That of middle wool was better, than at any previous fair of the society. Among those we deem worthy of special notice, was a pen of ewes exhibited by John Tubbs. In the coarse wool department there were but eleven entries, but most of these were of superior merit. Among those that drew the most attention from the visitors, were a pen of ewes, and two bucks from the flock of Robert Hooker, a pen of ewes exhibited by A. H. Platt, and a buck from the flock of Schuyler Cole. There were but very few hogs or poultry on the grounds. Mechanical work was also poorly represented. The fruit and vegetable department was quite well filled. In the dairy department the quality was superior, and quantity deficient. One lot of butter made from sweet milk at the Schenevus butter aud cheese factory was of the very first quality. Ira Sherman and Joseph Chamberlin also exhibited choice samples. The We also noticed a box of seedling grapes exhibited by J. J. and E. L. Townsend, of Portlandville, in this county, under the name of "Mountain Seedling." The berry is round, dark blue, with thick blue bloom, size above medium; sweeter than the Concord. bunch is a trifle larger than the Delaware, and often shouldered, leaf large, and vine vigorous and very productive. But the main and principal good quality which this vine is noted for is its extreme earliness. It was raised from seed sown on the mountains 600 feet above the Susquehanna river at this point, and it has ripened there for four succeeding years, two weeks before the Delaware, and three weeks before the Concord. The ladies filled their department to overflowing. One hundred and twenty entries were made under this head. On the last day of the fair we listened to an excellent address delivered before the society by X..A. Willard, Esq., of Little Falls. We have never had the pleasure of listening to a better agricultural address. Taking the exhibition as a whole, we have cause to feel encouraged. Although the weather was such that not only our clothes, but our spirits were somewhat dampened; still we have the satisfaction of knowing that had the weather proved favorable, the receipts would have been more than any previous fair of the society. Our fair grounds comprise nineteen acres of land situated within a few rods of the railroad, and near a fine body of water known as Houghton's lake. We have hired the grounds for a long term of years, and contemplate making improvements from year to year, as the state of our finances will allow. The land upon which we hold our fairs is naturally adapted to the purpose. Along the north side of the grounds for about forty rods is a small hill facing the south, upon whose grassy banks can be seated from 5,000 to 10,000 persons, where they can have a splendid view of the track, and of nearly the whole of the grounds. In the southwest corner is a beautiful grove of large spreading trees, under whose branches we have constructed a convenient eating saloon, and have a good well, which abundantly supplies us with water. Our society has been very much encumbered by a debt contracted four years ago, at the formation of the society. More than threefourths of this debt was contracted to make and improve the "track.” This track has been the direct cause of many disputes, ending in one case with a row, whereby the society lost over five hundred dollars, by the crowd breaking into the secretary's office and robbing the secretary of that amount. It has also been the indirect cause of much ill feeling, which prevails to a certain extent in the society to the present day. We would undoubtedly have been in a more prosperous condition if we had not allowed a "race-course" within our fair grounds. We have received during the past year twenty volumes from the State Society, which were awarded as premiums. The receipts of our society for the past year were nine hundred dollars and twenty cents. The expenses for the same time was eight hundred and eightyeight dollars and fifty-two cents. The following were the officers elected at our annual meeting, December 2d, 1868: President, Azro Chase; Secretary, W. W. Cone; Treasurer, H. N. Hanor. All of which is respectfully submitted. W. W. CONE, Secretary. SKANEATELES. B. P. JOHNSON, Secretary State Agricultural Society: The fourteenth annual fair of the Skaneateles Farmers' Club was held on the 8th and 9th of October. The exhibition was creditable, and in every way successful, although it was with some hesitation that the show was divided in order to secure the advantages of Legg hall for our in-door exhibition. Live stock, farm machinery, &c., were exhibited on the grounds of Mr. F. G. Jewett, near the center of the village. The giving of a few agricultural books and periodicals as premiums for the past two years proved so satisfactory, that we resolved this year to considerably enlarge our premium list, and charge a ten cent admittance fee to the in-door exhibition; and all competitors were required to become members of the society by paying the usual fee of fifty cents. Our success will encourage us to repeat the plan, probably with some enlargements, next year. A few money premiums were offered, but those drawn have been donated to the club. We incline to the opinion that no money should be offered as premiums at agricultural fairs; that it is better to substitute periodicals and books, improved implements, improved stock, or anything which shall incidentally contribute directly to the objects for which our fairs are held. We give no diplomas; any important use for them being supplied in our published reports. No meetings for discussions or lectures have been held by our society during the past year, partly from want of a suitable room, and partly from some loss of enthusiasm in that direction, which we hope is not a certain sign of a stand-still or retrograde tendency in practical agriculture. The premiums awarded in 1868 were thirty-one copies of the Agriculturist, seventeen of the Country Gentleman, thirteen of the Rural New Yorker, thirteen other periodicals and books, besides volumes of the State Society's Transactions. TREASURER'S REPORT, JANUARY 1ST, 1868. Officers for 1869: President, Christopher C. Wyckoff; Secretary, Chauncey B. Thorne; Treasurer, Wm. J. Townsend. C. B. THORNE, Secretary. SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY. UNADILLA, OTSEGO COUNTY, N. Y., February 15th, 1869. To B. P. JOHNSON, Esq., Secretary N. Y. State Agricultural Society: The twelfth annual fair of the Susquehanna Valley Agricultural Society was held at Unadilla, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, September 23d, 24th and 25th, 1868. The weather was very unfavorable, it raining nearly the whole of the three days, and sometimes very hard; indeed, it may be said that it was one continuous rain, making much mud, and that deep, keeping much stock and many articles away, and many people at home; yet, notwithstanding this, there was a good show of animals, quite a display of articles, fruits and vegetables, and a good turn out of people. The number of entries was over 800 more than the previous year, and everything combined to make this the largest and best fair ever held under the auspices of the society, had the weather been propitious. It was a bad time to show horses and cattle, and the track was in such a condition, owing to the rains, that the usual trot had to be given up. The mechanical department was much better filled than usual, with farming utensils and machines, while the ladies did themselves much credit and received many encomiums, for not only the number of articles exhibited, but the skill displayed in their manufacture. The annual address was delivered by the Hon. Benjamin Carman, of Carmansville, Delaware county, N. Y., a gentleman of rare abilities and scholastic talent, who did himself much credit in the production of an able address, fitted to the occasion and filled with many practical and good suggestions for the farmer. The Walton cornet band fully sustained its established reputation as one of the best bands in the State. The valuable and interesting Transactions of the New York State Agricultural Society, sent us last year, were duly distributed among the members of our society, and judging from the avidity with which they were sought after, they were carefully read and appreciated, while the dissemination of the agricultural and scientific knowledge contained in the copies of the Transactions of the American Institute, among our farmers and mechanics was conducive of much good. Our fairs at this point attract every year a great crowd of people, and within the jurisdiction of the society (eight towns), its influence is daily seen and felt, in a better system of farming, and more attention being given to agriculture. Very respectfully, GEORGE B. FELLOWS, Secretary. THORN HILL. Mr. B. P. JOHNSON, Secretary of the N. Y. State Agricultural Society : The Thorn Hill New York Farmers' Club report for the year 1868, just past, that they have held a fair and general agricultural exhibition, at which it was thought best not to pay premiums, but simply give an honorable mention by publishing the report of the commit tees. The officers for the coming year are: President, Job Harvey; Treasurer, Sidney Smith; Secretary, Allen Brown; Corresponding Secretary, S. S. Kneeland, THORN HILL, N. Y., February 6th, 1869. ALLEN BROWN, Secretary. TRENTON UNION. NORTH GAGE, N. Y., March 6, 1869. Secretary State Agricultural Society: DEAR SIRI hasten to make a report of our society for the year 1868, which I have neglected to do sooner. Total receipts for the year.. Total expenditures. $911 21 905 07 Our annual fair, held September 29th and 30th and October 1st, was not a pecuniary success, owing to unfavorable weather, but we had a very good display in all departments, particularly in the vegetable.. Only one thing is in the way, in my estimation, of this society becoming a power for good and usefulness, and that is the almost |