SUFFLUMENT 



TO JVo. 4, OF F^lK^TflEUS^ MFGISTER. 



After the last sheet of No. 4 was ready for the press, 

 we received some of the latest Nos. of our British ag- 

 ricultural periodicals; and being unwilling to withhold 

 their contents entirely from our readers until October, 

 these supplementary pages are added with that view, 

 and also to lessen the accumulation of matter on hand 

 for publication. • 



[As the want of space will not permit at this time 

 the insertion of all the reports which form the article 

 commenced below, it is proper to state that the results 

 concur in proving that it is unprofitable to fatten cattle 

 on steamed food, instead of similar food in a raw state 

 — and that the steamed food is profitable to be used for 

 hogs, though less so than has been supposed. 



The experiments deserve attention not only for the 

 subject, and the results, but also on account of the 

 very particular and accurate manner in which all the 

 processes were conducted, and the full and clear re- 

 ports exhibited. This is the proper manner in which 

 experiments should be made, and their progress and 

 results noted and reported: and a few sucii on any one 

 contested point in agriculture, conducted by different 

 persons, and in diflerent modes, will go farther to 

 reach valuable truths, than volumes of mere specula- 

 tion and opinion, or of arguments founded on such un- 

 stable foundations. Nor does the difference of results 

 in different experiments impair their value, provided 

 every circumstance affecting them was observed and 

 reported. In no complicated experiment, of conside- 

 rable duration, can the farmer foresee or regulate every 

 circumstance necessary to his object: and the omission 

 of observing some one such unsought for and unex- 

 pected agent, may make the report false, and the 

 whole experiment worse than worthless. But when 

 all such circumstances are fully and truly stated, they 

 often lead to truths, which though different from, may 

 be as valuable as those that the experimenter was seek- 

 ing. 



The usefulness of the Highland Society of Scotland 

 to agriculture, and to the general prosperity of their 

 country, may be inferred from this small sample of the 

 manner in which their patriotic efforts are directed — 

 and we respectfully recommend the example to the 

 different agricultural societies already formed, or now 

 forming in Virginia. The same general faults, (though 

 in different degrees, have been exhibited by all that 

 have existed, and will be, we fear, by all now coming 

 into existence. They are societies for talking instead 

 of working — for speech-making upon things in general, 

 instead of for making accurate experiments, and re- 

 porting statements of facts, for the improvement of ag- 

 ricultural practice. If the duties required of the mem- 

 bers of agricultural societies were merely to make and 

 report experiments in a proper manner, (though cer- 

 tainly there is no reason why their labors should be 

 confined within these limits,) the value of their trans- 

 VoL. II.— 21 



actions would be great indeed. By every report, or 

 memorandum, something would be added to the a- 

 mount of established truths: and by a proper bond of 

 union between all, each society would be benefited 

 not only by the labors of its own members, but as 

 much by those of all others. Let each member be re- 

 quired to do something, and the labors of all would be 

 immense, both in quantity and value. But if one hun- 

 dred societies were now formed, to go through the old 

 round of constitution-making and speech-making, they 

 would do no good, even if they did not produce injury 

 to their cause, as is generally the result of all misdi- 

 rected efforts. There is nothing we are more anxious 

 to see than the intellect and strength of the agricultu- 

 ral interest of Virginia arrayed in properly constituted 

 agricultural societies: and there is no public measure 

 that we have less faith in, as a means of promoting ag- 

 ricultural improvement, than societies organized and 

 conducted as they generally have been.] 



REPORTS ON THE COBIPARATIVE ADVANTA- 

 GES OF FEEDING LIVE STOCK ON RAW OR ON 

 PREPARED FOOD. 



From tlie Prize Essays and Transactionsof the Highland Society 

 of Scotland. 



[In 1833, the Society, considering the impor- 

 tance of determining the comparative advan- 

 tages of feeding Hve-iJtock on raw or on prepared 

 tbod, offered a piece of plate of I'hirty Sovereigns 

 value, for the best report, founded on actual ex- 

 periment, made for that purpose, on a number of 

 oxen or heifers, not fewer than six, the animals to 

 be of the same breed, age and sex, and the term 

 of feeding not less than three months. At the 

 same time, a premium of Ten Sovereigns was of- 

 fered for a report on the feeding of ten or more 

 swine of the same age and breed. Five reports 

 were received. The premium for horned cattle 

 was adjudged to Mr. Walker, Ferr}^gate, Had- 

 dington, and that lor swine to Mr. Boswellof Bal- 

 muto. Extracts of the other reports, to the au- 

 thors of which the thanks of the Society were 

 voted, are also given.] 



Report of an Experiment on the deeding of Six 

 Heifers and Four Oxen. 



By Mr. Robert Walker, Ferrj-gate, Haddington. 



Here, ample barn-yards still are stored 



With relics of last autumn's hoard, 

 And firstlings of this year. 



On the 20th day of Febi-uary 1833, we put up 

 to feed six two-years-old heilers, bred by our- 

 selves, got by a thorough bred short-horned bull, 

 out of common country cows, and as nearly equal 

 as could be selected from a large lot, both in point 

 of weight and feeding qualities. At the same 

 time, we also put up four two-year-old stots, part 

 of a lot purchased at Dalkeith October Fair from 

 Mr. James Haliburton, cattle-dealer, at Hawick. 



From the circumstance of both lots having 

 been, some time previous to 20th February, on 

 lull keep, — the heifers on common white giope 

 turnips, with an allowance of 3 lbs. of bruiced 



