2G2 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



see that encouragement is given to this study .- 

 Albany Journal. 



LORD SPENCER'S RULES 



FOR THE SELECTION OF MALE ANIMALS FOR 

 BREEDING. 



The first things to he considered in the selection 

 of a male animal are the indications by which it 

 may be possible to form a judgment as to his con- 

 stitution. In all animals a wide chest indicates 

 strength of constitution, and there can be no doubt 

 that this is the point of shape to which it is most 

 material for any breeder to look to in the selection 

 either of a bull or a ram. In order to ascertain that 

 the chest of these animals is wide, it is not sufTi 

 cient to observe that they have wide bosoms; but 

 the width which is perceived by looking at them in 

 the front should be continued along the brisket, 

 which ought to show great fulness in the part which 

 is just under the elbows; it is also necessary that 

 they shoud be what is called thick through the 

 heart. Another indication of what a good consti 

 tution is, that a male animal should have a mascu- 

 line appearance; with this view a certain degree of 

 coarseness is by no means objectionable, but this 

 coarseness should not be such as would be likely to 

 show itself in a castrated animal, because it thus 

 might happen that the oxen or wethers produced 

 from such a sire would be coarse also, which in 

 them would be a fault. Another point to be at- 

 tended to, not merely as an indication of a good 

 constitution, but as a merit in itself, is, that an an- 

 imal in itself should exhibit great muscular power, 

 or rather that his muscles should be large. This 

 is an usual accompaniment of strength of constitu- 

 tion; but it also shows that there will be a good 

 proportionate mixture of lean and fat in the meat 

 produced from the animal, the muscles being that 

 part which in meat is lean. A thick neck is, in 

 both bulls and rams, a proof of the muscles being 

 large, and there can hardly be a greater fault in 

 the shape of a male animal of either sort, than his 

 having a thin neck. I am inclined to say, that in 

 the new Leicester breed of sheep, which is the 

 breed to which I am accustomed, a ram's neck can- 

 not be too thick. Other indications of muscle are 

 more difficult to observe in slieep than in cattle. In 

 a bull there ought to be a full muscle on each side 

 of the back bone, just behind the top of the shoulder 

 plades; he ought also to have the muscles on the 

 outside of the thigh full, and extending down near- 

 ly to the hough. It will seldom happen that a bull 

 having these indications will be found deficient in 

 muscle. As I am writing for the use of farmers, 

 it is quite unnecessary foi me to attempt a descrip- 

 tion of what is considered a well shaped bull or 

 ram; it is also obviously impossible to express in 

 words what is meant by good handling. It is suf- 

 ficient to say, therefore, that no small animal is fit 

 to be used at all as a sire whose handling is not 

 good, and that the more perfect his shape is the bet- 

 ter. 



5^ An agriculturist says: — "I wish to impress 

 upon every one who keeps a flock, if not more than 

 half a dozen, that Venetian red is the best thing 

 that I ever saw used to paint mark sheep. It is, 

 as most all know, a cheap red paint, only a few 

 cents a pound, and one pound will mark a thou- 

 sand. Take a pinch of dry powder, and draw the 

 thumb and finger through the wool loosing the 



powder at the same time, and it will combine with 

 the oil of the wool, and make a bright red mark 

 that rains will never wash out, and does not injure 

 the wool. It is readily cleansed out by the man- 

 ufacturer." — Granite Farmer. 



fllcd)amc3' Department, !7lrt3, ^c. 



TERRA GOTTA FOR ORNAMENTAL 

 ARCHITECTURE. 



Who, in passing through the streets of our 

 principal cities, ha,s not been struck with the bar- 

 renness of the brick walls, and the want of some- 

 thing to break the monotony of their smooth fronts; 

 and who has not stopped to gaze with wonder and 

 delight when his eye rested upon some beautiful 

 stone building, with its finely chiseled ornaments, 

 and bold projections. This has been, not from a 

 want of taste in our architects or builders, but 

 from the want of some material for ornamental 

 work, that would harnnonize with brick and stone, 

 at a cost that would bring them within the reach 

 of all. Even for buildings for ordinary purposes 

 as well as for residences, very few in constructing 

 a common building would think of going to the 

 expense of ornaments of chiseled stone, and no 

 architect of good judgment would trim a building 

 of brick or stone (designed to last for ages) with 

 wooden ornaments. This objection is now being 

 entirely overcome by the introduction of ornaments 

 of terra cotta. 



Terra cotta has been manufactured in this coun- 

 ty during the past two years, and is now getting 

 into extensive use. "Corinthian Capital of almost 

 any size, from 10 to 40 inches, are made in a style 

 that cannot be approached in stone, for it is impos- 

 sible to give that relief to stone that is done in 

 these, — Ionic Capital — of various orders, as the 

 Grecian and Roman — Garden Abases — Window 

 Caps — and an infinite variety of Brackets, Modil- 

 lions. Consoles and Ornamental China top." Some 

 of this work has been in use through the present, 

 and also through last winter, and is not affected in 

 the least by frost or the weather. It is equally 

 desirable to trim wooden, as brick buildings, and 

 costs less than wood. — Mass. Spy. 



GREAT EXHIBITION. 



Ice Produced by Steam Power, and Steam 

 Converted into Snow. — That ice can be produced 

 by mechanical means many may have heard; but 

 that steain may be used as an auxiliary for the pur- 

 pose will seem hardly creditable to anybody; and 

 that steam itself may be converted into siiotu by the 

 aid of steam, is a phenemenon of which but very 

 few have heard. Yet these are facts, and are now 

 being daily demonstrated at the Great Exhibition, 

 in the refreshment room adjoining the department of 

 machinery in motion. Mr. Thomas Masters, of 

 the Royal Polytechnic Institution, Regent Street, 

 the inventer of various ingenious machines for 

 freezing, has adapted one of them for being put in 

 motion by steam-power, and which is now in opera- 

 tion daily in the western refreshment room. This 

 apparatus is capable of freezing upwards of 100 

 quarts of dessert ices (six different sorts are pro- 

 duced in the one machine) every fifteen or sixteen 

 minutes. An unlimited supply of dessert ices can 

 thus be obtained, and of a perfectly smooth quality. 



