1847.] Transactions of the State Jlgricultural Society. 27 



grading and laying a track, will vary in cost, according to cir- 

 cumstances. When an old road is used, and hills are not to be 

 cut down, or valleys to be filled up, it will not vary much from 

 fiity cents a rod for one track. 



In those sections of the country where lumber is cheap, plank 

 roads must go into very general use; and in some localities, it is 

 the only road that can be made to endure the changes of the cli- 

 mate with any resonable outlay of money. Less power is re- 

 quired to draw loading over them, and they are superior in every 

 respect to McAdam roads while they last." 



Preparation of Sandy and Light Soils for Wheat: By the Hon. 

 Elias Cost, Ontario county. 



The new plan detailed quite briefly by Mr. Cost consists in 

 plowing but once, and following with the cultivator for the pur- 

 pose of exterminating w^eeds. 



One great object which Mr. Cost wishes to secure is the con- 

 solidation of the soil. He deems it of no consequence how hard 

 it is, provided sufficient earth is obtained to cover the seed. The 

 principle is unquestionably correct, and is highly important to be 

 remembered in cultivating for wheat all loose and porous soils. 



Galloway Cattle : Their adaptation to this country. By San- 

 ford Howard. 



Mr. Howard, whose opinion and judgment is always worthy of 

 reliance, recommends very strongly the Galloway cattle. We 

 copy the following paragraph from pp. 284-5: 



" This breed of cattle derive their name from that district of 

 country in Scotland, called Galloway, which embraces portions of 

 several counties. They are unquestionably an aboriginal breed, 

 belonging rather to the mountains, than the lower country, and 

 have probably been bred, dow^n to the present time, in greater pu- 

 rity than most other breeds. Youatt observes, ' there is, perhaps, 

 no breed of cattle which can more truly be said to be indigenous 

 to the country, and incapable of improvement by any foreign cross, 

 than the Galloways.' — [British Cattle, p. 163.) The same re- 

 mark is made by Prof. Low. ' The breed of Galloway,' says he, 

 ' is peculiarly confirmed in its characters, and thoroughly aciapted 

 to the condition of the country. * * * * It would be a re- 

 trogradation in improvement to attempt a mixture of blood with a 

 race so long acclimated, and so excellent in itself, as that of Gal- 

 loway. The great advantage of having a breed, possessing a uni- 

 formity of characters, is manifest in Galloway, as in every country 

 where a fixed race wuth determined characters exists. The breeder 

 has always in such a case, as was before observed, the assurance 



