360 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



their other points are what breeders would terra 

 good. They are of various colors. A disposition 

 exists in the breeders of the Highlands to cultivate 

 the black color, as conceiving it to be more indicative 

 of hardiness; and hence the greater number of the 

 eattle of the Highlands are black. The cows of this 

 breed, like those of many alpine districts, are defi- 

 eient in the power of yielding milk. The milk they 

 give is rich in cream, but it is in small quantity ; and 

 they very quickly tend to run dry." 



PROFESSOR JOHNSTON'S ADDRESS. 



We listened with great pleasure and instruction 

 to the very able address of Professor Johnston, who 

 recently left England for the purpose of examining 

 the agriculture of this country and the provinces of 

 British America. Though the address required a 

 full hour and a half in the delivery, it was listened 

 to with unflagging interest till its close. Its main 

 features, after the introduction, consisted in a suc- 

 cinct history of the present state of European agri- 

 culture, as exhibited in the several countries, most 

 of which he has personally visited. The latter part 

 of the address was on miscellaneous topics connected 

 with the subject, in which various important sugges- 

 tions were made for the advancement of this great 

 interest. We shall soon see this valuable address 

 scattered broadcast over the Union, and hope it may 

 reach every farmer's fireside. 



We Uiidcrstand Professor Johnston will not return 

 to Europe before the ensuing spring, and we ear- 

 nestly recommend to every society or comnTunity, who 

 ean appreciate the benefits of agricultural science, 

 that, for their OM'n interest, they offer him such re- 

 muneration as will insure a course of his invaluable 

 lectures. More particularly do we of New York 

 owe it to ourselves and our community, that we 

 secure from him a full course. This will come with 

 much better effect from the Agricultural Board of 

 the American Institute. The promotion of national 

 objects and improvements should be one of its pri- 

 mary merits ; and as the advancement of agriculture 

 is professedly one of its leading objects, there will 

 scarcely occur a more favorable opportunity of car- 

 rying out their patriotic purposes. Millions of Amer- 

 ican gold have hero been worse than thrown away 

 on English comedians and their cognate professions. 

 An opportunity is now afforded where a few hun- 

 dreds or thousands may be most worthily bestowed, 

 and for our own lasting honor and advantage. We 

 shall see if Americans have the enlightened self- 

 interest, the wisdom to do it. — American Agri- 

 culturist, 



PONDS. 



Pastures that are destitute of water should have 

 artificial ponds made in them for watering places. 

 " Observe where rushes, weeds, flags, and other aquatic 

 plants grow spontaneously ; or where frogs are ob- 

 served to lie squatted down close to the ground, in 

 order to receive its moisture. Or observe where a 

 vapor is frequently seen to rise from the same spot. 

 Some say wherever little swarms of flies are seen 

 constantly flying in the same place, and near the 

 ground, in the morning after sunrise, there is water 

 underneath." If a well is made in a sloping gi-ound, 

 and the declivity is enough to give it a horizontal 

 vent, it will be worth the husbandman's while to 

 dig such a passage, and by means of pipes or any 

 other conveyance, to carry the water across the light 

 soil, through which it might otherwise sink. The 

 greatest quantity of water will be obtained in this 

 mannci-, because there will be a continual stream. 

 There is no difficulty in making a durable pond in a 



clayey soil. Let a large hollow basin be made in 

 such earth, and it will preserve the water that falls 

 in rain. But it is apt to be thick and dirty, if some 

 pains be not taken to prevent it. The declivity by 

 which the cattle enter should be paved, and gravel 

 should be spread on the bottom. Or it might be 

 better if the whole were paved. 



There are many natural ponds which have outlets 

 in one part, and are supplied by brooks and rivers in 

 other parts ; but a greater number of smaller ponds, 

 which are perfectly stagnant, unless when they are 

 agitated by winds. Such ponds as the latter, in hot 

 seasons, are apt to become putrid and contaminate 

 the air about them. Eor this reason, they should, if 

 possible, be drained. And when the water is not 

 deep, and an outlet can be made without too much 

 cost, they should be drained for the purpose of re- 

 claiming the soil. This will be of great value, as it 

 is con\manly found to be extremely rich, being made 

 up of the finest particles of soil, wafted into them by 

 winds, and of decayed vegetable substances, besides 

 the fine mould washed into theui by rains. 



Many farms contain little sunken spots, whic h arc 

 most of the year covered with water, and produce 

 some aquatic bushes and weeds. These are notorious 

 harbors for fi'Ogs, and are therefore c&lleA. fro (j ponds. 

 They should be drained if it be practicable. It is 

 commonly the case, however, that draining them in 

 the common way, by making an outlet, would cost 

 more than they would be worth when drained, be- 

 cause of the height of the land on every side. But 

 in this case, if the banks be not clay, thej' may be 

 drained in the following manner : — 



Take notice on which side land that is lower than 

 the pond is nearest. On that side, in the bank near 

 the pond, dig a kind of cellar, two or three feet 

 deeper than the surface of the pond ; do it in a dry 

 season. If a hard stratum appear, dig through it ; 

 and leave digging when the bottom is loose gravel 

 or sand. Then make an open or a covered drain 

 from the pond to the cellar. The water will be dis- 

 charged from the pond, and soak into the earth 

 through the bottom of the cellar, till a scurf is formed 

 on the bottom, that will stop the water from soaking 

 into the earth. This scurf should be broken from 

 time to time, and taken away with a long-handled 

 hoe. Or the cellar may be filled up with the refuse 

 stones, and I think it preferable to the other method. 



If the pond should not become suihciently dry, a 

 small ditch should be drawn around it, and discharge 

 itself into the cellar. The land that is thus gained 

 will be rich muck, much of which may be carted 

 away for manure ; and common earth or sand may 

 replace it without detriment to the soil. — Practical 

 Fanner. 



EXCRETORY DUCT OF THE FEET OF 



SHEEP. 



Chancellor lavingston, first president of the New 

 York State Agricultural Society, says the legs of 

 sheep are furnished with a duct, which terminates 

 in the fissure of the hoof; from which, when the 

 animal is in health, is secreted a white fluid ; but 

 when sickl_v, these ducts arc stopped by the harden- 

 ing of the fiuid. He says he has in some instances 

 found that the sheep were relieved by merely press- 

 ins* out the hardened matter with the finger from the 

 orifice of the duct in each foot : it may in some cases 

 be proper to place their feet in warm water, or to use 

 a probe or hand brush for cleansing this passage. — 

 American Farmer, 



Rot in the Grape. — We undei-stand the grape 

 crop in this vicinity has been much injured by the 

 rot. — Cincinnati Gazette, 



