SPECKLED DORKINGS. 
287 
a tree; and often inflict painful, though not very 
serious wounds on their fingers, with the wiry edge 
of the husk, that cuts like a fine saw. 
There is usually a good deal of ceremony, and a 
little manoeuvring, in placing themselves, in order 
that those most agreeable to each other may sit to¬ 
gether; though it sometimes happens that a pretty 
coquette would take her place on one side of the 
heap, when her despairing swain was on the other ; 
but, in all such cases, by some strange accident, it 
happened that she was exactly opposite to him, and 
her father and brother occupied the seats next above 
and below her. It happened , too, that some staid 
matron, or spindle-shaped old maid, was his neigh¬ 
bor—but, of course, it was all chance! Nobody 
could suspect her of having a hand in the matter, 
when she looked so unconcerned and innocent. 
Then the omens are to be attended to, and “ wo 
worth the wight” who gets a smutty, or barren ear in 
his hand! He must do whatever the company choose 
to require of him. If he can sing, they are sure to 
forget it, and insist on having a tale ; but if he has 
a voice like a crow, or a bull frog, nothing but a 
song will satisfy them, and sing he must! A blood¬ 
ied ear fortells the arrival of a favored lover, but 
of course none such is expected! A crooked ear 
prophesies a thief in the corn crib; while one 
on which there are several kinds intermixed, is an 
undisputed omen of a speedy wedding. There are 
sweet voices, too, among the women, and many a 
cheerful song finds an answering melody in the 
hearers’ hearts; and the joyous, merry laugh, that 
makes the welkin ring. 
Near our large cities, and among the opulent far¬ 
mers, this good old custom is fast fading awa 3 ~, and 
in a few years, in the Atlantic states, at least, it will 
disappear entirely; for, with the wealth acquired 
by the patient industry of our forefathers, habits of 
greater refinement are induced ; and the increasing 
population makes the employment of the poor a 
virtue in the rich. Therefore, the necessity of so¬ 
cial labor, and the simplicity of manners that ought 
to characterize life in the country, cease to exist; 
and as they depart, they carry in their train, and 
leave only the pleasant memories of these, the 
sports of their youth to the old ; and to after times, 
nothing but some record, slight perhaps as this, of 
their having been among the customs of the hardy 
pioneers in the rapid march of improvement in our 
glorious country. 
In the southern states, these merry-makings are ! 
confined exclusively to the colored population. 
When the corn is ready to be brought in, the news 
spreads like wild fire that on such a night there 
will be a‘‘husking frolic,” at Mr. ——’s. At the 
appointed time, the horn is blown, and the negroes 
come trooping in, often from plantations five miles’ 
distant. The corn is thrown down near the barn, 
in one long heap, and the negroes stand round it 
and work. One is always invited to sing for the 
evening 7 if a negro sits down he inevitably goes 
to sleep ; and without the songs they would stand 
idly to talk. They keep time with the tune, working 
quickly to a brisk, and slowly to a sad, one ; and 
roar out the chorus, “ Round the corn, Sally,” or 
“ Clear the way when Sambo come,” to impromptu 
songs with which they have no sort of connexion; 
while the singer, like Timotheus of old, is “placed 
on high,” on the top of the heap, beating time to 
his own melody by knocking his elbows on his 
sides, clapping his hands, and making a noise in 
any other way his fancy may suggest. 
When the work is done, they adjourn to file sup¬ 
per, which is spread on boards supported by barrels, 
under a shed, or in the open air, near the kitchen, 
or at the quarters, as may be most convenient; and 
however many there are present, there is enough 
for all to feast upon; and well dressed, too; for as 
a jolly fat cook once told me, in answer to a remark 
about the great quantity prepared, “ Bress your dear 
heart, Ma’am, it’s ollous so; why masaa have a 
best huskin’ frolic supper all over de country! 
Neber stingy ’bontdat;” and certainly the profu¬ 
sion did credit to his liberality. A sheep had been 
killed, and the whole dressed in various ways, roast¬ 
ed, boiled, and a huge pot of soup ; bacon and cab¬ 
bage, potatoes, apples, great loaves of hot bread, 
and baskets of “ light cake ” and nice sweet buns. 
These frolics always end with a dance, kept up 
till midnight, and not seldom till morning, not much 
to the advantage of their master’s work the next 
day. E. S. 
Eutawah , July, 1848. 
SPECKLED DORKINGS. 
The statement that these birds, when thorough 
bred, are less hardy and prolific than when an ad¬ 
mixture of blood is admitted, is no mistake; and 
was not published without care having been taken to 
ascertain that it was confirmed by the experience of 
others, who have kept the pure speckled Dorkings 
on a large scale, both for private consumption and 
for the supply of the market, and who give, as their 
result, that the cross is more profitable. Of course, 
the circumstance of their pining away and dying 
just when attaining maturity, must be the exception, 
instead of the rule; otherwise, the breed would 
have long since been extinct. I have merely said 
that they are apt to do so. Their constitutional 
weakness developed itself, with me, in this particu¬ 
lar form, which will vary according to circumstances 
and situations. Others complain that they are soon 
worn out, and prematurely overtaken by old age. 
Indeed, I have never known a pure Dorking hen to 
be good for much, either in the way of laying or 
sitting, after her second season. All this shows 
some inherent defect. Good judges have thought 
that I have written only too favorably of the 
speckled Dorkings; but I agree with “ Anon,” in 
having a liking for them, and am glad to hear he 
has managed them so ably and successfully. The 
precautionary and remedial measure he has adopted, 
of introducing a fresh and Well-selected cock bird 
or two, into the walk every second or third year, at 
furthest, is the very best that can be adopted ; but 
it confirms, instead of refuting, my expressed suspi¬ 
cion, that the cocks of this race are deficient in 
vigor. For those who are indifferent about seeing 
the full complement of five tees, provided they can 
retain the other valuable points of the Dorkings, 
there is a fine variety, called by the principal Lon¬ 
don dealers, the “ Surrey fowl,” of even larger 
dimensions and more vigorous appearance, a trial of 
which I should recommend strongly.— Correspond¬ 
ent in London Agricultural Gazette . 
