great subject of interest to the whole people, yet we think there has been as much interest as could be expected in the exhibition of agricultural products at our fair.

The Society now numbers 178 members, and the prospects of its usefulness and prosperity is as encouraging as it ever has been since the Society was organized.

The principal crops raised in the county for the last year are as follows:

Wheat, a fair average crop, and but little complaint of injury from insects, and will average not far from 15 bushels per acre.

Corn, a very light crop, much injured by the early frost, which occurred on the 30th and 31st of August; average amount per acre not far from 20 bushels, and mostly poor at that. Grass, light average, not more than 1 ton per acre.

Oats, not extensively raised, and less than an average crop.

Fruit-there is beginning to be more attention paid to the cultivation of fruit in our county and vicinity, and the past year there was a fair average yield.

Barley, not much raised, and below an average crop.

Sorghum was quite extensively planted, but was almost a total failure, on account of frost. Potatoes, not an average crop; caused by the dryness of the season.

WOOD COUNTY.

The Twelfth Annual Fair of the Wood County Agricultural Society, was held in Bowling Green on the 2d and 3d of October, 1863. The weather on the first day of the fair was inclement in the extreme, which caused the exhibition on said day to be a comparative failure. The morning of second day was also quite unpleasant, but still there were a respectable number of entries, considering the weather and condition of the roads. Our county is developing in its resources quite rapidly, and there is an increasing interest manifested in every department of agriculture.

The greatest cause of this advance and interest is attributable to our fine ditches, or artificial water courses, leading into the streams, or natural out-lots. Our portion of the State is a uniform level surface, having an average descent of about seven feet to the mile-soil a deep vegetable loam and a clay sub-soil, containing a large proportion of lime. Some years ago these lands were considered wholly unsuited to the growing of wheat and other cereals, but now since the water can be successfully kept from remaining on the surface, it produces finely and abundantly all kinds of grain.

The stock, grain, vegetables, &c., exhibited at our fair, were unusually good, but not as large or numerous in collection as heretofore.

But the most attractive department was that of fruit-especially the apples. I think time and observation will demonstrate that the Northwestern portion of the State, will excel in most kinds of fruit-more particularly in apples, pears and grapes.

This prediction is not based on the fact that our portion of the State has taken the 1sf premium in apples at the last two State Fairs, but on the known adaptability of our soil and climate to the successful growing of these fruits; and to the general deep interest our people take in the culture of fruit.

The exhibition of fruit at the State Pomological Society in Toledo, which closed its annual meeting to day, is admitted by members from all parts of the State, to be the finest ever made at any meeting of the society.

Our membership is only between 65 and 70, but we think there is annually good results to be seen from our efforts.

There is nothing worthy of note in crops of past season in this county. Wheat was about an average yield, hay rather light, corn badly injured by the frost of Aug. 30, and sorghum nearly all destroyed by same.

WYANDOT COUNTY.

Our Tenth Annual Fair was held at the Fair Grounds on the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th days of October, 1863. On the first day we had about the usual number of entries, and felt very much gratified over the prospect of a fine exhibition; but as all human expectations are liable to be disappointed, so were ours. On the morning of the second day it commeneed raining, and continued wet, cold and very disagreeable during the last three days, so that it was impossible for people to attend. The consequence was, our fair was a failure. We have a rule by which any citizen of the county, paying one dollar into the treasury of the society, becomes a member thereof, and as there were but seventy of those this year, we only have seventy members.

We had no competitors for premiums on field crops. There was about the same breadth of wheat sown this year, as for the last few years, say 20,000 acres, with an average yield of about 12 bushels per acre, or an aggregate of 240,000 bushels. The principal cause of its failure was on account of its freezing out in the month of March. Corn, there were perhaps 25,000 acres planted, with not more than one-third of the average yield, say 10 bushels per acre, or an aggre gate of 250,000 bushels, worth 80c per bushel. The principal causes of failure were the frosts of July and August, and the dry weather. Oats, a small crop, not over 4,000 acres sown, average yield per acre 16 bushels. Drouth, cause of failure. Rye, about 300 acres sown, with a yield of 20 bushels per acre. Buckwheat, 150 acres sown, yield 5 bushels per acre-$1 per bushel. Hay, 18,000 acres, 4-5 ton per acre-$15 per ton. Potatoes, 600 acres, 70 bushels per aere-75c to $1 per bushel.

HORSES-Not as much improvement in the last few years as might or should have been, though we have a few very good breeding horses.

CATTLE.-There has been great improvement in this stock in the last few years, and yet there is room for much more. We have a good grazing county of land and would like to see our prairies dotted over with herds of Durham's as the hills of Kentucky are.

SHEEP.-Reports of State Fairs for the past few years will show that our county is wide awake on the sheep business. There appears to be a desire on the part of the wool-growers to increase the size of their flocks on account of the high prices paid for wool here last season, which was from 70c to 80c per lb. Spanish Merinos are preferred here, being considered the hardiest in this latitude; and on account of the weight of their fleeces-3 to 5 lbs. being about an aver age.

HOGS.-There has been a decided improvement in swine—the Chester Whites, Russians and Leicester's being preferred.

A more general interest is now felt in agricultural matters by our people than ever before. The scarcity of laborers has been instrumental in turning the attention of our farmers to the use of labor-saving machinery, more or less of which can now be found on nearly every farm in our county; such as drills, mowers, reapers, corn planters, hay pitchers, hay rakes, &c. Therefore we report the condition of agriculture to be flourishing.

11-B

INDEPENDENT SOCIETIES.

THE UNION AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The Union Agricultural Society was formed in September, 1855, consisting of the following townships: Twinsburg, Hudson, Solon, Northfield, Aurora, Streetsboro, Bedford, Chagrin Falls, and all other townships within five miles of the center of Twinsburg.

It is situated in the corner of four counties, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Portage, and Summit, twenty miles from the location of any county society.

Said society was incorporated Oct. 13th, 1863, and holds a deed of eight acres of land near the center of Twinsburg, (at which place all fairs are to be held,) with suitable buildings, horse stalls and cattle pens. The officers of the society consist of President, Vice President, Secre tary, Treasurer, and one Director from each township included in the society.

Number of members, 303. Number of entries for last year, 546. The society is in a very prosperous condition, and bids fair to future usefulness, situated as it is in one of the best agricultural and dairy districts within the State. The principal crops raised are wheat, corn, cats, barley, and potatoes. It is also well adapted to fruit. During the year 1863 the amount of cheese shipped from the above named townships was 26,031 tons; butter, 328 tons; nearly all of which was made within the district. Number of horses owned, 2,600; cattle, 16,000; sheep, 21,000; killed by dogs, 200; swine, 2,180; mules, 20. Amount of wheat, 26,294 bushels; rye, 271 bushels; barley, 378 bushels; corn, 93,592 bushels; oats, 46,855 bushels; buckwheat, 200 bushels; potatoes, 25,043 bushels; hay, 23,000 tons; maple sugar, 133,025 pounds; maple syrup, 1,279 gallons; sorghum, 1,000 gallons.

UNION ACRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF WELLINGTON, LORAINE COUNTY. This society embraces some ten or twelve townships; taking in the south part of Loraine west part of Medina, north part of Ashland, and east part of Huron counties. It was organized nine years ago, four or five townships combining at first, and a membership of about 150. It has been steadily increasing in territory, number of members, and in the amount of receipts. Our eighth annual Fair was held September 30th, October 1st and 2d, 1863, and was entirely successful. Total number of entries, 1,066. Amount of receipts, $1,034. Number of members, 513. The board of officers seem determined to spare no effort to make the society highly beneficial to the farmers and mechanics in the vicinity.

The season was very dry, and what crops were planted yielded but poor returns, in conse. quence of the drouth and early frost. This part of the country is principally engaged in grazing, and generally but little grain raised. Many fat cattle, sheep, and hogs are annually sent from here. Many farmers are engaged in dairying, and large amounts of cheese and butter are made, which brought high prices the past season. Wool too is becoming a staple production, There has been a great increase in the number and quality of sheep this year. The future prospect for farmers never looked brighter.

STATEMENTS OF FARM CROPS.

Boston Township, Summit County, Ohio, ss.

Edmund H. Cole, being duly sworn, says he accurately measured the land upon which H. V. Bronson raised a crop of potatoes the past season, and the quantity of land is half an acre, and

H. V. Bronson, being duly sworn, says that he raised a crop of potatoes the past season upon the land measured by Edmund H. Cole, and that the quantity of potatoes raised thereon was 1971 bushels, and no more, measured in a sealed half bushel, and that the statements in regard to the manner of cultivation, etc., are correct, to the best of my knowledge.

Sworn to before me this 17th day of December, 1863.

H. V. BRONSON.

MERRILL BOODEY, J. P.

I take the liberty to make a statement to the State Board of Agriculture of the growing of potatoes I have entered for premiums. In January, 1859, John Mackull, an Irishman, who worked for me a few years previous, made me a visit, (he was then in the employ of James H. Godman, of Marion,) and among other seeds gave me two large potatoes, requesting me to plant and take good care of them, as Mr. Godman had them recently brought from Tennessee, where they had been highly recommended to him. I cut the two potatoes and made four hills; found they were good to yield and for table use. From what seed I saved in 1859 I raised six bushels in 1860; in 1861 I had over 60 bushels, my other kinds being nearly a failure; I used and sold so many that in 1862 I only had seed enough to plant one-fourth acre, them I took good care of and allowed no weeds to grow with them, and had 87 bushels. I have now grown this kind of potatoes five seasons; there has been no rot among them; very few small ones; scarcely any hollow; keep sound and healthy till July or August, and are ready sale to those who have used them and depend on buying. I could long since sold have raised this season, at the highest market price, if I wished. I do not know what name they go by, so I wrote to Mr. Godman, on the 4th of November, 1863. I have entered these potatoes at the Fair;

I wish to know of you what they were called when you got them in Tennessee; if you do not recollect the name, I propose to call them the Mackull potato, in memory of our old friend, John Mackull, the Irishman, who was very fond of potatoes and too fond of whisky for his own good, as I understand he was killed on the cars last year, on his way to Cincinnati, as one of the celebrated Squirrel Hunters, to repel the then threatened rebel invasion of that city. Yours truly,

H. V. BRONSON.

The land being my own, I have set down in the above expense, account of $5 for use of land. All of the labor done as above, except ploughing and harrowing, was done by myself and boy, I have set the price what our labor was worth here this past season.

The soil is gravelly loam and has been in use for the past thirty years; have put on from five to twenty loads of manure the past ten or fifteen years.

I put on five and a half bushels seed, cut so there were but from one to three eyes to a piece, in drills three and a half feet apart, seed ten inches apart; planted 12th and 13th of May. They were cultivated and hoed the usual way twice. I possibly may have consumed six or eight days through the season pulling weeds from the rows and hoeing between them, as I let no weeds grow among the potatoes. There was thirty rows in all. I carefully saved all the small potatoes on these rows, (which were all of a length) and got 2 pounds 6 ounces, which were too small to cook.

George Manchester, of Madison, Lake county, being duly sworn, says that he raised a crop of potatoes the past season upon the land measured by N. E. Steward, and the quantity of potatoes raised thereon was 127 bushels, no more, and that the statements in regard to the manner of cultivation are correct to the best of my knowledge.

Sworn to before me this 20th day of November, 1863.

GEORGE MANCHESTER.

W. T. SIMONDS, J. P.

STATEMENT OF COST OF RAISING A HALF ACRE OF POTATOES BY GEO. MANCHESTER.

N. E. Steward, of Madison, Lake county, being duly sworn, says he accurately measured the land upon which George Manchester raised a crop of potatoes the past season, and the quantity of land is one-half acre, and no more.

NOBLE E STEWARD.

Sworn to before me this 20th day of November, 1863.

W. T. SIMONDS, J. P.