124 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



Nov. 7, 1828. 



AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 



The Committee of the Ilanipshirc, Hampden & 

 Franklin Agricuhural Society on Animals, observ- 

 ed, that witliout exaggeration, it may be said that 

 at no former meeting of the Society have so fine 

 specimens of animals been presented. The num- 

 ber of animals having been, it is believed, twice as 

 large as at any former period, and their appear- 

 ance gave satisfactory proof that a great improve- 

 ment is going on in these stocks within the limits 

 of the Society. \Vith regard to sheep, they re- 

 marked that some lots were exhibited which were 

 very superfine, but that as good an e.xhibition of 

 fine woolleJ sheep has been made on former oc- 

 casions. Swine were uniformly good, and some 

 extraordinary — far superior to former exhibitions. 

 With regard to working cattle they say that many i 

 more of these animals were deserving of premi- 

 ums than could be given within their power, and 

 ihc same remark may be extended with great 

 propriety to cattle fitted for the stall. Miich cows 

 were much superior to those presented on former 

 occasions, and tlie Comnjittce express their grati- 

 iication that " our farmers are taking great pains 

 in the selection of this part of tlio stock with ref- j 

 erence to the qua'itij of the milk produced, altho' j 

 good keeping is found to be an important item in i 

 this particular, as well as in the quantity furnish- 1 

 ed. It is believed that those known among us by ; 

 the name of the Dcntoii and Cox breeds are to be I 

 preferred for the dairy.'" They likewise com- 1 

 mend the young stock, and say, " It is a well i 

 known fact that the best breeds in England h»ve I 

 been produced entirely by selections of the best j 

 animals from their native breeds." The improvtdl 

 short honied breeds have been in great demand in i 

 England; this is nothing but an improvement j 

 upon the Hurham or Tees-water breed, formerly 

 found in great numbers in the County of Durham."' 

 The Baketcell and the Collinga breeds are nothing [ 

 but an improvement u[)on the native stocks of 

 England, by the great care and attention of tliC 

 distinguished growers of stock who have given- 

 names to these breeds, and it is ascertained be- ■ 

 yond all controversy that " color, shape and quality \ 

 can be given to stock by selections and crosses 

 with almost as much certainty as the manufactur- 

 er can give them to the products of the loom. — 

 We liave in Massachusetts — we have in Old; 

 Hampshire, us pure blood, as sound bone, and as 

 efficient muscle in our animals, as can be produc- 1 

 ed on either continent, and may we not believe j 

 that the period is not far distant, when, by the j 

 careful culture of our stocks, a race of animals 

 will be here produced which will rival the best | 

 stocks in England ? We trust we may yet hear 

 of stock named from our river or our county, 

 or some distinguished breeder within our huiits, 

 wliioh will be sought after with all the eager and 

 persevering enterprise by the farmers of Durham 

 and the cultivators of land upon the waters of the 

 Tees, that theirs b.ave been sought for by the 

 American farmer." This report is signed by Mark 

 DooLtTTLE, per order. 



The Committee on Domestic Manufactures ob- 

 served that " the collection of articles oflered for 

 premiums, exhibited, perhaps, less variety than on 

 some former occasions. But in all the most im- 

 portant and substantial fabricks, and also in a cer- 

 tain class of costly articles, designed rather for or- 

 nament than utility, all of which have been too 

 long sought from foreign sources it was rich and 

 extensive. The exhibition, on the whole, shows 



that domestic industry is regarded by this commu- 

 nity as the best source of personal independence 

 and general comfort." Woollen cloths were su- 

 ))crior to those of last year, but capable of im- 

 provement. It is recommended to die them in 

 the wool. Two fine specimens of Scotch Plaids 

 received premiums, and others of less worth drew 

 small gratuities. Fewer dressed and undressed 

 llannels were offered than at former exhibitions. 

 Specimens of Floor Carpeting were spoken of in 

 terms of decided approbation. " In conferring 

 the premiums the preference was given for such 

 as were well made, from the coarser material. If 

 made with cheap wool, it is the more durable, and 

 leaves the better quahty of wool for its more ap- 

 propriate uses. The piece of carpeting made by 

 Mrs Cynthia Thayer of Greenfield, was made from 

 wool of that description, costing only l"2i| cts. per 

 pound, and received the first jiremium. " This 

 lady is deserving of great credit for the superior 

 fabrics she has often presented at the annual fairs 

 of this Society, and at the shows at Brighton. It 

 cannot be doubted, that by the premiums she ob- 

 tains, and by the sales of her goods, she is amply 

 remunerated for all her labors. But more than 

 this she deserves the gratitude of the community 

 for having contributed greatly to raise the style of 

 household manufactures. The hke credit is due 

 to Mrs Ann Meech of Worthington, whose fabrics 

 have often graced the hall of the Society's exhibi- 

 tions." The Conmiittee speak of Cotton Counter- 

 panes of a superior quality, Woollen Counter- 

 panes, Rose Blankets, Hosiery, Stockings, Half 

 Hose, Linen Sheetings and Shirtings, Linen Dia- 

 pers, &c. Likewise two specimens of Sewing 

 Silk. "The one the most jjerfcct offered by Ma- 

 son Shaw, Esq. of Belchertown, the other by IVIrs 

 Starkweather of Northampton. They were both 

 superior in thread and colouring to the imported 

 article ; and procured gratuitous premiums." — 

 Corn Brooms and Brushes, Toast Irons, Waffle 

 Irons and Bucket Ears, are also mentioned. The 

 Committee conclude their report with advice to 

 every family within the limits of tlie Society, to 

 " Lay every hand to the work of Domestic Manu- 

 factme. Pursue it with steady and untiring i)er- 

 severauce. Lot the sentiment and the word that 

 govern in this good cause be onward." 



This report is signed by George Grennell, Jr. 

 per order. 



farm, or helpers in the stables, and before they be- 

 came pampered with better food than their par- 

 ents' cabin afl'orded. The lads at first were live- 

 ly and intelligent, and displayed a degree of 

 shrewdness exceeding what is generally met with 

 from youths of a more exalted walk of life in Eng- 

 land. But he invariably found that in proportion 

 as these boys were better fed, they relaxed in ac- 

 tivity, became dull and stupid ; and he is confi- 

 dent that the change in disposition sprung frons 

 the effect of change of diet, and was not owing to 

 corruption of mind from then- intercourse with the 

 other servants. In fact they lost all that vivacity 

 of manner .so inherent in the Irish boys, whether 

 born in the vast bog of Allen, or in the dry and 

 rocky counties of Mayo and Galway. He is 

 therefore inclined to think that the character of 

 the people does not depend so nmcb upon climate 

 or soil as upon food, for no part of the globe can 

 difler more than these parts of that kingdom. 



A potato diet is found greatly to improve tha 

 quality of the blood. Ilencc " roasted potatoes'' 

 have been successfully employed as a specific 

 against the sea scurvy, wlien other remedies have 

 failed. This discovery was made in France. It 

 is singular that boiled potatos do not seem to have 

 the same good efl"ects. — Sir John Sinclair. 



VEGETABLE DIET. 



There cannot be a doubt that tlie diet of the 

 Irish is highly favorable to vivacity and talent. It 

 is stated in the Code of Health, that " vegetable 

 food" has a ha])py influence on the powers of tl.>e 

 mind, and tends to preserve a delicacy of feeling, 

 a liveliness of imagination, and an acuteness of 

 judgment, seldom enjoyed by those who live prin- 

 ci]Ki!ly upon animal food. The latter is better 

 calcidated for those who labor wilh the body ; but 

 the celebrated Franklin ascertained that a vegeta- 

 ble diet, promoting clearness of ideas and quick- 

 ness of perception was to be preferred by those 

 who labored with the mind. 



In proof of the assertion that a vegetal)le diet 

 promotes clearness of ideas and quickness of 

 thought, and that a transition from vegetable to 

 animal food produces itijurious effects, a friend 

 states that he has more than once selected from 

 his tenant's children a boy remarkable for that 

 smartness of intelligence so common in the Irish 

 youth, while in the capacity of errand boys on the 



IMPORTANT INVENTION. 



We this morning exannned and saw in opera- 

 tion a most ingenious and valuable machine for 

 spinning flax and hemp, invented by Dr. Bell and 

 Mr. Dyer, two intelligent and highly respectable 

 gentlemen from New-England. They entered 

 upon the prosecution of their jilans last wintei', and 

 have now brought them to a successful termina- 

 tion.— As the jjatent has not been secured, we are 

 not permitted to give a full description of the in 

 vention ; but the following particulars will be in- 

 teresting to our readers, especially to those who 

 wish well to the cause of Ameriean manufactures. 



The machine is constructed on an entirely new 

 principle, having no analogy to the process for 

 the cotton, woolen, worsted, or other manufacture. 

 The quality of the yarns produced is pronounced 

 by competent judges, to surpass other linen yarns 

 in as great proportion as cotton or woolen yarns 

 spun by the present improved machinery, are su- 

 perior to those v/rought by hand. The size of the 

 thread can be varied to any e.xtent, from that of 

 cambric to that of the ropeyarns used in the man- 

 ufacture of cordage. In the degree of velocity, it.-. 

 operation is limited only by the qnickne.ss which 

 the spindles and fliers are capable of supporting. 

 The instrument now in operation |)roduces about 

 the same quantity of thread per spindle, fineness 

 being equal, as the throstle spindles in the cotton 

 manufactine. The whole formation of the thread 



from dressed flax is completed at one operation 



The material laid on the machine is wound upon 

 the spools ready for the loom, without the inter- 

 vention of any assistance; the whole effected by 

 the rotary motion communicated from drums. — 

 Indeed, all the motions of the instrument are of a 

 circular kind. 



So far as our observations or knowledge ex- 

 tends, this invention is entirely original, and noth- 

 ing of the kind exists in the work-shops of the 

 ; United States or Europe, where the fabrics from 

 ', flax are entirely wrought by hand. The inanu- 

 [ factures of Hnens will now be placed upon the 

 same ground and enjoy the same facilities as cot- 

 tons. It has been estimated, that upon moder- 



