FISH PONDS ON LONG ISLAND. 
107 
otherwise excreted, are assimilated by the ani¬ 
mal system, in the form of fat, also aiding in 
the composition of other animal substances re¬ 
quiring, in addition to nitrogen, carbon, hydro¬ 
gen, and oxygen for their formation, such as 
muscle, gelatine, &c. It forms no part of this 
question whether fat is assimilated only from 
fat which pre-existed in the animal’s food, as 
asserted by Dumas and Boussingault, or that 
fat is formed from the starch of the food. 
According to all that is at present ascertained 
on this subject, the dispute has little practical 
bearing on the matter in question; this much, 
however, is certain, that all parties concur in 
opinion, that animal heat is derived from the 
combustion of the carbon of the starchy matters 
ingested, and may be so by the combustion of 
fatty matters; in fact, in cases of fever and 
starvation, we know no other way how the ani¬ 
mal heat is maintained than by combustion of 
the fat previously stored up in the system. The 
rapid diminution of weight in animals attacked 
with fever is well known, and is invariably co¬ 
incident with an increased circulation of the 
blood and higher animal temperature. 
The preceding brief physiological dissertation 
is inserted because, on the circumstances just 
detailed, in a great measure depend the relative 
qualities of the different breeds for early or late 
fattening; and also has a most important bearing 
on the kinds of food which ought to be employ¬ 
ed at the various periods of their growth, as 
will be shown hereafter when the subject of 
feeding and fattening is taken into considera¬ 
tion. 
--- 
FISH PONDS ON LONG- ISLAND. 
The Suffolk Democrat has a very interesting 
article on the raising of fish for market and 
food. The following statements may prove of 
utility:— 
In the immediate vicinity of our office are 
two ponds containing trout, where the prop¬ 
agation of fish has, we believe, been satisfacto¬ 
rily settled by the proprietors. One of these 
ponds is on the farm of Dr. Rhinelander, and 
the other on the farm of Ezra C. Prime, Esq. 
These ponds have been artificially constructed, 
according to the judgment and taste of the gen¬ 
tlemen named, and contain, at present, a vast 
number of trout, including some large speci¬ 
mens. Gideon Lee, formerly Mayor of New 
York, but now deceased, constructed on his 
farm, near Seneca Lake, several years ago, a 
large pond for the rearing of fish, which most 
profitably confirmed his expectations in this 
respect. 
Mr. John Delafield, formerly a distinguished 
banker in the city of New York, has on the 
east side of Seneca Lake, what is considered a 
model farm, and obtained the prize for the best 
conducted farm in the state of New York. He 
has a pond which covers about an acre of 
ground, artificially constructed. Good fish are 
propagated in it, and they supply his table once 
or twice a-week. These ponds can be easily 
constructed in many places on the north and 
south borders of Long Island, and with com¬ 
paratively trifling expense; and we believe 
that our farmers, who lack neither enterprise 
nor the light of science, will yet give some at¬ 
tention to this subject. 
--- 
THE LARGEST CROP OF WINE EVER MADE IN THE 
SOUTH. 
From the Alabama Planter, we clip the fol¬ 
lowing, which will show to what extent this 
branch of industry is carried on in the south :— 
My crop of grapes and wine, so far as I know, 
are the largest ever made in our southern 
country, though far below that made along the 
Ohio, under the auspices of Mr. N. Longwortb, 
the enterprising vinter of the west. I made up¬ 
wards of 60 barrels at the Brinkleyville vine¬ 
yard from my own vines, besides a number of 
barrels made at my presses by neighbors. 
Then, some considerable quantity of grapes 
were sold at 50 cents per gallon—the number 
of bushels not ascertained; though for more 
than two months there were constant or daily 
applications for grapes, and visitors at the same 
time partaking of and carrying away quanti¬ 
ties. Besides these drains, on every Saturday, 
pic-nic parties of 50,60 and 70 persons obtained 
supplies. 
Now, at 50 cents per gallon, or $4 per bushel, 
it is possible to realise $2,400 from one acre, 
for the rate of 600 bushels per acre can be had. 
But even $2,000 is enough of agricultural pro¬ 
duct, in all conscience, you will say, to realise 
from one acre of ground. I say possible, for 
except near large cities, or in the vicinity of 
railroad or steamboat lines convenient to large 
cities, hundreds of bushels cannot be disposed 
of. And wines at even $1 per gallon, agreea¬ 
bly to Scuppernong yields, ($3 per bushel and 
more,) a vast income per acre would be the re¬ 
sult. So much so, that so soon as ascertained 
by a few enterprising southern men, and indue 
course of time, the usual competition following,, 
a sufficiency of the best wines would probably 
be made in the south to supply the whole 
country, and thus render us independent of for¬ 
eign markets for a luxury now deemed almost 
