the weather. The plowing match was necessarily omitted. The soci ety will be compelled to adopt the rules of the State Society in relation to the measurement of field crops; no certain result will be obtained unless the entire acre of ground be measured accurately, and the products of the acre definitely ascertained.

On Friday afternoon the society met at the Lutheran Church, the president, George Manning, Esq., in the chair. The meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev. Jacob West. The address of Judge Rosseter was listened to by a large and gratified audience. It was to the point, and well calculated to stimulate our farmers to increased zeal in their noble work.

Fruit. The display of fruit, though limited, was worthy of all praise. Dr. James Van Gaasbeck presented a great variety, comprising many kinds of apples, quinces, pears, peaches and grapes. Nathaniel Manning, Esq., presented a tempting display of rich and luscious fruits, most tastefully arranged. P. S. Danforth. Esq., presented a large variety of fall and winter apples, which the committee are of opinion would compare favorably with the like productions from any part of the State. Volney Danforth presented a few specimens of a variety of apples called the "Alexander Apple," both in size and quality they would be difficult to beat. The entire exhibition in this department was of the highest character, and gives evidence of increasing interest in the cultivation of superior fruits.

The next fair appointed, to be held at Schoharie Court-house.

Officers 1950.-B. McNeil, Carlisle, President; L. Sanford, Middleburgh, Chas. Knox, Esperance, N. T. Rosseter, Blenhiem, P. M. Stryker, Conesville, George Goodyear, Cobleskill, Vice Presidents; S. Hosack Mix, Schoharie, Secretary; Ralph Brewster, Schoharie, Treasurer.

Extracts from the address of Hon. N. T. Rosseter-Agricultural Education.

But it is not alone, Mr. President, in the specific education that enables the farmer to excel in his peculiar department, that greater reform and progress are needed. It is in the acquirement of that general knowledge which shall place him upon a level with those classes who, certainly by no "divine right" control his destiny and influence his actions. In the United States, there are over five millions of farmers, and about seventy thousand professional men, and yet with all this vast preponderance of physical and numerical power, how "few and far between," the instances where they have the temerity to assume the exercise of those powers, save through the delegated authority so tenaciously claimed by their professional rulers. The farming interests can

at any time control the State or general government, and give tone to public opinion, and yet how rare it is to see the various offices of honor, trust or profit filled by any of their own number. I rejoice that there are exceptions. The farmers of Schoharie may well be proud, not only that from their ranks was selected the first farmer Governor of this great State, but that the dignity and ability of his administration lent additional lustre to an office that had been filled by a Clinton, a Tompkins and a Marcy.

It is a truth, too trite almost for repetition, that physical power unaided by intellectual attainments, ever works as the willing tool of the ambitious and designing. Intellect, perfected by education, is the great lever that is constantly raising man nearer to the great source of all intelligence; without education, man soon sinks to humanity's lowest level; with it, he controls his brother man, evokes the slumbering energies of the elements, annihilates space and time, and finds no heaven too high for the soarings of the "God-like mind." In an address delivered some years since, by one of the wisest and purest of modern statesmen (Hon. Edward Everett, of Massachusetts) the following remarks on this subject occur. So felicitous in their expression, and at the same time so forcible and appropriate their application, that I cannot hesitate a moment in submitting them to your consideration:

"It is at once melancholy and fearful to reflect how much intellect is daily perishing from inaction; or worse than perishing, from the false direction given it in the morning of life. I fear we do not yet fully realise what is meant when we speak of the improvement of the mind. I fear it is not yet enough considered by legislators or parents, that there dwells in every rational being an intellect, endowed with a portion of the faculties which form the glory and happiness of our nature, and which, developed and exerted, are the source of all that makes man to differ essentially from the clod of the valley. Neglected and uncultivated, deprived of its appropriate nourishment, denied the discipline which is necessary to its healthy growth, this divine principle all but expires, and the man whom it was sent to enlighten, sinks down before his natural death, to his kindred dust. Trained and instructed, strengthened by wise discipline, and guided by pure principles, it ripens into an intelligence but a little lower than the angels. This is the work of education. The early years of life are the periods when it must commonly be obtained; and if this opportunity is lost, it is too often a loss which nothing can repair. It would be more rational to talk about not affording seed-corn than to talk about not affording our children as much of their time as is necessary for their education.

What! shall a man plant his field and allow his child's intellect to run to weeds? And to confine them in the morning of their days to a round of labor for the meat that perisheth, is it not when our children ask for bread to give them a stone: when they ask for a fish to give them a serpent, which will sting our bosom as well as theirs?"

SENECA.

The seasons of seed time, vegetation and harvest of the present year, have been strongly contrasted, with the same periods in the year 1848. It must be profitable to record these changes, and bring them strongly to the remembrance and consideration of the agriculturist. The absence of rain, from the month of May until October, was an unusual feature in this climate. In that period of about four months, a few slight showers only passed over this county, very limited in extent or duration; and the results are now apparent in diminished crops.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT.

The agricultural condition of the county of Seneca through the past year (1848) has been much improved. The cultivation of the soil has received more careful attention than for many previous years, and the barn yards and manur eheaps are better managed. A necessary consequence is, cleaner fields with larger crops. Seneca county is more devoted to the cultivation of wheat, as a principal product, than any other grain, yielding annually about 550,000 bush. The cultivation of Indian corn has increased within two years, and may be estimated this year at 400,000 bushels. The oat crop is unusually large, amounting to about 400,000 bushels. Barley is not extensively cultivated, but may amount this year to 120,000 bushels. Heretofore the Hutchinson wheat has been preferred to other varieties, and fully maintains all its excellencies. The Soules wheat has been much increased, and finds additional advocates from year to year. During the past season, many farmers have cultivated a wheat from Ohio, which has yielded a good return, but needs more experience to be adopted in competition with the Hutchinson or Soules varieties. The product of this county in wheat will average about twenty bushels per acre; and as compared with the crop of 1845, the excess of this year is equal to fourteen per cent.

The demands for Indian corn for export in 1847, has given an impetus to the cultivation of that grain hitherto unknown in this county. Until within a year or two it was a neglected plant. Many farmers

doubted the appplicability of the soil to a full development of corn. Now, however, it seems, that large crops, yielding a high average, are produced. The quantity raised in 1840 was 178,674 bushels; in 1845 we produced 205,000 bushels, and the crop this year is probably 400,000 bushels. The average yield per acre is 32 bushels, and fast increasing, as we have many farmers who produce 60, 75 and 80 bush. per acre.

The oat crop, as stated, is very large and good this year, the opening spring having been very favorable. As an example, the town of Lodi produced, in 1845, about 26,000 bushels of oats, and this year the crop in that town is 50,000 bushels. The adjoining town of Covert will present an equal yield of this grain. In 1845 the oat crop was 292,397 bushels; this year the county produces 400,000 bushels.

Barley has deteriorated in this region generally. The quality of the barley produced this year is believed to be inferior to that of last year, and the grain less in weight per bushel. The straw, when harvested, exhibited a shortness and feebleness unknown heretofore. This grain has not at any time been a favorite object of cultivation in this county, and probably receives less attention than is due to it. As a crop, it consumes from the soil a far greater amount of its riches than the more valuable wheat plant; yet by a proper cultivation, the product per acre of barley may be raised so high as to give an equal profit with wheat, and prove a powerful aid to the farmer as a spring crop, occupying his ground little more than three out of twelve months. The deterioration of the seed in this section, has induced the attempt to introduce, direct from England, the Cheltenham Barley, which is a variety of the sixrowed, and said to weigh over fifty pounds per bushel, at all times. The average yield of barley this year will not exceed twenty-one bushels per acre.

Rye is favorably cultivated in the towns of Junius, Tyre and Waterloo, where our enterprising farmers have a lighter soil than other portions of the county. The crop exceeds the usual average about onefifth; it is not large, as the more important articles of wheat and corn take a prominent precedence.

The very favorable state of the atmosphere during the spring months, and at the season of the hay harvest, enabled the farmers to secure more than an average crop of hay;-probably one-third more than the previous year. An annual loss is incurred on this crop, by the too late in-gathering of the timothy hay. As this grass ripens here, generally, at the period of our wheat harvest, it is cut too late; that is, not until the seed has nearly ripened, and when the straw and leaf has parted

with most of its nutritious powor. Either a greater supply of agricul tural laborers, or more perfect agricultural labor-saving machinery must be presented to remedy this annual loss. The crop this year, may be estimated at thirty-eight thousand tons.

Buckwheat is raised to some extent, and frequently as a green crop for plowing into the soil as a manure.

The potato crop has suffered much from the disease usually called the rot; a disease beyond the comprehension of any one in this section, and without any known remedy. There are several farms on which it has not yet made its appearance, while on the farms adjoining, it appears in its most destructive form. Neither the mode of cultivation, the composition of the soil, or the position of the ground, or the observations of careful men, offer any reasonable conjectures for results so widely different. The whole crop of the county this year, will not probably much exceed two hundred thousand bushels.

Flax has for many years been a source of early income, and the proprietors of oil mills have offered inducements for its cultivation; as, however, the exhaustion of the soil by this plant is from year to year better understood, the cultivation falls off; in several towns of this county, it is wholly abandoned, for it is ascertained that the elements. of flax make a heavier draft on our soils for the growth of the plant, than any other, and without giving any compensating return; while for its proper cultivation and full development, it requires a high degree of manuring, which can be applied with more enduring benefits to the cereal than to the oil producing seeds.

Much and increasing attention is given to the propagation and production of the best varieties of fruits; extensive orchards have been planted during this year, and more careful pruning of the older orchards has been practised. One of our excellent farmers in Seneca Falls has established a peach orchard of great extent, besides other fruits; another enterprising farmers in Fayette, has planted an extensive pear orchard; so likewise in every town in the county, has every choice variety of fruit been cultivated and extended. For many years the apples of Seneca county, have found an extensive demand and ready sale in Albany and in the city of New-York, at an average cost here of 25 cents per bushel.

There is one exception to the general and successful propagation of fruit; the plum trees have suffered severely, and in some places have been totally destroyed by the worm, which causes the unsightly excrescence commonly called here "the black blotch." Timely care and pruning. would probably have prevented this disaster, and we have