New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-09-24


riculture for October.
The Seventh Annual Fair OF the Agricultural
society Of the state Of New-York.
The sheets OF the October number OF the L AR
MEKs LIBRARY, from particular circumstances Of
necessity. had passed from the hands Of the Editor
before the Fair commenced. leaving him. for that
number. only the space on the cover TOR some hasty
aud general remarks The first observ alton. and
tha. which il is agreeable TO make is. that for
fun and fair display OF all that nj ght be sent for
exhibition. the arrangements were as Satisfactory
and complete as Judgment and good taste could
make them.
twas evident At a glance that the President and
Executive Committee had given their hearts %
what they had undertaken 10 do, and while the cit
zens and authorities Of Saratoga did all that could
be expected Of them. the hotel keepers behaved
liz honest men and gentlemen. Ihey baitef no
trap 70 catch the unvary citizen or the stranger
within their gates But after all, taking for our
motto 20 speak the truth and tear not what can be
said in favor Of this seventh annual display Of the
agricultural progress and excellence O. State
exceing all her six sister States lying east OF her
not only in aggregate population but IN her num-
bers devoted 70 this great branch OF industry
amounting 10 no less than hdt a miition dcitduy
emplo.ed In Agricultural What shall be said Of
it, not only as il stood, an admitted failure bu,
taken collectively with its predecessors, ss the re-
suits OF a years preparation 10 exhibit not merely
the actual condition of the agricultural industry Of
the State in its various departments and It's holiday
dress but 10 demonstrate in the view OF the public
The progress If subStGHti0t Improvements as they
occur from year 10 year 10 all the departments Of
rural and domestic economy Is It not venial
error originating in the best feelings TO mpute the
meagerness Of the show and the public disappoint-
ment which ensued, solely 10 an unfortunate lOca-
ton for did not the Railroads, with iberality at
once commendable and polite, Obviate all reasOna-
bic difficulty on that score, by taking everything
f-o.,, f-aa Of rHarve leaving
pediment that would not have been dlsregarded, u
feeling approaching to a deep-rooted and pervad-
ing devotion TO the cause had existed among the
mass of practical Farmersl Suppose there were
no Railroads In many States they have large
exhibitions without them.
What sort Of zeal forsooth, is that which would
demand the condition OF his support that State
Fair should be held in every mans immediate
neighbOrhOOdl
Under all circumstances, is il not expedient aud
proper 10 confess at once the apprehensOn-unwel
come and unpopular as the expression may be
that either their is not among the reehOders OF this
Empire State a heartfelt and truly popular earn
estness in the cause Of enlightened improvement
that that there is something deiectiyeor unpopu-
lar in this mode Of bringing that earnestness into
play For be itrepeated that II were idle TO count
on the devotion Of those whose ardOr can only be
kept alive by having the show brought within
OF their premises Neither can dependence be had on
those who discouraged and driven OF by not get
ting premiums when impdrtiaiy awardedto others
The competitor who is animated by the true spirit
such ms these exhibitions designed 10 beget,
will rather for the sake Of the general interest be
gratified when he finds that what he had deemed
excellent Of his own, has been met with something
still better aud the winner, If OF liberal mind, will
hope at the next Fair, 10 excel himself or 10 be eX-
celled by bis neighbOr. Thus only is 1t that pro
gTessiye improvement, the only legitimate end oil
the State patronage, can be permanently secured
If seven years Of public encouragement and OF
careful laborious exertions on the part OF the few
on whom, in all such cases, deyoives the labor oil
conducting these Eairs, have rot yet begotten this
sort OF feeling and this degree OF uDhlnching zeal
In the breast of Farmers geaeraiy-a zeal that
should have led thousands to disregard the troE e
and expense of contributing something to the L air
at Saratoga under all the facilities and encourage
ments held out to them then, indeed, may the
question well be put 10 rk0t erfenf and with rhat
effect any enlightened and high spirited ambition Tor
excellence has really been awakened Alarge crop
raised on single acre, with view 10 the premium,
both truth and policy require us to remember Is
far from indicating a generally importing 0grtcnf-
f,,rc Thence we are told by the Jealous and en-
ligbtened Secretary Of the Society, Mr.. Johnson,
that while in one county OF the state traction
less than 90 bushels of wheat have been raised on
an acre and that in one case lO2 bushels OF oats
had been grown on another yet that according 10
the best agricultural statistics the acreage product
of the State year ago last Winter, was, OF rye
only Q bushels of Wheat, from ii to -; OF Corn
less than 20, and other crops IN proportion.
In what department then, are we to look Tor
the proofs OF generally improving agriculture
in the State ofNew-York as the effect Of these
exhibitions As to this last 7tt Far ~ ne
State in candOr and sorrow II must be asked
take away from the Fair the strictly agrlcul
tura portion of it, the contributions OF some three
or four gentlemen, amateur Farmers, being men
of fortune and spirited importers OF animals, and
what would have remained Would It have in
any measure exceeded or compared with an ordi'
nary local exhibition in Massachusetts or Mary
land much less would II have realized the hopes
and wellmeant promises Of the friends and founders
OF this State Institution. Not only were the animals
referred 10 as constituting the Show in considers
BILE proportion OF its extent and excellence, e1hib
tied here again by the same jealous individuals
but were, in many cases. the Identical C0cs, BnitS
Horses Oren and Sheep So repeatedly indeed
has this occurred, that the people begin to remark
that one Show is IN large measure the duplicate
of its immediate predecessor and the triplicate OF
the one before that ond so much IS the Society IN
debted for the saving presence OF these animals,
that some have suggested for them the assignment
of special accommodations, 10 be set apart and Ia
belled-' Should aud acquaintance te forgot =
If these State Fairs had produced the general
good effect anlmating public spirit and begettng
the improvements that were honestly anticipated,
should we not now, at all Of them see hundreds OF
the descendants more or less remote, from the
Short Horns the Herefords, the Devons, the South
downs and the Dishleys equsl II not improved up
on their imported aHcesfryi Yet is the fact so =
where are they these improved thoroughbred de
scendanis who owns them why are they not
forthcoming
The fact is. we don't, generally. possess
the skill in breeding. the capital TO bes'ow
on IT, nor the latitude OF choice for the selection OF
breeding stock, nor the pecunlary inducements
to Keep them up to the point Of excellence dis
playedi in the best imported stock. Hence We see
Mr. (iowan's fine herd Of Short Horns selling We
believe for not over $40 round Mr.. >hermans sale
stopped short for want OF remunerailng oilers and
the best South Down Rams 10 our country selling
out and out Tor not fourth OF what they are ef
ior by the year in England, where lately, al the
Trcafv.frsf AnnHdl Shoe OF al English farmer.
~ were let before dinner at an average Of upward
Of 500 each.
still. itis 10 be with pleasure and gratefully &C
know edged, that a spirit of Agricultural inquiry
and Improvement does exist, and Is becoming more
and more eager and active; but the public impress
sion is erroneous as to the source and the end oil
IL liz L. rs Tar as II IS useful, an inquiry after
prt,,sDles not after stale facts and raree shows
Great improvements have been effected TOO esPe-