186 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
5, R. Ford, of Scott. .... 200 
6, 0, H. Burbridge, Bourbon, - - - 140 
LEICESTER SHEEP. 
1 Buck, J. G. Kinniard, Fayette, - - $50 
2 Ewes, Lewis Castleman, Fayette, - 52 cacb. 
Southdown Sheep bred by Jonas Webb. 
BUCKS. 
1 1 year old, purchased by J. Kerr, Fayette, $755 
2 “ “ Kinniard & Clay, 
Fayette and Bourbon, .... 400 
3 1 year old, purchased by M. M. Clay, 
Bourbon, .340 
EWES. 
1 1 year old, purchased by M. M. Clay, 
Bourbon, - - - . - - - 350 
2 1 year old, purchased by J. G. Kinniard, 
Fayette,.180 
3 1 year old, purchased by M. M. Clay, 
Bourbon, - - - - 230 
Horse Cleveland, Bay Stallion, Young Lord, 
bred by J. C. Maynard, purchased by 
Isaac Wright, of Bourbon, - - 2800 
Total amount of Sale, - - - $55,976 
10 Bulls, $28,681, average, $2868 10. 
15 Cows, 19,230, “ 1282 00. 
The Cotswold Sheep, $2866, average, $358 25. 
“ Leicester “ 154, “ 51 33. 
“ Southdown, “ 2255, “ 375 80. 
This is the greatest sale which has ever been made; 
Diamond selling for a $1000 more tliau the famous 
Comet, at Mr. Colling’s sale in England, in 1810. 
In addition to the above, Mr. James S. Matson, 
at his sale on the 23d September, sold his imported 
bull, John O’Gaunt, (11621,) privately to a Company 
of gentlemen residing in Boyle and Mercer counties, 
in this State, for $4000; also, Javelin, (11610,) bred by 
Lord Hill, sold for a little upwards of $1200 ; a 2 
year old heifer, bred by Mr. M. for $871; a 3 year 
old cow for $67 5 ; a yearling heifer for $702; Cows 
for $300, $530,$500, $516, $464; a 2 year old Heifer 
$421 ; Calves, $181. $185, $400, $155, $350, $210, 
$431. 
Many have supposed that the above sales were 
fictitious, but that such was not the case, we have 
every assurance from highly honorable persons in 
Kentucky. All these sales were bona fide; yet it 
may be proper for us to add, byway of explanation, 
that the Stockholders of the Importing Association 
alone were the purchasers. Consequently, whatever 
profit was made upon the importation, (which was 
large,) was divided among the members according to 
their articles of agreement. This accounts somewhat 
for the high prices brought by these animals. For 
the better understanding of our readers, we have 
arranged the cost of the above animals in England, 
the price sold at in Kentucky, and the profit on each, 
in a tabular form below. 
Name. 
When 
Calved. 
Cost in 
England 
Sold for 
Profit 
BULLS. 
1, Diamond. 
2, Young Chilton,. 
3, Challenger. 
4, Orontes. 
5, The Count,. 
6, Fusileer. 
7, Senator,. 
8, Belleville. 
9, Yorkshire Maynard... 
10, Fortunatus . 
COWS AND HEIFERS. 
11, Lady Stanhope. 
12, Lady Fairy. 
13, Goodness. 
14, Roan Duches. 
15, Maid of Melrose .... 
16, Lady Caroline . 
17, Gem. 
18, Mazurka . 
19, Duchess of Sutherland 
20, Necklace? 
21, Bracelet S twms . 
22, Orphan . 
23, Equity... 
24, Flattery 
25, Muffin 
June, 1850 
May, 1850 
Jan., 1852 
Sept., 1851 
July, 1851 
Feb., 1853 
April, 1852 
Jan., 1852 
March, 1852 
Dec., 1852 
In 1847 
June, 1848 
Sept.., 1847 
July, 1850 
Oct., 1851 
July, 1851 
April, 1851 
Aug., 1851 
Dec., 1850 
April, 1852 
Nov., 1852 
March 1852 
Nov., 1851 
June, 1852 
Dols. 
630 
600 
450 
630 
525 
375 
630 
1050 
275 
275 
375 
525 
525 
275 
775 
775 
600 
375 
400 
5 260 
( 260 
325 
400 
325 
225 
Dols. 
6005 
3005 
4850 
4525 
2575 
1475 
2000 
1500 
1000 
1800 
1500 
1100 - 
2025 
900 
2200 
1825 
825 
3050 
900 
805 
750 
1000 
1000 
815 
535 
Dols. 
5375 
2405 
4400 
3895 
2050 
1100 
1370 
450 
725 
1525 
1125 
575 
1500 
625 
1425 
1425 
50 
2450 
525 
545 
490 
675 
600 
490 
310 
THE HORSES IN THE UNITED STATES. 
The first horses brought into any part of the 
territory at present embraced in the United 
States, were landed in Florida by Cabeca de 
Veca, in 1527, forty-two in number, all of 
which perished or were otherwise killed. The 
next importation was also brought to Florida 
by De Soto, in 1539. In 1608 the French in¬ 
troduced the horse into Canada. In 1609, the 
English landed at Jamestown, in Virginia, hav¬ 
ing seven horses with them. In 1629, Francis 
Higginson imported horses and other domestic 
animals in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay. 
In 1625, the Dutch Company imported horses 
into New-York. In 1750, the French of Illinois 
were in possession of considerable numbers of 
horses. 
According to the census returns for 1850, 
there were 4,335,358 horses in the United 
States, exclusive of those in cities, which were 
not returned. The four and a half millions 
of these animals in the United States, consti¬ 
tute a proportion of one to five of the inhabi¬ 
tants. New-York has one horse to seven 
persons. Pennsylvania one to six and six- 
tenths. Ohio, one to four. Kentucky, one 
to three free inhabitants. In Ohio and the 
new States of the Northwest the increase of 
horses has kept pace with that of the popula¬ 
tion. 
The number of horses in the United States is 
more than three times as large as that in Great 
Britain. A recent report in France shows that 
there are in that country 3,200,000 horses.— 
Boston Transcript. 
■ --- 
For the American Agriculturist. 
THE POTATO ROT. 
Middlebush, N. J. Nov. 24, 1853. 
I nAVE heard of many notable cures for the 
potato rot through the columns of your ex¬ 
cellent paper and others, but none appear to 
me so likely to eradicate the disease, as a 
method of preparing the seed recommended by 
a friend of mine residing in North Center, Mi¬ 
chigan. This gentleman is an intelligent and 
wealthy farmer, and a man whose statements 
can be relied on. 
While on a visit to my place recently, he told 
me they had eradicated the disease entirely by 
planting potatoes that had remained in the 
ground during the winter; those remaining 
until spring being of course free from disease. 
They commenced in this way a few years since. 
Their potatoes having rotted very much as was 
often the case, they concluded not to dig them, 
and if any kept until spring, to plant those. 
The potatoes thus planted grew well, and did 
not rot, and have not rotted since. They have 
continued this plan from year to year, leaving- 
enough potatoes in the ground in autumn for 
seed in the spring, and they feel quite confident 
that they have hit upon the right remedy, as 
they have not been troubled with the rot in 
that vicinity since this plan has been adopted. 
Some not pratically acquainted with raising 
potatoes, may think they will freeze in the 
ground, but we know the ground will draw the 
frost out without injuring the potatoe for seed, 
for we have often had a volunteer crop from 
those left in the ground. 
It appears very reasonable to me; the cure is 
simple and easily tried, and it may be just the 
thing. I cheerfully make these facts known, 
and if it turns out as I anticipate, we will all 
have new cause for Thanksgiving. 
P. S. Brokaw. 
Our correspondent may have found a remedy 
for the potato rot. We ourselves had a small 
volunteer crop of potatoes the past season, 
from some that were accidentally left in a bed 
all winter. Whether potatoes will keep suf¬ 
ficiently well during winter in the open 
ground to answer for seed in a climate more 
severe than this we cannot say; it is our im¬ 
pression, however, that they have been thus 
preserved as far north as the State of Maine. 
Will the Editor of the Maine Farmer please in¬ 
form us if he has any knowdedge of potatoes 
having been left in the ground all winter, in 
that State, and yet produce a good crop the 
following season ? 
-- 
“ Wiiat’s that horse out of? ” said a fellow 
with a view to quiz a farmer’s boy, who was 
riding an old horse which showed less blood 
than bone. “Out of?” “Yes, wdrat’s he out 
of—do you know?” “Yes, I do.” “Well 
what?” “Out of oats!'" 1 
*-® •-•- 
Everybody’s particular friend is nobody’s. 
SIDE-WALK SKETCHES. 
YOUNG MEN “FROM THE COUNTRY.” 
Mr. Verdant Green is the type of a class 
with which our city is always, to a greater or 
less extent, crowded, and who may always be 
found in the garrets of twenty-shilling boarding 
houses, and in those “ Agencies,” and “ Com¬ 
mercial Colleges,” which advertise dozens of 
valuable situations, at sumptuous salaries, going 
a begging for want of suitable persons to fill 
them. Verdant was raised on a snug little 
farm up the river, and with a host of younger 
brothers and sisters was sustained by it, fru¬ 
gally, comfortably, and healthfully. lie was 
happy in his occupation, and took pride in the 
glossy coats of his father’s horses, the fruitful¬ 
ness of the orchard, the fishpond, the enjoy¬ 
ments of the singin-gsehool, the apple-paring 
parties, the “husking bees,” and the many in¬ 
nocent and healthful relaxations which the city 
with all its wealth cannot afford; and life 
passed on, developing his constitution vigorously 
and firmly. Verdant had enjoyed the educa¬ 
tional advantages of three months’ schooling 
which every winter afforded, and was quite a 
proficient in figures; could work the sum about 
the nails in the horses shoes without looking at 
the rule, and was often called up by the “ mas¬ 
ter ” to hear the juniors’ recitations, when he 
was unusually busy. Fie therefore prided him¬ 
self somewhat upon his attainments; and even¬ 
tually began to spruce himself up, at the close 
of his day’s labor, and stroll down to the village 
store, a practice which soon brought him into 
rather close intimacy with Mr. Sharpe, the pro¬ 
prietor’s clerk. He used to sit by the door and 
read the New-York paper, and listen to Mr. 
Sharpe’s glowing descriptions of the pleasures 
of the city, and soon, in imitation of his friend, 
he omitted, in his weekly shave, to cut the in¬ 
cipient beard from his upper lip, notwithstand¬ 
ing the remonstrances of his mother, and the 
jeers of his brothers and sisters. Was it 
strange that his labor became distasteful to 
him ? The pure bracing air that played upon 
his cheek, as he sat upon the plow-beam 
while he breathed his team, was no longer ap¬ 
preciated, and the big harvest apples which 
rained down from the tree by the gable of the 
cottage, lost all their flavor by being contrasted 
with the tropical fruits which Mr. Sharpe had 
described as being so abundant in the city. 
One day as he was in the store waiting his 
turn to be served, to beguil the time he took 
up the Herald , and his eye was at once arrested 
by the following: 
ANTED..—A Bank Clerk at $2000 per annum. Also ten 
young men in a new wholesale store ; salaries $600 to 
$1500. Call at - College. Fitted, boarded, and guar¬ 
anteed. No charge for places. Young men from the country 
preferred. 
Verdant stood riveted to the spot. What, 
thought he, $2000 ajyear? Why it would 
more than buy father’s place. I won’t be such 
a fool as to hoe and plow and harrow, when 
money is to be made so much easier; and that 
last pound of deception broke the back of rea¬ 
son, and Verdant went to his home a discon¬ 
tented, unhappy, and misguided young man. 
When sister Jane had washed up the tea 
things, and mother had taken her knitting for 
the evening, and old Mr. Green had begun to 
mend the harness, Verdant disclosed his plans, 
and assured them that the next day’s work 
would be the last that should sully his hands 
with the soil that sustained him. Poor lad! 
Had a thunderbolt descended the chimney, and 
scattered the brands of the hickory fire over 
the floor, it would have produced less conster¬ 
nation in the family circle of the Greens. The 
father was a mild, quiet man, and he shook his 
head and said little; the mother threw down 
her knitting, and, as Verdant afterwards told 
his friend Mr. Sharpe, “ took on like every 
thing;” and sister Jane, who was dandling 
baby on her knee — Verdant always loved baby 
—took up the little creature, and placed her in 
his arms, imploring him not to leave them. 
Entreaty to so determined a lad as was Verdant 
fell with as little effect as rain-drops on an anvil. 
Nothing would do. He gathered together the 
little sum of twenty-three dollars, to him an im¬ 
mense amount, and with his trunk well filled 
