MISCELLANEOUS. 
41 
Origin of Ayrshires.— Mr. William Aiton 
of Hamilton, in a communication made to the 
British Farmers’ Magazine in 1826, Vol. I., page 
149, says : The dairy breed of Scotland have been 
formed chiefly by skilful management, within the 
last 50 years; and they are still improving and ex¬ 
tending to other countries. Till after 1770, the 
cows in Cunningham were small, ill-fed, ill-shaped, 
and gave but little milk. Some cows of a larger 
breed and of a brown and white color, were about 
that time brought to Ayrshire from Teeswater, and 
from Holland, by some of the patriotic noblemen 
of Ayrshire; and these being put on good pasture, 
yielded more milk than the native breed, and their 
calves were much sought after by the farmers. 
In addition to the above, we were verbally as¬ 
sured when in England, by some old breeders who 
had known the Ayrshires since 1780, that they 
had received more or less improvement from cross¬ 
es with Short-Horn bulls for the last half century, 
and although they may now be considered a good 
established breed in themselves, they are, in real¬ 
ity, merely high grade Durhams. Is there any 
error in this statement or not ? If so, we shall be 
glad to have those who have made the origin of 
this breed more of a study than ourselves, give us 
any new information on this subject. We do not 
wish any reference to Youatt’s account of them, 
as that is already familiar to the public. 
New York Farmers’ Club. —This Club held 
its regular meetings the past month, in the read¬ 
ing-room of the Repository of the American Insti¬ 
tute, on the first and third Tuesdays at 12 o’clock, 
M., continuing them till 3 o’clock, P. M. They 
were both well attended, and the subjects of dis¬ 
cussion were the disease in potatoes, adulteration 
of milk, lactometers, and subsoil plowing. All 
these matters have been so fully treated in our 
previous volumes, that we have not thought it 
worth while to give an extended report. The 
meetings will continue regularly, commencing at 
12 o’clock on the first and third Tuesdays of each 
month. They are free to all, and no fee or cere¬ 
mony of admission will be exacted. Gentlemen 
from the country are particularly invited to attend. 
To Mechanics—Agricultural Implements.— 
We are constantly in the receipt of orders for the 
purchase of different kinds of agricultural imple¬ 
ments, and the venders of these will find it much 
to their interest to forward us cuts of the same, 
accompanied with brief descriptions, and stating 
their prices. 
Culture of Potatoes. —We beg attention to 
Mr. Pell’s excellent article on this subject in our 
present No. He has left samples of his improved 
pink-eyes at our office, which can be seen by those 
who have ajay curiosity on the subject. They are 
of good size, have a smoother skin, and are freer 
from eyes than any we have yet seen. We are 
informed that they are very mealy and nutritious. 
Mr. Pell candidly states that they are rather shy 
bearers; but with good treatment, he seems to 
have made them satisfactorily tame in this respect. 
Poland Fowls. —Those advertised for sale by 
Mr. Starr we know to be very superior. They 
are of the shining black kind, with very large 
white top-knots. To our eye they are the most 
beautiful of domestic fowls, and are such famous 
layers that other hens must be kept to hatch their 
eggs. -- 
Agricultural Agency in London. —We desire 
attention to the advertisement of Mr. P. L. Sim¬ 
mons, No. 18 Cornhill, London, for books, periodi¬ 
cals, &c., &c. He has also commenced Simmons’ 
Colonial Magazine, which is published monthly, 
price 2s. 6d. 
The American Agriculturist Gratis. —Let it 
be remembered that any one can have a volume 
of our paper gratis by procuring us two subscribers 
and forwarding $2. The terms are Three Copies 
for Two Dollars. 
How to Make Three Dollars. —Procure eight 
subscribers to this paper, receiving from them 
Eight Dollars, Five of which only need be sent to 
the publishers, to entitle the person so remitting 
to the eight copies—he will therefore have $3 re¬ 
maining to put in his own pocket. Many persons 
might thus benefit themselves, and at the same 
time be doing a great good to the public. Agen¬ 
cies of other books will be given by the publishers 
with this paper. 
Horticulture. —As p/osperity is again restored 
to our country, it is satisfactory to perceive, that 
little comforts and luxuries are beginning to be 
attended to again. Among these, perhaps, some 
will class fruits; but our opinion is, that with 
proper attention to them, they may become some¬ 
thing more than this, and in a few years be no 
small item of exportation to foreign countries. 
We believe few doubt that good ripe fruit is emi¬ 
nently healthy, and it is certainly proved so in the 
south of Europe, as many of the peasantry in cer¬ 
tain seasons of the year almost entirely live upon 
it, and yet none enjoy a better state of health t&an 
they. The fruit culture is assuming a new aspect 
in this country, and we begin a series of articles on 
it, which will be regularly followed monthly 
through the year, by several of our friends who 
have been long practically engaged in the business. 
What they have to say, therefore, on the subject, 
will be entitled to the confidence of our readers. 
The growing of choice fruit in a proper location, 
we have repeatedly contended must for a long 
series of years be a good-paying business. 
O^r* Office Hours. —Owing to his avocations 
elsewhere, the editor of this paper will more usu¬ 
ally be found at his office from 12 o’clock at noon, 
till 2 P. M., at which time he will be pleased to 
see all who may be desirous of favoring him with 
a call. 
