82 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
fill their craws, ’tis true, but it is not always the largest 
bodies that require the most food ; on the contrary, the 
fattest men frequently are the smallest eaters ; and we all 
know that the Short Horn cattle, the Leicester sheep, and 
the Suffolk and China pigs yield a good deal more flesh 
for the food consumed than smaller sizes of the unimproved 
animals. 
There is a physical organization that determines for a 
particular style of animal life, (whether it be individuals 
or classes of animals and birds,) what is the relative pro- 
portions of the food consumed, they will retain in their 
carcass. The wolf, the catamount, the weasel ; the eagle, 
the owl and the crane, each make a poor return in flesh 
for the food they devour, however large the quantity, or 
rich the quality; -and contrasted with the useful quadru- 
ped and biped, they show the wonderful difference in nu- 
tritive, assimilating powers. We claim no superiority in 
the fattening powers of the Asiatic fowls, we barely con- 
cede the possibility of it, but are willing to yield credence 
to well tested, long-tried, reliable experiments, when pro- 
perly presented. But this much we do know, that they 
are no flyers, indifferent walkers, and when fully supplied 
with food, are disposed to sit quietly on their haunches 
and chew their cuds in dignified ease, not caring to busy 
themselves in the adjoining fields and gardens, hen-hussy- 
ing about, gadding and tattling among their neighbors. 
They are certainly domestic birds, whatever else may be 
said against them ; and to this trait of character, in an 
eminent degree, is attached thrift and economical feeding. 
We believe they may be bred to smaller size and greatly 
improved form, and some species thus improved we have 
seen, that would do credit to any poultry yard. 
So, too, of the games, which have been almost entirely 
discarded from our economical yards. The larger breeds, 
of compact forms, and short legs, full body, &c., are some- 
times found to be essential in restoring character and giv- 
ing tone and stamina to the ailing or effete birds of other 
choice breeds. The whole subject of crossing fowls is one 
of great interest and importance, and may challenge the 
attention of the most intelligent and discerning. 
There is another important matter connected with this 
poultry subject, not to be estimated by dollars and cents, 
but of far more consequence than either. It is the social 
and moral influence they exert, especially on the junior 
members of our families. The flower and vegetable gar- 
dens, the ornainentallawns and useful fields are all attract- 
ive, with their varied products of beauty and utility : yet 
they fail to enlist that sympathy and feeling which attrac- 
tive animal life affords. How very much more of interest 
the pet horse, or cow, or lamb excites among the little 
ones, or even among the seniors, than the choicest among 
the frees, or shrubs, or flowers. 'And as we descend in the 
scale of size to certain limits, we intensify the interest of 
our children in the domestic pets. The tenants of our 
poultry yards, with their youngling broods are, of all oth- 
er things, what earliest catch and rivet their attention, 
and determine their devotion to rural life. By thus with- 
drawing their thoughts from frivolous games, vicious 
sports, and indulgences, or idle, worthless habits, a great 
point is gained towards developing and maturing the fu- 
ture useful members of society. Comparatively few who 
have not the advantage of an extended farm, can indulge 
in the luxury of improved flocks, and extensive herds ; 
but almost every one, not closely hemmed in by the brick 
walls of a city, can gratify their own taste, and excite that 
of their children, by keeping a few choice fowls. They 
are far preferable to the usual pets — dogs, cats and singing 
birds; there is less danger from disease from them, much 
more variety, more scope for ingenuity in rearing and at- 
tending, and we need not add on which side the profit is 
likely to be. If for no other reason then, than to interest 
the children in a useful, attractive pursuit, we would say 
to any person who has the room, by all means keep some 
select poultry. 
We shall not pursue this subject further at this time, 
and our sole motive now has been to invite attention and 
correspondence from experienced and observing breeders, 
as to the best variety, mode of feeding, reaiing, &c. Let 
every person express his preferences, if he will give but a 
substantial reason for them. We ask for the fullest dis- 
cussion consistent with the capacity of our pages, only 
let it be sensible and to the point. We shall cheapen beef, 
mutton, and pork, and largely too, by giving every family 
a fine flock of poultry, to which they can resort when neces- 
sary, instead of depending solely on the butchers, when 
they choose to put up choice pieces to 18 and 25 cents 
per pound. This result has already been measurably felt 
the past two seasons, as is shown by the incredible quan- 
tity of poultry forwarded by railroad to the Atlantic mar- 
kets, whenever the temperature admitted of their trans- 
mission. We hope to see this field of enterprize extended, 
till all who have the means for doing so can participate in 
the luxury and profit of a choice and varied poultry yard. 
— American Agriculturist. 
PEOBABLE EFFECTS OF THE , WAE ON AGEICXJL- 
TUBE. 
A correspondent of the Richmond, Enquirer^ writing 
from Liverpool, on the war, says the spirit of the English 
is united in favor of the war, and that men and money will 
be voted for its continuance, by Parliament. He adds : 
“ Yet when drained of her men, when so many thou- 
sands now engaged in peacelul pursuits are taken awmy,. 
and the labor of the country thus manifestly lessened, who, 
I pray, are to furnish meat and bread for these vast armies, 
and the population that yet remain at home I There is 
not a mouth less to feed, and many less left to produce the 
necessary food for all at home or abroad. Bussia will 
send nothing from the Baltic, and the great wheat grow- 
ing country on the Danube, and that which is w’atered by 
the many rivers entering the Black Sea, is ravaged by 
desolating war ; and all that the people of that vast and 
rich country has for years sent abroad, and to England, 
especially, will find for its diminished production consum- 
ers at home. Already are these considerations pressing 
on the English wheat and flour market, and keep up the 
prices even after a good crop, which has been secured in 
most admirable condition. Wheat sells now at rather 
higher prices than it did one year ago, and our own coun- 
try can now but insufficiently supply either England or 
France. But let our people make less tobacco and less^ 
cotton the next year and the year after, I tell you, and 
millions of wealth will be drawn hence to us, if for 
these now staple articles, corn, wheat and provis- 
ions be substituted. Clear up your lands, and put the 
utmost breadth of them in everything necessary for the 
food of man ; and every particle that is produced will find 
an admirable market the next year. True, our wheat crop 
is already in the ground and its quantity cannot now be 
increased. But our corn crop may — and that is an article 
which will pay much better next year than either tobacco 
or cotton. 
Fish Ponds. — On the farm of the late Gideon Lee, near 
Geneva, New York, is a fish pond of about two or three 
acres, nine feet deep, made by running an embankment 
across a small valley, and covering a marsh. Trees line 
it, water- grasses grow in it, and cattle are not allowed to 
disturb it. Some seven years ago, a dozen or two of 
trout were placed in it, since w'hich lime at least two 
thousand large and fine fish have been taken from it for 
the use of the family. A running stream prevents stag-- 
nancy. 
