STOCK ON LONG ISLAND. 
195 
brated Abdallah. He is a horse of good size, of a 
rich bay, possesses a stylish action and great bot¬ 
tom. His colts prove fast, though the most of 
those we have seen are not quite as large as are 
sought for in carriage horses; but this deficiency 
in size, we were told, was the fault of their dams, 
for when bred to more roomy mares, the offspring 
proved all one could desire in this respect. There 
are a few fine colts of Abdallah’s at present on the 
island, which, if taken to the western states, would 
greatly improve the road-stock of that country. 
Cattle.— Quite a number of high-bred cattle 
from England have been introduced here, princi¬ 
pally by the captains of the New York packet- 
ships; but as it is not a breeding country, they 
have not increased much, if any. The Jersey cows 
to some extent have also been introduced, and ow¬ 
ing to the richness of their milk they are much 
liked as family cows. Were they a little hardier 
they would be great favorites in our eyes, as we 
have before stated in Tour in England No. 14. A 
cross of these with the Short-Horns is much-es¬ 
teemed on Long Island, and proves sufficiently 
hardy for that climate. This cross makes a pret¬ 
tier animal than we expecfed it would, being con¬ 
siderably improved in the crop, and the quar¬ 
ter, and yet retaining much of the cleanness of 
limb, fine, short, waxy, turned up horns, and beau¬ 
tiful eyes and head of the original Jerseys. Indeed 
so highly pleased are we with the few specimens 
we have seen, that when we change our farming 
to land again as well as on paper, it is our inten¬ 
tion to get a few Jersey cows to experiment with 
in breeding to a peculiarly fine, small-sized Dur¬ 
ham bull. We are now satisfied for family cows 
on light land such a cross-breed as this would 
prove a valuable one. Perhaps, however, we are 
over enthusiastic in favor of the blood-like limbs 
of the delicate Jerseys. 
Sheep.— Some years ago the Merinos existed 
here to considerable extent; they have s however, 
from various causes, given away for the last few 
years to crosses of the Leicesters and South-Downs. 
Mutton being now more an object of production 
among the Long Island farmers than wool, we 
found the South-Downs more highly esteemed 
there than any other breed. 
Poultry. —Peahens and Guinea-hens, geese, 
ducks, and barn-door fowls, exist in an almost end¬ 
less variety; and true to American genius, instead 
of being kept in their distinct original breeds, they 
are usually crossed in all sorts of ways, so that it 
is difficult to tell what is what. Truly we are a 
singular people: being a cross breed ourselves 
from so many nations of the earth, we seem dis¬ 
posed on every occasion to make our animals like 
unto us. We wish a law could be passed against 
this matter of crossing; and yet, here we have 
just been sinning with our own pen, by purposing 
the mingling of Durhams and Jerseys. 
A Milk Dairy.— Our excursions on Long Is¬ 
land did not extend to the farming dairy districts, 
which it always gives us so much pleasure to visit; 
but in Brooklyn, near Furman street, we encoun¬ 
tered one in the distillery district which we con¬ 
sider a complete nuisance. The buildings there 
formerly held 1,000 cows, we rejoice to say now, 
that the numbers are reduced to one half—but 
these are just 500 too many. The cows are fed 
upon still slops, and the milk is retailed in this 
city under the false names of “ pure milk,” “ Or¬ 
ange county milk,” “ grass-fed milk,” “ Connecti¬ 
cut milk,” &c. Still-fed milk we consider a per¬ 
nicious drug, and exceedingly deleterious to chil¬ 
dren. The sale of it ought to be prohibited under 
the strictest penalties. 
The arrangement of the buildings at this milk 
dairy is commodious, and everything seemed to 
be kept in as good order as it is possible under the 
circumstances of the case ; yet, notwithstanding, 
it was a foul, loathsome place to us, and glad 
were we when well clear of the premises. How 
different we thought from the pure atmosphere 
of the country, and the sweet green herbage of its 
pastures. All ought to rejoice that the facilities 
of railroads and steamboats make it easy to procure 
milk fresh from the country, and at a moderate 
price; we trust that the pure article will be kept 
at such a rate as to defy competition, and make it 
no longer an object to adulterate and palm off an 
inferior and injurious quality ; still every purchas¬ 
er should continue upon his guard, and be careful 
that he goes to such depots in the city as will not 
deceive him. 
Gardens for Melons, &c. —The most celebra¬ 
ted of these are at the west end of Long Island, 
on the road from Brooklyn to Fort Hamilton, bor¬ 
dering the New York bay, where hundreds of 
acres are devoted exclusively to cucumbers, 
squash, and melons. The soil is so poor and 
sandy, that the gardeners are obliged to sow such 
parts as they have cultivated the preceding sum¬ 
mer to rye or wheat in the fall, to prevent its be¬ 
ing blown away during winter. Such land would 
scarcely be considered worth cultivating for farm, 
purposes; but for market gardens, and especially 
in the vine department, it answers admirably. 
Those who till it, make a net profit of from $25 
