REVIEW OF THE APRIL NUMBER OF THE AGRICULTURIST. 
191 
and learned article, upon a subject well worthy 
the attention of all scientific agriculturists, 
which shows that it flows from a well-informed 
mind, that has made the subject treated of, a 
study of careful attention. No doubt from the 
pen of some professor, or scientific gentleman, 
says the reader, perhaps. And yet, I say, if I 
am not much mistaken, this valuable article is 
from the pen of a lady. Not from one of that 
numerous class of wise farmers, who “ don’t know 
as your paper is of any use to them, as they do 
not reckon they could learn anything new in 
an agricultural paper.” 
Roads. —How is this? Do you seriously pro¬ 
pose to combat the old and firmly-established 
notion of straight roads. Up hill or down, 
through swamps or fields, no matter where—the 
road must be straight. This is the modern 
American science of laying out roads. And 
you might as well try to move the mountains 
over which they climb, as to move the fixed 
opinion in favor of the direct line over the hill, 
instead of the equally short one on a level 
round it. I have read of the “emigrating 
hoards of rats,” that they .never turn aside for 
any obstacle; and I have seen the same thing 
illustrated by the squirrels in Ohio.- During 
their greht emigrations, they will climb over all 
obstacles or swim ponds, rather than go around; 
and it always seemed to me that those who 
make and travel roads in this country, are pos¬ 
sessed of the same blind faculty of seeing noth¬ 
ing but what is directly before them. You may 
keep on driving at this species of insanity, and 
I will always be ready to lend you a hand, and 
let us see if we cannot wake up enough good 
sense in men, until they are as willing to go 
around the hill as over it. 
Improved Shorthorns — Bates' Stock. —To nine 
tenths of your readers, this article is as uninter¬ 
esting as would be a pedigree of Noah’s stock 
printed in Greek, or Pottawattomie. As I go 
distinctly against all “bull fights,” I shall rank 
this one between your two correspondents in 
the same category of those more bloody ones I 
have seen at the “ Plaza de Toros,” in Spain. I 
am sorry that you should so far cater to the 
taste of the baiters, as to furnish them the ground 
on which to make such an uninteresting exhibi¬ 
tion, which, unlike baiting in the ring, we may 
see or let alone. You compel us here, in look¬ 
ing over the pages of our favorite journal, to 
take a look at it. As I see we are threatened 
with another exhibition, I wish to enter my pro¬ 
test to show non-assent,” and to assure you that 
I shall “ take the bull by the horns,” if thrust at 
us again, I hope this will be the last bull fight 
in the Agriculturist. [We cannot agree with 
our correspondent here, for pedigrees are of 
great importance. —Eds.] 
Guano vs. Worn-out Land. —There might be 
thousands of equally strong statements made of 
the value of guano, and yet people would say 
they could not afford to buy it, it is so dear. 
The value of this guano, if applied to small 
grain, and followed by clover, would be far 
greater than is shown by this statement, for the 
advantage to the clover and succeeding crop 
of corn would be more than appears to this 
crop. 
The Best Rotation of Crops. —Perhaps it is pre¬ 
sumptuous in such a young farmer as I am to 
dispute anything advanced by so old a one as 
Judge Beatty; yet if I differ in opinion from 
him I shall venture to state it. First, then, I do 
not think the cultivation of a variety of crops 
requires more fencing, if the most profitable and 
judicious system of fencing were once adopted, 
and that is, no fencing upon strictly grain or 
hemp farms, as I think his is; though I am 
aware that he keeps considerable stock, partic¬ 
ularly sheep, but these are mostly kept in per¬ 
manent pastures; and all the advantage that he 
derives from pasturage of his fields after divest¬ 
ed of the crops, will not pay for keeping up 
fences. He charges" upon wheat that it is “ a 
very exhausting crop.” Now I venture to say 
that if Judge Beatty had taken any one of his 
fields, the soil of which is limestone clay, and 
sowed it in wheat the first crop that he ever 
planted upon “Prospect Hill,” and continued it 
in wheat and clover alternate years ever since, 
which is a period of near fifty years, giving 
back to the land the straw only, that the last 
crop would have been as good as the first. It 
is not the wheat crop that is so exhausting, it is 
the manner of treating the land. ‘ The corn 
should be plowed deep,” is another point that 
we shall differ upon. 1 think corn land should 
be plowed deep, I don’t care how deep, if it is 
two feet all the better, but never plowed deep 
while the crop is growing. 
Valuable Breed of Fowls. —Whether fowl or fair, 
if you have got anything new , do send them to 
Boston. No matter whether their legs are blue 
or green, you will find somebody there green 
enough to grab at them. 
Georgia Farming. —I differ somewhat from 
the opinion of Mr. Moore, (who, if I mistake not, 
is an old acquaintance of mine,) about oak 
leaves for manure. If spread at the rate of 100 
cart loads to the acre, with fifty bushels of lime, 
I think he would see a great benefit. 
American Wine. —I never shall be able to en¬ 
dorse the quality, until my worthy old friend 
Longworth sends me a dozen or so down to the 
“ Valley.” I think if I should call to mind a few 
of the scenes of our youth, that he would not 
only send it, but come and help drink it. 
Guano .—I commend this article to the atten¬ 
tion of every person about to purchase, and then 
let him be sure he gets the genuine article, be 
careful from whom he buys, or he may buy “ a 
pig in the poke.” 
• The Farm of L. M. Stevens , Norwalk , Connecti¬ 
cut .—This is coming too near home for me to 
venture to say much, lest I should betray my¬ 
self. I am truly glad to see this farm described, 
not only for the benefit of Mr. Robinson, but to 
encourage others to “go and do likewise.” I 
know this farm well in Auld Lang Syne, and I 
can truly say, that I was highly delighted when 
visiting it a short time ago, to see the great im¬ 
provements which Mr. Stevens has made there.^ 
Poultry Inquiries .—Will any other domestic 
animals succeed so well in large flocks or herds 
