VOL. XXI. NO. «:t. 



AND HORTICULTURAL REGISTER. 



179 



WINTER RKADING. 

 It is happy for all — farmeVa as well as others — 

 if they have a tasto for rendinj. The insiniction 

 und enjoyment wliich hooks may afford, are {jreat 

 and benchcial. He who reads the opinions and 

 pxpcriineiils of others, engaged in the same call- 

 ing to which ho devotes his time, may cet many 

 fahiiihie Irssons and hints. None can do thi% to 

 1 crreali-r c.\tent than tillers of the soil. It wonid 

 :onlribute to the intelligence, happiness and suc- 

 ;es6 of most farmers, were they to spend more of 

 heir leisure moments than they do, in reading 

 ivhat has been written in rci;ard to their own pur- 

 suit. We know that with many of them reading is 

 no very easy or fascinating operation. We do not 

 nean that they have not learned to read readily — 

 )ut that when they sit down hy the warin fire with 

 he book or the paper in their hands, they are very 

 ipt to fall asleep. It is often said that the long 

 vinter evenings afford farmers fine opportimities 

 or reading ; and so they do — but their active hab- 

 ta during the day, and tiieir e.xposnre to the cold, 

 make the most of them e,\cessively drowsy as soon 

 IS they get comfortably seated and well warmed 

 y the kitchen fire. But iaw books or papers then 

 ave interest enough to keep them awake. The 

 jll effects of their liabits of life upon them in this 

 jspect can be known only by those who have 

 assed some winters in the out-door work of the 

 irm, and others in sedentary pursuits. Probably 

 lere are great differences in the susceptibilities of 

 ffereiit constitutions to action of this kind. One 

 ise will not make a rule; but we have had some 

 jservation as well as experience ; and both tell 

 I that the farmer's habits during a winter day, 

 ake it difficult for hmi to read long with any com- 

 rt in the evening. 



W'e do not state this to deter him from efforts to 

 ad, or to excuse him from all his inattention to 

 oks. These facts will keep us back from re- 

 oaching him, but will not stop us from urging 

 in to try often to throw off the sleepiness that 

 Dies upon hiin, and to get some instruction from 

 oks. Every trial will lessen the difficulties that 

 In his way — will enable him to do bettor in fu- 

 •e. From this let him take courage, and parse- 

 re in efforts for his own improvement. — Ed. N. 

 F. 



REPORT ON YOUNG CATTLE. 

 [ The following is the report of the Committee of 

 Middlesex Co. Agricultural Society on Young 

 )ck : 



Your committee report — That they entered up- 

 their duties at an early hour, and examined all 



cattle coming under their charge, and they are 

 ipy to have it in their power to say, that the 

 Tiber was very respectable, compared with that 

 the last season. Still, we think there was a de- 

 ency in the number of our native breed. As is 

 tally the case at all Cattle Shows, too much 

 was taken to bring forward fancy cattle, 

 ilst those of our own native breed, which com- 

 e almost the entire stock of our Middlesex far- 

 rs, were left behind. This, in the opinion of 

 ir committee, was wrong. For it must be evi- 

 it to any person who has examined the subject 

 ;ntively, that the best cattle, all things taken 

 1 consideration, are produced by a cross mixture 

 the best imported breeds with our native stock, 

 d, indeed, it may well be questioned whether 



best of our native cattle, with the care bestow- 



ed upon them, which wo are apt to bestow upon 

 fancy stock, would not be fully equal to any in the 

 world. We would therefore suggest to our broth- 

 er farmers to come forward, liereaftor, with their 

 entire stock of cattle, native as well as imported, 

 and leave it with their committees to make the se- 

 lection for premiums. Your committee are fully 

 nf the opinion that our success as breeders of fine 

 cattle, depends mainly upon the pains taken to im- 

 prove our native stock. We therefore feci author- 

 ized to urge our brethren strongly, to bring for- 

 ward their entire stock of cattle for show, and for 

 «a/f, if they please. It is believed that the time 

 will come when our annual Fairs will become a 

 proper place for buying and selling, as well as for 

 show. Entertaining these views, your committee 

 have taken the liberty to lay them before you, hop- 

 ing that thereby your attention will be called to 

 the subject, previous to our next annual Fair. 



AH of which is respectfully submitted, by order 

 of the Committee. 



WM. MAKINSTER, Ch'vin. 



Upon the above the editor of the Connecticut 

 Farmer's Gazette remarks : 



"With the committee, we believe much of our 

 success in breeding cattle, depends on the improve- 

 ment of our own native stock. But at the same 

 time, have no doubt, that a higher degree of im- 

 provement would be acquired in a much shorter 

 time, by crossing our best stock with the best im- 

 proved breeds of England ; the Devonshire, for 

 instance, for working oxen, and some of the best 

 English milkers, with our best. In this way, the 

 characteristics wanted for our own peculiar purpo- 

 ses, soil and climate, would sooner be developed, 

 and turned to account. To adapt the breed to the 

 soil and climate, says the celebrated Youatt, is the 

 grand secret of breeding, — an idea, which if car- 

 ried out in practice, instead of the extravagant im- 

 portations of so much English stock, will prove 

 worth millions to our country." 



MECHANICS. 

 Mr Charles Holden, of Portland, in the conclu- 

 sion of a very good address to the State Conven- 

 tion of mechanics at Bangor, says : 



" We have only to improve the advantage gained 

 over the prejudices of former times, by showing to 

 the world that in all the great purposes for which 

 God created man, the mechanic is ready to show 

 his ability and desire to be a co-operator. 



If it be for integrity, let us show by our conduct 

 that the possession of the whole world would not 

 swerve us from its exercise. 



If it be for nsefulness, let us show that our idea 

 of utility is, to promote the greatest good of the 

 greatest number. 



If it be for patriotism, let us show that they are 

 the true patriots of the land, who inculcate by pre- 

 cept and by example, that spirit of industry, fru- 

 gality and temperance, hy which only our liberal 

 and admirable institutions can be perpetuated. 



If it be for a rational service of that Father who 

 careth for us all, let us show that beneath a plain 

 coat and cotton shirt, a heart may beat with as 

 pure love to God, and with as fervid a desire to do 

 his will, as can pulsate beneath the rich cassock of 

 the priest, or the linen surplice of the bishop. 



In all these measures, my brethren, if we but 

 keep a steady eye upon our duty, and have a firm 

 resolution to perform it, and if we are but quick. 



encd in them by our gathering here, we shall be 

 amply blessed and rewarded for our efforts in the 

 new impetus we shall receive from the labors of 

 this Convention. So that, when wo scatter off, 

 each to his own circle, we shall set in motion, 

 doubtless, the torpid waters about us ; our circle of 

 influenco will be wider, and we strengthened still 

 more, as our principles take firmer hold of the com- 

 munity. 



And I trust that the most timid mechanic among 

 all those whom we represent, or who may feel our 

 influence, will be persuaded to go on with us, tak- 

 ing this sentiment, (which is indeed true,) for his 

 encouragement — ' That the lowest craft, on which 

 an honest hand cnii he laid, is more honorable than 

 any trimly dressed uselessness that ever had the impu- 

 dence to despise it.' " 



A NEW PRINCIPLE IN HORTICULTURE. 

 Mr H. M. Bidwell, of this city, has just sent us 

 an elegant Cabbage-head from his garden, illustra- 

 tive of a new principle in that important vegetable, 

 accidentally discovered. About the middle of 

 June, having some last year's stumps, which had 

 been set out for salad sprouts, he broke off three, 

 about 3 or 4 inches long, and stuck them into the 

 ground. They took root readily, and grew thrifty 

 as any other plant. Two of the three liave pro- 

 duced fine solid heads. The one before us mea- 

 sures two feet six inches in circumference, with 

 the open, outside leaves all stripped off.. It is of 

 the drum-head shape. The other head is more co- 

 nical, and apparently a different species. Plants 

 may thus be obtained early, without the labor and 

 attention required for raising them in hot-beds. 

 The principle is worthy of notice. — Conn. Farmer's 

 Gazette. 



Recipe for Making Good Bread. — James Roche, 

 long celebrated in Baltimore, as a baker of excel- 

 lent bread, having retired from business, has fur- 

 nished the Baltimore American with the following 

 recipe for making good bread, with a request that 

 it should be published for the information of iho 

 public : 



"Take an earthen vessel, larger at the top than 

 the bottom, and in it put one pint of milk-warm 

 water, one and a half pound of flour, and half a 

 pint of malt yeast ; mix them well together, and 

 set it away, (in winter it should be in a warm place,) 

 until it rises and falls again, which will be in from 

 three to five hours; (it may be set at night if want- 

 ed in the morning) — then put two large spoons full 

 of salt into two quarts of water, and mix it well 

 with the above rising; then put in about nine 

 pounds of flour and work your dough well, and sot 

 it by until it becomes light. Then make it out in 

 loaves. New flour requires one fourth more salt 

 than old and dry flour. The water also should be 

 tempered according to the weather; in spring and 

 fall it should only be milk-warm ; in hot weather 

 cold, and in winter warm." 



Patronizing. — The publisher of the " Register,"' 

 the first newspaper printed at Thomaston, present- 

 ed a bill to one of his subscribers who was indebt- 

 ed for five years' subscription. The fellow took 

 the printed bill and read it with apparent amaze- 

 ment. "Why," says he, "I can't pay this ! I on- 

 ly subscribed to help you along .'" — Me. Farmer. 



It is this sort of help that impoverishes many a 

 newspaper publisher. 



