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equality of our religious and political institutions, which invite the peaceful and oppressed from all nations to our shores.

We have moreover, another advantage of infinite consequence towards ensuring success to our attempts, viz. the experience of the European improvers. Their plans of procedure are detailed to us, the errors they committed in their first attempts are pointed out, and we know by comparison, the superiority of their present improved stock over their former breeds, and in some respects over our own. We may therefore avoid the errors which they acknowledge were committed, and may pursue without fear ^of failure, a line of conduct grounded upon principles, which their experience as well as our own, have shown to be correct.

The different dispositions, and qualities of cattle, are well known to all who have had any experience in the business of grazing. Some will come to maturity, or fatten much sooner than others; in some the finer and more valuable parts are the heavier; while in others, these are light, and thecoars er abound: if then we consider the great difference in the profits to the breeder or grazier, in rearing or feeding one or the other kind of animals, the importance of propagating that breed, which possesses the more valuable qualities, must be apparent to all. Repeated observations have established the point, that such qualities are very generally connected with certain forms, and as the knowledge of those forms was hitherto only to be obtained by a course of experience, sometimes at much cost, or certainly at more cost than was desirable; the Society are preparing a publication, which among other papers will contain the information requisite, and also directions and remarks, tending materially to assist the endeavours of those who are disposed to commence the improvement of farm stock.

For the purpose of knowing what cattle of improved breeds are among us, and to give an opportunity for the more easy diffusion of valuable stock, the Society have resolved to establish CATTLE SHOWs in the vicinity of Philadelphia. Notice of the time and place for holding these, will be publicly given, so as to enable the possessors to exhibit their stock.

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Premiums are also intended to be offered for the best domestic stock of all kinds, and for improvements therein; the paṛticulars of the premiums with the conditions, will be shortly announced.

Communications on the subject of improved stock, are solicited by the Society.

LAURENCE SECKEL, President.

Philadelphia, April 16, 1809.

As one of the most powerful means for the improvement of Cattle in the United States, public shows, naturally occurred first; and next, the offer of premiums for the best formed and most valuable animals; for beef or milk. By the first measure we shall be enabled to know the exact state and kinds of animals among us; we shall hear the observations and remarks of those who offer to public view what they think fine animals, and the less informed may thus learn; erroneous opinions of the young breeder may be corrected as to the forms of animals, or just ones be confirmed, by the exhibition of cattle of good proportions, which will be brought to the exhibition.

By the offer of premiums, for the domestic origination of superior breeds, the farmer who kills indiscriminately all his finest and most thrifty lambs, calves or pigs, because they bring a little ready money, will be induced, from the expectation of a higher reward, and of public praise, to reserve his best stock, and thus gradually improve the breed of the country.-We may not unreasonably expect too, that some of the foreign improved breeds of Europe will be added to our present stock. JECT is of IMMENCE IMPORTANCE, and highly worthy the attention of those who have the means of rendering such essential service to their country.

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But this is not the only good consequence that will flow from our Society. The spirited young cultivator when once informed upon the nature of various breeds, and made acquainted with the principles upon which he ought to proceed in forming his stock, will be induced to originate good forms by one or more careful and judicious crosses, and he will be induced to keep this

stock pure, because of the high prices which they will bring, when the public become fully aware of the superiour profit resulting from keeping such stock, over the common breeds of the country.

CATTLE SHOW.

THE first show of Cattle took place at Bush-hill on the 18th and 19th of July, and notwithstanding the rainy weather, and the confusion arising from the influence of an anonymous notice in the newspapers, that the show would be held on the 10th of the month, the company was numerous and the stock gave great satisfaction, and induces a belief, that the future exhibitions will be still more extensive and valuable.

The following cattle were shown on the first day.

1. A steer five years old, raised and shown by John Pearson, Esq. of Darby-large capacious carcase, wide hind quartersa good figure.

2. A steer-good figure, broad deep body, straight backweight 2030 lbs.

3. A spay'd black Heifer, from Berks county-weight 1512 lbs. small boned, fine limbed, small neck and head, straight back, broad rump, wide twist, in short an animal of uncommon symmetry and elegance of form. Scott's portraits of English prize cattle, show none equal to this animal.

The possession of a stock which would insure such animals as any of the above, might be considered a great acquisition in any country. We do not know the treasures we possess in the animal tribe; but it is to be hoped that the cattle shows will bring them forward, and also give rise to the introduction or origination of

more.

4. A free martin* and an ox, twins-weight at turnpike scales, 23 cwt. 3 qrs. round compact figures, and very well made. They had been worked together.

5. A cow and a calf-the latter six months old-weight 644 lbs. By Mr. Dubs.

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*When a cow has twins, and one is a female, she never shows any disposition for the bull. Such are called free martins.

6. A cow four years old, which gives ten quarts at a milking, and her calf one year old, large size. By Mr. James Coyle, Turner's lane.

7. Several rams and ewes of the Merino breed of sheep, 1-2, 3-4, and 7-8 blood.-By Col. Humphreys, from near NewHaven, Connecticut.

8. Two rams and two ewes of the Irish breed of sheep-one of the rams was six years old, and of great size; he was the sire of the largest wether, (live weight 276 lbs.) fattened by J. Hickman, and killed last spring in this city. The large ram was sold to Mr. Sloan, of New-Jersey, for 45 dollars. A ewe for 25 dollars. A lamb of this breed at four months old, weighed 94 lbs. By Mr. Weston, near West Chester.

9. Two 7-8 blood Merino rams, and two 3-4 do. One of the 7-8 had his last year's fleece on. He was left unshorn this season, in order to show that the Merino breed do not lose their wool like all other sheep, when the new coat is forming.

10. A broad tailed ram of the Barbary breed.*

11. A ewe of the new Leicester or Bakewell breed of sheep, so deservedly famous in England for speedy fatting. This excellent breed, notwithstanding the selfish policy of England,† exists in great purity near New-Brunswick, New-Jersey, on the farms of M. Smith, Esq. and Capt. Farmer. Tups are let readily at 200 and 150 dollars the season. The ewe shown is small boned, head small, neck neatly set on, body round and compact, loins broad, and the general appearance very handsome. She is one of 16 ewes from the stock of Miles Smith, Esq.-By Dr. Mease.

*For an account of this breed of sheep, see Memoirs of the Agricultural Society of Philadelphia, vol. 1.

† By a law passed in the 28th year of the present king's reign, any person sending a sheep, wether excepted, out of the kingdom, forfeits £.3 for every sheep, and if detected suffers solitary confinement for three months. vessel is also forfeited.

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On the second day, the following cattle were shown.

1. A Suffolk polled cow, by Turner Camac, Esq. She gives 17 quarts of milk-of good form, small neck and head, and fine limbed. "

2. Twin cows-21 months old, well formed, fine limbed. One had a calf three weeks old. The other was shortly to calve.By Mr. J. Thornton, of Lower Dublin, Philadelphia county.

3. A bull 6 years old, bred by Joseph Sims, Esq. from a bull imported by Mr. Ketland, and an Alderney cow imported by Mr. Sims-large, full quarters, round body, very gentle. His calves are in great estimation.-By J. Clift, of Lower Dublin.

A very fine fleece, full blood Merino, was exhibited by James Caldwell, Esq. and samples liberally distributed. This gentleman in consequence of the late notice in the newspapers, that the show would be held on the 10th inst. brought a very fine tup lamb 6 months old to town, from his farm near Haddonfield, New-Jersey; which owing to the fatigue and the heat of the weather, died in this city the next day. He weighed 87 1-4 lbs. his fleece weighed 5 1-4 lbs. exclusive of some ounces not taken off from the under part of the body. The same spirited improver stated that he has this spring sheared 12 1-2 lbs. washed wool, from two yearling full blood Merinos, of his own raising.

Dr. Mease read an extract of a letter just received from Mr. Robert R. Livingston, of New-York, stating, that from a full blood Merino yearling ram, bred by himself, from stock which he sent from France, while he was our minister there, he cut 9 lbs. 6 oz. of wool, and that from a full blood ram, also procured at the National Farm of France,* he obtained 9 lbs.—the wool sold for two

The French government for many years have had a farm exclusively devoted to the raising Merino sheep, under the care of an able man, for the purpose of affording the farmers an opportunity of supplying themselves with the breed; and it is a fact, that by superior attention, the form of the animal is not only improved, but the quantity of the wool obtained from them is treble that of the breed in their native country. The quality is also improvedand yet the sheep nevert ravel like the Spanish flocks: a full proof, among numerous others, that the change of climate is not necessary to the preservation of the quality of the fleece, as commonly supposed.

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