The only competition in field crops was in timothy hay. First premium awarded for the production of twenty-two tons from six acres and ninety-four rods. Second premium for eighteen and three-fourth tons from six acres. There would be more entries in this class, were the statement required less complicated and exacting.

The exhibit in the mechanical department, especially in the display of agricultural implements, was very fine. In the manufacture of articles of this class, Canton excels any city of the size in the State. We had apples and grapes in great variety, and of excellent quality. The horticultural and floral department was well represented. Our grounds, with the improvements, are considered worth $12,000.

We have no data from which to make an accurate statement of the yield of the different field crops. Wheat, our staple crop, was a failure-" froze out" during the winter. It did not average over twelve bushels to the acre. There was an unusual crop of

corn. Of barley, oats, hay, and potatoes, there was an average yield.

AGRICULTURAL HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY,
BY MADISON RAYNOLDS.

STREAMS, SOILS, CROPS, PRODUCTS, ETC.

From the Ohio Repository.

In making the following statement, the writer has availed himself of the judgment and opinions of many of our best and most experienced farmers.

Stark county was organized in 1807. The early settlers were principally from Pennsylvania and Maryland. They were a hardy and industrious class, not so ready to adopt what may be termed new-fangled notions about improvements in agriculture, but were content to trudge along in the beaten path of their fathers, until well convinced by observation of the profits or advantages of a new mode of tillage or a new agricultural implement. They generally brought their first stock with them—their horses in the team, and driving along their few cattle, sheep and hogs.

Amongst these early settlers we find the names of Captain Downing, Velentine Weaver, Thomas Roach, Mayhew Folger, William Henry, Adam Essig, John Shenaberger, Philip Dewalt, Philip Slusser, the Harrises, Leonard Mowen, Henry Barber, Henry Loutzenheiser, J. W. Condy, J. J. E. Klippart, Valentine Yant, Roswell Mason, Garrett Cruson, James F. Leonard and John Saxton, the latter of whom yet survives to edit the OHIO REPOSIORY, which he established in 1815.

About three-fourths of the county, constituting the eastern, southern and western portions, is broken into hills and valleys, and may be called a clay and gravel soil, well calculated for wheat, barley, oats, rye and corn. The north-eastern portion is more level, has a heavy subsoil of clay, and is adapted to grass and grazing purposes, though good for corn, oats, rye, flax, potatoes, turnips, etc. The Sandy Valley, lying along the south-east portion of the county, has a soil of sandy loam, and is very productive in all the cereals, grasses and root crops of this latitude. There is quite an extent of plain land-so called-in this county, running through Jackson, Perry, Canton and Bethlehem townships. These plains are also a clay and gravel soil, and are considered the best wheat lands in the county, though also fine for rye, barley, oats, corn, clover and timothy.

In the northern part, there is quite a marsh, known as the Cranberry Swamp, a portion of the waters of which flow north to the lake, but the larger portion run south to the Ohio river. Nearly all of the streams run southward, the Tuscarawas river, in the western portion of the county, being the largest. Along this stream is located the Ohio canal. The Nimishillen creek is the next largest stream. Its western, middle

and eastern branches drain the northern and north-eastern portions of the county, and afford many fine mill-sites. The middle and eastern branches unite at a point about one mile north-east of Canton (the county seat), and the western branch unites with the main stream about one mile south of Canton.

The Sandy is a fine stream in the eastern portion of the county. Along this stream was located the Sandy and Beaver Canal, now but little used. The Sandy Valley branch of the Cleveland and Pittsburg Railroad also runs through the Valley of the Sandy. The Sugar Creek crosses the south-western portion of the county.

There are many other streams, small creeks and springs, tributaries to those already mentioned, affording abundance of water on almost every farm. Myers' Lake and Lake Sippo are two beautiful sheets of water, covering several hundred acres.

The Pittsburg. Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway runs through the county from east to west, passing through the principal towns-Alliance, Canton and Massillon. The manufacturing interests of the county are rapidly increasing in importance The works of Messrs. C. Anltman & Co., and E. Ball & Co., of Canton, Russell & Co., and Brown, Sieberling & Co., of Massillon, Nixon & Co, of Alliance, and Johnston, Putnam & Co., of Milton. are engaged in the manufacture of agricultural implements. The iron furnace of Massillon, the woolen mills of Canton, and the rolling mill at Alliance, together with the flouring mills, plaining mills, saw mills, iron works, plow manufactories, etc., etc., and give evidence of increasing wealth and prosperity.

It may not be improper, in this connection, to make mention of the coal fields of this county, and the important interests connected therewith. By recent explorations, bituminons coal has been found in almost every part of the county. It is the most successfully mined in the Valley of Newman's Creek, north-west of Massillon, and from this point north. Splendid coal veins have been found all along the west side of the Tuscarawas river, north to the county line. The south half of the county appears to be a vast coal field, thongh as yet worked only by the owners of the land, who haul it to market and supply the rapidly increasing demand for coal in our towns, foundries, manufactories, machine shops, gas works, etc. The Newman's Creek coal supplies the furnaces at Massillon, the foundries, machine shops, and citizens, besides a large amount being shipped, ria the Ohio Canal, to Cleveland, and by the P., Ft. W. and C. Railway to many points in the west. As wood becomes scarce and increases in price, coal becomes the substitute for fuel, and is fast coming into general use for all heating purposes. The price varies in different parts of the county from two dollars and a half to three dollars per ton.

I am not aware that there has ever been a careful analysis of the soils in different parts of this county, and do not suppose it would be expected in this report. I shall, therefore, speak of the soil only as it presents itself to the agriculturist.

The surface soil of our whole county or at least that portion of it which is at all suceptible of cultivation, is composed of a dark mould, originating from decayed leaves, grasses, and other matter. On hills and highlands generally this surface soil is thin and light, owing, doubtless, to the effect of rain washing it away. On the lower and more level lands, this surface soil is deeper, and in the valleys, usually called bottom lands. it varies from a few inches to several feet in depth.

The depth of this soil, other things being equal, is a good measure by which to determine the value of the land. Clay, or argillacious earth, as it is called, underlies this mould or surface soil throughout almost the entire county, and varies in thickness from a few inches to two feet, is generally of a pale yellow color, and is the material of which our building brick are made. It absorbs water slowly, and is too compact for the roots of tender plants to penetrate any great depth, and yet this dull clay is the basis of our agricultural wealth. Resting upon a sub-stratum of gravel it holds no more water than is necessary for healthy vegetation, and yet prevents the surface soil from sinking

away into the gravel-holds all the manures which are applied to the land, which, when plowed under and mixed with the clay, form our favorite soil for wheat, rye, barley, oats, clover and timothy. The under stratum of gravel or sand, sometimes called silex, is the opposite of clay in many of its properties. It is not cohesive, does not hold water, and, though these two substances seem to counteract each other, their union results in the greatest good.

A portion of the north-east part of the county has a subsoil of cold, heavy, darkcolored clay, which is impervious to water. Originally a beech woods, now cleared and cultivated, it is excellent for pasturage, and, when deeply plowed, produces fine corn, oats, rye, flax and vegetables. This is the only portion of the county which has been materially benefitted by subsoil plowing.

The Michigan double plow has been used to some extent, but our most successful subsoil plowing has been done by throwing a wide furrow with a large sized plow, and immediately following it in the same furrow with a smaller plow, which throws up the subsoil. The Michigan plow is too heavy for a single team of horses-(our people never plow with oxen), and rather than double teams on a single plow they prefer to run two plows as above stated, Most of our lands, however, should be plowed in this way as often at least as once in three years.

There has been but little underdraining in this county, except to draw off the water of the ponds and swamps. This has been done to some extent with tile, but mostly by ditching, and filling the ditch with boulders, and then covering up with rubbish and earth.

There is great diversity of opinion among our farmers as regards the best rotation of crops, but the prevailing method is not to sow wheat on the same field oftener than once in three years, and then only when for two years it shall have been in clover. It does well to follow barley or oats with wheat or rye, but it is considered bad farming to have wheat or corn follow each other. Wheat has been regarded as the staple crop of the county, but for the three years preceding the last winter it was so injured by winter killing and late frosts that our wheat growers became much discouraged. The fine fall, winter and spring of this season, however, give promise of a good crop of wheat next harvest.

Corn is the next most valuable grain crop. Barley next, oats next, and then rye. The hay crop, potato crop, clover-seed, flax-seed, and timothy-seed are valuable in the order in which they are mentioned.

The drill for sowing and the separator for threshing have been of great advantage in perfecting the work and facilitating the labor of the farm, but the great aid afforded by the harvesters is incalculable. The slow and laborious process of harvesting with sickles, scythe, cradle and hand rake has been entirely superceded by the reaper and mower and horse rake.

The injuries to our wheat crop, by fly, midge or weevil, and frost, have induced our farmers to make many experiments and changes in the kind of wheat cultivated. All the old varieties, and most of the white wheat, have given place to the Mediterranean (so-called), which, when first introduced, was a long, dark grain, but little superior to rye; but the effect of climate or soil, or perhaps both, have greatly improved its appearance or qualities, and it is now a plump, fair grain, strong in the straw and quite a favorite for bread.

This county, a few years since, was amongst the first wheat counties of the State, producing over one million of bushels; but its dismemberment, by the formation of Summit and Carroll counties, thus curtailing its acreage, the ravages of the midge, and the late unfavorable seasons, have reduced this staple crop to less than one-half of that The general average of the wheat crop will not exceed fifteen bushels per

amount.

sore.

Corn is, no doubt, the next most valuable crop of grain, and does the best when following clover. The gourd seed and hackberry varieties yield the most per acre. It should be planted in crossed furrows, three and a half or four feet apart, and worked both ways with a cultivator. Average yield, about thirty-five bushels per acre.

Spring barley is becoming an important crop in this county, not only on account of its marketable value, but because it leaves the ground in fine condition for wheat. Average crop, about twenty-five bushels per acre.

Oats is perhaps the next grain in importance, and we have three varieties-the side oats, brauch oats, and black oats, the latter fast going out of use. The side oats weighs more to the bushel, but is not so prolific as the branch oats. Average yield, about fifty bushels to the acre.

Rye is but little cultivated, and for home consumption. We have two varieties-the black and the white. The first, though good for feed and distilling, is fast giving place to the white variety, which is equally as good as the other, and makes a much whiter flour. The cultivation of spelt and spring wheat has never succeeded in this county. Our root crops are not large, except in potatoes, of which we have a great varietyNeshannocks, pink eyes, peach blows, long red, Buckeye whites, etc. Neshannocks are the general favorites, though all have their friends. The long reds are the most prolific, and are much used as feed for stock, and n the spring do well for table use. Average yield, about one hundred bushels per acre.

Turnips, on level, rich land, yield largely, if the autumn is not too dry, though this is not considered a profitable crop. Average, two hundred bushels per acre

In our fruit crop, the apple largely predominates, and we have many fine varieties. For general use I place the Rambo first, the Gates apple second, and third, the Rhode Island Greening. Then follow the pippin variety, bell flower, russets, etc., etc.

Peaches are a very uncertain crop in this county, being frequently winter killed, and more frequently destroyed by spring frosts. We have many excellent varieties, and their rapid growth induces our farmers to cultivate them, though they fail about four years in five of producing a crop. Of late years many peach trees are injured and destroyed by a small white worm at the root of the tree.

We have also a variety of pears. Among them the Bartlett and Sugar pear hold the first rank. They, too, are often injured by the late frosts.

The plum crop has been small for several years past, owing to the ravages of the curculio. Many efforts and experiments have been made to get rid of them, but thus far without success.

In small fruits, grapes predominate, and the product is increasing yearly. The Isabella, Catawba and Delaware prevail, though we have many other varieties, and some wine has been made of good quality. We have also quite a variety of cherries. Carnation and Morellos are the leading sour varieties; the May Duke and Black Heart the sweet. We have also a great variety of berries-the raspberry and strawberry in great variety; also the Lawton and Native blackberry. The cultivation of berries is on the increase, with very satisfactory results. We have some native fruits and berries which we hope may long remain among us-such as the whortleberry, blackberry, raspberry, and the wild plum.

Among the fertilizers, clover ranks first, and barnyard manure next. Considerable use is made of gypsum (plaster, we call it), on clover and corn, and, in dry seasons, with very beneficial results. The method with clover is, generally, for the first and second years to mow it for hay, and the second or third year, when full grown, to plow it under for wheat or corn the next spring.

Barnyard manure is usually spread upon the fallow fields, after barley or oats, and plowed under for wheat. There is not as much lime used in this county as there should be. The usual application of it is to old and worn-out fields, which have run into sour

grass, and not to spread it until it is slaked. There have, however, been some experiments made of spreading it unslaked and plowing it under, with satisfactory results. We have adopted no regular system in the management of grass lands We have a kind of spear grass and white clover indigenous to the soil, covering our commons and soon spreading over any of our cleared and uncultivated land, making fine pasturage, but being too short for a good hay crop. Our low, moist lands are the best for timothy alone, and our uplands for clover alone, but our most profitable hay is by a mixture of these two grasses.

The timothy is usually sown in the fall, and the clover with the growing wheat early in the spring. The yield, when mown, varies from one and a half to two and a half tons per acre. It also constitutes our chief pasturage, and is considered very good. Many efforts have been made to introduce the red top, Hungarian and orchard grasses, but they have always had to give way to the old favorites, “clover and timothy "

There has not been a commensurate interest manifested in the improvement of horses. The enterprise of our farmers and stock-raisers has not run in that direction, mainly because it was not thought profitable. For years after the organization of the county our stock of horses was about as common as well could be, the heavier class used for farm and teaming purposes, and the lighter for stagers and for the saddle. Very little regard was paid to the character of the horse bred from.

In 1825 Dr. Simmons, in conjunction with others, brought from Virginia "Merry Andrew," reputed to be thoroughbred. The old settlers, who remember his appear. ance, agree that his equal has not since been in the county. Henry Barber, who was a devoted lover of fine horses, had an imported blooded mare, and from these two some excellent stock was raised, which gave the first impetus to an improvement in our breed of horses.

About the year 1832, John Myers, an enterprising agriculturist, brought to the county a chestnut sorrel stallion, named "Windflower," said to be thoroughbred. He was a fine horse, of fine parts, and the sire of many good colts. His blood can yet be traced in the fine appearance and action of many of our best horses.

In 1849 "Napoleon Morgan" was brought from the East and kept in the county. His trotting qualities, fine action and splendid appearance gave him popularity, and for several years there was among all classes of horsemen quite a Morgan fever. "Green Mountain Morgan," a dark brown horse, was brought here in 1859, and was the sire of a number of the most valuable horses now in the county. At present our best roadsters are of that stock, but being too light for draft purposes, their popularity among the farmers have measurably ceased Heavy draft horses are more saleable and command the highest prices. For the improvement of this character, we have had "Scotch Clyde," and now the "Plow Boy," both imported English draft horses.

We have also the "Chilton," "Timoleon," "Tuckahoe," and Messenger stock incorporated upon our comnion stock, which have, without doubt, improved their activity and endurance. There can be no question but that our stock of horses, both draft and carriage, has been much improved in the last fifteen years.

The stock of cattle in this county has been much improved by the intermixture of foreign breeds, and at least three-fourths of our cattle are more or less increased in value by this intermixture. Durhams and Devons are the favorite breeds, and each have their advocates and peculiar claims to consideration. Edward Brook & Son, of Marlboro township. John Shock, of Canton, and Thos. Chapman, of Bethlehem, prefer the Durham, and Benjamin Thompson, of Lake, Jonas Brougher, of Jackson, and H. Raynolds, of Canton, the Devon

The value of this stock over the native breeds consists in their keeping qualities, size, form, early maturity, increase of milk and superior beef.

It is claimed by good judges on the subject that the cattle product of the whole county