THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



181 



shoulder; neither is (he carcass as heavy. — 

 Round animals too, generally carry the fat upon 

 the surface, and do not mix it as well with the 

 flesh. A soft and elastic skin, is one of the most 

 certain tests of an animal that will fatten kind- 

 ly. An animal may have the finest form and 

 the most perfect symmetry, yet if he lacks the 

 proper n feeling" he will not fatten kindly. On 

 the other hand, if he has the proper " feeling" 

 he may lack much in form, and still will fatten 

 kindly. By u feeling," is meant certain sensa- 

 tions produced by " touching or handling" an ani- 

 mal; the easiest learned of which, is the soft- 

 ness and elasticity of the skin. The elasticity 

 is occasioned by the quantity of cellular sub- 

 stance (that is, little elastic bags to hold fat) j 

 that is placed between the skin 'and the flesh. — j 

 As this cellulah substance can be discovered by 

 an experienced " handler" even down among 

 the muscles, (lean flesh,) so he can tell whether 

 an anitnal will fatten in such parts, and whether 

 the fat will be well mixed with the lean. But 

 this knowledge is not to be obtained without 

 much practice. 



I have above described the most approved 

 form for cattle, and have given the reasons why 

 this shape is preferred. There is another reason 

 not yet mentioned. When the cow has ceased 

 to give milk, and has been fattened, it will be 

 found that she will not only weigh heavy, but 

 will carry her weight upon the most valuable 

 parts. For it is known, that the butcher sells 

 some pieces of beef for twice as much as others. 

 And she can be fattened upon half the food ne- 

 cessary to fatten an inferior animal. 



I have said nothing about the shape of the 

 udder and teats, as these can be best judged of 

 when the cow is in milk ; and then the best 

 proof is mdking her. Still it may be servicea- 

 ble to say, the udder should rather be round 

 than long; should lay up close to the body; 

 should spread forward — teats about equally dis- 

 tant, of moderate size, say about two inches in 

 diameter, next the udder, and taper down to the 

 point, which should be blunt rather than sharp: 

 they should be from four to six inches long. — 

 The udder, when empty, should be greatly re- 

 duced in size, and the skin should contract -so 

 as not to leave it flabby ; — it should not feel at 

 this lime hard and knotty; as this would indi- 

 cate that it might become thickened and scirr- 

 hous, so as to make the cow liable to inflamma- 

 tions, and probably loss of some of the quarters. 



Samuel D. Martin. 



Colby ville, Kentucky, April 3, 1843. 



VIRGINIA FARMING. 



It may be remembered, that in an early num- 

 ber of our second volume, we had occasion to 

 publish and comment on a certain communica- 



tion made by Mr. Simon Brown to the Editor 

 of the "Farmers' Visitor." This communica- 

 tion was a severe, but not unjust, criticism upon 

 such portions of Virginia farming as had come 

 under Mr. Brown's observation. In the course 

 of our review, we undertook to invite the author 

 to accompany us in a contemplated tour on 

 James River, where we thought we could show 

 him some things that would impress him with 

 a more favorable opinion of the country. This 

 invitation, it seems, has just fallen under Mr. 

 Brown's eye, and has drawn forth the following 

 response : 



For the Southern Planter. 



Washington, D. C, June 9, 1843. 



Mr. Editor, — Feeling a necessity for a little 

 "air and exercise," and a desire, not easily re- 

 pressed, to luxuriate in the freshness of the 

 country, amidst the songs of birds, the flowers, 

 and the glorious assemblage of nature's beauti- 

 ful things at this season of the year, I resolved, 

 without much debate, to leave this " City of De- 

 bate," and look out once more upon the world 

 around me. But, where to go, was the ques- 

 tion which arose for decision ; East, West, North 

 or South ? There was likely to be a sharp con- 

 flict within, when fortunately, the recollection of 

 the fat things which whilom graced the hospi- 

 table boards in that land of hog, hominy and 

 honey, dear old Virginia, came back and settled 

 the difficulty at once. If those good old people 

 who once fed upon quails and manna (food for 

 the gods) could not refrain from sighing for the 

 "leeks and onions," and the "flesh pots of 

 Egypt," is it wonderful that I, who had ban- 

 quet ted upon corn bread, fresh butler and clab- 

 ber, should also sigh to return to my first love? 

 No. So here goes for Virginia. I wont detain 

 you long by the way. I could spare only an 

 hour to chat with the Fairfax folk about the 

 "Yorkers" who have planted themselves in their 

 midst, and Who have taken root and are flour- 

 ishing like a green bay tree. But, en passant, 

 I wish you would write a lively, generous edi- 

 torial, encouraging the good Fairfaxians to open 

 their hearts, and if need be, their hands, too, to 

 the new comers ; tell them to evince a confiding, 

 liberal disposition; to trust them with every 

 "secret in the trade," both about root and branch — 

 fallowing and following — soil and sub- soil — muck 

 and manure, and every thing else which will 

 have a tendency to facilitate the operations which 

 I understand they have commenced with much 

 flattering promise of success. And then, if they 

 do not appreciate this confidence and good feel- 

 ing, and reciprocate such favors b}^ a free inter- 

 change of knowledge for knowledge, "write 

 them down asses," "cute Yankees," or any 

 thing else you please, except " gentlemen and 



