AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
FOR THE 
H'ariii, GrarcLen, aiicl Hoaseliold.. 
“AGRICULTtrUE 18 THE MOST IIEAETIIFUL, MOST USEFUL, AN1» MOST NOISUF. EMPLOYMENT OP MAN.” —Wabhihotoit 
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Entered according to act of Congress in September, 18G6, by Orange Jiidd & Co., in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New-York. 
VOLUME XXV-No. 10. NEW-YORK, OCTOBER, 1866. NEW SERIES-No. 237. 
[COPYRIGHT BECURED.] 
THE ELK, OR WAPITI. — {Genus Canadensis.)—DuA.vf's prom life for the AifERiCAX Agriculturist. 
This most graceful and beautiful of the larger 
deers is a native of ail the Northern United 
States, tiioiigh in several of them it is now ex¬ 
tinct. ^ An old elk stag is a noble animal in his 
whole style and bearing. The poets of Europe, 
' from early to the latest times, iiavebeen inspired 
by tiieir stag, which is smaller and has less of 
’ forest-lord dignity tiian ours, thougii they are 
very similar. Mr. John Bell, tlie naturalist and 
taxidermist, lias been filling a large order for 
the king of Italy, and seeing 17 of these elks at 
his farm a few days since, we engaged onr 
artist to sketch them for this engraving. The 
elk breeds freely in confinement, and when it 
is possible to fence them in, so as to enclose 
tlieni upon recently cleared wood land, growing 
up full of nnder-hrusli and young wood they 
tlirive, and may be reared for market witli 
greater ease and at a less expense tlian beef. 
Such at least is the testimony of Mr. Stratton of 
Cattaraugus Co. Their natural food is about 
the same as tliat of cattle and sheep. The stag 
sheds his horns annually in early spring, and 
gains them again during tlie summer. Tlie flesli 
of the elk is delicate and liighly esteemed in our 
markets; tlie liide makes inick-skin, and tlie 
horns furnish liandles for cutlery, etc. It seems a. 
pity lliat onr rusliing, money making, “ marcli of 
empire ” does not provide for tlie profitable cul¬ 
ture of such beautiful and useful animals upon 
tlie rough mountain ranges on which they would 
thrive, and not drive them, with tlie red man, 
across the plains, and to ultimate extinction. 
