They are manufactured by H. A. Roe, Ashtabula county, Ohio. The cheeses, when taken from the hoop, are placed on the tables in the centre of the cheese room, where they are easily handled, and may be kept until nearly cured, when they are removed to the side shelves. Screens should be placed upon the inside of the two windows to admit air and keep out the flies. This building is of sufficient size (either for butter or cheese making,) for a dairy of 40 cows.

I have been engaged in the dairying business, most of the time, for the last twenty-five years, and have seen and used many dairy fixtures, but none that combine more advantages than those here presented. I consider it more profitable to have butter and cheese dairy combined. Cheese of a good quality cannot be made in cold weather; therefore my practice is, to make butter until about the middle of June; then cheese until about the middle of September-having the warm weather to make and cure my cheese ready for market. No cheese is so good if cured by artificial heat. That part of the house exposed to the south should be well shaded near the ground, in summer, if butter making is then followed.

[See engraving.]

PLAN OF HOG HOUSE AND CORN CRIB.

BY C. G. TAYLOR.

Upon the other page* I present the outlines of a very convenient building for a hog house, which I offer for examination by the executive board.

Size 22 by 32 feet. Pens 8 feet square, with a door leading into each from the outside. Two inch plank is sufficient for partitions. Each pen having a separate trough; the hogs fed or watered on either side of the passage way, which is six feet wide. In the back end is a corn crib, 8 feet wide, extending across the entire end of the building. Posts 5 feet in height; studding each side of the passage way to extend to the rafters and there supporting a purlin plate, thus giving strength to the building. The house can be either shingled or battened with good sound boards. But few hogs should be kept in one pen, as they are apt to hud

The specification is so very plain that we omit the illustration.-Ed.

dle, or crowd themselves together, the larger often injuring, if not killing the smaller ones. From four to six is enough for a pen, and these should be of as equal size as possible, if confined to fatten. A corn crib in connection, is very necessary, as the hogs can be fed with but little trouble, and the corn is housed from the storms. If the grain is to be ground or cooked, it will be as handy to get it from the hog house as from any other quarter. Therefore, hogs and feed should be close together.

No part of a hog house should be left uncovered, as some are. If any part is left uncovered, that part runs to swift decay.

COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.

Had all the county and other local societies of our state responded to the call of the late corresponding secretary of the state society, and presented as full reports as a few have done, there would have been ample material for a respectable volume from this source alone; and relying on a liberal response to that call, the editor did not make a memorandum of occasional information, or preserve published notices of fairs, as might have been done; hence, at the last moment, he has been compelled to resort to the columns of the Prairie Farmer for material to make up a list of 50 counties only. This is not right; the county associations have a greater interest in our volume of Transactions than even the state society itself, and should have contributed thereto at least three hundred pages of valuable matter. And let no one suppose that such publication is of but local importance. It is part of the history of the state, and has its practical uses also, as many business men and others can bear witness.

And then, as a means of improving the great agricultural interests, six county societies, in full operation, may be set down as equal to the stale society in practical efficiency. This is not a mere assumption, but the result of calculation, based on long study and much observation. Beyond the range of about six counties, very few unenlightened farmers ever attend a state fair, and it is for the benefit of these, rather than the well informed, that the STATE appropriate: money to help sustain the system.

ADAMS COUNTY.

SECOND ANNUAL FAIR, 1855.

In presenting this report the officers are conscious of the difficulty of remarking on those classes of articles which are entitled to commendation without, at the same time, commenting on the meagre display which was made in other branches. The many disadvantages and drawbacks under which the society has labored

in holding the late fair, rendered the production of a flattering and interesting report a matter of some difficulty. But if a due regard for truth does prevent the application of indiscriminate praise to the exposition of articles and animals in general, it renders of more value the honorary notice bestowed on those which really deserve it. The report, however, may be made serviccable, by showing in what particulars the objects of the society can be better carried out in future, and by giving a few remarks, suggested by experience, by attention to which the officers of the society, and its members generally, may co-operate with each other so as to make our annual fairs, in future, all that can be desired. The question as to whether such a society could be sustained here with success, and not turn out a failure, as had been predicted by some parties who were dissatisfied with its management, may be considered as settled, and the society may be looked upon as a permanent institution, which will increase in usefulness as its aims and objects are better appreciated.

Much of the confusion at the first fair of the society was attributed to the want of rules, for which want the officers had for this fair amply provided, by carefully preparing regulations to meet every case, and publishing and extensively circulating them. But the officers have to acknowledge their error in supposing that their regulations would be honored with perusal, or, if read, that they would be attended to.

The society have now possession of a beautiful ground, every way adapted to their purposes, securely fenced, and well fitted up in other respects. The ground is extensive enough to accommodate the state fair, which it is hoped will be held here in a year or two. Arrangements have been made to retain the entire fence, and the more important part of the buildings, and a person has been engaged to take charge of the grounds, which will be kept during summer as a pleasant place of resort, where visitors can be supplied with refreshments. The grounds are, however, to be held subject to the uses of the society at any time, or for other purposes pertaining to its objects.

The design of an agricultural society is not wholly accomplished by the holding of a fair once a year, however extensive and effective the same may be. Meetings at other times and for other objects should be heid, such as floral and horticultural exhibitions, both for early and late fruits and flowers; trials of mowing machines, reapers, &c.; trials of skill in plowing, spading and train

ing of animals, and for other l'ke purposes, each in its proper sca son; besides which, meetings should be held for the discussion of questions and disseminating information on agricultural subjects. But such movements must be made by the spontaneous action of the members of the society themselves. They must not rely wholly on the services of their officers to urge these matters, while the members generally look on with apathy, and withhold their assistance.

In this connection it may be as well to remark, that this society does not receive a proportionate support from those classes for whose encouragement and benefit it was more especially designed, namely-farmers and mechanics. The number of members is small when compared with the relative extent and importance of Adams county. If every farmer and every mechanic would become a member of the society, and use his influence and but a small portion of his time in furthering its objects, fairs might be held of which there would be reason to be proud, and premiums might be offered of an amount worth striving for. On the other hand, great liberality has been exercised by many, as the subscription list for the purchase of the fence abundantly proves; and that strong interest is felt is shown by the sacrifice of valuable time, which has been devoted to the society by a number of public spirited individuals. Too much of the labor of preparation is thrown on a few members, and the attendance at the business meetings of the society has been very small. This neglect on the part of the members has, however, furnished the officers with a retort, to make in answer to all complaints made respecting the • premium lists or other arrangements, namely-that the complainants should have attended the meetings and have taken a part in the preliminary arrangements, and that as they have not done their part, the fault lies with them if they are not suited.

The fair was held on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, October 24th, 25th and 26th, 1855. The cause of so late a period in the season being fixed upon was, that it was deemed advisable, at the time the date was determined on, that it should be subsequent to the state fair, under the expectation that many articles exhibited at Chicago would be brought to Quincy. But the noncompletion of the railroad connection with that place dissipated these expectations, which was unfortunate, as on all other accounts it would have been far preferable to have held our fair earlier.

The weather for the four or five days preceding the fair had Leen exceedingly unpropitious, so as greatly to interfere with and