210 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



May 



once established is all that could be desired. It 

 is perfectly hardy, and ripening its fruit full three 

 weeks before the Isabella. The limbs and ber- 

 ries are medium size, and of a rich \ine color. 



It is difficult to describe the flavor of this grape. 

 To say that it is juicy, winey, sugary, spicey, with 

 a fine delicate aroma, is to use words that convey 

 very little meaning except to those who are fa- 

 miliar with the fruit. 



The above description is furnished us by Mr. 

 E. A. Brackett, of Winchester, a gentleman of 

 large experience in grape culture, and who is per- 

 haps as well qualified to judge of grapes as any 

 person among us. 



LECTUBES ON" HORSE TAMING. 



During the month of March the citizens of 

 Boston were favored with a series of lectures on 

 horse-taming, by the celebrated John S. Rarey. 

 The audiences were large, and the greatest inter- 

 est was manifested in the subject. 



The lectures were given at Music Hall, and an 

 enclosure about twenty feet square, surrounded 

 by posts firmly fastened and strengthened by 

 ropes and iron rods, was erected upon the stage, 

 for the safe display and subjugation of the vicious 

 animals that were to be submitted to Mr. Rarey's 

 treatment. The number of lectures, originally 

 fixed at three, was afterwards inci'eased to five, 

 and a free lecture was also given to the truck- 

 men, drivers, and others employed in the care 

 of horses. 



Mr. Rarey opened his lectures with a descrip- 

 tion of his subjugation of Cruiser, who accompa- 

 nies him. This renowned horse is a thorough- 

 bred English race horse, and at the age of two 

 years he had reached the greatest speed known. 

 His viciousness now began to manifest itself, and 

 up to the time of Mr. Rarey's visit to England 

 his owner had been unable to do anything with 

 him, and it v/as absolutely dangerous to approach 

 him. He was kept in a brick stable, and wore a 

 heavy halter and iron muzzle which had been 

 put upon him by stratagem. His spirit was well 

 tested in his struggle against Rarey, after the 

 straps had been applied. Most of the horses 

 which are brought forward for treatment will 

 yield in a few minutes — Cruiser resisted for three 

 hours. lie is now in a state of complete subjec- 

 tion, and as tractable as could bo desired. 



After the exhibition of Cruiser, Mr. Rarey in- 

 troduces one of the subjects for the evening's il- 

 lustrations, generally tractable, but brought for- 

 ward on account of some particular vice which it 

 is wished to correct. As a fair example, and a 

 correct description of his manner of proceeding, 

 we copy from the Advertiser's report of the first 

 lecture : 



The first horse introduced after Cruiser was one 

 owiK'd by .1 Mr. Savage, ur' this city. His principal 

 fault was great fright at an umbrella, and this was 

 amply demonstrated by trying the experiment of 

 opening and shutting an umbrella bef(n"e him. Mr. 

 Rarey then began his process of bringing the animal 

 into .subjection, giving tlie needed explanations fnjm 

 time to time. He said he had studied tlie horse's na- 

 ture fully, and that he used no magic power, but 

 taught the horse as lie would a child. It is not the 

 proper way to run licfore a horse and try to eateh him 

 (juickly. Toiieh the horse lightly, said he. A lady 

 can tame a wild horse in less time than a man can, 

 simply because slic is more gentle. The horse has a 

 delicate and sensitive nature, and you should approach 

 his head as tlic seat of this sensitiveness as gently f«s 

 lK)ssiblo. The system of "rough breaking," — appro- 

 priately named, — is as bad in its application to the 

 horse as it would be to children ; and move so, be- 

 cause the latter can understand you. He said that lie 

 had never seen a naturally vicious colt; viciousness 

 resulted from their training. The horse is nowhere 

 so well understood as in Arabia. There he is brought 

 up in the tent as a child and with the family, has re- 

 ceived no rough usage, and knows nothing else but 

 duty. The first difficulty in this country is the use of 

 thehalter. A heavy rope is generally used, wlicreas 

 the proper one would be as easy and light as possible. 

 The intelligence of the horse should be appealed to, 

 and the very look and gesture should be easy and 

 pleasant, as the animal has a great discrimination in 

 these matters. He then exhibited two small straps 

 which he said were the only contrivances he had ever 

 used. He approached the horse slowly, patting him 

 gently, and taking his left fore foot in hi:^ hand, and 

 placing one end of a strap aliout the ankle and the 

 other above the knee, bent the leg and strapped it 

 firmly in that i^osition. He then led the horse about 

 on three legs, remarking that any horse, however vi- 

 cious, in this situation could not kiek or run away. 

 With the same gentleness that marked all his move- 

 ments, he placed a surcingle about his body, and fas- 

 tening the other strap about the ankle of the right 

 forefoot, drew it quickly as the horse started, and he, 

 thus being deprived of the use of his fore legs, came 

 down upon his knees, subject to the will of his mas- 

 ter. Mr. Rarey then pressed gently upon his side and 

 drawing his head towards him, finally succeeded in 

 compelling him to lie down. Some time was occu- 

 pied in caressing him, showing him the umlirclla, 

 riiljluiig him with it, opening and shutting it befoi'e 

 his face, until he became perfectly familiar with it. 

 The straps were then loosened one by one, and when 

 the horse regained his feet, Mr. Rarey mounted him, 

 opened and closed the umbrella over his head, and 

 lieat a drum resting upon his neck, after having ac- 

 quainted him with it in the same gradual manner. He 

 then retired amid the applause of the audience. 



By this simple method the hor.-c is taught that he 

 can be In-oughtto subjection, and in the process, kind- 

 ness and gentleness avail more than the force which 

 is customarily used on vicious horses. The wildest 

 horses, said Mr. Rarey, can, simply by rendering them 

 helpless and unable to do any mischief, be made ac- 

 customed to sights and sounds hitherto terrifying, and 

 thus be made perfectly tractable. But the process is 

 one of time and the work necessarily gradual, for 

 "haste makes waste." He teaches the horse to \vait 

 his movements and not be self-willed. Moreover, he 

 is to be tamed all over ; his entire l)ody must liccome 

 accustomed to objects. But tlie head is the scat of 

 knowletlge, and the horse is to lie taught through tliat, 

 and what we wish to teach him is not to be beaten 

 through his back. 



The Hyacinth. — Like the Rose, the Hyacinth 



is a universal favorite, and although great diver- 

 sity of taste exists in floral matters, the merits of 

 the Hyacinth are never questioned. It is loved 

 by every one for its beauty and its fragrance. It 

 will thrive in almost any soil ; and will flower 

 almost as finely when grown in water as when 

 planted in the richest compost. 



