To the efficiency of C. F. D. Jones, Esq., magistrate, the society and the public were indebted for the good order observed on the grounds, and the committee acknowledge the value of his services in his important depart

ment.

Especial commendation is due to the energetic General Superintendent, John Harold, Esq., for the admirable and economical manner in which he conducted the highly important business entrusted to him. His peculiar fitness for the position he has filled so satisfactorily for several years past, was never more perfectly exemplified than at the exhibition just closed; and the committee discharge a pleasant and very agreeable duty in giving public expression of their obligations to him. And these obligations extend to all his assistants, who so cheerfully co-operated with him in carrying out his plans successfully, and for their prompt attention to the interests of the society and the exhibitors.

The Rev. Dr. Fisher, of Hamilton College, was present on the last day of the exhibition, prepared to deliver an address to the society, but the severe storm prevailing during the entire day, prevented him from so doing. The address was, however, kindly furnished to the society, and appeared in the papers of the city, and was also published in pamphlet form and in the Transactions of the society. This admirable address has already been widely disseminated, and wherever read, will add to the reputation of its distinguished author, and will gladden the household of every farmer who shall receive it.

O. S. Wood, Esq., the gentlemanly Operating Superintendent of the New York, Albany and Buffalo Telegraph Company, will accept the thanks of the committee for establishing telegraphic communication between the Fair grounds and the main line.

The clerks in the business office, so long connected with the Society, and whose services are so highly appreciated and generously remembered by exhibitors, discharged their duties in the most correct manner, and add to the obligations of the committee.

Mr. Churchill, of Bagg's Hotel, through his capable steward, George Butler, and superintendent, Robert Barnes, was unremitting in his attentions to the members of the committee and the guests of the society, and will be remembered with satisfaction.

To the Superintendent of the Press, S. Williams, Esq., the committee are under great obligations for his attention to the important duties of his position, which secured the approbation of all connected with the press.

To the Judges, who discharged their duties in a manner never more satisfactory in the history of the society, we tender our most cordial thanks.

To the farmers, mechanics, manufacturers and others, who so liberally sustained the exhibition, the thanks of the committee are tendered; and especially to the cultivators of fruit, who exhibited those splendid collections, which would have done honor to any exhibition.

On behalf of the Executive Committee.

B. P. JOHNSON, Secretary.

DR. FISHER'S ADDRESS.

September 18.-At a meeting of the Executive Committee, at Bagg's Hotel, on motion of B, P. Johnson,

Resolved, That the thanks of the society be most cordially tendered to the Rev. S. W. Fisher, for his admirable address, prepared for the Society, the delivery of which was prevented by the severity of the weather; and that a copy be requested for publication in the Transactions of the society and in pamphlet form.

STUBBLE SHEARING OF SHEEP.

Sept. 15.-At a Meeting of the executive committee, Hon. A. B. Conger, J. McGraw and D. B. Haight were appointed a committee to examine into the practice of sheep exhibitors who resort to special contrivance of giving their sheep a model form, which the carcass does not possess, in the practice of what is ordinarily called stubble shearing.

SHEEP SHEARING FOR EXHIBITION.

The special coinmittee appointed to examine into the practices of sheep exhibitors, who resort to the especial contrivance of giving their sheep a model form, which the carcasses do not possess, in the practice of what is ordinarily termed "stubble shearing," report that it is well understood. that, for the purpose of carrying out this system, animals designed for exhibition are shorn in mid-winter, not closely nor evenly, but so as to hide their natural defects or to give undue prominence to certain parts of the carcass. That they are then blanketed, so as to prevent their taking cold, and afterwards, and for some little time before exhibition or sale, they are again trimmed, the wool being left, as in case of most of the animals exhibited at the fair, in some places twice as long as in others.

Your committee consider this a gross deception upon the judges who examine only with their eyes, and, also, upon farmers, who are not cognizant of these practices, who become purchasers and undertake the business of breeding; and, also, a great source of injustice to such as exhibit their sheep after the ordinary system of shearing, as late as the first of June, on an average, and closely and evenly shorn at that.

For the purpose of correcting these evils, your committee recommend that a copy of this report, or so much thereof as the executive committee may approve, be placed in the hands of the different committees in the class of sheep, and that they be requested to discriminate in their awards. between those animals shorn after the fair and ordinary methods and those who have undergone any or all the methods of stubble shearing, as above alluded to-giving to no animal a prize for its outward appearance which the form of carcass, not even fattened, will not justify.

Your committee also recommend, as and for the future action of the society, and as a fair notice to future exhibitors, that all sheep not fairly and evenly shorn, and after the 20th April, be rejected and declared incompetent to be brought under the inspection of the judges for the premiums of

the society, and that exhibitors give the time of shearing of each sheep exhibited.

A. B. CONGER.
J. McGRAW, JR.
DANIEL B. HAIGHT.

The above report was adopted by the executive committee, and ordered published. B. P. JOHNSON, Secretary.

DR. D. J. MACGOWAN.-EASTERN CHINA AND ITS PRODUCTS.

At a meeting of the executive committee of the society, held at Utica, September 14, Edward G. Faile, president, in the chair, Hon. Wm. Kelly called the attention of the executive committee to the travels of Dr. D. J. MacGowan, in China and Japan, and suggested the propriety of passing resolutions recommending to Congress the importance of securing an interchange of products with those countries.

It was, on motion of Hon. A. B. Conger,

Resolved, That this society regard as a subject of great importance to the industrial and agricultural interests of the United States, the project of Dr. D. J. MacGowan, for the appointment, by the National Government, of a commission composed of scientific men and practical agriculturists, to visit and explore Eastern Asia, with a view to acquire information bearing upon arts and manufactures, and the processes of agriculture there pursued; and to obtain and transmit seeds, plants and animals, the cultivation and propagation of which will be likely to add to the valuable productions of our farms.

Resolved, That the New York State Agricultural Society heartily commend the subject to the favorable action of the government, as likely to result in substantial benefit to every section of the country. B. P. JOHNSON, Secretary.

E. G. FAILE, President.

EQUALIZED VALUE OF THE REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.

At a meeting of the Board of Equalization, held September 23, 1863, at the office of the Secretary of State, the subjoined table, representing the aggregate assessed valuation of the several counties in the State, was adopted:

To amend Chapter four hundred and sixty-seven of the Laws of eighteen hundred and sixty-two, entitled "An Act to prevent the adulteration of milk, and prevent the traffic in impure and unwholesome milk."

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

SECTION 1. Section one of chapter four hundred and sixty-seven of the act entitled "An Act to prevent the adulteration of milk, and prevent the traffic in impure and unwholesome milk," passed April twenty-three, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, is hereby amended so as to read as follows: Any person or persons who shall knowingly sell or exchange, or expose for sale or exchange, any impure, adulterated or unwholesome milk, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars for each and every offence, and if the fine is not paid, shall be imprisoned for not less than thirty days in the penitentiary or county jail, or until said fine shall be paid.

§ 2. Any person who shall adulterate milk with a view of offering the same for sale or exchange, or shall keep cows for the production of milk for market, or for sale or exchange, in a crowded and unhealthy condition, or feed the same on food that produces impure, diseased or unwholesome milk, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction shall be

punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars for each and every offence, and if the fine is not paid shall be imprisoned for not less than thirty days in the penitentiary or county jail, or until said fine shall be paid.

§ 3 Any person or persons who shall, in any of the cities in this State, engage in or carry on the sale, exchange, or any traffic in milk, shall have each and every can in which the milk is carried or exposed for sale or exchange, and the carriage or vehicle from which the same is vended, conspiscuously marked with his, her or their names, also indicating by said mark the locality from whence said milk is obtained or produced, and for every neglect of such marking the person or persons so neglecting shall be subject to the penalties expressed in the foregoing sections of this act, but for every violation of this act by so marking said cans, carriage or vehicle so as to convey the idea that said milk is produced from a different locality than it really is, the person or persons so offending shall be subject to a fine of one hundred dollars, or imprisonment in the penitentiary or county jail, or both, in the discretion of the court.

§ 4. The addition of water or any substance other than a sufficient quantity of ice to preserve the milk while on transportation to market, is hereby declared an adulteration; any milk that is obtained from animals fed on distillery waste, usually called "swill," or upon any substance in a state. of putrefaction or fermentation, is hereby declared to be impure and unwholesome. (Act of 1864.)