286 



American Provisions. — Soiling Cattle. 



Vol. IX. 



Previous to shippino- cranberries, they 

 should be run over a platform slightly in- 

 clined. The rotten and bruised fruit will 

 not run offj but stick going down the plat- 

 form, and are scraped off and thrown away. 

 The perfect fruit is then put into tight bar- 

 rels, and when headed up filled with water, 

 and in this manner they arrive in Europe in 

 perfect order, and have frequently sold in 

 foreign ports at $20 per barrel. 



Rakes are now made for the express pur- 

 pose of gathering cranberries, and although 

 these rakes tear the vines somewhat, yet 

 the crop is not diminished by raking; on the 

 contrary, it has been increased. Some years 

 ago, a gentleman in Massachusetts com- 

 menced raking his little patch of one-fourth 

 of an acre. The first year it produced 12 

 bushels, the next 18, the third 25, and so on 

 till his last harvest, when the crop amounted 

 to 65 bushels. This increase is easily ac- 

 counted for by the method of gathering with 

 rakes — the pulling up a few of the vines 

 loosens the ground, and although not in- 

 tended, yet in fact the raking acts as a par- 

 tial cultivation. 



To promote the cultivation of this fruit, 

 the American Institute is making arrange- 

 ments to supply horticulturists with plants 

 early in the spring, in either large or small 

 quantities; and I would recommend those 

 wishing to purchase, in this vicinity, or 

 New York, to get their supplies in this way. 



B. G, BOSWELL. 

 Philadelphia. 



American Provisions. 



This article of American exports to Eng- 

 land has become one of much importance. 

 We copy the circular of the highly respect- 

 able house of J. & C. Kirkpatrick, of Liver- 

 pool, largely occupied in this business. 



"The business of the past month in gene- 

 ral produce has been limited on the whole, 

 the season of the year being unfavourable 

 to any very extensive transactions, while 

 the opinion which has been gaining ground 

 in the best informed quarters, that future 

 changes are contemplated in our tariff sys- 

 tem, induces all persons to act with caution 

 in their purchases, until it is definitely 

 known what articles are to be the subjects 

 of legislation in the session of parliament 

 now about to open. The sale of American 

 produce has been afi"ected by the same cause, 

 though it is certain that any change that 

 maybe made in our present tariff will be fa- 

 vourable to the extension of our trade with 

 the United States. The imports from thence 

 during the past month have been unusually 

 large, and the shipments now on the way 



will give us equally large arrivals in the 

 present one. 



" Beef is now coming in freely, and the 

 best parcels have met with a ready sale 

 from the quay at our highest quotations, but 

 such parcels as are inferior in quality, or 

 irregularly cut, are with difficulty disposed 

 of, even at a considerable reduction in price. 

 The quantity now in dock and on passage 

 being large, dealers are holding back in the 

 expectation of being able to supply them- 

 selves on easier terms; but unless the im- 

 port be much in excess of last year's, there 

 cannot be any material decline from present 

 rates. Some of the Irish curers who packed 

 beef to meet the early demand of the season, 

 have been forcing oft' their stocks at low and 

 unremunerating prices, being unwilling to 

 meet the increased arrivals of American, 

 the best brands of which are taken now in 

 preference to their own. 



"Pork has also been arriving more freely, 

 and generally of very prime quality. Its 

 value has declined somewhat since the date 

 of our last advice, Irish being offered at a 

 reduction of three shillings per barrel, in 

 consequence of the increased competition 

 which it meets from the improved quality 

 of the late arrivals from America. Y(e an- 

 ticipate, however, an enlarged demand in 

 the present month, and a firm market, the 

 prospects of this article continuing very fa- 

 vourable, and warranting us in confirming 

 the opinion already expressed, that our fu- 

 ture supplies of pork, as well as beef, will 

 be principally drawn from the United States. 



^^ Cheese. — The demand for this article 

 has been quiet throughout the month, which, 

 with very large arrivals, has caused the small 

 stock at the end of the year to be raised to 

 at least 600 tons. The home supplies have 

 also been large, but are like to decrease after 

 this month, when we anticipate a better de- 

 mand from America." 



From the Farmer and Mechanic. 

 Soiling Cattle. 



Soiling means "the practice of supporting 

 animals in the summer season with green 

 food, cut daily, and given to them in the 

 houses, stalls, or yards." The advantages 

 of such a practice are the following : 



1. The saving of land. 2. The saving of 

 fencing. 3. The economising of food. 4. 

 The better condition and greater comfort of 

 the cattle. 5. The greater product of milk. 

 6. The manure obtained. In England, soil- 

 ing is practised considerably. The saving 

 of'^land there, is considered amply sufficient 

 to repay any extra labour, leaving the ma- 

 nure, so valuable to the British farmer, out 



