336 



Philadelphia Agricultural Society. 



Vol. IX, 



about one half the extent of ground neces- 

 sary for the keep of cows at pasture, was 

 gufficient for those kept housed. 



I could adduce abundance of other proof, 

 from equally respectable gentlemen, in sup- 

 port of the superiority of this system to that 

 in general use ; but I shall content myself 

 with merely saying, that if, according to 

 Mr. Blacker, a gentleman who deserves the 

 best thanks of the agricultural community, 

 three cows could be kept on the same ex- 

 tent of ground as is at present required to 

 keep one — the benefit thus resulting to the 

 farming interest would be immense. But 

 the increase of milk and butter consequent 

 on its adoption, would not be the only re- 

 sulting advantage — the increase of the ma- 

 nure heap would be equally advantageous. 

 No farmer, I care not how good his practice 

 may be in other respects, can farm profita- 

 bly, without a plentiful manure yard. Now, 

 it has been calculated, that on an average, 

 cows are not kept in the barn at present, 

 more than eight hours each day, throughout 

 the year. If such be the case, and I have 

 no reason to question the correctness of the 

 calculation, would not a cow that is house- 

 fed summer and winter, produce three times 

 as much available manure as one pastured 1 

 If, according to Mr. Smith's opinion, two 

 cows could be kept in the place of one, six 

 times as much manure could be made — if 

 Mr. Blacker's views be correct, nine times 

 as much manure could be realized. I con- 

 tend, therefore, that the general adoption of 

 this system would do away with a great 

 deal of the poverty, privations and misery, 

 with which the small farmers are at present 

 beset. And how] By increasing the means 

 of subsistence." 



Communicated for the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 Philadelphia Agricultural Society. 



At a stated meeting of the Philadelphia 

 Society for promoting Agriculture, held at 

 their Room on the 4th instant, Doct. Mease, 

 President, in the chair, — fifteen members 

 present. 



The minutes of the last meeting were 

 read and adopted. 



The following named gentlemen were ap- 

 pointed a committee on Crops for this year, 

 viz: C. S. Smith, I. W. Roberts, George 

 Blight, Dennis Kelly and Isaac Newton. 



Dr. Emerson having informed the Society, 

 that a machine for crushing hones had been 

 erected on his farm in the state of Delaware, 

 and was now in use, the following gentle- 

 men were appointed to view its operations, 

 and report thereon to the next Stated meet- 



ing, viz: A. S. Roberts, Dennis Kelly and 

 Aaron Clement. 



The fiillowing gentlemen were appointed 

 a committee of arrangement, for the purpose 

 of making the necessary preparations for 

 holding the annual exhibition and cattle 

 show of the Society, in the approaching 

 autumn ; viz : John Lardner, Isaac W. Ro- 

 berts, Dennis Kelly, Owen Sheridan, C. S. 

 Smith, George Blight, John S. Haines, Isaae 

 Newton and Dr. A. L. Elwyn. 



The following Report was on motion 

 adopted : 



The committee on farms, appointed by the 

 Philadelphia Society for promoting Agricul- 

 ture, respectfully report, that after due no- 

 tice had been given to farmers in the spring 

 of 1843, of the intentions of the Society to 

 award premiums to successful competitors 

 for the best managed farms, under certain 

 regulations and requirements, they proceed- 

 ed, as they were notified by the occupants 

 or owners of farms, to examine them. Du- 

 ring the two years allowed for the purpose 

 of application and examination, your com- 

 mittee regret to state, that they have been 

 called on in the line of their duty, but by 

 six persons, whose farms they have visited 

 and examined; viz: Messrs. Levi Morris, 

 John Hunter, Jesse George, David George, 

 Samuel C. Ford, and James Gowen. But 

 as the five first named gentlemen have failed 

 to furnish the committee answers to the in- 

 quiries made of them on the subject of man- 

 agement, expenditures, profits, &c., of their 

 farms, or having since declined competition, 

 they can only express their opinions in re- 

 gard to the appearance of their farms, stock, 

 &c. ; a compliment which they think is justly 

 due to those gentlemen for their polite and 

 hospitable reception, and kind treatment of 

 the committee. 



The farm of Mr. Morris is situated in 

 Lower Merion, Montgomery county, and 

 contains about 600 acres of land, well wa- 

 tered, and has a fine Southern exposure. It 

 is divided into large fields, with good fences, 

 and was at the time, occupied by three 

 tenants; the two Messrs. Johnson and Mr. 

 Coulter, who have separate establishments 

 and diflerent parts of the farm. They keep 

 large dairies, and attend the markets regu- 

 larly with butter, and other articles of pro- 

 duce, besides raising large crops of grain 

 and hay — they are evidently good and suc- 

 cessful farmers. 



In the old mansion yet standing on this 

 place, formerly resided the venerable Charles 

 Thompson, Secretary to the first American 

 Congress, during the Revolution. Mr. Mor- 



