No. 3. 



Philadelphia Agricultural Society's Exhibition. 



101 



ing the land, and dressing the top surface 

 with well-composted manure, drilling in the 

 seed and covering it by a slight harrowing — 

 which, together with rolling, might be per- 

 formed by means of additions to the drill ; 

 then, the complaint of the depredations of the 

 plant-louse on the ruta-bagas would no longer 

 be heard — that disease arising chiefly, if not 

 entirely, from defects in the soil or the sub- 

 soil ; the crops doubling in quantity and tre- 

 bling in quality, preserving the saccharine 

 juices through the winter and until late 

 spring, without deterioration. And, sixth, 

 although last, not least, is the consideration, 

 that at the time of frost, the crops will not be 

 so liable to be lifted and the roots be broken, 

 for the land being loose and comparatively 

 dry to a great depth, it will not be easily 

 penetrated by the frost; while the roots of 

 the plants, having a much firmer hold of the 

 ground and more out of the reach of frost, 

 will be able to exert a greater resistance and 

 hold on more firmly. Thus, the rising will 

 be in a very great measure prevented, and 

 consequently, the subsidence of the soil at 

 the passing away of frost — the most trying 

 time by far, for by it the plants are left stand- 

 ing naked on the surface, and then come 

 disease, and its concomitants in every shape. 

 In the usual shallow ploughing, the frost soon 

 penetrates to the hard-pan, and lifts the whole 

 surface at once, its power being increased by 

 a superabundance of moisture, which is often 

 found to rest upon the unbroken surface of 

 the subsoil at that season of the year. So 

 that, had the subsoil ploughing been the only 

 part of the exhibition, I should have been 

 richly repaid lor my time and the small 

 amount of expense incurred. 



No doubt, many of these subsoil ploughs 

 will be in request: would you inform us 

 where they may be obtained, and at what 

 cost? Joseph Stille. 



Luzerne Co., 2d Oct., 1841. 



Mr. Prouty, the maker of tlie Centre Draught Plough, 

 who furnished the Subsoil Plough, is preparing to con- 

 struct them, and we will take the first opportunity to 

 state when they may be obtained and at what price. 

 It is much to be regretted that the large Subsoil Plough 

 imported by the late James Ronaldsoii, was not brought 

 into competition; but tlie grent power necessary to 

 work it could not be procured upon the spot, neither 

 was the accompanying apparatus calculated for the 

 common teams and harness of the country. It is a 

 most effective instrument on compact and strong soils, 

 capable of turning up rocks of 200 lbs. ; but much of 

 the land in our region can be subsoiled with a lighter 

 tool, the beam and handles of which, however, must 

 be longer and straighter, forming levers to the body of 

 the plough, which might be denominated the fulcrum 

 of the instrument. Mr. Ilulme, the gentleman who 

 sent it for trial, has the thanks of the community : he 

 informs, that it might be seen and examined at the 

 Franklin Institute, South Seventh Street. — Ed. 



Philadelphia Agricnltural Society's Ex- 

 hibition. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENT. 



The Committee of Arrangement, in making their 

 Report of the Annual Exhibition of the Philadelphia 

 Society for Promoting Agriculture, held on the 29th and 

 30th of September ultimo, do so with feelings of more 

 tiian ordinary satisfaction. 



Taking all things into consideration, this Exhibition 

 was more gratifying than any which has preceded it. 

 The display of Horses, it is to be regretted, was not 

 equal to that of former occasions, though it is admit- 

 ted that the stock of fine Horses has rather increased 

 than diminished during the past few years. Of Neat 

 Cattle, the supply was full, there being only three or 

 four of the long range of stalls unoccupied ; while the 

 quality, condition, and appearance, were never sur- 

 passed at any Exhibition of the Society. Of Sheep, 

 although they were not as numerous as formerly, they 

 were extremely fine specimens of the breeds to which 

 they respectively belong. The number of Swine was 

 unusually large, embracing some of the best specimens 

 of Berkshires and mixed breeds, and betokening an in- 

 creased interest in this important branch of farm stock. 



Much attention was attracted to the large and hand- 

 some display of Agricultural Implements. It appeared, 

 indeed, from the number, variety, and excellence of the 

 utensils in this department, that there was little room 

 left for farther improvement. This means of display- 

 ing, by inventors and manufacturers, improved imple- 

 ments of husbandry, before the agricultural public, en- 

 ables it to form a proper familiarity with their charac- 

 ter and value. 



Although the amount and variety of the products of 

 the farm, were probably greater and better than usual, 

 yet it would have been more satisfactory to have seen 

 greater interest evinced in this respect. It would cer- 

 tainly have been pleasing to all, if there had been dis- 

 played and systematically arranged, the finest samples 

 of all the different kinds of grain, vegetables, &c., with 

 all the necessary information appended, incident to 

 their culture, yield, &;c. It is to be hoped that by an- 

 other year, this deficiency will be fully supplied, and 

 thus one of the most interesting and useful portions 

 of the Exhibition be properly sustained. 



The trial of Ploughs and Ploughing, was witnessed 

 by a large concourse of people, who showed, by their 

 anxiety for the result, the deep interest they felt in this 

 most important of all the utensils in agriculture. Tests 

 of this kind cannot but prove serviceable to the farmer. 



It is known that the funds of the Society are quite 

 limited, and barely sufficient, by observing the utmost 

 economy in the ordinary expenditures as well as the 

 rate of premiums, to carry it successfully through, with- 

 out burthening itself with debt. The Committee would 

 therefore beg leave to recommend, as a sure and unob- 

 jectionable mode of increasing the funds of the Society, 

 that certain improvements be made in the Exhibition 

 Grounds, and that a small admission sum be hereafter 

 exacted from each visiter. By this means a handsome 

 revenue could be raised, which, while it would prove 

 of the utmost advantage to the Society, in enabling it 

 to enlarge and extend the premiums, would be contri- 

 buted with pleasure by the thousands of respectable yeo- 

 manry, honouring the Exhibition with their presence. 



