THE PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY held its annual show at the Lamb tavern,
October 4, 5, and 6. The Germantown Telegraph states, in the _Report
of the Committee of Arrangements_, that the display of horses was
unusually attractive, exhibiting the various breeds for the turf, road,
and farm, in considerable numbers. The Durham cattle seem at last to be
getting the better of prejudice in that quarter, and in their superior
forms and deep milking qualities, have shamed nearly everything else
from the ground, save a few fine Devons and capital grade Durham
milkers. Of sheep and swine, there were very few present, which is
the more to be regretted, as these animals exist in considerable
numbers and of superior breeds throughout the neighboring counties
of Montgomery, Delaware, Chester, and Lancaster. Of Agricultural
Implements and Products there was a good show, and the Plowing-Match
proved an interesting affair. Peter A. Browne, Esq., delivered the
address, which we find at length in the Farmers' Cabinet. Among
other things, he contends no less strenuously than justly for the
establishment of Agricultural schools and Professorships. From another
part of the address we subjoin a few suggestions.
First, then, it is feared that our agricultural friends have not yet
paid _all_ the attention that the subject demands, to a judicious
rotation of crops, adapted to our climate; particularly in regard to
_roots_.
Second. Much has been done, that is beyond all praise, in insuring the
best breeds of cattle. While we hear pronounced with gratitude, the
names of Mease, Powell, Brantz, Clay, Gowen, and Kelley, let us not
forget that the task is not finished.
Third. Soiling, it is apprehended, has been too much neglected by most
American husbandmen.
Fourth. Irrigation has also been too little attended to in the United
States.
Fifth. Proper care and precaution have not been sufficiently bestowed
upon the selection of seeds. This is a subject of the greatest
importance.
Sixth. Much is yet to be learned in regard to the preservation and
economical use of manure.
Seventh. The introduction, more generally, of labor-saving machinery,
and particularly of the itinerant thrashing-machine, deserves to be
mentioned.
Eighth. Gardening and raising fruit are much neglected by our farmers.
It is respectfully suggested that special committees might, with
advantage, be raised upon these and other useful topics, to report at
the next annual meeting.
Pennsylvania contains nearly thirty millions of acres. According to
the census of 1840, she had a population of one million seven hundred
and odd thousands, which is nineteen acres and a fraction for each
inhabitant. In 1842, she raised, of grains of all kinds, upward of
sixty millions of bushels; of potatoes, nearly thirteen millions of
bushels; of hay, upward of two millions and a quarter of tons; of flax
and hemp, upward of three thousand three hundred tons; of tobacco,
four hundred and eighty thousand tons; of silk, upward of twenty-one
thousand pounds; of sugar, nearly three millions and a half of pounds;
and of wines, nearly eighteen thousand gallons.
THE HENRICO SOCIETY held its third annual show at Richmond, Virginia,
November 1st. The proceedings are published in the Richmond Enquirer.
The Executive Committee reports, that although there is a falling off
in its receipts, there is an increased interest and attention to its
proceedings by the planters. Mr. C. T. Botts, Editor of the Southern
Planter, made the address, from which we subjoin an extract.
This society was organized and has been chiefly supported by a few
public-spirited gentlemen in the neighborhood. Its beneficial effects
are felt and seen by all of you. To form a proper appreciation of
them, you have only to ride in any direction about the suburbs of the
city. Rude grounds have been converted into productive gardens, and
barren wastes into smiling fields. I recollect a lady's saying to me
last summer, that she meant to make her husband become a member of
this society, because it had done so much to beautify the rides and
walks about the city. She declared the time had been when it gave her
a fit of the horrors, (she was a nervous lady,) to order her carriage
for an evening drive; but that now, there was nothing that she and her
children enjoyed so much. But this is not all. Let him who has been
familiar with your market for the last eight or ten years, compare its
present abundant supplies of the finest fruits and vegetables, with
the meager exhibition of former days; and, after all, let us be as
sentimental as we will, a good market plays a very important part in
the comedy of human happiness. Our merchants and mechanics too should
remember, that these exhibitions are annually becoming more and more
attractive, and that they are by no means inefficient in increasing
the trade of the city. But, over and above all considerations of
dollars and cents, let us, one and all, come forward and enrol our
names as members of this association, which represents the great
agricultural interest of the state, and which should be the pride and
ornament of its metropolis.
LAKE COUNTY SOCIETY.--The show of this society took place at Medina,
Ohio, and a complete account of its proceedings may be found in the
Painsville Telegraph. In addition to the usual show of stock, &c., an
extensive procession was got up of wagons and carriages, preceded by
bands of music. One of these held no less than 35 ladies, engaged in
the laudable occupations of knitting, sewing, spinning, and various
other domestic employments. We wish we could chronicle more such
industrial displays, for we consider them an excellent feature in
agricultural shows.
BOURBON COUNTY SOCIETY OF KENTUCKY.--We learn from the Paris Citizen,
that the Eighth Annual show of this Society took place near Paris,
and continued three days, and is said to be the largest and most
varied ever held in Kentucky. The first two days were devoted to the
exhibition of domestic animals, agricultural products, and farming
implements; the third day, to that of domestic manufactures. The
show of horses present was considered very superior; they were of
all varieties, from the mettlesome thorough-bred, to the enormous
cart-horse. The Durhams and other horned stock were well represented,
and gave evidence in their splendid proportions of the superiority of
Kentucky pastures. The descendants are said to be an improvement over
the original importations from England. Mr. Clay was present, and had a
superb pair of blankets presented him by Mrs. James Hutchcraft. These
were made from the wool of Leicester sheep, and were of uncommon size
and thickness, weighing 23 lbs. the pair. On the presentation of these
blankets, Mr. Clay was addressed by the Hon. Garrett Davis, M. C., and
he replied in his usual elegant and happy manner.
HAMPSHIRE, HAMPDEN, AND FRANKLIN SOCIETY, MASSACHUSETTS.--The united
show for the three wealthy and populous counties above, came off at
the beautiful town of Northampton, on the 18th and 19th October,
and we much regret on more accounts than one, that we could not, be
present. The Boston Cultivator furnishes a full report. A large number
of working-oxen of course were present, and to these were added some
superb fat oxen, exhibited by Mr. Sumner Chapin. The committee who
reported upon this subject, attributes the superiority of the cattle
to the large infusion of Short-Horn blood in their veins, and hence
their fine symmetry, light offal, and increased weight of flesh on the
more valuable parts, as compared with native stock when fattened for
the shambles. Mr. Paoli Lathrop exhibited some choice Short-Horns. Of
native cows the committee thus speak:--
Of the ten cows entered for the premium as _native_ animals, nearly
or all have an intermixture of Short-Horn or other foreign blood. We
awarded to Mr. Minor Hitchcock the first premium in this class. In
his written statement to us it appears that her average product in
milk for the six months, ending 1st October, was 49 lbs. per day,
and in the months of June and July, 58 lbs. per day. In butter, her
average product in the same time was more than 11 lbs. per week,
and in the month of July alone, nearly 14 lbs. per week; yet in the
same time he used the necessary milk and cream for his family of
four persons. Your committee have entire confidence in the statement
of Mr. Hitchcock; yet it is proper here to remark, that from his
account of her, and though awarded, a premium as a native animal, she
partakes highly of the blood of the Short-Horns. In the two classes of
animals entered as of _native and foreign origin_ it is obvious that
a proper discrimination was not made; for in some of the former there
is evidently more of the blood of distinct imported races than the
latter. Yet your committee deemed it their duty to award the premiums
of the society to the two classes as they found them.
Now here it is, most everywhere that our native cows are found
excelling as milkers, we can trace a portion of their blood, (usually
the greatest share,) to the Durhams, and yet there are those who are
constantly decrying the Short-Horns for not being _milkers_. Verily
a few particular people are very hard to be convinced. It is our
intention hereafter to make up a table of the milking qualities of the
Short-Horns and their grades, and any one possessing information upon
this subject, we shall be glad by their communicating the same to us.
Mr. Paoli Lathrop of South Hadley took the first premiums on Durham
bulls and heifers. Mr. Ira Fenton of Belchertown on Durham cows. Mr.
Sumner Chapin of Springfield, the first premiums on Fat Cattle and
Working-Oxen.