Vol. X.— No. 44. 



AND HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



From the Massachusetts Agricultural Repository and Journal. 



IMPORTED STOCK. 



To the Publisliin" Comn 



chudetts Society for 



of the M.-ISS1 

 promoting Agriculture. 



Gentlemen — It is certainly to be regrettetl, 

 that some respectable fanners show a disposition 

 not only to iinhijge prejudices against the import- 

 ed breeds of cattle, but to excite these impres- 

 sions on the minds of others. They ap])eal to a 

 popular feeling, and a very natural one, which too 

 easily besets us — "our own superiority." " Tlie 

 true worth of our ancient breed," says one, " as to 

 their competition, is much neglected." Again — 

 " our old accustomed breeds are unnoticed." In 

 the most approved practices of breeding of stock, 

 perhaps no better reason need be given for a 

 change, than this very fact, that it is our old accustom- 

 ed breed, on which a cross would be beneficial for 

 that cause only. As the disadvantage of breeding 

 " in and in " for a length of time, has been long 

 admitted, the princijile of a change of breed or 

 cross, by judicious selections, has, it is believed, 

 induced almost universal assent and practice. 



Some contend, that a given weight may be 

 placed on any part of animals, to correct a defi- 

 ciencj' ; and others, that every disposition and 

 property may be improved by a skilftd obser- 

 vation and practice herein. The attention of ag- 

 riculturists in Europe, has been for the greater 

 part of the last century, engaged in this process. 

 In England more especially — if we can believe alJ 

 we see, or all we hear, or any part of it — animal 

 of extraordinary production, as well as those of 

 great beauty, size and power, with a favorable dis- 

 position to fatten, have been brought to view. In 

 stances might be here quoted, but they are too 

 well known to need it! Wherever, in any coim- 

 try, a judicious selection of stock has been in care- 

 ful continued practice, we must shut our eyes 

 and seal up our senses not to perceive the benefi- 

 cial result. And why should we doubt our power 

 in this particular ? It seems the all-wise in- 

 tention in our condition, that we should cultivate 

 and improve everything about us ! And do we 

 not so do ? How is it with the horse and various 

 other animals ? Are they not bred and reared, 

 for various uses, by careful selection and attention ? 

 And why should we easily and indolently admit 

 that nothing is to be effected in our cattle, form- 

 ing, as they do, the great sources of our comfort 

 and support ? 



But though our efforts in this country may have 

 been less strenuous and uniform, and for a shorter 

 period of time, still we do not want proofs of what 

 may be done at home. Our cattle are suscepti- 

 ble of improvement, as the Sutton race will show. 

 Those who most dislike the imported breed, tell 

 of some native stock in their neighborhood which 

 is superior. Be it so ! Our stock was mostly de- 

 rived from Great Britain, and is doubtless as ca- 

 pable of impiovpuient. 



All that is to be said, is, that when that which 

 time only can produce, has for nearly a ccntiu-y 

 been in careful progression, a prudent considtra- 

 tion will avail of the advantage. 



It is further complained, " that much is said of 

 the imported and little or nothing of our na»ive 

 stock." If this alludes to any general expression 

 or opinion, it will have its due weight and no 

 more. But the object of the Massachusetts Agri- 

 culiural Society has been, to promote a judicious 

 stlertion, as the great thing necessary, and so their 

 committees have uniformly urged 



349 



ums on milch animals have been mostly given to 

 native stock, it is believed ; some to the imported 

 breed to be sure; the far greater number of the 

 former makes this natural. In many cases the 

 richness of the milk in the imported breed, has 

 been remarkalile ; and their general size, propor- 

 tion and beauty, has been thought to exceed our 

 olil races. 



vation and experience on this subject — and I re 

 mam Yours, &c, R.M.WILLIAMS. 



Middlesex, March 6, ] 832. 



I'rora the Literary Gazette. 



NEW ROILING APPARATUS. 



Mr Perkins, the celebrated engineer, has rccent- 



The disai-pointment of a farmer, who has paid I '^ discovered and obtained a patent for a new 

 a large price for an animal (as has occurred) that "'°'''' °^ boiling, by a process so simple that it is 

 has long legs and " a bag that is difficult to be "^"'^J'^" "'"^"''P'"'^'' *" ^11 who see it, that it has 

 found," is to be regretted— but these things wJH I "^^ 'j"^*"! earlier among our useful improvements, 

 sometimes happen. But it is earnestly contended I "' ^^""sists in placing within a boiler, (of the form 

 in Europe and by many here, that where there '^°'"""'" '« /}•« purpose to which it is applied, and 



has been a long transmission of improved blood in 

 stock, tl^is occurs much more rarely! 



The improved short-horns are not generally es- 

 teemed a long-legged race ; many of them are 

 great milkers ; though for this property they are 

 thought by some to have too great a tendency to 

 become fat. By this facility they often disappoint 

 those who wish to increase their breed. This 

 disposition to fatten is so felt in England, that at 

 their Smithfiekl cattle-show last year, it was proud- 

 ly said, " Foreigners may boast of their sunny 

 climes, of the spontaneous produce of their soil, 

 of their grapes, and their wine, and their olive 

 yards, but no land but England can boast of their 

 fat cattle-show." 



The object of the trustees of the Massachusetts 

 Agricnltural Society, is to encourage whatever is 

 connected with the great staples of" the country— 

 not to write down one race of cattle and set up 

 another. Whatever means are at hand, let them 

 be made use of. But if others and superior, can be 

 had from abroad, brought home and used to greater 

 advantage, let us not be too steadfast in our old 

 habits and practices, lest we should perceive too 

 late, that we have stood still while others have ad- 

 vanced. I am yours, JOHN WELLES. 



Boston, March 22, 1832. 



MOSSY LANDS. 



Mr Goodsell — Iu your paper of the 25th ult. 

 your correspondent, Timothy, inquires what he 

 shall do to cure mossy lauds. I answer, there are 

 three ways in which such land may be helped. 



1st. If it is occasioned by too much water, and 

 the land has sufficient descent, then ditching is the 

 obvious remedy. 



2d. If the land lies too low to be cured by 

 ditching, then I should recommend to cart on a 

 plentiful dressing of pit-sand and chip-dirt, to be 

 dropped in alternate teaps, to be spread so as to 

 raise the sm-face about an inch ; plough it, har- 

 row it, and seed it anew. But lands of this kind 

 are sometimes miry, and cannot be ploughed ; in 

 that 6ase, I should recommend, 



3dly. To haul on a plentiful dressing of pit- 

 sand only. Let it be spread over the surface, 

 scatter on some timothy and red-toj) grass seed ; 

 in a few years the sand will subside and the rich 

 mold below it will rise to the surface, and the land 

 will be permanently cured of its disposition to be- 

 come, mossy. If the land be natin-ally dry, and 

 the grasses merely run out, then simply ploughing 

 and re-seeding will be sufficient; but where it is 

 too low and wet, I think jiloughing can afford no 

 permanent benefit, because the land will in a few 

 years settle to its former level, bringing with it the 

 The pren)i- 1 water and moss. Such is the result of my obser- 



of all capacities, from coffee pots to steain-boilers,) 

 a vessel, that may, by slight stays, be kept at 

 equal distances from the sides and the bottom of 

 the boiler, and having its rim below the level of 

 the liquid ; the inner vessel has a hole in \he bot- 

 tom, about one third of its diameter. On the ap- 

 plication of the fire to the boiler, the heated liquor 

 rises in the space between the two vessels, and its 

 place is supplied by the descent of the column in 

 the inner vessel, or as Mr Perkins calls this part of 

 apparatus, the circulator ; for the ascending por- 

 tion having the space it occujiied supplied by the 

 descending liquid in the centre, and the level of 

 the cemre being kept up by the running in of the 

 heated portion which has risen on the sides, a cir- 

 culation rapidly begins and continues ; thus bring- 

 ing into contact with the heated bottom and sides 

 of the boiler, the coldest portion of the liquid. 



By this process, the rapidity of evaporation is 

 excessive, far exceeding that of any other method 

 previously known ; whilst the bottom of the boiler 

 having its acquired heat constantly carried off by 

 the circulating liquid, never burns out, nor rises 

 in temperature many degrees above tlie heat of 

 the liquid. In many manufactures this is a most 

 important discovery, especially in salt-works 

 brewers' boilers, and for steam-boilers ; and appli- 

 ed to our culinary vessels, no careless cook can 

 burn what she has to dress in a boiler by nedect- 

 ing to stir it, as the circulation prevents the bottom 

 of the boiler from ever acquiring heat enough to 

 do mischief We need hardly add, that this dis- 

 covery is esteemed by men of science to be one of 

 the most useful and important of the present day. 



Curious fact in the economy of bees. — When two 

 or three distinct hives are united in autumn, they 

 are found to consume together scarcely more honey 

 during the winter, than each of them would have 

 consumed singly if left separate. In proof of this 

 remarkable result, the author' states a variety of 

 experiments to which lie had recourse, and all of 

 which led uniformly to the same conclusion. And 

 indeed he shows positively, by a reference to up- 

 ward^ of thirty hives, six of which hatl their pop- 

 ulation thus doubled, that the latter do not consume 

 more provisions during winter than a single hive 

 does ; and that, so far from the bees suffering from 

 this, the doubled hives generally send forth the 

 earliest and best swarms. — jlrc. of Sci. 



Those who wish to get good lettuce and tender 

 radishes, should plant in April the best of seeds, 

 for they may as well expect a good breed of cat- 

 tle from the common scrubs, as good vegetables 

 from bad seed. The earth should be stirred once 

 in two days at least about radishes, as soon as they 

 are as large as a goose quill, and they will well 

 repay the lab^r bestowed upon them. — Genesee 

 Farmer. "^ 



