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NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



rearinj» swine, they are commonly underfed about 

 three fourths of their lives, and overfed the other 

 fourth ; so that, in the aggregate, not more than one 

 half as much meat is elaborated from the food taken 

 into the stomach of pigs as might have been formed. 



All animals demand a certain quantity of nutritive 

 matter to preserve them in a normal condition, or to 

 prevent their losing weight and becoming poor and 

 poorer. In all cases where the object is to form meat, 

 it is bad economy to keep animals for weeks and 

 months, as thousands of farmers do, without gaining 

 a pound of flesh, although they necessarily consume 

 a large amount of food. This forms the manure ; 

 i. e., one hundred pounds of solid matter taken into 

 the stomach yield forty in dry dung yard and urine, 

 and no more. If we feed much above the point of 

 normal nutrition, a portion of the aliment fails to 

 enter the lacteal %'esscls which surround the alimen- 

 tary canal, and throvigh which digested matter passes 

 into the blood-vessels to nourish the system. This 

 excess of food, whether partially digested or not, 

 passes on through the bowels, and appears as feces or 

 dung. There is always an immense loss in seeking 

 to make animals excessively fat. Of course, when 

 two or three prices are realized for such beef, mutton, 

 or pork, the loss in the Avaste of food is paid by the 

 consiimer. Our object is to develop the true econ- 

 omy of making meat, regardless of the fact whether 

 it is sold or consumed bj' the producer. This con- 

 sists in providing a reliable supply of suitable food, 

 80 that the animal, from its birth to the day of its 

 being slaughtered, should steadily gain in weight. 

 So long as it is adding to the length and size of its 

 bones and muscles — growing — its system will be 

 little inclined to take on fat, if not overfed. Exces- 

 sive stuffing and no exercise, bring the development 

 of bone and muscle to a premature ripeness. They 

 cease to expand, and you have a fat lapdog or a 

 pocket china pig. Habitual starving will also bring 

 the carcass to maturity before it attains to its proper 

 size. Skilful feeding implies that one never gives 

 too much nor too little ; and has the food well adapted 

 to the constitution and habits of the animal, whether 

 a horse, sheep, cow, or swine. 



This system of feeding is not so easy as some may 

 imagine ; for the quantity of grass that will grow on 

 a given niunber of acres, in pasture and meadowy in 

 a dry or wet season, is very unequal. Hence, in the 

 one case, the farmer will have more feed than stock ; 

 and in the other moi-e stock than feed. If one must 

 err in the matter, it is usually better to have an ex- 

 cess, rather than a deficiency of forage. Grass left 

 to rot on the ground in a pasture or meadow is far 

 from being lost. It improves the soil. 



After having taken all due pains to make two 

 blades of grass and corn grow where only one of 

 either grew before, the stock- grower should study 

 closely the business of breeding domestic animals. 

 The leading idea in this art and science is, to select 

 the best males and females, from which to propagate 

 and improve the race. This rule applies alike to the 

 equine, bovine, ovine, and swine families. In each 

 genus there are several species, in each species there 

 are numerous breeds, and in the several breeds not a 

 few varieties. It is no part of our dvity to attempt 

 to write up one species or br«ed of animals, whether 

 of cattle, horses, hogs, or sheep, and to write down 

 another. Practical farmers know best what kind of 

 stock will suit their land and markets. Our advice, 

 if offered, would be quite as likely to miss as to hit 

 the wants of the reader. There is more difference in 

 the value of breeds than many are willing to admit, 

 and less than some breeders of improved races claim. 

 A yearling of the short-horn stock, less than thirteen 

 months old, was weighed in this city a few days 

 since, and brought down six hundred and seventy- 

 five pounds. This heifer, Avhich was not fat, is the 



offspring of Mr. Clay's importation. Another heifer, 

 of the same family, weighed seven hundred and 

 eighteen pounds when fifteen months old. The 

 mother of the calf first named belongs to the lady 

 with whom the writer boards ; and this valuable 

 cow gives some twenty quarts of rich mUk a day. 

 There are Devons near here from the herd of L. F. 

 Allen, Esq., which are much admired for their 

 beauty. 



The Texas Telegraph, of May 24, published at 

 Houston, says that wool grown in that state, and 

 sent to New York market, has brought one dollar and 

 twenty-five cents a fleece this season. Men are buj'- 

 ing large flocks in Mexican states, Missouri, Ten- 

 nessee, and elsewhere, to drive into the northern 

 parts of Texas. Sheep husbandry is beginning to 

 excite considerable attention at the south and south- 

 west. 



Believing, as we do, that this republic is likely to 

 enjoy great prosperity during the next ten years, and 

 receive large accessions to its population and wealth 

 from Europe, the demand for good breeding animals 

 will be steady, and at quite remunerating prices. 

 Whoever will take due pains to improve his cows, 

 sheep, horses, and swine, cannot fail to be well paid 

 for his trouble. — Genesee Farmer. 



Rem.\rks by Editor N. E. Farmer. — The able 

 article here presented offers valuable facts and sug- 

 gestions. In fattening animals, one imjDortant con- 

 sideration is frequently overlooked. Fat meat is 

 often made for the same purpose as Pindar's razors 

 — to sell ; and too little attention is paid to the health 

 of the animal or the healthful condition of the meat. 

 An animal is often shut up and kept without exer- 

 cise or pure air, and fed highly, Avhich course would 

 surely kill the animal, if pursued long ; and when 

 the animal is more than half Avay from a healthy 

 condition to an untimely death by high feeding and 

 inaction, it is slaughtered and sold. This subject 

 should receive more attention in connection with 

 the general management of animals. 



AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 



It is a fact that in all the best agricultural counties 

 in the Eastern States, agricultural societies have for 

 a long time existed, and have been munificently sus- 

 tained. This has been done because experience has 

 proved that their influences are productive of great 

 good to the agricultural interest. In the first place, 

 they have had the effect of placing the leading in- 

 terest of the country prominently before the people. 

 This has made those engaged in agriculture feel their 

 importance as a professional class. It has stimulated 

 their industry, and made the individuals composing 

 that class emulous to rival each other in every branch 

 of their business. The finest stock has been procured 

 from abroad, and the general stock of the country 

 has been made to attain a high point of excellence. 

 Farming has been done with more system, more 

 neatness, more economy, and with greater profit. 

 Experiments have been made in the composition and 

 value of manures, and every thing that could be made 

 available to increase the fertility of the soil has been 

 employed for that purpose. Waste lands and brush 

 pastures have been ploughed up, and the earth work- 

 ed to a great depth, and a new source of wealth has 

 been found in lands which before had been scarcely 

 worth fencing. The black muck, or mud, in sloughs, 

 ponds, bottoms of brooks, the accumulation of ages, 

 has been carted out, thrown in compost heaps, made 

 to ferment, and manufactured into valuable manure, 



