No. 2. 



Rules for Selecting Neat Cattle — The Farmer, 



71 



In 1833, the crop of the Union had in- 

 creased to 437| millions. Of this, 88 mil- 

 lions crrew in Georgia, 73 in South Carolina, 

 70 in Mississippi, 65 in Alabama, -55 in Lou- 

 isiana, 50 in Tennessee, 15 in Florida, 13 in 

 Virginia, 10 in North Carolina, and three 

 quarters in Arkansas. 



The next year, (1834,) the crop had in- 

 creased to 457^^- millions, and was grown as 

 follows: 85 in Mississippi, 85 in Alabama, 75 

 in Georgia, 65^ in South Carolina, 62 in Lou- 

 isiana, 45 in Tennessee, 20 in Florida, 10 in 

 Virginia, 9^ in North Carolina, and half a 

 million in Arkansas. Subsequently, no cer- 

 tain data are in our possession ; but the esti- 

 mate at this time is 550 millions as the whole 

 crop of the Union. 



Thus it will be seen, from 1791 to 1826, 

 South Carolina was the most abundant cotton 

 growing State in the Union. In 1826, 

 Georgia took the lead, and held it till 1834, 

 when Alabama and Mississippi took the front 

 rank. At this time, Mississippi is perhaps 

 the most extensive cotton growing State in 

 the Union. South Carolina and Alabama are 

 next. North Alabama is beginning to dete- 

 riorate as a cotton country ; while the worn 

 lands in Middle Tennessee are thought to im- 

 prove for this culture — maturity, the vital 

 desideratum, not being so easily attainable in 

 the rank luxuriance of the fresher soils. — 

 Southern Cultivator. 



Rwles for Selecting Neat Cattle. 



The rules for selecting for good stock are 

 principally these: — Deep wide shoulders, 

 wide and deep hips, short and straight back 

 bones, round bodies and well ribbed back, 

 short shin bones, short strong necks, small 

 short heads, small pointed noses.* If these 

 rules were observed from generation to gen- 

 eration, by our farmers, the neatest breed of 

 cattle that were ever seen would soon become 

 first rate. Avery large creature of any kind, 

 is not so profitable to the farmer, as a good 

 middling size. The main thing is shape. — 

 And no farmer should ever sell, at any price, 

 his best and finest shaped animals, if he in- 

 tends to keep up a good and profitable kind. 

 A gentleman told me lately that he began 

 farming about twenty years ago. He then 

 took a good deal of pains to find and purchase 



* These rules are correct — by wide shoulders the 

 writer means the shoulder blades we presume— not 

 thickness of the shoulder— we doubt about the dept/i of 

 the shoulder for the cow if he mean from the withers to 

 the brisket. In general the good milch cow will be al- 

 tosether light before, getting deeper and more bulky as 

 you go back to the milk region of the body. If by short 

 strong neck he mean a thick neck, he is wrong — the 

 neck and head of the cow cannot be too light — the 

 chops and muzzle cannot be too neat and clean— a dew 

 lap Is odious. The fact is and it may be laid down as 

 a plain general rule, that the more valuable the partic- 

 ular part in question— the more we want of it, and 

 vtce versa. 



a superior kind of sheep. He could find none 

 on an average better than his own which were 

 mean. He adopted the practice of selecting 

 his best lambs every year, for stock. In a 

 few years he had first rate sheep. The 

 same course will produce the same effects in 

 every kind of animal. 



Tlie Fanner. 



A SONG — BY J. J. B.VRKER, OF PHILADELPHIA. 



Sung at a Meeting of the Agricultural Society at New 

 Brunswick. 



A farmer's life is the life for me, 



I own I love it dearly ; 

 And every season full of glee, 

 I take its labors cheerly — 



To plough or sow, 



To reap or mow, 

 Or in the barn to thre.sh, sir — 



All's one to me, 



I plainly see, 

 'Twill bring me health and cash, sir. 



The lawyer leads a harrass'd life, 



Much like that of a hunted otter. 

 And 'tween his own and others' strife, 

 He's always in hot water — 



For foe or friend, 



A cause defend. 

 However wrong must be, sir — 



In reason's spite. 



Maintain 'tis right — 

 And dearly earn his fee, sir. 



The doctor's styl'd a gentleman, 

 But this I hold but humming; 

 For, like a tavern- waiting man. 

 To every call " he's coming" — ■ 



Now here, now there. 



Must he repair. 

 Or starve, sir, by denying; 



Like death himself, 



Unhappy elf. 

 He lives by others' dying. 



A farmer's life, then, let me live, 



Obtaining, while I lead it. 

 Enough for self, and some to give 

 To such poor souls as need it. 



I'll drain and fence. 



Nor grudge expense. 

 To give my land good dressing — 



I'll plough and sow. 



Or drill in row, 

 And hope from Heaven a blessing. 



Charcoal Hams. — A writer in the Ameri- 

 can Farmer recommends to pack hams, afler 

 they have been smoked, in pounded charcoal. 

 It keeps out the flies, and prevents the fetid 

 smell and unpleasant taste too oflen found in 

 hams exposed for sale. 



