It has everywhere obtained the preference over all other descriptions of starch when put in competition, which we understand they never failed doing until they had received so many prize medals that it was deemed of no consequence to receive more; and wide as is the celebrity the article has obtained, its use is comparatively but beginning, for, while considered merely as starch alone, it contains 98 per cent of the pure element; when we regard it as an alimentary substance, its range is unlimited. There are many grades of it manufactured, and that known by mark as P. C. S., the pulverized corn starch, is especially designed for culinary use and may be applied in numberless shapes, as a delicious dessert for the healthy, both young and old, and as an unrivalled luxury for the aged or juvenile invalid. The household cook finds in it the material for exquisite puddings, jellies and sauces; the physician recommends it as fully equal to arrowroot for all healing purposes, and the laundress discovers in it the stiffness and gloss which contributes so much beauty to her choice handiwork; while even the manufacturer, for his rare prints and cotton stuffs, where perfect purity is indispensable so as to preclude injury to delicate colors, procures nothing equal to the Oswego starch.

Under these circumstances, it is not remarkable that the peculiar branch of trade, to which I have devoted so much space, should be the chief boast of this growing center on the lakes, or that the almost palatial buildings in which the manufacture is carried on should at once attract the traveler's gaze.

I must now close this rambling letter, and away to business. I may, however, write you again soon, and give you a further account of some of the many objects of interest to which I have briefly alluded.

TO HIRAM WALKER, Com. on Agriculture, &c.:

ADMIRER OF ENERGY.

Dear Sir-Allow me at this late hour to try, in my humble manner, to answer the questions in the foregoing circular, and make a few remarks, &c. 1st. The chief products of this part of the county are butter and cheese. 2d. Increase one-half for the last five years at least, and perhaps more. 3d. The condition of dairies is sound and healthy, and on the increase in this locality; fruit is raised in abundance, and the apple crop exceeds all former years at least three to one; nothing done in sorghum; not much in hops; some flax raised in my neighborhood.

4th. The increase in the number of acres of land for tillage is considerable compared with former years.

5th. The increase in number of cows for the dairy is one-half at least in three years, and the most approved kinds for milk, in my judgment, are a cross from the Durham with our native cows for milk or beef, although some prefer the Devon grades. Good working oxen may be found among the latter, and good beef. The Ayrshire is not much known in this part of the country; natives are all the go with most of the dairymen-anything that will give milk every day, "Sundays not excepted."

6th. The horses most approved are the Messengers, Durocks, and Morgans for farm purposes, durability, docility, &c.; and for light, fancy road teams the Blackhawks are much admired and cultivated for that purpose. Sheep of

middle and coarse wool breeds are the Southdowns, Leicesters; full bloods or grades for mutton, tallow, &c.; the fine wool are the Vermont Merino, French Merino, Saxony, &c.-all of which produce an abundance of wool. The best breeds of swine we have are a mixture of Suffolks and Leicesters; also a mixture of the Suffolk and Hampshires make good porkers. The clear Leicester I think a little too coarse for profit.

7th. Drainage has not as yet received the attention it deserves; yet something has been done in under-draining, and all resulted exceedingly well, and proved a success in every instance, both for grain and grasses.

8th. The increase on the price of farms is very great-varying from onethird to one-half more than last year.

9th our products of the county, as far as I am able to judge, are sold mostly at home, with a small percentage of deduction.

10th. In short the condition of the agriculture of our county is fast improving. In all its various branches of industry-such as making butter and cheese (we have some thirty or more cheese factories in this county, all in successful operation, turning out many thousand pounds daily); considerable woolen cloth is also manufactured every year from wool of our own raising; also quite an amount of linen and fulled cloth is manufactured from flax of our own production; also, great quantities of pork are made and sold from the products of our cheese factories and farms; beef in abundance; poultry in large quantities is raised and sold every year; fruit in abundance; I have heard the last fall's crop estimated at from one to two million of dollars; and, as far as I have been able to judge of the fact, I think two million of dollars is not too high for the apple crop of Oswego county for the year 1865. Yours, &c.,

ALVIN LAWRENCE.

PROCEEDINGS OF ANNUAL FAIR OF OSWEGO COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, SEPT. 19TH, 20TH AND 21ST, 1865, AT MEXICO, N. Y.

Opening Day. The tenth annual fair of the Oswego County Agricultural Society opened on the society's grounds in this village, on Tuesday, and will continue until sundown on Thursday. As we go to press we can only give a brief review of the

First Day.-Much gratitude is due the "clerk of the weather" for the day. A cool, cloudy, frowning morning early ripened into the most glorious of autumnal days. The sun looked down pleasantly upon man and beast, blood and beauty, as if delighted to gleam and glitter upon other objects than "long lines of bright bayonets." The deluging rain of Monday laid the dust and cooled the atmosphere, and the traveling was everything that could be desired.

This is the opening day, and, as usual, was occupied in completing the entries and arranging things generally. The stock and other articles came forward rather tardily, but by mid-day the exhibition began to assume respectable proportions, and before night it assumed its usual proportions. The display as a whole exceeds that of last year. The receipts were larger than is usual on the first day.

The display of cattle was fair, but not quite as large as last year. The Devons were well represented. The collection of working oxen was small.

Good cows seemed numerous. Thorough-bred horned cattle were scarce. Sheep were better in number than quality. We saw but few specimens of the fine wools. The display of swine was unusually excellent, showing a marked improvement in this department. Poultry was much better represented than usual. Nearly all the principal breeds were on exhibition.

The display of fruit and vegetables was unusually large and excellent, and seemed to attract the special attention of the people, for the reason, probably, that we are all interested in what we eat, or, as in this case desire to eat. Wm. Gainer was as usual the Prince in the vegetable department, and had on exhibition some fine specimens. His monster squash, weighing in the vicinity of 300 pounds, was a centre of attraction.

The different departments of Floral Hall were quite brilliant. The picture gallery, however, was the most noticeable feature in the hall.

There were but very few specimens in the mechanical department, for the reason, probably, that no sufficient place has been prepared for their exhibition. People at a distance can not be expected to bring articles of this description when they cannot be housed and protected from storm. Nothing is more important to farmers than a thorough knowledge of all the different labor-saving agricultural implements, and no part of the exhibition is more interesting. This department should be encouraged. Miller & Snow, of this village, had the only two carriages on exhibition. These carriages exhibit the highest style of workmanship and finish, and will well compare with anything of the kind in this part of the State.

Butter was fairly represented, but the specimens of cheese were too few for a county containing thirty cheese factories.

The horse exhibition comes off on Wednesday, and we understand the competition is unusually strong. On Thursday some fast trotting is expected. Horses from a distance are already stabled in town awaiting the races. Should the weather continue favorable, everything indicates a great gain during the second and third day.

Second Day, Sept. 20th.-The day was lovely, and the attendance of spectators was larger than we remember to have ever seen upon the grounds. some new entries were made to-day.

At 9 o'clock the judges reviewed all the articles and animals submitted to them on the first day. After the examination of string oxen, the examination of horses took place. In horses the exhibition was excellent. The growing love for fine and fast horses in this country is illustrated by the improved condition in that department in all our fairs. The horse department improves as the cattle department deteriorates,

At 2 o'clock the address was delivered by the President, Mr. H. W. Loomis, and we hear it universally commended.

The incapacity of Floral Hall to meet the wants of the people was very obvious. The jam was so great to-day that none but the brave dared to venture a trip through it. The crowd of visitors will continue to increase as the accommodations for traveling become more ample, and the society will see the necessity of keeping pace with the wants of the multitude.

Third Day, Sept. 21st.-The day was remarkably fine for trotting purposes, and the attendance unusually large, both road and rail being tested to their utmost capacity.

At 9 o'clock there was a general review of horses of all kinds. But little interest was excited among the crowd until the hour arrived for the trial of speed and action. It was well understood that the trotting this year would excel that of ordinary years. For some reason a long and tedious delay occurred after the advertised time before the trotting commenced. The trot for the purse of $100 was well contested. The horses entered for this contest were as follows: Edghill named bg. Simon; Burch named bk. Diamond; Lester named bg. Abe Lincoln; Woodward named g.; Thompson named bg. Mile heats, best two in three in harness. The $100 prize was won by Simon, of Bellville in 2:45, 2:47, 2:49. The $50 prize was won by Diamond, of Fulton in 2:45 2:47, 2:49. The trotting between these horses was fine and exciting, and the interest was chiefly in this trot.

On the first heat the horses got off evenly. Simon won the pole but lost it. Diamond kept the pole, after taking it so handsomely, and won the heat in 2:454.

On the second heat the horses got off after many starts. They settled into close business. Diamond gains on ascending ground, but breaks and loses some. Simon breaks. Both settle down and all goes fine. Simon leaps ahead on home stretch, and wins in 2:47.

The third heat is required to settle the contest. Started on the first score, Simon on the pole. At the quarter pole Simon had a length, but declined on back stretch; at the three-quarters Simon again showed in front, came up with a rush, and went home the winner in 2:49.

The best time made by county horses, for speed and action, was as follows: Tickner named bg., 3:35; Gile named g. Rover, 3:27; Smith gs., 3:54; Schroeppel, 3:27; Thompson bg., 3:22; Huntley, 3:47; Barret gm., 3:30; Thompson bm., 3:08; Burk cm., 3:23.

The receipts this year were a little over $1,900 being larger than ever before.

The society now owns 24 acres of land all paid for. Has a permanent building 34x84 feet, and propose during the season to add wings to the building in the form of a cross so that the building will be, when completed, 34x108. The treasurer's report shows that we have on hand $412.58. We are out of debt, and expect a large increase of members and attendence the coming year.

A. F. KELLOGG, Secretary.

The annual meeting of the Oswego County Agricultural Society was held at Empire House, in the village of Mexico, December 27th, 1865, Charles S. Cheever, Esq., president. The treasurer made the following report:

That he had received from all sources

And had paid for all purposes..

Leaving a balance on hand of....

The report was adopted.

$2,317 21

1,904 63

$412 58

A resolution was passed directing the board of managers to erect a new floral hall during the present year. The following persons were then elected officers of the society for the ensuing year, viz: President, Charles

S. Cheever, of New Haven; Vice-President, B. G. Robbins, or Sandy Creek;
Secretary, Henry L. Davis, of Oswego; Treasurer, L. H. Conklin, of Mexico;
Directors, M. L. Marshall, of Oswego; Peter Devendorf, of Hastings. Hon.
H. W. Loomis and Hon. John Parker were elected delegates to the meet-
ing of the State Society.
A. F. KELLOGG, Secretary.

OTSEGO.

Officers: President, G. Pomeroy Keese, Cooperstown; 1st Vice-President, Wm. I. Compton, Middlefield; 2d Vice-President, Alfred Chamberlain, Richfield; 3d Vice President, Charles Childs, Otsego; Secretary, Horace M. Hooker, Cooperstown: Treasurer, F. U. Johnston, Cooperstown. Directors to serve one year: James R. Morris, Alfred Clark; to serve two years: Henry Roseboom, John A. Rathbun; to serve three years: Charles Bates, R. H. Van Rensselaer.

This table exhibits a very regular and gratifying increase, but we should not rest satisfied until we number at least one thousand regular members. In view of the present prosperous condition of the treasury, the board of managers have made a complete revision of the premium list, and added very considerably to the amount offered in prizes for the ensuing year. Such additions to the buildings and convenience of the grounds will also be made as our enlarged and yearly increased attendance may seem to require. The very high price of labor and building materials for the past two years has retarded our improvements in this direction.

The year just past has been the first in which the society has attempted to hold a fair during three days. The demands of our members have been