o. I. 



Ax\L) GAliD.XER'S JOURNAL. 



11 pursued wiib rognicJ lo the improvehiem of ihc 

 ic^'.-UTs, W09 cnirioil out by Mr. Elljiinn in bie cx- 

 rinii'ius on the Snitlidowii wiiU equally Bniisliic- 

 ry results. The irno principles ofiirteiling were 

 laudvil to, the ec.^unl intercourse of the sheep rcgu- 

 led by eeleciione, and in-nndin breeding entirely 

 me awny wjth. Besides improvement in shape, 

 ey acquired a better and hardier constiiulinn, with a 

 enter disposition to tntten, and became niueb heavi- 

 in I arcnss when fat. They have n patience of oc- 

 isional short kc>p, and an endurnneo of hardstocl;- 

 ig, scarcely surpassed by any other sheep, an early 

 laiuriiy inferior to none, with llcsh finely grained, 

 ^d wool of the most useful quality. The .Southdown 

 leep are polled ; the dusky and sometimes black col- 

 r of the head and legs would almost go to prove that 

 lis was their original color . and in almost every 

 ock, iiotwithslaudiug the care that is taken to pre- 

 ent it, several particolored lambs will be dropi'ed, 

 nd some entirely black : and there is scarcely a 

 oubt that if left in a wild state, they would in a few 

 ears bocoms black altogether. Theic are no sheep 

 lore heaUliy tiian the Southdowns. 1 bey seldom 

 ufl'er from the hydatid im the brain, neither are they 

 nuch subject to the rot. The following is :Mr. Ell- 

 's descriptim of bis improved Southdowns : 

 The head small and hornless; face speckled and 

 ;ray, and ncit ler too long nor loo short; the lips thin, 

 ind the space between the nose mid the eyes narrow ; 

 be under jaw or chop fine and thin ; the earstolera- 

 )ly wide, and well covered with v\'Ool, and the fore- 

 lead also, and the wliole sp.iec between the ears well 

 ir.'iected by it as a defence against the fly ; the eye- 

 ap or bone not Ino jirojecli ng. that it may not form a 

 ratal obstacle in lambing; the neck of a medium 

 eugtli, thin towards the head, but enlarging towards 

 the shoulders, where it should be broad and high, 

 md straight in its whole course above and below ; the 

 rcnst should be wide, deep and projecting forward be- 

 tween the fore-legs, indicating a good constitution 

 and a disposition to thrive. Corresponding with this 

 the shoulders should be on a level with the back, and 

 not too wide above : ibey should bow outwards from 

 the top of the breast, indicating a springing rib be- 

 neath, and leaving room lor it. The ribs coming out 

 horizontally from the spine and extending far back- 

 ward, and the lastrib projecting more than the otliers ; 

 the buck flat from the shoulders to the setting on of 

 the tail ; the loin broad and flat ; the rump long and 

 broad, and the tail set on high and nearly on a level 

 wiih the spine ; the hips wide, the space between them, 

 and the last rib on either side as narrow as possible, 

 and the ribs generally presenting a circular form like 

 a barrel ; the belly as straight as the back ; the legs 

 neither too long nor too short ; the fore-legs straight 

 from the breast to the foot, not bending inward at the 

 knee, and standing far apart both before and beliind, 

 the hocks having a direction rather outward, and the 

 iwist or meetingof the thighs behind being particular- 

 ly full ; the bones line, yet having no appearance of 

 wenkuees ; and of a speckled or dark color ; the bel- 

 ly well defended with wool, and the wool coming 

 down before and behind the knee, and to the hock ; 

 the wool short, close, curled and line, and free from 

 spiry projecting fibres. The average dead weight of 

 the Sonthdown is from ]'20 to 160 lbs. though they 

 have been .fed lo weigh 2!)4 lbs. ; the fleece, varies 

 from 2J to 6 lbs., dependant, of courss, on circnm- 

 Btances. The wool of the Soathdowns, when in most 

 repute as a carding]wool, principally used in making 

 eeivanta' and army clothing in Kngland, and it was 

 sparingly mi.xed with other wools for finer cloths ; 

 with the introduction of the Spanish and German 

 wools it hoe changed its character, and fioni being an 

 inferior carding wool, has become a good combing one, 

 and enters into the composition of flannels, baizes 

 Bi d worsted goods of almost every description ; heavy 

 roibs for calico printers and paper manufacturers, 

 woolen <;ords, and coarse woolens, blankets, carpets, 

 druggets. &c., so that although it has lost ca.-it, the 

 most enthusiastic admirers of the old short w-ools, 

 canot but look with saiisfaclioa al ils e.vlraordinary 

 usefulness. 



I have said that the face and legs of the Smthdowns 

 are speckled and gray — I wish farmers, however, to 

 understand that it is not every sheep that has face 

 and legs speckled and gray that is a Southdown ; 

 and I make this observation, for the purpose of call- 

 ing attention to the importance of purchasers beins 

 particularly tenacious of buying of no persons but 

 those of established character, and lo beware of im- 

 position. 



The Cheviot hills are a part of that extensive and 

 elevated range, which extends from Galloway through 

 Northumberland into Cumberland, occupying a space 



them arc pointed like cones ; their sides are smooth 

 and steep, and their bases are nearly in contact with 

 each other. The soil, except on the very top, is fer- 

 tile, and from the base to the summit of most of ihcm, 

 there is an unbroken and rich greensward. On the 

 upper part of that bill in Northumberland, which is 

 piopcrly termed the Clicnot, this most valuable breed 

 of sheep is fonud, ai.d hence again its name. It is 

 said they have been bred there from time immemorial. 

 A strong prejudice wasat one time entertained iigainsl 

 them, but they are now spicadiiig themselves rapidly 

 over every part of the south imhlands of Seothind, 

 to the exclusion of the native black faced breed. The 

 head of the Cheviot ia polled, bare and clean, wiih 

 the jaw of good length ; the ears not too short ; the' 

 neck round, not too long, and well covered with wool ; 

 the shoulders deep, full and wide set above ; the chest 

 fall and open ; the body, in general, round and full, 

 and hams round and plump; the. legs clean, of pro- 

 portionable length, and well clad with wool to the 

 knee-joints and hocks ; the fleece fine, close, short 

 and thick set. It possesses very considerable fatten 

 ing properties, and can endure much h rdsliip, both 

 from starvation and cold The experiments ihal have 

 been made in crossing the Cheviofwilh tiie Leicester 

 and Southdowns have been entire faiUirce, and in ev. 

 ery instance has the original fleece been deteriorated 

 by the system ; it is, however, carried on to a consid- 

 erable extent, and a great portion of the sheep on the 

 Cheviot range, have a considerable quantity of Lei- 

 cester blood in them, by which the cbaracier of the 

 wool is being entirely altered. umbra. 



Fj-om Ihc Phihuklphia Fvenin^ Post. 

 Cure for Diseases in I'each Trees, 



Gentlemen — As I have undei stood from a source 

 that cannot be doubted, that there are several persons 

 employed in this State and Pennsylvania, curing dis- 

 eased Peach Trees and charging for doing so, and as 

 that information has been received directly or indirect- 

 ly through me without cost to them ; I feel it a duty 

 I owe my fellow ngrieulturis's to make it public. 



The application lo the trees consist-) of salt and salt 

 petre combined in the proportion of one port of salt 

 petre lo eight pans of salt, one half pound of this 

 mi,\ture lo a tree seven years old and upward to le 

 applied upon the surface of the ground around and i 

 immediate contact with the trunk of the tree ; this 

 will destroy the worm, hnt to more eft'ectually preserve 

 t'e tree I also sow this mixture over my orchard al the 

 rate of two bushels to the acre. The size of the fruit 

 is increased, and the flavor very greatly improved, the 

 worm destroyed and the Yellow prevented. 



I hope that other papers will place this matter before 

 their readers so as to prevent the public from being 

 imposed upon. 



With high respect, I am yours, &e. 



LYTTLETON PIIYSICK. 



Ararat Farm, Cr.r.il ronnli/, Md. 



Ijitevatiire as a Source of Happiness. 



In treating upon this subject we will take a liberal 

 view of it, and understand, that by the term literature 

 is meant every tning thai is comnutled lo letters. 

 Whatever by means of these is ta'-ght us, whatever 

 pleases the imagination, cultivstes the taste, improves 

 the mind and perfects the character, is to be allribuled 

 to lilersiuie. To it belongs not more ibe petty news- 

 papers of the day, than treaties upon mental poiloso- 

 phy; not more Iho 'latest vortl,' than the funda- 

 mental and scientific works of Newton and Franklin. 

 In line we will take the word in its widest sense, not 

 iimiling it, as ie frequently done, to works purely sci- 

 entific. 



if we carefully examine the subject, we shall with- 

 out diflicuUy discover that literature is truly a source 

 of happiness to us. In the acquisition of knowledge 

 we obtain svhat is fitted to give us true pleasure at 

 every step. We continually meet with something 

 new, interesting and useful as we advance in our 

 course. Our minds also become improved and stregih- 

 ened in literary labors. What was once a myeiery 

 has now become thoroughly understood. The point, 

 which we once supposed we could not gain, is kit 

 for behind. That pe.fection, to which we once dared 

 not aspire, even in the wildest flights of the imagina- 

 tion, is now a common possession. There is even a 

 pleasure in our toil — it brings ils own reward. The 

 stores of knowledge, which we are continually adding 

 lo what we before possessed, urges us to slill greater 

 diUigcnce, gives a laudable zeal in our pursuits, and 

 leads us to the consummation of our hopes. How 

 does the inquiring mind rejoice al the developemenl 

 of each truih, that is presented — at each unexpected 

 discovery I What are our sensations as ihe unbound 

 ed fields of science open before us I AVith alacrity 



Again, liteiaiure is the eourco of happiness to us on 

 account of rendering o.ir oesociationa with each olher 

 more pleasing and profitable. »Sinco oiir minds aru 

 improved by literary exercises, our powers of eonver- 

 ealion are increased and improved. Al;d as man is a 

 BO>.-inl being, whatever is added in this way is neces- 

 sarily added to his happiness. One' sk lied in science 

 is thua.bionght in contact wiih the good and great, 

 and has his pleasure increased by aseociating with 

 them. 



ll adds to our happiness by enabling ns to do good 

 to others. It gives us plea.-ure to import to others iho 

 rich treasures thai wo pots ss, and which wo may im- 

 parl without injuring ourscIV'S, but on the contrary, 

 rendeiing our own possessions more sure and fixed. 

 Willi what interest does the teacher engage in the task 

 of diieciiiig the "yoirng idea bow lo shoot." And 

 this eatiefaction arises from the fact, that he knows he 

 ie performing a good action, and is benclitting the one 

 that receives it. The writer, who publishes the re- 

 sullG of hie labor and rescaich, and thus becomes in 

 the highest degree beneficial to man, has his share of 

 enjoyment. The oiator slam's up before tbo assem- 

 bled multitude, pours forth the thunders of his elo- 

 quence, reproves, convinces, enlightens and sways 

 all around ; and ho too has his- reward, the rewaid 

 that always followsa just act. 



Literature renders ils possessor happy from the very 

 fact of bis possessing such stores of knowledge. It 

 spreads out before hi in information of all kinds. It.") 

 vohinies are ever open before him. Even from ficti- 

 tious writings he obtains a knowledge of human na- 

 luie, an insight into character, and the, extent and 

 power of the iinaginaiion. In the histoiy of the woild 

 he Laj a treasure inestimable. He almost sees the 

 sceresof thecarly ages acted over again while he pur- 

 sues their history. He holds " A/g/i conrerse" wiili 

 the good in the most ancient limes. They speak to 

 him in differenl languages — in poetry and prose. Ho 

 is acquainted with every region — al home in every 

 stale. He is the keeper of niony books, and eepe- 

 ci'illy of the " Book of honks," '■ the key of heactn." 

 Every thing is ready for his use ; all he has to do is to 

 open tlie slore-hnuso of bis mind, and let it flow forth. 

 Ho is always ready for action, and able to do good. — 

 Muine Farmer. 



of from 150 to 500 square miles, The majority of I we renew our study. It ie our joy — our life. 



Agricultiiial Papers. 



The vast improvements in agriculture, which have 

 been made throng!, out the countijj lor some yeais past, 

 have been brought about in a great measure, by the 

 dissemination of valuable information through agri- 

 culuiral journals. The farmer now finds that he neeria 

 a paper devoted to his business, as well os olher men. 

 There is no class in whose affairs there are so many 

 subjects piescn'.ed, on the most of which every one 

 may learn something new from the experience of oth- 

 ers. ■ Cultivators now read papers devoted to their 

 interest, not only as a matter of [ileaeurc, but as a mat- 

 ter of profit. They learn the heelniethod of improving 

 soils of every description. The detailed accounts of 

 reclaiming low lands, and of renovating worn out 

 fields, as pursued with profit. The most successful 

 ways of preparing niAUures, by which the quantity ia 

 gready augmented, and quality greatly improved. — 

 The most profitable nnides of culture, the best pro- 

 ductions of every description, &c. &c., and the re- 

 sult of the best practice in every department, is related 

 in a poper to tbo community, as one neighbor would 

 slalc his practice to another. This is book farming, 

 at which some, even in this day of light, have tho 

 prejudice lo sneer. — Fur. Jovr. 



The Farmei's' Cabiaiet. 



We have had occasion, heretofore, lo speak in llio 

 highest terms of praise of this publication, and espe- 

 cially of its engravings of animals; but wc deem il on ' 

 act of justice now to say, and especially that we ap. 

 pear not invidious towards other agricultural journals, 

 that most of the figures of cattle we have lately seen 

 in that work, are copies from Eiglish standard hooks, 

 especially Youatis, some of which are given as accu- 

 rate and apparently original portraits of particular an- 

 imals recently imported, and in no case we believe is 

 the source acknowledged. Perhops tlie Cabinet cua 

 explain this. T 



Always think what you say, though you may not 

 always say what you think. 



After kindness has failed il is quite seasonable to re- 

 sort 10 coercion. 



Folly does not always end with youth, nor wisdom 

 begin with eld oge, 



