66 



Agricultural Meeting. 



Vol. IX. 



found scarcely one that had not been cleare;! 

 of the grubs. That piece of ground has 

 been much more productive from that time; 

 and I think at least some share of the im- 

 provement is due to the rooks, though cer- 

 tainly not all. As to sparrows and other 

 small birds, particularly wagtails, a careful 

 observer may see them in breeding time fol- 

 lowing the plough or scarifier, dart their 

 beaks into crevices and pick out the wire 

 worms incessantly, then carry them to a 

 smooth piece of earth, lay them in a bundle, 

 and then clap them firmly in their beak and 

 carry them off to their young. Now sup- 

 pose the rook in searching for grubs, pulls 

 up the plant with it, would not the vermin 

 l«ive ruined it in all probability if he had 

 not"? And allowing that he pulls up some 

 potatoes on the moor lands, a little expense 

 of watching obviates that calamity. Also 

 allowing that sparrows will do considerable 

 damage to tlie wheat crop from the time the 

 grain is formed uniil harvested — a period of 

 six weeks or two months — wasting as much 

 as they eat, yet a few old men, for a few 

 shillings per week, may check their depre- 

 dations over an extensive farm. But by 

 .what process, involving fifty times this out- 

 lay, could man himself perform the service 

 rendered him by these active labourers, who 

 never need to he called to their employ- 

 ment — are never idle when there is any 

 prospect of their working to advantage — - 

 and who never call upon their protector 

 upon a Saturday night. Prejudices often 

 take deep root, and are handed down from 

 ancient to modem times: sparrow clubs are 

 stdl in existence ; and I was informed a few 

 days ago, of a person sending 3,000 heads 

 to a member of one club, and having to send 

 3,000 more to be exhibited as the genuine 

 trophies of that individual. He also may 

 consider he is doing mas a service; but 

 unless I receive further evidence to the 

 contrary, I must continue in the opinion 

 tiiat birds are eminently serviceable to man 

 during at least ten months out of the twelve; 

 that there is no known substitute for their 

 service; and that any injury which they 

 might effect during the rest of the year may 

 be easily and cheaply prevented. — F. J. 

 Graham. 



Agricultural Meeting. 



At a stated meeting of the Philadelphia 

 Society for promoting .Agriculture, held on 

 the 4th inst., Dr. James Mease, President, 

 in the chair — present 21 members. 



A. L. Kennedy and John Poole, were 

 elected resident members. 



A committee consisting of five members, 



to wit: Dr. Emerson, Dr. Elwyn, Mr. Hulme, 

 Mr. Blight and Mr. Newton, to which was 

 added the president, Dr. Mease, — were ap- 

 pointed to visit the National Convention of 

 Farmers and Gardeners, to be held on the 

 11th of October next, at the Ainerican In- 

 stitute, New York. 



A letter was read from P. A. Browne, 

 Esq., describing the peculiar qualities of a 

 new kind of squash, obtained in Montgomery 

 county, a sample of which was sent to the 

 meeting. 



Mr. M. S. Powell, e.vhibited a fine 

 sample of Tuscany wheat, from the farm 

 of Dr. Uhler, Newcastle county, Delaware 

 — grain large, full and white ; a superior 

 article.* A spirited and interesting discus- 

 sion took place on the .subject of ploughs 

 and ploughing, during which various opin- 

 ions were expressed with regard to the pro- 

 per mode of turning the furrow, in order to 

 produce the best results. Dr. Emerson 

 stated that he had within a few days, visited 

 the farm of Benj. VV. Cooper, near Camden, 

 N. J., in company with Messrs. A. Clement 

 and Hulme, to witness a trial of Prouty's 

 improved Centre-draught ploughs, the per- 

 formances of which were highly satisfactory. 

 The grass and weeds — the latter of which 

 were from three to four feet high — were 

 completely covered under, and six or seven 

 inches deep; the ground afterward present- 

 ing a fine, well broken, clean surface, re- 

 quiring but little application of the harrow. 

 The soil was a mellow, sandy loam. 



The following gentlemen have been ap- 

 pointed judges of stock, implements, «Sz,c., 

 at the Exhibition to be held on the 16th, 

 ITtli, and 18th of October, at the Rising 

 Sun Village. 



On Horses. — Gen. G. Cadwallader, Dr. 

 Elwyn, Owen Sheridan, A. Mellor, Jacob 

 Stadelman. 



On Cattle over two years old. — Benjamin 

 Serrill, David George, Thomas S. Woodard, 

 John Worth, jr., Alexander Johnson. 



On Cattle under two years old. — Joseph 

 Crawford, William P. Serrill, David Lyons, 

 Lewis Willard, Charles Garrett. 



On Sheep and Swine. — Dr. James Mease, 

 Isaac Newton, W. W. Barber, Aaron John- 

 son, W. W. Roberts. 



On Agricultural Implements and Pro- 

 duce. — John C. Cresson, Jesse George, Wil- 

 liam Roberts, Jonathan Robmson, James 

 Thornton. 



* It can be obtained at the Seed store of M. S. Powell, 

 No. 23, Market street. 



