342 



Slimmer Soiling. — Effects of Culture. 



Vol. VII. 



great expense and labour in the article of 

 repair, and will soon require a total renewal. 



Now, I too am a strong advocate for sum- 

 mer soiling, and from the little information 

 which I have been able to collect, have no 

 doubt of its being a profitable, economical, 

 and by no means a troublesome system ; 

 but I would ask my soiling friends, how do 

 they intend to supply their dairy cows with 

 green food, before the crops are sufficiently 

 advanced in growth to afford a cut for the 

 scythe? or do they contemplate to keep 

 their milking stock in the yard, and con- 

 tinue to feed on hay and grain after there 

 is a bite in the fields, and until the time of 

 mowing'? if so, this is by no means an en- 

 couraging feature in the plan, for a couple 

 of weeks of early grass to the future wel- 

 fare of the dairy, after being confined the 

 whole winter in the yard, will not easily be 

 overrated ; so necessary is it to get the cows 

 into good heart and condition as early as 

 possible in the spring, or the summer will 

 be too short from whence to reap much 

 profit by their milk; and of this, I have, un- 

 fortunately, ocular demonstration, for my 

 neighbour Jameson's cows, are but just able 

 to pick up during the summer, what they 

 have lost the preceding winter — leave alone 

 the business of the dairy — and the business 

 of the straw-yard is commenced, under a 

 condition of keep, that scarce deserves the 

 name. 



Rut I have gathered from the Cabinet and 

 elsewhere, that the people of the island of 

 Jersey — from whence come the Alderney 

 breed of cattle, which seem about to have a 

 turn in the estimation of our dairymen, are 

 accustomed to tether their live stock, horses, 

 cattle, and even sheep on tiieir young grass; 

 and it is confidently asserted, that this sys- 

 tem is the most economical that can be de- 

 vised, although it is admitted that much care 

 and attention are requisite; for, as only about 

 two feet space of pasture is given to the 

 animal at once, it would be necessary to re- 

 move it often; the tether being either a. 

 rope or chain, made fast to an iron plug, 

 round which is placed a swivel, which is 

 driven securely info the earth. Each re- 

 move, therefore, gives a semi-circular sweep 

 of fresh grass, about two feet in width, upon 

 which the animal is prevented from tread- 

 ing, by being kept back by the rope or 

 chain; and thus the whole of the herbage 

 ! clean offj and closer than it. could be 

 mown, [t is customary to make fast the 

 chain or rope to the foot of the horse and 

 the hnrns of cattle, care being taken to fix 

 the rope on the latter, so that it does not 

 draw tight by a slip-knot, which would in- 

 jure the root of the horn. 



Now could not this plan be adopted until 

 the crops become sufficient in growth to per- 

 mit the use of the scythe? this would be in 

 the cool part of spring; when the weather 

 becomes hot, soiling in the stable would no 

 doubt be preferable. But I hear some one 

 exclaim, "It won't pay, my dear sir;" to 

 which I reply, the plan might as well be 

 tried before it is condemned ; and I have 

 yet to learn why it is, that every business 

 except agriculture, will pay the expense of 

 good management. It is granted, that a de- 

 gree of care and attention is requisite ; but 

 if a man is paid for his labour, what more 

 ought to be expected? and two or three 

 weeks cf early green food in the spring, 

 would be sure to do that, and leave a profit 

 in the future well-being of the dairy. 



I understand that Mr. Webb is cultiva- 

 ting potatoes the present season, upon Col. 

 Barnum's plan, laying on a double quantity 

 of manure at two separate times, literally 

 hilling up the sets, placed at two feet dis- 

 tance each way, with dung. His friends 

 and neighbours will be much indebted to 

 him for the benefit of the experiment, and 

 maybe reap a rich return for his labour: 

 such experiments are of incalculable value 

 to a whole country. His son, Mr. William 

 Webb, is now engaged planting corn for 

 another experiment, in the making of sugar 

 from the stalk : such untiring zeal in a 

 cause fraught with so much importance to 

 his country's welfare, ought to be crowned 

 with success — may he live to experience it, 

 and receive the reward so justly his due. 



VlR. 



May 18th, 1343. 



Effects of culture. — The almond, with 

 its tough coriaceous husk, has been changed 

 by long culture into the peach, with its beau- 

 tiful, soft, and delicious pulp; the acrid sloe, 

 into the luscious plum; and the harsh, bitter 

 crab, into the golden pippin. Attention to 

 nutrition, has produced quite as marked 

 changes in the pear, cherry, and other fruit 

 trees; many of which have not only been 

 altered in their qualities and appearance, 

 but even in their habits. Celery, so agree- 

 able to most palates, is a modification of the 

 apium graveolens, the taste of which is so 

 acrid and bitter that it cannot be eaten. Our 

 cauliflowers and cabbages, which weigh many 

 pounds, are largely developed coleworts, that 

 grow wild on the sea-shore, and do not weigh 

 more than half an ounce each. The rose 

 has been produced, by cultivation, from the 

 common wild briar. Many plants may be 

 modified with advantage by suppressing the 

 growth of one part, which causes incn 

 development of the other parts. 



