1870. 



NEW ENGLAND FAEJCER. 



945 



corner, where it is left to fight its way with 

 grass and weeds, without care or cultivation ; 

 but few plants enjoy good soil, heavy manur- 

 ing and clean culture better than the currant, 

 and where a fair price can be obtained, few 

 will better repay extra attention. The cur- 

 rant succeeds bet er in a heavy loam than 

 in a light sandy soil. Mr. Fuller recom- 

 mends four feet each way — 2722 plants to an 

 acre, — as the proper distance for the plants, 

 which, when grown, will yield at two pounds 

 per plant. 5,444: pounds. — all of which looks 

 well on paper, and here we leave it, the cur- 

 rant worms and all. 



The above cut was drawn and engraved for 

 the New Exglvxd Farmer from a bunch of 

 white currants, of a variety originated by Mr. 

 Francis Dana, of Roxbury, Mass., and is a 

 fair representation of the btrry and cluster, 

 which is the larjiest of the whites, nearly equal 

 to the Cherry currant in sizi-, less acid, and 

 of excellent flavor. Mr. Fuller says that he 

 has been exceedingly unfortunate in procuring 

 this variety, having purchased from what he 

 supposed to be a reliable source, five distinct 

 varieties, under the name of Dana's White. 



CKUELTY TO ANIMALS. 



The Boston Society for the Prevention of Cru- 

 elty to Auimals is doing a good work. We wish 

 its influence might be felt in the country some- 

 times, as well as in the city. Its lirst duty, how- 

 ever, it seems to us, is to visit the Superintendent 

 of Streets, or whutever ofiicer has charge of the 

 horses belonging to the city of Boston, and ex- 

 plain the slow and protracted torture occasioned by 

 the use of the "check-rein," and insist upon its 

 disuse. 



The wicked genius of a Nero could scarcely 

 have devised anything more painful than is the use 

 of the check-rein. He tortured by fire and sword, 

 but the pangs were soon over. With the horse, 

 they are constant. Ten hours in a day, and some 

 300 days in ihe year, certain of his muscles are 

 drawn out of their natural positii-n and kept 

 there by pulleys and straps until the pain be- 

 comes almost intolerable. The poor animal 

 throws his head first on one side and then on 

 the other, throws his nose into the air, and tries in 

 every way to drop his head, in order to gain mo- 

 mentary relief. This whole arrangement is unnat- 

 ural and cruel. The animal is constrained by it. 

 It induces loss of strength, disturbs the vital force, 

 and causes painful action in the muscles of the 

 neck, head, shoulders and mouth. When the 

 check-rein is loosened the horse always stretches 

 out his neck and hangs down his head. 



How would a man look wheeling a dead horse 



up a hill, with his own head tied back by a strap 

 passed over his shoulders and fastened to the ends 

 of the wheelbarrow handles ! This is the position 

 in which he places the horse, instead of allowing 

 him the free use of his own weight to force along 

 the load ! 



The use of the chf ckrein is a foolish and unsci- 

 entilic fashion handed down to us Irom our British 

 ancestors. The Fiench, Spaniards, Germans and 

 Turks, do not use it. The Inaians and Spaniards 

 of South America, who literally live on horseback 

 and are perfect horsemen, do not use it. 



Let us discard this cruel torture of one of our 

 most useful and faithful of domestic animals, and 

 let the Boston Society take the initiative, and see 

 that the worse than "thunib-s^'rews" are taken 

 away from the noble animals employed in the ser- 

 vice of the city. 



We have plead with them in vain, now we hope 

 to see what associated effort will accomplish. 



It is the opinion of those of great experience, 

 that a pair of horses when freed from this useless 

 tackle, and left to step in freedom, would plough 

 nearly a fourth more land in a day, and with 

 greater ease to themselves, and less fatigue when 

 the day's work was over, than where coLfined in 

 their action by bearing-reins. 



The overpowering idea is, that a horse looks 

 better ewe-necked and his head i brown into the 

 air. In order to gratify this foolish whim, we are 

 constantly compelling him to overstrain and over- 

 exert those very muscles which should be kept m 

 reserve for extra difficulries. It is a mistake to 

 think that the check-rein improves a horse's ap- 

 pearance, or that it even prevents a horse from 

 falling down. In regard to the latter, it has di- 

 rectly the contrary effect, by preventing many a 

 one from recovering from a stnmble. 



The check-rein should beaboli.-hed. "It wastes 

 motive power. Its use is uuhealthy, for it dis- 

 turbs the otherwise naturally and equally distrib- 

 uted vital forces. It shortens the life of the horse. 

 It diminishes his speed and losses the free and 

 quick action, so essential to the animal's safety 

 and that of the driver." It is of no use except to 

 prevent rubbing off the bridle or attempting to 

 feed when stopping on the road. 



At another time, we intend to say something of 

 the use of "winkers," and of allowing the foretop 

 to flow over the eyes of the horse, with some com- 

 ments on the torturing of cats and minor animals. 



Stock of Wool in New York.— The amount 

 of foreign atid of domestic wool in New York, Jan. 

 1, 1870, and at the same time for the five previous 

 years, is stated by James Lynch, of that city, to bo 

 as follows, in pounds : — 



Dome.-itic. Foreign. Totnl. 



1870 8 667,000 3 :<('' 3.0 11,964, iOO 



IS'^^g ..... .1113S000 5, to 4 -200 16,8 12 200 



IH'8 6,511,000 8.313,6 14.824,660 



1867 7 330,000 14 9112 .VO '22 1132 fiOO 



1866 4.600,000 7 800,000 1'2,3l0 000 



1866 4,7C0,000 13,000,000 17,7LO,0CO 



