son of the year for holding fairs ought also in many instances to be more duly considered, and most probably the public attention will be drawn to this point, by observing an advertisement for a fair to be held in the spring at the village of Duanesburgh. The spring is indubitably the proper season for exhibiting seed horses and bulls, as the autumn is the proper season for the disposal of rams. The dairy, feeding and stock farmers, will soon know how to appreciate the spring, as well as the autumn fairs, and no doubt it will not be long before the interest and good sense of the various districts, will enable them to decide correctly on the season best adapted for holding them; and when they have become more general and sufficiently numerous, they can be so organized by legislative aid, as to render them highly useful to the community at large-thus realizing the expectations this Society has long cherished, and fulfilling the objects and intentions of the institution.

It is not to be expected for a year or two, that the barter and sales at fairs, will be so extensive and productive of so much good as they will be hereafter, when better understood by the generality of practical farmers: at present the transactions are chiefly confined to promoting the immediate interests of the counties wherein they are organized; and little encouragement has been given to the introduction of good stock from foreign counties. One instance of which was apparent at the last Otsego fair, where an enterprising farmer, by the name of Wilkinson, brought from Duanesburgh, three remark

bly fine bred rams, of Mr. Dunn's Disliley breed, he was not able to dispose of any of them at a rate commensurate to their value, though there were gentlemen desirous of purchasing them, but could not obtain the means of conveying them home, without paying an exorbitant price for their carriage.Hereafter such difficulties may be obviated, and probably will, so that individuals can be furnished with such stock as they may wish to purchase, and venders will be induced to bring more stock to the fairs.

Since Mr. Dunn's breed of sheep has been mentioned, as far as my experience warrants, I have no hesitation in recommending them as equal, if not superior, to any other breed in the state; and for domestic purposes, their wool in many instances has been proved to be more useful, while, as stock for a farm and for the butcher, they have been pronounc→ ed to be of the first quality.

The improvement of the stock of the state is not to be confined to sheep, much is wanting towards improving the breed of horses and cattle. The latter it is to be apprehended may be somewhat deteriorated,owing to the great purchases that have, this year been made, and the high prices offered have, in many instances, been too great for the breeders to withstand, who were in want of money; and it is gener. ally believed that it is difficult to purchase at present, even in the western country, any real good stock, but at a very high rate. The want of fairs thus gives the purchasers of stock, for the beef market, a great advantage over the farmer who wants to pur

chase for the purpose of improving his stock. The former, in consequence of the great demand for beef and droving out of the state, can afford to employ several persons in purchasing; and generally, they are men conversant with their business, and good judges of cattle. They consequently buy wherever they can find the most thrifty and clever stock, while the farmer wishing to improve his stock cannot afford to travel about in search of clever young cattle, as his wants are small, tho' he could with advantage at a fair enter into competition, and afford to give a higher price. The result therefore is, that the vender on a general system of fairs, would obtain a better price, the breeder be able to select the best stock, which again would improve and keep up the best breed, the dealer, salesman and drovers be furnished with various stock, applicable to their purposes, without deteriorating the breed of the state, by taking off, as they now do, too many young and clever beasts.

The breed of horses is certainly deteriorating, and by good judges it is universally wished, that one or more high bred horses were imported.There are many enlightened and enterprising agriculturalists, who are of opinion also, that the laws on horse-racing ought to be modified; but without entering into the merits of the law on that subject, I shall observe, that it is a general and prevailing opinion in Europe, that nothing contributes so much to improve the breed as horse-racing-that it enables the farmers to procure the best blood mares; to select the best blood and most bony horses; to cross them suitably for the purposes they may be hereaf

ter wanted, and to obtain higher prices in consequence of their great improvement-for blood horses are more durable, better winded, more sinewy, finer eyed, harder feet, closer textured in bone, recover sooner from fatigue, and endure hard dry meat, better than under-bred horses-which properties, mingled with horses of larger frame and wanting those qualities, do in reality so much improve the breed, that it enables the farmer to obtain a much higher price for that portion of his stock, and consequently supplies him with the means of pursuing his business and avocations with spirit and enterprize. The advantage arising to the agriculturalist in keeping and breeding a good stock, is incalculable. Three year old heifers, that will fetch from fifteen to twenty dollars, will eat as much and require as much attention, as those that will bring from twenty-eight to thirtythree dollars; sheep which at three years old, seldom weigh more than sixteen pounds a quarter, and cut only three and a half pounds of wool, cost as much in keeping and attention, as those that weigh nearly thirty pounds a quarter, and cut from five to seven pounds of wool; but in breeding horses the difference between good and bad is still wider, differing at five years old at prices of from forty to three hundred dollars. It is to be hoped therefore that every attention will be paid to the improvement of that noble and serviceable animal.

Who with fierce spirit, and exulting pride,
Undaunted bears his master 'gainst the foe,

Repels the surges of th' invading tide,

And frees the land from misery and woe.

Ambitious also to promote his fame,

Mark his exertions in the trying race :
His speed increases as they cheer his name,
And crowds delight his pedigree to trace.
Nor yet inferior is his strength display'd,
When he o'er mossy mead elastic bounds,
Snuffing the air, and of no fence afraid,
Enjoys the sport alike with men and hounds.
In humble life, his useful aid he lends,

To all the purposes that men require;
Thus by his industry makes full amends
And satisfies the wants we most desire.

Valued by all, he seldom meets abuse,

Save in the wretch-polluting nature's laws;
Yet with harsh treatment and severe misuse,
He dies obedient, in his master's cause.

Amongst the new grains that have lately been introduced, none appear to be so productive and so well calculated to answer general purposes, as the bald barley. This grain though not found to yield so much to the acre as the common barley, is more useful in making bread when mixed with rye or wheat flour, and possibly when better naturalized to our climate, with some improved mode for its cultivation, may become more productive and worthy the attention of farmers generally.

But taking into present consideration the state of agriculture best adapted to our means, it would probably be found most advisable and beneficial generally, to turn our attention to improving the cultivation of grain that is known to succeed. Therefore the great exertions that ought to be made, should be in improving the culture of grain already well