W^r: 



THE ILLIlSrOIS FA^RIN^ER. 



5^45 



derful turn-ups of gold leads or gardens, the 

 beats that beat everything, gives two para- 

 graphs to a big pear, is fruitful in his reflec- 

 tions on the great fruit crop, ready to im- 

 peach the testimony of any man or paper 

 that can out Herod him, is never sour but 

 always sweet on the grape question, and holds 

 forth in excellent spirits on the wine grow- 

 ing districts below. The Colonel, as I gaid 

 before, is our only salvation when we come 

 across any very remarkable production. 

 We call him Vegetable Warren ; ercrybody 

 jokes the Colonel, and everybody likes him 

 — and while on on the subject of potatoes, 

 great and large, I am going to come out and 

 tell the plain truth about that vegetable, and 

 say what I firmly believe, and that is, that 

 we have not had a good sound, well-flavored 

 pomme de terre (do let me air my French) 

 in California for two years or more. In early 

 days, when they were new, they grew larger 

 and were better than anywhere ; but latterly 



they have degenerated sadly, and now a good 

 potato is not to be had. Such is the case 

 with many other vegetables — they are no 

 longer good — why or wherefore our scientific 

 savans have not yet been able to determine. 

 I know it's considerd " high season" for "a 

 native to the manner (or manor) born" to 

 tell the truth about California when it is 

 " Con.," but it's time somebody told the 

 truth in California — it's a little luxury one 

 should be allowed to indulge in occasionally. 



flow to Raise Early Potatoes. 

 As I have never seen the plan adopted 

 here, in raising early potatoes, mentioned in 

 any agricultural paper, I herewith give it. 

 About six weeks previous to the usual time 

 of planting in the open ground, mark out a 

 piece, say five or six feet wide, and as long 

 as required, on a dry and sheltered piece of 

 land ; dig outthe surface to a depth offiveor 

 six inches; place boards around to keep up 

 the loam or sand ; then fill to the depth of 

 six inches, with horse ©r some manure which 



has been thrown over to produce heat : tread 

 it down lightly, as for a hot-bed, and cover 

 the manure with four inches of loam. I 

 keep some in my barn cellar through the 

 winter, where the bed is to be made, with 

 straw or something to keep out the frost. 

 Then pack your potatoes as close as you can, 

 over the surface, a single thickness ; cover 

 with four inches of loam, or, what is better, 

 sand, as the sprouts are touglier and do not 

 separate so easily from the potato in lifting. 

 I cut my potatoes a day or even weeks be- 

 fore, and place them cut side down. At 

 night cover with straw or coarse hay j in the 

 morning, if mild, and no rain, rake 

 off the covering and replace at night. In 

 case of continued dry weather a slight wat- 

 ering may be of service, though seldom ne- 

 cessary. When the time for planting arrives, 

 land manured and furrowed, take up the 

 front board, and with a dung-fork lift 

 as many as it will hold; give them a 

 shake, and separate each plant carefully 

 by hand, placing them in a basket or 

 box; then drop them, either for hills or 

 in rows, and have a person to follow to cover 

 as fast as possible, placing an inch or two of 

 earth over the tops, through which they will 

 break in a few hours. 



It planting has been delayed from any 



cause, and the plants should have attained 

 considerable growth, (I have planted them 

 when a foot high and had them do well), 

 lay them down and cover as above. If your 

 field is not too far from your dwelling, make 

 the bed there, as it saves exposure in carry- 

 ing the plants to a distance. With a few 

 boards and stakes a shelter can be made to 

 keep off the cold winds. 



By sprouting potatoes in this way you 

 can have them ready to dig at least three 

 weeks earlier. 



A Jamaica Plain Farmer. 

 — Country Gentleman. 



Northern Trotters, vs. Thoroughbreds. 



The following article, evidently from 

 the pen of a discriminating observer, 

 appeared in the Southern Fanner, sign, 

 ed "Physician." We agree with the 

 Doctor in the main, yet prize crosses of 

 thorough-bred with trotting stock, espe- 

 cially with our Morgans and Black 

 Hawks, the characteristics of whose 

 breed are bo strong that the trotting 

 qualities are not impaired in the stock, 

 are benefitted by taking many of 

 the traits of the thoroughbred. 



Among beasts, there is no greater ar- 

 istocrat than the race-horse; he is no 

 producer, he lives on the fat of the land 

 on the labor of others. The "winds of 

 heaven are not allowed to visit him too 

 roughly, and he is unquestionably lord 

 over all brute creation. I am a great 

 admirer of the horse for his beauty, his 

 excellence, his sportiveness, nay, I would 

 say give me the 



"Horse, which In fmntie fit. 

 Throws the foam from curb and bit." 



but yet I do not desire the race-horse, 

 and why ? He is not suited for work, 

 his belly is too small, his legs are too 

 long, and he is rather deficient in size. 

 He is not suited to the saddle. I have 

 seen but very few good saddle horses 

 that were genuine race horses. Their 

 stride is generally too long in the gal- 

 lop, and as a general thing but few of 

 them pace. For light draught and har- 

 ness, perhaps they are better adapted; 

 and yet they are inferior in my estima- 

 tion to the northern trotter. For more 

 than thirty years I have ridden or driven 

 horses daily, and very few men have 

 owned more horses or driven more miles. 

 Now, whilst I admit that good horses 

 may occasionally be found of various 

 forms, yet I have uniformly found the 

 following to be the best characteristics 

 of a good horse. His muscles should 

 be well developed on the thigh; the 

 breast prominent; the shoulders deep 

 and thrown well back; the abdomen 

 round and large; the legs clean; bones 

 flat and large. A horsj with small 

 bones is very liable to spavin, splint and 

 wind galls. His rump should be round. 



and the juncture between the extremities 

 and the body should be neither too close 



nor too open. The rump should be a 

 little drooped, that is, a little higher be- 

 fore than behind. There are some ex- 

 cellent horses rather low before; they are 

 frequently strong and suited to draft, 

 but not travelers. A full mane and 

 tail, indicate a strong constitution. A 

 good horse will stand well; if he be 

 unexceptionable he will stand on all four 

 feet, if allowed to remain some time 

 alone, without resting either. If he 

 be a good mover, he w^ill carry one foot 

 immediately after another. Such a 

 horse is apt to be a good traveler; if^he 

 be not over fast, he will endure a long 

 time. Some horses, with a powerful ef- 

 fort, throw their feet far beyond their 

 bodies. Such horses may be fast, but 

 are apt to tire. Give me the horse that 

 keeps his feet well under him, shakes his 

 body but little, holds his head up, and 

 raises his feet sufficiently high, not to 

 stumble. ' 



Now I have not so frequently found 

 the characterisucs of a good horse to 

 exist in the race-horse as in the northern 

 trotter, and instead of believing that our 

 horses are improved by raising from 

 race-horses, I think our horses would 

 be better for the plow, for the gear and 

 the saddle, by raising from horses o£ 

 shorter legs, larger bodies, and more 

 compact in form than the race stock. — 

 The latter is better adapted to the turf, 

 but not so well adapted to ordinary pur- 

 poses. We need a horse of power, of 

 endurance, of good performance, and 

 not a horse remarkable only for his 

 swiftness. Many horses are active, 

 sportive and easily kept, and yet unmix- 

 ed with the race- horse. I have seen 

 some very superior and excellent Cana- 

 dians. The Morgan horse and northern 

 trotter are worthy of all praise. Some 

 of the most inferior geldings I have ever 

 owned were said to be of the race stock. 

 Their fine and glossy hair, long legs, 

 lank and gaunt abdomen, seems to indi- 

 cate their descent from a race of illuS' 

 trious ancestors. These views, I know, 

 are in opposition to the current opinion 

 of the day, but facts are stubborn realities 

 that cannot be easily controverted; and 

 my opinion is based upon my own obser- 

 vation and experience — an experience 

 based upon daily use for more than thirty 

 years. And when I desire to purchase 

 a horse, to recommend him as of the 

 race stock is rather an objection to me. 

 I am fully satisfied that the race stock 

 has been a source of injury to the horses 

 of Virginia, for such horses as we need 

 for work, for the saddle or for harness. 

 Some people read and take it for granted; 

 others weigh and consider. Some adopt 

 opinions that their fathers entertained; 

 others think for themselves and form 

 opinions accordingly. " 



