No. 4. 



Philadelphia Agricultural Society. 



115 



the Alderney, Scotch aod Kerry cows, many 

 of each showinij great milking properties, 

 and affording the strongest evidence of their 

 superiority over the unimproved stock of the 

 country. 



Several pairs of fine working oxen were 

 exhibited, bred in the Slates of New York 

 and Connecticut; they were well trained, 

 and their performances were highly satis- 

 factory. The Devons attracted great admi- 

 ration, being nearly of the same size, form 

 and colour. 



Tlie show of sheep consisted of the Lei- 

 cester, Cotswold, and Southdown, and their 

 grades; their appearance exemplified the 

 most convincing proof of their superiority 

 over the common breeds, for both plenty of 

 wool and fine mutton. 



The swine were principally of the Ches- 

 ter county breed, large and well formed, 

 and having the appearance of easy keepers. 

 Some good grade Berkshires were also there. 



There was a handsome display of the differ- 

 ent breeds of domestic fowls, such as Jersey 

 Blues, Malay, and other large breeds from In- 

 dia, with the beautiful Poland and JVlufflers. 



The display of agricultural products, both 

 in quantity and quality, far surpassed any 

 thing of the kind ever seen at any former 

 exhibition of the Society, the specimens both 

 of grain and roots, were large and beautiful 

 — the latter will be found to be highly valu- 

 able food for cows and sheep during the win- 

 ter season. The implements of agriculture 

 were numerous and of excellent construc- 

 tion; wheat fans, straw and stalk cutters, 

 corn shellers, drill machines, corn planters, 

 &.C., were all calculated to facilitate the 

 operations of the cultivator of the soil and 

 to lessen his labour. 



The character of the Philadelphia butter 

 was well sustained by the specimens pre- 

 sented for examination, they were of supe- 

 rior quality. 



The trial of ploughs and ploughmen came 

 off on the second day of the meeting. A 

 suitable piece of ground having been ob- 

 tained near by, the portions laid off' for each 

 one contained about the one-eighth of an 

 acre. After the distribution of lots the or- 

 der was given to commence the trial, — all 

 went on steadily, without difficulty or con- 

 fusion. The work was completed in about 

 half an hour, and in a manWr highly cre- 

 ditable to all engaged. The ploughs were 

 generally of the most approved patterns, and 

 the skill of the ploughmen elicited the ad- 

 miration of the numerous spectators assem- 

 bled to witness the most interesting portion 

 of the exhibition. 



Before two o'clock the committees had 

 prepared their reports and placed them in 



the hands of the President, A. S. Roberts, 

 who addressed a few remarks by way of en- 

 couragement, to farmers to persevere in so 

 meritorious a cause; the reports were read 

 by him in the presence of several hundred 

 persons, announcing to the successftil com- 

 petitors the premiums assigned to them — a 

 copy of which is appended. 



Perhaps on no former occasion has the 

 award of the different committees been re- 

 ceived with greater satisfaction ; the unsuc- 

 cessful candidates evincing the best and most 

 liberal temper, and a determination to make 

 another trial at the next annual meeting. 



The premiums off^ered by the Society on 

 this occasion, amounted to more than six 

 hundred dollars. 



At three o'clock the members of the So- 

 ciety present, with the judo-es and a few in- 

 vited guests, amongst which were some of 

 the distinguished gentlemen of the editorial 

 corps of the city and county, sat down to a 

 most excellent dinner provided for the occa- 

 sion, by Mr. John Gheen, of the Lamb Tav- 

 ern. After the removal of the cloth, ad- 

 dresses were delivered by the President, Mr. 

 Roberts, M. M'Michael, Esq., Professor Ro- 

 bert Hare, and others, all of which were 

 listened to with the greatest attention, and 

 elicited the hearty applause of all present. 



Among the large number of persons in at- 

 tendance at the exhibition, were many dis- 

 tinguished farmers from our own and the 

 neighbouring States. Old Virginia was also 

 represented by that ardent and honoured 

 friend of agriculture. General W. H. Rich- 

 ardson, who expressed his high approbation 

 of the articles and animals exhibited. 



The whole afl^air passed off" in a manner 

 highly creditable to the Society, affording 

 the greatest encouragement to persevere in 

 a cause in the success of which the comforts 

 and happiness of the human family are chiefly 

 dependent. 



In conclusion, it is to be hoped that the 

 day is not distant when every farmer will be 

 convinced that he would be benefitted by be- 

 coming a member of an Agricultural Socie- 

 ty, and a subscriber to an agricultural paper. 



Robert T. Potts, 

 Isaac VV. Roberts, 

 A. L. Elwyn, 

 George Blight, 

 Aaron Clement, 

 David Landreth, 

 David George, 

 Dennis Kellv, 

 Manuel Eyre, 

 A. S. Roberts, 

 Committee of Arrangement. 



Philadelphia, Nov. 3, 1847. 



