No. 11. 



Editoi'ial Notices. 



357 



and the fields, when clothed, as they have been for a 

 month past, with such exuberance of growth, and ful- 

 ness of promise. The vicinity of Fhiladelphia, possess- 

 es much to tempt the drive or the walk. There is good 

 farming— beauty of situation— correct taste, and abun- 

 dant means, whereby all may be improved to the great- 

 est advantage. It would seem as if wealth could 

 hardly be rationally enjoyed any where but in the 

 country. If a man is extravagant in his table, it is 

 but the gratification of one of his lowest propensities; 

 if in his furniture, or liis dwelling, it is in things 

 which not only perish with the using, but which soon 

 cease, when their novelty has worn off, to yield any 

 great amount of enjoyment. But let the man of wealth, 

 and liberal views, and cultivated taste, plant him- 

 self in the country, under the broad and open sky, 

 and in the midst of his fields and his gardens 

 and his trees, which his own industry and good 

 judgment have made just what they should be, and 

 let him withal be public spirited and enterprising, 

 acting upon the principle that ice do not live for our- 

 selves only, and we must admit there is open to him a 

 source of enjoyment, of the most healthy and delisht- 

 ful character, for the non-improvement of which, him- 

 self only can be to blame, and for the neglect of which 

 he must assume a heavy responsibility. 



These reflections have been induced on the present 

 occasion, by a ride the Editor had the pleasure of tak- 

 ing on the 21st ult. to Gemiantown and its vicinity. 

 Nothing need be said of the season of the year— all of 

 us feel, in common with the vegetable world, a renew- 

 al of life, and a fresh breaking forth into its enjoy- 

 ments. The neighborhood too is well known, and it is 

 not in our plan to describe any part of it. 



The day was spent with James Gowen, at Mount 

 Airy, whose land lies mostly on the east side of the 

 Germantown road, some eight miles from the city. The 

 readers of the Cabinet, by means of his occasional 

 communications, are well acquainted with his good 

 farming, and its consequent results— large crops. His 

 farm lies beautifully, and his fields of grass were 

 splendid. His hedges too, of the Madura thorn, or 

 Osage Orange, look thrifty, and promise to do well. 

 His spring wheat, and lucerne, and oats, and corn sown 

 broadcast for soiling, showed that they had been put 

 in the ground by the hano of a master, who intended 

 they should produce well, or the failure should not lie at 

 his door. The cattle have been so repeatedly exhibited 

 at our agricultural shows, that the readers of the Ca- 

 binet know more of them than the Editor can tell 

 them. They are truly a splendid lot of Durhams, and 

 though some eighteen or twenty have been lately sold, 

 to lessen the labors of the dairy, the remainder— about 

 thirty,— make a fine display in the pasture. We re- 

 marked the milk dripping from the udder of Z)airi/JUai(f 

 as she stood leisurely chewing her cud. The yard and 

 shrubbery around the house, are just what they should 

 be, showing very plainly the delicate and guiding hand 

 of a mistress, as well as the stronger one of a master. 

 When you get among the out-buildings— the barns and 

 sheds, you might naturally enough conclude you had 

 stumbled into the village. We liked their arrange- 

 ments, and the neatness of every thing connected with 

 them. There was a place for every thing, and every 

 thing was in its place. The thorough measures adopt- 



ed for the saving of every thing that might be turned 

 into manure, were very obvious. We could find no 

 little ditch to carry from the cow yard its juices into a 

 neighbouring ravine, but on the contrary, means were 

 adopted to save and to absorb every liquid, of the sta- 

 bles, and to carry into a general reservoir the slops 

 soap snds, &c. of the kitchen-all was saved Our 

 friend at Mount Airy does not act upon the idea that 

 he can alT^rd to waste his manures at home, and come 

 to Philadelphia to replace them by purchase. In the 

 ditroront sections of stabling was the keg of plaster 

 and every day some was strewn on the floor to absorb 

 the ammonia, which from its volatile nature would 

 otherwise be wasted. The heap of poudrette, that was 

 of course under shelter ready to be used on corn that 

 was then being planted, was carefully covered an inch 

 or two with plaster of paris, tliat every particle of its 

 virtue might be retained. 



The fine property formerly occupied as Mount Airy 

 College, and owned by the late W.G. Rogers, has been 

 purchased by J. Gowen. It lies immediately adjoining 

 the homestead, and will be a splendid addition to it. 

 The buildings and grounds, and healthiness of the 

 neighbourhood, would remarkably well adapt it for an 

 agricultural school, whenever it may be advisable to 

 put such an establishment into operation. 



Died at his residence in this city on the 14th ult, 

 Dr. James Mease, in the 75th year of his age. 



Strongly attached from early life to agricultural pur- 

 suits, and his views being practical, he was an efficient 

 promoter of their interests. For several years past, he 

 filled the chair, with great ability, as President of the 

 Philadelphia Society for I'romoting Agriculture. We 

 shall greatly miss at our office, the friendly and social 

 calls, of this, our venerable fellow citizen. 



It is stated that 100 bushels of strawberries were 

 sold in Cincinnati on the 2Cth ult. Cany any one give 

 an estimate of the quantity brought here in a day in 

 the height of their season ? 



Tne quantity of rain which fell in the 5th month, 

 1846, was nearly three inches and a half. . 3.44 inches, 

 Penn. Hospital, Gth mo. tst. 



Many apprehensions are entertained of the ravages 

 of the wheat fly. From our exchanges, we learn that 

 very considerable injury must be sustained in various 

 sections; vihile in others, it does not seem to have 

 made its appearance. The wheat harvest commenced 

 a week ago in North Carolina, and the southern part 

 of Virginia, and promises a good yield. 



A LIST of Premiums, &c. of our Agricultural Society 

 shall appear in the next nuu.ber of the Cabinet. 



Odr Jersey friends supplied us with new potatoes 

 and string beans on the 9th inst. 



