352 
CATTLE SHOW AND FAIR OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 
other materials do not abound; but where labor 
is more plenty than cash, and stone more abun¬ 
dant than either—often requiring to be drawn 
scarcely two rods—I think it judicious to use 
the “abominable nuisances” for fence. It is true, 
stone walls sometimes fall by the action of the 
frost, but this depends much upon the skill dis¬ 
played in building. On many farms the main 
concern must be to get something to keep soul 
and body together, “beautiful landscapes” being 
a secondary consideration. 
I may be called the opposite of “hard-headed,” 
but the above are my views. Did “Old Joe” 
sanction the article from which I have quoted ? 
Turnips .—I wish to notice the remarks on 
turnips, in notes from a Kitchen Gardener’s Mem¬ 
orandum Book, in the April No. The writer 
says, for “fodder, turnips are the least valuable of 
all the agricultural roots, and but little prized as 
a culinary vegetable.” Both parts of the state¬ 
ment are at fault, according to my notions* 
Turnips may be less nutritious than most other 
roots, but for animals that “ part the hoof and 
chew the cud,” they are wholesome and valuable 
in connection with other food. They are by no 
means to be despised as fodder for oxen, milch 
cows or sheep ; and as for their being but little 
prized as a culinary vegetable, if I should ever 
have the privilege of sitting down to a “ boiled 
dish” at the writer’s table, and the bowl of 
mashed and buttered turnips was wanting, I 
should make a dinner without it of course, 
though I do not at home, when I can get it. The 
writer of the notes considers the chief value of 
turnips in being a “secondary crop,” after the 
ground has been occupied by a more profitable 
growth. How much more profiitable ? Ground 
well prepared will, in a favorable season, pro¬ 
duce 5 or 6 bushels of turnips to the square rod. 
Is not that sufficiently “profitable ?” 
Housing Cows in Summer .—Many have adopt¬ 
ed the notion that they should be housed in all 
cases. Doubtless, where there is a cellar, the 
manure, solid and liquid, is or may be best 
saved in this way. But in the absence of a 
collar, it is better to let them lie out. Throw the 
droppings into one or two piles at the sides of 
the yard daily, and cover them with loam. 
Let the yard be overspread with loam, or 
other substance to absorb the urine, and let it 
be occasionally turned over. 
Dishing Cow Yards .—An idea is generally 
prevalent, that cow yards should be dishing, but 
1 think about as much is lost as gained by such 
yards. In powerful rains the strength of ma¬ 
nure is washed into a large puddle in the mid¬ 
dle, to be wafted into the atmostphere by evap¬ 
oration when the weather becomes fair. I have 
dipped up puddles formed in low places, to pre¬ 
vent loss. I prefer a yard nearly as level as 
may be. J. W. Pillsbury. 
Milford , N. H., July 3, 1851. 
CATTLE SHOW AND FAIR OF THE AMERICAN IN¬ 
STITUTE. 
The articles exhibited the present season were 
more select than usual, and a decided improve¬ 
ment in many things, particularly in the cutlery, 
implements for the farmers and mechanics. The 
horticultural department was one of the best 
displays we have yet seen at Castle Garden. In 
glass, silver plated, and other ware, we notice a 
higher finish and superior models. 
The cattle show was more select than usual. 
Of the horses present, the best were of the fa¬ 
mous Long Island trotting stock. Mr. Stevens 
and Mr. Hurlbut’s Devons were very fine; while 
Messrs. Spencer, Morris, Beck, Haight, Slate, 
Bathgate, and others, were conspicuous with 
their noble shorthorns. Messrs. Prentice. Morris, 
and Tiffany, were well represented in Ayrshire?, 
more particularly the former; and Mr. Colt, as 
usual,was strong in the rich cream, Alderneys and 
his lion-like Hungarians. Of working oxen, old 
Connecticut sent forth a goodly number of her 
beautiful red cattle. Sheep of the various breeds 
were there, with attendant shepherd dogs. As 
to grunters, the very perfect shape of the Essex 
black, and the white Suffolks, called forth high 
praise. The Berkshires looked well as usual; 
and the Lincolns stretched forth their long 
bodies and great height, to the admiration of all 
amateurs of large swine. 
The poultry was uncommonly varied, and 
good in each kind; and we will at last confess to 
having seen there one short legged and good 
formed Shanghae hen. 
Upon the whole, we think this fair of the 
Institute an improvement upon' its prede¬ 
cessors ; and it shows a continued progress of 
the arts and manufactures, stock breeding and 
farming, in the United States. 
-- 
NATIONAL PLOWING- MATCH. 
This splendid affair came off at Bridgeport, 
Connecticut, early in September. P. T. Bar- 
num, Esq., had, with great liberality offered pre¬ 
miums to the amount of $200, open to the whole 
United States. There were twenty-nine entries. 
All the premiums were taken by those who used 
Messrs. Ruggles, Noflrse, Mason & Co’s, cele¬ 
brated eagle and Deep Tiller plows. 
The Sentinel and Witness says—the scene 
