much produce is carried to market upon the New-York and Erie railroad. The expense of conveying the products of the county is estimated at one per cent on the value thereof. Oxford, January 1st, 1853. CALVIN COLE, Pres. Chen. Co. Ag. So. CLINTON. TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE N. Y. STATE AG. SOCIETY: Gentlemen: Below I hand you an "abstract of the proceedings" of the Clinton county Agricultural Society for the year 1852, together with the "statements" received from successful competitors. At the annual meeting of the society, which was held at Plattsburgh on the 6th of January, the officers were elected for the year 1852, and the usual business transacted. On the 10th of February the executive committee met and agreed upon a list of premiums to be offered for the year 1852, amounting in the aggregate to $678 in cash, and twenty-nine diplomas. At an early day the premiums were published in a pamphlet, containing also the address of the President before the annual meeting of the society, a copy of which is herewith forwarded. The annual fair of the society was held at the show grounds in Keeseville, on the 22d, 23d and 24th days of September. The first day was occupied in the making of entries, and the reception and arrangement of articles for exhibition. The second day was devoted to examination by the judges. During this and the following day the grounds were open to the public. The number of visitors in attendance was not so great as last year, though considering the unusual attractions at a neighboring "race course," which were continued during the whole of the two days, the attendance at the fair grounds was fully equal to any reasonable expectations. The location of a race course in the immediate vicinity of our fair grounds, is an exceedingly unfortunate circumstance. Aside from its deleterious influence on the public morals, its effect upon the interests of the Agricultural society has been found decidedly injurious. The proprietors of the race grounds, and others interested in it, will not permit so favorable an occasion as that of an agricultural fair to pass unimproved; and every year, after the handbills of the fair are posted, and after it is too late for the time of holding it to be changed, or for the Agricultural society to disabuse the public mind of the impression that it is connected with and interested in the success of the "races," flaming bills announcing them as appointed to come off "IN CONNECTION WITH THE FAIR," are distributed. The effect is that a large and influent al portion of the farmers and citizens of this county, embracing all those who disapprove of public horse racing, on account of its immoral tendencies, and who are not advised of the true state of the facts, either stay away, or come only to attend as idle spectators. It is not to be denied, that while many who would otherwise take a conspicuous part in the celebration of our fairs, are thus restrained by motives of principle from participating in them, others of an opposite character may be drawn together in greater numbers, a circumstance which has been urged as an argument in favor of the races; but three or four years' experience has failed to prove to us the justness of the claim. Few persons who have so little regard for the legitimate objects and purposes of an agricultural fair, that the attractions of a public race become necessary as a bait to allure them to the neighborhood, are likely either to be much benefited themselves, or to benefit others, by their attendance. On the contrary, we have found that for every visitor who has been drawn to any of our fairs by means of the race course, several times that number, of the honest yeomanry of our county, who at any other time would have resisted the temptation, have been drawn from it. So great, indeed, has been the draught in this direction, that the operations of the Society have often been seriously embarrassed. In more than one instance during the fair of this year, the officers of the society were compelled to suspend operations, until the return from the "races" of a sufficient amount of working material to enable them to proceed with business. These remarks are not made in a spirit of fault finding, but simply as an act of justice to the society which I have the honor to represent, and as a warning to other societies which have not yet had the same experience. On the forenoon of the third and last day of the fair, the society was very ably and eloquently addressed by the Hon. B. P. Johnson, of Albany, the indefatigable Secretary of the State Agricultural Society. The discourse was one of rare ability, eminently practical, and most opportunely adapted to the wants and condition of those to whom it was addressed. The afternoon was devoted to the declaration of the awards, a formal display of the animals which had received the prizes, and a public sale of stock, implements, &c. Owing to various causes, chiefly of a local or a transient character, among which the increased attractions at the race course may be named as one, and the extraordinary drought of the past summer as another, the exhibition was in some particulars inferior to that of the preceding year. The display of dairy products and of manufactured articles of nearly all kinds, was quite meager. The show of horses, good; of cattle, sheep and swine, fair, but not equal to last year. The exhibition in floral hall, including fruits, flowers and vegetables, was fully equal to any which the society has yet made. The premiums awarded at the fair amounted to $219 in cash, and 11 diplomas. Of this amount $52, and 3 diplomas, were awarded on cattle; $15, and 4 diplomas, on horses; $9, and 3 diplomas, on sheep; $19, on swine; $6, on poultry; $15, on the products of the dairy; $3, on sugar and honey; $6, on bread; $9, on fruit; $13, and one diploma, on plants and flowers; $12 on vegetables, $11, on domestic manufactures; $12, on miscellaneous manufactures; and $7, on farm implements. At the Annual meeting of the executive committee, held at Plattsburgh, November 30th 1852, the further sum of $11, was awarded on Crops, as follows: To Calvin Everest, of Peru, for the best acre of potatoes, the 1st premium. Yield 567 bushels. ...... Value of crop, at 2 shillings per bushel,.. use of land and taxes,.... Net profits,...... $141 75 56 89 $84 86 To Silas M. Taylor, of Schuyler Falls, for the 2d best acre of potates, the second premium. Yield, 302 bushels. Value of crop, at 2 shillings per bushel,...... Total cost of crop, including seed, labor, use of land and taxes,.. Net profits,... $75 50 25 50 $50 00 To Silas M. Taylor, of Schuyler Falls, for the best acre of oats, the 1st premium. Yield, 731 bushels. Value of crop, at 40 cts. per bushels for the grain, and $8 for the straw, $37 43 Total cost of crop, including seed, labor, use of land and taxes, 10 00 Net profits,.. $27 43 MR. EVEREST'S STATEMENT. Soil, gravel; previous crop corn, well manured; forty loads of barn yard manure applied this season, and turned under, land plowed very deep, amount of seed 12 bushels, of the "peachblow," or "Moore" variety, and assorted, using only tubers of good table size, each tuber cut into four pieces or sets, and four of the sets planted in a hill. The rows 3 feet apart; and the hills 2 feet 4 inches asunder in the rows; the sets distributed in the hills so as to be 6 inches asunder; planting done on the 10th and 11th days of May; hoed twice; dug in the month of October. Harvesting done for 3 cents per bushel,........ Manure, 40 loads, at 4 shillings,. Use of land and taxes,... Total,.... Amount of crop, 567 bushels, Value, at 2 shillings per bushel,.... . . . Balance in favor of crop, $2.00 6 00 38 1 00 1.00 250 17 00 20 00 700 $56 89 141 75 $84 86 MR. TAYLOR'S STATEMENT.- POTATOES. Soil, gravelly loam. Had been in pasture since the time of "clearing," perhaps 25 years; plowed first of May, harrowed once; planted 10th of May, in rows, 3 feet 3 inches apart each way. Seed 12 bushels; variety, pink eyes and English whites; applied a light top dressing of ashes and plaster, as soon as the plants were out of the ground; cultivated each way once; hoed once; harvested the second week in October. Expense of cultivation &c. including seed, fer tilizers, use of land, and taxes,.... Amount of crop, 302 bushels, of 60 lbs. Value of crop at 25 cts. per bushel, Balance in favor of crop,. $25 50 75 50 $50 00 |