citizens much increased. There was no intention on the part of our Board to injure, or in any way militate against the State Fair held at Dayton as has been supposed by some; but our late Fair grew out of the desire of many of our citizens as well as of many of those of surrounding counties, to try the plan of District Fairs. They said, as we do now, that in their opinion, our State could well ho'd two or more Fairs at, or nearly at the same time, in different and distant portions, without being in the way of each other; as it is, perhaps, an undeniable fact that the district of territory immediately or nearly contiguous to the places where the State Fairs have heretofore been held, have done much more than half of that which has been necessary to their success if not to their existence. And agair, they thought as we do, that a complete or even a tolerable representation of the agricultural, mechanical and manufacturing interests of the State could not be made at any one point in it, and hence the necessity of District Fairs. These and similar reasons, dictated the course pursued by our County Board, and the result has justified their conclusion.

It has been said above that our Fair was a success. The display of fine cattle has, perhaps, never been equalled in the State, if elsewhere in the West. Horses were there of all desirable qualities from the splendid and beautiful thoroughbred to the solid, majestic draught horse, including many, very many, fine specimens of roadsters, horses of all work, &c. Sheep and hogs of a very superior quality (although the latter was somewhat deficient in numbers) were shown, much, very much indeed, to the credit of both the Fair and their ezhibiters.

The display of ladies' work was superior, perhaps excelling that at any other of our Fairs. Flowers, with their beauty and fragrance, were displayed in large collections, and received much attention and much praise from the fairer portion of our visitors, while the sterner sex were loud in their expression of admiration.

The tasting committees on fruit, dairy products, jellies, preserves, bread, cakes, &c. &c., had emphatically "a good time" of it. How they managed to decide amongst so many good things was a mystery.

Our mechanical department was well filled. Plows, harrows and other agricultural implements; stoves, grates, tin and copper ware; boots shoes, harness, wagons, carriages and numerous nameless other articles of utility and ornament were on exhibition, and attracted a large share of attention. Our greatest deficiency was in power hall; the display there was very meager compared with what we hoped it would be.

Our discretionary list contained as usual, a motly collection of odds and ends, articles curious, useful, ornamental and beautiful, from the reaping machine to the rat trap. It attracted much attention, and received a large share of the honors of the Fair.

The display in fine art hall was creditable, and many of the ambrotypes, pho. tographs and other pictures, manifested a large share of skill and a well cultivated taste. The love of the beautiful is decidedly on the increase, and we hope to see the day when it shall be more widely diffused, and when all shall feel that

Wheat, for the past year, was less in quantity than in some others, owing to the comparatively small amount sown, but the quality was superior and the average quantity grown to the acre, greater than for several years past. Average about from ten to twelve bushels per acre, although there were instances, and not a few, of from twenty to thirty-five bushels grown.

Oats were a fine crop, the greatest harvested here for many years. Average about twenty-five bushels per acre.

Corn and potatoes excelled anything known here for years. The corn in the hill land compared more favorably with that on the bottoms than in any former year in our recollection; average about forty bushels per acre, and of a superior quality. Potatoes yielded extraordinarily well, they were generally of a good, if not of a superior quality. In some instances that mysterious disease, the potato rot, manifested itself to the great injury of those amongst whose crops it appeared; yet many more than enough for home consumption are left, large quantities being shipped to other places.

On the whole, the agriculturists of this county have much reason to rejoice in the plenty with which they have been crowned this year, and from the greater care manifested in planting, sowing and cultivating the various crops, together with the improved modes of agriculture introduced, we may confidently look for still greater results, and still greater cause for thanksgiving.

Our society has, as we believe, done, and is still doing a good work for this county, and we think its prospects for usefulness were never better. We have a membership this year of about 800, many of whom are amongst our most intelligent citizens, who go with us heart and hand in carrying out the design of the law under which the society exists. Improved modes of agriculture, improved machinery, and new products have been introduced amongst the tillers of the soil, which have doubtless been productive of great benefit. The disposition to raise improved stock of all kinds is, as we think, much more extensively diffused than when we first became acquainted with the operations of the society, the result of which will be every year more and more apparent.

In conclusion, we think the State never did a better thing than the encouragement it has afforded to the agriculturists, manufacturers and mechanics, in the laws relating to agriculture and to Fairs, and we hope its fostering care may be continued until all the results anticipated shall have been realized.

NOBLE COUNTY.

The Seventh Annual Fair of Noble county was held at Sarahsville on the 3d, 4th and 5th days of October, 1860.

Our annual Fairs are still increasing in interest; each year the attendance is largely increased-" the last always the best." The number of persons in

attendance by far exceeded that of any previous year.

The Noble County Agricultural Society is now in a flourishing condition, owning the grounds upon which they hold their annual fairs, composed of about eleven acres, enclosed by a high fence, with permanent buildings, and almost covered stalls enough to accommodate all the stock exhibited. These grounds and fixtures, which cost the society about thirteen hundred dollars, are nearly all paid for.

OFFICERS.-Col. T. F. Wilson, Sarahsville, President; Samuel Danford, Sarahsville, Vice President; Geo. Sallada, Sarahsville, Treasurer; J. H. Odell, Sarahs. ville, Secretary. Managers-Gen, Wm. J. Young, Jonas Danford, Hugh McWilliams, A. L. Morrison, Judge Levi Devold, Col. J. Foster, James Barry.

PICKAWAY COUNTY.

The Ninth Annual Fair of the Pickaway County Agricultural Society was held at Circleville on the 12th 13th and 14th days of September, 1860. The attendance was good, and the receipts satisfactory.

There is not as much interest taken in cattle in this county as formerly, and the show of fine cattle was not as good as might have been expected; several of the breeders failing to exhibit made the cattle ring rather a slim affair, we expect better things of them next time. In the horse department there was several superior aged animals, and the display of colts was very fine, there was not so many fast horses as at former Fairs. A few sheep, but better than formerly. Swine, but few exhibited, although Pickaway county furnishes her proportion for the tub.

The halls were better and fuller than at any previous Fair; much of the credit of this department is due to the ladies for their skill and taste in making this one of the great attractions of the Fair. Mechanics' hall was well filled, surpassing

any former exhibition made by them, and taking it as a whole, the Fair was a success. Number of entries 768.

The Fair grounds contain nineteen acres, and remarkably well suited to the purpose for which it is appropriated; it is owned by a joint stock company called the Pickaway County Fair Ground Association, who receive an annual dividend of ten per cent. on their capital stock, from the Agricultural Society, either in improvements or cash. Both organizations work together for their general good, and the result so far has been very satisfactory to the members and stockholders. The society have erected a new floral hall, of fine size and much beauty, and several minor improvements.

The officers of the society consist of fifteen Directors, one from each township, and a President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. Officers for this year are Wilson Jonston, President; John Decker, Vice President; John Boyer, Treasurer, and John E. Rary, Secretary.

STATEMENTS OF COMPETITORS FOR PREMIUMS ON FARMS, CROPS, &C., TO COUNTY SOCIETIES.

FARMS.

The committee appointed by the Erie County Agricultural Society, on "Farms and Farmer's Barn and Garden," made the following report:

The undersigned, Committee on Farms and Farmer's Barn and Garden, respectfully report that only two farms and their appurtenances were entered for competition-those of Messrs. Calvin Guinn, of Milan, and A. W. Prout, of Oxford. This is to be regretted, as we are confident there are others who might have done so with fair prospects of success.

We left our business in the busy month of July, and though we left the new mown grass field, with dark clouds and muttering thunder in the west, such was the interest of the occasion we regretted not our time nor losses.

At the hospitable mansion of both gentlemen, the busy wives and daughters prepared the most bountiful repast-the well educated daughters cheerfully assisting the diligent mothers in its preparation, and as cheerfully drawing heavenly music from the piano and melodeon, when requested-proving to us at least that the proper discharge of domestic duties is perfectly compatable with the highest refinement and civilization; and that our Erie county farmers and their worthy spouses, in cultivating fine farms and rearing fine domestic stock, have not been unmindful of the still higher duties of training their own offspring to usefulness and happiness. So welcome and happy were we made, that were we not totally opposed to special privileges and log-rolling ourselves into office, we would say ever more place us on the Farm Committee.

Mr. Guinn's farm consists of 120 acres, of that excellent sandy loam which abounds west of Huron River, and is sufficiently undulating to effect its own drainage. It is in good condition and mostly well fenced with rails and posts and boards; his buildings plain and substantial, with no effort at show. All his fields and well turned fence corners exhibit the effects of a dilligent hand, directed by a discerning eye. The June frost and drouth had marred his corn and grass prospects. Winter wheat was good, and oats fair; also a pretty good gar