368 MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



with which it is sought by all ruminating animals in a wild state, seems to me 

 ought to be con(Jusive of the question. Look, for instance, at the constancy 

 and regularity with which deer resort to tlie natural licks in the forests, and 

 even more so to licks made by the hunters, termed artificial licks, and to 

 wherever cattle are salted in the mountains. But independent of this, my ex- 

 perience in the matter satisfies me perfectly, and every person in this county 

 will concur in the opinion, that it is indispensable in the rearing and manage- 

 ment of cattle — so much so that we in this county would almost as soon think 

 of doing without grass as without salt. In using the terra cattle, I intend it in 

 its general sense, including horses, hogs, sheep and coavs. On neat cattle, as au 

 evidence of its great utility, let any one put two lots of steers, heifers, or cows, 

 in separate fields ; give one salt abundantly and regularly, and the other none ; 

 and the difference in favor of the lot salted, as to growth, fatness and general 

 appearance, would dispel at once every shadow of doubt on the subject. The 

 experienced buyer can tell at one glance, when he gets among a lot of bullocks, 

 whether they have been well salted or not, particularly if the pasture in which 

 they are is tolerably good. If they have been well salted, their hair will present 

 a rich, soft, glossy appearance ; their skins will seem to be full and loose upon 

 them, and the animal will present a growing, sappy look, and will have licked 

 himself much over his sides, shoulders and quarters. The animal that has 

 failed getting his proper allowance of salt will exhibit a coat of hair of a dry, 

 rough, husky look, standing out like bristles, and withal will be something of 

 a Cassius in his appearance, having a lean and hungry look. We are not in the 

 habit of sheltering the stock we design grazing, during the winter months, not 

 deeming it at all necessary for their welfare, as they have been accustomed to 

 the peltings of the pitiless storm, from their calfhood up. 



In perusing the number of The Farmers' Library for this month, I noticed a 

 remark, under the head of "Cattle of Improved Breeds," made by you, that 

 nothing was more observable in your late rambles through the mountains of 

 Virginia than the failure of those who breed their own cattle, to provide them- 

 selves with good bulls. The observation is true, although of late years our 

 farmers have awakened considerably from their apathy on this subject. 



There seems to be a growing desire (true, it is slow) to procure better bulls ; 

 but the " almighty dollar," as you say, chokes the growth of the desire amazingly. 

 The idea of paying out $10 for a good bull-calf, is an insurmountable obstacle 

 with many of our farmers, who are just as able to pay $100. I have argued 

 and disputed hundreds of times on this subject with our farmers — have fur- 

 nished proof upon proof of the vast advantage of breeding from improved stock — 

 and after all, they will turn round, and with a knowing leer, answer you by say- 

 ing that good grass makes a good calf— that this thing of blood is all in your 

 eye. To instil f liberal notions into our farming population on this subject, and to 

 overcome the deep-rooted prejudices of the majority, in regard to blooded stock, 

 will require much patience, numerous examples, and not a few years. By way 

 of winding up this thoughtlessly-spun-out epistle, I will relate a circumstance 

 which fell under my immediate observation, as one among ten thousand instances 

 or proofs of the superiority of the improved stock over the ordinary stock of the 

 country. A few weeks since, I was compelled to kill a two-year-old bull, on 

 account of his predatory disposition, the produce of a remarkably fine Durham 

 bull and a cow descended from the old Patton stock. He was reared, from a calf, 

 without anything more than the ordinary attention bestowed on calves in this 

 country — fed upon hay in the winter and grass in the summer. His net weight 

 when killed (and he was by no means fat) was 792 lbs. The ordinary bulls of 

 the county at five years old, when fat, would hardly reach this. 



I have penned this not by any means for publication, never having written a 

 line in my life for a journal or paper of any description, but simply to indulge in 

 a kind of epistolary conversation Avith you on our mode of farming and grazing 

 combined. I love the employment, and love to talk about it. Excuse me for 

 thus trenching upon your time and patience, and accept the best regards of 



Your friend, &c. WM. G. CAPERTON. 



You are talking to one about whom there is " no tire" on such subject — one 

 who, though he may not have time otherwise to acknowledge, will always be 

 ;grateful for the favor of your correspondence. J. S. S. 



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