1846. 



GENESEE FARMER. 



233 



advocate improvement in iis greatest extent, and in nothing 

 more than in our domestic animals. JNumerons individuals 

 in our co 'ntry. with a spirit and liberality no\vh(>ro sur- 

 passed, have inves'eJ thousands of dollars in the importa- 

 tion of foreign cattle of the most approved quality, and from 

 them have bred herds equal in value, and in all desirable 

 points, to their originals. But iiow have they been reward- 

 ed ? In nine cases out of ten, they have suffered the deep 

 mortiiication of finding their efforts and their enterprise un- 

 appreciated, by those who, approving their value, are about 

 tc adapt them to their own uses ; and of seeing them, like 

 this instance of the Massachusetts Society, "pass by on 

 the other side,'" telling them in effect, that this stock, though 

 of acknowledged excellence, has deteriorated in their hands, 

 and that they have no conldoncc in American-bred cattle? 

 Is this fair .' Is it just ! 



We in^■ist upon if, that there are as good and as careful 

 breeders in Aineric.i as in England, for all practical purposes. 

 We know srvcr.il ca>cs where imported stock have a<;iially 

 become impruve.l in their progeny by American breeders ; 

 ahhough wo consider that those extraordinary instances of I 

 individna' skill in occa-;ionally producing uncommonly fine 

 animals, have not been de\ eloped here as frequpntly as in 

 England. But let it be remembered, that such animals as 

 a.etonish Kngli dinicn or Scotchmen at home, do n')t come 

 U) America. We cannot afford to pay for Ihem yet. But 

 we have got the blood of these superior animals, and vvili 

 soon be in the way of producing it equal to thomsclves. 



Let u.= now sistain each other — at Ica.st, until our domes- 

 tic demand slinll cirry prices up to something like a com- 

 pensating amount for ihe heavy capita! already invested in 

 o\u improved stock ; or until the reduced chciii-ncss on the 

 other side of the Allnnric shall be a s'lfficient reason ff:r 

 pnssing l)y animals and herds of equal excelhmcc on tliis. 



Canada Thistles, &c. — Discussion. 



The annexed "speeches" ai-e in replv to the 

 remarks of Mr. Peters, published in our Au- 

 gust number. — 



Mr. Chairman : — I am glad to .sea discussion eli( ited on 

 so important a subject as that of destroying Canada this- 

 tles, and other noxious weeds. Since that b.all has been 

 put in motion, let every farmer who can wield a pen put 

 forth an effort to keep it rolling. 



In reply to the gentleman last on the floor, Mr. Peters of 

 Wyoming, I w ould say I have little confidence in Legislative 

 enactments, unless there is a disposition among the people to 

 see that they are enforced. There is a very good law on the 

 subject now in force, which stands as a dead letter on 

 our st:itute books — that is, a law requiring the path-master 

 in each road district to cause all noxious weeds v. ilhin the 

 bounds of their respective districts to be cut during the 

 Summer season. 



An individual, although he lives in a land i>f l/herli/, has no 

 right to cultivato or suffer any thing to grow on his pre- 

 mises to the injury of his neighbor. If a tree fills from my 

 premises into my neighbor's field, and kills some of his 

 cattle, I am liable to him for the damage, altliongh I was 

 not instrumental in causing it to fall. The (Canada thistle 

 spreads both from the roots and seeds, but mostly from the 

 roots. It is a mistaken notion which some have imbibed 

 that the seeds do not vegetate at all , yet it is a happy thing 

 for this country that so small a portion does come to matu- 

 rity. If they were as prolific in seed as the pigeon-weed, 

 the country would be entirely overrun with them in l"ss 

 than five years. There must be a united eftbrl among 

 farmers to eradicate these pests, or we shall, ere long, like 

 the southern planter, be obliged to aban<lon our farms as 

 old fields, and seek a new home on the virgin soils of the 

 far west. There are many among us who occupy more 

 land than they can cultivate to advantage. The price of 

 produce is so low that they think they cannot afford to 

 hire ; they will therefore nm over large fields, plowing and 

 cultivating just enough to promote the growth of noxious 

 ■weeds. They get less than half a crop, and then burn up 

 their straw and chaff to kill the seed. A curse will con- 

 stantly follow such farmers — the curse at least of a barren 

 and sterile soil — of empty pockets, and of cattle and sheep 

 so thin that it would require three to make a shadow — and 

 of swine so emaciated that they would be obliged to brace 

 themselves against the fence in order to squeal. 



The best m'^fhod that ever I found to destroy the thistle, 

 is. to keep the field infested with them to gras.s, mow them 



frequemly, and salt my cattle and sheep on them ; and 

 when they become few and scattering, go over the ground 

 frequently, and cut everyone that makes its appearance. In 

 this way i have entirely eradicated several large patches, 

 and ere this time might have been entirely clear of them, 

 if my neighbors had not suffered theirs to go to seed, there- 

 by keeping my grounds continually seeded. 



I perfectly agree with him in his assertions of our b(!ing 

 Ifd hy the nose, Sfc. We think it is our province to drudge 

 and toil, and leave the management of pecuniary and po- 

 litical affairs to the knoimng ones. A learned farmer is 

 looked upon as a nondescript, or creature of fancy, rather 

 than a reality. If we educate our sons, we think thiit, in 

 order to make men of them, we must put them into some 

 of the learned professions, which arc already overstocked. 



Ti/re. N. Y., August. 1046. Jaso.n Smith. 



Mr. Ch4ir.man : — With interest I have been listening, 

 witii my long ears, to the remarks of friend Peters on the 

 .subject of Thistles, Farms and Farming, I^aws and Law- 

 yers, and have come to the conclusion that he is wrong — 

 wrong — and vvith your consent I will give you my reasons. 

 Thistles, and all other noxious weeds, (I reckon.) should 

 not be cut until the seed comes as near the point of germi- 

 mtion as may be, and not attain it. The cutting is then 

 more fatal than when cut in bloom or before. Again — if 

 my friend's wishes were realized, it would come to pass 

 that all the laws needed for a single State would be found 

 ilia book not exceeding in size the New Testament, and 

 I hose needed for the LTnited States would be printed in a 

 book no larger than the old fashioned Bible. Now, Mr. 

 Chairman, it would take a great long while to think up and 

 name the ill>- and woes that would betide us in such a case, 

 and I will only m-^ntion a few. Thousands would be 

 thrown out of their present employment, and perhaps 

 would be found hoeing " taters." 



Again ; if our laws were thus short, compreliensive and 

 simple, there would be but little lavving going on ; but if 

 the peaceable and quiet were driven into it, by those whose 

 bumps of combativeness perchance were large, why we 

 'could defend ourselves in the majority of cases without the 

 aid of counsel, if the new Constitutiim will admit, and we 

 jacks would soon take the place of that more nohlc aniiual, 

 the horse, and all these changes would be new and wrong. 

 Perhaps my neighbor will see it in the same light, if he 

 will but give the subject a second look. As a proof of the 

 position [ h-ive taken, or in other words, to show how much 

 may be comprehended in a few words, ] will call the at- 

 tention of neighbor Peters to the law defining the legality 

 or illegality of using the district school-house for other pur- 

 poses than for the school on such daj's and hours as it shall 

 not be occupied for that purpose, and the source from 

 which such decision must come. But to conclude, since 

 my hand is in, I would put in for a law that f -50, 000 be as- 

 sessed to each county in this state, to be dealt out by men 

 appointed for the purpose, to the indigent tillers of the soil, 

 in implements of husbandry and other things as they have 

 need. The Chairman says that wont go, for it would be 

 taking directly from the strong and giving to the weak. I 

 admit it. rnd would say that my notion is to have the tables 

 turned, and I will venture to guess that the nation would 



be benefitted equally as much as if members of should 



appropri:ite to themselves ,$70,000 for a private library. 

 Your friend, down cast, 



Silooin. Mtdison Co., Aug. 1846. ' S. F. S. 



Chicken Salad. — Boil a chicken that weighs 

 not more than a pound and a half. When very 

 tender, take it up, cut it in small strips, and make 

 the following sauce and turn over it : Boil four 

 eggs three minute.s — take them out of tlie shells, 

 mash and mix them witii a couple of table-spoon- 

 fuls of olive oil, or melted butter, two-thirds of a 

 tumblerful of vinegar, a tea-spoonful of mixed 

 mustard, a tea-spoonful of salt, a little pepper, 

 and es.sence of celery, if you have it — if not it 

 can be dispensed with. In making chicken sal- 

 ad, the dressing should not be put on until a few 

 minutes before the salad is to be eaten ; as by lay- 

 ing in it the chicken and celery will become hard. 



