1838] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



693 



place to Sunbury 20 miles, the rail-road winds 

 down the valley of the ShamoUin with generally 

 easy curves throuirh a country, the last halt' ol' 

 which is highly cultivated. Grading on this por- 

 tion is remarkably light, for a road in the midst of 

 mountains. As the road approaches Sunbury it 

 crosses ihe ShamoUin three times by handsome 

 lattice bridges, which, however, have settled very 

 much. I have rarely passed through a region so 

 wild and dreary as that between Pottsville and 

 Shamokin. I was particularly struck with the 

 beauty and grandeur of the hemlock tree, which 

 abounds along the road. When young it con- 

 trasts well with, and when old seems vvell suited 

 to, the rugged cliff's it overshadows. 



Just at the head of inclined plane No. 1, is a 

 small tunnel 800 feet long, 10 ieet wide and 11 feet 

 high, with a circular arch. It was excavated en- 

 tirely from the two ends. The material excavated 

 was earth with a small quantity of coal. The 

 sides are walled with stone, and the top arched 

 with brick. The whole cost was $26,000. 



This road has been graded for two tracks, but 

 only one has been laid. The superstructure con- 

 sists of heavy sills bedded every five feet on 

 broken stone, into which is keyed a wooden rail 

 9x5 inches. The iron plate measures 2 by f 

 inch. 



From Pottsville to Girardville, 12 miles, cost 

 S400,000. From Shamokin to Sunbury, 19 miles, 

 cost ^ 180,000. 



Afternoon session. 

 James M. Garnett in the chair, when the several 



committees reported. 



The commitice on stallions, jacks and mules, 

 re|)ort — that they examined two stallions, one 

 owned by Mr. Taylor, and the other by Mr. Al- 

 cocke. JJolh horses were in bad condition, but 

 they award the premium to Mr. Alcocke's horse, 

 Corsair, as they consider him the best looking horse 

 of the two. 



They also report — that they examined a jack, 

 the property of Mr. Thomas Rowe, of Caroline, 

 to whom they awarded a premium of $10. 



They also report — they examined a very fine 

 mule colt of Mr. John C, Browne, two years old, 

 for which they award a premium of $5. 



John H. Lee, Chairman. 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE FREDERICKSBURG AG- 

 RICULTURAL. SOCIETY. 



[Published by request of the Society.] 



Tuesday, Nov. 8, 1838. 



At 12, M., the society was called to order — 

 James M. Garnett in the chair, and Robert 

 B . Semple, Secretary. 



This was a called meeting, for the purpose of 

 reviewing the report of the revising committee on 

 the constitution and by-laws. Report was made 

 through the chairman, Wm. P. Taylor, asking 

 (for reasons therein stated) further time for the 

 committee to discharge its duties, which report 

 was accepted, and the society adjourned. 



Annvul Meeting — Nov. 9. 



The society was called to order by the late se- 

 cretary, when, on motion, the rule requiring the 

 election of officers by ballot, was suspended, and 

 the society proceeded to the election of their offi- 

 cers for the ensuing year. 



On motion of James Richards, James M. Gar- 

 nett was unanimously re-elected president. George 

 Hamilton having declined a re-election, Francis 

 W. Taliaferro was elected 1st vice president, and 

 Wm. P. Taylor, 2d vice president. 



Robert B. Scrapie (the late secretary) asked to 

 be excused from the further duties of secretary 

 and treasurer, when, at his consent, he was on 

 motion, appointed secretary and treasurer, pro 

 tern. 



The society then proceeded to vote upon the 

 admission of new members, and the selection of 

 committees, preparatory to the show and fair, 

 and at 12, M., adjourned to witness the exhibi- 



The committee on mares, colts, fillies and riding 

 horses, have performed the duties assigned them, 

 and beg leave to submit the following report: 

 They award the premium for the best colt to Mr. 

 George Morton's Truffle, two years old last spring. 

 They award a premium for the best brood mare to 



Mr. Robert 'Wallace's mare, by , which had 



a fine colt at her foot, by Priam. They award to 

 Thomas Chandler a premium for the finest riding 

 horse, though this Avas not a bloodless victory — it 

 being hard to decide between his horse and a fine 

 sorrel owned by Mr. P. B. Winston, of Louisa — 

 all of which is respectfully submitted. 



James Richards, Chairman. 



The committee on beefj sheep and mutton, beg 

 leave to report — that they award the premium on 

 mutton to John B. Gray, of Staff'ord, and for the 

 best grass-fiitted beef, being the only one exhibit- 

 ed, (although a very fine one) to Zephaniah 

 Turner, of Rappahannock county. For the best 

 fatted work ox, to Lewis Shumate, of Fauquier 

 county. 



George Rowe. 



The committee on bulls and milch cows, award 

 the premium for the best bull, (half Devonshire,) 

 to Mr. Hay Talialerro, of King George. Mr. 

 Green exhibited a fine milch cow, but having no 

 pedigree, the committee did not award a premium. 

 R. T. Willis, Chairman. 



The committee of agricultural implements, re- 

 port — that the implements exhibited were a culti- 

 vator, an ox-yoke, a hand-drill, and a cutting-box. 

 The three first, by Mr. James M. Garnett, and 

 the last, an instrument made at the Fredericks- 

 burg (bundry. These implements were not ofi'er- 

 ed Ibr premiums, and were not tested by actual 

 trial, and therefore none is recommended; but they 

 think proper to say that they appear to be well 

 adapteil Ibr the purposes intended. The cultivator 

 is stated to be a good instrument for opening a fur- 

 row, for planting, as well as lor the culture of 

 corn, the ox-yoke is reported to be the one always 

 used in Spain; and the hand-drill seems to be well 

 calculated for sowing almost any kind of seed or 

 grain upon land nicely prepared and pulverized. 

 They recommend the trial of these instruments, 

 and also of the cutting-box. The model of a 

 coulter was also exhibited by Mr. Taliaferro, which 

 seems to deserve a trial; but, in this case, as well 



