No. 4. 



Philadelphia Agricultural Exhibition. 



127 



points commented on with unmixed delight 

 and approbation by their owners, should be 

 competent to judge them, so as to give satis- 

 faction to their possessors. And what but 

 good could result from the course proposed ] 

 one would suppose that any one who has a 

 superior animal, would be as glad to exhibit 

 it for love as for money, and friendly compe- 

 tition would then take place of the heart- 

 burning which is now so generally wit- 

 nessed. I would, therefore, respectfully 

 propose the experiment; the funds of the 

 Society could be expended far more agree- 

 ably in defraying the cost of the transport 

 of fine animals from a distance, the keep of 

 them while there, improved accommodations 

 for visitors, and a reduction in the expenses 

 attending the exhibition — all tending to good 

 fellowship, kind feeling, and healthy emula- 

 tion; everyone retaining his opinion regard- 

 ing the merits of his stock, without the mor- 

 tification of hearing it publicly declared, that 

 they are inferior to those belonging to his 

 neighbour; by men whom he may deem quite 

 incompetent to the task of forming a judg- 

 ment. I should then expect to see many 

 more fine cattle from a distance ; the exhib- 

 iting and sale of which, both public and pri- 

 vate, would create a wider influence; instil 

 new life and vigor into the Society, and be 

 the means of adding very much to its gene- 

 ral interest and utility. Z. 



October 25th, 1842. 



Agricultural Exhibition. 



Report of the Committee of Arrangement. 



The Philadelphia Society for promoting 

 agriculture, held their annual exhibition of 

 live-stock, agricultural implements, &c, at 

 the Rising Sun Village, on the 12th and 

 13th of October, inst. The number of cat- 

 tle on the ground, was not so great as on 

 some former occasions, but the committee 

 takes great pleasure in confirming the opin- 

 ion expressed by the judges, that the quality 

 was fully maintained, and that the young 

 stock particularly, gives promise of contin- 

 uous improvement. Of swine, there was 

 about the usual number; consisting of Berk- 

 shire, native, and crossed breeds, which were 

 very uniformly good. We have generally 

 been indebted to our neighbours of Dela- 

 ware and Chester, in a great measure, for 

 the display of sheep; but on the present oc- 

 casion we have to regret that their fine flocks 

 were absent, doubtless owing to the dry, 

 dusty weather, and the interference of the 

 general election. 



The committee was gratified to perceive 

 an increase of horses brought forward, and 



many of them very superior of their kind; — 

 the citizens of Pennsylvania are obviously 

 giving more attention to the blood, and are 

 introducing a race very superior to the heavy 

 and cumbrous horse of former days. The 

 committee particularly recommends that the 

 Society provide suitable stabling for horses 

 brought to their exhibitions. The want of 

 such accommodation is a serious inconveni- 

 ence to the owners of these noblest of ani- 

 mals. 



The depression occasioned by adverse 

 times, entirely prevents that remuneration 

 which those who raise fine stock deserve, 

 and have a right to anticipate ; yet we en- 

 tertain the hope, that our agricultural com- 

 munity will eventually appreciate the ad- 

 vantage of breeding from good animals of 

 every species, rather than the scrubby and 

 thriftless quadrupeds with which the fine 

 fields of Pennsylvania are occasionally de- 

 formed. 



With the farmers of the interior or re- 

 mote sections of country, where land is 

 cheap, the raising and feeding of cattle and 

 other stock, have been pursued to greater 

 comparative advantage, than near large 

 cities. The abundance and cheapness of 

 improved blood within our borders, should 

 not therefore be overlooked by them. 



The Committee of Arrangement is tho- 

 roughly convinced that this Society, like 

 those of the Eastern States and England, 

 might make a moderate charge for admit- 

 tance to their grounds, — the receipt of which, 

 would enable them to grant many facilities 

 to visitors, and hold out still further induce- 

 ments for farmers to exhibit their valuable 

 stock and produce. 



On the day succeeding the display of 

 stock and farming implements, the excel- 

 lence of ploughs and skill of ploughmen 

 were tested, under the eye of an able and 

 faithful committee of judges. Although, as 

 they state, the ground was dry and unfa- 

 vourable, the interest was great and the 

 result entirely successful. We are satisfied, 

 that to try the general qualities and com- 

 parative advantages of different ploughs, a 

 whole day is requisite; and to ensure the 

 same success on future occasions, recom- 

 mend the observance of this precedent. 



The Committee of Arrangement does not 

 deem it necessary to enter more minutely 

 into the description of stock, implements of 

 husbandry, &c, as they are sufficiently par- 

 ticularized in the accompanying reports of 

 the judges. 



Kenderton Smith, Chairman. 

 Algernon S. Roberts, Secretary. 

 Philadelphia, Oct. 23d, 1642. 



