46 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



AUG. 9, ISi 



Ann HORTICULTURAL REGISTER. 



BosTos, Wednesday, August 9, 1843. 



BASIS OF EXCELLENCE IN FARM STOCK. 



Mbany, July 28, 1843. 



The State Agricultural Society of New York, desi- 

 rous lliat some fixed principles should be established as 

 the basis of e.\cellence in the various descriptions of 

 farm slocli, (without reference to their relative merits as 

 breeds,) have appointed the undersigned a committee, 

 witli instructions to call the particular attiHlion of breed- 

 ers throughout the States to the importance (if the sub- 

 ject, and to make the necessary arrangements for a Con- 

 vention to be held at the Library Room of the American 

 In.slitute, in the city of New York, during its IGth annu- 

 al fair, on the 17th of October next, at which breeders 

 of stock and those interested in agriculture, are most re- 

 ppecirully urged to give their attendance, with a view to 

 a full and free discussion of those forms, qualities and 

 properties which most conduce to intrinsic value; and 

 also that iho distinctive characteristics of each separate 

 breed may be as closely defined as possible. 



The Society believe that the decision of such a meet- 

 in" will offer to the agriculturist the best information 

 that can, at present, be elicited ; and which, they trust, 

 may be so satisfactory to the mind of every intelligent 

 breeder, as to lead to greater uniformity of action and 

 opinion, and ;)ossi6/j become a standard with them, by 

 which to judge and be judged, in all cases of competi- 



liOD. 



With these views of the subject, the committee hope 

 you may deem it of sufficient importance to be present 

 at the proposed Convention, and lend to its discussions 

 the aid of your experience and talents. 



The committee will be obliged by any suggestions, in 

 the interim, you may consider of sufficient importance 

 to be communicated to them in relation to this object. 

 FRANCIS ROTCH, 

 E. P. PRENTICE, 

 ,C. N. BEMENT, 

 . GEORGE VAIL, 

 L. F. ALLEN. 

 To Allen Putsam, Esq., Ed. of the N. E. Farmer. 



[p^The gentlemen composing the above committee 

 have for years been noted for their efforts to improve 

 tlie domestic animals of the country. The call which 

 they put forth doserves to be heeded by all raisers of 

 stock, who can without great inconvenience attend 

 their meeting. 



We think that every reflecting farmer must allow that 

 it is desirable to improve our New England stock. It 

 costs no more to feed a well formed and thrifty animal 

 than to keep an ill shapen and stunted thing. That we 

 have iTood animals of every species in New England, 

 now admits of no question. But every m»n who has 

 ever seen a large drove, whether of cattle, sheep, or 

 swine, on its way to Brighton, must have seen that the 

 indifferent ones bear a very large ratio to the good ones. 

 This ought not to be so extensively the case ; — more 

 care, or rather proper care, in selecting animals to breed 

 from, would in a few years change and improve the 

 character of the droves. We have doubts whether a 

 thousand better cattle for the yoke, or cows for the pail, 

 can be found in any country than New England could 

 furnish from what is called her native stock. But the 

 tminently good ones are few — too few — needlessly few. 

 Improvement ran be made, and it should be made. Lit- 

 tle can be done, however, until our farmers generally 



shall learn to judge of the comparative merits of the 

 animals on their own farms, or in their neighborhood, 

 and decide correctly as to which are best for the purpo- 

 ses of breeding. Help on this point they may hope to 

 derive from the convention that will meet in obedience 

 to the foregoing call. What points or properties does 

 the perfect animal possess .' In what points is your cow 

 or bull deficient.'— and what male should serve your 

 cow, or what cows should be brought to your bull, in 

 order that the defects of the parents may be corrected 

 in the offspring .= Were all our farmers able to answer 

 such questions, and would they but persevere in atten- 

 tion and care, a better — vastly betler race of animals 

 would be formed in a -very few generations. 



We have in this vicinity, and there are many in New 

 England, who have been eminently successful in rais- 

 ing stock of various kinds ; and we would join our re- 

 quest to that of the commtitije, that these men sliould 

 attend the Convention. 



DR. VALENTINE'S METHOD OF PREPARING 

 AND PRESERVING MANURES. 



On Monday morning, we went out to Messrs. Joseph 

 Breck & Co.'s place at Brighton, where we met Dr. 

 Wm. Valentine, ot Glen Cove, Long Island, N. Y. Dr. 

 V. obviously has read and thouf^ht much upon manures, 

 and he thinks that he has ascertained how, by the use 

 of various articles, not very costly, he can enable any 

 farmer to make bis meadow mud, and other decayed 

 vegetable matters, and his dung, into a very concentra- 

 ted powder, so that a hogshead or two of it shall be an 

 ample dressing for an acre of land. We shall be some- 

 what disappointed if the Dr.'s course is not found to be 

 beneficial. The object proposed by Bommer and oth- 

 ers, who have been acting upon manures, is mainly to 

 rot down straw and other vegetable substances. But, 

 when rotted, such matters cannot be strong manures. 

 Dr. Valentine proposes to take these articles about 

 where the others would leave them, and make of them 

 highly concentrated manures. 



Under Dr. V.'s direction, a pile was formed, which 

 contained about IG bush, meadow mud, 8 do. of horse 

 manure, 4 do. of ashes, 3 do. of bone, a peck of salt dis- 

 solved in water, and about 2 bush, of lime. All these, 

 excepting the lime, were thrown into a heap, well vi'oik- 

 ed over, and wet with water, until it became a paste 

 about as thick as common morlar. Then a large seed 

 cask, as large as two molasses hogsheads, was set in the 

 ground, the paste thrown in in layers, and the lime in 

 lumps from the cask was applied in intermediate layers. 

 The lime in its action will take up the water and con 

 vert the whole to a powder in three or four days. This 

 powder will not deteriorate by exposure to the atmos- 

 phere. The theory is, that at leisure times the matters 

 on the farm may be worked up into this powder, and 

 thus all future loss prevented. The manure then is in a 

 very portable and concentrated form, and is at all times 

 ready for use. Other articles besides those which were 

 on hand at Mr Breck's, would add much to the value of 

 the mixture — such as pearlash, nitrate of soda,' sulphate 

 of soda, and blood. Adding these. Dr. V. thiDks tiial 

 the mixture would be equal to guano. 



All interested in agriculture should look with favor 

 upon Dr. v., because of his readiness to tell all that he 

 knows and thinks. As to compensation, he says only 

 that if farmers derive benefit from his instructions, he 

 shall be happy to receive whatever they may be willing 

 to give. 



The following articles would be used, if at hand, by 

 Dr. v. And were ho mixing for an acre, he might take 

 about 25 bush, meadow mud, or other rotted vegetable 

 matter; 12 bush, barn dung, 5 do. of ashes, 7 do. of 



bone. These he would make into paste and work 

 like a mortar bed ; had he blood or urine, he w 

 prefer it much to water, for making his paste. The 

 would work in 100 lbs. nitrate of soda, 12 lbs. sulf 

 of soda, 5 lbs. pearlash, and 10 or 12 qts.of salt. T 

 are all to be dissolved m water, and worked in ev 

 through the mass. This paste is then to be put inK 

 hogshead or vat, and about a cask of lime put in in 

 era. This would be his richest puddmg, but ht 

 make much cheaper ones, though less valuable. 



There will be a sequel to this article, when we 

 seen how the cask opens. 



MASS. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



EXHIBITION OF FLOWERS. 



Saturday, Jivg. 5, 18' 



The President of the Society presented several su 

 specimens of Lilium lancifolium album — one of 

 splendid acquisitions brought by Dr. Van Sieboldt 

 Japan. 



Mr Henry W. Dutton exhibited specimens of se 

 new Dahlias, viz : Miranda, Perpetual, Grand, 

 His blooms of Constantia were very fine. 



Mr Josiah Stickney put the first bloom of Dahlia 

 Essex Triumph into our stands. We hail it as a 

 member at the court of Flora. If reports prove cor 

 this variety will not only be an addition to our fli 

 gardens, but an acquisition of the first order. 



By Mr J. G. Spiague, Sulphurea elegans — a 

 flower. 



By Mr John Robinson, two specimens without na 

 If Mr R. would place the names of his flowers oi 

 stands with his specimens, he would oblige us. 



The Bouquets by Mr Warren, were very fine, as ' 

 some of his specimens of Dahlias. Some of his new 

 rieties bid fair to rank among the Number Ones. 



The Roses and other very pretty specimens by V: 

 R. Johnson, were much admired. 



Mr W. E. Carter presented some seedling Phloxe 

 great beauty. 



The specimens of Balsams by Mr J. F. Trull, ' 

 fine. 



Bouquets by Dr. J. C. Howard, W. E. Carter, J. I 

 ey, and S. Walker. 



The cut flowers from the establishment of Mr ^ 

 Kenrick, of Newton, by Miss Russell, were put up 

 great taste, and made a fine display. 

 For the Committee, 



S. WALKER, Ch'm 



It is expected that our friends will make a sho' 

 Phloxes next Saturday. S. V 



EXHIBITION OF FRUITS. 



The display of fruits this day was not so large as us 



W. P. Richardson, of Salem, exhibited Cher: 

 which have been described by the late Mr Mannin 

 " Richardson's Late Black." They are dark red, 

 and fine. 



From A. F. Brown, Dorchester — two boxes Goose 

 ries — large. 



From Messrs. Winship, Cherries — Belle et Magnifii 



From Otis Johnson, Lynn — Grapes; Black Hambi 

 Zinfendal, White Muscat of Alexandria — highly colo. 



From J. F. Trull, Early Scarlet Cherry Plums. 



From John Hovey, Early Harvest Apples — very t 



From J. C. Howard, Grapes — Black Hamburg, \V1 

 Chasselas — very large and fine. Also, Madeline Pe 



From A. D. Williams, Roxbury — While and 1 

 Dutch Currants — extra. 



From Geo. Walsh, English Black Currants ; I 

 Dutch do. ; all fine. 



From J L. L. F. Warren, While and Red Antw 

 Raspberries — fine. Also, Puiple Figs. 



For the Commiitee, OTIS JOHNSON 



EXHIBITION OF VEGETABLES. 



Tomatoes, bv Dr. J. C. Howard, Brooklme, viz : t\ 

 cimcns of ihe Cuba, Orange, and old Red. 



Rhubarb, by Messrs. Winship, viz : Alayatt's Vic 

 ria. For the Committee, S.WALKER 



lO'See Notices for meetings on next page. 



(CT'We would call the attention of our readers to 1 

 sale of Durham stock, advertised on another page. 



