year. A report on the agriculture of South Carolina, by J. R. Poinsett, one on the agriculture of Pennsylvania, by William Penn Kinzie, on the agriculture of Virginia, by James M. Garnett, on English agriculture, by John Hannon, all prepared in answer to circulars from the society, besides a goodly list of essays from observing farmers in the State. The second annual exhibition and fair was held at Albany on 27th, 28th and 29th days of September, 1842. Premiums of the value of nearly $2000 were offered, and competition ran decidedly high; about six hundred animals were entered for premiums, the quantities of domestic manufactures and farm implements were of a very satisfactory amount, (this year the society offered a liberal premium for animals from other States.) The amount of funds in the hands of the treasurer was $3,319.38. Disbursements $1475.36. Balance on hand $1843.92. Fair receipts $876.70. At the annual meeting of the society in January, 1843, the officers of 1842 were re-elected, and Rochester designated as the place of holding the fair for that year, an enlarged premium list was published, and ample inducements offered to call the farmers of the State and its vicinity to the exhibition. The fair was held at Rochester on the 19th, 20th and 21st days of September. The executive committee, with the aid of enterprising citizens of that place, had selected beautiful grounds for the exhibition, and made every provision for the display of the various articles to be exhibited, and the comfort of those who might honor the occasion by their presence. When the time for holding the fair arrived, the rush for the grounds was immense. Canal boats and cars poured in their thousands, while the streets of Rochester were blockaded with wheeled vehicles. Many of the States, as well as the Canadas, were represented. The number of neat cattle exhibited was 237. Among these figured the Short-horns of Messrs. Sherwood, Allen, Wadsworth, and others. The show of Devons of Messrs. Garbutt, Beck and Allen, attracted much attention. The number of native cattle on exhibition showed that like the native inha bitants, their number was fast diminishing. A native cow was shown by Mr. Mason, of Onondaga connty, whose excellency was established by the assurance of her owner, that sixty-seven pounds of butter had been made from her milk in a month. The number of horses entered was 140, sheep 110. The quantity of domestic articles, agricultural implements, &c., was larger than had been congregated before, and the show of fruit was worthy of the American orchard, the valley of the Genesee and its surroundings. The annual address was given by Dr. Beekman, of Columbia county, in the presence of an audience estimated to number 20,000. The receipts of the fair at Rochester were $2479.80. Receipts of the society for the year were $4236.57; balance on hand from previous year, $1843.92. Total in hands of treasurer, $6080.49. There was a balance at the end of the year in favor of the society, of funds invested, $3090. At the winter meeting at the old State House, in Albany, 1844, eightynine gentlemen enrolled themselves as members, paying the sum of one dollar each. At this meeting Dr. John P. Beekman, of Columbia, was elected President, and Hon. Benjamin P. Johnson, of Oneida, Corresponding Secretary. It was resolved to hold the next fair at Poughkeepsie, on the 18th and 19th days of September. The following premiums were offered for essays to be furnished in season for next volume of transactions: For the best series of essays on the importance of scientific knowledge ............. .............. $100 20 20 20 20 20 farm management.................................................................. culture and manufacture of silk...... The premiums on essays and agricultural implements were open for the people of the United States. By an act of the Legislature of 1843, the Society had now the occupancy of the easterly hall of the first story of the old State House. Here officers and members of county societies, agrculturists and the friends of agricul ture, not only residents of the State of New York but other states who might visit Albany, were invited to call and spend a social hour. The Society now having not only a name but a place of deposit, invited correspondence and exchange of publications with similar societies in other states and nations, and communications from practical farmers and horti culturists and friends of science everywhere, on the varied subjects relative to the advancement of the art of improving the soil. Here and at this time was commenced the agricultural museum which is now the pleasant place of resort of thousands in each year, not only to cultivators of the soil but of every profession; not only residents of the State, but pilgrims from other states and nations whose sojournings here will give them opportunity to tarry an hour in this repository of the triumphs of rural arts. The Transactions of the Society had now reached their third volume, and we find the quantity of matter they contain increasing with the prosperity of the Society and the yearnings of the farmer's mind for knowledge The premiums offered for essays call forth talent, while scientific men give valuable articles from their pens to arouse the reading mind and call it into new fields of investigation. The third volume contains a rich arti cle on the Geological Survey of the State of New York and its influence on the productive pursuits of community, with many illustrations by Prof James Hall, also a treatise on insects injurious to field crops, fruit orchards, vegetable gardens and domestic animals, with illustrations by Willis Gay lord. The fair at Poughkeepsie, in 1844, appears to have been an improvement on the former exhibitions. The grounds were selected for the fair with much good taste as regarded scenery and convenience, and comprised about ten acres. The buildings were fitted up with much care and skill and in a manner highly appropriate to the occasion, at an expense of about $1,800, which was defrayed by the citizens of Poughkeepsie and vicinity. The display of animals was reported to be fine and varied; the show of agricultural implements was so great as to call out thirty-six premiums. The receipts of the fair were $3,723.80. The amount.paid in premiums was $1,600.50, whether this includes cost of Transactions and diplomas awarded is not told. The annual meeting of the Society was held in the Agricultural Rooms in Albany, January 15, 1845, and called out an unusually large audience from different and remote parts of the State. At this meeting and exhibi fion an additional list of premiums was awarded on crops, the growth of the previous year, but not sufficiently advanced for decision at the fair in September. At this meeting Hon. Benjamin P. Johnson of Oneida County was chosen President, and Daniel Lee of Erie, Corresponding Secretary. It was recommended by the meeting that the next annual fair be held at Utica. It is remarked in the report of the Executive Committee for 1845, "that the influence of the Society is constantly extending and that new and valued friends are every year added to its members." If we may judge of the Society by its friends, we must conclude that this assertion is no result of egotism in its officers but a specification of facts that admit of no denial. The arrangements of the fair ground were conducted in a style that gave the whole the appearance of fairy land. The number of persons in attendance on the first day of the fair was estimated by those who had an opportunity of judging very correctly, at 40,000, and included visitors from more than half the states of the Union. The receipts of the fair were $4,450.18 being an advance of $700 over any previous exhibition. The number of animals on exhibition was 680, of which 276 were horned cattle; representing Short-horns, Herefords, Devons, Ayrshires and natives. There were 114 horses, 257 sheep, and 34 swine. The other articles on exhibition were numerous. The Society awarded premiums on several essays on subjects of agricultural knowledge. The Secretary of the Society visited several counties in the State during the year, for the purpose of meeting the farmers and addressing them on the subjects of their calling. These meetings are said to have been produc tive of much good in arousing them. 1846. At the winter meeting of the Society, J. M. Sherwood, of Auburn, was chosen President, and Joel B. Nott, of Albany, Corresponding Secretary, and it was recommended that the next fair be held at Auburn, at which place it was satisfactorily and successfully held on the 16th, 17th and 18th days of September following. The receipts were $4,530.17. 1847. The annual meeting was held at Albany, and George Vail, Esq., of Troy, was elected President, and Joel B. Nott, Corresponding Secretary. At a meeting of the Executive Committee, after the close of the annual meeting, January 21st, Mr. Tucker, editor of the Cultivator, resigned the office of Recording Secretary which he had held to the satisfaction of the Society since its reorganization, with the exception of one year, and the Hon. B. P. Johnson was, on motion of J. S. Wadsworth, appointed to fill the vacancy. The volume of Transactions for 1846, introduces Dr. Asa Fitch, who has for some years been identified as entomologist of the Society, to its readers, through a valuable article on the Hessian fly. It is shown by the same volume, that agricultural societies have been established and are in active operation in forty-seven counties of the State, while town societies and farmers' clubs are being successfully introduced in several sections of the State; many of these societies and minor associ ations no doubt owe their existence and prosperity to the energy and success of the parent society. It is very properly remarked of the Society in 1847, that its influence at home and abroad is constantly increasing; in addition to the correspond ⚫ence between the Secretary and many associations in different States in the Union, one had this year been opened with the Royal Agricultural Society of England, the Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland, and the Royal Improvement Society of Ireland, three of the oldest societies of Great Britain, and had secured an interchange of transactions between the two first of them. It had also made arrangements with A. Vattemare, of Paris, for exchanges with France. Donations of 100 volumes had been made during the year, also many valuable specimens had been added to the museum. The Society had caused an agricultural survey of Washington county to be made under the direction of Dr. Asa Fitch, of that county. The premium list of the Society was liberally increased. The annual fair was held at Saratoga on the 14th, 15th and 16th days of September, calling together large assemblages on each day, and present ing an exhibition highly attractive. An unusual number of delegates from societies having similar objects in view from different States, were in at tendance. Receipts, $4,137.22. 1848. At the annual meeting in January, 1848, gentlemen from different parts of the State, and delegates from twenty county societies, were in attendance. A committee on fruits reported varieties for cultivation; only two grapes, the Isabella and Catawba Lewis F. Allen was elected President, B. P. Johnson, of Albany, Recording Secretary, and Ebenezer Emmons, of Albany, Corresponding Secretary. Resolutions were adopted for the establishing of an agricultural school. The annual fair was held at Buffalo on the 5th, 6th and 7th days of Sep. tember. To give interest to the occasion, and more particularly to extend the cultivation of valuable fruits, the Executive Committee had issued a circular for a fruit growers convention to be held at the time and place of the fair. In response to this call, some of the most distinguished fruit growers of the country were in attendance, collected from the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and the two Canadas. The collection of fruit brought in from this wide extent of territory is re ported to have been very varied and very fine. Interesting discussions on firuit growing were held during the meeting, and an association formed to be denominated the North American Pomological Convention. It was vot ed by the Convention, previous to adjournment, to meet again in 1849, at the place where the State fair should be held, the meeting to open the day after the close of the fair. The number of articles on exhibition at the fair in Buffalo, exclusive of those in the fruit department, was 5,599. There were more than 1,400 animals on exhibition, while the farm imple ments numbered over 1,000. The receipts of the exhibition were $6,417.80, amount paid out in premiums $4,278.42. The winter meeting in January, 1849, brought together a large audience and a rich array of articles for exhibition and premiums. The show of fruit for the season was especially fine. The officers of the year were chosen: John A. King, of Queens county, President, and B. P. Johnson, of Albany, Corresponding Secretary. It was resolved to hold the next fair at Syracuse, the citizens offering $3,500 towards defraying the expenses. The fair of this year was pronounced as in many respects superior to any that had preceded; receipts, $8,287.55. As a distinguishing feature in the progress of the years, the library was enriched by a large number of volumes, and many rare and very curious articles were deposited in the museum; a course of agricultural lectures was given before the Society by Prof. Johnston, of Edinburgh. The number of essays on subjects of an agricultural nature which were presented for premiums was unusually large. A premium of one hundred dollars was awarded to Prof. Norton, of Yale College, for an essay on the elements of scientific agriculture, which essay was published in the Transactions of that year. By a vote of the Society, 1,000 extra copies were printed at the expense thereof, to be distributed as premiums. The Society appointed Mr. J. H. Salisbury, M. D., their chemist, and a laboratory was assigned in the building containing their rooms. 1850. At the annual meeting in February, 1850, E. P. Prentice, of Albany, was elected President, and B. P. Johnson, Corresponding Secretary. The fair was held on the pleasant grounds midway between Albany and Troy. The amount received at this fair was $10,855.61. There was paid in premiums $5,220.36. Among the valuable papers contained in the Transac tions for this year, we find an agricultural survey of Seneca county, by John Delafield, and a report of the trial of plows held that year, one of the most valuable trials ever held in this country. A monthly publication styled the Journal of the Society, through which the Executive Committee from time to time made known their doings, was established this year. 1851. At the winter meeting of 1851, John Delafield, of Seneca, was chosen President, and B. P. Johnson re-elected Corresponding Secretary. The number of persons who had become life members of the Society by the payment of $50 or over, was twenty-six. At this meeting the sum for life membership was reduced from the payment of $50 to that of $10. The accommodations for the Agricultural Museum having become too limited for the arrangement of articles already deposited there, it was resolved that the Society petition the Legislature for an extension of rooms for the use of the Society. The fair was held at Rochester, on the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th days of September. The number of visitors on the ground during the fair was supposed to be nearly 100,000. The receipts of the fair were $12,396.25. The number of cattle, horses, sheep, swine and poultry entered was 2,014; entries of grain and other farm products, agricultural implements and machinery, 283; then 358 entries of domestic manufactures, flowers and fruits, and of articles not enumerated above, 400. The Transactions this year contain a survey of Madison county, by Gurdon Evans. They are also enriched with the report on the Great Exhibition in London, in 1852, by the Secretary, Mr. Johnson, and many other valuable papers. Ten years of patient toiling and waiting, and it holds its fair at Roch[AG. TRANS.] 11 |