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of farmers. There is a cornstalk cutter here which seems to be very meritorious,

patented last July. It is a two-horse power machine, and cuts the corn and shocks it at the rate of a shock in two minutes. The stalks are drawn into a cutter-resembling a reaper-by fingers, like a wheel without a tire, working hori. zontally upon a pivot, and are cut off at the butt and thrown back into an apron, where they are retained by iron arms until enough are cut for a shock, when the tops are drawn tightly together, the whole drawn back by machinery, and the apron opened by a lever, when the shock is dumped into its upright position. The machine is extremely simple, and will prove a great labor saver. There are also several new plows, and other implements which I have no time to mention. The show of carriages and buggies is very fine, but Power Hall is not a good exposition of that department of mechanics. Lane & Bodley have the only saw mill on the ground. The two Sorgho sugar mills which were rivals at the late U. S. Fair, are grinding vigorously here. The committees in these departments generally understand their business, and are making good, practical tests of merit whenever opportunities and facilities are offered.

HOGS.

The hogs make such a formidable display, that there is no time to give them a thorough review. It is hardly necessary, since the hog talk we had at the Ŋational Fair, when I took each breed and "showed it up." There are but three breeds here which were not shown there, viz: the McGee, or Butler county breed, being a combination of crosses of large breeds; the Russia-Poland cross, a favor. ite in Indiana, and the improved big breed Berkshire. The McGee hog has always carried off the honors, when exhibited, and is growing into great favor. The large improved Berkshire is also winning attention. The McGee breed attains to great size, yields more and better pork to the bushel of corn than any other hog, and is very prolific. Mr. McGee's big boar, which took the first premium here, weighs eight hundred pounds.

DAYTON, September 27th.

There was an overwhelming rush of business yesterday, such a prodigious volume of people upon the Fair Grounds, such a confusing clanking among machinery, and clangour of bells and brazen inst. uments, such a whirlwind of excitement in the horse ring, such hubbub among the hogs, such turmoil in Durham avenue, such chattering and such a rustle and flutter at Floral Hall, that two brace of thorough-bred reporters would have fled from the scene, hopeless of

collecting facts as they were spread out over thirty-five acres of show ground. Shaking oneself down to honest, steady performance, in the way of focusing the whole, and presenting it at a glance, was impossible. I never before saw such a day at a Fair. The people poured into the enclosure all day long, in vast, variegated volumes of eager humanity, and spread themselves in the gay panoply of pleasure, all over the grounds.

They were thick as pebbles in a brook, jolly as a Dutch wedding party, curious as Japanese, inquisitive as magpies, and eager for sight seeing as a widow, bewitched for a new companion. Outside, among the "snaix" and fat women, and upon the highway, among the Jehus and their multiform curriculums, the scene beggared description. It would have silenced Hamilton county Democracy in Convention.

The display of horses occupied most of my attention, and such mention was made of meritorious animals as opportunity afforded. Many fine animals left the ring without the distinction of reportorial record, from sheer impossibility to pencilograph them. The general result of observation was that the tendency of the breeders of Southern Ohio has been to produce fine horses, of remarkable size. In that magnificent ring of twenty-five aged stallions, there was not more than two or three horses under sixteen hands high, and one measured seventeen, and all but one were horses of surprising development, of fine points and power. But there was one feature worthy of particular note. With a few exceptions, they could not be classified as belonging to any breed. That is to say, they are neither Morgans, draft horses of any particular blood, thoroughbreds, or anything else but mongrels, yet mongrels of a very superior quality. It was also worthy of note, that the best specimens-the most perfect models, and the most stylish, and best steppers, were those in which thoroughbred blood was most prominently developed. There were a few Morgans, with the Morgan traits distinguishable in form and style. The "Eastman Morgan" struck me as being a fine specimen of the breed, but I follow the current horse sense of the community-that such horses should be bred to large roomy mares, their opposites in form, in order to correct a bullishness of contour which destroys that majesty all love to see in the lightest development of quadrupeds.

When we got down to the three year old ring, and from thence down, the superb get of those magnificent stock horses, "Victor" and Reed's "Perfection," of Butler county, had everything their own way, the odds being in favor of the Perfections, on account of color. Wherever Highlander blood appeared in the get of either of those horses, it generally took the ribbons. For style and stockiness, I never have seen the superior of the progeny of the above stallions.

The mares and fillies were not so numerous, but blood told again here. It

seemed to be the recognized rule that ribbons went with blood, and blood generally accompanied form and action that deserved the trophies. From three years old to sucking colts, Perfection and Victor stock again bear off the palm, particularly when the Highlander strain developed itself in up-headedness and fineness in the legs and loins.

There was one "aged" stallion, by the way, which was entered in the general utility class, but had no appropriate class, which deserves special mention. He was an imported Cleveland bay stallion-a race now almost extinct in England"Eber," fifteen-sixteenths blood, belonging to Chas. Fullington, of Union county. He resembles the English race horse in form, and is a fine model, 15 hands 3 inches high, weighing about 1,200 pounds, and seems suited for the lighter style of coach horses. He is rather light for what we denominate general purpose horses, but for crossing with good roomy mares he seems very desirable. Whether the progeny of a horse of that degree of blood would impart his best qualities is a question that will bear testing.

NEAT CATTLE DEPARTMENT.

SHORTHORNS.-I have already alluded to the superb display of Shorthorns at this Fair. Messrs. Clay and Duncan, two of the best breeders in Kentucky, Mr. Sol. Meredith, the Durham King, in Indiana, and all of our leading breeders assert that this department is altogether the best ever seen at a Western Fair-perhaps the best in the United States. You have already published the decision of the Committee of Awards. Their judgment seems to meet with general approbation, and thus far the Kentuckians have retained the honors ever Ohio and Indiana. There is another ordeal to be passed before the question is settled. The best bulls of Ohio and Indiana, are to appear in the Herd and Sweepstakes' rings, together with Kentucky, and before this letter reaches you, I think the ribbon will be tied to the amber-tinted horns of "Starlight II.," owned by James Fullington, of Union county, Ohio. The general opinion in reference to Kentucky and Ohio cattle is, that the former excel in style, the latter in quality. "Style" relates to showiness, quality" to handling properties-the "feet" of the animal. Here the "Duke of Airdrie" stock, which has a strong strain of the "Duchess" blood, is deficient, lacking that velvety touch which is pre-eminent in the predominating Ohio herds. The rings shown yesterday, were so remarkable, that they deserve to be specifically mentioned, so that the record may be preserved.

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ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BOARD.

STATE AGRICULTURAL ROOMS,

Members all present. The President, Alex. Waddle, called the meeting to order.

The Corresponding Secretary presented a list of articles commended at the late fair for premiums.

After an examination of the list, it was determined by the Board, that in consequence of the want of funds, the Board feels itself justified in not making any awards.

The resident then appointed the following committees, viz:

Messrs. Townshend and Perkins on Field Crops.

Messrs. Perkins and Reber on the accounts of the Corresponding Secretary.
Messrs. De Witt and Potwin on the accounts of the Executive Committee.
Messrs. Townshend and Gardner on the accounts of the Treasurer.
The committee on the Corresponding Secretary's account reported:

We find the accounts of the Corresponding Secretary to be correct, and order that the amount advanced by him be refunded.

JOHN REBER,

H. B. PERKINS.

The committee on the Treasurer's and Executive committee's accounts were not enabled to close the accounts, on account of some disparity between the accounts of the Treasurer and Executive committee. The final examination of the account was deferred until the January meeting.

The committee on Field Crops made the following report from a statement submitted to them:

Statement of a crop of potatoes raised by Gurdin Perrin, of Milan, Erie co., Ohio.

The land was measured by himself, assisted by Albert G. Barnett and Judson Perrin; and the quantity of the land was half an acre, and no more. The quantity of potatoes raised on said half acre was 14533 bushels, by weight 60 lbs. per bushel. The soil is sand, mixed a little with gravel, and was in clover last year. They were planted the first week in June, in rows three and a half feet apart, and from two to two and a half feet in the rows, with the variety called the Mountain Junes, known by others as the Early York. (I would here state that they are a very early kind, and an excellent table potatoe, good yielders, and as good a potatoe to keep over for next summers' use as we have in the country. These qualities all combined, I consider them a very desirable potatoe for every farmer and gardner to raise.) The quantity of seed used was five bushels, cut,

and two pieces to each hill. I hauled four loads of manure on the ground, and plowed it under, and used about three-fourths of a bushel of plaster, dropped a little in each hill when they were planted. I cultivated them twice, and hoed them once, which was all the labor bestowed on them until they were dug.

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To three-fourths bushel of plaster at 50 cents per bushel....

To digging and picking up 14533 bushels at 3 cents per bushel.....
To rent one-half acre...

Credit by 1453 bushels at 25 cents per bushel..

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Net profit....

$24 10

Milan, Erie County, ss:

Gurdin Perrin, Albert G. Barnett, and Judson Perrin, being duly sworn, say they accurately measured the land upon which the within described crop of potatoes were raised, and the quantity of land is one-half acre and no more, and they also state that they weighed the potatoes, and there was 14533 bushels on the above described half acre; and that the statement in regard to the manner of cultivation, &c., are correct to the best of our knowledge.

GURDIN PERRIN,

ALBERT G. BARNETT,
JUDSON PERRIN.

Sworn to and subscribed before me on this 20th day of November, 1860.

SETH JENNINGS, J. P.

Statement of S. R. Holt, on Potatoes.

State of Ohio, Franklin County, ss:

A. S. Chapman, being duly sworn, says he accurately measured the land upon which S. R. Holt raised a crop of potatoes the past season, and the quantity of land is one-half acre and no more.

Sworn to before me, this 5th day of December, 1860.

A. S. CHAPMAN.

GEORGE TAYLOR, J. P.

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