One feature in the swine exhibition deserves to be specially noticed. The member of the Board in charge, Peter Murphy, Esq, was always at his post, giving diligent attention to the exhibition, and ready to respond to the calls of exhibiters and others. So, too, the constant presence and attentions of Mr. Carlisle, Superintendent of the department, deserve the commendation of exhibiters and committeemen. Neither the member in charge nor the Superintendent took refuge in the horse ring to the neglect of their duties.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

REPORTS FROM COUNTY SOCIETIES.

ALLEN COUNTY.

The Allen County Agricultural Society held its seventeenth annual fair at Lima, on the 30th day of September, and October 1st, 2d, and 3d, 1879. The weather during the fair was fine, and the attendance on the third and fourth days, which are always our best days, was larger than ever before. A goodly number from other counties visited our fair. Our fairs have become popular at home, as the increased attendance testifies. Our people are taking great interest, and we believe the fairs are accomplishing the object for which agricultural societies are formed-improvements in all departments of the agricultural, mechanical, and manufacturing interests. The Society has this year built a fine new hall, also a large number of stalls and pens for horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs. There is a gratifying increase in the interest taken in the raising of live stock of all kinds. Horses of the best Percheron-Norman and Clydesdale breeds are now found on almost every farm. The cattle are mostly Shorthorns, and stock-raising has become quite a source of profit to a large number of our farmers, and there are but few counties in northern Ohio that can make a better showing. There was a fine show of hogs-Berkshires and Poland-Chinas predominating. Sheep-while the entries were not very large, were very fine. There was a fine show of textiles and household fabrics, and the ladies made a fine show of flowers. The vegetable and grain hall was filled in every department.

The varieties of wheat principally grown are Mediterranean, Scott, Fultz, and Clawson. The crop was more than an average, yielding from twenty-five to thirty-eight bushels per acre-the Clawson generally yielding more than any other variety. Corn in this county was not an average crop, owing, in part, to defective seed, and a cold and backward spring. The month of August was very wet and cold, and corn did not ripen well, and is light and loose on the cob. The oat crop was of good quality, and an average yield. Flax, a fair crop. Hay, good crop, and pastures good. Apples, light crop, ripening prematurely and not keeping well. Potatoes, large crop, but the excessive rains near time of

ripening caused them to rot badly. The Colorado bug did not thrive well-too wet for him.

There are now in the county seven tile factories, and tile-draining is now being used on the majority of farms. The north and west portions of our county are quite flat, and where tiles are being used, largely increased and better crops have been raised. I have not the means of knowing, at this time, the amount of tile manufactured in the county, but the number of factories will at once show that the demand and use is quite large.

Hog cholera has not yet visited us to any extent, and there is no complaint of diseases among horses or cattle. Chicken cholera lingers here. and there, but not near as bad as former years.

In conclusion, our Society may be considered in a prosperous condition. The number of entries this year was 1,195, and the Society has paid in full all the premiums and all expenses of improvements made. The Society numbers 142 members. The board of directors have used great economy in the management to make the fair a success, and, all things being considered, the condition of our Society for future usefulness is very encouraging.

ASHTABULA COUNTY.

Ashtabula county was, originally, heavily timbered with whitewood, cucumber, oak, ash, hickory, maple, beech, and other timber, and, in some parts, hemlock and pine. The whitewood and cucumber have been almost used up, and the greater part of the ash, oak, and hickory. A large proportion of our building timber is now brought from other States, but there is plenty of timber for fences and firewood.

Dairying is carried on to a large extent in this county. There were, in 1878, over sixty cheese factories in active operation. The farmers, or at least, a very large majority of them, depend on cheese and butter as their chief source of income.

The average size of the farms is from one hundred to one hundred and fifty acres, and the farm-houses and other buildings are first class.

Some attention is given to raising cattle for beef-considerably more, for a few years past, than formerly.

The Durham, Jersey, and Ayrshire are the principal breeds of cattle, the Durham taking the lead. Probably four-fifths of the cattle are Durhams or their grades. For quality of milk the Jerseys are conceded to be the best-for quantity the Ayrshires; but for all purposes, the Durham is acknowledged the most profitable. Much better cattle are being

raised than heretofore. It is safe to say that there has been an improvement of twenty-five per cent. during the past five years.

For a few years past considerable attention has been paid to the raising of fine horses for roading purposes; a number of car-loads being shipped to the Eastern market every year.

The wool interest has attracted the attention of our farmers to a considerable extent for the last three years, and many more sheep are kept now than formerly. The large, long-wool breeds are universally preferred, the Cotswolds taking the lead. Probably as good sheep are found in this county as in any county in the State. Seventy-two sheep were sent from this county to the Emperor of Japan, last September. Those farmers who have kept small flocks have found them very profitable. But sheep do not do well in large flocks.

Hogs are not raised to any extent-no more than enough for home consumption.

The principal crops raised are, in their order, grass or hay, corn, oats, wheat, and potatoes. In the north part, on what is called the Ridge, the potato is the main crop, and has been for years, the Early Rose taking the lead for an early potato, and the Peach Blow for a main crop. For the last three or four years the Peach Blow has deteriorated, and a feeling prevails that some other kind must take its place. But no variety yet introduced seems to answer that purpose.

Perhaps nothing in the agriculture of this county is more noticeable than the increase in both the acreage and the yield per acre of wheat, during the last three years. For years the farmers were satisfied with two or three acres of wheat, yielding twelve bushels per acre, and called twenty bushels per acre a large yield. But now, they are not satisfied with less than twenty, and expect twenty-five or thirty bushels per acre, and some raise as high as forty and forty-five bushels per acre, and sow as many as thirty acres. This increase grows out of a better and improved manner of farming, and more especially from the fact that more attention is given to fertilizers-commercial fertilizers being used largely. While we formerly paid out thousands of dollars every year for imported flour, we are now exporting the "staff of life," and laying up money. The Fultz and Clawson varieties of wheat yield the best, but do not make the best flour.

No destructive insect has afflicted us this year. We suffered some from drouth, but no great damage.

Apples, peaches, pears, and all the small fruits, except plums, are raised sufficient for home consumption, and in fruit years (which is every other year) are exported to some extent.

But little tile draining is done here; the land is rolling and does not need it.

On the whole, agriculture in this county is improving, and with it our county society, as is evidenced by the number of entries at our fair, they having increased from 1,400, five years ago, to more than 3,000 in 1879.

ATHENS COUNTY.

The principal crops are wheat, corn, oats, potatoes, and hay. Wheat was of good quality, and the yield large-probably more wheat harvested in the county than in any previous year. It has generally been sold at from $1.00 to $1.25 per bushel.

The varieties that have given the greatest yields are the Fultz and Clawson. I have heard no complaint from our millers of the quality of the flour manufactured from either of these varieties, consequently they are growing in favor with our farmers.

Oats, in consequence of the dry weather during the fore part of the season, yielded a very light crop.

Corn-about the usual number of acres were planted, but as a result of the very cold weather in the early part of last winter, before the corn was entirely dried out, its vitality was injured, and being an unfavorable season a large quantity of corn failed to grow, so that many fields had to be planted a second and third time. This made the stand on the ground uneven and much of it late; therefore, much of it was not well ripened when frost came in the fall. These causes reduced the crop below an average.

Potatoes-early planted, on account of the drouth, gave a very light crop, but having frequent rains during the latter part of the season, those planted late yielded well, and were of good quality. Price is about forty cents per bushel.

About two-thirds of all our improved lands are devoted to the production of grasses, either hay or pasturage.

The hay crop was cut short by the drouth very materially-probably one-half-and the pastures, in the early part of the season, suffered to a like extent.

In addition to the dry weather, the grasshoppers devastated the pastures and meadows badly in some parts of the county.

The principal business of the farmers in our county is stock-raising, in its various departments, horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs.

The cattle are principally Shorthorns and their grades, though in some