llASZAltD’S GAz_a'rTE.. MARCH 11.

ssrosr olfilitplitteeetthetgoyal tnrslsociety, lion run minute In tuacn, 1854.

III l>I'6IeI_Iting this Report, your Committee regret to Iii“. that In one branch of its operations, viz., the im- po attoaof Stock, the Society has this year experi- O_ ‘_ lntlcll disap ointment and sustained very’ heavy loss. Tmlnediately on"lhe vote of £l000 for thefinpon tattoo of Horses bein passed by the Legislfle, your Committee dispatched Mr. John Thorn to Great Bri- tam, to procure them; and as it was most important that they should arrive in time for service in the ensu- N18 l§Il_0II, r. Thorn’: time for executing his task ‘V“_l||||ll€¢l: but, by energy and diligence, he succeed- ed in procurin six most valuable animals of heavy breed‘, and a B ood Horse; but in consequence of the scarcity of vessels, great difiiculty was experienced in procurtngltransport for them. The Nugget, with four of these ones, arrived in safety; but owing to an unusually long passage, the season was nearly over

fore they arrived. But three very fine Clydesdale Horses, sbi pad in the Atwood, died at sea; and being only insure against wreck, about £600 of the money so voted was thereby sunk. Nor did your Society's ill luck stop here. Your Committee ordered nine Rams, of the improved Leicester breed; they were shipped in the Sir ./Ilerandcr, with the exception of two (which are since dead) they all died at sea.

Another disappointment, though not immediately afliecting the Society’s funds, has been experienced in the loss of the Durham Cow (owned by Judge Peters), imported by the Society for the purpose of breeding pure Stock, without the great expence attending their frequent importation, which died in calving. Your Committee are informed, that two large calves having been extracted from her, after death a third calf, equally large, was found remaining. Your Committee al nde to this, as an extraordinary circmnstnnce; also to show the necessity, where valuable animals expe- rience difiiculty in parturition, of the most careful P.\'tt- npnation to ascertain that complete delivery has taken

ace.

It is, at the same time, satisfactory to be able to mention, that the Cow had previously given birth to, and reared, two fine animals,-—one, a Heifer. now rising three years old, owned by Mr. John Beer; the other a Bull, rising two, in the possession of the Hon. E. C. Haythorue.

Your Committee now gladly turn from this catalogue ot' disasters, to other matters which are not clouded with disappointments, and which do not require to be introduced with regrets.

Although the Wheat Crop in the vicinity of Char- lottetown was much injured by rust and midge, the general crop in other parts ofthe Island has been good.

The Turnip Crop, although something under the average of last year, is good. Your Committee learn, that many remained unpulled at the setting in of the unusually early frost in November. The experience of l85I, and of last year, should convince our farmers of the necessity of having this crop secured by the 1st November. It should, however, be generally known, that Turnips, completely frozen, if placed in a root- house where the light is excluded, but all air allowed to escape, will thaw without injury, and keep as well as it‘ they had escaped the frost. The Report of the Judges ofthe Crop will be found in the Appendix.

Your Committee rejoice to see the steady manner in which the cultivation of this crop is extending itself; its importance this year is more a parent than ever. Many hundreds will now winter their Stock well, who must have sacrificed them, had they, as formerly, depended solely on hay and straw for their subsistence.

ad the Society succeeded in nothin else than the general introduction of Turnip Husban ry, the benefit it has conferred on the country would have repaid all the exertions your Society has made for the improve- ment of our Agricultural system.

Owing to the great drowth in the early part of last summer, the Straw ofthe Oat Crop was extremely short, and the yield of grain considerably underthat of former seasons. This staple crop has hitherto been exempt from rust; but your Committee regret to observe, that many fields of this grain were, last season, attacked,

and some quite destroyed by It. The Tartarian Oat‘

has for some years been found to give the largestyield; while, from the strength of its straw, it is not apt to be laid by storms: in common, however, with other vnri- etics, it last year sufl'ered from rust. Anv general fail- ure in the Oat Crop would be a serious calamity to this Island; but, while your Committee look with consider- . able anxiety to the next season’s crop, they feel that it would be absurd to attempt to point out any means of avoiding a disease, whose causes are so obscure, and which science and experience have hitherto been unn- ble to prevent. The only suggestion they would make is, that each farmer should sow as many different sorts ofOats as he can procure,—-the probability being, that (should the disease continue) some kinds may, fora time, be less affected by it than others. The ease and certainty with which a fair crop of this grain has here- tofore been obtaincd, has, your Committee believe, rendered us remiss in attending to its cultivation. It seems to be a well ascertained fact, that grain grown . and resown in the same locality, deteriorates; and there can be little doubt, that the same causes which alfect the yield, must also render the plant more liable to disease; whereas change of seed, or the importation of seed from other countries, not only keeps up the stand- ard, but frequently improves it,—the samples tor ‘a few years raised from imported seed being generally supe- rior to that first imported. Your Committee would therefore recommend, that, for the future, no year should be allowed to pass without a small importation of three or four varieties of Oats from Great Britain, and also from some ofthe neighbouring Colonies; which last, your Committee have no doubt, can be done at small expense, by exchanging with some of their Agri- cultural Societies. With this view, your Committee have ordered Twenty Bushels of Seed Oats from Great ‘Britain; which they trust will arrive in time for sowing in the ensuing sprin .

Barley, from the increased demand and more remu- neratinflprice obtained for it, has become an important no . he ltso-netud, or Chevalier, requires richer ’soi| than the fotnwowul variety. The farmer should, fliowever, remember, that it is y far the most valuable

_to the brewer. It _is doubtful, however, whether he .nnw obtains the dilbrence in price for this variety which

, in rice malt’ roperties entitle him to receive. rlea1r£s, that lands intended to be sewn Vwkh , floald receive two ploughin s; and that no ltifl should be given imaied%et'ore ls’, ‘ sown,—-it being, as he rvss, ' éaentidl to the hotness the ore , that the seed be . . , P gap, the ‘_ pt-nod up, or on a hot for- row.» our; ofiippiaion, that general a to, would he mind to be .~..°wl"'

oi:-iyulariohatb teas tiiii iii;

Potato. the great loss wbieb has:

the ravages of the disease, induces your Committee to recommend their brother farmers to bestow more atten- tion upon the cultivation of the Turnip and other valu- able roots, merely planting a sutlicient breadth oflaud with the potato to supply their own immediate wants.

The Show of Fat Cattle in Charlottetown on the ‘23d of March last, was highly gt-atit3'ing:—'l‘he number and condition of the animals exhibited, showed the great improvement in the feeding winch the Turnip culture has enabled the Partners to adopt. and the early mutu- rity of some marked the vast. improvement which has taken place in the breed ofour Stock. _ , V _

The Cattle Shows in Prince and King's Counties, took lace, respectively on the ‘lid and 29th Septeinber.

In Trince County, notwithstanding the day set in with heavy rain, which continued throughout, the num- ber of animals exhibited was greater than ever wittn-.ss- ed on a similar occasion in that County. The charac- ter of the dilfereut varieties of Stock brought for com- petition, was such as to evince that increased attention has of late years been bestowed by our brother farm- ers in that section of the Island upon the improvement of Horses, Cattle, and Sheep.

A Plougliing Match was held on the same day. and despite the weather, was contested with spirit; and, in the opinion ofthe Judges, displayed a marked improve- ment in this important branch of Agriculture, very much to the credit of the competitors, who were all young men.

In King's County, the weather was also very un- propitious; but nevertheless. the attendance was good, and the quality of the Stock exhibited of a superior description to any shown in former yours; a circum- stance to be attributed to the recent introducti_on , into the Country of pure bred animals, by several spirited individuals.

The l'loughing Matcliin this County, came off on the-. illltl‘. September; the work nus well performed, and superior to what has been witnessed on former OCCIISIUII-‘I.

The Queen’s County Cattle Show was held on the I4th September. Although seine tine animals were exhibited, the number was smaller than that of the preceding year. The Lambs were decidedly inferior; but two causes may be assigned for their being so; lirst, from the great drought oflalt summer. the lambs in general, were smaller in September than usual; and secondly, the flocks ofthe best breeders, had, as on the previous year, been culled by purchasers from the neighbouring Colonies. In pursuance of the sugges- tions in the R.cpm'l of 1832, your Committee were desirous of purchasing up a|number of line Rain Lambs for distribution among their Branches and Depots; but were disappointed. Six only were procured, and those not such as could have been desire-d, in consequence ofthe best having been, as already stated, secured by foreign'put-chasers. To prevent its recurrence, your Committee would recommend, that competent persons should be appointed to visit the best flocks about the end of August, and make selections for the Society. Your Committee fear the object ofthe Society in dis- tributing young animals through the country is frequent- ly defeated by the treatement they receive from their purchasers. A Lamb should never be allowed to serve

wes before he is Twelve months old; and the young animal requires better food and more care during the fir.-it winter titan at any subsequent period; but both these principles are ft equently violated; the lamb is made to serve in the autumn when he is only Six months old, and receives but ordinary food and little care during the winter, and consequently turns out a stunted inferior animal.

Your Committee, would therefore suggest, that instead of the present plan, the breeders should be induced to keep the Top lambs, so to be selected for the Society, over the first winter, by giving them £3 to £5 a-head for them at the ensuing September Show. The animals, havingthen attained maturity, would go into the country fit or use and able to stand the careless treatment many of them are destined to receive,

This course would cost more money, but the great object ofthe Society being to conduct its operationg go as to produce the most beneiical results to the country at large, the expense (when within its means), should ever form a secondary consideration.

The draft Horses exhibited at this Show, were also inferior; indeed, for the last two years a decided falling offin the young horses has been discernible; attributable, no doubt, to the length of time, that pre. vious to last season, had elapsed since any importation Qyheavy seed horses had been made. Our soil and c innate are peculiarly adapted for the breeding of Horses, and your Committee are of opinion, it will he found a most profitable branch of agricultural economy. Mr. Youatt says,

“ The farmer should prefer a mare to a gelding, both for riding and driving; he will get a great, deal more work out of her. There can be no doubt, that taken bulk for bulk, a more is stronger and more last. lug than a gelding; in addition to this, he has ho;-go breed from. She need not be idle while she is breed- ing, she may be worked at all ordinary farm-work, almost to the period of her foaliug, with benefit rather than otherwise; nor is there occasion, that much of her time should be lost even while she is sucklin . ”

Every fartner should recollect this, and not be tempted by a high price to part with a good brood mare.

While on this topic, your Committee would allude to the great want of Stud Horses at present experienced in most parts oi the Island; several of the best of our Island-bred Stallions were last summer exported; and with the exception of the three recently imported, there is now scarcely a good stallion of heavy breed on the Island. Impressed with these considerations, your Committee have petitioned the Legislature for a grant to enable the Society to import six Clydesdale or other dratl Seed Horses. Should the application (as your Committee feel confident it will), meet with ",9 attention, which their representations on behalf of lb. sgriculturists have ever received from the Legislature, your Committee hope to have them out in time for the ensuing season.

Your Committee think they erred in directing that some of the Horses imported last year, should be procured in En land and some in Scotland; inasmuch as the extent 0 country travelled over to select them and the transport of the animals from the different places to the port of sh'ipment~, materially increased the expense. Should a compliance with their meniorifil enable them to repeat the importation this spring, profitin by * experience,‘ y purpose to purchase them a about the district of the Clyde, from which large vessels usuall sail for the Gulf Ports, when-sh time and expence o trbvalling will be saved. and em .

I

K

ppztk incurred in conveying eta to.tlrai,place of stu- es. , , _ L ’ r:’ " ..3T'"Ii*°‘i'~"§‘*7~'i”’”"‘ "'£°°S.ij, use dt ”%l ow.‘ a‘-9*” V

deemed out or place.‘

I Agricultural Chemistry, throughout the

" The Clydesdale is a good kind of drafi horse; is is or than the Sufi‘-ilk, aml has a better head, a longer nec , alighter carcass, and deeper legs; he is strong, hardy, pulling true and rarely restive."

Professor Low, says,

“ The Clydesdale horse is usually sixteen bands high. They are longer in the oody than the English Black Horse, and less weight, compact and muscular; but they step out more fr-eel and have a more useful action for ordinary labour. hey draw steadily, and are usually free from vice. The long stride, character- istic of the breed, is partly the result of confirmation and partly of habit and training; but however produced, it adds greatly to the usefulness of the Horse, both on the road and in the fields. No such loads are known to be drawn at the same pace by any horses in the kingdom, as in the sin le horse-carts of Carriers and others in the West of Scotland."

Your Committee have purchased and distributed Eleven Bull Calves of Durham. Ayrshire and Gallway breeds, during the past year, supplying them, as usual, at one halftbeir cost. They would here repeat the advice given in the Report of I852, that Farmers, in selecting Bull Calves, should procure those of pure Durham, Aryshire, Gallway, or Angus breed, as the first cross from a pure bred animal generally makes a superior beast, while a second cross is apt to prove inferior.

Ilefore quitting the subject of Stock, your Committee wish to call attention to one o the provisions of the Act incorporating the Society, which they think requires amendment. The expense attending the im- portation of Stock from Great Britain is such, that should the Society persevere in importing considerable numbers for distribution through the country, its finances will be so seriously afiected, as to cripple its opcrationsin other branches of equal importance. As an example ofthis, they would refer to the case of the nine Rams ordered last summer, previously alluded to, the loss on which was £l46. ind they all arrived in safety, the three sold in Queen's County would probably have realized about £20, whilist the six sold in the other two Counties would have brought about ,1-,'l5, the Society thus incurring a loss of upwards of £100 on these nine animals. By importing one very superior ltam and six Ewes of Leicester breed, and a like number ofthe Southdown and Cotswold breeds, and continuing the importation ofa Ram of each breed every two years, not for sale, but to remain the pro- perty ofthe Society, and placing each distinct breed in the hands of careful persons near Charlottetown, under the supervision of your Committee, and allowing the keepers of them £3 a head for the Ram lambs after they had become shearling Tups, not only would an iuunense saving in the present outlay be effected, but the Society would, in a short time, be enabled to distribute a much larger number of Tups, equal in all respects to those now imported, through the country, with the advantage of being acclimated. and, therefore, better able to stand the climate. Under the 9th sec- tion ofthe Act which directs that all animals imported shall be equally divided between the three Counties, it is doubtful whether the Societiy has power to do this. Your Committee by no eans desire any alter- ation ofthis provision, which would enable it to deprive the several Counties of their equal share of the Stock; on the contrary, their desire is to supply them with a. larger number than they are now able to do. By providing that the male produce of the Stock imported should be equally distributed among the respective Countries, this would be secured. Your Committee, therefore, recommend that an application be made to the Legislature to amend the Act, so as to rmit the Society to retain imported Stock in its own possession for the purposes above mentioned, compelling it, as at present, to divide equally all the male progeny of such Stocks among the th:ee counties.

The custoineryr Annual Exhibition of the industrial Manufactures and Agriculture Productions of the a- land, was held in the Temperance Hall Charlotte- town, on Wednesday, the 2d day ofNovember last, and your Committee were pleased to observe, from the number and quality of the various descriptions of domestic manufactures, as well as the vegetables and fruits exhibited, that the object which the Socety had in view’, in establishing these Shows, is being satisfac- torily carried out, and a spirit of emulation excited, the results of which are a marked improvement in the style and quality ofthe manufactures brought for com- petition They must, however, at the same time, express their regret that the Mills in this Island are again found unable to complete with some in the neighbouring Province, in the finishing of the Cloth, a defeat, which they trust, ere long, to see removed.

The Branch Societies established at Georgetown and St. Peter’s, having found it diilicult to sustain them- selves, have been converted into Depots. Those at Cnacumpeque, St. Eleanor’s and Tryon are still in op- eration. The two former are working _well, and dis- play a zeal and spirit in the cause which must prove highly beneficial to their disfricts, and is well worthy the imitation of there. The Tryon Branch, your Committee regret 0 state, has not succeeded so well, they fear that party teeling has been allowed to intro-

uce its baneful influence amongst its members. From the number of intelligent and good farmers in that sec- tion of the country, there is no district where a Society ought to flourish better. It is to be hoped that the good sense ofthe people will enable this Branch yet to tri- umph over those causes, which, in spite of all the pains bestowed by your Committee have hitherto retarded its success.

The 'l‘reasurcr’s Accounts are annexed to the Re- port, and will be submitted to the meeting.

It will appear that the Subscriptions paid p during the past year amount to - - £174 10 0 Amount received of Legislature Grant, 3lXl 0

The Expenditure has been-

Portion of Government Allowance to each ‘

of the Branches £90, - £60 0 0 Loss on Rams imported, I46 10 7}

Paid proportion cost of ‘Bull, Calvds, Ram Lambs, Stc., distributed through the .

26 I7 3

7

5

country, Secretary ’s Salary, Store Rent, and other

incidental expences, - - Cost ol'Articles sent to New York Exhibi-

I62 l0

tton, . 53 10 Premiums at Cattle Shows, &c., ltc., 909 17 7;

Your Committee were gratified to learn, from the Lieutenant Governoi-’s s eeh at the opening of the Legislature, that anew chool Visitor is prepare to carry out the views of the Society, by lecturing on ' ditlbrent sec- soon to receive notice

tions ofthe country, a pa . heia sesdvte estereatbisoiest

am Mr. start that limpet-teat pprt onto that

\

. 'l‘|-ut-r|° , em; ,, Jnitttl Milt €.*‘ia3T.~.l-::m.... .. -lie pumeseat and Mars

«up ‘"6 In‘ baton, of

diligent and skilful discharge of his duties will confer on our agricultural population. The enlightened spirit of the present age has discovered the absurdity of sup- posing education to consist in it more knowledge of reading, writing, arithmetic, the_dead langtiagcs, and mathematics, without endeavoring to store the mind of the youth with knowledge adapted to the avocations of after life. Hence, in Gemiany, France, the United States, Canada, and all agricultural countries, agricul- tural colleges and state agricultttralscliools are spring. ing up, and a general movement towards making agri- cultural instructiou a part of the ordinary school edu- cation, is taking place. All who take a ride in the country oftheir birth or ado tion must feelpleamd that (owing to the ting estion an exertions of your Society) Prince Edward slund is, in this respect, not behind the spirit ot the age. We would earnestly recommend all to profit by Mr. Stark’s labours, not only attending his lectures, but by forming Fariner’s Clubs in every school district. the members at which, meeting once a fortnight, or oilener, to discuss agricult.ural topics and the subject of the last lecture thereby impressing it more strongly on their minds, and prepar- ing themselves to put such questions to the lecturer on his next appearance, as would draw from him explana- tions of_anything in the previous lecture they had not clearly understood. Let it be remembered that no man is too old to learn, and that by evincing an interest in the matter they will not only imprpve them- selves, but instil a desire for improvement intofleir children.