REVIEW OF THE MAY NUMBER OF THE AGRICULTURIST. 
243 
REVIEW OF THE MAY NUMBER OF THE AGRI¬ 
CULTURIST. 
Effects of Castration on Animals. —I wish the 
views of this writer could be impressed upon the 
minds of all that class of the community who 
seem to think, or rather act, as though they were 
religiously opposed to castration in all cases. It 
is surprising, and almost past belief, that there are 
such a number of miserable runts of uncut calves, 
lambs, and pigs, I saw, last week, in a little jour¬ 
ney of a hundred miles, that I took amona: some 
of about as good farmers as the country affords. 
In most cases, it is, of course, carelessness ) but it 
is too often the case, that the owner of a calf is 
no judge of the points that indicate a good breed¬ 
er, and he is saved from the castrating or butcher’s 
knife, because “ he was out of a mighty good 
cow j” or because the owner “ guesses he aint a 
goin’ to pay Deacon Spriggins four-and-sixpence for 
the use of his darn’d old ram agin.’ 1 Well, the calf 
is saved, grows up to bullhood, proves good for 
nothing, is castrated, and then is a clumsy, lazy, 
old stag, unsaleable as an ox, unfit for beef, unruly 
through life, and rejoiced over by the boys when 
lie at length becomes food for the crows ’ and all 
because he was not castrated while young. When 
will men learn that all of our domestic animals are 
“like day in the hands of the potter,” and that 
ultimately they may be almost moulded at will! 
The spaying of heifers ought to be practised, not 
only for milkers, after their first calf; but when they 
are not good milkers, spay them and put them to 
the yoke. As for pigs, let all those who prefer old- 
sow pork, remain wedded to their idols, and let 
nature have her course. 
Rearing Calves—Reply to Reviewer. —Does Mr. 
Sotham mean to be understood, that he would rather 
have a “runt of a calf” to rear, to make a fine 
animal, than a good one ? For thus his language 
conveys the idea; and, as I think, a very errone¬ 
ous ones. The world knows that we are already 
too apt to send all the best calves and lambs to the 
butcher now, and save the runts for breeders : and 
if backed by such a man as Mr. Sotham, we shall 
soon believe that this is the right course. I know 
he does not so mean ; and therefore beg him to put 
his language in a shape to be differently under¬ 
stood. I am as much opposed to the stuffing of 
calves for show, as he is ■ and I wish that judges, 
at our fairs, would not only refuse to give pre¬ 
miums to such, but would express their disappro¬ 
bation of the course. I am glad to hear Mr. 
S. declare, distinctly, that “ he is not a shorthorn 
man.” But where are the proofs ? 
Experiments with Potatoes. —From these, and 
my own experience, I would say, rot or no rot, 
plant whole tubers of a medium size. 
Adulteration of Food , No. 11.—My only regret 
is, that the adulteration of these drinks is not car¬ 
ried to a much greater extent than it is. For then, 
fools would drink and die at once, instead of drag¬ 
ing out a poisoned life of misery to themselves and 
every one around them; and then, perhaps, the 
world would begin to see the wicked abominations 
■of these wicked adulterators. 
The Dog Distemper—A Better Remedy—A Sure 
Eure. —Take two grains of strychnine, and give 
it in a little milk or any food the dog will eat. 
N.B.—It don’t operate well upon good shepherd 
dogs, nor fine spaniels, nor Newfoundland dogs : 
but for nine tenths of the canine race, it is the best 
medicine in the world. It is also good for cats, 
where there are no rats, miee, nor moles to catch. 
Domestic Fish Ponds. —And so you are surprised, 
that your country friends don’t make fish ponds! 
I am not surprised to see them year in and year 
out, living upon hog and hominy, and at night 
shutting themselves up in a tight room, and bury¬ 
ing themselves in feather beds, and getting up in 
the morning wondering what makes them feels so! 
They would feel better, if they were to plunge in¬ 
to that same fish pond. But until men learn a 
little more of improved husbandry, how can you 
expect them to make such an improvement as an 
artificial fish pond % For my own part, I know of 
no reason why fish should not be cultivated for 
food, as well as hogs. I am sure that people 
would be more healthy if they would be less hog¬ 
gish in their eating. In locating a fish pond, care 
should be taken not to get it too near the house, 
and make it a great musquito and fever-and-ague 
manufactory. 
Premium Beef. —Very good. How much did it 
cost a pound, not only to the maker but con¬ 
sumer % 
Application of Plaster. —The same result has 
followed the application of carbonate of lime to 
land. At first, the product is increased; but for 
want of any application of manure, and by con¬ 
stantly taking off all crops, the land ceases to pro¬ 
duce, because the vegetable matter is eaten up ; 
and then the lime, or marl, is cursed as good for 
nothing. “ Why, I thought that lime was manure !” 
“ Well, if I’ve got to use other manure, I won’t use 
lime,” are common expressions. But how can you 
expect men to understand that neither phosphate 
nor carbonate of lime is manure, as they under¬ 
stand the term, who never read a word about agri¬ 
cultural chemistry, nor anything of the science of 
cultivation. How easy it is to see that a man may 
be a good sailor, so long as he keeps within sight 
of shore, but unable to navigate beyond the sight 
of land. Just so with those who cultivate the 
earth. Thousands who live by it, and think they 
cannot be taught anything new, never knew nor 
thought a word about the natural constituents of 
plants. How can you expect such men to apply 
plaster, in the first place, and much more, ashes in 
the second, who do not even apply such a rotation 
of crops as would tend to keep up the fertility of 
the soil ? 
Southern Planting , fyc. —I am glad to see such an 
article as this from such a man as Col. Hampton. 
Independent of his being one of the best farmers 
in South Carolina, as I am told he is, his 
name and position in society give his opinions a 
weight that produces an influence that cannot but 
be felt by those of less note. What a pity it is 
that many other gentlemen of his standing, would 
not write more. I hope we shall continue to be 
favored with his communications, now he has 
broken the ice. I wish he had told us how much 
land he put that large amount of manure upon, as 
to us, forty-acre Yankee farmers, it is a big heap. 
Race Horses vs. the Poor of Great Britain .— 
I wish you had not published this article. It 
