pointed to invest the same in yarn, have socks and mittens knit, and send them to any point where they might find there was most need.

CLERMONT COUNTY.

The Clermont County Agricultural Society, held its thirteenth annual fair, at Olive Branch, on the 3d, 4th, 5th and 6th days of September, 1861.

Owing to the peculiar state of the country, its depressing influence upon the public feeling, and the absorbing interest taken in military affairs by a large portion of our citizens, it was thought by many curing the summer that the prospect of our usual amount of exhibitions was not flattering, and that a fair this fall would be unsuccessful. The board of officers and managers, however, though partaking some what of the general feeling of doubt, decided to make the usual arrangements for the occasion, and having put the grounds in good repair, and having enlarged and made a decided improvement in the arrangement of Floral Hall, waited with hope for the day. The result exceeded the expectations of the public, and was very gratifying to the members of the Society. All circumstances considered, the fair was a success.

All the different classes of articles were represented, and gave the repeated evidence of the continued interest and improvement in the productive industry of our citizens.

The exhibition of horses, presented nothing new, in the character of "blood." As was remarked in last year's report, the tendency toward the breeding of the more heavy and serviceable horses is still increasing, and was plainly shown this year by an unusual number of entries cf draught horses and horses for all purposes.

Of jacks and mules, the usual number were shown, and gave fair evidence of improvement in this useful animal.

Of cattle nothing new was shown. The number was not large, but the specimens were fair: The "Short-Horn," is still considered the standard of excellence.

In sheep some fine specimens were exhibited, but this county gives less attention to this class of animals than it once did, one of the prominent obstacles to sheep husbandry, being dogs.

Swine were as usual very well represented. Of the distinct breeds, the "Suffolk," has for the last few years been prominent. Of late, some "Chester Whites," have been introduced, and by many are considered much superior to the "Suffolk."

The show of poultry, was fair this year, showing that the interest in this class has not been entirely lost.

A very creditable display of grains and seeds, vegetable and farm products, was made. A continued improvement in the style and finish of agricultural implements was manifest in this department.

Our county being largely agricultural, and being so near Cincinnati, it cannot boast of extensive mechanical operations, but the articles that are made are generally of superior workmanship.

In no department, however, was there so full a representation as in Floral Hall. In this hall are exhibited fruits, flowers, paintings, useful and ornamental needlework, domestic or household manufactures, dairy products, etc. As usual, the ladies contributed a large share towards the attractions of the fair.

With the exception of apples, the display of fruits was larger, finer and more various than that of many previous years. The peach, the pear, and the grape, were perhaps, never before excelled in variety and quality, at our exhibitions. This county was peculiarly favored this year with a fine crop of these fruits. Some fine specimens of apples were shown, but they were rather exceptions to the general product of the county, for the apple, as a crop, may be called a failure

this year.

Frequent reports of the condition and progress of the crops generally in this county during the past season having previously been given, it is deemed unnecessary to repeat them in this place. It may be remarked, however, that the increasing success in the cultiva ion of nearly all the kinds of fruits adapted to this latitude, is giving annually new inspirations, and an added zeal to the farmer, as well as the professional horticulturist, to enlarge this field of operations; and the experience of each year is proving that this county is destined to become prominent in the profitable culture of fruits for market.

Among the premiums offered at our last fair, was that of a banner to cost $40, to be awarded to the best drilled military company in the county, to exhibit on the last day of the fair. This was awarded to the "Lafayette Guards," Captain Watkins, of New Richmond.

The number of entries, and the number of premiums awarded in each class are as follows:

Total number of entries, 884; total number of premiums, 405; total number of diplomas, 33; total amount awarded for premiums, $582 90. Number of members for 1861, seven hundred and sixty-nine.

CLINTON COUNTY.

The annual exhibition of the Clinton County Agricultural Society, for the year 1861, was held on their Fair grounds, near Wilmington, on the 4th, 5th and 6th days of September. It was thought inexpedient by many to hold a Fair this year, fearing it would result in a failure, in consequence of the excited condition of the country in reference to the war. But the managers thought the interest of the society would be promoted by holding a Fair, even though it might result in a partial failure. But we are gratified to report that the exhibition, in all the departments, was very creditable, and the receipts sufficient to pay liberal premiums, and liquidate all indebtedness against the society, and leave a considerable balance in the treasury.

We have no statements of competitors for premiums on crops, or improvements in agriculture, to report. The principal crops raised in our county are wheat, corn, oats, and potatoes. We estimate the amount of wheat raised in our county, in the year 1861, at 390,000 bushels, and the average yield per acre 14 bushels; the amount of corn 1 500,000 bushels-average yield 70 bushels per acre; the amount of oats 200,000 bushels-average yield per acre 28 bushels; the amount of potatoes at 70 000 bushels-average yield per acre 90 bushels. In addition to the above-named crops, we raise quite a large quantity of rye, barley, buckwheat, and hay.

Our corn crop is not an average one, in consequence of the protracted cool weather during the forepart of the season, preventing its fully maturing before the fall frosts. Our wheat crop was very much injured by the weevil and fly, which are the most destructive insects to the wheat crop in our county. Our society is established on a firm basis, and is in a prosperous condition; and its beneficial influence in developing the resources of our county, and infusing a spirit of improvement in all branches of agriculture and horticulture, as well as all other branches of industry, is felt and acknowledged by all.

We have beautiful and capacious grounds, well improved, about half of which are covered with a natural grove of sugar and beech, which afford a delightful shade. There is a decided improvement in our exhibitions in the floral department, which is attributable to the industry and good taste of our ladies. Owing to the large increase of articles on exhibition in this department, the society contemplate building a new and more capacious Floral Hall the coming season. Our society numbers 450 members.

7B

COLUMBIANA COUNTY.

In addition to the list of the premiums awarded at our last annual Fair, held on the Fair grounds on the 25th, 26th and 27th days of September, 1861, the Fair promised to exceed any one preceding it, judging from the attendance upon the first and second days. But the third day being ushered in with a flooding rain, which continued without intermission during the entire day, lost to the society a full half of what might have been realized with favorable weather. The entire number of entries was 956; of this number 267 were horses, 29 cattle, 69 sheep, 18 hogs, and 11 jacks and mules. Horses seeming to take the lead of all other stock in our county, were well represented, in both number and quality; whilst that of cattle, sheep and hogs, although few on exhibition, yet in point of quality, would compare favorably with any thing we have seen. The agricul tural and mechanical departments were well represented, and Floral Hall, under the care of the ladies, was well supplied with articles both useful and ornamental. For a number of years complaints were urged on account of there being no suitable track attached to the Fair grounds, where on to exhibit horses. And to provide for this seeming necessity, the Board of Managers, at an early day in the current year, added, by purchase, six addi ional acres to the original grounds, and contracted for lumber, &c., with the intention of making the required improvement; but our county becoming involved in her present difficulty about that time, the Board deemed it prudent to defer making any further expense during the present year. In addition to that here furnished, there were four other entries competing for premiums on crops, but the competitors failing to furuish the required statement, were ruled out.

The principal crops raised in our county are wheat, rye, barley, buckwheat, corn, and potatoes. Of wheat we raised about 200,000 bushels the last year; of rye 10,000, of barley 36,000, of buckwheat 2500, of corn 350,000, of oats 535,000, of potatoes 125,000. The average yield, per acre, of wheat about 12 bushels, of rye 15, of buckwheat 20, of corn 40, of oats 35, of potatoes 50. The season during the early part of the spring was wet, followed by severe frosts in May, which destroyed the greater part of the fruit in this county. Grass that seemed to be doing well previous to this, failed to meet the general expectation, being followed by a light crop. During harvest the Army worm made its appearance (for the first time we believe in this county), injuring the crops considerably. This was followed by an unusual amount of grasshoppers, which continued their depredations until late in the season, and in many places destroying the fall pasture, during the months of August and September, entirely. The present crops look unusually well, with more more than an average crop in the ground.

The following is about a fair average of selling price of farm products at the different markets in our county: Wheat 90 cents, corn 40, rye 40, oats 20, flaxseed $1.00, timothy $2.00, hay $3.00 per ton, pik $3 50 per cwt.

Our society numbers 362 memters-a slht falling off from last year, pro

duced, however, from the cause already stated. Many being prevented attending upon the third day, failed to make their annual payment, and are consequently not considered members. That our society is still advancing in its usefulness is evident to all. One of its principal features is the encouragement given to plowmen, the premiums awarded at our late Fair ranging from three to eight dollars, every year witnessing an improvement in this useful art.

COSHOCTON COUNTY.

The twelfth Annual Fair of the Coshocton County Agricultural Society was held at the Fair grounds near Coshocton, on the 9th, 10th and 11th days of October, 1861, and was a success, notwithstanding the excitement in consequence of the war, the "hard times" caused by the great fall in the price of all our products, the total failure of our fruit crops, and partial failure of nearly all our other crops. The Board hesitated upon holding a Fair, fearing a failure; but when the time arrived, with beautiful weather, our fears of failure were soon dispelled, and we had the pleasure of greeting many more cheerful countenances than we had anticipated, the number of exhibiters and visitors in attendance and articles on exhibition being as large, with one exception, as any of our former Fairs, and every thing passed off highly satisfactory to all concerned, without accident or breach of any of our rules to mar the universal good feeling that prevailed throughout the entire exhibition.

The great objects of the Society are being realized by thus meeting and comparing notes, from year to year, as to results in our labors, by the introduction and rearing of the improved breeds of domestic stocks, the more thorough cultivation of the soil, the introduction of improved implements of husbandry, and the diff rent varieties of roots, grain, grapes, and fruit. We are better prepared to meet the wants, wishes and feelings of all, and inspire confidence in our ability to secure greater results from our future labors.

The show of Cattle, although not as large as last year, was fine, and the competition spirited. The appearance every year of new contributors to this department, shows that the improvement of this kind of stock is becoming a matter of more general interest. The splendid thoroughbred shorthorn Durham herds of Messrs. Thos. Darling, T. S. Humrickhouse, and S. Miller, are hard to beat. Messrs. R. Darling, D. Markly, T. C. Burrell and others, exhibited some superior stock in this class. No. of entries, 62. Premiums awarded, 33-amounting to $116 50.

The show of Horses was equal in quality to that of any previous exhibition. No new strains of stock have been introduced during the year. Entries, 86. Premiums, 41; amount, $93.

Of Jacks, Jeanets and Mules, the exhibition was better than at any former Fair. This branch of stock is receiving much more attention than formeily. Entries, 7. Premiums, 5; amount, $12.