B Bw e waia i HttwywB 
bandry, and with that skill for which the plowmen of 
Berkshire are so famed. 
At 11 o’clock the procession was formed under the di¬ 
rection of the Marshal, and moved to the church, led by 
the excellent Berkshire Band. The annual address was 
pronounced by B. F. Barnard, Esq., of Sheffield, the 
President of the Society, and was listened to with great 
attention, by a large and very respectable audience. It 
was replete with good sense, and confined mostly to 
practical suggestions, and treated with great force and 
elegance. 
After the address of the President, the several reports 
were read by the secretary, anil the premiums, in plate, 
were delivered by the treasurer to the successful compe¬ 
titors. 
After partaking of an excellent dinner at the Berk¬ 
shire Hotel, kept by Messrs. Warriner & Cooley, I took 
the cars for Albany, well pleased with my jaunt. 
C. N. Bement. 
Three. Hills Farm, Oct. 12th, 1842. 
NEW CASTLE AG. SOCIETY, DELAWARE. 
We have received the proceedings of this society, 
(one of the most active and efficient in the country,) at 
its fall exhibition of stock, implements, horticulture, do¬ 
mestic manufactures, and the plowing match, held on 
Sept. 14th and 15th, 1842. The weather was very unfa¬ 
vorable, but the display was of the most encouraging- 
kind, manifesting the right kind of spirit among the 
farmers of that fertile district; and an immense crowd 
was present to view the splendid animals, native and im¬ 
ported, and the various improved implements of hus¬ 
bandry, upon the ground. The dinner came off at the 
Indian Queen Hotel. After the dinner, Dr. Thompson, 
the worthy and able President of the Society, made a few 
pertinent remarks, giving a satisfactory history of the 
society, and the great good it had accomplished, alluding 
to the discovery of the manufacture of sugar, by Mr. 
Webb, from the juice of Indian corn stalks, and ended 
by introducing to the meeting the Hon. Jas. M. Garnett of 
Virginia, well known to the readers of the Cultivator as 
one of the most distinguished agriculturists of the coun¬ 
try, who was present by invitation to deliver an address 
before the society. It is unnecesssry for us to say that 
this was an able, eloquent, interesting production, 
abounding in matter of practical value, and exciting the 
highest attention and applause of the audience. A vote 
of thanks was adopted by the society, and a copy of the 
address requested for publication. 
As usual at these exhibitions, the plowing match ex¬ 
cited much interest among the spectators. The ground 
was one-eighth of an acre to each team, a clean green 
grass and timothy sod, to be plowed six inches deep, 
and after the ground was measured, each team marking- 
out its own land, by running one furrow around it. For¬ 
ty minutes was allowed for plowing. Six teams entered 
for trial, and as they were placed in the field, were num¬ 
bered and performed the work as follows: 
No. 1 . Horse team, Mooei’s plow, English plowman,- 19! min. 
2. Horse team, Moore & Wright, Win. liobinson, •• 21) 
3. 1 yoke s yr. Oxen, Garrett’s plow, T. Rogerson, 28 
4. 1 yoke 5 yr. Oxen, Prouty’s plow, A. Simpson, •• 20) 
5. Horse team, Beach’s plow, A. Hanson,. 18J 
6. Horse team, Peacock plow, A. Coats,. 18 
Nos. 5 and 6 plowed a wider furrow than the others, 
plowing one round less to finish. “ It appears,” say the 
committee, “ that the teams walked while under way, 
(allowing the average time to be 21 minutes, and the 
number of furrows 22,) at the rate of about three miles 
and the third of a mile an hour; or it is at the rate of 
plowing one acre of hard sod, six inches deep, in two 
hours forty-three minutes, or at the rate of about four 
acres of sod in a day, within the usual working hours.” 
The utility of such rapid plowing, as no farmer will 
presume to practice it on his own farm, the committee 
justly consider doubtful: although a team that has a live¬ 
ly step, and works with ease to itself, will always be pre¬ 
ferred, and should therefore be taken into account in 
awarding premiums. Several of the lands were hand¬ 
somely plowed; but the committee awarded the premi¬ 
um, (a plow,) to No. 2, and recommended that one 
should be given to No. 4. 
MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The Fourteenth annual exhibition of this Society, was 
opened at Boston, on the 14th of September, and the 
evening festival was given at Concert Hall on the even¬ 
ing of the 16th. It is very rarely that we have read a 
report with more interest and gratification, than that of 
this meeting, which appeared in the Boston Courier of 
Sept. 23. The only feeling of regret experienced was, 
that we could not have been there to see and hear. The 
beginning, the existence, and the progress of this So¬ 
ciety, and the immense influence which it has exercised 
on the taste, the comfort, and the happiness of thou¬ 
sands, render it an object of interest not only in its na¬ 
tive city, but to the friends of Horticulture throughout 
the Union. Fourteen years since a few individuals or¬ 
ganized this association, feeble and unnoticed at first, 
but the plant had found a congenial soil, and it has 
struck its roots broad and deep, and has become a power¬ 
ful physical and moral agent as far as its influence ex¬ 
tends. It may be said during these 14 years, to have 
changed the aspect of Boston, and the country around it; 
and in the multiplication of fruits and flowers, and the 
creation of a taste for their enjoyment, it has done much 
upon which its patrons and founders must look with un- 
mingled pleasure. A love of the beautiful in nature, is 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
inconsistent with the indulgence of the violent passions; 
and the person who cultivates a taste for flowers, or fruits, 
rarely is found guilty of those outbreaks which render 
the man a criminal, or the multitude a mob. The Hor¬ 
ticultural Society has done more to preserve the quiet, 
and the character of Boston, than half a dozen regiments 
of the line could have performed. In the language of 
the Courier—“ In the city almost every vacant foot of 
earth is now decorated with a flowering .plant, or shrub, 
and the partition fences, and even the walls of many 
houses, are enriched with vines, bearing luscious grapes 
of various kinds. The sale of fruits and flowers, too, 
has become a sort of professional employment: patro¬ 
nized not merely by the wealthy, but by the poorer 
classes of society; and it is no uncommon thing to see a 
day laborer carrying home a flower pot with some beau¬ 
tiful plant that has caught his eye, on the way from the 
scene of his employment. Formerly, perhaps the same 
man would have been seen going to his meals with a bot¬ 
tle of ardent spirit. Who can estimate the benefits that 
grow out of this change in the taste, inclinations, and 
habits of the community ?” 
The address was delivered before a large concourse of 
ladies and gentlemen, by J. E. Tessemacher, well known 
as one of the most scientific horticulturists and florists of 
the country; and is spoken of as an effort most creditable 
to his taste and acquirements. The Hall was decorated 
in the most splendid manner from the contributions of 
fruits and flowers; and the tables literally groaned under 
the weight of the grapes, apples, pears, peaches, &c., 
&c., all of the finest kinds, heaped upon them. Among- 
these fruits, vases of flowers were scattered, regaling at 
once the senses with beauty and perfume. On a tablet 
at the end of the hall, was this inscription— 
“ The world was sad—the garden was a wild, 
And man, the hermit, sighed, till woman smiled.” 
More than two hundred persons, including the Mayor 
of the city, the Hon. Abbott Lawrence, President Quincy 
of Harvard, &c., &c., and a large number of ladies, em¬ 
bracing much of the beauty and loveliness of the city, 
were seated at the tables. As this was the first time the 
ladies had been invited to partake in the anniversary fes¬ 
tivities, it is not to be wondered at that they should have 
come in for a large portion of the speeches and the toasts 
of the evening. These speeches and sentiments were 
worthy of the place and the occasion, dignified, tasteful, 
and delicate; and we think the worthy horticulturists of 
the capital of the Bay State, will be so satisfied with the 
result of this first admission of the fair, that it will not 
be the last. With intermingled addresses, music, senti¬ 
ments, and songs, several of the latter original and writ¬ 
ten for the occasion, it is unnecessary to say the meeting 
passed off delightfully. Success we say, to the Mass. 
Hort. Society. It richly deserves its present and in¬ 
creasing prosperity. 
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. 
London, Oct. 3, 1842. 
The importation of foreign grain into the United 
Kingdom continues to be very large, not only from the 
northern ports and America, and Canada, but also from 
the Mediterranean, shipped from Russia and Austria. 
Indeed, there is now quite a glut in the British markets. 
The farmers are holding on, not being willing to thresh 
out their wheat for sale at the present rates, and since 
the importation of foreign oxen from the continental 
ports, they have refused to sell their cattle at the late 
ruling prices. Although prices have come down con¬ 
siderably, it is evident that these articles of consump¬ 
tion must both fall to a much lower standard. Of the 
Spanish cattle which have been recently brought over, 
none exceed 700 in weight, and the average is about 500. 
They are principally cream or fawn colored, and about 
the head look much like the buffalo. They are very deep 
in the shoulders, but thin in the hind quarter, and have 
realized hitherto about £10 a head. The highest price 
yet given is £14 5s. and the lowest£6, being about 40s. 
per cwt. There are several more extensive failures this 
month among our merchants. The large annual govern¬ 
ment contract for supplying the navy with Irish provi¬ 
sions, was recently taken at a reduction of about 25 per¬ 
cent on last year’s prices. The quantity required was 
16,000 tierces of beef, and 14,000 tierces of pork. It 
was taken by London houses, at from 10s. to 12s. per 
tierce, below the prices of the Irish manufacturers. 
The prices were from £5, 9, II, to 5, 14, 8 for pork, 
and from £5, 18, 6, to 5> 19 for beef; the price of the 
former being about 30s. and the latter about 26s. per tierce, 
lower than last season. The yield of grain has been very 
productive throughout the country, and a form of prayer 
and thanksgiving has been issued, and ordered to be ge¬ 
nerally read in churches for the bounty of Providence, 
in the abundant harvest, and fine weather. 
The heat of the last summer was so general, and in¬ 
tense, that even Ireland is said to have felt its influence, 
and had a temperature as high as 20 degrees of Reaumui, 
77 Fahrenheit. 
I learn from Mr. Hebeler, His Prussian Majesty’s Con¬ 
sul General, that Count ITowpesch, a Belgian gentleman, 
has taken out a patent for the preparation of a manure, 
more powerful and cheaper than any yet invented. His 
plan is said to consist in fixing all the volatile parts of 
night soil and other such substances, by means of the 
ashes of the volitic shale of Portland. The shale is em¬ 
ployed in the first place, as a source from which oil, 
turpentine, and other substances are extracted; the resi¬ 
due goes to the preparation of the manure, which is 
said to be converted some where on the Isle of Dogs, 
183 
and sold in a dry state in the form of bricks. As the ma¬ 
terials to be thus employed are inexhaustible, and at pre¬ 
sent almost valueless, it is expected that the preparation 
of the fertilizer in question, will become a matter of 
great national importance. As people have become too 
wise to wonder at sugar being made from old rags, so 
will they be equally prepared to hear, that oil, and tallow 
and soap, are to be fabricated from the hardened mud of 
the coal mines; for such is “shale.” 
Nearly four thousand pounds have been already sub¬ 
scribed for the monument, to the memory of the late 
Thos. Wm. Coke, Earl of Leicester. Prominent amongst 
the subscribers, is Lord Wodehouse, the Lord Lieut, of 
Norfolk, for £50, who had all through life been op¬ 
posed to the deceased Peer in politics. This is as it 
should be; when the interests of our country and the im¬ 
provements of agriculture are to be served, all party and 
party jealousies should be thrown overboard. In the 
spread of improvement among the cultivators of the soil, 
all are more or less interested, and should combine there¬ 
fore, for the general welfare. 
The distinguished founder of Organic Chemistry, Pro¬ 
fessor Liebig-, of the University of Giessen, has been in 
England for about a month, one of his principal objects 
being to examine into the state of agriculture in this 
country. 
Just about this period, most of the anniversary meet¬ 
ings of the numerous agricultural societies are held, and 
there are a great number of shows, dinners, &c. failing 
about this period. The American minister, the Hon. E. 
Everett, has been attending several, in order to make 
himself acquainted with all the routine of English agri¬ 
culture. 
The London Farmer's Magazine for September, con¬ 
tains the first part of a very interesting narrative, of an 
agricultural tour in England and Scotland, in the year 
1840, by Count Conrad de Gourcy, translated from the 
French. The Count, who is an extensive and experienc¬ 
ed agriculturist, visited many of our leading agricultu¬ 
rists, and his report of the information obtained from 
them, as to their mode of farming, breeding, &c. and his 
own observations thereon, will be found exceedingly in¬ 
teresting. As an instance of his good sense and impar¬ 
tiality, I cite the following passage:— 
“I think that for the improvement of our flocks in 
France, and of our cattle generally, our rich farmers, 
having son’s whom they mean to bring up to agriculture 
should have them taught, instead of the classics, Eng¬ 
lish, a little mechanics, chemistry, and natural history, 
drawing, book-keeping, &c.;—should place in their 
hands the best works on agriculture, and the best agri¬ 
cultural periodicals, especially those that are published 
in England, and should instruct them well in French ag¬ 
riculture, and then send them to spend two or three years 
with the best English breeders, and Scotch farmers. If 
a number of young members went through this training 
they would soon do something towards altering the pre¬ 
sent condition of French agriculture, which is very bad 
in three-fourths of the Kingdom, especiallv as compared 
with that of England, Scotland, and Germany. We 
have excellent farmers in Flanders, and in some other 
parts of France, but they never dream of improving 
their breed of cattle. 
The committee of the Manchester Agricultural Society, 
having learned that Professor Liebig, the distinguished 
author of “Organic Chemistry of Agriculture and Phy¬ 
siology,” would then be in England, unanimously re¬ 
solved that an invitation should be immediately forward¬ 
ed to him, by John Moore, Esq. F. L. S. to attend the 
dinner; and many of the first agriculturists of the King¬ 
dom when assembled at Bristol, signified their intention 
of paying their respects to him in Manchester, where 
his important discoveries have been so well investigated, 
and are so highly appreciated. It is universally admit¬ 
ted, that Professor Liebig is the first living analytical 
chemist. As a proof of how much the science of chem¬ 
istry is appreciated at the present time in Great Britain, 
we have only to refer to the leading agricultural periodi¬ 
cals, where we shall find a large space devoted to the 
writings of such men as Dr, Madden, Prof. Johnston, 
Sprengel, and others. Every local agricultural society 
is discussing the subject, anil I find a course of lectures 
recently delivered before the Bath and West of England 
society, (one of the oldest and best provincial societies) 
by Prof. Robinson, on Chemistry, Vegetable Physiolo¬ 
gy, and Meterology, as applied to agriculture, spoken 
of with the highest approbation. The highest advan¬ 
tages of all branches of art have been derived from a 
knowledge of chemistry, and the agriculturists are too 
much alive to its importance, to allow such a science to 
escape attention on the other side of the Allantic. I ob¬ 
serve that its value in connection with agriculture is ap¬ 
preciated, by the frequent allusions to its principles in 
the agricultural journals, and the announcement of re¬ 
prints of Liebig's, Prof. Johnston’s, and other works. 
Artificial Wateeing Places. —Several inquiries 
have been made as to the artificial watering places de¬ 
scribed in a former volume of the Cultivator by a sub¬ 
scriber, as constructed by Mr. Robertson of Fish kill land¬ 
ing. The method consisted in merely digging a hole in 
the earth, placing a barrel in the hole, which was to be 
filled with small stones, and then, whether any indica¬ 
tions of water had previously existed or not, water 
would soon accumulate and fill the reservoir. In the 
only trial made of the plan, that has fallen under our no¬ 
tice, it was a complete failure, although made under as 
favorable circumstances as can generally be expected. 
For ourselves we should have no faith in the plan. 
