6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th months, ruta baga turnips, 3 quarts per day-12 bushels, at 15 cents, 2 months pasture, 6 months meal, averaging 1 pint per daySbushels, at 60 cents, Hay, from 1st December to 1st April, Total, VOLUNTEER TOASTS 1.80 2 By B. W. Hall-The state of Maryland-may an enlightened policy encourage agriculture. By J. S. Williams.-The Pennsylvania farmers. By Attorney General Kell.-The plough and the government-sustaining and sustained by each 1.80 other. 2 $13.60 Which were drank at the Maryland Cattle Show, on the 2d of June, 1825. By James Carroll, Jr.-The memory of Washington-the farmer, the statesman, and the patriot of America. By Governor Wright.-South America-she has trodden in our footsteps-may she reap our glory. By R. Hunter-Robert H. Goldsborough-the friend of man. By J. S. Skinner-Our brethren of New England -alike eminent in the use of pen or plough. MR. EDITOR, SHEEP-No. 3. production of good qualities in wool, although not absolutely essential to the fineness of the pile." So much for this philosopher, whose researches certainly went far enough to obtain the golden fleece, or to ascertain the time when the old folks substituted a good woollen garment for the fig leaf. Let us look into matters a little nearer home. Chancellor Livingston, in a very interesting correspondence, which he did me the honour to have with me after his return from Europe, expressed his surprise, that "the sheep of Persia should have good wool, as the great heat of the climate, he presumed, would render it hairy rather than soft," but supposed that toward the Gulph of Ormus, and the borders of the Caspian, the temperature might be lessened by the adjoining waters, and a good woolled race prevail. As I have before observed, By Governor Wright.-The President of the In looking over some old papers, I find in one or the Persian sheep sent to Mount Vernon, were by United States his administration promises to se- two articles of the association of the Continental no manner of means entitled to any rank as fine cure the best interests of America. Congress, of the 5th September, 1774, that sheep woolled sheep. The length of the wool, the goodBy Richard Caton.-The distinguished guests who were considered a matter of great national moment, ness of the form, and general beauty of the anihave done us the honour to visit our agricultural at that important period, when the colonies, indig mals, were certainly great desiderata in this counBy Geo. Howard.-The sloop of war Wasp-she termined to provide for themselves. nant at the agressions of the mother country, de- try, where all such properties were so much wanted. But a single lamb, was offered at the first Arlingtook a Frolic whenever she had an opportunity. "Art. 7th. We will use our utmost endeavours to ton sheep shearing of 1805. He was bred by Col. By H. V. Somerville.-Plattsburg-an instruct-improve the breed of sheep, and increase their num- Lee, of Coton, in the county of Loudon, weighed ing lesson to an invading foe. ber to the greatest extent; and to that end, we will alive about 140 lbs. and sheared 12 lbs. 5 oz of [It will be recollected, that on the right and left kill them as sparingly as may be, especially those of clean and good wool. He was a lengthy sheep, of Mr. Caton, sat General Macomb and Commodore the most profitable kind; nor will we export any to with short legs, and without horns. Col. Lee was Jacob Jones.] the West Indies, or elsewhere; and those of us who one of the very few southern agriculturists who had By the editor of the American. Farmer.-The me- are, or may become overstocked with, or can con- paid particular attention to any kinds of stock, mory of General Harper-the better he was known, veniently spare any sheep, will dispose of them to (horses excepted.) The sheep of Virginia were, the more he was personally esteemed. our neighbours, especially to the poorer sort, on generally speaking, of the race sent here before the moderate terms. prohibition by the mother country, with the exception of a few Irish sheep, which had been smuggled in since the revolution. exhibition. By R. Caton, Esq.-The health of our president General Ridgely-May it be speedily restored to him, and he to us. "8th. That we will, in our several stations, encourage frugality, economy and industry, and proBy the Corresponding Secretary.-Our vice-presi-mote agriculture, arts, and the manufactures of this dert Edward Lloyd-we are always encouraged country, especially that of wool," &c. &c. Wool being but a secondary consideration, size and fat were principally attended to. The Irish by his presence, and enlightened by his example. Thus you perceive, sir, that the venerated sages strangers were said to be large and fine sheep, but By Mr. Rebello, minister from Brazils.-Agricul- of the ancient time, considered the sheep as of high their race was but partially extended in Virginia. ture, the main spring of American riches-in the national import, and its uses as a grand essential, The Curracoa were very much in request, from north, it produces fiour; in the south, sugar, with toward obtaining for us a redress of our grievances, the superior mutton which they yielded—mutton the two are made fine cakes, the pleasure of youth or preparing us for the care of ourselves. being in those days more marketable than wool, and comfort of old age. In perusing the work of the celebrated Luccock Respectfully, yours, James Barbour, Secretary at War-welcome at on Wool, I find that the Persian sheep, the race with GEORGE W. P. CUSTIS. our last show, as the companion of La Fayette; which I commenced my improvements twenty-three Arlington House, 4th June, 1825. welcome, always, for his intrinsic worth. years ago, are of very great antiquity. The author By H. Thompson.-The interests of the soil and observesAGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS. its protectors-a more holy alliance was never known. "The first flock (which is minutely described,) was found about seventeen hundred and sixty years DEAR SIR, By Col. T. Emory.-The memory of John Taylor, before the Christian era, in Mesopotamia, or that Allentown, N. J., June 4, 1825. Our agricultural prospects are uncommonly flat of Caroline--immortal in the annals of agriculture. part of Persia which lies between the Euphrates tering. The rye has advanced rapidly since the By W. F. Redding.-La Fayette-and the glo- and Tigris. It was perfectly domesticated, consist- late rains, and will much exceed, if it fill well, the rious principles with which his name will be for-ing of both goats and sheep, the former of which ever identified. By John Patterson.-The American Farmer-the best and cheapest agricultural publication the world has yet produced. were black, and the latter a brown colour." By J. Hollingsworth.-'The Army and Navy of the United States-the two arms of our government. By E. J. Coale-Our Country-may the face of Speaking further of those very old times, L. conher soil exhibit, in fruitfulness, a spectacle corres- tinues-"In Persia, where the dominion of luxury pondent to that moral and political beauty which ex- was the most absolute, after the manufacture of alts her character among all the nations of the earth. woollens had been generally adopted, the materials By Charles Carroll.-John C. Calhoun-the prac- were produced of the most perfect form, and the tical agriculturist and enlightened statesman. workmanship obtained a degree of excellency be By an officer of the Society-Oliver and Van yond the competition of rivals." Again, in speak- our dyers. A few years since a small two shilling Renssellaer-par nobile fratrum in the cause of ing of the production of fine wool, the author re- pamphlet was sold at the enormous price of one humanity and public good. marks-The temperature to which sheep are ex-hundred dollars, professing to contain directions for By James Howard.—Agriculture and commerce, posed, has long been considered as one of the prime a substitute for woad. Much secrecy was observed twin sisters of human industry-may their inter-agents in the production of fine wool. This valua- by the author, and unfortunately the mode of dying course be that of reciprocal liberality, and may their ble substance, was found to abound most in coun- recommended by him prevailed throughout the efforts be always successful. tries which enjoy the influence of a mild and gene- United States. The secret consisted in preparing By Mr. Maxcy-The people of the United States rous climate, exposed neither to the oppressive heat a strong decoction from bran, madder, and hops, ve-their highest eulogium is, that their free insti- of the torrid zone, nor to the chilling winds of the getable ferments that had ever been used by Eurotutions suit them, and they suit their free institutions. frigid. The best fleeces are grown in Spain, Italy, pean woad dyers. The fermentation of the vat was By H. G. S. Key-Bolivar-the Washington of and Persia, countries which lie under almost the regulated with potash, the whole process being the South America. same parallels, and enjoy a temperature sufficient common silk vat of Europe. So long as this mode By J. L. Potts.-The committee on horses-when to maintain that copious and regular perspiration of of dying prevailed, the American blues were in disyou meet a Stranger, take him in. the animal, which is undoubtedly favourable to the repute, the colours being dull, and ever liable to wear white in the seams, and in other parts subject to friction. pared state, at from 7 to 9 cents per lb. Those coun-hour after they had eaten the parsnips, in convulsion try manufacturers who are using it, may save half fits. The oldest boy walked about nearly two hours, We would reasonably suppose that the fatal re- this expense by collecting the cabbage, spinnage, when he became so weak that he could hardly walk, sult of the first substitute, would make our dyers and other refuse of their gardens during the summer was in great distress, and gave information that he very guarded in adopting others; but the predilec season, and fermenting it after the same manner as had eaten something which he was afraid was poison. tion for substitutes appears to be so insuperable, woad. Young barley, rye, grass, wheat, or any He grew worse fast, could not sit up straight, comthat another is no sooner offered than it is brought grain plants, cut whilst in their most succulent state, plained of violent burning in the stomach, vomited, into practice, and this without any advantage in would be fine substitutes for the milk weed, and sunk into a stupor, medical aid arrived, immediately price or colour. The article now adopting is called would answer quite as good a purpose. But where administered a glass of sweet oil, patient fell into a the milk weed woad. As it must be highly inju- would be the advantage of using these substitutes, violent convulsion fit, which lasted from five to ten rious to our infant manufactures to pursue a wrong when a greater crop of woad can be raised on a minutes; powerful emetics were then forced down course in the production of so leading a colour as given quantity of land, than can be produced from with great difficulty, the patient struggling and makblue, I have thought it may not be amiss to offer any other plant? ing all the resistance in his power. After sufficient some remarks on this new substitute. In making these remarks I have not the most dis- medicine had been administered to throw the vegeWoad acts as a colouring matter and as a vege- tant idea of checking the spirit of inquiry. My tables from the stomach, he began to revive, though table ferment; the latter brings the indigo used with only view is to put our dyers on their guard against for some time considerably inclining to stupor. it to a reaction, and enables it to colour, but this fer adopting new things before they are certain of their Both of the boys appear likely to recover. A third mentative property is only a secondary object, its answering, at least as well as the old ones. If an boy, who dug the parsnips and gave them to the principal value consisting in the great permanency indigenous plant can be found possessing all the pro- other two, ate some, but was not affected by it. of its blue colour; and were it not for this proper-perties of woad, that will afford as great an annual We have heard it said that the common garden ty, any common succulent vegetable, manufactured crop, I would be the first to recommend it; but parsnip, if left to stand some years and grow sponin the same way, would answer every purpose of should our dyers pursue a wrong course for years taneously, will become poison. This subject is woad. A substitute, therefore, to be effective, must before the error is discovered, as was the case with worthy of examination. We understand that some contain as much blue as woad, and of equal perma- the swill woad, fatal, indeed, will be the effect on scattered parsnips were seen to grow last year in nency. The only question interesting to our dyers our rising manufactures. HOPSON. is, whether the milk weed contains this valuable colouring matter-if it does, both in degree and the garden near where these poisonous vegetables were dug. We have examined some of these roots; they considerably resemble the common parsnip, quality, it will no doubt be a good succedaneum; THE VINE IN FRANCE.-France, says the Journal and have a slight taste like the parsnip, but their but if it should not, the using it as a substitute must du Commerce, possesses in her vineyards, mines of smell is very similar to that of the common garden prove highly injurious to those who employ it un-wealth, of an inestimable value; and the advantages plant called lovage. [Maine paper. der that impression. which they furnish her are owing to natural causes None but practical woad dyers can be aware of which secure to her a superiority in this respect ECONOMY IN CANDLES.-If you are without a the great importance of the permanent blue colour which no other nation can dispute. The annual rush light, and would burn a candle all night, unless obtained from the woad. When a woad vat is new, products of her vintage amount to seven or eight you use the following precaution, it is ten to one the dyer is careful to keep it pretty well supplied hundred millions, yielding a subsistence to one-third an ordinary candle will gutter away in an hour or with indigo, in order that the colouring matter of of the population, and about eighty millions of two, sometimes to the endangering the safety of the the woad may not be spent too soon; for he well francs for foreign export. On account of the heavy house. This may be avoided by placing as much knows that when the natural colour of the woad is duties laid upon French wines by other governments common salt, finely powdered, as will reach from gone, the blues dyed afterwards will not possess however, a great part of the advantages which might the tallow to the bottom of the black part of the the same permanency, though to appearance the be derived from their exportation are prevented, wick of a partly burnt candle; when, if the same be colours will be equally good. Those dyers succeed particularly by England. The convention of Me- lit, it will burn very slowly, yielding a sufficient the best who have three or more vats in operation thuen loaded the wines of France with a duty one-light for a bed chamber, the salt will gradually sink at the same time; in fact, the greater number of third higher than those of Portugal, and thus con- as the tallow is consumed, the melted tallow being vats a skilful woad dyer works, the more perma-ferred on the Oporto company the monopoly of drawn through the salt, and consumed in the wick. nent his colours will be. A dyer who begins with supplying Great Britain. ECONOMIST. eight vats, will set two every month, in order that The number of wine makers has increased in he may have half of them strong of woad. The England in proportion to the multiplication of duties; The noble Elm which adorns Boston Mall, meawool is first partially coloured in the newest vats, and ever since the year 1687, the importation of sures 65 feet in height, 21 feet in circumference, and finished in the older ones, in order that it may French wines has been gradually diminishing, and and the branches extend 86 feet! be first impregnated with the colouring matter of has now decreased from twenty thousand barrels to the woad, by which the permanency of the blue is one thousand, and even a part of that is re-exported. This state of things is intimately connected with the secured. MANCHESTER.-There are about thirty thousand In every species of the isatis, or of the indigofe- migrations of gentlemen who go to visit or reside power looms in the district immediately surroundra, when the plants at maturity are gathered, pound- on the continent; and exorbitant duties paralize the ing Manchester, England, which give employment ed and balled, they will change to a bluish green, public revenue, when a great consumption would and subsistence to more than two hundred thousand the change being the effect of an oxidizement of cherish and increase it. persons! and these 200,000, on account of materials the indigo contained in the plants. After the balls "The proposition made by Mr. Huskisson," re-used, and food, &c. consumed, directly employ at of woad are couched, a fermentative process ne- marks the French editor, "for the reduction of the least as many persons more. cessary to its perfection, the blue will become dark-duties on foreign wines to one-half, which was re er, having combined with a farther portion of oxy-ceived with such pleasure in the House of Commons, The exports of British manufactures in 1822, gen. As this change takes place, invariably, in all must produce equal gratification in those depart- amounted to 45,787,3891.-in 1823, to 46,261,511l., plants known to contain indigo, it is considered the ments of France where the vine is cultivated. The and in 1824, to 50,758,808. RECIPES. only external character by which the dealer can period when the commercial treaty between England judge of the strength and value of woad, those and Portugal is to be renewed, seems a favourable samples containing the most indigo assuming the opportunity for the abandonment of a system prodarkest and bluest shades of green. I have seen duced by passion and national dislike, and which several samples of milk weed, manufactured after has long been disapproved by the greatest English COMPOSITION FOR PRESERVING WEATHER-BOARDING, the same manner as woad, and no such change economists. [N. Y. Daily Advertiser. takes place the vegetable becomes lighter instead of darker, it loses that light green colour natural PAILING, AND ALL OTHER WORKS LIABLE TO BE IN- Lime, it is well known, when well burnt, will soon to the living plant, and assumes a pale dead yellow. VEGETABLE POISON.-A case of accidental poison become slacked by exposure in the open air, or It has been said by some, that the milk weed con- by wild parsnip, occurred in this town yesterday, even if confined in a situation not remarkably dry, tained more indigo than woad, but I am convinced which came near proving fatal to two boys, one an so as to crumble, of itself, into powder. This is by its appearance, when couched, that it does not apprentice in this office, 15 years of age; the other, called air-slacked lime, in contradistinction to that contain a single particle of blue colouring matter. a son of Capt. John Robinson, 6 years old. The which is slacked in the usual way, by being mixed Milk weed being a very succulent plant, possesses parsnips were taken from an old garden between with water. For the purpose of making the prestrong fermentative properties, and may be advan-King-street and Hancock-street, on low and wet land, sent useful composition, to preserve all sorts of tageously used in place of bran and madder, to which appears not to have been much cultivated for wood work exposed to the vicissitudes of the weaassist in fermenting the woad vat, but never can be some time past. The boys supposed them to be ther-take three parts of this air-slacked lime, two employed as a substitute for it. It is sold, in a pre- artichokes. The youngest boy was found, about an of wood ashes, and one of fine sand-pass them TO SOFTEN IVORY AND BONES. through a fine sieve, and add as much linseed oil to Wm. Wynne's, Jr's b, c. by Sir Archy, paid forfeit. Time-1st heat, 1 m, 55 s.-2d heat, 1 m. 55 s.-3d heat, 1 m. 58 s. - Second Day.-Proprietor's Purse, three mile heats, $300-entrance $15. SPORTING OLIO. RICHMOND JOCKEY CLUB RACES, First Day-Sweepstakes for 3 years old, entrance J. Heats. 31 1 J. Harrison's b. c. Bozzarus, by Sir 2 2 2 1 3 3 SUBSTITUTE FOR MAHOGANY. The difficulty of procuring mahogany, and other precious woods, and the consequent exorbitant prices demanded for ordinary articles of family convenience, has occasioned the art of the chymist to be applied to a subject peculiarly calculated to promote domestic embellishments, at a trifling expense. It has been contrived to render any species of W. R. Johnson's s. c. wood, of a close grain, so nearly to resemble ma- Timoleon, hogany in the texture, density, and polish, that the J. M. Selden's b. c. Nameless, by Hemost accurate judges are incapable of distinguishing between this happy imitation and the native produce. The first operation, as now practised in France, is to plane the surface so as to render it perfectly smooth. The wood is then to be rubbed with diluted nitrous acid, which prepares it for the materials subsequently to be applied. Afterwards, one ounce and an half of dragon's blood, dissolved in a pint of spirits of wine, and one-third of that quantity of carbonate of soda, are to be mixed together and filtered, and the liquid in this thin state is to be rubbed, or rather laid upon the wood with a soft brush. This process is repeated, with very little alteration; and in a short interval afterwards the wood possesses the external appearance of mahogany. When this application has been properly made, the surface will resemble an artificial mirror but if the polish becomes less brilliant, by rubbing it with a little cold drawn linseed oil, the wood will be restored to its former brilliancy. rod, distanced Time-1st heat, 1 m. 55 s.-2d heat, 1 m. 53 s.3d heat, 2 m. Second Day.-Proprietor's Purse $300, three mile heats. GERMAN METHOD OF MAKING Elm and maPLE WOOD J. J. Harrison's b. h. Aratus, 5 years Wm. R. Johnson's s. m. Rosette, 4 ren, by Timoleon, 5 years old, 107 Wm. Wynne's b. f. Isabella, by Sir 1 1 3 2 Archy, 4 years old, 97 lbs., Theo. Field's s. m. Mary Wasp, 4 . dist. 2 5 Wm. Wynne-nothing to run. J. B. Christian's s. g. Sir John, aged, Having very smoothly planed whatever boards of the elm or maple tree, are intended for the purpose of appearing like mahogany, wash them well with a little aqua fortis diluted with common water; then. take a few drachms of dragon's blood, according to the quantity which may be wanted in the whole, with half as much alkenet root, and a quarter of as much aloes, and digest these ingredients in four J. J. Harrison's b. c. la Fayette, by ounces of proof spirits to every drachm of the dra- Virginian,. gon's blood; as soon as the boards are dry, varnish J. Minge's b. f. Eliza White, by Sir them over with this tincture, by means of a sponge Archy, or soft painter's brush; and they will, it is said, ever J. after, so wear the appearance of mahogany as to deceive the eye of any indifferent observer. Fourth Day.-La Fayette Barouche stake-for 3 years old, TO PRESERVE GAME. When fresh killed, observe to put tow into the mouth and upon any wound they may have received, to prevent the feathers being soiled, and then wrap it smooth at full length in paper, and pack it close in a box. If it be sent from a great distance, the entrails should be extracted, and the cavity filled with tow dipped in rum or other spirit. The following mixture is proper for the preservation of animals: one pound of salt, four ounces of alum, and two ounces of pepper, powdered together. Time-1st heat, 5 m. 59 s.-2d heat, 5 m. 57 s. LAWRENCEVILLE SPRING RACES-1825. Theophilus Field's b. c. Gohanna, by Wm. Rice's b. c. la Fayette, by Vir- Wm. R. Johnson's b. f. by Sir Archy Trent Eggleston's b. c. by Sir Hal, James J. Harrison's b. k. c. Aratus, 21 21 M. Selden's b. c. Nameless, by He- NEW MARKET SPRING MEETING-MAY, 1825. Allen James' b. h. Leonidas, by Vir- Heats. Wm. R. Johnson's b. f. Little Betsy, by Sir Archy, 3 years old, 211 1 2 2 33 Wm. Wynne's b. f. Isabella, by Sir Wm. R. Johnson's s. c. Janus, by Sir Wm. West's Outlaw, by Constitu- 1 2 3 3 4 distanced Time-1st heat, 4 m. 23 s.-2d heat, 3 m. 551 s.-3d heat, no report-4th heat, 4 m. 5 s. paid forfeit by Gallatin, 2 2 Time-1st heat, 4 m. 3 s.-2d heat, 4 m. 10 s. Fourth Day.-New Jockey Club Purse, four mile The nurse of Genius, and of Taste the seatheats-690 dollars. Wm. Wynne's Flirtilla, by Sir Archy 1 1 2 We hail thy birth, thy dawn of promise greet. Priest of thy rite-Apollo claims thy shrine, dist. To him devoted—hence live thou and thine! Patrons! who here the unbiassed censors sit, 3 drawn Sole arbitrators in the court of wit; We are requested to state, that the stake was lost Whose sentence stamps the buskin and the play, to la Fayette by mismanagement; that it is the Whose laws alike the song and scene obey; general opinion he could have won it easily. And, To your indulgence now we make appeal, also, the race won by Aratus was the best two mile On you dependent rests our future weal; race that has been run at Lawrenceville for many And here by your impartial voices tried, seasons, if ever there was a better; that Aratus had We rise or fall, as you alone decide— both the others to run down; and that he was start-In you confiding, hence we trust our cause, ed for the club when too feeble to run, not having To us your smiles extend-our meed is your recovered the hard race (two days before,) of four plause. heats. POETRY. PRIZE ADDRESS, Written by Thomas Wells, Esq., of Boston. The Albany Theatre was opened on Wednesday evening last, to a crowded and fashionable au dience. The following address, to which the prize was awarded, was spoken, with great effect, by Mr. Barrett: When Superstition captive Reason led, THE FARMER. BALTIMORE, FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 1825. PRICES CURRENT. ARTICLES. BEEF, Baltimore Prime, bbl. 10 ap-CHEESE, FEATHERS, Live,.. COTTON, Louisiana, &c. 22 26 24 45 14 16 Dipt, 10 11 12 6 10 12 35 2 18 2 25 FISH, Herrings, Sus. new bbl. FLOUR, Superfine, city, bbl. Fine, THE Editor feels the necessity of asking the in- GUNPOWDER, Balti.. dulgence of the Board of Trustees and the mem- GRAIN, Indian Corn, bers of the Maryland Agricultural Society, and of his readers generally, for the very imperfect and desultory sketch of the late Cattle Show, which is presented in this number. Being compelled to set out at 5 o'clock the morning after the show, in orAnd Taste proscribed, her bowery dwellings fled, der to arrive on Monday at West Point, as one of Their sacred haunts exiled, the Aonian maids the Board of Visitors to that academy, under an inOn hurrying wing forsook the peaceful shades:— vitation from the War Department, he had to arThe crumbling column, and the tottering fane, range and prepare all the papers while surrounded A round, of desolation marked the reign. and confused by the noise and bustle that may be In towering pride where stood the classic dome-imagined to prevail in a large moving hotel, filled with travellers. The boast of Art, and once the Muses' home, It is quite probable that some material incident restored. So from the East, on purple pinions borne And now, auspicious dome, aspiring pile, It is gratifying to have it in our power to state what fell under our observation at the late Cattle Show, that improved domestic animals of every kind, are rising in demand and value--especially improved cattle, both of country and imported blood. 1 50 2 25 Peas, Black Eyed, do. Prime, do. . 23 14 15 10 50 11 bush 62 75 28 30 POTATOES, RICE, fresh, The display of Stallions at the late Show SOAP, Baltimore White, There were no preBrown, was uncommonly numerous. miums offered for colts, or there would have been WHISKEY, 1st proof, PEACH BRANDY, 4th pr no difficulty in bestowing them, except in distin- APPLE BRANDY, 1st pr guishing between the beauty and fine figure of seve-SUGARS, Havana White, c.lb. 13 00 13 50 14 ral on the ground. Amongst these were a colt belonging to Col. T. Emory, by Silver Heels, a perfect picture of beauty and symmetry, and a two year old colt sent by Mr. Vanbrugh Livingston, of New York--he was by Bussorah, out of a Duroc For such horses, those who value fine blood 37 15 Port, first quality, CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. SKINNER, Editor, by JOHN D. Toy, corner of St. No. 13-VOL. 7. AGRICULTURE. AMERICAN FARMER-BALTIMORE, JUNE 17, 1825. 97 manger clean where she was fed with grains, (brew-bulls in general are at three or four years old." By ers' grains of malted barley, which are always very his manner of treating them, Mr. Young says his moist,) not to let it get sour. He washed her bag at bulls were perfectly gentle. ON IMPROVING THE NATIVE BREED OF milking three times with cold water, winter and sum- If from such unpromising originals, Bakewell and NEW ENGLAND CATTLE. No. II. mer. Where grains and pollard* cannot be had, his followers, the eminent English breeders, have (says Mr. Cramp,) milch cows should have a little produced two races of cattle, which are now said to nice hay, once a day, to keep them in a proper surpass all others of which we have received inforIn the preceding number I introduced an account state; otherwise all green food would make them mation, what encouragement does it not offer to inof the very extraordinary New England cow, which too loose. "Often changing food is good for milch telligent farmers in New England, to set about imhas been distinguished by the name of the Oakes cows." It is not, I presume, the mere act of chang-proving their native breed? Are there not, at this cow. I now present a brief statement of an un- ing their food that is beneficial; but their stomachs time, in every township, some cows, two or three at equalled English cow, the property of Mr. Cramp, are cloyed if their food is not varied. The appetite least, which, if as well fed, would be as productive of Sussex county: a cow not of either of the highest is increased by the change, and they will eat more, of butter and cheese as the most highly improved improved English breeds-long horns or short horns; and give milk in proportion. I understand him to of the long and the short horned breeds? From such but of the proper old Sussex breed, which, Marshall say that he commonly changed his cow's food every superior native cows, selected in every township, says, very much resemble the Herefordshire cattle. time he fed her; and he thus concludes his details: and managed with English care and skill, great imFor a minute detail of her treatment and of her pro-"I feed my cow six or seven times a day." provements may be rapidly and extensively effected. ducts in milk and butter, during five years, I must The moderate quantities of butter noted in the It will be attended with some extra expense; but the refer the reader to the Massachusetts Agricultural preceding number, as stated from Young's Northern substantial farmers who have the means of purRepository and Journal, vol. iv. No. 4. Tour, were produced, for the most part, by the chasing the superior animals, and can give the re Mr. Cramp's experiments commenced in May, short horned, or Holderness breed of cows, proba- quisite attention, will certainly be abundantly com1805, and appear to have been carefully registered. bly of Dutch extraction. Of this breed, Mr. Mar pensated by the greatly increased value and prices In the first year, reckoning from the day she calved, shall, in his Rural Economy of Yorkshire (printed of their improved stock. But they must select fine she yieldedin 1788,) gives the following description. "A thick, bulls as well as fine cows, on which to raise their imquarts of milk. lbs. of butter. large boned, coarse, clumsy animal, remarkably provements. Arthur Young mentions an eminent 540 In 48 weeks, 4921 2d year, in 45 weeks, 4137 450 66 5752 675 4219. 466 5369 594 3d year, 514 4th year, 421 3th year, 48 66 66 large behind, with thick gummy thighs, always English improver in husbandry (Mr. Turner,) as fleshy, but never fat; the flesh being of bad quality. having obtained a dairy of the true Lancashire long This, however, was not the worst, the monstrous horned cows; for two of which Bakewell offered size of the buttocks of the calf was frequently fatal sixty guineas, for the purpose of breeding BULLS to the cow. Numbers of cows were annually lost from them. This was about 60 years ago. Bull [Note-In the fifth year the cow had twin calves, in calving." And of this breed, as then propagated calves, from our best cows, should certainly be sewhich were suckled 9 weeks; during which time no in Yorkshire, he says "It is a fact, that short horn lected and reared with equal, or rather with greater butter was made from her milk, although she gave cows seldom calve without assistance." And when care, because of their more extensive use, than the $64 quarts more than the calves sucked. But this the hour of calving is apparently at hand, they are females. Bakewell's long horned cattle in his life surplus milk, Mr. Cramp says, threw up very little diligently watched, the person having the care of time, had a higher reputation than any other breed cream, and that was poor; and though many long them frequently rising in the night; and sometimes in England. Subsequently, the improved short hornand patient trials were made, no butter could be sitting up the night through. Of these cattle Mr. ed rose in estimation; and, under the latest improveobtained from it, whether this milk was taken from Marshall remarks: "The unprofitableness of this ments, seem to have gained the ascendancy. her before or after the calves had sucked. At the Dutch breed' being evident, men of discernment Bakewell's primary object in his improvements of end of nine weeks, the calves were sold for 121. began to set about improving it. In the course of cattle, was the production of beef-and his principal 12s. ($56,) and then the making of butter commenc- the last twenty years the bone has been lowered, (says Young,) was "to gain a beast that would weigh ed and continued 48 weeks.] the hind quarters reduced, and the flesh and fatting most in the most valuable joints." Hence he aimed It seems that Mr. Cramp was keeper of the prison quality very much improved; not by foreign admix- at reducing the head, neck and bones: and by his in Sussex, within the walls of which, on 70 rods of lures and unnatural crossings, but by choosing the skilful selections from his own stock, and from the ground, he sowed red clover, white clover, lucerne, cleanest and best fleshed bulls and heifers from among stocks of others, where he found animals superior to rye-grass and cow-grass, and some carrots. The their own or their neighbour's stock." The still later his own, he at length obtained slender heads and crops of lucerne were cut four times, and the clover improvements of the short horned breed, it is to necks, slender and short legs, and small bones. He three times during the season, producing each time be presumed, have remedied the evil above men- asserted, says Young, "that the smaller the bones, good crops. The cow was not allowed to feed on tioned, which proved fatal to many cows in calving, the truer would be the make of the beast, the quickthe grass ground; but all these green crops were and rendered assistance unnecessary. er she will fatten, and her weight, we may conceive, cut and given her in a rack in her hovel, where she Mr. Marshall says "The Herefordshire breed will have a larger proportion of valuable meat; had a plat of about 18 square rods to range in. He of cattle, taking it all in all, may, without risk, I flesh not bone, is the butcher's object." And Sir kept but that one cow, and always milked her him- believe, be deemed the first breed of cattle in the John Sinclair remarks, that the "celebrated John self, being particularly careful to milk her regularly island." "Beside their superiority as dairy stock, Hunter (an eminent anatomist,) declared that small and clean. He says, "milch cows are often spoiled the females, at least, fat kindly at an early age; the bones were generally attended with corpulency, in for want of patience at the latter end of milking strongest proof of their excellency as fatting cattle. all the various subjects he had an opportunity of them." This, unquestionably, is a remark alike I have seen three-year old heifers of this breed, (to examining. correct and important. Every farmer knows that use a familiar phrase,) as fat as mud; much fatter As to form, Sir John justly observes, that "though two of bran, mixed together; Mr. Cramp always Pollard, is the inner husk of wheat; the same which 13-VOL. 7. * Sir John (Code of Agric. p. 87,) mentions the late Mr. Davis, the reporter of the husbandry of Wiltshire, agriculturists that England had produced, as lamenting whom he pronounces to have been one of the ablest that Wiltshire farmers had that 'pride of stock' which indured them to prefer beauty and size to utility and profit." Are not some American farmers, lovers of husbandry, falling into the same error? |