42 



MAPLE SUGAR. 



wares more for sale than for service. These facts 

 however, do not detract from the importance of stu- 

 dying closely both the anatomy and physiology of all 

 the animals kept on the farm. The organs of diges- 

 tion, respiration, circulation of the blood, and of lo- 

 comotion, need to be thoroughly understood. Effec- 

 tive and profitable assimilation of nutrient elements 

 can only be realized in systems of the right form. 

 Where the chest is too small for the free and healthy 

 play of the lungs, and the ribs too flat and near to- 

 gether to allow adequate room to the abdominal vis- 

 cera of ruminants, digestion and respiration are im- 

 perfectly performed, and the gain in flesh, wool or 

 dairy products, for the food consumed, is less than it 

 ought to be. Hence, a broad skeleton, indicating a 

 barrel form of the body, and a deep, capacious chest, 

 show a high capacity to fatten. On the other hand, 

 a narrow, flat carcass, with both the hind and fore 

 legs close together, because the osseous frame is de- 

 fective, indicates feeble powers of digestion and as- 

 similation, and a bad animal for breeding, as well as 

 feeding. The bones of the pelvis, spine, ribs, chest, 

 legs and head are too little examined and compared 

 by those who aspire to the honors of good stock- 

 breeders. Indeed, we regard a knowledge of com- 

 parative anatomy as indispensable to one who would 

 really improve the live stock kept on his farm. The 

 whole theory of good and bad points, rests On anat- 

 omy and physiology. Reject these, and all is dark- 

 ness, doubt and uncertainty; for no man can possibly 

 understand the organization of an animal before he 

 has made its anatomy the subject of special study. 

 No one has ever distinguished himself as a breeder 

 *f neat stock or horses, who did not understand all 

 the essential points of a good animal. These should 

 be seen, and particularly described by some one fa- 

 miliar with the same, rather than learned from any 

 mere book account of them. The most common de- 

 fects in native cattle, are large heads and horns, long, 

 large and crooked legs, big, coarse, bull necks, nar- 

 row chests, and narrow across the back and loins, hair 

 coarse and harsh, skin hard and close to the bone, 

 and the whole appearance of the creature indicates 

 all the evils of domestication, with little or none of 

 its advantages. The brute has been taught to de- 

 pend on man for its food, and finds anything but 

 plenty, or kindness at his hands. 



Such of our readers as have had opportunities of 

 seeing the fine forms of the native deer of American 

 forests and prairies, need not be told how far they 

 excel in beauty and symmetry most of the so-called cul- 

 tivated neat stock of the country. The latter, instead 



of being improved, is sadly deteriorated by thousand; 

 of farmers. If cattle were properly cared for, thej 

 would never fail to improve by domestication. All 

 wild animals show the advantages of good keep ir 

 their appearance when abundantly supplied witl 

 nourishment. The husbandman should show his or 

 in providing aliment for his stock, as well as his sri 

 ence in pairing males and females. In this way, al 

 really mean stock would soon become scarce, to thi 

 great benefit of the public. 



In selecting breeding animals, it is important t( 

 have the female proportionably larger than the male 

 for the blood of the mother nourishes her ofTsprinj 

 both before and after its birth for some months. I 

 she is small and the male large, the young is likely t. 

 be disproportionably large as compared with th 

 supply of aliment, especially if its mother be not we' 

 fed. Males of the most perfect form, with souu' 

 constitution and of medium size, are always to b 

 preferred. Animals either over-grown or under-grow 

 are generally to be avoided for breeding purpose: 

 Fashion often leads to the production of cattle whic 

 are monstrous in size and fatness; but such mor 

 strosities show a con-upt public taste, and are not t 

 be encouraged by wise persons. Animals kept fi. 

 propagation should not be allowed to become eitht 

 very fat or very poor. I'Lxtremes of all kinds are t 

 be sedulously avoided. They are the bane of a 

 that live, and the natural fruit of human folly. Man 

 err in attempting to keep more cows than their pa 

 tures will properly feed, so that they yield but a sma*. 

 quantity of milk, and their calves get stunted befoi 

 they are three months old, to a degree that injui-e 

 them for life. Keep all calves well the first twelv 

 months of their existence, and it will do much to in 

 prove the bovine race. It is needless to say ho' 

 grass and milk are to be produced: for no reader i 

 presumed to be ignorant on this subject, 



MAPLE SUGAR. 



TuK season for making maple sugar will soon m 

 rive, and a few remarks as to fixtures and prepare 

 tions therefor may not come amiss. A few year 

 since it could be purchased in our market at from sL 

 to eight cents per pound by the quantity; but withii 

 the past two years it meets with a ready sale at tei 

 and twelve cents per pound, and choice samples wil 

 readily command extra prices. From being an arti 

 cle of slow sale, it has, in consequence of the clearin; 

 up of our lands, become an article of luxury; and W' 

 do not, under ordinary circumstances, anticipate an; 

 future decline in prices. 



