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EDITOR » TABLE. 
rior to such as we will select here to match them, we 
will engage to forfeit the same for its benefit, provided, 
that in case its animals so imported do not prove su¬ 
perior to those We show against them, they shall forfeit 
the same Jo us. We are ready to name an umpire any 
time to decide this question, the Cultivator naming 
another; and if the two can not agree, they shall call 
in a third. We shall expect an immediate acceptance 
of this proposition, or that the Cultivator retracts the 
false inferences which it has drawn from our language. 
The Cultivator denies having calumniated the Short 
Horns, and accuses us of “ knowingly and wilfully mis¬ 
representing it.” Here are its very words, and what 
we take for calumnious expressions, We have marked 
in italics. 
“ In regard to the qualities of the imported animals from which we 
expect improvement to our herds, it appears to us that there are two 
points that have been sometimes overlooked in making our selec¬ 
tions. We have not paid attention enough to their milking properties, 
or their ability and aptitude to labor. The old Short Horns were 
the best milking bleed in England—a reputation ivhich, as a whole 
certainly does hot belong to the improved breeds. That there are 
some superior milkers among them is notorious ; and that milking 
deep might be made one of the peculiar characteristics of the breed, 
no well-informed breeder doubts. We very much question, how¬ 
ever, whether there is at this time in Europe or in the United 
States, a herd of any improved stock, Short Horns, Here fords, 
or Devons, from Which twenty-five cows can be selected, that 
would produce as much butter and cheese as the twenty-five na¬ 
tive cows mentioned at page 79 of the May Cultivator, or that from 
the twelve native cows .mentioned at page 85 of the same number. 
The reason is a plain one-; other qualities than deep milking 
have been principally regarded by their breeders ; beef, and not 
milk, has been the great object. That deep milking can easily be 
bred into them, no one questions ; and this we believe is one of the 
points that calls for immediate attention. Another point that has 
not been sufficiently attended to, is aptitude to labor..” 
Now we assert, that the well-bred Short Horns of 
the present day are generally good milkers , and that 
many of them are very superior in this point; not only 
giving a large quantity , but also a good quality of milk. 
The Cultivator asserts that the reputation of being 
good milkers does not belong to them ; for other quali¬ 
ties than deep milking have been principally regarded 
by their breeders; beef, and not milk, has been the 
great object. It also infers that they have little" apti¬ 
tude to labor. We shall show its mistake on this point, 
as well as others hereafter. 
The standard dictionaries define the word calumniate, 
“to charge falsely; to propagate evil reports.” Now 
if the Cultivator has not charged falsely, and propa¬ 
gated evil reports against the Short Horns, then we 
know not the meaning of the word calumniate; and 
we shall see whether the gentlemen with whose names 
it makes so free a parade, will sanction either its asser¬ 
tions, that their high-bred animals are not deep milkers, 
or that they can be improved on its “ five-points” prin¬ 
ciples. 
In losing so much of its former influence, and so 
many of its subscribers, the Cultivator seems to have 
lost its temper. We are really sorry, especially since 
in its last number it has set itself up as the agricultural 
Chesterfield of the age. Perhaps, however, as we are 
a mere junior in editorship, we can not account the 
loss of temper, and getting into a passion, as one of 
the points of good breeding; still, after sufficiently wit¬ 
nessing its own example, and that of its courteous assist¬ 
ing band of anonymous lampooners, there is no longer 
a doubt that if disposed we can improve apace. Whether 
we shall attempt to do so, however, remains quite 
another question. 
One more word and we have done. The Cultivator 
has seen fit to silently imitate many things from the 
American Agriculturist to its advantage; we hope, 
however, for its further interest, that it will forbear 
another imitation that we have understood it had in 
contemplation, and continue its present size and form, 
for this is about all that is now left to remind its 
faithful supporters of the eminent man who first estab¬ 
lished it. 
The American Poultry Book ; being a Practical 
Treatise on the Management of Domestic Poultry, by 
Micajah R. Cock, Harper & Brothers, 82 Cliff st.; 
179 pages, 18mo., illustrated with a few wood cuts— 
price 38 cents. We have not had time to read this 
little work through; but judging from the few pages 
we have glanced over, we think well of it, so far as it 
goes. The value of poultry in the United States, as 
estimated in the last census, is over twelve millions of 
dollars ; the best method, therefore, of raising it, is of 
no small consequence to those engaged in the business. 
The natural history ; different breeds of fowls ; fowl- 
house ; the egg ; raising chickens; caponization; dis¬ 
eases, &c., &c., are all touched upon. 
Manures ; a Prize Essay, by Dr. Samuel L. Dana, 
for which the first premium of the Massachusetts So¬ 
ciety of Agriculture was obtained. We have barely 
time to announce the receipt of the above Work, an 
octavo pamphlet of 48 pages. We shall very soon give 
it a perusal, and in the meanwhile can say to our 
readers in advance, that anything on the subject of 
manures, from the pen of Dr. Dana, will be found 
worthy of their attention; for he is undoubtedly the 
best writer that we have on these subjects. 
Prince’s Descriptive Catalogue for 1843 & 1844, 
of the Fruit Trees, Ornamental Trees, Shrubbery, and 
Plants, cultivated and for sale at the Linnsean Botanic 
Garden and Nurseries, Flushing, near New York. We 
have personally inspected the grounds of Messrs. 
Prince & Co., at Flushing, and found many rare things 
there, and such as can scarcely be found elsewhere in 
the United States. 
Encyclopedia of Geography. Parts 15 and 16, 
by Prof. Murray, are received from Wiley & Putnam, 
161 Broadway, price 25 cents, each part. 
Johnson’s Encyclopedia of Agriculture, repub¬ 
lished by Carey & Hart of Philadelphia. Part 14 is 
out. The last article is “ Plantation,” 
The Western Farmer and Gardener, and Hor¬ 
ticultural Magazine, Cincinnati, Ohio ; published 
by R. P. Brooks, 24 pages, double columns, monthly, 
octavo—price one dollar. Edited and illustrated by 
Chas. Foster. No 1 of Yol. 4 of this excellent work 
is at hand. The illustrations are quite superior, being 
a colored plate of the clematis grandiflora, and devera 
geranium; a copper plate of a fine Short Horn cow 
(the original of which we well recollect), of J. E. Let- 
ton of Kentucky, and a strawberry from Mr. Mottier 
of Cincinnati, whose superior garden we have fre¬ 
quently visited. 
To Correspondents. —P. is unluckily mislaid, which 
must be our apology for not giving him place this month. 
We trust that he will turn up in time for our next. 
W. H. Sotham’s communications shall be inserted in 
October No.; also D. S. Stebbins, John Lewis, and 
A. R. D. 
A Squatter will be answered soon. 
Mr. Bayard is informed, that the different breeds of 
sheep can be had in England, from 5 up to 100 guineas 
each, according to breed and quality. The risk of im¬ 
portation is ..great; and the expense to New Orleans 
would not be less, than $15 to $20 each. There are 
breeders in this vicinity who have just as good South 
Downs, Cotswolds, and Leicesters, as can be im¬ 
ported ; and they will sell them for one fifth the price 
at which they can be obtained from England. We 
speak from experience in this thing. 
