120 



Bucks Count!/ Agricultural Exhibition. 



Vol. XI. 



France indulged in a vain aspiration : but 

 ice look to substantial benefits — and to the 

 certain means of conferring them. 



By well directed efforts, we may also be 

 tlie means of causing those beautiful visions 

 to be yet realized, which were long since 

 entertained, in Chester county, by a few 

 choice spirits within her borders. At an 

 early day — when tlie perceptive faculties of 

 the masses were unimproved by education, 

 and blunted by the unavoidable drudgery of 

 a rude agriculture, — our county produced 

 men whose taste and refinement were so far 

 in advance of the times, that they actually 

 dreamt of pleasure grounds, ' and botanic 

 gardens ; and consequently, those strange 

 conceits were very imperfectly appreciated, 

 by their contemporaries. A Botanic Garden 

 was then considered as one of the practica" 

 vagaries of an eccentric mind — the embody 

 ment of a monomania — instead of being 

 prized as a nursery of taste, and an instru 

 inent of knowledge — a means by which the 

 value of new discoveries, and the practibility 

 of their culture, may be speedily and econo- 

 mically tested, for the information of all. 

 Yet, even in the midst of that intellectual 

 fog, there were fninds — and honoured be 

 their memory! — whose radiance could illus- 

 trate the importance of such institutions, — 

 and whose energies could effect their intro- 

 duction. 



If I mistake not, the secoiid ghrdeu in this 

 confederated empire of republics, the Jirsl 

 being also in this state, designed for the cul 

 ture and distribution of rare and valuable 

 plants, was established at Marshallton, in 

 Chester county; and Hdmphrey Marshall, 

 its venerable founder, was the author of the 

 first treatise upon our vegetable treasures, 

 that was issued from the American press. His 

 example in founding a Botanic garden, was 

 soon followed by another estimable citizen of 

 the county — the late amiable John Jackson, 

 of London-grove. A third exemplification 

 of rural taste and elegance, was furnished 

 by the brothers, Samuel and Joshua Pierce, 

 of East Marlborough, — who, by their splen- 

 did collection of evergreens, and ot .er kin- 

 dred embellishments, have made their farm 

 one of the most delightful rural residences 

 W'ithin this commonwealth. 



What those worthy citizens accomplished, 

 from the promptingsof their own good taste, 

 when there were few to appreciate, and 

 none to co-operate, may surely be attempted 

 by us, now that the progress of refinement, 

 all around us, not only invites to the per- 

 formance, but reproves our delay in the un- 

 dertaking. 



Let us resolve, then, to persevere in the 

 good work, until our beautiful science shall 



have difflised its blessings over this entire 

 community — and all its mysteries and ma- 

 nipulations shall be as familiarly understood, 

 as are the simplest processes of agriculture. 

 Let the acquisition of skill, and a thorough- 

 ly disciplined taste, be our constant aim: for 

 we may rely upon it, that fruitful gardens, 

 and embellished farms, will as surely follow 

 those attainments, as the brilliance of day 

 results from the rising of an unclouded sun. 

 I^et us endeavour to hasten the period, 

 when our county shall be as eminent in 

 Horticulture, as in the other departments of 

 rural economy — and when our village shall 

 be known throughout the land, as a favourite 

 seat of science and refinement, — equally dis- 

 tinguished for the intelligence and urbanity 

 of its people — the number and excellence of 

 its scholastic institutions — the rich produc- 

 tiveness and the tasteful elegance of its 



gar' 



dens 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 



Bucks County Agricultural Exhibition. 



Mr. Editor, — I was present at the Agri- 

 cultural Exhibition of the Bucks County- 

 Society, held at Newtown, and can truly 

 say, I was never more interested on such 

 an occasion. The committee of arrange- 

 ment must have been practical men, to min- 

 ister to the desires and expectations of 3000 

 spectators, leaving not a wish ungratified. 



The stock exhibited was excellent and 

 well placed. Here I saw the best bull of 

 Colostra's get, and no mistake; with all 

 the fine points and delectable handling of 

 his sire, united to the remarkably developed 

 loin and rump of his dam, an imported cow, 

 he may be considered as fine an animal as 

 any in the Union,- and ought to be better 

 known. He is a perfect white, with.beau- 

 tifully formed horns, the latter indicative of 

 purity of blood. 



The horses were not numerous, but of su- 

 perior character; amongst which, a two-year 

 old colt, by Mr. Harris's horse Diligence, 

 out of one of his imported mares, bids fair 

 to rival his sire, which will be "glory 

 enough." 



The hogs and pigs of the pure white 

 Chester county breed, were splendid, and 

 brought large prices at sale: a sow, the pro- 

 perty of Levi Buckman, promising to reach 

 700 lbs. when fat. The sheep of diflferent 

 breeds and grades were very good. There 

 was a good show of produce and vegetables, 

 with corn-stalks measuring 16 feet 8 inches 

 in heiglit, such as scarcely any other county 

 could reach; the cuUivalors themselves 

 being of the purest blood — the old Bucks 

 county class of husbandmen, whose praise 



