Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-12-26

dispensablc, that We may have cur cows
under management, and get rid OF the
wretched practice OF allowing the calves
TO suck through the whole season.
On the most secure and economical
mode of forming prairie Enclosures
much is yet to be learnt, and ii is de-
sirable that our members should aid each
other by the results of their newly ac-
quired experience: for this end, 1t may
be advisable TO invite communications on
this subject, to be addressed to cur
secretary, in order to be communicated
to our next meeting.
There are few objects more worthy oil
our attention than the introduction oil
good grasses for hay and pasturage.--
My own experience in the cultivation OF
timothy grass is satisfactory as tar as Ii
has proceeded. About twenty-five
acres, sown last spring, has sustained
the extraordinary drought OF the sum
mer, retaining its verdure when the
natural heritage was completely wlther-
ed. | have also reason TO believe that
red clover will be OF inestlmabie value
in this country, and that it will retain lts
productive powers for much longer
period than in Europe, or the eastern
states. There are other valuable grass
es, the seeds Of which may be readily
procured, such as blue grass, herd grass,
red top and Burdens grass. The two
latter are cultivated to great advantage
in the east, aud the seea may be obtained
from New-York, by way OF New-Or-
l-sros.
We must not however allow ourselves
10 overlook the native plants of this coun-
Try. There is. in particular plant of
The genus Hodysarum which forms a
large par, Of TIE heritage OF our best
pra.rics. There is also a superb plant
ofthe clover Kind, the tripolium rehexum
producing laxurianl foliage early in the
ssasnn and retaining il throughout the
summer. Bun OF these are entitled to
experiment by collecting the seed and
sowing them separately. There are
doobliess many other plants applicable
10 various purposes Of food, or medicine
Or manufactures, whose value IS as yet
unknown.
This society which trust viii now &C
established on broad and permanent
foundation may excite the attention Of
the public 10 treasures, as yet unexplored
in the natural productions of this coun-
try, both vegetable and animal, by the
distribution Inappropriate premiums for
all useful discoveries. Perhaps Nc APP
plicaylon of our funds will be productiv
of greater benefit than in premiums OF
this kind, when by the accession of num-
bers, and the liberality of the public we
may be in possession of adequate re-
sources.
As this institution embraces the whole
state, the objects Of its rev ards must OF
necessity be Of more general nature
than in the agricultural society of con-
fined district. Anxious as VIC must be
to encourage the amelioration of the
breeds of live stock of every description,
To offer premium ON the erhibition of
the best specimens Of improvement
wonid be too partial in its effects, as it
must exclude from competition all who
live remote from the centre. The same
objection prevails in regard to bulky
specimens of agricultural produce ana
OF implements, except by drawings or
models. But model OF drawing with
a due attestation o, tho efficiency of the
Implement, and small specimen of pro-
duce, fairly taken would obviate the OBJ
lection; SO that with The exception OF
live stock all other proper subjects OF
encouragement by premiums on their
exhibition are well adapted to the views
of this general society. And in regard
to stock some mode may readily be de-
vised to give due encouragement to this
most important branch of rural econo-
my, by local exhibitions or the inspec-
ton ola committee. In fact objects for
encouragement will not be wanting -
for the means of afording it we must de-
pend on the intelligence and HberaHty Of
the public, in a hu6Hc cause.
The Secretary then ON motion of Mr.
Coles, laid before the society several
letters addressed to him on various sub
jects, which letters were ordered to be
filed.
The following gentlemen then came
forward and joined the society, to-wii -
Pierre Menard, Mich. Jones, -
Ernst, James Hall, Henry Eddy, VIM.
G. Greenup, William M. Alexander,
Thos. Llppincott, Abraham Prickett,
VIM. Dwell, VIM. Boon, James b.
Moore, Risdon Moore, N. Buckmaster,
VIM. II. Brown, John Mclean, BENJAMIN
Grutt, William Clark, L. K. Kane,
VIM. Alexander, William S. Wait, ].
T. Ross, Chas. La Serre, r. K.