;92 



MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



none has been the subject of so ranch observa- 

 tion and esteem as the Horse. In their native 

 wilds, Nature fonns them into herds and groups, 

 and gives them in command of the strongest 

 and fleetest ; and by this and other wise ar 

 raugements, of wliich only God is capable, 

 guards the species against general degeneracy. 

 The same kind care has been shown in special 

 provision for the security of every race of ani- 

 mals ; but when this security is taken away, 

 and they are brought under the dominion and 

 management of man, the most skillful attention 

 is required in changing the general character 

 of the species, and producing and improving 

 distinct breeds, each adapted to its own specific 

 purpose. It is not everj' breed that is .suited to 

 every locality ; for climate and the face and 

 food of diSerent countries will modify the shapes 

 and qualities, not only of tlie domestic animals, 

 but of the human species : the raw-boned, in- 

 dustrious, hardy and temperate man of the 

 north becomes enervated and indolent both in 

 the mental and physical constitution and ener- 

 gies, in tropical latitudes where he reposes in 

 the lap of luxury, enjoying without exertion the 

 abundance which Nature lavishes around him. 



" The horse best fitted to travel in the sun and 

 sands of the south, is the descendant of the 

 small, hard-boned, light-footed Arabian, with his 

 high courage and silken coat; while grain- 

 growing Pennsylvania and Ohio, with their 

 cumbrous wagons, prefer to use a heavy, corn- 

 fed breed, that will throw a greater weight 

 upon the collar. The north, again, is better 

 served by a more compact and active race, of 

 middle size, endowed with much more strength 

 in proportion to their weight, and greater pow- 

 ers of endurance ; who bravely champ the bit 

 and nobly strain to the load with lion-like vigor ; 

 rejoicing at toil, and answering to the driver's 

 voice with proud step and martial air, as if it 

 was the trampet calling them to battle. Thus 

 the wants and peculiarities — the soil, climate 

 and uses of each district — require and produce 

 that peculiar breed which is best suited to itself 

 What better stock do we need than such as 

 can be bred from the best of those we already 

 have. The teams of Z. Pratt & Co. composed 

 of a single span (natives of our own region), are 

 in the habit of drawing from Catskill, over the 

 niountains to Prattsville, and back, loads of 

 hides and leather of from thirty to fifty, and even 

 sixty hundred weight, each wagon or sleigh not 

 included, the distance being thirty-seven miles, 

 and requiring three days to go and come. 



•'The quantity thus" transporter! within the 

 year is nearly two and a half millions of pounds, 

 and the expenses the last season, including all 

 ri.sks and charges, was only thirteen cents a 

 hundred. During twenty years of this service, 

 which I make bold to assert has not been 

 equaled by horses of any other district or county 

 on the globe, not a horse has been injured, in 

 the hands of a careful driver, and to the honor 

 of the county be it said that we have never lost 

 a hide or side of leather, of the million and one- 

 half thus transported." 



The reader may be gratified in having the 

 means of comparing these Prattsville, Greene 

 Co. New-Yark Horses with the Pennsylvania 

 Conesto^as. It will be seen that two of the 

 former haul from five to six thousand weight 

 -twenty-four miles a day, while six of the latter 

 make but sixteen miles a day with from six to 



eight thousand. Doubtless, however, the wag- 

 ons in the latter case are much heavier, and the 

 roads not nearly so good. But the reader must 

 make his own comparison. The following is a 

 letter from David Agnew, Esq. the excellent 

 Postmaster of Wheeling, in reply to a letter 

 from Mr. Skinner, then Assistant Postmaster 

 General. We find it in one of the works edited 

 by Mr. S. for Lea & Blanchard of Philadel- 

 phia, in an Essay on the Use of Oxen, incor- 

 porated in the American edition of " Clater 

 and Youatt's CattleDoctor, by Skinner :" 



Wheeling, Nov. 23d, 1843. 

 J. S. Skinner, Esq. 



Dear Sir : Your favor requesting me to ob- 

 tain information respecting horses, wagons, &c. 

 was received in due course of mail ; but as I 

 was just leaving for Pittsburgh, I was compelled 

 to defer answering until my return. I confeiTed 

 with several wagoners, and give below the re- 

 sult of their united opinions. 



Respectfully, your ob't serv't, David Agnew. 



Question. The usual average daily travel of loaded 

 ■wagons ? 



Answer. Sixteen miles. 



Q. How many horses, and their average cost or 

 value ? 



A. Six horses, average cost of each $6.5. 



Q. The average time that horses so employed will 

 last? 



A. Seven years. 



Q. At what age is it considered safe to put them 

 to such labor ? 



A. Five years. Many are used at three or four 

 years. 



Q. What the average cost of shoeing each horse 

 per anmun ? 



A. Fifteen dollars. 



Q. What is the usual feed of kind and quantity, 

 and to how many oats is it equivalent where oats are 

 not used ? 



A. Oats is the only feed in use. Four and a half 

 bushels is allowed per day for six horses. 



Q. As to hay — is it in regular use on the road, or 

 does cut straw, or what, take the place of it ? 



A. Cut straw is not used. Hay is in regular use. 



Q. What is the vsunl weight of their load exclu- 

 sive of their wagons, and what the weight of the 

 wagons ! 



A. The weight of loads varies from sixty to eighty 

 hundred pounds; seventy hundred pounds is the 

 usual weight ; wagon's weight about 3,500 lbs. 



Q. What is the first cost of wagon, harness per 

 horse, and how long will a set of harness last ? 



A. A wagon of the largest size used on the nation- 

 al road costs §250 ; harness per liorse $20 ; and will 

 last six years. 



Q. What is the cost of a wagon in proportion to 

 what it vrill carry — and about how long will a wagon 

 last, with ordinai-y care ? 



A. A wacon that will cany 3,000 lbs. costs $1.30; 

 4,0U0 lbs. $160 ; 5,000 lbs. $175 ; 6.000 lbs. $200 ; 7.000 

 lbs. and upward, $250; and with ordinaiy care will 

 last foiu- years. 



Preservation of Cabbages. — Cut them so 

 that they may have about two inches of stem 

 left below the leaves, scoop out the pith as far 

 down as a small knife will reach, then su.spend 

 them, by means of a cord, exactly perpendicu- 

 lar, but \n an inverted position, and daily fill up 

 the hollow part of the stem with clean, cold wa- 

 ter. It is stated, that by this method, cabbages, 

 cauliflowers, broccoli, celerj', &c. may be pre- 

 scr\-cd for some time in a cool place ; it aflbrds 

 an easy means of keeping a supply of green 

 vegetables during a severe winter. 



(Coiilcy's Cyclopajdia of Practical Receipts. 



