Foreign Agricultural News* 
347 
number has a portrait of that eminent breeder, Robert 
Bakewell, whose biography is copied into our Novem¬ 
ber number. He is represented as a large, stout, full- 
faced, John-Bull-looking man; with a very fine eye, 
and handsome expressive mouth; and a physiognomy 
upon the whole, indicative of genius. One cannot 
judge of his head, from the massive wig and broad 
brimmed hat which cover it. 
In the November number we have a portrait of the 
celebrated Earl Spencer. It shows an intellectual face, 
but we do not like it so well as his own living physiog¬ 
nomy, that we had the pleasure of seeing last year in 
Yorkshire. 
The London New Farmers’ Journal. We wish to 
call attention to this able and well conducted paper. 
It is weekly, and in addition to more or less agricultural 
matter, gives a summary of the politics and news of 
the day, and in fact, is a most excellent family news¬ 
paper, such an one we should suppose, as English emi¬ 
grants would desire much to read in this country. It has 
latterly added greatly to its interest and value, by giv¬ 
ing engravings on wood of celebrated animals, and ag¬ 
ricultural implements. These are executed in a style 
superior to anything we have in this country. The 
three animals before us, are the Duke of Northumber¬ 
land, Duchess 34th, and Cleveland Lad, from Mr. 
Bates’ celebrated stock, all of which have received the 
first prizes, both at the Yorkshire and Royal Agricul¬ 
tural Society of England. We have seen these ani¬ 
mals, and can attest to the general truth of the por¬ 
traits. The Duke, we think, has hardly justice done 
him, but the Duchess stands forth in all her noble pro¬ 
portions, the most splendid cow we ever looked at. 
Mr. Bates has furnished a short memoir of his fami¬ 
ly of Short Horns, to accompany the two first portraits, 
but as a more particular account of their history appear¬ 
ed in our Sept. No. we shall not further advert to it, 
now than to add, it is concluded quite characteristically. 
££ Hundreds of men” he says, cc may be found to make 
a Prime Minister, for one fit to judge of the real mer¬ 
its of animals.” We are half inclined to echo the 
opinion. 
We have noticed the paragraph addressed to us by 
the editors of the New Farmers’ Journal, in their paper 
of 14th November, and shall take care to see the 
American Agriculturist forwarded hereafter, minus the 
heavy post duty. 
Dr. Playfair was to deliver a series of lectures in 
December, on the ce Application of the principles of 
Physiology to the fattening of cattle.” 
India Silk Worms and Mulberry Trees. —At the 
meeting of the Royal Asiatic Society, a report was 
made, stating that the silk business in Afghanistan 
pays a profit of 100 per cent, and recommends the in¬ 
troduction of it into Candahar and other parts of India. 
It states that the eggs of the silk worm in Bengal, are 
hatched three times in the year, while those in the 
south of Europe have but one crop annually. We have 
just conversed with a French gentleman, who has been 
practically acquainted from childhood, with this busi¬ 
ness in Lyons and its vicinity, and he doubts the possibi¬ 
lity of three, or even two profitable crops per annum, 
of worms. He has promised us his views on this sub¬ 
ject hereafter. 
NINETEEN DAYS LATER FROM EUROPE. 
Just as we were going to press, the Steamship Cal¬ 
edonia arrived at Boston, and we have received by 
express, our usual files of agricultural journals and 
magazines, up to the 4th of January. 
The commercial news is considered decidedly favor¬ 
able in all respects. Money is very abundant, and at 
an extreme low rate of interest. The best paper is 
discounted at from 2b to 3 per cent, per annum, and 
we might at this time be in the enjoyment of any rea¬ 
sonable amount of money from Europe, had it not been 
for the doctrines of repudiation. 
Introduction of Meat and Cattle into France. —The 
French Ministry propose introducing a bill into the 
Chambers, reducing the duties on meat and cattle. 
We do not find the details of this bill, and are conse¬ 
quently unable to say how far this will benefit Ameri¬ 
can products. 
Mortality of Cattle in Egypt. —Upwards of 200,000 
oxen have already died of an alarming disease among 
cattle in Egypt, which has made draught animals so 
scarce, that the Pasha has been obliged to order his 
own horses and camels, and those of his chiefs, to be 
used for agricultural purposes. 
The weather in England is uncommonly mild for the 
season, and the wheat crop looks very promising. 
Markets. —Flour is dull—Tobacco steady; Cheese, 
Beef, and Pork are at nominal prices ; but it is thought 
an active demand will soon take place for the two lat¬ 
ter, as it is ascertained now that live cattle cannot be 
imported from the Continent to compete with salted 
provisions, which will be all in favor of shipments from 
the United States. Hams properly smoked and cured, 
after the Irish fashion, it is thought will do well. Lard 
is held firmly, and the price is advancing. 
The demand for Cotton had increased, and the sales 
at Liverpool from the 2d Dec. to 4th Jan. had been 
122,920 bags. The culture of cotton in some parts of 
India had not proved as favorable as was anticipated, 
on account of the dryness of the climate; and notwith 
standing the great crop expected from this side of the 
Atlantic, and the large quantity on hand, it is thought 
that the sales at about present rates will be quite equal 
to the importations. 
Corn Laws. —They continue to agitate the question 
of the Corn Laws with great force in the manufactur¬ 
ing districts ; but we can see nothing yet which leads 
us to suppose that a fixed duty will be proposed by the 
Ministry at the coming meeting of Parliament. In the 
mean while, the iniquitous gambling, sliding scale, is 
working badly for the corn factors, and among other 
victims to it, we notice Mr. Dunn, of Wakefield, who 
has failed for $1,500,000. 
Smithfield Cattle Show. —The papers are full of the 
proceedings of this splendid show. The London News 
contains nine large engravings of the scenes and ani¬ 
mals there, and a medallion bust of its able and inde¬ 
fatigable President, Earl Spencer. It is said to have 
been the best show that has ever yet taken place at 
Smithfield, and crowds of people thronged it from morn¬ 
ing till night, so long as it continued. Among the dis¬ 
tinguished visitors, we notice Prince Albert—and no 
dandy was he there, either; but turned up the cuffs of 
his coat sleeves like a thorough-going regular breeder, 
and handled all the prize animals present except the 
pigs. The Prince has latterly taken strongly to farm¬ 
ing, and is said to have got a regular practical working 
concern, in the vicinity of Windsor. Success we say 
to the royal husband of the Queen—he is a clever fel¬ 
low in more ways than one, and we hope that some of 
our would-be-aristocratic republicans may profit by his 
example. 
The London New Farmers’ Journal we find as usual, 
full of able and interesting matter. Mr. Prideaux 
continues his contributions on manures, and Mr. Chat- 
terly and Mr. Hall give an account of experiments 
which they are making with them on their example 
farm. One of the editors, with whom we had the 
pleasure of an acquaintance when in London, informe 
