insects of any kind in our county to destroy the grain the past season. On the whole, we had very fine crops, and quite a crop of apples.

We would have had a greater display in the horticultural as well as the floral hall, had the first day of the fair been pleasant. It was cold and rainy, although our receipts exceeded the previous year almost double. Our society has never been in better condition than at present. The number of members is 400, an! the prospects of its progress and usefulness is good.

The Agricultural Society own the grounds-about twenty-eight acres, worth about $6,000, on which we owe about $300.

AUGLAIZE COUNTY.

Judging by what you marked to draw my attention to, I would infer that you get the amount of crops for each county from the Anditor of State. If I am mistaken, it is but little trouble to give you the correct amount as received by our assessors.

As I reported previous, we had a premium offered for cultivation of crops, but no competitors. Two years since our fair was nearly a failure, but last year quite a success, and we feel as though we will be able, in revising the present list, to offer a premium on underdrains, etc. There is an immense amount of tiling or draining done in this county each year, yet I am not able to give any special particulars. As far as to different varieties of grain, the usual varieties are all I have to report. Since having charge I distributed some wheat, but it is not yet time to comment on the same.

The only very grave peculiarity in products is in potatoes, the Early Rose being the only one that done any good the past season. Nine-tenths of all raised were Rose, the others but little better than none.

The cause, as represented by farmers, of decline in flax, is that it is too hard on the ground, two crops of any other product being a less drain on ground than one of flax. As stated in my other report, the spring was some three weeks late on account of being too wet, which caused a double amount of drainage the past season. The coming season will be the second of my secretaryship, and I will make it a point to get you a full and correct statement of all items for my report. At present I have no resources that are anyways reliable, to give you much information.

I inclose postal card for your use, if necessary for me to give you number of bushels, tons, etc.

This year was the first we had no competition on crops; however there was a spirited and harmonious competition in all other classes. Wheat, corn, oats, barley, and potatoes about a usual crop. The season was twenty or thirty days too late for corn on account of being too wet. Cabbage-worm cut the cabbage crop from one-third to onehalf.

The hog cholera is mainly confined to localities or townships. In those localities the loss has been at least 25 per cent. According to estimates, the aggregate is from seven to ten thousand dollars of a loss in each of the past three years. Have tried hundreds of remedies, with but little, if any, success.

BELMONT COUNTY.

The list of premiums offered and awarded by the Belmont County Agricultural Society for the year 1877, presented herewith to the Ohio State Board, show the former in the

sum of $2,704.25, the latter $1,004.25, and of the premiums awarded, the sum of $1,000.75 was demanded and paid prior to January 1, 1878.

Notwithstanding the liberal premiums offered by the society on well managed farms, improved farm crops, and improved methods of tillage, not a single entry was made for either. Why this neglect on the part of our farmers, the officers of the society are unadvised. By reason of natural drainage, as a rule, but little artificial drainage is necessary in Belmont county, but where it is necessary the under-drainage is through “blind ditches," as they are locally called. In some instances the drainage of bottom lands is through open ditches. This, however, is exceptional, being necessary only for the purpose of confining to a narrow limit, and carrying the waters of brooks across bottom lands. Tiles are but little used.

The products of Belmont county are wheat, corn, oats, rye, buckwheat, clover and timothy seed, millet in limited quantity, potatoes, and the several garden and field vegetables. All the different varieties of grains and vegetables profitably produced in Ohio are cultivated successfully in Belmont county, but for want of proper data, which is almost impossible to be obtained, we have no means of properly stating the comparative quality and productiveness of each.

New varieties of fall wheat, called the "Fultz" and "Clawson,” have been introduced in the county, the former, especially, being of extra weight, and yielding largely both in bushels of grain and quantity of flour of good quality.

Of oats, special mention is made of a new variety, known as the "Waterloo White," heavy, and yielding largely.

The foregoing named varieties of wheat and oats, seed of which is eagerly sought, were introduced by Richard L. Riley, of St. Clairsville, Ohio, who raised the same from seed distributed to him by the Department of Agriculture at Washington, D. C.

The decline in the production of flax and sorghum is occasioned by the unprofitableness of the same, as compared with other products, resulting from want of home market, and especially in regard to flax in these latter days, for want of a general knowledge of the manner of cultivating and preparing it for use.

The past season was generally favorable to agricultural industry, and in consequence the crops were generally abundant and of good quality, except fruits, which were deficient in quantity and quality, but sufficient for home consumption. There was no scarcity of water, the streams holding out through the season. The crops were not injured by insects. The potato-bug did but little damage, but cabbage was seriously injured by the cabbage-worm.

Hog cholera has not appeared in the county, but the so-called chicken cholera made sad havoc with poultry, seemingly without a remedy.

The writer is not advised of any prevalent disease among either horses, cattle, sheep, or swine, in the county.

The Belmont County Agricultural Society is in good standing, and generally popular, with reasonably fair prospects of continued usefulness. On the whole, the agricultural interests of Belmont county, both in the products of the soil and in the raising of fine stock, are in good condition, and advancing rather than otherwise.

One of the greatest requisites for fair time is fair weather, and in this regard the management of the Belmont County Fair were exceedingly favored. On Wednesday the gates of the grounds were thrown open, and exhibiters and gamins had it all their own way. Although some activity was manifest on the grounds in getting exhibits in place, yet there was the same tardiness manifested as has characterized the making of entries in former years. The books closed on Wednesday, with about one thousand entries, a

somewhat less number than has been on previous occasions. The comparative small number of entries was owing to the fact that last year the society failed to pay their premiums in full. However, in many departments the few entries were more than counterbalanced by the superior quality of the exhibit.

A look through the cattle pens showed an excellent display in this line. Arch Rusk was on hand with a fine thoroughbred Durham bull, which has successfully competed here in former years; Ira Lewis & Son exhibited a thoroughbred two years old, weighing 1,580 pounds, and a grade spring calf, 630 pounds; Jos. H. Close also showed an excellent thoroughbred bull two years old; Joshua Pryor and W. N. Stillwell had some fine cattle, and carried off their share of prizes. Competent judges say there was a much better display in this department than usual.

The horse show was not as good as at some previous fairs, though it was worth a trip around to take a good look at the horse flesh.

The poultry show was much below what it has been for two years past. Although what was exhibited was creditable, yet there was no such general display as to entitle it to especial mention.

The sheep pens, probably fifteen in number, were all full of the best sheep raised in Eastern Ohio. The exhibit this year was confined to fine wool sheep. W. W. Holmes, of Harrison county, had several pens of the purest bred Merinos. Our old friend John Allen was behind no one in his display, which reflected great credit upon his judgment and enterprise,, and secured several ribbons. S. & S. Campbell were on hand with several lots of very choice Merinos, which had come from the State Fair, and stood high in the estimation of sheep men. Jos. H. Close bad the wonderful Vermont buck, "Patrick Henry," on exhibition, and the thirty-seven pound fleece shorn from his back. He is a fine animal, and attracted especial attention.

The swine pens were the center of attraction for those viewing the stock. The extending of classes had the effect to bring an unusual good display in this department.

Some fine specimens of Chester Whites were shown by H. B. Close and W. C. Rankin, but the crowning display in this department was made by Hugh Rogers, who exhibited a Royal Oxford pig weighing 810 pounds, and he wasn't very fat, either, besides a large number of other hogs of various ages of the same. Mr. Rogers is a "hog fancier." He takes as much pride in his splendid hogs as men mostly do in their pre:ty babies.

The display in the several stock departments showed plainly that our farmers are growing more enthusiastic in their love for good stock.

There is no use in disguising the fact that our people, who had an abundance to make a fine display in Agricultural and Floral Halls, did not do as they ought in the way of filling up th se balls. Still there were some very creditable and attractive exhibits.

Floral Hall was only tolerably well filled. The flower display was meagre, but choice, chiefly by Dr. Jno. Tallman and Mrs. S. B. Powell. Needle and fancy work, and jellies and preserves, were there in their usual exuberance.

The most noticable feature in this hall was the magnificent display of fruits. The contest was close, and each vied with the other for the best show. Samuel McGeorge excelled in pears, and in some varieties of apples. A C. Downing, Marshal Thompson, and A. T. McKelvy, all had fine exhibits of apples. The display was very large and creditable for the present season.

In the Agricultural Hall, as we have before remarked, there was a slim display. What there was of it was meritorious.

The display of agricultural machinery was chiefly by Cover, Luke & Co., Wm. Chambers, and Hoyle Bros. We have not space to speak of their exhibits.

The twenty-eighth annual fair of the Brown County Agricultural Society was held at Georgetown, Ohio, September 11th, 12th, 13tb, and 14th, 1877. The weather was favorable, and the attendance was larger than for several years previous, and the number of entries was about equal to former years. The show of horses and cattle was about the same as in past years, but the show of sheep and swine far surpassed any exhibited heretofore at our fair, both in quality and numbers. The show of poultry was finer in quality but less in numbers than at previous fairs.

The display in the hall was superior to past years in all departments except fruit, which fell short some in number of entries, yet the varieties were good. The departments of farm products, domestic manufactures, grain, vegetables, and flowers deserve especial commendation.

Farmers do not patronize our fair well on field crops. While the Society offers liberal premiums on a full list of field crops, including wheat, rye, oats, barley, corn, buckwheat, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, orions, turnips, flax, broom-corn, hay, tobacco, sorghum, and wine, and with a requirement of a yield not unreasonably high, yet at our last fair there were only three entries made on field crops, and two of these were withdrawn before the awards were given. Thus only one entry was presented to the consideration of the committee. This was on a crop of hay-orchard grass; yield, eight thousand nine hundred and fifty-three pounds per acre; awarded to Dr. A. M. Ellsberry, of Georgetown, Ohio.

As to methods of tillage, drainage, and farm management, and improved farm roads and bridges, there is not that interest yet that is to be hoped for in the future, and the day may not be far distant when these may be matters of great competition at our county fairs.

Premiums were awarded to the following varieties of wheat: Amber wheat, white wheat, blue-stem wheat, Lancaster wheat, Fultz wheat, Scott wheat, Clawson white wheat, and Jennings white wheat. The last four named varieties are new additions to the display of wheat at our fairs, and are to be presumed as experimental yet, but thus far they are very well received. There is but little change in the display of corn at our fair as compared to former years, except in a greater number of entries, and this is owing to some new varieties for cooking. Among the standard field varieties there is great diversity of opinion as to productiveness and various other qualities. Every farmer seems to have an especially favorite corn, denominated as large white, small white, large yellow, and small yellow, and red, and other names indicative of color. As corn is the most extensively raised crop in this county, yet there does not seem to be such experimenting with different varieties as might be advantageous. Possibly the crop is too easily raised to develop the experimental knowledge which might prove beneficial to agriculture.

The display of Irish potatoes at last fair was highly commended by many visitors. No crop raised in this county will present such an improvement in new varieties and in amount of yield, chiefly owing to careful culture and improvement in new varieties of seed potatoes, as Peerless and Snowflake, while others, like the white Peachblow and Early Rose still continue to maintain their well established reputation of past years. The oats crop does not seem to indicate that improvement so prominent in the wheat and Irish potato crops. Oats is considered an uncertain crop. Doubtless farmers do not care to spend time and money on experiments without a favorable prospect of remuneration. Barley and rye are not cultivated to such an extent as to call forth much consideration in cultivation or new varieties.

The cause of decline in flax and sorghum crops is that farmers can make their lands more profitable by raising such crops as corn and tobacco. The most profitable crop grown in this county for several years past has been tobacco. So great an interest have farmers taken in raising this crop that the timber has often been cut down and burned upon the ground tha: they might obtain fresh ground for the crop. The principal varieties grown are the large burly tobacco and the white tobacco. Each variety has ardent admirers. The burly produces heaviest crops, but the white is the most popular in the market. An average crop is from one thousand to one thousand five hundred pounds per acre.

The spring and early part of the summer of 1877 was very seasonable, showers being frequent, but in the latter part of the summer and the beginning of autumn the weather became dry, but streams did not dry up until September or October. The weather was quite warm, and frosts did not appear until late in autumn. Crops have not suffered so much from insects this year as in the past; different causes are ascribed, chief of which is the increase in number of small birds, a result of the enforcement of the game laws.

The ravages of the Colorado potato bug have greatly diminished, and it is now hoped by many that this once dreaded pest to the potato crop will soon be a thing of the past. The insect most dreaded now by many persons, is the green cabbage-worm; but those most familiar with it apprehend no great damage from it. Those who have had the greatest success in controlling it, thus far, have resorted to the worming process, and find it but little more tedious or troublesome than worming tobacco. In this manner, some very fine crops of cabbage have been grown this year.

In conclusion, our society may be considered in a prosperous condition, although it became heavily involved in debt about four years since, by purchasing an addition of eight acres of land to the old fair grounds and making needed improvements on the same. The fair grounds now contain sixteen acres of land, which is well situated for a fair ground, the half of it being natural forest. The past year will enable the society to reduce its indebtedness almost one-half, and with the same success in future, we will soon be clear of debt. The society has paid all the premiums in cash, and the full amount advertised on the catalogue. The board of directors have used the most prudent economy in the management of all departments of the fair. The society numbers five hundred and forty-two members-a greater number than for some years past. The fair is well patronized, both at home and from abroad. All things being considered, the condition of our society is truly encouraging.

BUTLER COUNTY.

The twenty-seventh annual fair of the Butler County Agricultural Society was held on their fair grounds, adjoining the city of Hamilton, on the regularly fixed time, October 1, A.D. 1877; and from the report of the number of entries, of the amount of premiums offered, and of the premiums awarded in the several departments, herewith filed, it will readily appear that it fully met the just expectations of the board of directors, and of all who take any interest in the manufacturing, mechanical, and agricultural industries of our county. And from the report of the treasurer of the society, herewith filed, of the receipts from the entries and membership tickets, permits, etc., it will be seen that the attendance was as fully encouraging as exhibiting the great interest manifested by all in the prosperity and success of the society. Where the entries were so