£ljc jFarmer'B illcmtljlij bisitor. 



47 



Valued so highly for their labor nnd fine appear- 

 ance ih.it they are never permitted to breed until 

 they are in it similar condition to tho.-e returned 

 from our business markets. The consequence is, 

 that nearly the whole of our horses are produced 

 from ordinary mines, or unsound ones. An un- 

 soundness ol the limits may not impair the value 

 of a breeding mure, but it she has a weakened 

 constitution, it must, more or less, impair the 

 strength, .speed, and endurance of the offspring, 

 although they may have tine tonus. Your Com- 

 mittee believe it would he far more profitable to 

 purchase and breed from mans worth one hun- 

 dred and tilt) dollars, than from those whose 

 average value, for the last ten years, in a sound 

 state, has been no more than lorty dollars, (anil 

 this, we believe, is the class of a majority of our 

 breeding mares.) from mares ol this stamp, 

 and to good stallions, we cannot raise colts 

 which, at lour years old, would have sold, 

 through the above mentioned time, higher than 

 fifty dollars to seventy-five dollars ; whereas, 

 from the first class of mares, and to the same 

 stallions, w« could with equal certainty raise 

 colls that would command double these prices, 

 and occasionally one may command four limes 

 us much. 



Another thing that has a great tendency to 

 multiply the number of poor horses is, that for- 

 mers too often estimate the profit of raising colts 

 by the first cost ol gelling them — bestowing 

 their patronage where they can he insured with 

 Ibal lor the least money, ami frequently to a 

 horse of ordinary qualities ; when, by the addi- 

 tion of a few dollars, they might secure the ser- 

 vices of a horse whose stock would afford them 

 a profit similar to that spoken of with the best 

 class of breeding mares. It should he remark- 

 ed, however, that stallions are of a much 

 higher quality than the breeding mans. Take 

 these as a whole, there has been a great im- 

 proveuitiit in them within a lew years. And al- 

 though we may have only a few but what are 

 valuable horses, yet there is a great difference 

 between them — and even among those ol a very 

 high order. Independent of the pecuniary ad- 

 vantages of breeding from none but ihe very 

 best of horses and sires, one may enjoy, accord- 

 ing to the fancy of the owner, from five dollars 

 to twenty dollars' worth of satisfaction, in pro- 

 ducing n superior animal. 



Allow your Committee to throw out a few 

 hints in relation to breeding colls — docking, 

 nicking, framing. Colts should always he kepi 

 in a good condiiiou ; not extravagantly fed, yet 

 ihej should have something more than dry food 

 the first two winters. The starving of colts will 

 not only impede their growth, but will bring on 

 a contraction of the ribs, cords, and muscles, 

 especially about the chests ami shoulders, thai 

 will, more or less, impair their power, action, 

 speed, and endurance, alter coming lo matu- 

 rity. 



It is the opinion of your Committee that a 

 horse will have ihe most perfect strength and ac- 

 tion wuh a natural tail; yet, for appearance, thev 

 would recommend a moderate docking, which 

 should he governed by the build of the animal 

 and ihe character of ihe tail ; but we should ve- 

 ry seldom leave a dock of less than twelve inch- 

 es ; and the docking should be performed when 

 the colls are one or two years old, (one year old 

 is preferable.) Colts may be docked at these 

 a^es with less injury lo them than when nearly 

 grown; they will have more of a hush to the 

 tail, with longer hair, and will lie inclined lo 

 carry it in u more elevated position. [Sicking 

 should be looked upon as a cruel and useless 

 practice, which undoubtedly impairs the strength 

 ami action of the horse, and may sometimes se- 

 riously injure the constitution. 



Great care should he used, in breaking colls. 

 to have them kind ; and there is but little diffi- 

 culty in this, piovided the) have proper and gen- 

 tle treatment. They very seldom need but little, 

 if any whipping. They should be learned lo do 

 their work in an easy and handsome manner. 

 and without fretting. A horse that is trained lo 

 chafe and dance in the harness, or under the 

 saddle, may do very well for fops and horse- 

 jockeys, but il is not what a sensible man wants 

 in a horse designed for service, as it is a waste 

 of strength and action, without accomplishing 

 any useful porpose. And iu forming an opin- 



ion of a restless horse, it will he well to con- 

 sider whether ihe apparent energj and action 

 is natural, or whether it is brought about by 

 training, and thenar of ihe braid. 

 All of which is respectfully subn itted, 

 In behalf of the < Innimittee, 



EBENEZEK BRIDGE, 

 Chairman, 



The Old >Iau. 



In a dwelling lone and dreary, 



By iir quemed road, 



Marked I . . 1 1 an ul I man weary, 



Dwelllne id I los drear allude ; 



i 'M m in wear) . 



Dwelling d-reary, 

 Form bowed down bj flight of years ; 



\g-,l stianger, 



Lone j w union r. 

 Sorrowing through tin- vale of tears. 



Oft l marked iiim, aged stranger, 

 A i In- -i.i i m meal, 

 And I feared lesi harm, or danger, 

 Unawares Bhould on hiiu sii .il i 



Sad ami lonely, 



i llieel ir b, kI icimy, 

 Full of trouble, lull of care, 



Hopeful never, 



Sorron ing . ver, 

 Loads of grief lu? sesmed to bear. 



Enterrd I one mini his dwelling, 

 Wishing much bis grief In heal , 

 Noble thoughts my mind impelling, 

 And my lean was full of zeal, 



I .nvi- and kindness, — 



Never mind less, 

 Of ihe sufferer, though he be 



Sail and wi ary , 



l.nne and dreary, 

 Tossed upon hies troubled -ia. 



" Why sn -in y ? Why so sorrowing ? 



Whj .... given u|i lo sriel ? 

 Aned pilgrim, tionble borrowing, 



Sny,,;ei'sl tllOU tilid 110 lelkf? 



Evi r gt ieving, 



None rein VII, £i 



Thy |n..r »id and aching heart, 



('an naught lighten, 



Nothing brigbli n ? 

 Nothing joy or hope impart?" 



" .Many sad years have t wandered, 

 Full of sorrow, lull of Brief, 

 Anxious thoughts my mind has pondered, 

 And 1 could iiini no relief: 



V. i I ling r, 



A lone traveler 

 Sorrowing through ilii* dreary life ; 



No on. caring, 



No one sharing 

 " Willi me the world's hitter strife." 



" Bui can hope, no bliss imparting 

 To thy sad and heavy I" ail. 

 Causing (urief and care departing,) 

 Tears ol joy nnbidd. n start? 



Ilnlli hope c'irer the, 



When thus n earj , 

 Sod, and given up to grief? 



Doth il lighten ? 



D.dli il brighten ? 

 Doth it give thy soul relief?" 



" \ \ <■," resp( ndiiig, thus he answered, 

 41 Hope, t!i- beacon of ihe soul, 

 Liglus me to a happy goal. 



tle.i* mi's hi, --sill..., 



Hope impressing. 



Gives in,' stri n-lll. and gives me power, 



God doth aid in-, 



G.„l w ill save mr, . 



God will ■ lieu my .!•. mg hour. 



t; Thus i linger, llni I linger, 

 Sorrowing, sorrowing, sorrow ing on, 

 Hut bop ■ beers toe as I wander, 

 I lope bids all my feai ■ begoot ." 



TI, i- replied he, 



*• Sad ami gloomy, 

 Hoping \ el and i arrow ing on, 



Tim- I u.,1,,1, r, 



Trie 1 linger, 



Till tlii- ive.irj I T lone." 



— A*. )'. Journal of Commerce. 



Never ho back. — Never go hack — never. — 

 What you alien, pt, do with all your strength. 

 I), termination is omnipotent. If ihe prospeci is 

 somen hat <in ■ kened, put He- fire of resolution to 

 your soul, and kindle a flume that nothing but 

 ihe strong arm of death can extinguish. 



Bulm-of-Gilead buds, bottled op in New Eng- 

 land ruin, make the best cute in the world lor 

 fresh cms or wounds. Every family should 

 have a bottle of it. 'Ihe buds should he gather- 

 ed in a peculiar state; jnsl when they are well 

 swelled, ready lo burst into leaves, and well cov- 

 ered with gum. They last hut two or ihree days 

 ill this stale. 



If not convenient to add ruin lo the buds al 

 the time of picking, put litem into a bottle, and 

 cork 111.- bottle, tightly, and ihe buds will keep in 

 good condition for a long time. -.V*. E. Farmer. 



Grafting;. 



This operation is of great importance to the 

 fruit-grower, as he can readily change a worth- 

 less tree lo a variety of ihe highest character. 

 Many cases can be named in w hicll a greal profit 

 ha.- resulted by changes under ibis valuable pro- 

 cess. A person unacquainted with grafting, on 

 examining into the vast utility attending il, is 

 struck with admiration at an operation so won- 

 deilul, and jet so simple, and of easy applica- 

 tion. 



Scions for grading should be cut Ire fore the 

 buds begin to swell, as they will not only keep 

 longer, hut ihey will succeed better, than those 

 cut later. When cut in fall, or early winter, 

 they will ki ep in good condition later than those 

 cut iii .March. This shows ihe importance of 

 cutting before vegetation commences. If scions 

 are cm after ihe hud- begin lo swell, ii is better 

 to set them immediately, as they will he cui cited 



by delay, which has an unfavorable effect. 



To preserve scions, prepare a tight chest or 

 box, moisten the inside, and place in the bottom 

 either moist saw-dust, moss, loam, or sand, or a 

 moist chilli, or mat, to hold moisture, and keep 

 the scions cool. Lay in the scions— the more 

 the belter, as they preserve each other by their 

 freshness or moisture. Cover them with a moist 

 cloth or mat, and renew ihe moisture occasional- 

 ly, as warm weather comes on. Place ihe box- 

 in a cool part of the cellar ; if in a damp, dark 

 part, the heller. It is much heinr to surround 

 the scions with moisture than to apply water di- 

 rectly tn [hem. Some persons destroy scions by 

 too much care iu keeping them wet. When set 

 on quite moist, or rather wet earth, they absorb 

 moisture to their injury. 



Scions may he set, in this climate, from the 

 latter part of .March to ihe last of June. Those 

 set in June will make a smaller growth. April 

 and May are wry favorable months for this ope- 

 ration, and Ihe greater part of grafting is done 

 in April, or the latter part of April ami early in 

 May. Stone fruit should he grain d rather early, 

 as ihe scions do not keep so well as other kinds, 

 and ihe scions will not lake so well after vegeta- 

 tion commences and the hark peels. 



Grafting composition is now generally used 

 instead of clay, as was formerly ihe practice. 

 This composition is made with one part of beef 

 tallow, two parts of beeswax, and four parts of 

 rosin, milled together, and then turned into cold 

 water, and pulled and worked thoroughly, like 

 shoemakers wax. The articles should he pure 

 anil of the best quality. 



Sometimes mutton tallow or lard is mixed 

 with beef tallow, meal with beeswax, or ihe wax 

 may be dirty and poor; and ihe greater part of 

 rosin sold iu ihe interior is dark colored and in- 

 ferior. Good rosin is of a light color, and al- 

 most transparent; and when ihe very best is 

 used, the composition will hear five parts, (ball- 

 ing composition is generally for sale ai agricul- 

 tural stores, and some may find il more conveni- 

 ent to purchase it than lo make it. — A'. E. Farmer. 



Culture anil Preservation of Potatoes. 



In the January number of ihe "Agriculturist," 

 of New York, a communication from the pen of 

 ■Mr. John Wilkinson, of the " Mount Airy Agri- 

 cultural Institute," on the above subject, has 

 been read by us with much interest. The av- 

 erage yield throughout the field was two hun- 

 dred and fifty bushels per acre. The mode of 

 cultivation we can confidently recommend, hav- 

 ing tested it repeatedly on a large scale. A 

 potato crop, managed m ihe manlier described, 

 would cost hut a hide more than making a na- 

 ked summer-fallow, and with very different re- 



