urgent request of the society, and addressed a large audience on the last day of its meeting upon the show grounds. We desire to express our thanks to the gentlemen of the society, for the attentions we received while with them, and hope that we may have the opportunity of returning to them the civilities we received, at some future meeting of our society. From the benefit we ourselves have derived from this visit, we are satisfied that a more frequent exchange of courtesies of this character would prove highly advantageous. We need to know more of the practices of farmers in other parts of the Union, to learn what is most advantageous and useful in their practices, and what can successfully be introduced among our farmers for their improvement. We trust this interchange will be continued and extended, as we cannot doubt the great advantages that will result from it. We were gratified at meeting at Baltimore, with Mr. Becar of Long Island, and Mr. Wainwright of Dutchess. Respectfully submitted, October 30, 1852. B. P. JOHNSON, REPORT OF J. STANTON GOULD, Delegate to the Fair of the R. I. Society, on Improvement of Agriculture. TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE N. Y. STATE AG. Soc.: The undersigned, delegate of the Society to attend the fair of the R. I. Society for the Encouragement of Domestic Industry, reports: That he attended the fair held at Providence on the 15th, 16th and 17th of this month. It was very numerously attended, and there was a very valuable and interesting collection of articles, arranged in a very attractive manner. There were 1,059 entries, exclusive of animals, poultry, fruit and vegetables. Among the cattle there were 2 Durham bulls, 4 Durham heifers and cows, and 2 Durham calves, 7 native bulls, 35 native cows, 16 pair of working oxen, 3 Ayrshire bulls, 1 Ayrshire cow, 2 Suffolk hogs, 1 Leicester buck and 2 Leicester ewes, 2 South-down bucks and 4 South-down ewes, 4 sheep from the Spanish Main, and several Merinos. There was a very large exhibition of fowls of all kinds, equalling our own show at Utica in all respects. The Creoles, or Bolton Greys, and the Chittagongs, seemed to be the favorites among the farmers. The exhibition of fruits, flowers and vegetables was very large, considering the limited area of the State. The exhibition of apples was superior to ours; that of grapes was very much inferior. Among the new inventions brought into public notice for the first time here, two stood pre-eminently conspicuous for originality, ingenuity and practical utility. The first was a newly invented spinning machine, exhibited in operation by Yates & Jenks, of Centerville, R. I. It had ten spindles, and could spin No. 200s with ease. While I was examining it, it spun No. 80s yarn at the rate of 75 inches per minute. Its introduction will materially cheapen the operation of spinning in our factories. The other machine is called the Indian Rubber Peacemaker Washing Machine. It is not saying too much to assert that the machine perfectly imitates the action of a woman's hand, both in the degree of pressure and the mode of rubbing. It is precisely the article needed by farmers, and will be as cordially welcomed by their wives and daughters, as the best mowing and reaping machines have been by themselves. It is sold at $10, and invented by E. L. Evans. The display of manufactured goods was, as might be expected from the reputation of the State, of the very highest character. The brown and bleached shirtings and sheetings; the printed calicoes and muslin de laines, were got up in the very highest style of art, and the cassimeres, broadcloths, and other manufactures of wool were equal, if not superior to those that I have seen at any exhibition The shawls, both plain and embroidered, presented by the Peacedale manufactory, were exceedingly beautiful, and are probably superior to those of any other manufactory in New-England. This institution is now in the thirty-third year of its existence, and has a capital of $18,000 securely invested, the interest of which, together with the avails of its annual fairs, is ample for all its necessities. The society originated in the town of Warwick, from the difficulty experienced by farmers in matching their steers. Much time was often expended by riding around to procure a match, that might be saved could they know where to go in the first place. An association was therefore formed, the members of which agreed that once a year they would meet at some place to be designated annually by the society, bringing their steers with them, so that all the farmers had a better chance to match their cattle, and to sell and buy at fair prices. This plan was found to work so well that cows, and afterwards hogs and sheep were annually brought to the show. In its origin it was really a fair, at which buying and selling only was thought of. This small beginning in the town of Warwick has gradually expanded into the present society. There are some points of difference between our fairs and theirs which it may be useful to notice. In the first place, there is here a disposition on the part of contributors to bring the things of the olden as well as the modern time, time, for exhibition. Visitors are therefore better qualified to judge of the march of improvement when they see the implement or the manufacture of to-day in direct contrast with the implement or manufacture which it has superceded. Among other relics of the olden time, I noticed a bell metal skillett, which was cast in 1730, the names of the five generations who had used it were on the card, but the name of the first owner was lost. A dress made of very coarse linen, of an olive color, and richly embroidered, was exhibited, which had been worn by a lady of Providence in the presence of the royal governors of the colony prior to the revolution. It had a boddice waist, like the fashion of the present day, but no farm laborer now wears so coarse a fabric as was worn with pride in the presence of the vice-royal functionary of the old colonial days. An old Bible, printed in A. D. 1599, which had comforted the hearts of the old pilgrim family of Ely, in the time of Archbishop Laud's persecution, was placed in juxtaposition with the most exquisitely printed and superbly bound bibles of the present day. One feels, on comparing them, the immense strides which have been made in the typographical art in 253 years. The second point of difference between the R. I. exhibition and ours, was the greater amount of strictly household manufactures. The display of knitted stockings, homespun woolen and linen yarn, diaper, and linen sheeting, was very fine, and spoke loudly in favor of the domestic virtues of the Rhode Island ladies. There were also a large number of competitors for the premium for household bread, each competitor furnishing her receipt for making. I was not more impressed with the usefulness of any part of the exhibition than with this. So far as I recollect we have never had any specimens of this indispensable article of food at our fairs. The third point of difference was the difference between our standard of excellence for cattle and theirs. Ours is to have an animal which has the greatest bulk in the smallest compass, and one which accumulates the most flesh on the most profitable parts. The R. I. farmer cares nothing about the beef making qualities of an animal, he requires the greatest power of draft, and the greatest amount of milk without reference to its butter making properties. Hay and pasture are more valuable in R. I. than in any other State of the Union, hence it is cheaper for them to buy full grown animals raised at points where hay and grass are cheaper, and they find the sale of milk more profitable than the manufacture of cheese and butter, hence the cow that will give the greatest amount of milk, without reference to cheese or butter, is the most profitable. Owing to this difference between the wants of the farmers in New-York and Rhode Island, an animal which would take a first premium with us would receive no premium here, and a first class animal here would be considered almost worthless with us. I endeavored to present the plans and objects of our Society with reference to agricultural education, the thorough trial of implements, the performance of well conducted and reliable experiments in agriculture, and the collection of authentic statistics, before the board of managers of the R. I. Society, and at their request reduced them to writing. The board assured me of their willingness to co-operate with our society for the furtherance of these objects. They have already accumulated some very valuable statisties collected from every farmer in the State, by agents paid by the Society, which were kindly given to me by S. H. Smith, Esq., chairman of the board of managers. From these accounts it appears the average production of Indian corn from an acre is 304 bushels, the maximum being 100 bushels. The average of rye is 12 bushels, the maximum production is 40 bushels. The average crop of onions per acre is 377 bushels, the maximum production is 600 bushels per acre. The average production of carrots is 421 bushels per acre, and the maximum production is 1000 bushels. The total value of the agricultural productions of the State is $3,072,837, being an annual increase from each acre of improved land in the State of $8.61. JOHN STANTON GOULD. REPORT OF JONATHAN EDGCOMB, Delegate to Ohio and Michigan State Fairs. B. P. JOHNSON, Esq., Secretary, &c. : Sir-It is with diffidence I address you on the subject of agricultural exhibitions in our country, for they have, in many instances, transcended my most sanguine expectations. Being one of the number appointed by your Executive Committee as a delegate to the State Agricultural Exhibitions of Ohio and Michigan, and not having seen any account in our journals from the pen of any of my honorable colleagues, in reference to those State Fairs, permit me to give you a brief statement of what (Ag. Tr. '53.] X |