

DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ALL ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES, 



Agricultare not only gives riches to a nation, but the only riches she can call her own. — Johnson. 



VOL. II. 



SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1850. 



NO. 21 



S. W. COLE, Editor. 



QUINCY HALL, BOSTON. 



J. NOURSE, Proprietoh. 



NORFOLK CATTLE-SHOW. 



This festival took place at Dedhain, on ^Ycdnesday, 

 the 25th. ult. The day •n'as fine, and an immense 

 number attended. The first performance was the 

 ploughing match. There was a large number of 

 teams on the field, and the work was generally done 

 remarkably well. Li some places the land was un- 

 even, and the furrow-slice Avas turned up hill ; yet 

 the work was well done. After ploughing, as usual, 

 a specimen of subsoil ploughing was given, which 

 showed how readily the soil can be loosened to a 

 great depth ; and every intelligent cultivator can 

 judge of the great utility of this process, as the soil 

 to a good depth is rendered permeable to the roots 

 of plants, and a circulation of moisture is kept up in 

 time of drought. 



The drawing match was well performed. The 

 display of fruits, flowers, vegetables, articles of do- 

 mestic manufacture, and mechanical productions, 

 was under one half of the spacious tent of Mr. 

 AV right, which is two hundred and fifty feet by one 

 hundred and fifty. Notwithstanding there was much 

 room for this department, the place was crowded, and 

 it was difficult to see some articles. The show of 

 fruits Wtis extensive and fine, comparing favorablv 

 with the very best and largest exhibitions of the sea- 

 son. There were some very fine and rich articles of 

 domestic manufacture, evincing good taste, excellent 

 skill, and patient industry. The bread was among 

 the most conspicuous articles in this department, the 

 result of liberal premiums for the best. This feature 

 was highly commendable, for what is of more im- 

 portance than the staff" of life ? 



The show of cattle was largo, and generally very 

 good. There were many handsome animals — some 

 excellent models for labor, others for milk ; and a 

 few made a very conspicuous figure as fine, fat 

 animals. The exhibition of swine was verj' good, 

 and some of the specimens were excellent. The 

 show of fowls was far larger than we had ever seen 

 before at a cattle-show. There were about one hun- 

 dred and twenty coops, of almost every breed known 

 in the country, and many new varieties and crosses. 



At the meeting-house, the president of the society, 



Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, made a few appropriate 

 remarks on the formation and progress of the society. 

 Hon. C. P. Adams deUvered an interesting address 

 on the peculiar condition of agriculture in that 

 county. He exhibited statistics showing that the 

 increase of agricultural products did not keep pace 

 with the increase of population. He remarked thai 

 only about one fifteenth of the county was undei 

 cultivation, and he urged more attention to the sub- 

 ject of agriculture, particularly to the keeping of 

 milch cows. The address was able and instructive, 

 and was listened to with jjleasure by a large au- 

 dience. 



A hymn composed for the occasion, by Mrs. Sig- 

 ournej', was sung ; also an original ode, by Mr. Keys, 

 secretary of the society. 



At the dinner table, under one half of the capa- 

 cious tent, about twelve hundred persons were seated. 

 Hon. Mr. Wilder presided, in his usual pleasant and 

 courteous manner. He made some interesting re- 

 marks, and occasionally gave sentiments to call up 

 distinguished gentlemen to address the assembly, or 

 respond in a sentiment. Mr. James, the novelist, 

 made a brief and interesting speech ; and Dr. Put- 

 nam's able remarks were well spiced with wit and 

 humor, and were received with great applause. 



The officers of this society form an intelligent and 

 eff'ective corps, and every thing seemed to be well 

 arranged and executed. They were particularly at- 

 tentive to invited guests, who were received at the 

 residence of Hon. John Gardner, ho having kindly 

 opened the doors of his mansion for their reception. 



Although this is but the second exhibition of this 

 society, as to its judicious arrangements, and its ex- 

 hibition, it is not a whit behind other associations 

 that have had long expcrienc», and in some depart- 

 ments it seems to excel. 



ESSEX CATTLE-SHOW. 



This show took place on Thursday, the '26th ult. 

 The day was very unfavorable, as it stormed most of 

 the time ; yet the show was excellent, and a large 



