COUNTY SOCIETIES. ALLEN COUNTY. The twenty-third Annual Fair of the Allen County Agricultural Society was held on the Society grounds at Lima, September 22d to 25th. The first day was taken up making entries and arranging the exhibits. The display in the departments were above the average. The display of horses, cat tle, sheep, hogs, and especially poultry, was very fine. Our farmers are making great improvements in breeding fine s ock of all kinds, all of which is largely due to our County Fairs. The Society made some very good improvements the past year on their grounds, all of which improvements were paid from the receipts of the Fair, after paying the premiums. The wheat crop this year was above the average, the yield large, and the grain of first quality. Corn, which was up to the average in bushels, was not up to the average in quality. The oat crop was good. Hay, average yiele, and secured in the best of condition. Fruits-apples, pears and cherries, almost an entire failure, and small fruits not an average crop. The county is now booming with the prospect of finding petroleum in paying quantities, several wells have been drilled and more are being drilled in different parts of the County The citizens' well in Lima has been averaging fifty barrels per day for several days, with no signs of decrease. Geologists had told us there were no deposits of coal or oil in this part of the State. But an experienced oil man recently remarked that the point of a drill could tell more what was in the earth than the most scientific geologist. ASHTABULA COUNTY. The thirty-ninth Annual Fair of the Ashtabula County Agricultural Society was held on its grounds, at Jefferson, on the 22d, 23d, 24th and 25th of September, 1885. While the Fairs of this Society have improved from year to year for a number of years, the last Fair was by far the best ever held; the exhibition was fine in all departments, and in each was superior of its kind. The attendance was the largest ever before upon the grounds at a Fair. Potatoes are grown to a large extent and are usually of a fine quality, but this year are rotting badly. Wheat, corn and oats are raised extensively. The stock of cattle has been greatly improved, both the milk and beef breeds. The horses of the county have also been greatly improved by breeding in all the different classes. The dairy interests are also in a prosperous condition, with the exception of the low price received for dairy products, in consequence of the enormous amount of bogus butter and cheese thrown upon the market, and sold to the consumer as a genuine article. The condition of society socially, morally and intellectually is of the best, and compares favorably with any other portion of the State. ATHENS COUNTY. Our annual county fair was held on the Society's grounds, October 3, 4 and 5. On account of rain, the third day, the attendance was not as large as in former years; however the receipts were sufficient to pay the premiums and other expenses, and leave a little money in the treasury. The display of horses was unusually good. Our people are giving more attention to the breeding of good horses than they have in the past. The cattlemen were out with a full display. Shorthorn, Holstein, and Jerseys are the breeds principally raised. The display of sheep was excellent. Athens county is a wool growing county, and has about as good a stock of fine-wool sheep as any county in the State. We had a good display of swine, PolandChina, Chester-White, Berkshire, Yorkshire, and Essex were the breeds on exhibition. Our wheat crop The condition of agriculture is hardly up to the average. was almost an entire failure, averaging not more than two bushels per acre. Most of the farmers had to buy their seed. I know of more than 3,000 bushels having been brought from Michigan and sowed in this county. I think there is an increase of ten per cent. in the acreage sown this fall, and the condition is fully up to an average. We had a large corn crop and it was harvested in good condition. The oat crop was extra heavy, and the acreage was greater than usual. Our hay crop was a failure, not more than half the usual amount cut last harvest, yet, with the large crop of fodder and fodder corn, we will be able to get through the winter with what little stock we have. Stock was sold off very close last fall. All kinds of stock have gone into winter quarters in good condition. The potato crop was a partial failure, though I think there will be enough for home consumption. We had about a halt a crop of fruit. Poultry raising is an important item with our farmers. It is thought that the sale of poultry and eggs brings in more money than the sale of horses and cattle combined. The farmers of this county are feeling rather poor this winter, having to buy our wheat, and sell our stock at low prices, make money scarce with all of us. We have a home market for all our farm products. A large part of our people are engaged in mining and manufacturing; also the South-eastern Insane Asylum is situated at Athens, so we have a large class of consumers that are not producers. AUGLAIZE COUNTY. The twenty-second Annual Fair of the Auglaize County Agricultural Society was held on their grounds, near Wapakoneta, on September 29, 30, October 1 and 2, 1885. The weather was fine, the attendance large, and the receipts were in excess of any former exhibition. ihe receipts were sufficient to pay indebtedness, current expenses, premiums and new improvements, with several hundred dollars in the treasury. One of the principal improvements is an elegant grand stand, 144x35 ft., built at a cost of $2,000, besides stalls, wells and various other minor improvements. The display in all departments was excellent, having plenty of room and ampple accommodation. We had the largest and finest exhibition of horses ever shown in the county. The exhibition of cattle was very good. The exhibition of sheep and swine was good, and an admirable exhibition of poultry. The introduction of thoroughbred stallions has been of almost unlimited value to the county. Some of the finest bred stallions in the State are owned here. We can not speak too highly of the success of several breeders of cattle and swine, who have very greatly raised the standard within the last four or five years, and are now gathering in the harvest of their investment and labor. Great credit is due them, and too much in terms of praise cannot be said. The prosperity of our farmers shows very plainly in the appearance of their farms, the munerous splendid dwelling houses and barns, which have been and are being built, and good brick school houses are found in nearly every school district. The practical knnowledge gained at our fairs is highly appreciated, and a rapid improvement in the agricultural interests is anticipated. Our prospects for the future we think to be as good as they have been for years, and with a body of energetic officers, good management on their part, and the regular annual increase in patronage will be, as it has been, a success in every respect. BELMONT COUNTY. The thirty seventh Fair, as is usual with the Fairs of the Belmont County Agricultural Society, had its special feature in the show of the stock, which, while not being overly full in any department, yet showed well in every different class. The Fair was held in the first week in September, and although threatening rain, Providence favored us with good weather. Our premium list was a long one, and paid in full. The stock parade on the second day was a pleasing and interesting feature, embracing thorough-bred horses, by Dr. J. Estep, Shorthorns from the herds of W. L. George, S. Hanna & Son and Ē. L. Carrick; Jerseys from the herds of L. P. Bailey, J. C. Hoge and J. H. Denham, and pure bred sheep from the flocks of Thomas Lodge, G. W. Rinker, Oliver Watkins and others. STOCK. Horses-draft, all purpose There were entries in all the stock departments. and saddle and light horses-there was a big show. ent kinds, but an almost entire absence of grades. classes, and as fine animals as live and flourish in any growing State of Ohio. Swine-there were both black and white breeds, and some of size almost incredible. A large number of the different animals at our Fair took first premiums the following week at the West Virginia State Fair and Exposition at Wheeling, which would go to show that Belmont county stock is appreciated away from home as well as at our own County Fairs. POULTRY. From the show of poultry, a stranger would be led to believe that our farmers had gone out of that business; but there are a large number of fanciers in all parts of the country who grow poultry for profit. The different breeds have their champions, of course, but the Wyandots are fast taking the leading place for "an all purpose" chicken, if we may be allowed such an expression in connection with poultry. VEGETABLES AND GRAIN. The almost entire failure of the wheat crop has been so thoroughly discussed that it is not worth while to say more than that Belmont county suffered the experience of the whole southern part of the State. Corn was a great crop, producing well on a large acreage planted, and being gathered in good condition. Stories of big crops and large individual ears are very common in this locality. Oats was an immense crop, and hay very good in quality, and a moderate crop in quantity. Tobacco, which is grown in parts of the county, was an extra heavy crop, was gathered in fine condition and brought a good price. Potatoes were reported a big crop in localities and a failure in other, and mostly were not up to the usual standard in quality. Vegetables, proper, were a good, fair crop, and brought usual prices in market. FRUIT. Apples was a fair crop of good, marketable fruit, but it was reported early in the winter that they were not keeping well. There was a fair local demand for the fruit at $1 to 1.50 per barrel; and a large amount of cider was manufactured. Pears and grapes were an unusual crop, trees and vines being very full of fine and luscious fruit, while a home-grown peach was almost a novelty. Most of the peach trees were winter killed, many failing to show even a green leaf in the spring, much less a pink flower. Plums, of the damson variety, were very scarce, but other varieties produced well. Our great country strawberry crop has become a by-word almost all over the country. We have a reputation which goes beyond the State limits for the " Barnesville berry." Raspberries were a big crop, while blackberries failed with us. Currants and gooseberries seem to be one of the past industries in this vicinity, as we seldom even see them any more. TIMBER. The fact that the timber is fast disappearing, and that there is need to cultivate instead of cut it, seems not yet to have dawned upon the farmers' minds. Yes, we mistake, it has come to them in many ways, but they have not yet heeded the warning, but we feel that they will at no great future date. Groves are now growing few and far between, and besides the many other detrimental causes occasioned by this, we can mention that many of the beautiful springs of our memory are now things of the past, and where, as a boy, we caught "chubs" with pin-hook and cord line, now is only a suspicion of a stream, deserted alike by the minnows and cattle, who were wont there to drink. FARMERS' INSTITUTE. Under the auspices of the Belmont County Farmers' Club and the State Board of Agriculture, the fifth annual Farmers' Institute was held at St. Clairsville, on December 31, and January 1 and 2. The weather was all that could be desired for the season, and the immense outpourings of the people at each session, showed that our farming community is desirous of gaining all the knowledge they can, in regard to their different avocations and pursuits. Secretary W. I. Chamberlain addressed the Institute on two occasions, and received his usual warm welcome from our people, who have begun to look upon him and his addresses as a part of the Institutes, and a necessary and enjoyable one. The addresses of Prof. Lazenby, Gen. Hurst, Gen. McNary, and others, were all instructive on their topics, and enjoyed as only farmers who have taken a three days' rest for the purpose, can enjoy a brief season for pleasure and profit. BROWN COUNTY. The condition of agriculture in Brown county, for 1885, is still progressive, yet there are some points to censure, and there are many to commend. Our land, as may be learned from former reports, is generally productive, and in some localities very fertile. Methods of farming are constantly improving, but we still have some very poor farming. This is not confined to any one section, but may be found in neglected farms occasionally throughout the county. They are only as so many dots upon a vast field, yet we are, possibly, no worse than other parts of the State, as every county unavoidably has some shabby farms. The natural quality of land may be faultless, yet there are farms where fences may be considered the only disgrace; while all the cultivated land is in good condition, there may be almost a rod in width on each side of the fencing that is next to impenetrable on account of vines, bushes, and briers, which, if properly cleaned out, would be more productive than any other part of the land. Where such is the case, the good, easy-going farmer cultivates his land a little further out from the fences every year until his fields are much diminished in area, and he is compelled to commence cleaning his land anew or to sell it to one who will put it in proper order. While there is land that would be the better from ten or fifteen years' growth of bushes and briers, the chief trouble consists in letting a growth of such a nature take possession of some piece of ground that will naturally produce a good crop, and letting the land that needs rest and shade lie bleaching for want of either grass or briers, or any kind of growth that would rest and recruit such land to its original condition. Timber culture is not receiving the attention that it should to make it a success, and the very few farmers who do give the subject a few careless thoughts and let a few trees come up and grow where they will, are not promising a very rapid advancement. There is enough waste land to grow all the timber needed for beneficial results to agriculture in the county. The waste land along the water courses, the abandoned hilly land that years of washing and poor farming has, in a manner, rendered worthless, are the kinds of land that need to be started in a growth of young timber; such, if begun in time, will keep up a supply for the future if used in a prudent manner. Many farms now considered run down and depreciated in value, with a changing of fences, cleaning out old fence rows, and starting a young growth of timber trees on land not suitable for cultivation, will, in a few years, with properly farm |