313 
Suggestions for Agricultural Writers. 
name of Norfolk Thin Rind, and who has 
been celebrated in that state for the excel¬ 
lence of his thin rind hogs. The people of 
Bound-Brook and that region to this day 
boast of the superiority of their hogs which 
they trace back to the stock of Mr. D. 
I have crossed my large boar with two 
Berkshire sows, and their pigs are exceed¬ 
ingly beautiful and promising. I have also 
the promise in a few days of a litter from a 
full blood China, by the same boar. 
Those who are desirous of procuring any 
of the above described pigs can address me 
at Mendham, Morris Co., N. J. 
Charles Starr, Jr. 
August, 1842. 
For prices and other particulars of the above, see 
our last number. We have no doubt they are a valua¬ 
ble breed of swine, and well calculated to improve the 
common breeds of this country. 
We acknowledge, from an esteemed correspondent, a 
long and valuable letter, and trust the extracts we give 
below from it, will not compromit his desire of remain¬ 
ing incog., while they cannot fail to interest and instruct 
our readers. He has taken our remarks on the subject 
of mixing fine and coarse wool sheep rather too literal¬ 
ly. We would by no means recommend a cross of the 
Saxon, Rambouillet, or indeed any of the finer, high bred 
varieties of the Merino family with tire Leicester, or 
any Long-wooled sheep. What we had in our eye for a 
cross was, the coarser and more common sheep, known 
as such among the farmers under the general name of 
Merino : an animal without pedigree, and perhaps not 
©f perfect purity of blood. We quoted Lord Western’s 
ill success, as indirectly expressing our own opinion 
upon extremes : that is, against uniting the pure high 
breeds with such as are almost directly opposite breeds 
of animals. The South Down would undoubtedly be best 
as the “ middle link,” recommended by our correspond¬ 
ent to cross either way, as has been often proved by 
breeders. 
I have, moreover, come to the conclusion 
that controversy with any but the liberal , the 
candid , and th® honest inquirer, is sad waste 
of truth and common sense, to say nothing 
of one’s loss in time, patience, and good tem¬ 
per—for it sfeems to me a man can hardly jot 
down the simplest suggestion that it does not 
call up and rouse into action the private in¬ 
terests, the prejudice, the self-love, the pride 
of opinion, or the ignorant garrulity, if not 
vulgar abuse of some one or more subscrib¬ 
ers of the journal in which you may happen 
to have recorded your opinion. These read¬ 
ers put their own narrow interpretation on 
your expressions, and then fight you in a half 
bushel, declaring such is your own ground 
and on such you must stand or fall. I would, 
there were some law of nature confining the 
compass of the mind to objects within the 
limits of its own powers of comprehension, 
and not allowing it to strain at a camel when 
it can scarce swallow a gnat. “Well,” you 
may ask, “how is all this to be avoided 1” 
By the efficiency of the Editor, who should be 
a gentleman in feeling ; and possessed of such 
independence, discrimination, good sound 
sense, judgment, and that practical knowledge 
of his subject as not to allow his contributors 
to be hawked at by every “kite that would fain 
be a tercel gentle.” as honest Adam Wood¬ 
cock has it; and pounced upon by every 
“ gled” that may chance to be on the wing. Of 
late I have seen too much of that. I think 
with you that an editor has something more 
to do than set still while his printer is busy 
putting in type the abuse that he has thus 
sanctioned, or promulgating the misconcep¬ 
tions of some hot-headed, prejudiced antago¬ 
nist, who writes rather to protect his dollar 
and cent interest, than with any view to eli¬ 
cit truths and facts, and attributes to another 
his own selfish, miserable motives of action, 
incapable of comprehending the love of truth 
for its own sake, or the desire of advancing 
science as a general good. 
“ Saxon Sheep” is the very best article 
Mr. Grove has written ; it courts no contro¬ 
versy, for it is based on experience and 
knowledge, and is liable to no objections on 
the part of other breeders. Mr. Hepburn’s 
letter is in the proper spirit, and at once 
proves the value of Agricultural periodicals. 
Examiner’s parody on the weeds of Agricul¬ 
ture was a most happy thought, and a little 
addition would have made it a most superior 
essay. In graver matters than breeding 
sheep, I regret to believe that “L’Academie 
de Science,” is not the very best authority ; 
a single report, a single experiment is often 
the basis of new and wonderful theories— 
they seem to hunger and thirst for food they 
have not the patience and perseverance to 
work for, and with some most valuable, learn¬ 
ed, and well-investigated scientific discovery, 
you will also find the crudest guessing upon 
other experiments. Some years since I took 
the trouble to copy out the whole of the pa¬ 
per read before that body on the influence to 
be exercised in determining the sex of future 
progeny in animals, but a little practical 
thinking convinced me that the exceptions 
were as numerous as the proofs. 
My bull, last year, was low in, condition 
and shut up much of his time ; his herd was 
composed of fine lusty ,females of his own 
age, and ydunger, full of animal vigor, yet 
the produce were mostly males. Again, you 
see some females produce males only , and 
some females only, no matter what the sire 
may be. “ J. H. J.,” was more to be trusted 
