time, because there is a desire on the part of many dairymen to enter upon the cultivation of the plant, and we are inclined to believe, after consultation with experienced tobacco growers, and obtaining needful information as to the culture and management of the crop, that the growing of tobacco, in connection with dairy farming, can be made a source of profit.

If it is a fact, (and the success in growing the crop in the county, the past year, seems to prove it,) that the plant is adapted to our soil and climate, then we think there can be no mistake as to the correctness of the statement. The culture, harvesting and after management of the crop, come at a time when the general farmwork is least pressing, and the necessary farm hands can be employed here to good advantage. The most of our farmers have an acre or two, just about their barns, which is suitable for tobacco; the manures, lying exposed to the summer rains and sun, could, in a short time, be hauled on the grounds. Vacant stables, barn floors and buildings, not in use during the fall, could be used, often, for the curing of one or two acres of the plant. And, finally, the snug little sum of from $300 to $500, per acre, which a well managed crop is worth, are inducements not to be disregarded. The crop, we think, by all odds, is to be preferred to hops, which demand a considerable outlay of capital and a vast deal of labor. Let it be understood, that we do not counsel so large a culture of the plant as to absorb all the manures or the farm; but rather small patches, of an acre or two, where may be placed the last scrapings of the barn-yard, which, in most instances, go to waste.

One word, in this connection, with reference to hops. Hops have, for several years, been grown in the county, not largely, but generally with success. There are but few hop-yards north of the Mohawk river, the principal part being south of that stream. The present season has been very unfavorable to the crop, the rains and heavy winds doing much damage; but much the greater injury was caused by the fly, or hop-bug, which made such ravages on the crop that there was, probably, not produced a single bale of strictly prime hops in the county.

RABID DOGS.

During the fall just past, there was considerable excitement, in various parts of the county, from an unusual number of rabid dogs that were running at large and doing damage among the herds. The most considerable loss as yet sustained, by any one individual, is that of Mr. Nathan Arnold, in the town of Fairfield, who has had eleven cows die of hydrophobia. Others have lost a less number, and it is apprehended by some that more animals will be taken down with the disease. Valuable horses and one or two persons are reported to have been bitten. In some localities a general slaughter of the dogs was had.

Most of the animals lost showed their first signs of madness between the 9th and 21st day after being bitten, and presented a curious but melancholy study to those unacquainted with the phases of this most appalling disease. Some of the animals, soon after attacked, seemed to be deprived of strength, and kept up a mournful bellowing, while others, with fiery and starting eye-balls, plunged fiercely about, seeking to destroy everything within reach.

We are informed that a rather venturesome individual entered the yard where a few of these animals were confined, for the purpose of testing more fully the character of the disease. He was immediately singled out by one of the animals, which came roaring and plunging after him in a paroxysm of rage, and unable to escape by the fence, he barely eluded being torn and trampled to death by springing into a tree; the animal threw herself against the tree, raising up on her hind legs, and dashing her head against the branches, while with foaming mouth and glaring eyeballs, and unearthly bellowings, she stripped off the bark and splintered the body of the tree. A well-directed rifle ball put an end to this struggle, and relieved the experimental philosopher, seeking after the mysteries of hydrophobia, from his unenviable position, and he escaped unharmed from the yard. We hear of no efforts having been made to save the animals, by treating the parts bitten with the actual cautery, or with lunar caustic, as recommended by Youatt. This, doubtless, might have been done, in many instances, to the prevention of the disease, when the animals were seen to be bitten, and by dogs suspected, or known to be mad.

THOROUGH-BRED CATTLE.

The stock of thorough-breds is very limited in the county. Grades of Short-horns and Devons are pretty generally sprinkled among the native cows, and in fair proportion among the herds; but there are few thoroughbred animals, of either sex, of any particular breed. The Devon blood is not esteemed here for the cheese dairy, while some of the Short-Horn grades are preferred, in many respects, to the natives. The old native cows, it may be remarked, have been improved by the system of breeding from the best milkers for more than forty years; and there are many cows, and particular herds, of this breed, of great milking capacity, rarely surpassed by those of any stock. They fail, however, to be reliable as breeders, and dairymen are becoming more and more impressed with the idea that it is better to raise, than to buy, cows for the dairy.

For reliability in breeding, thorough-breds must be resorted to; and the question of breeds is now claiming attention. The Devons have been tried. and found wanting. The Short-Horns are inclined to run to beef, rather than milk, and our most intelligent dairymen are looking to the Ayrshire as the great desideratum for the dairy. Some of the Ayrshire grades have been introduced into the northern part of the county, and have met the expectations of dairymen in that section; and some of our more enterprising men, who are interested in the welfare and prosperity of the county, have commenced the introduction of thorough-bred Ayrshires of known pure stock. Of recent purchases of this character, we might mention those of Mr. Pomeroy, of Mohawk, from the herd of Mr. Hungerford, and from that of Mr. Brodie; while at this place, Little Falls, Hon. W. 1. Skinner brings two splendid animals, male and female, from the herd of A. B. Conger. Of the latter purchase the editors of the Country Gentleman thus speak:

"The Ayrshires, purchased by Hon. W. I. Skinner, from the herd of Mr. Conger, were the two year old bull 'Norval,' got by imported Eric, out of imported Norma, and very beautifully shaped and marked; and the [AG. TRANS.]

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heifer 'Ayr Lassie,' by Mr. C.'s prize bull Marmion 2d, out of imported Ayrshire Lass-a heifer, we are assured, of great promise, both as a milker and as a prize taker in prospective."

We are informed that the Alderneys are shortly to be introduced here also; and from these beginnings it is believed that others will be induced to follow the lead, and immense benefit result to the dairy interest of the county.

ANNUAL FAIR.

The annual fair of the club took place on the fair grounds of the society, September 22d, 23d and 24th, and was largely attended, and proved much more successful than was anticipated, notwithstanding the unfavorable weather of the first day.

There were more entries made than at the fair of the previous year. The display of fruit was superb, especially of apples, pears, grapes and plums of choicest variety, as well as beauty and perfection of their kinds, while the vegetable department showed long rows of esculents, almost of every approved variety grown in this latitude. There was a good show of flowers, and what was somewhat rare at exhibitions of this character, several specimens of the China tea plant, growing in boxes, were exhibited. These last were shown by Mr. M. L. Saunders, who claims to have successfully grown the plant in the town of Little Falls, curing the leaves into tea of good flavor, and at a trifling cost.

The shows of oil paintings, of photographs, of needle and fancy work, and of curiosities, were all commendable.

The large case of gold, silver and copper coins, exhibited by Mr. Levi Fralick, justly merited the attention which it attracted, since it was a rare collection, and was very full and perfect as to American-coinage.

There were some good specimens in the departments of cattle, sheep and swine; but the exhibition was extremely deficient in agricultural implements. The dairy department was fairly represented, though perhaps not so largely as was to be expected, from the extensive dairy interest in this locality.

We do not propose to particularize any further than to show that the exhibition was a creditable one, and, we may add, was conducted and carried through with that perfection of order and arrangement for which the Fairs of the Club are noted, and which has drawn from visitors and strangers encomiums, as a model, in this respect, for other societies to copy. The receipts from the Fair were between $500 and $600. When it is taken into account that no entries were charged for articles on exhibition, but that this sum was mostly taken at the gates, at a mere trifle for admission,— that the weather, immediately previous to the Fair, had been wet, and on the first day was lowery and unfavorable,-that the County Society had determined to have their show on two of our days,-when all these points are borne in mind, it will be seen of what strength and vitality the Club is possessed.

On the last day of the Fair the Annual Address was delivered by H. Link, Esq., to a large audience in attendance, and was received with marked favor. This address, by resolution of the Club, was published, and will be found among the papers accompanying this Report.

DEATHS OF MEMBERS.

During the past year the Club has sustained a great loss in the death of two of its most prominent members, Hon. Asa Wilcox and Hon. Lester Green. Mr. Wilcox was born in Danube, Herkimer county, in the year 1798, and with the exception of four years, from 1820 to 1825, was a resident of the town of his birth, until his removal to this village in 1851. His family were of French and English origin, and among the earlier settlers of Rhode Island. While in Danube, Mr. Wilcox was largely engaged in lumbering, in merchandise and in farming, generally conducting his various operations with success. In 1848, he was elected to the Legislature from his district, running on the Free-soil ticket. In 1851, he retired from business, removed to this village and erected a handsome residence on John street, where, amid the pleasures of gardening and amateur fruitraising, most of his time was occupied until his death.

Mr. Wilcox was among the first to come forward and join the Club, and he was indefatigable and untiring in his exertions to promote its best interests, and sustain the cause of agriculture in this county. There was scarcely a meeting of the Club at which he was not present, always ready to participate in the discussions, to assist with his counsels, and to give the result of his agricultural experience in able and interesting essays and papers. He was a man of the strictest integrity, upright, honorable, respected and beloved by his fellow-citizens,-regarded with the warmest feelings of friendship by members of the Club; since he entered heartily and zealously into everything connected with the organization. He was kind, considerate, companionable, and a true friend to those of the association with whom it was his great pleasure to meet at our regular semimonthly gatherings.

Of Mr. Green I can say nothing more appropriate, nothing that will give a better estimate of his character, and the esteem in which he was held by those who knew him, than the following obituary notice, which appeared in the columns of the Journal newspaper at this place:

"Died, on Monday, the 14th of December, of pleurisy, at his residence in this village, Hon. LESTER GREEN, aged 55 years.

"Mr. Green was born in the town of Danube, in this county, where he resided throughout his entire life-time, with the exception of about four years' residence in Montgomery county, until April, 1862, when he removed to this village. In 1832, he united with the Methodist Church in Danube, of which he was a consistent member until the society was discontinued, and about four years ago he joined the Dutch Reformed Church, remaining in connection with it until his death.

"In 1859 he was elected member of assembly from the second district, and gained many warm friends and an enviable reputation for uprightness and virtue during his brief service in the State Legislature. Of such men as Mr. Green, words of eulogy may always be appropriately written. Their number is indeed few, and when they pass away, the world suffers the loss of much that elevates and adorns human character. His character was, indeed, above the whisper of suspicion.

"Intelligent, generous, warm-hearted, and of upright walk in life, he yet

ranked higher in social and moral worth than these qualities place menhe was, in the strictest sense of the word, an honest man, beloved by those who enjoyed his confidence and intimacy, without an enemy, respected and admired everywhere. His virtues have influenced those whose associations he shared, and they will live in the memory and in the conduct of those who knew him best long after his name shall no longer be spoken."

Mr. Green was one of the later acquisitions to the club, but no one was more zealous or efficient, or manifested a deeper interest in its welfare and success. He was a regular attendant at our meetings, and, from time to time, made valuable contributions to the literature of the club, in the form of essays and reports. He was courteous, genial, considerate of the opinions of those of the association with which he was connected, and his valuable and ready assistance at meetings, his untiring energy and activity in carrying through our annual fairs, render his loss an almost irreparable one to the club, and most deeply to be deplored by its members.

If we have dwelt at some length upon these losses of our friends by death, it is because a full recognition of their worth and services is due from us as a club; and, if we have tried to recall the truth and beauty of their characters, it is that we may look thence into the future, where all sweet influences shall be in perfect and perpetual bloom; that we may contrast the life, amid darkness and toil, that is passed, with the life that is to come, dimly seen far away by the "delectable mountains."

How beautiful is the memory of the dead! What a holy thing it is in the human heart, and what a chastening influence it sheds upon human life! How it subdues all the harshness that grows up within us in the daily intercourse with the world! How it melts our unkindness, softens our pride, kindling our deepest love, and waking our highest aspirations. Is there one who has not some loved friend gone into the eternal world, with whom he delights to live again in memory? Does he not love to sit down, in the hushed and tranquil hours of existence, and call around him. the face, the form, so familiar and cherished-to look into the eye that mirrored not more clearly his own face than the soul which he loves-to listen to the tones which he loves to listen to, the tones which were once melody in his ear, and have echoed softly in his ear since they were hushed in his senses? Is there a spirit to which heaven is not brought nearer, by holding some kindred soul? How friend follows friend into the happy dwelling-place of the dead, till we find, at length, that they who love us on the heavenly shore are more than they who dwell among us!

Every year witnesses the departure of some one whom we knew and loved; and when we recall the names of all who have been near to us in life, how many of them we see passed into that city which is imperishable! Let men talk pleasantly of the dead, as those who no longer suffer, and are tried-as those who pursue no longer the fleeting, but have grasped the real. With them, the fear and the longings, the hope and the terror, and the pain are past; the fruition of life has begun. How unkind that, when we put away their bodies, we should cease the utterance of their names. The tender-hearted dead, who struggle so in parting from us! Why should we speak of them in awe, and remember them only with sighing?