1860. 



NEW ENGLAND FARiVIER. 



421 



WHAT CONSTITUTES LEGAIj UNSOUND- 

 NESS IN HOUSES. 



A Knee-sprung horse can hardly be said to be 

 unsound. He may be a very fast horse, and caii 

 endure with ease the labor of any common, ordi- 

 nary horse, although there is an alteration of struc- 

 ture which unfits him for the race-course. This 

 would not be likely to produce disease or lame- 

 ness ; he would bo more likely to grow bettor 

 than worse, if used for common purposes. But, 

 if so bad as to produce stumbling and falling, he 

 would be unsound, and a warranty should be taken 

 against such defects. 



Capped IIoclvS cannot be considered unsound- 

 ness, if produced by an uneven stable floor, or by 

 kicking ; but, if produced by a sprain, and a per- 

 manent thickening and enlargement of the mem- 

 branes, there would be unsoundness. A special 

 warranty should be required in such cases. 



Contraction of the Hoof is a considerable de- 

 viation from the natural form of the foot, but 

 does not necessarily constitute unsoundness. It 

 requires, however, a most careful examination by 

 the purchaser, to ascertain that there is no fever 

 or ossification of the cartilage ; that the frog is 

 not diseased ; that the animal is not tender-foot- 

 ed or lame. Unless some of these symptoms are 

 indicated, he must not bo pi-onounced unsound. 

 A special warranty should be required, where the 

 feet are contracted. 



Corns manifestly constitute unsoundness. Al- 

 though few men lay much stress on this malady, 

 still much inconvenience, and many times serious 

 difficulties, must be encountered by them, as they 

 are seldom thoroughly cured. Many horses are 

 almost constantly lame with corns, through a 

 scrofulous habit of the system. A warranty 

 against such animals would be safe. 



Trembling Knees. — This cannot be considered 

 unsoundness ; yet it is a precursory symptom of 

 hnee-sprimg. Trembling of the knees, after a 

 smart exercise, indicates weakness, and should 

 be regarded as objectionable. 



A Cougli constitutes unsoundness, however 

 slight or of short standing. If a horse is noticed 

 to cough before the purchase, or immediately af- 

 terward, he is diseased ; but if v;arranted sound, 

 and the cough is not discovered till one or two 

 days afterward, he is not returnable ; for a few 

 hours is sufficient to contract a cough, by taking 

 cold while standing in a damp, musty stable, or 

 by eating different feed, musty hay, &c. 



Roaring, Wheezing or Whistling, is unsound- 

 ness, being the result of alteration of structure, 

 or disease in the air passages. Although there 

 have been decisions to the contrary, courts and 

 jurors are often at a loss, for the want of intelli- 

 gent witnesses ; and if a veterinary surgeoh is 

 called to the stand, not having seen the animal, he 

 is liable to be mistaken from misrepresentation. 

 Broken TTuicZ is still more decidedly unsoundness. 



Crib Biting. — A difference of opinion exists as 

 to this being unsoundness, and courts have given 

 opposite decisions in respect to it. There are 

 cribbcvs that can scarcely be said to be unsound, 

 as they are not perceptibly injured, and it does 

 not interfere with their condition or endurance. 

 Others inhale and swallovv a great amount of 

 wind ; they bloat and are subject to colic, which 



interferes with their health and strength ; this 

 would constitute vuisoundness. A wan-anty should 

 always be taken against injury from cribbing ; 

 then if he breaks his teeth or injures himself, 

 recompense may be had. 



Curb constitutes unsoundness as long as it 

 lasts, and perhaps while the swelling remains, al- 

 though no inflammation exists ; for a horse that 

 has once thrown out a curb, is liable to do so 

 again on the slightest exertion. A horse, however, 

 should not be returned, if he spring a curb five 

 minutes after purchase, for it is done in a mo- 

 ment, and does not indicate any previous unsound- 

 ness. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 ANOTHEB GREAT ELM. 



In the Farmer for July 7th, is an account of 

 the old elm on Boston Common. Thinking it 

 would not be uninteresting to your readers, I here- 

 with send you the dimensions of another. Girth 

 of trunk at surface of the ground, 29 feet ; girth 

 at 18 inches above surface, 19 feet; girth at 5 

 feet above ground, 15 feet ; height to first limb, 

 9 feet ; height of tree, 78 feet ; average diameter 

 of greatest extent of branches, 96 feet. 



The tree stands in the yard of Mrs. Norman 

 Boardman, in Salisbury. Although it cannot boast 

 of having counted as many years, or hearing as 

 many famous speeches, or of having performed 

 the friendly office of gibbet, whereon to hang he- 

 retical quakers, yet I think it may boast of a more 

 rapid growth. Long after Capt. Joel Boardman, 

 who is now living, settled in this vicinity, he tried 

 to pull the tree, which Avas then a sapling, up with 

 his hands ; not succeeding, he let it stand. A 

 few years later, or about the year 1800, it had at- 

 tained such a size, and there being a crotch in its 

 top, Mr. Boardman cut it out to make a harrow, 

 which accounts for the shortness of its trunk. 

 About that time holes were morticed into it, and 

 it was used for a bar-post. It is remembered as 

 a tree of about a foot in diameter, fifty years ago. 

 Although it stands without the bounds of the 

 road, it throws its gigantic arms nearly across it, 

 forming a delightful shade, wherein the weary 

 traveller may rest. A. K. Marvin. 



Salisbury, 17., Jidrj, 1860. 



THE PINE TREES. 



The pine is trained to need nothing, and to en- 

 dure everything. It is resolvedly whole, self-con- 

 tained, desiring nothing but Tightness, content 

 with restricted completion. Tall or short, it will 

 be straight. Small or large, it will be round. It 

 may be permitted also to these soft lowland trees 

 that they should make themselves gay with show 

 of blossom, and glad Avith petty charities of fruit- 

 fulness. We builders with the sword have harder 

 work to do for man, and must do it in close-set 

 troops. To stay the sliding of the mountain 

 snows, which would bury him ; to hold in divid- 

 ed drops, at our sword points, the rain, which 

 would sweep away him and his treasure-fields ; to 

 nurse in shade among our brown fallen leaves the 

 tricklings that feed the brooks in drought ;_ to 

 give massive shield against the winter wind, 

 which shrieks through the bare branches of the 

 plain ; such service must we do him steadfastly 



