No. 5. 



Floating Capital. — Individual Example. 



163 



ered essential. In size, he thought animals 

 should differ in different sections of the 

 country, according to the quantity of food 

 to be furnished in the pastures, &c., and 

 that the points constituting a good feeding 

 animal, were essentially the same the world 

 over; he did not care whether it was a horse, 

 ox, sheep, pig, bird, or fish. Mr. Bement, 

 of Albany, next followed, reading a paper 

 containing his views on the subject in ques- 

 tion, and pointing out emphatically the ne- 

 cessity of a standard in a detailed scale of 

 points, in order to judge understandingly of 

 the merits of cattle. 



A resolution was now offered and adopted, 

 that committees be appointed to report scales 

 of points, which would constitute good ani- 

 mals of the various breeds. Messrs. Pren- 

 tice, Bement, and Allen, were appointed the 

 committee on Durhams; Messrs. Corning, 

 Sotham and Pumpe]Iy,on Herefords; Messrs. 

 Allen and Colt, on Devons; Messrs. Randall 

 and Watson, on Ayrshires; and Messrs. 

 Jacques, Field, and Starr, on native cattle. 

 The above committees were directed to re- 

 port at the next meeting of the convention, 

 which was adjourned to be held at the same 

 place, at seven and a half o'clock, on Wed- 

 nesday evening. 



Wednesday, October 18th. — The conven- 

 tion being called to order by the president, 

 the reports of the several committees were 

 decided to be submitted. That on Devons, 

 was first called for; but the committee de- 

 clared themselves unprepared to report. 

 Mr. Pumpelly then presented a report on 

 behalf of the committee on Herefords, which 

 was read, accepted, and reported to be placed 

 on file. Mr. Randall now offered the report 

 of the committee on Ayrshires, which was 

 read, accepted, and ordered to be filed. Mr. 

 Bement, on behalf of the committee on 

 Short-horns, read the following report : — 



Afler mature reflection and consultation, 

 your committee do not feel prepared to make 

 a report upon the scale of points which shall 

 be considered as constituting a perfect ani- 

 mal ; they therefore propose, that the sub- 

 ject be adjourned for consideration, till the 

 next fall meeting of the New York State 

 Agricultural Society, or of the American 

 Institute. In coming to this conclusion, the 

 committee hope that it will be no bar to any 

 gentleman expressing his opinions on the 

 subject in question, at the present meeting, 

 trusting thereby, that a foundation may be 

 laid for an enlightened discussion and decis- 

 ion next year. 



C. N. Bement, 

 E. P. Prentice, 

 A. B. Allen, 



Committee 



The above communication was received 

 and ordered to be filed. The committee on 

 native cattle, made no report. Mr. Sher- 

 wood, of England, then rose, and offered a 

 few remarks on the necessity of adopting a 

 scale of points for animals. Considerable 

 informal conversation now took place, when 

 the convention adjourned to meet at the 

 same time with the New York State Agri- 

 cultural Society, on the third Wednesday of 

 January next. — American Agriculturist. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 Floating Capital. 



To THE Editor, — I am an old man, and 

 have seen many things in my day, from 

 which I might doubtless have profited to 

 much greater extent than I have done, if I 

 had fortunately been more apt to learn. I 

 have frequently seen it remarked in the 

 columns of the Cabinet, that if farmers 

 would undertake to manage no more land 

 than they could make rich and cultivate 

 well, they would be better oft'. Now I have 

 long been convinced that this is a sound 

 sentiment. I believe one of our great diffi- 

 culties arises from the very circumstance of 

 having too much land — of having so much 

 capital invested in land, that we have none 

 floating, a recourse to which would often 

 give us great and decided advantages in the 

 routine of our business. The farmer who 

 buys upon credit, and is obliged to sell his 

 produce at reduced prices, in order to meet 

 his current expenses, may rely upon it, he 

 will always operate unfavourably to himself. 

 My own observations lead me to the conclu- 

 sion, and they are confirmed by the views 

 from time to time held out in the Cabinet, 

 that every farmer ought to have some spare 

 capital, of greater or less amount, in propor- 

 tion to the size of his farm and the mode of 

 its management. M. H. 



Individual Example. — It is astonishing 

 what an effect one individual will have upon 

 a neighbourhood. I have sometimes seen a 

 clever improving farmer settle down in a 

 province of Bcetian darkness : at first he is 

 looked upon with distrust, and even derision, 

 if he is known to get an agricultural news- 

 paper from the post office: but in a little 

 while, the result of superior management 

 becomes apparent, and one of two conse- 

 quences ensues: his neighbours either begin 

 to imitate him, or they remove their quarters. 



It is utterly impossible that any man can 

 continue to make one barrel alongside of an- 

 other, who makes twelve to the acre; he 

 must either yield or fly, and in this way it 

 is, that one good example oflen reforms a 

 neighbourhood. — Southern Planter. 



