NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



381 



it as his opinion, that Dixon's stock and Marsh's 

 " are among the best, if not the best, ever imported 

 into this country." In this opinion of Dr. Wight 

 we most heartily concur, for our own experience has 

 led us to believe that there has been no better stock 

 imported into this country than that of the Hon. Mr. 

 Dixon ; and we presume that a part of Mr. Marsh's 

 is the same. Many who have that stock speak of it 

 in high terms. 



In conclusion we ought perhaps to state, in justice 

 to the stock, and to prevent imposition, that it is very 

 difficult to obtain the pure stock, even in the imme- 

 diate vicinity of Mr. Dixon ; and I am confident that 

 much that has been sold in Boston and elsewhere as 

 pure Palmer or Dixon stock * has been almost any 

 thing else. This is emphatically the case with the 

 White Shanghae, or those sold for that fowl. 



CHAS. H. PENDLETON. 



Pendleton Hill, Oct. 31, 1850. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 EFFECTS OF FOOD ON MILK. 



Mr. Cole : I -wish to make some inquiry, through 

 the medium of your valuable paper, concerning the 

 method used by the dairymen who use carrots and 

 other roots as feed for milch cows. Now, with me, 

 there is a diihculty which I have hitherto been uji- 

 able to overcome in this matter. I can taste the feed 

 in the butter. If the cows are allowed to feed on 

 lands where leeks grow, the milk is scarcely fit to 

 feed to hogs. Moreover, if the cows are allowed to 

 feed in the swamps, then something combines with 

 the milk, we know not what it is, and the butter is 

 neither fit to eat or sell. We have sometimes allowed 

 our cows to feed on turnips, cabbages, and carrots ; but 

 I can always taste the food given to the cows in the 

 butter, except when they are fed on Indian meal, 

 pure grass onlj', or hay clear from weeds. 



I fi'equeutly read of good dairy people living near 

 the cities, and I understand they make great use of 

 roots to feed to cows in milk, as well as other stock ; 

 and I hear of no complaint of the eftiuvia communi- 

 cated to their butter, or even the milk, where there is 

 80 much sold every day in the year. Am I mistaken ? 

 I think I can most certainly taste any thing in but- 

 ter that ought not to be found there. Is there any 

 way to prepare roots so as to prevent them, when fed 

 to cows, from communicating any disagreeable or un- 

 pleasant flavor to the milk ? If so, why do not some 

 of the wise ones speak out, and let the public know 

 about these matters ? Or have they done so, and I 

 not observed it ? 



We believe our agricultural editors know a great 

 deal about such matters ; and we are inclined to look 

 to them for information on agricultural subjects as 

 we would to Webster's Dictionary for the true diffi- 

 nition of words. 



Ilespcctfully yours, 



JOHN M. AVEEKS. 



West Farms, near Middlcbury, Vt., Nov. 1, 1850. 



P. S. Please inform me where a few pure Alder- 

 noy cows may be found. 



Remarks. — The subject here presented is one of 

 gieat importance both to the farmer and consumer ; 

 and we hope that some of our correspondents will 

 attend to it, and prescribe some remedy or abatement 

 of the evil complained of, and show what kinds of 



* We hive dceignated tlic fir«t importation of Capt. Piiliiiur by 

 Dixon atock, ill order to di^tiiiguiHli it (rum a roecnt importation by 

 bis brother. 



i'^i; ".iH -i.ii (■.*.■. ,.:./. . '.ij ij,'._ ■ 



food are most desirable for milch cows, otherwise 

 than the common and staple articles, good sweet grass 

 and hay. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 CARBONATE OF LIME. 



Mr. Editor : I have heard it stated that a mill 

 was soon to be set up at North Adams, Mass., for the 

 grinding of common marble. It is claimed for the 

 carbonate of lime, that it is as good a fertilizer as the 

 sulphate. Will you, Mr. Editor, inform us, if com- 

 mon marble, reduced to powder, possesses any value 

 as a manure ? and if so, what is the philosophy of its 

 action upon vegetation ? 



STONINGTON 



SALE OF FINE STOCK. 



An account of the recent sale of the excellent stock 

 of the late Mr. William Stickney, at Westminster, 

 Vt., may be interesting to many of our readers. We 

 copy it from the Montpelier Watchman. It was 

 marked for an earlier number, but it was mislaid. 



At this sale, about seven hundred and fifty farmers, 

 stock breeders, and gentlemen amateurs, representing 

 every New England state and the border counties 

 of New York, were gathered together at one o'clock 

 precisely, on the afternoon of the 9th instant, at the 

 quiet and beautiful little village of Westminster ; and 

 five minutes afterward the first animal offered (Jes- 

 ica, seven years old, a full blood Devon, from the 

 Patterson herd) was struck off to Col. Lewis G. 

 Morris, of New York, for $125. 



The following are the prices for which some of the 

 sales were made : — 



Dulls and Bull Cahes. — AVilliam IV., a full blood 

 Devon, seven years old, $90. Duke of Devonshire, a 

 full blood, $70. Comet, full blood, imported, two 

 years old, $270. Boz, five months old, $25. Dandy, 

 four months old, $10. Red Jacket, three months 

 old, $25. 



Coios. — Juno, nine years old, half Creampot and 

 half Durham, $42 50. Lady Anne, nine years old, 

 half Creampot, one fourth Devon, one fourth native, 

 $47 50. Jessie, seven years old, full blood Devon, 

 $125. Stately, four years old, half Creampot, half 

 Devon, $50. Delight, four years old, half Devon, 

 half native, ,$10. Star, four years old, three fourths 

 Devon, one fourth Creampot, $75. Gypsy, seven 

 years old, half Devon, one fourth Creampot and one 

 fourth Durham, $87 50. Beauty, three years old, 

 $57 50. Lady Anne, three years old, three fourths 

 Devon, one fourth Creampot, $57 50. Cherry, three 

 years old, $57 50. Belinda, three years old, half 

 Devon, one fourth Creampot and one fourth Dur- 

 ham, $70. Cream Cup, three years old, $57 50. 

 Lady Jane, three years old, full blood Devon, $107 50. 

 Dido, a full blood, same breed, $95. Flirt, four 

 ycar.s old, $G2 50. 



Two-year old Heifers. — Jeannie Deans, $65. Kath- 

 leen, $57 50. Fashion, $57 50. Jessie, a full blood 

 Devon, $160. Annette, $62 50. 



Yearlinq Heifers. — Butter Cup, .$105. Jess.omine, 

 $150. Belle, $40. Dairymaid, $400. Frolic, $57 50. 

 Gazelle, $42. 



Heifer <7aiw«. — Fanny Elslcr, $31. Fancy, $16. 

 Bessie, $22. Jessamine, $150. 



Steers. — One pair, four years old, $100 ; one pair, 

 three years old, $80; one pair, one year old, $G6. 



Sheep. — Mostly South Downs, from $16 to $18. 



Stoine. — All the way from $16 to $80, mostly of 



