will produce beets of an enormous size, but hollow and decayed, and affording less sacharine matter than much smaller ones. Very poor land made rich by high manuring, is said to yield large beets, containing a great deal of potash and sal ammoniac, but very little sugar. At the first weeding, when the beets are about one or one and a half inches high, they must be thinned so as to leave one plant to every twelve or thirteen inches of row. If there be spaces where the seed has not come up, some of the plants pulled up should be transplanted into those spaces. AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION. The annual meeting of the Agricultural Society of Kent county was held at Dover, on the 4th inst., the same being the day appointed for the yearly exhibition. Cornelius P. Comegys, Esq., the President took the chair. The names of the Directors having been called, it was on motion of M. W. Bates, Esq. Resolved, That Jacob Raymond, Robert Palmatory, George W. Cummins, Thomas L. Temple, Robert Sorden and William Nickerson, be appointed from among the directors, to examine the Stock, the Agricultural, Horticultural, and other products furnished for exhibition, and to award premiums. The committee thus appointed entered upon the discharge of their duties, and after a patient examination, made through their Chairman, Jacob Raymond, Esq., the following report to the meeting, viz: "The committee appointed to award the premiums offered at the last quarterly meeting of this society, desire to express to the meeting the high gratification which they have experienced from the performance of the duties enjoined upon them; and they wish to be understood as entertaining that feeling not from the limited extent of their duties, for they were arduous, but from the opportunity which was thus afforded them of making a general and particular examination of the stock exhibited, and of the Agricultural and Horticultural products, together with the fruits of personal labor presented for their inspection. And they feel the more gratified, because of the fear which prevailed, that the long and severe drought which has visited the country in almost every part, with consequences so calamitous, would banish from the exhibition of the Society most, if not all of the products of the earth. The surprise of the committee therefore, and the pleasure they experienced upon witnessing the abundance and luxuriance of the products of the soil of this county, and the stock reared by its citizens, were great in the extreme; and they will venture with confidence, but with no desire to boast to assure the meeting, from the evidence offered this day, that the necessity for a postponement by this Society of the annual fall exhibition until another year, will so far as can be judged from the experience of this season, never arise. Your committee have with difficulty, owing to close competition, awarded to the different individuals named, the following PREMIUMS: A premium is awarded to John & Ebenezer Cloak, for the best stallion over 3 years old. Do. to Thomas Wallace, for the best colt under 3 years old. Do. to Jonathan Jenkins, for the best heifer under 3 years old. do Do. to Henry Cowgill, for the best ram. Among the many very fine colts shown, was one the property of Mr. James Kerbin, one year old last spring, measuring 14 hands, two inches and a half in height, and of beautiful form. Messrs. David Onins and James Kerbin exhibited two yoke of very large work oxen. A premium is awarded to George W. Cummins, for the best crop of wheat, 39 acres averaging 25 bushels per acre, weight 60 lbs. per bushel. Do. to Jehu Reed, for the best specimen of Irish potatoes. Fine samples were also produced by G. W. Cummins, H. Todd, J. R. Griffin and J. H. Eccleston. Do. to Caleb H. Sipple, for the best zel. of an acre of mangel wur acre of ruta baga. Do. to Nehemiah Clark, for the best Do. to Governor Comegys, for the best purple egg plants, not less than six. Special commendation was awarded to specimens of ornamental egg plants, exhibited by Mrs. Allee and Miss A. M. Mor ris. Do. to Caleb H. Sipple, for the largest pumpkin-weight 73 lbs. -circumference over 5 feet. Do. to Thomas L. Temple, for the best squash. Do. to H. Todd, for the six best heads of cabbages. A premium is awarded to Henry Todd, for the best nursery of mulberry trees not less than half an acre. Do. to Mrs. Ann Hayes, for the best specimen of sewing silk of her own manufacture not less than 4 lb. Some of the skeins were pure white, others were colored by her with the richest dyes. A beautiful specimen of milk white silk in large hanks was exhibited by Mrs. Charles Kimmey, sen'r. This was of her manufac ture also, and was the product of worms fed upon the common black mulberry. The samples shown by both these ladies were exceed ingly beautiful in every respect, and the skill displayed by them in the delicate task of manufacturing the raw material, merits the warmest praise of the committee. A premium is awarded to Miss Ann Ridgely, for the largest collection of flowers. Do. to Mr. John Manlove, for the richest bouquet. Miss S. A. Comegys presented a very handsome bouquet of evergreens, marigolds, honeysuckle, princes feather, wax plant, &c. Nicholas Lockerman exhibited a handsome collection of roses, altheas, hollyhocks, &c. Mrs. McDowell sent for exhibition a splendid collection of dahlias, marigolds and evergreens. A pot of beautiful flowers, consisting of roses, cocorus, China-aster, hybiscus, &c., was shown to the committee as having been sent by Miss A. M. Morris. The committee noticed with peculiar gratification the following articles of female workmanship sent for exhibition, manifesting in the highest degree the industry and delicacy of taste combined in the ladies of Kent. A beautifully worked cambrick handkerchief, by Mrs. R. O. Pennewill. Splendid worked capes, by Miss S. A. Comegys and Mrs. R. O. Pennewill. Do. collars, by Mrs. S. M. Harrington and Mrs. R. O. Pennewill, the last lady showing two. Do. child's dress, by Mrs. Mary E. Raybold. Each of these articles is considered by the committee as equal in point of workmanship and style to the best of those imported from France. Miss Lofland exhibited two pair of elegantly embroidered cloth slippers of her own workmanship. Miss S. A. Comegys presented for exhibition a pair of very fine ribbed cotton stockings knit by herself from cotton manufactured by Col. J. Evans Young, of New Castle county. A beautiful bead purse worked with flowers and letters was shown the committee as the workmanship of Elizabeth Manlove, when eleven years old. Mrs. Jonathan Jenkins sent to the exhibition a carpet of her own manufacture woven in figures and flowers, equal in workmanship and coloring to the best Venetian. Mrs. John Manlove and Mrs. Jonathan Jenkins showed each a woollen hearth-rug of the most beautiful dyes-the spinning and coloring of the wool and the manufacture of the rugs having been performed entirely by themselves. The committee also examined with pleasure the extensive variety of agricultural and horticultural products exhibited, which did not come within the range of premiums offered, and report the following as the most prominent, Very large and perfect ears of corn, by J. G. Waples, Warner Mifflin and John Manlove. Mohawk beans, by Joseph Hoffecker, jr. Winter Squashes, by Thomas L. Temple and Samuel M. Har rington. Summer do by Henry Todd, of very superior quality. Parsnips, by H. Todd and John McDowell. Carrots, by H. Todd. Tomatoes, by George W. Cummins and John M'Dowell. Blood Beets, by Mrs. Cummins, Joseph Hoffecker, jr., Thomas L. Temple and Michael Lowber. Sugar beets, by Henry M. Ridgely, one of which weighed 11 lbs., and another 84 do. Mangel Wurzel, by William K. Lockwood, one of which weighed 14 lbs. Citron Melons, by Charles Kimmey, sen'r. and Henry Todd. Oyster plant, by Thomas L. Temple. Very fine stalks of celery, by Mrs. Dr. Morris. Pumpkins, by Nehemiah Clarke and Jacob R. Griffin. Fine cabbages, by Jacob R. Griffin. JACOB RAYMOND, GEORGE W. CUMMINS, ROBERT PALMATORY, THOMAS L. TEMPLE, Committee. WILLIAM NICKERSON. On motion of Mr. Bates, the constitution was altered, so that the day of the Fall quarterly meeting will in future be the first THURSDAY, instead of the first Tuesday in October. He then moved that a committee of five be appointed by the chair to nominate officers for the ensuing year; which motion prevailed, and Messrs. Bates, Sorden, Lowber, Moore and Denney were appointed, who after deliberation reported the following persons as the officers: President, Cornelius P. Comegys-Vice-Presidents, Benjamin Coombe, John Cowgill, David Onins, Samuel Thawley, William Masten and Peter F. Causey-Corresponding Secretary, Henry M. Ridgely-Recording Secretary, Joseph P. Comegys-Treasurer, Caleb H. Sipple-Directors, Jacob Raymond, Robert Palmatory, George W. Cummins, Daniel Megear, Elias Naudain, John Frazer, Thomas L. Temple, William Nickerson, John M. Clayton, Jonathan Jenkins, Robert W. Reynolds, Joel Clements, Samuel Virden, Justus Lowery, Peter F. Causey, Robert Sorden, William Masten and Martin W. Bates. The Board of Directors then chose from among themselves the standing committees. On motion of H. Todd, the report was adopted. The Treasurer then made an exhibit showing the state of the funds of the society. On motion of Hunn Jenkins, 100 copies of the proceedings were ordered to be printed in handbill form. On motion, the meeting then adjourned. October 6, 1838. JOSEPH P. COMEGYS, Sec'ry. From Chaptal's Agricultural Chymistry. MANURES. [The nature and action of manures explained and illustrated by M. John Anthony Chaptal, Count of Chanteleup, Peer of France, member of the Institute, &c.] Under the general head of manures are comprehended all those substances which, existing in the atmosphere, or combining with the soil, can be drawn in by the organs of plants, and contribute to the progress of vegetation. Manures are furnished by various bodies belonging to the three kingdoms of nature. Those most commonly employed are the results of decomposed vegetable substances, and some animal matters. The salts, which likewise serve for manures, are imbibed by the pores of plants, and serve to stimulate vegetation. By comprehending all these substances under the generic name of manures, too extensive a signification is given to the word. I divide manures into two classes; and in order to deviate as little as possible from the customary mode of expression, I shall call those nutritive manures, which supply plants with nourishment; and all those which excite the organs of digestion, stimulating manures. These last are, strictly speaking, the seasoning spices rather than the food. OF NUTRITIVE MANURES. The nutritive manures are those which contain juices or other substances, which, being dissolved in water, or otherwise divided to the most minute degree, are capable of being drawn into the organs of plants. All the vegetable and animal juices are of this description, These substances are rarely employed in their natural state for the aliment of plants. It is generally considered preferable to allow them to putrify or ferment; the reason of this is simple. Besides the decomposition resulting from the operation, which renders the substances more soluble in water, the gases produced by it, such as the carbonic acid, the carburetted hydrogen, azote, and ammonias, furnish food for plants, or stimulants for their organs of digestion. It is not, however, well to prolong this decomposition too far; for if it be completed, there will remain only some fixed salts, mixed with those earths and juices which have |