232 



Notices, S)'C. 



Vol. IV. 



Philadelphia Society for the Promotion of 

 Agrlcitlture« 



At a stated monthly mi'etin^, February 5, 1940, Dr. 

 Mease, Vice President, in the Chair — 

 The following papers were read: — 



1. On the best mode of niakinjT mortar, with a 

 chemical explanation of the process, and the theory 

 of its solidification. By Joseph Cloud, Vice President. 



2. On the best mode of making plastering for rough 

 castingof houses, with directions for its use, so as to 

 ensure its permanent adhesion, and an uniform sur- 

 face, without those unsightly patches which invaria- 

 bly fiiUow the addition of new plastering to old. By 

 Dr. Mease. HI?" We shall give this article in our March 

 number of the Cabinet. 



Both these papers were required from the fact of 

 seeing the defective and slovenly mode in which mor- 

 tar and plastering for houses are often made in town 

 and country : hence bricks slightly adhere, and rough 

 castings fall off. Both these positions may daily be 

 verified by attending to the mortar of a wall of a house 

 in which alterations are making in the brick work, 

 and to the rough-casting of others erected within a 

 year or two. 



Mr. Cloud's paper was original— that by the Chair- 

 man was a copy of one written out for him twelve 

 years since by the late Mr. Thackara, a ma.ner plas- 

 terer of Philadelphia, and the directions followed with 

 complete success in the case of a church then erecting 

 in Pittsburg. The plastering of the prison in Walnut 

 street was referred to by the Chairman as a specimen 

 of master work : the color was uniform, and from the 

 lime of its erection in 1774, until its demolition, two 

 years since, not a foot of the plastering gave way— not 

 a patch in it was to be seen. Can the same be said of 

 modern plastering? 



Much verbal information was communicated by 

 various members, of a useful nature, on the subject of 

 the diseases of cattle, the remedies for them, and on 

 the causes influencing their health. Among other 

 facts, it was stated by a member from Delaware conn- 

 ty, that a cow in e.xcellent health, and fat, was gambol- 

 ing about a field with others, when suddenly she fell 

 and expired. Upon examining the body, the interior 

 was found filled with blood, which had gradually ac- 

 cunmlated in the spleen to an excessive degree, and its 

 walls being thereby rendered very thin by distension, 

 gave way from the agitation excited by the playful 

 pranks of the animal. Farmers should make it a point 

 to examine all the bodies of their farm stock dying of 

 diseases of an unusual nature, and take notes of the 

 appearances and symptoms of the disease for their own 

 benefit and that of farmers generally. Care should be 

 taken not to cut or even scatchthe hand while making 

 these examinations. 



It was stated by another member from Delaware 

 county, that he had known a mash of rye meal, given 

 to a cow, great with calf, cause premature labour. 

 The fact, except to the relator, was new to all present, 

 even those farmers of long standing. 



There can be no doubt of the effect having been 

 produced in the case referred to, and the attention of 



farmers is called to the circumstance. It was as- 

 cribed to the well known laxative qualities of the 

 grain, by reason oC which, either alone or in conjunc- 

 tion with flaxseed infusion, it is given to cows after 

 calving. 



The loss of a calf is an object to all farmers, from 

 the time lost in feeding the dam during gestation, and 

 from the loss of the money obtainable for it if brought 

 to market in due time ; but when the precious short 

 horns are in question, and a calf at maturity, worth 

 S'-.'OO, is lost, the case is serious. 



The Committee charged with the adjudication of 

 the premiums lor the best crops of sugar beets, mangel 

 wurtzel, and field carrots, were unanimous in award- 

 ing the first premium for each, to James Gowen, of 

 iMount Airy ; and a second premium to John Ken- 

 worthy, of Philadelphia, for the beets. Also a pre- 

 mium to James Gowen for spring wheat. 



Mr. Konaldson presented a copy of his pamphlet on 

 the Culture of the Sugar Beet ; the seed of which he 

 has for sale at No. 200 South Ninth street, near South, 

 at fifty cents per pound for ten pounds. 



The Society meet every month, (the first Wednes- 

 day.) 



CoiTjmunications are solicited. They may be ad- 

 dressed to either of the Secretaries. 



K. Smith, Philadelphia. 

 P. R. Freas, Germantown. 



Quantity of rain and melted snow which has fallen 

 since January 1, 1840. Inches. 



1st month, 1.85 



Philadelphia Hospital, 1st mo, 1, 1840. 



Philadelphia Markets^ 



February 11th. 



Remarks. — The navigation of the Delaware is again 

 open, and vessels are now arriving and departing 

 without any obstruction by ice. A large fleet of ves- 

 sels detained below in the Delaware, will soon bring 

 their cargoes to our wharves. 



Flour and Meal. — The resumption of our naviga- 

 tion has caused an increased demand for flour, anil 

 several parcels have been sold for shipment at $5 50 per 

 barrel, cash, and $5 6'2i on time, with interest added 

 on Broad street, and $ > 62^ on the Delaware front of 

 the city. The demand for home use is limited. To- 

 day, owing to the bad state of the roads and the light 

 stocks on hand, holders generally ask $5 62^ per bar- 

 rel. Rye flour is steady at $3 50i with sales. In corn 

 meal no change. 



Grain. — No supplies have arrived by water for weeks 

 past. Sales nf fair to good red wheat' at $1 11 to SI 14 

 per bushel. Rye— no sales — holders ask (55 cents. Corn 

 —a sale of Pennsylvania yellow at 55 rents per bushel. 

 Oats are without change in price, with a limited de- 

 mand. — U. S. Gazette. 



THE FARMERS' CABIJVET, 



A monthly newspaper, is published by 



JOHN LIBBY, No. 87 NORTH SECOND STREET, PHILADELPHIA, 



For the Proprietors. 



PETER B. PORTER, No. 97 MARKET STREET, WILMINGTON, DEL. 



The Cabinet is published on or about the fifteenth 

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From the Steara Press of J. Van Court, Printer, corner of Bread and Quarry 8t3., rear of 96 North Second. 



