192 



The Germantown Cow. 



Vol.^V 



inclining like the lower part of a pyramid, 

 with the point cut off. He was informed, 

 that it became necessary to destroy these 

 nests, by raising a sufficient force to dig a 

 trench all round and fill it with faggots which 

 are afterwards set on fire, and then bat- 

 tering with cannon from a distance, to drive 

 the insects out and make them run into the 

 flames. These facts, respecting the ant and 

 the bee, may be relied on as authentic ; they 

 are the result of very late observations and 

 experiments, made with great accuracy by 

 several most worthy and intelligent men. 



Brougham. 

 The species of ant, formica saccharivora, 

 which once appeared in such torrents in the 

 Island of Granada, and destroyed the sugar 

 canes so completely, by undermining their 

 roots, that a reward of twenty thousand 

 pounds sterling was offered to any one who 

 should discover an effectual mode of destroy- 

 ing them, descended the hills in a flood, and 

 filled not only the plantations, but the roads 

 for miles. Domestic quadrupeds perished, 

 and rats, mice and reptiles were destroyed 

 by them ; and corn birds were so harassed 

 when they alighted on the ground, as quickly 

 to die. Nothing opposed their march ; they 

 blindly rushed into the streams, and were 

 drowned in such countless millions, that the 

 aggregation of their tiny carcasses jammed 

 up the waters, and formed a bridge for others 

 to pass over. The large fires lighted in their 

 paths were speedily extinguished by the rusl. 

 of the masses, and had not Providence swept 

 them away on the torrents of a terrible hur- 

 ricane in 1780, every thing must have fallen 

 before them. — Intro, to Ento. Vol. 1. 



If husbandry is made respectable, as it 

 ought to be, it will serve to check one of the 

 greatest evils that bears now heavily upon 

 the community, — the rush of our young men 

 into the learned professions, which are al 

 ready filled to overflowing, especially that 

 of the law, which, under the present wretch- 

 ed course of legislation, of making litigation 

 cheap, is starving this once honourable and 

 most useful profession. 



In agriculture, it was once the practice 

 to take ancient customs as an infallible guide; 

 nothing was then doubted, nothing investi 

 gated, and consequently nothing improved 

 Now, it is the principle to do nothing with 

 out a reason, — every thing, therefore, is in 

 vestigated, and consequently, every thing is 

 improved. 



A oood temper, a good library, good 

 health, and a good wife, are four choice 

 blessinsrs. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 



Germantown Cow. 



To the Editors, — Although not a fan 

 yet, owning a four acre lot of ground, \vl 

 I cultivate with much pleasure, I read \ 

 great interest, your valuable publicat 

 and note the various discussions and c 

 munications on the different breeds of 

 tie ; and with my limited means of ji 

 ment, — being a merchant, have arrivec 

 the conclusion that, for dairy purposes, 

 possess in this country, breeds which 

 far superior, if care were properly besto' 

 upon them, to any that have been 

 ported. Some years since, my highly 

 spected neighbor, John Wistar, Esq., of ( 

 mantown, purchased a cow for twenty- 

 dollars, which I think came from Lehig] 

 Bucks county. Certainly not much furt 

 and which never gave more than 15 qu 

 of milk per day, and yet made 4 pound 

 butter in 3J milkings, or equal to 16 lbs. 

 ter per week. And this she would alv 

 do when fresh. Her feed was good past 

 and 8 quarts of ship stuff per day. It i 

 be regretted that a whole week's gathe 

 of her cream was not churned at one t: 

 or rather the entire produce of a week n 

 into butter. This famous cow is dead; 

 her owner has one of her calves which n 

 this autumn, 3 lbs. 2 oz. of butter fron 

 milkings. Now, taking into view cost 

 keeping, where are there any Durham c 

 which will equal these] 



Whilst furnishing this communicatioi 

 the Cabinet, I wish I could properly desc 

 to those who have to spend their days in 

 perplexing toils of merchandize, where 

 and anxiety, far outweigh the labor, the ] 

 pleasure and gratification which are der 

 from the cultivation of a four acre lo 

 land, which they can easily possess near 

 city. It is true, a man must rise somev 

 earlier in the morning, and encounter a 1 

 more fatigue of body ; for all which, h 

 amply repaid by improved health, and 

 withdrawal of the mind for a short pe 

 at least, from banks and banking, cloth, 

 cotton, &c, to say nothing of the n 

 cheeks of the children, the pleasant fire 

 of evenings, no " exchange," or " Wi 

 party," — to tempt him abroad, — or, of 

 delights of summer, when the air is redo 

 of sweets, as well as vocal with the song 

 birds. And then the interest he take: 

 having his heavy crop of 2 acres of g 

 mowed and made, — his sugar beets 

 cleaned from weeds — his corn ploughed, 

 will afford a delightful as well as us 

 and rational amusement. < 



Dec. 20. 1842. 



