234 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[August, 
Blooded Stock vs. Native. 
A subscriber asks the pertinent question, will 
a blooded or grade animal sell for more in the 
cattle market than one of the same weight of 
native stock ? We answer yes, usually, for the 
reason that high-bred cattle have their weight 
developed on desirable points. Bones are val- 
uable for many purposes, but no butcher will 
pay 9 to 12 cents per pound for them, when lie 
can obtain an equal amount of good meat for 
the same price. Native animals occasionally 
show great symmetry of form, well developed 
muscle, and meat laid on where the butcher and 
epicure like to find it. In such cases the market 
value of the animal will not differ materially 
from that of one having a long good pedigree. 
Usually, however, it is found that native breeds 
give more of offal and coarse meat, than those 
bred for generations back with a view to fitting 
them for the shambles, and hence their value 
for slaughtering decreases correspondingly. It 
should be constantly kept in mind, that it is not 
the peculiar excellence of single animals that 
wholly determines their value upon the farm. A 
perfectly well-formed native cow yielding a gen- 
erous supply of milk, is justly prized for her in- 
dividual qualities ; but the owner can not, with 
any degree of certainty, expect her good quali- 
ties to be transmitted to the next generation. 
Of course her calf will be more likely to prove 
good than one from an ill-favored dam, but the 
deficiencies of her ancestors may crop out in an 
unlooked-for degree, and render the progeny 
comparatively worthless as a breeder. It re- 
quires many years of careful management to fix 
the qualities of a breed of animals, so that they 
shall be repeated in the progeny. There must 
be a counter-balancing of points, and overcom- 
ing of deficiencies, by proper selection of sire 
and dam, for many successive generations. Un- 
questionably this may be done by starting with 
a promising native pair, and continuing to breed 
sufficiently long with reference to the develop- 
ment of desirable points. But few are found 
possessed of sufficient means, time, patience, and 
perseverance, to carry the process to a success- 
ful termination. A few have done so in other 
countries, especially in England, and the world 
is sharing the benefit of their endeavors. Again, 
even supposing success attainable by starting 
with native animals, it seems more feasible to 
begin with animals already possessing fixed 
qualities of excellence, and to super-add to these, 
by proper breeding, whatever may be wanting. 
Intelligent cattle raisers are pursuing this course, 
and already this country can furnish no mean 
show of blooded stock compared with that of 
any other land. To every farmer who proposes 
to raise but a single calf, we would say secure 
the services of the best blooded bull attainable, 
and continue to do so; in ten years you will 
find your account in it. 
Importation of Wool— A Hint to Sheep 
Raisers. 
It is a fact worthy of note that while the in- 
creased demand for the sorts of wool needed for 
broadcloths, cassimeres, etc., is being partially 
met by increased production, as yet little has 
been done to furnish supplies of the staple re- 
quired in goods substituted for cotton; that is 
for the warps of worsteds, delaines, etc. The 
wool needed for this use is that which will make 
the smallest and strongest thread with the least 
nap from the smallest amount of stock. This 
is furnished in the greatest excellence by the 
Leicester, Cotswold, and kindred breeds, and as 
comparatively very few of these sheep are raised 
in this country, the great bulk of wool needed 
for manufacturing purposes here, must be im- 
ported. Accordingly it is found that the impor- 
tations during the present year have by far ex- 
ceeded those of any previous period. The 
amount received during the past six mouths has 
very nearly if not quite equalled the whole 
quantity imported in 1802, and is greater than 
that brought in during both I860 and 1861. 
But owing to the demand upon the other side 
of the Atlantic for a similar article, the price 
has advanced to an unprecedented figure, and 
such wool now commands, and must for some 
time continue to bring a price far beyond its 
actual relative worth as compared with wool of 
finer staple. In other words, a larger amount 
of money can be realized for wool by invest- 
ment in these breeds of» sheep. Now it be- 
hooves American farmers to reap a share of the 
advantages thus offered. Heretofore, the rais- 
iug of the coarser bodied sheep has been advo- 
cated on the ground of producing superior 
weight and quality of mutton, and the advan- 
tage, if any, in this respect, is not less now than 
formerly, as any one will find who indulges in 
the luxury of this meat at present prices. The 
matter is worth thoroughly looking into by those 
who are about stocking their farms with sheep. 
Some enterprising men will reap a good return 
from importing improved flocks of these breeds, 
and we shall be pleased to chronicle their suc- 
cess in the Agriculturist. 
•-. — — «»- >-— 
Wool in Pennsylvania. — A number of 
wool growers in Alleghany and Washington 
Counties, Pa., at a recent meeting, resolved to 
hold their wool at $1 per pound until there is a 
change in the prices of cotton and woolen 
goods. The wool growers of Western Pennsyl- 
vania, have been called to meet in convention 
to consider the matter. Other events of great- 
er importance will probably prevent their as- 
sembling for some little time at least. 
. — . — • <>» •—. 
Proper Depth for Manuring. 
The Annual Report of the Secretary of the 
Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture, 
Charles L. Flint Esq., for the year 1862, con- 
tains, among much other valuable matter, the 
record of a most important and interesting se- 
ries of experiments to determine the best depth 
for applying manures. The trials were made 
pursuant to premiums offered by the several /Ag- 
ricultural Societies receiving bounty from the 
State, and in accordance with the direction of the 
State Board of Agriculture. The following in- 
structions were prescribed for experimenters : 
" Select a level piece of land of any convenient 
size, from twenty square rods up to as many 
acres or more, which should be as nearly equal 
in character and conditions as possible. Divide 
it into equal parts, numbering them 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 
for a rotation of three years. 
" Divide the manure which it is proposed to 
apply, and which should be of a uniform char- 
acter, into four equal parts. At the time of first 
plowing in the Spring, spread evenly one fourth 
ot the manure upon plot No. 1, and then plow 
the whole field of an equal depth. Apply 
another fourth part of the manure to plot No. 
2, and then cross-plow the whole field to about 
half the depth of the first plowing. Spread 
another fourth of the manure upon plot No. 3, 
and harrow or cultivate the whole field ; after 
which sow or plant the whole evenly with any 
crop preferred. Finally, spread the remaining 
quarter part of the manure upon plot No. 4. 
" Observe that by pursuing this course, each 
of the five lots will receive equally, a deep plow- 
ing and a harrowing, or cultivating; the only 
difference in them being, that in No. 1, the ma- 
nure is buried deep, in No. 2, shallow, in No. 3, 
buried only slightly, but coated with loam, and 
in No. 4, exposed upon the surface, while No. 
5, gets no manure. The manure is to be spread 
broadcast and as evenly as possible. The alter 
cultivation should be the same on each of the 
lots, and the harvest of each should take place 
at the same time." 
Fourteen experiments were carried through 
the three years of 1S60, 1861, 1S62, according to 
the above directions, and the details are given 
in full in the Secretary's Report. They present 
many items of importance, but from various 
causes can only be deemed as approximating to 
a decision of the matter in question. The sum- 
mary of the different results shows that manure 
buried deeply gave the best returns in two in- 
stances; placed at a medium depth (by the 
cross-plowing) in six cases; when harrowed in, 
in four, and when left on the surface in two of 
the experiments. Taking the retentive soils by 
themselves, deep plowing of manure gave the 
greatest result in one case, shallow plowing in 
five, harrowing in three, and surface application 
in two. The light soils yielded the best, returns 
from one of each of the several applications, 
except where applied on the surface. 
The number of experiments was too limited 
to give a satisfactory decision of the question. 
Different crops were also cultivated by several 
of the experimenters, and various kinds of ma- 
nure were used, both of which particulars 
might, in some measure, vary the results. The 
influence of the weather, whether wet or dry, 
must also be taken into account. This was 
recorded in the above cases, but it will require 
a long term of years to decide how far this will 
affect the general result. On the whole, there 
is ground to recommend the use of manures at 
moderate depth, as at least the probabilities 
seem to be in favor of this course, and we have 
no better ground for deciding. If the subject 
now so well opened, be followed up, in time an 
authoritative rule maybe established. Such ef- 
forts toward solving the practical problems ot 
Agriculture are worthy of all commendation, 
and we trust that the above example may not 
be without effect upon kindred societies. The 
Department at Washington might, by entering 
upon a similar field of experiment, bestow a 
just return to the country for the generous sup- 
port which has been accorded to it by the people. 
For the American Agriculturist. 
Digging Muck or Peat. 
With all that has been said upon the value 
of this substance for manure, the last ten 
years, it is not half appreciated. The ma- 
jority of our farmers have never used it, and 
few of them who use it, conduct their operations 
so carefully as to know how much it is worth. 
I am writing in sight of a clover field dressed 
with muck, which blossoms all over in praise 
of the article. Lubin never sent out such per- 
fume as comes up from this muck-plastered 
meadow. The general conviction is, that muck 
is good on hungry, gravelly soils, and loose 
sands. It is, for I have found it thus, and seen 
the results. It may not be known that it is also 
good on muck lands. That meadow now so 
luxuriant with clover, good for three tons to the 
