The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-10-03
Vol. vm.-no. ara -..wnols No. ana.


The Great Annual Fair and Cattle show OF
the New York State Agricultural Society
at Albany--second Annual Exhibition
Sept. "a, IS, 80. 30-1s42.
FOURTH AND LAST DAY-FmDAY, Sept. 30.
"A cloudy sky and drizzling ram have broken me
charm which has hitherto hung over the weather.
Il was, however, OF but little consequence as the
Fair proper over and this day Is set apart Tor the
cattle sale We visited the ground, and found ex-
hbtors all busy engaged IN removing their articles
The cattle sale commenced, but instead OF attend
ing it, we rode down 10 the ancient estate OF the
good old PATRON, dequestat IN pace to see
Tue CENTURY PLANT.
This is emphatically the Horticultural wonder of
the age For an hundred years this venerable plant
hasvegeiated along in silence, modesty, and almost
oblivion. Revolution on revolution has 1t witness
Still il yet lives and its last days are its days
of glory For sixty years il has stood in its present
position, under the coninued protection OF the older
and younger PATRONS. II was purchased soon after
the revolutionary war at the sale Of confscated
estate in the city of New York And the fact that
its memory must extend back even to the old French
and Indian wars-hat it was even advanced in years
at the time ct the American revoluton-and that
present exultatlon in pride, grandeur, beauty and
magnifcence Is but the unerlng and fatal harbnger
OF speedy and eternal dissolution, causes the OBJ
server TO behold it with feeling of reverence, and
pensive,yet pleasing melancholy
The stock first made its appearance on the 18th
June last, and then began rapidly to elevate itself,
solitary and alone, until the 9Th OF September, when
1t attained its present height OF u feet6 inches
grown in about two months and a half. The first
flower expanded on the 18th September; and others
are still putting forth in slow succession and mea.
sured space like the majestic cortege OF royal ia
miy upon coronation day. And were 1t not for
riding down the metaphor, we would say that its
y branches towering aloft In their majesty are like
so many royal CARR ages in the procession, each
bearing its full load OF beauty and spendor. F or
Sc MAKING on Sadss afi s
royal cavalcade II is said that when it first began
its to the goal Of death, grew Is inches in "a
hours for several days in succession anxious
1t to adorn.itsef the gorgeous robes of approach
ing mortality.
That naught might occur to mar the peace and
quietude of its departing life-.that no rude wind
nor rude storm might disturb its latter moments,
the PATRON has erected over and around il build
ing by IL feet square, and about Is feet high, In
which visters can examine it at their leisure.
need not say toany one that It will, OF course,
die Immediately after it has finished its Towering,
which occurs but once during the long period OF Its
existence.
1t is now being exhibited for the benefit of the
Albany Orphan Asylum-a very worthy institution.
This of course is through the Iberaliy of the pre-
sent PATRON, Gen. Stephen Van Rensselaer,, who
lnnerits the ancient manor grounds.
The PATRooN's MANSION
There, while upon the sacred grounds, we could
but look on with deep regret that the younger pa.
troon should under any pretence suffer the chise Of
the stonecutter and the sound of the hammer to in
wade the sanctity Of this ancient mansion so halow
ed to the memory Of one of nature's noblemen. The
building is undergoing an entire transformation 1t
Is having the addition of wings on the west and
east portico in front, and stonewOrk incorporated
throughout the whole building. True, all the addi-
tons are made with as great semblance posi-
BILE to antiquity, but what of thatl What else is
1t, after all but forgery OF antiquity? and we could
but imagine that the ancient elms, which, like
guardian angels surround this sacred mansion,
INny doxr,v1 and
saw their ancient friend and companion doffng gar
ments of antiquity, and bedecking himself in more
modern hablments. We fancied we heard the
winds sigh over the change-buti it might have been
the wind. They can see the old mansion no more,
and we fear they will never forgive the sacrilege that
has taken it from their sight.
CONCLUSION OF THE FAIR.
From the Rev. ]. G. ChoHles, we obtained the
names of the committee appointed by the New York
State Agricultural Society to memorabilia the Lee
gsaure for the establishment Of agricultural schools
ed by all the gentlemen farmers present at the fair,
as the most important that has yet taken place on
this great subject The committee consist of one
from each Senatorial district. Their names are
Rev. ]. O. CHouLEs, Chairman.
2. ]. l. Brown, Esq.
3. DR.. J. P. BEExMAN.
A. Hon. JOHN SAVAGE
B. BENZ. p. JOHNSON, ESQ.,
6. GEORGE J. PUMPELLY, Esq.
T. HARVEY BALDWIN, Esq.
g. JAS s. WADswoRTH, Esq.
II would not be proper to conclude our report of
the Fair without returning thanks to r,e President
of the Society, James S. Wadsworth, Esq, and the
officers Of the Society generally, L. Tucker, ESQ.,,
editor OF the Cultivator, Mr.: Colman, Mr. Com
stock, and indeed to one and all in any way con-
nected with the Society or interested in the noble
art and science OF agriculture.
BREEDING ANIMALS TO ORDER.
Coming down from Albany we had the pleasure
Of an interview with the celebrated Col. Jacques, of
the Ten Hill Farm, near Boston. He was present
at the fair, and was chairman of the committee on
native cattle. He is said to be the best Judge OF
animals-animals of all kinds-from tho mouse up
to the horse-that there Is in the country. He is
the breeder of the famous Cream Pot Cows, four
quarts OF whose cream will make pound Of butter
and which he guarantees publicly or privately to
convert into butter within a minutes hme-he has
done it before the members of the Massachusetts
Legislature. He has some curious notions, upon
which some people think him rather enthusiastic,
particularly in the matter OF breeding animals to
der. For example, he guarantees to breed 20 cows
to order, either red, white, black, speckled, ring
stretched, or striped-with horns, either long or
Short straight turned up lopped-with large bags
Or small and OF any cSOias is NOW breeding
with wide backs upon which you may lay bushel
of corn without it's rolling off, or narrow asnot to
hold single kernel. In short, he will breed you
animals to order, and is perfect L.. l.: d: in the
matter of crossing breeds He breeds all his Cream
Pot Cows with deep red body, white faces, yellow
nose, yellow bags and mahogany colored teats
He claims to be able to transfer the properties OF
any one COW, whatever they may be, to any other
cow-and in the matter of color, to shade animals
to fancy. He goes strong for native breeds of cows
and many people think he will eventually ruin the
foreign bloods,as the Durham's the Herefords, the
Devonshires, &c. &c.
The following is the substance Of report which
he is about making for the ensuing volume Of the
New York State Agricultural Society's annual pro-
ceedings.
Early in life felt interest in agricultural pur-
q
and managing domestic animals finding among most Of
our farmers but little, attention paid the improve
ment Of their neat cattle particularly the Gov for the
dairy Believing her of the first importance in point of
comfort and profit at the same time thinking the differ
greater than in any other animal was induced TO make
some practical experiments for her improvement. The
subject required great consideration and after taking in
to view soil climate, habits was inclined To the
helief under all circumstances thst udiciaua coss az