D. Tompkins, Haverstraw; Jacob J. Eckerson, Clarkstown. Cor. Secretary, A. Edward Suffern, Haverstraw. Rec. Secretary, Samuel W. Canfield, Blauveltville. Treasurer, Mathew D. Bogert, Clarkstown. Executive Committee, Richard Coe, Clarkstown; E. Johnson, Spring Valley; J. R. Vanhouten, Orangetown; A. De Noyelles, Haverstraw.

E. JOHNSON.

ST. LAWRENCE.

In compliance with the provisions of the act "For the promotion of agriculture and household manufactures," I herewith transmit a report of the transactions of the "St. Lawrence agricultural Society," for the year 1852. This society was organized in January last, and its success has far exceeded the anticipations of its warmest friends. The fair was held on the 15th and 16th of September; the attendance was much larger than was expected, and the buildings prepared for the exhibition of farm products and household manufactures were on too small a scale. The farmers of St. Lawrence have become awake to the great interests involved in the pursuit of agriculture; they have for a long time neglected to develop her agricultural resources. No county in the State, not excepting Orange, can produce better butter or cheese than St. Lawrence; though it must be admitted many of her farmers, through ignorance and want of proper care and attention in the manufacture, lose a large proportion of the profits of the dairy. The cattle of St. Lawrence have become quite famous in the eastern markets, where they are generally sent. The native cattle are remarkably fine, and it is not uncommon to find them equal to the full-bloods. Durhams are the most numerous of the foreign breeds; next Devons, and a few Ayrshires have been brought into the county. It is doubtful whether the finest quality of wool can be raised in this climate, though the breeding of

the Merino, both French and Spanish, is exciting considerable attention.

For the few years past much attention has been given to raising spring wheat; but the last year large quantities of winter wheat have been grown, and with good success. The quality of the grain was good, and there has been a manifest improvement in selecting clean seed. Hay has not been two-thirds of an ordinary crop, on account of the want of the early rain, and the severe cold of the preceding winter. The deficiency in the hay crop is, however, likely to be productive of great good, by coercing the farmer to more economical modes of feeding cattle, and by extending the culture of roots. Oats have been a remarkably fine crop. Potatoes, since the opening of the Ogdensburgh railroad, have become an article of export; large quantites are sent to the east. The crop has been a very large one.

Though St. Lawrence is capable of producing all kinds of cereal grains, yet her agricultural wealth mainly consists in her rich meadows and pastures. The dairy and grazing constitute the wealth of the farmer.

The report of the Treasurer shows a cash balance on hand of about $800; the amount of money expended was about $600, including the expense of fencing and fitting up the grounds used for the fair.

The society became organized at too late a period in the season to offer premiums on such articles of produce as are mentioned in section 3 of said act, wherein is required certificates from producers, &c.; but with the exception of the certificates enclosed, appropriated its premiums to specimen articles of household manufacture, farm implements, farm stock, products of the dairy, and specimens simply of roots and seeds.

Respectfully submitted,

H. VAN RENSSELAER, President

H. G. FOOTE, Esq.

MASSENA, January 7th, 1853.

Dear Sir: Your favor is received. The two fat oxen that I received the premium on at our county fair last September, six years old, & Durham, worth as working oxen one hundred dollars. I stall fed them last winter, gave them one peck provender per day each, say 182 days, makes 91 bushels, at 3s. per bushel, is,.... $31 25

Two three-year old steers which I have raised, fed them milk until they were six months old, after that fed them one quart provender each per day through the winter, the next winter not any thing but hay, the winter after two-years old, four quarts provender through the winter each, making about 45 bushels at 3s. $16.88. All the expense in raising a pair of three-year old steers until they are fit for market is about $90. I sold the above steers for $125.

The oxen weighed, when sold, 4,220 lbs. ; the steers 3,220 lbs. U. H. ORVIS.

RENSSELAER.

Dear Sir: You inform me that you have the proceedings of our annual meeting. As those minutes set forth pretty fully the doings and the condition of the society during the past year, I can but glean a few facts in addition for your notice. The meeting was more numerously attended than any previous one, and the best spirit prevailed throughout its deliberations, and the renewals of membership and additions to life membership were larger than at any former meeting.

77 by 23

The advantageous purchase and location of permanent grounds and buildings for our annual fairs, has infused new energies into the society. The ground exten is up to the track of the Troy and Boston railroad, thus affording greatly increased facilities for carrying stock and goods to and from the fair. The portion of ground enclosed by the buildings is about 250 by 285 feet. The main building is 77 by 125 feet, 24 feet posts, very high in the center, allowing for the display of carpets, oil cloths, and the like. There is one two-story brick building, 34 by 54 feet; one shed, 160 by 22 feet; one do, 110 by 23 feet; one do, feet; one 250 by 12 feet; one 1 stories, 42 by 15 feet. There is a large cistern in the open space, fed through pipes from a neverfailing spring, on the hill east of the grounds. The buildings are substantial, and kept in good repair, ensuring protection to articles, of whatever texture, from injury by the accidents of weather. Ample ground for pasturage or other wants of the county or State society, in the immediate vicinity of the grounds, can always be had at a trifling expense. In view of all the facts. and circumstances, in connection with the new impulse they have given the society, we feel confident that nothing but the fickleness of the elements can prevent our future annual exhibitions, both in amount and interest, from being far ahead of the best we have yet seen or known.

The display of fruits, vegetables, and other products of the farmer at the recent county fair, although not as good as we have seen, was still a very creditable one, considering the very unfavorable season for such productions, owing to the long continuance of extra dry weather. The display of cattle and horses was a good one; that of mechanical and manufactured articles pretty good.

The unfavorable weather alluded to, discouraged preparation for competition for the premiums on field crops; and as you will see by the minutes of the annual meeting here with annexed, but little emulation, was excited; two exhibitions of buckwheat, one of flax, and one of potatoes. All of which is respectfully submitted.

WM. HAGEN, Secretary.

Annexed are the Treasurer's report, and a synopsis of the mi

nutes:

RENSSELAER COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Annual Meeting, January 25, 1853.

Society met at the Court House in the city of Troy, at 10 A. M., Richard J. Knowlson, president, in the chair. The minutes of the last annual meeting were read and approved. B. Starbuck, from the committee to examine the treasurer's accounts, reported that the committee had examined said accounts and found them correct. The treasurer, A. Van Tuyl, then read his annual report, which is as follows:

TROY, January 25th, 1853.

Annual Report of A. Van Tuyl, Treasurer of the Rensselaer County Agricultural Society.

In obedience to the provisions of the constitution of this society, the following report is most respectfully submitted:

Receipts.

Cash balance on hand January, 1852,.

Cash received of Treasurer of State of New-York,

...

do

for rent of booths,..

93 00

paid T. D. Stewart, towards pur. of fair grounds,

1,000 00