FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURE 97 



spring houses, and said that Philadelphia had the reputation of 

 better summer butter than any other city in the United States. 

 This he attributed to the spring houses of that region, which he 

 described thus: 



"Over these springs small houses are erected, usually of stone. 

 The room of the spring-house may be from ten to twenty feet 

 square, according to the quantity of milk to be provided for. 

 Trenches are made on the four sides of the floor, bottomed and 

 lined with flat stones. The residue of the floor is likewise paved 

 with stones. The water from the spring enters at the side of 

 one trench, runs all round, and at the opposite side passes away 

 at a hole left in the wall. The under side of this hole is at such 

 a height above the bottom of the trenches as to raise the water 

 just enough to keep the milk cool in the pans, which are placed 

 in it. This water runs perpetually from its source, and as con- 

 stantly passes off at the outlet. In one of the trenches are also 

 set the cream pots and the pots of butter the night before it is 

 carried to market." 



It was in touching upon his next topic that the orator became 

 slightly facetious, with reference to the impracticability of 

 premiums in the given case, and in so doing implied a compliment 

 to the farmers whom he addressed. He said : 



"Much has been said and written concerning an evil which 

 pervades our whole country, from one extreme of the Union to 

 another, the general use of spirituous liquors, prevailing, in the 

 opinion of wise and good men, to a mischievous excess. Some- 

 times it has been hoped that agricultural societies might find 

 means to check the pernicious practice. But the class of farmers 

 who abstain from it must be too numerous to become candidates 

 for premiums on temperance. Besides, such prudent men need 

 no remuneration for their abstinence. Here, virtue is indeed its 

 own reward." 



The orator then referred to the general use by farm laborers 

 in France and Spain of small wines, instead of ardent spirits, and 

 added that a French gentleman with whom he had conversed on 

 the subject admitted that such wine was not equal to good 

 American bottled cider. Upon the topic of cider thus opened up, 

 the orator discoursed at considerable length, with reference solely 

 to the best method of producing it. He dissented from the 

 prevalent idea that any kind of apples will serve in making good 

 cider, and renounced specifically what used to be called "cider 



