No. 4. 



JV. Biddle' s Address. 



129 



number of excellent and beautiful animals were ex- 

 hibited, and in several cases vied closely with their 

 more fortunate competitors. The Committee regret 

 that there were not more calves under one year old, to 

 compete with those to which the premiums were 

 awarded. 



To H. Hill, for the best Berkshire boar, $4. 

 To Win. Exley, for the best Berkshire sow, $4. 

 To James Gowen, for the best boar, mixed breed, $4. 

 To do. for the best sow, mixed breed, and 



six pigs, $4. 



The Committee regret the small display of sheep, 

 there being none which would come within the scope 

 of the premium list, although there was a fine flock 

 exhibited by Isaac Newton, of Delaware county, of the 

 Irish and Southdown stock, of very fine quality. The 

 Committee are well aware, that for sheep, the district 

 within the reach of Philadelphia, can compare with 

 any portion of our country. 



TheCommittee on Agricultural implements, respect- 

 fully report:— that the array in this department is nu- 

 merous, and possesses much interest from variety, al- 

 though comparatively few articles are of so recent 

 invention, as to be now exhibited for the first time. 

 Of that most important implement, the plough, all the 

 specimens appear to have considerable merit, so far as 

 a judgment may be derived from mere inspection, with- 

 out actual trial in the field. As such trial is to be 

 made under the supervision of a distinct Committee of 

 Judges, this Committee would waive the expression of 

 any opinion on the respective merits of the ploughs, 

 did not the premium list of the Society seem to require 

 a decision from them, prior to, and independent of, the 

 experimental proof. They accordingly award: 



To Mr. Dickson, of Chesnut Hill, the premium of $5 

 for the best plough. 



To Mr. Charles Garrett, of Lower Dublin, the pre- 

 mium of $2 for the second-best plough. 



A double mould, or hill side plough, invented by Mr. 

 B. Moore, is ingeniously adapted to its intended ob- 

 ject, and is recommended to the Society as a proper 

 subject of the premium for new implements. 



They further award : 



To Landreth and Munns, the premium of $4, for 

 the best straw cutter— being the one invented by Mr. 

 Botts, of Richmond, Va., which is easy and efficient 

 in its operation, and so constructed as to be easily ad- 

 justed and kept in repair. 



To Mr. D. O. Prouty, the premium of $8, for the best 

 display of implements, comprising almost every tool 

 used by the farmer or gardener. 



To Landreth & Munns, the premium of $4, for 

 the second-best display of implements, embracing a 

 great variety of useful machines. 



Your Committee would also notice with commenda- 

 tion, the display of implements by Mr. E. Chandler. 



The Buckeve plough, with iron beam, exhibited by 

 Mr. E. E. Spfigg. 



The furnace and boilers, invented by Mr. James 

 Pedder. 



The corn and cob mill, by Mr. V. Birely. 



The display of agricultural products is not deemed 

 sufficiently extensive to warrant the award of a pre 

 mium, but favourable notice is justly due to Mr. John 

 Turner, for some very good samples of Indian corn 

 mangel wurtzel, Valparaiso squashes, potatoes, beets 

 &c. 



To Mr. A. Clement, for samples of mangel wurtzel 

 broccoli, cabbage, beets, &c. 



To Mr. James Robinson, for some very fine stalks of 



celery, raised by him in the garden of James Thorn- 

 ton. Esq. 



To Mr. John Ramsay, for an excellent sample of po- 

 tatoes, raised from the seed, and therefore supposed to 

 constitute a distinct variety. 



To Mr. S. S. Ritchie, for specimens of corn, potatoes, 

 turnips, beans, &c. Mr. Ritchie also exhibits several 

 very large Malay capons, which are commended to the 

 notice of the judges of live stock. 



In conclusion, the Committee congratulate the So- 

 ciety on the evidence of a continued interest in their 

 useful labours, evinced both by the success of the dis- 

 play in this department, and the notice it elicits from 

 the great concourse of visitors. 



And they cannot but believe, that those whose genius 

 has prompted them to invent, and those whose pursuits 

 require them to use the various implements exhibited, 

 will equally derive advantage from the intercourse 

 which these periodical exhibitions are designed to pro- 

 mote. 



After the above premiums were awarded, the Pre- 

 sident, N. Biddle, proceeded to deliver the Annual Ad- 

 dress to a large and attentive audience. We give it 

 below : 



The Agricultural Society of Philadelphia, 

 have requested me to welcome you to this 

 their annual exhibition. With their own 

 private contributions, aided by the wise libe- 

 rality of the legislature, they are able to 

 offer rich premiums, and to excite so gene- 

 rous a competition among farmers, as to pro- 

 duce the collection which you are assembled 

 to witness; embracing the choicest speci- 

 mens of animals, some of the richest pro- 

 ductions of vegetable nature, the most im- 

 proved implements of husbandry; — and we 

 hope to show you a contest for superiority 

 in that noblest of all instruments of labour, 

 the plough. 



On all this the Society looks with great 

 satisfaction; for having endeavoured, during 

 nearly sixty years, to introduce and diffuse 

 every improvement in the science and the 

 process of husbandry, they rejoice in wit- 

 nessing the extraordinary progress which 

 Pennsylvania has made during that period, 

 in every branch of farming. In no depart- 

 ment is that advance more conspicuous, than 

 in the introduction of those breeds of cattle, 

 of which the present exhibition furnishes 

 some examples. I think we have now 

 reached a point where the introduction from 

 Europe, of animals, is no longer necessary 

 to the perfection of our present stock, and 

 that we may safely rely on what we possess, 

 since the very best breeds are already nume- 

 rous and moderate in price. 



Take, for example, the cows. There is 

 no breed of any celebrity in Europe that are 

 not attainable here. There is the short 

 horned Durham, that race created as it 

 were, by refined and judicious crossing, 

 adapted alike for the dairy and the market ; 



