The competition in horses and cattle was quite animated, and a large proportion were very excellent animals, doing much credit to the fair. On the whole, the fair was a success.

The crop of wheat, corn and oats in the county was generally good.

Since August, the fair grounds have been occupied as a camp for the TwentyNinth Regiment O. V. U. S. M. The ticket office converted into a hospital, the exhibition hall, and some of the horse sheds used as camp kitchens. The horse and cattle sheds, not occupied as cook rooms, and the sheep and hog pens, were all demolished by the soldiers, and a greater part of the seats and the fence sursounding the grounds met a similar fate. The shelves and tables in the hall are in a sorry conditi n to hold and show off fineries, after being used so extensively as pantry shelves, by unexperienced, and not altogether tidy cooks.

ATHENS COUNTY.

Owing to the stringency of the times, and the depressing influences of the war, but few county fairs were held in this part of the State, and when late in the season, it was determined to announce the annual exhibition of this Society, in this county, it was not without many misgivings as to the result.

The friends rallied cheerfully to this call for volunteer labor, for the preparation of the grounds, and the fair was held on the 1st, 2d and 3d days of October, and attended with the happiest results.

The weather proved fine, and the attendance exceeded the expectation of the most hopeful. The receipts, although not so large as on former occasions, were yet largely in excess of the expenditures, and proved nearly sufficient for the payment of the debt of this Society.

BELMONT COUNTY.

There was no competition for premiums for crops, or improvements in agriculture.

The Fair held at St. Clairsville in October last, succeeded beyond our most sanguine expectations, and after defraying all expenses, there is left in the treasury a balance of nearly $50; and should times continue even as bad as at present, it is thought our society will continue to flourish. Our membership book foots up 425 in number, which is about 200 less than last year.

I am unable to give an estimate of each crop raised. The average yield per acre is, in my opinion, of wheat about 7 bushels, oats 20, barley about the same, corn 30 bushels; rye, buckwheat, &c., are raised, but not in sufficient quantities to be considered good crops. Rye grown on my farm this season yielded about 17 bushels per acre, and buckwheat 12 bushels. Hay is thought to be less than half an average crop-say about three-fourths of a ton per acre. With the ex

ception of this article of feed and straw, we have an abundant supply for home. consumption, and some for sale. Oats suffered about harvest from the depredations of a black worm, about 1 inches long, resembling somewhat the caterpillars that collect on fruit trees occasionally. In some localities large quantities of the oat was shelled off the heads, after the grain had been cut and left in the swath to cure. Corn was somewhat injured by drouth in the early part of the season; the crop was, I think, materially lessened in bushels from this cause.

Our winter so far has been mild, and our stock feeds finely and looks well. Wheat never looked better at this season of the year, nor had a better set in the ground; and should we not have wet weather, with frost, in March, it will come into the growing season next spring very healthy and vigorous.

BROWN COUNTY.

The Twelfth Annual Fair of the Brown County Agricultural Society, for 1861, was held at Georgetown (Tuesday to Friday inclusive) on the 3d, 4th, 5th and 6th days of September.

On account of the troubles and distress consequent on the "Great Rebellion," and in addition thereto, the partial failure of the crops, the Board hesitated for some time about risking show for the current year. Assurances from various parts of the country that success was reasonably certain, and that it was not probable that either of the Independent Societies-of Ripley or Fincastle-in this county would hold a Fair, determined the Board to make the usual effort. Our expectations were more than realized. Although our membership was not quite so large, nor the entries so numerous as we have sometimes exhibited, a very large majority of the stock and articles shown was of a superior quality. We paid all expenses, and almost the balance of the debt of the society. Where the success of almost every measure is estimated by means of the potential dollar, we feel good reason to be gratified at the result.

Number of members this year.

311

Do of entries....

659

Our grounds, improvements, &c., have been heretofore described. The horse show was splendid; the cattle show by far the best ever exhibited in the county; hogs and sheep tolerably well represented. Floral Hall was magnificently decorated by the young ladies; but better still, was well filled with the choice products of the land, and the handiwork of our wives and daughters. Needle-work, flowers, jelly, bread and butter, preserves, and canned fruit in vast quantities, attest the eagerness of the fair exhibiters to prove their good housewifery, if not to assist in the "removal of the deposits."

Wheat very much injured by the fly-perhaps not half a crop; corn hardly

two-thirds; tobacco below an average-has been selling at $7 to $10 per 100 lbs.; oats very light; hay good; fruit almost an entire failure, except peaches, which, for the limited number of trees left in the country, was a fair crop; potatoes a very moderate crop. The vintage is becoming a very important part of the agriculture of this county, and I labored to procure some reliable statistics of this branch for the present year, but failed. We raise large quantities of tobacco every year, but I believe the State Board put this article under ban.

BUTLER COUNTY.

The President of the Butler County Agricultural Society respectfully submits the following report of the doings of said society for the past year:

Notwithstanding the discouragements presented by the distracted condition of the country, our Board of Directors deemed it advisable to keep up our regular exhibitions, not only because the law required it, but because it was believed that any serious interruption in our proceedings would embarrass the Board in their future operations.

The result of our Fair showed the fact, that while our people were intensely interested and active in doing what patriotism demanded of them for the support and integrity of the Union, still they did not forget the duty of sustaining the agricultural interest of our own county.

The exhibition was highly respectable, the attendance unusually good under the circumstances, and the Fair, financially, a success.

The report of the Treasurer shows that the premiums awarded amounted to the sum of $1165; that our society is out of debt (possessed of good grounds, containing about thirty acres, which is thoroughly improved by substantial and durable buildings, stalls for horses and cattle), and that there is in the treasury the sum of $2239.

The state of progress in agriculture during the past year has been regular, although not so rapid as usual, because of the military excitement. Unusual attention and activity is being manifested by those who remain at home, in the effort to keep up the regular products of the farm, so that no falling off shall take place in consequence of the withdrawal of a large portion of the agricultural force of our county.

The past season has not been so productive as usual. The crop of wheat did not exceed two-thirds of a crop. The corn has also fallen short from ten to fifteen per cent. Apples were almost an entire failure, the loss of which were, in some degree, compensated by an unusually fine crop of peaches and pears and small fruits.

CARROLL COUNTY.

In compliance to your instructions-of the date of November 12, 1861, published in Ohio Cultivator-the Carroll County Agricultural Society submit the following report of its doings for the year 1861:

List of premiums awarded as follows: First Department-Total of horses, 170 entries; premiums awarded, $38 88. Total of cattle, 48 entries; premiums awarded, $35.47. Total of sheep, 96 entries; premiums awarded, $51.15. Total of hogs, 6 entries; premiums awarded, $7.33. Poultry (per coop and pairs), 5 entries, premiums awarded, $4 00. Second Department-Total, 155 entries, premiums awarded, $79.66. Total of First Department, 325 entries; premiums awarded, $181.83. Total premiums awarded, 1861, $261.49; total entries, 470. The statement of competitors for premiums on crops are very vague, the manner pursued being the ordinary method of tillage. Very little attention paid to latest improvements in tillage in Carroll county; reason, perhaps to some degree, for want of sufficient inducement by our Board in offering large premiums on such things. But the greatest, and perhaps the main reason, our people are not so nuch an agricultural, as a cattle and sheep-growing people. Land not so well adapted to the former as the latter.

That all persons should have an opportunity to exhibit animals successfully for premiums, the Board prohibited all animals from the regular classes, when such animal took first premium last year, but let such animals come in competition with all animals of that species on exhibition, under title of Sweepstakes.

Agreeably to the regulations of State Board, election for officers will be held January 25, 1862, instead of last day of Fair, as heretofore. Would it not be better to elect officers on last day of Fair, and have officers elect to enter upon their duties shortly after the annual Agricultural Convention-say first Monday of February? This would secure a full attendance of members at election without inconvenience; and it would allow the old, or former Board ample time to settle up all of the previous year's business.

The number of members for 1861 is 268. The usefulness of the society is apparent to every reflecting and observing citizen of the county; yet it doubtless would be more so, if more of our citizens deemed the society a means of improvement in tillage and stock growing, rather than a medium of getting a small return in dollars and cents, by way of premiums. However, this is not any fault of the system or the society; but the fault lies in the short-sighted avarice of some whose age and experience should have, ere this, taught them better sense. Agricultural societies should as far as possible be made self-sustaining institutions, especially in these times, when our public treasury is bleeding at every pore; yet we should not, in our attempt to save a few dollars, cripple the agricultural operations of the country.

The principal crops raised in this county are: Wheat, rye, oats, corn, buckwheat, barley, potatoes, and grass. The average yield per acre, or the amount raised, I am not able to give. The annual return to the Auditor by the assessors, which are annually returned to the State Department, affords the most accurate data for estimates, and to which your Board is referred.

The past season has presented nothing of a very striking character. Weevil and fly have been hitherto the most destructive insects in this county, but during the last year they have been less so than in former years.

Deeming I have given you all the facts that are interesting, and having complied with the requisition of the statute, I have only to say you will much oblige by certifying the same, that we may avail ourseves of the portion due from the county treasury before our annual election, so that we may settle up all business of last year.

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

The eleventh annual fair of the Champaign County Agricultural Society, was held on the Society's grounds, near Urbana, on the 1st, 2d, 3d and 4th days of October, 1861. Weather favorable. The attendance was not so large as the year previous, but much better than was anticipated. The exhibitions were very good, and demonstrated the usefulness of the Society, in the manifest improvement in all the departments. The principal crops of this county are, wheat, corn, oats, rye, barley, hay and potatoes, to all of which the past season was unfavorable, especially, wheat, corn and potatoes. The fruits of the county are, apples, peaches, grapes and berries, the two first of which were almost a total failure this season.

The number of members this year, is 1,143; the number of entries, 1,567; the amount of premiums awarded, $886 50.

CLARKE COUNTY.

Our ninth annual fair was held on the 1st, 2d, 3d and 4th days of October, 1861. The first day was devoted to the trial of plows and implements, with a spirited contest among our home manufacturers only. All awards on stock this season, being confined to animals owned in the county, a large competition drawn from adjoining counties, by our heretofore open premium list, was cut off. Still al classes of stock were well represented, and mostly so, with the department of manufactured articles. The loss of the last fruit crop, left us with almost bare shelves, but of vegetables and farm products, seldom has there been a better display.

The Society has, within the past year, completed pavment of the additional ten acres bought during 1860, now owning twenty-nine acres enclosed, of which the county assisted in the purchase of the first nineteen acres bought.

The use of the grounds were given to the Forty Fourth Regiment, during September and October, and during the fair they were confined to the new addition to the grounds. This created increase of expenses during the fair, and in cleaning up and repairing after their departure. The sua remaining in the treasury, after payment of premiums, and all necessary expenses of the Society, for the current year, was donated for the use of Ohio Volunteers, and a committee ap