, Secretary. The Sheep Shearing Association have held yearly meetings, fairs and shows for the last ten years which have generally been well attended, and a success. Officers Spencerport, Monroe County, Farmers' Club. President, H. B. McClure; Secretary, C. S. Hiscock; Treasurer, Geo. W. Hiscock. C. S. HISCOCK, Secretary. THORNHILL. The officers of the Thornhill Farmers' Club of the county of Onondaga, report that during the year 1869, there has been held an agricultural fair at which premiums were given according to list. Also, that the treasurer has received $275.45, and that the payments have been eighty-five dollars for premiums, and $152.04 for work, etc. That we have held meetings for general discussion of agricultural subjects. The officers for the year 1870 are: David S. Church, President; S. S. Kneeland, Treasurer, and E. C. Cowles, Secretary. E. C. COWLES, Secretary. TRENTON UNION. The society embraces eight towns in Oneida county and six towns in Herkimer county. The fair was held at Trenton fair grounds, September 21st, 22d, 23d and 24th. A good exhibition of stock and of mechanical implements for husbandry and the mechanic was presented. The new floral hall, eighty by twenty-five feet, two stories in height, was crowded to excess. The lower story with the vegetableproducts of the farmers, and the upper story with the handiwork of the ladies. The address was to have been delivered by Hon. John C. Blue,. of Deerfield, a successful farmer and prominent member of the society. Mr. Blue, however, having been stricken down by sickness, was unable to be present to the great regret of his numerous friends gathered on the occasion, In his absence, the services of Mr. H. R.. Wait, agricultural editor of the Utica Herald, were fortunately secured, and he gave an interesting and instructive address, which was highly appreciated. Mr. Wait, although a young man (graduate of Hamilton college), has given very much attention to agriculture. After some introductory remarks on the season and place, where were gathered so many to enjoy the annual harvest home, he proceded to the main topic of his discourse, "The Relation of Education to Agriculture." The primitive condition of civilization ere knowledge and experience had been applied to the cultivation of the soil, the rude implements employed and the feeble results attained, were all contrasted with what is presented at present in human society, its comforts and enjoyments, especially in the field of agriculture, where science has entered and wrought such wonders in the saving of human labor by the introduction of machinery, in the chemical analysis of the soil and its preparation and adaptation to certain crops, their wonderful increase and perfection in consequence, in the increase and richness of fruits and flowers under modern culture, and other results strange and beautiful. The bifurcated stick and modern plow, the scythe and mowing machine, sickle and reaper, hand-rake and horse-rake, the pitch-fork and horse-fork, and the tedder, the lever-press and screw-press in the cheese-room, and the old method of cheese making by the sweat and toil of farmers' wives and daughters, and the new and better way in cheese factories, were able and felicitously contrasted. The labors of Davy, Humboldt and Liebig, and others, their illustrious compeers, and the obligations the world has been laid under to them, were mentioned and illustrated. Education has wrought with agriculture in the achievement of glorious results. These foreshadow what may yet be accomplished, and will incite to higher achievements in agriculture. The farmer now understands that, in the exercise of his vocation, he has to deal with laws that are fixed and immutable, and that neither his success or his failures are to be attributed to the blind workings of chance. Nowhere is it more necessary to possess a knowledge of these laws than in this section of country, not because the soil is less fertile, but on account of the shortness of the seasons. It has been demonstrated that a thorough knowledge of the principles and laws of agriculture will enable the farmer to so hasten or modify the process of nature, as to aid him materially in the securing of his crops. For instance, it has been decided, by competent judges, that the application of scientific principles in the single matter of drainage, has resulted in an absolute gain to the farmers of New York and New England of two weeks time. The press is gathering and scattering sound information among the people in reference to practical agriculture, and agricultural schools, especially the one so richly and generously endowed at Ithaca, are furnishing such an education to our young men as will make them scientific and practical farmers. Such an education they should have in order to reach the highest success in their calling. In view of the great advances now being made in agriculture, in view of the unlimited field it offers for successful endeavor, in view of the ennobling character of the calling, our young men have every reason to regard husbandry as one of the most useful, pleasant and profitable occupations in which they can engage. At the annual meeting of the Trenton Union Agricultural Society, held at the fair grounds in Trenton, January 29th, the following officers were chosen for the year 1870: M. A. Blue, President, North Gage; Storrs Barrows, Secretary, South Trenton; D. W. Rhodes, Treasurer, South Trenton. Total amount of receipts in 1869..... Disbursements.... Indebtedness of the society. $2,294 36 2,817 70 523 34 The society has extended the lease of the fair grounds in Trenton for twelve years. They have built an agricultural hall eighty by twenty-five feet, two stories in height, together with out-houses, stands, pens, stalls, wells, etc. The track is one-half a mile. STORRS BARROWS, Secretary. ULYSSES, COVERT AND HECTOR. At the last annual meeting of the Union Agricultural and Horticultural Society of Ulysses, Covert and Hector, the following officers were duly elected for the ensuing year: Warren Halsey, President; Truman Boardman, Treasurer; J. H. Biggs, Secretary; all of Trumansburgh. The society, during the summer of 1869, erected a fine and commodious building for exhibition purposes, and held their fair early in October, which proved a complete success. The local editor of one of our daily papers told me that he had attended most of the town fairs held in this section and he thought, all things included, we excelled in our exhibition any one that he had attended; and we trust that next month we shall show progress and have a better exhibition than ever before. Number of entries at the last annual fair of the Winfield Union Agricultural Society, held September 21st, 22d and 23d, 1869: |