AGRICULTURAL EXHIBltlON. 29^ 



owe these valuable and instiuctive items to the never-failiug kindness of Mr. George Law, 

 who recently forced upon the agiicultural community, by indefatigable perseverance, a 

 knowledge of the value and use of guano — which we had attempted and failed to do, by 

 the distribution of two barrels of it in Maiyland, in December, 1824, with an authentic 

 analysis of its constituent qualities, and the apphcation of it in Peru. But it requires energy 

 and patience like Mr. Law's to show that " some things can be done as well as other 

 some : " 



Lewis C assard is in the practice of curing hains by packing them in tight casks, and cover- 

 ing them with a pickle made of ground alum or Live:-pool salt, to which he adds saltpetre 

 and soda in the proportiou of five pounds <jf each to every 100 gallons of pickle, of strength 

 sufficient to bear a potato, in which they remain for 30 days, and are perfectly cured v^nth- 

 out the use of sugar, which he-considers a liumbug, and of no other use than to attract flies. 

 Shoulders and middlings he cures in the usual way, by dry-salting on shelves, or on the 

 floor, and permitting the pickle (deteriorated by use) to escape. 



Isaac Reynolds & Son cure the whole hog by dry salting and packing on shelves, or 

 on the floor, and turning everj' three or four days. They also prefer the use of a little su- 

 gar as a decided improvement. 



From the foregoing it would seem there is no uniform practice prevalent in Baltimore ; 

 and although I have no experience in the matter, nor has my opinion been asked, yet, as in 

 prosecuting the inquiries I must have picked up some information, (to which you are per- 

 fectly welcome,) I will venture the opinion that dry salting in bulk, on shelves or on the 

 floor, is preferable for shoulders and middlings, and that the use of tight casks is best for 

 hams, as not liable to so great a pressure, and best preserN-ing their shape and beauty, the 

 whole without the use of sugar, as entirely unnecessary. (Signed) WM. PANTLOW. 



Ml-. Skinner is infoi-med that the best mode of salting pork is this, to say : after the hog 

 is well cooled and stiff, then cut into suitable pieces, then salt well with Liverpool ground 

 alum, or with Liverpool blown salt, by rubbing each piece well, using about 2 oz. saltpetre 

 to eveiy 8 pounds of salt, and 1 oz. pearl ash — mixing, if you please, all together in a salting- 

 box, where the rubbmg process is carried on; then place carefully in a box, cask, or shelf, 

 as the case may be ; let it remain two or three days in the salt, then change the top pieces 

 \a the bottom, rubbing well again with salt only. Some parties use sugar, to say : 2 pounds 

 to every 100 pounds of hams or shoulders in addition to the saltpetie and pearl ash. It will 

 do no harm, if the bacon is kept in a dry place and well secured from the bug and fly. It 

 is more difficult to keep bacon where sugar is used, and in my opinion is of very little bene- 

 fit, if any, to the meat. The saltpetre and pearl ash give the proper red color, and are good 

 enough. The pearl ash has a tendency to redden the meat and prevent the fly and bugs 

 from operating. I sometimes use a litde country red pepper, well pulverized, tliat has the 

 effect to prevent the bug or flies from operating, and is healthy. (.Signed) J. B. EARLY, 



Prince George's County (Maryland) Agricultural Exhibition. — Rare good luck 

 enabled us once more to shake hands, on that occasion, with old and cherished friends. We 

 had intended, if time and room had been at command, to say a few words in praise, not flat- 

 tery, of the nice displays of housewifery ; of their magnificent region of country ; and of the 

 character of the Catde-Show, as far as the county generally was concerned ; but — " the 

 least said "s the soonest mended." Take away what was sent there — the tastefiil handiwork 

 of the ladies, and the contiibutions of some four or so gentlemen of the county, the same old 

 contributors — and where would have remained, on that ground, any proofs of the hearty 

 zeal and progress of a county distinguished for its wealth, and liigh-breeding of men and 

 women ? 



The gentlemen who came on theii* Arab steeds, with sword and buckler, wiU excuse the 

 freedom of an old soldier in the cause of the — Plate, if we venture the opinion that they 

 would have been quite as usefully employed in driving then- cattle and their sheep to what 

 was got up with great ti-ouble by a, few, and designed as an exhibition of agricultural indus- 

 try. If their animals and implements were defective, so much the greater the merit in 

 sending them, to evince what is wanting : no childish, ridiculous pride should resU-ain 



men of sense on such occasions. But, alas ! how much more attractive is a red sash, 

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