310 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



July 



ioned, tight, cloao and pinching overcoats. Too 

 few flannclri arc worn in America, especially along 

 the easttrn ct)asts, where sudden changes are frc 

 quent, and whore many cold rains fall during the 

 ■winter sea.'-on. Cliildreu should always have 

 their outer garments for winter made of woolen 

 materials. Although India-rubber over-shoes are 

 excellent for walking in the street in wet weather, 

 or when there is a thaw with snow upon the 

 ground, they should never be worn at any other 

 time, and should bo taken off as soon as the wear- 

 er enters a house. They prevent perspiration in a 

 great measure, and are only useful as a lesser 

 evil than getting the feet completely wet from out- 

 side water. 



INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC ANI 

 MALS. 



The following account of the introduction of do- 

 mestic aniiwals into tliis country has been con 

 denscd from the Census Report. It furnishes a 

 clue to the origin of our native cattle : 



The first animals brought to America from 

 Europe were imported by Columbus, in his second, 

 voyage, in 14 'J3. Ho left Spain as admiral of 

 seventeen ships, bringing a collection of European 

 trees, plants, and seeds of various kinds, a num 

 ber of liorses, a bull, and several cows. 



The first h(jrscs brought into any part of the 

 territory at present embraced in the United 

 State were landed in Florida by Cabeca do Vaca, 

 in 1527, forty-two in number, all of Avhich per 

 ished or were otherwise killed. The next impor- 

 tation was also brought to Florida, by Do Soto, in 

 1539, whieli consisted of horses and swine, among 

 whicli were thirteen sows ; the pi'Ogeny of the 

 latter soon increasing to sevei'al hundred. 



The Portuguese took cattle and swino to New- 

 foundland and Nova Scotia in the year 1553 

 Thirty years after, they had multiplied so abun- 

 dantly that Sir Richard Gilbert attempted to land 

 there to obtain supplies of cattle and hogs for his 

 crew, but was wrecked. 



Swine and othcsr domestic animals were brought 

 over to Arcadia by M. L'Escarbot, a French law- 

 yer, in 1G04, the year that country was settled. 

 In 1G08 the Frencli extended their settlement into 

 Canada, and soon after introduce various animals. 



In IGOy, tliree ships from England landed at 

 Jamestown, in Virginia, with many immigrants, 

 and the Ibllowing domestic animals, viz : six mares, 

 one horse, six hundred swine, five hundred domes- 

 tic fowls, with a few sheep and goats. Other an- 

 imals had been previously there. In IGll, Sir 

 Thomas Gates brought over to the same settle- 

 ment one hundred cows, besides other cattle. In 

 IGIO, an edict was issued in Virginia, prohibiting 

 the killing of domestic animals of any kind, on 

 penalty, ol death to the accessory and twenty-four 

 hours' wliipping to the concealer. As early as 

 the years 1G17 the swine had multiplied so rapidly 

 in the colony that the people were obliged to pal- 

 lisadc Januistovvn, to prevent being overrun with 

 them. In 1G27, the Indians near the settlement 

 fed upon hogs, which had become wild, instead of 

 game. Every fauiily in Virginia, at that time, 

 which had not an abundance of tame hogs and 

 poultry was considered very poor. In 1G48, some 

 of the settlers had a good stock of bees. In 1GG7, 

 sheep and mares were forbidden to be exported 

 from the province. By the year 1723, or before, 



sheep had somewhat multiplied, and yielded good 

 fleeces. 



The first animals introduced into Massachusetts 

 were b}' Edward Winslow, in lG2i, consisting of 

 three heifers and a bull. In 1G2G, twelve cows 

 were sent to Cape Ann. In 1G21), one hundred 

 and fifteen cattle were imported into the planta- 

 tions on Massachusetts Ray, besides some horses 

 and mares, and several ponies and forty-one goats. 

 They were mostly ordered by Francis lligginsons, 

 formerly of Leicestershire, wlience several of the 

 animals were brought. 



The first importation into New York was made 

 from Holland, by the West India company, in 

 1G25, comprising one hundred and three animals, 

 consisting of horses and cattle for lireeding, be- 

 sides as many sheep and hogs as was thouglit ex- 

 nedient. 



FARMER'S GARDENS. 



As a general thing, farmers do not provide them- 

 selves with good gardens ; at least, so far as the 

 writer has travelled, he has seldom soon what he 

 would call a good garden on farms. The excuse 

 for this neglect is generally the same witli all of 

 them — they "have no time to attend to such small 

 matters." And yet it may safely Ijo asserted 

 that an acre of ground appropriated to a good 

 garden, will be more profitable to the farmer than 

 any other ten acres of the farm. The interests of 

 the fiirmer, the comforts of his family, the good 

 condition and health of his whole household, re- 

 quire such a garden on every farm in the coun- 

 try. And it should be a garden, not a mere ex- 

 cuse for one, a mei'c weedy patch. It should be 

 one so managed and arranged, tliat every vegeta- 

 ble of a wholesome quality for human food should 

 be raised in it, in perfection, and at the earliest 

 season. After a winter's diet on solid and gen- 

 erally salt animal food, the liuman constitution re- 

 quires the deterging operations of free vegetable 

 and fruit diet, and as a general rule no one can 

 dispense with it safely. Besides this, the natural 

 appetite calls for it, and tliere are few pleasures 

 tliat may be so safely aud even beneficially in- 

 dulged in. In the latter part of winter and 

 early in spring, measures sliould be taken to secure 

 carli/ vegetables of all kinds capaljle of very early 

 cultivation. Details will not be expected here; 

 there are other books and papers appropriated to 

 such infoi'mation ; but I cannot help saying that 

 when I am at a farm house, at a season when ear- 

 ly peas, beans, cabbages, cucumbers, potatoes, 

 green corn, lettuce, &c., are properly in season, 

 and find none of these luxuries on tlie table, 

 nothing but the blue beef, salt pork and beans or 

 potatoes of winter, I am I'rce to say I do not envy 

 that farmer's life, nor his family their enjoyments. 

 These very people are fond enougli of such things 

 when they go to the city, and it is not, therefore, 

 want of taste. It is simply the fault of negli- 

 gence. Why may not every farmer in tlie Sti\te 

 have every kind of early vegetables on his table as 

 eaidy as any gardener near the cities can raise 

 them? There is not a single reason why he 

 should not, while there are agreat many why ho 

 should. The gardeners have to incur a very con- 

 siderable expense in procuring hot manure for 

 their hot beds, while the farmer has it in his barn- 

 yard. The gardener has every thing to purchase, 

 aud draw a considerable distance, while the farm- 



