NO. 20. 



THE FARMERS CABINET. 



313 



tural Fiirvcy, scon after tlic completion of the 

 g^eological survey now in piogrtss, under an 

 act of Assembly. A report ol'a skilful prac- 

 tical fanner, after a thorough examination ot 

 all the varieties of farming" in use amonfj us, 

 would be a source of much valuable know- 

 ledge. Such a report should give minute 

 details; and then would be seen the intimate 

 relation between the minerals, which the 

 earth covers, and the true method ot cultiva- 

 ting its surface. Then might a pretty accu- 

 rate judgment be formed, as to what we might 

 reasonably except and hope from our labours. 



There yet remains for consideration, the 

 particular way pointed out by the petitioners. 

 They ask J>egislative eiiconragrment to 

 county agricultural societie.s, by aiding them 

 to otter such premiums as will induce liie 

 ingenious and enterprising to devote their 

 labor for the public benefit. It has the recom- 

 mendations of incurring but a small expense, 

 and of avoiding too much govermental inter- 

 ference in the pursuits of individuals. Its 

 tendency would be to elevate the standard 

 of good farming; and this every government 

 ought to do, if it were only to increase the 

 facility of raising taxes. But in a popular 

 government like ours, where the happiness 

 and prosperity of the people onght to be the 

 only aims of government, the means of promo- 

 ting them cannot be neglected without great 

 injustice. 



The committee have supposed, that this 

 subjoct would be likely to attract public atten- 

 tion; and that, by another year, public opinion 

 would indicate the proper course for our 

 successors to pursue. The arrangement of 

 the details of a general law on the subject, 

 would not be without its difficulties; and as 

 the session is near the close, they have con- 

 cluded to report no bill, and to recommend 

 no further immediate action on the prayer 

 of the petitioners. They therefore respect- 

 fully conclude with the following resolution : 



Resolved, That the committee be dis- 

 charged from the further consideration of the 

 subject, and that it be recommended to the 

 early attention of the next Legislature. 



Blight in Pear Trees. 



The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, 

 anxious to promote the discovery of a preven- 

 tive for the disease usually termed blijirJit in 

 Pear Trees, of!ers a premium of FIVE HUN- 

 DRED DOLLARS, to be paid the person 

 who shall di.«cover and make publican effec- 

 tual means of preventing its attack. The pre- 

 mium not to be awarded until after the expira- 

 tion of three years from the publication of the 

 preventive, nor until the Society shall be ful- 

 ly satisfied of its efficacy. Communications 

 on the subject may be addressed per mail to 

 David Landreth, Cor. Sec. Philadelphia. 



Seed Stores. 



[Persons residing at a distance from the 

 city, frequently iinjuire where they innv 

 purchase seeds, witliout fear of imposition. 

 VVe take great plea.'^urc in recommfnding to 

 our patrons, and all interestrd, the seed estab- 

 lishments of D. Mai'Phv, No. .') South-Fifth 

 St., and D. Landrktii and Co. No. CJi Ches- 

 nut St., Philadelphia ; Jo.seph BRrcK and Co. 

 Boston, and R. Sinclair, ,lr. & Co. Baltimore.] 



Kxtractn from the Catalogue of I). Lan- 

 dreth tSf Co., with remarks. 



artichoke, 

 iMTge glohe, — A perennial plant; the 

 flower lieads in an immature state contain 

 the part nsed, which is the pulpy recepticle 

 commonly termed the bottom, freed from the 

 bristles or seed-down. The tender central 

 leaf-stalk or mid-rib of the loaf, blanched, is 

 by some thought preferable to the Cardoon. 

 Plant the seed early in the Spring, three or 

 four inches apart in row.o, the latter separated 

 so as to admit of hoeing — when one year old, 

 transplant to permanent bed.=, allowing each 

 plant two or three feet square of room — pro- 

 tect during Winter by raising over them a 

 mound of light dry earth. 



asparacus, 

 Large green, — Early in the Spring soak 

 the seed in warm water for 24 hours, then 

 drill it in thinly, in rows sufliciently wide 

 apart to admit the hoe — when two or three 

 years old, they may be transplanted into per- 

 manent beds, which should be so situated as 

 to cast off an excess of moisture. A conve- 

 nient width for the beds is four feet with 

 three rows of plants in each ; they should be 

 planted at least four inches beneath the sur- 

 face, and well manured at the time and an- 

 nually theiealter. 



BEANS, 



Long pod, broad Windsor. — These are 

 sometimes called English or Horse-Beans. 

 Plant very early in the Spring, in double or 

 single drills, 



Early six- weeks, red speckled valentine, 

 China red-eyed, brovm speckled valentine, 

 or refugee, royal dwarf, white, red French, 

 cranberry bnsh. — These are usually termed 

 Dwarf or Bush Bean.s. The early six weeks, 

 Red speckled Valentine and China red-eye, 

 are among the earliest. They maybe plant- 

 ed for the first and succession crops from the 

 middle of Spring till close of Summer — the 

 usual mode of culture is in rows or drills. 



Lima, Carolina or Sewee, scarlet runner, 

 white Dutch. — These require poles; the two 

 first are rather tender, and should not be 

 planted till close of Spring. They may be 

 forwarded by sprouting them in a hot-bedj 

 and transplanting at the proper time. 



