VOLUME IV. NO. 41 !- 
V.-SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1S5 
PAOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER : 
A QUARTO WEEKLY 
Agricultural, Literary and Family Newspaper. 
CONDUCTED BY B. D. T. MQOBE, 
WITH AX ABLE CORPS OF ASSISTANT EDITORS. 
I climate, bat tho immense amount of labor 
required that prevents tho cultivation of 
roots. “ You know, sir, that wo havo to pay 
tvvico as much for hired help hero as in 
England, and it requires much more labor 
to cultivate an acre of turnips than an acre 
of wheat or corn. Tho ground requires to 
bo mado in very fmo order; tho turnips 
should bo sown in drills; then they must bo 
s'ngled out ten inches apart and hand hoed 
t .vico.to keep them clean, and after wo have 
got a crop, thero is so much work harvesting 
thorn that wo havo given up root cultivation 
altogether.” So say many intelligent Eng¬ 
lish and Scotch farmers, with whom we 
have conversod on this subject. Will cor¬ 
respondents give us their views ? 
Tns Rural New-Yorker is designed to be unique and 
beautiful in appearance, and unsurpassed in Value, Purity 
and Variety of Contents. Its conductors earnestly labor 
to make it a Reliable Guide on the important Practical Sub- 
jects connected with the business of those whose interests 
it advocates. It embraces more Agricuitural, Horticul¬ 
tural, Scientific, Mechanical, Literary and News Matter— 
interspersed with many appropriate and handsome engrav¬ 
ings— than any other paper published in this Country. 
SOILS-THEI3 COMPOSITION-No. I. 
Mr. Moore :—1 find a difficulty in deter¬ 
mining what constitutes good soils, and what 
tho radical difference is between two soils of 
the same general 
Progress and Improvement 
It is a well established fact that moro 
nutritious-matter can bo obtained from an 
acre of land in root crops, than in any other. 
Thus an acre of Mangel Wurzel, of twenty 
tons bulbs ar.d eight tons loaves, would yield 
in bulbs 5,000 pounds, and in leaves 2,000 
pound* of dry matter.—while forty bushels 
ot wheat contain only 192 lbs., and that of 
the straw 1,000 lbs. dry matter. A crop of 
Timothy of two tons of hay would yield not 
more than 3,500 lbs. of dry matter, wliilo an 
equal weight of Clover hay contains only 
3,200 lbs. ' 
While, then, roots as a class contain some 
ninety per cont of water, they nevertheless 
yield more dry substance than any other 
agricultural crop. Then, again, there is 
less effete matter in tho dry substanco of 
roots than in most other plants. Clover, 
timothy, straw, corn stalks, bran, and almost 
everything olso commonly used for food, 
contains a very largo pi-oportion of ivoody 
fibre that is no moro nutritious than an equal 
weight of chips. Common meadow hay 
and dry potatoes contain nearly tho same 
amount of nitrogenous compounds — say 
nino per cent, of albumen, the flesh-forming 
principle. In tho potato, however, tho 
other SI lbs. is starch, while in tho hay it is 
nearly all woody fibre. 
Wo can obtain, then, not only a greater 
quantity of dry substanco, but also a much 
greater amount of truly nutritious matter 
in roots than from any other crop. Nor is 
this all. Tho impoverishing effects on tho 
soil should also bo taken into consideration. 
In this respect practical experience and 
scientific experiment alike decide in favor 
of turn'ps, ruta bagas, mangels, &c. (Wo 
fear potatoes are an exception; there have 
been no experiments mado, that wo aro 
awaro of, that settle this point, but common 
experience indicates that tho potato is rather 
an exhausting crop.) It is well known, that 
where a turnip is abundantly supplied with 
available inorganic matter, it is compara¬ 
tively independent of organic matter in tho 
soil, obtaining carbonic acid and ammonia 
from tho atmosphere, sufficient for an 
average crop. 
Root crops, therefore, not only afford a 
large amount of truly nutritive mattor. but 
this matter is principally obtained from 
the atmosphero. Ilonco, tho cultivation of 
roots is one grand moans of increasing the 
amount of organic matter on a farm ; and 
it is of organic matter, especially of ammoif a, 
that our soils aro deficient, 
appearance, and when 
analyzed by the chemists, aro so near aliko, 
or tho difference so unimportant — yet tho 
ono is rich, and tho other poor. Now as I 
understand tho theory of tho creation and 
deposition of soil — of tho ontiro earthy 
matter covering tho rocky nucleus of this 
globe,—it is tho result of tho decomposition 
and mechanical abrasion of tho original 
rocks, that composed, tho entiro creation, 
and that it has boon distributed over tho 
surface by tho agency of water—great floods 
anterior to tho Noachic dehigo; which, if 
truo, would givo about tho samo consistency 
to all soils, oxcept the difference of density 
and bulk, which with tho velocity of tho 
water would deposit clays at ono period and 
sand of different fineness at others ; still it 
must follow, that from tho long action and 
tremendous power of theso ancient floods, 
that these moving and grinding soas of sand 
mustcomo to a nearly uniform compound. 
I have looked over perhaps ono hundred 
of tho analyses of soils made by tho best 
chemists in this country and Europe, and 
find so little variation in thoso materials that 
influonco tho producing abilities of soil, that 
I have lost faith in their importance. 
All the soils of this globe are nearly uni¬ 
form in being composed of nine-tenths sand, 
or silox, and clay, a trace of lime, and a few 
other adventitious and unimport: 
THE PROPERTY OF MR. GEO. HEWER, OF LEY GORE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, EXGLAND, FOR WHICH THE FIRST PRIZE 
WAS AWARDED 
AT THE MEETING OF THE ROYAL AG. SOCIETY, HELD AT WINDSOR, JULY, 1851 
COTSWOLD SHEEP. 
the best Chemists of the age,—yet, at the present 
time, it is involved in much obscurity. Some 
recent discoveries, however, lead us to hope that 
we shall receive light on this interesting point ere 
long. That a Chemist, by analyis, can tell which 
of two soils is fertile, and which compotfaltvc/v 
sterile, we know to be impossible in the prescni 
state of analytical chemistry. \\ e consider money 
and time devoted to soil analyses thrown awav, so 
far as any immediate piactieal benefit is concerned, 
yet a thorough chemical investigation of soils is of 
much scientific value. 
The fact that our correspondent has examined 
one hundred analyses of soils, and finds that they 
are composed principally of, sand and clay, with 
a trace of lime, is attributable to the imperfection 
of the analyses. There can be no doubt, that ail 
soils capable of growing a blade of grass, or a 
Canada thistle, contain every one of the nine in¬ 
organic elements of plants. The fact that Chem¬ 
ists do not find them in such soils, oidy proves 
that a Canada thistle is much the best analist. 
The thistle found them in the soil, as proved by 
the fact that it contains them. Does our friend 
suppose that the rain brings the potash, soda, 
magnesia, sulphuric and phosphoric acids found 
in all agricultural plants? Recent investigations 
in Paris indicate that this supposition is not so 
chimerical as it was considered a few mouths ago. 
Yet, hat rain-water supplies the mineral elements 
of plants to anything like the amount required by 
a crop of wheat or corn, we cannot for one mo¬ 
ment suppose. 
We have no more faith in special manures, in the 
popular acceptation of that term, than has our 
coriespondent. r I hat is to say, we do not think, 
because the asli of wheat contains 50 per cent of 
phosphoric acid, that phosphoric acid must ne¬ 
cessarily be a fiist rate manure for wheat: nor 
because the ash of turnips contains 40 per cent of 
potash, that, therefore, potash is the best manure 
for turnips, for we know from repeated experi¬ 
ments that such is not the case. Yet, if experi¬ 
ence shall show, that ammonia is specially benefi¬ 
cial for wheat, and that phosphoric acid is speci¬ 
alty advantageous to turnips—as it does — we 
cannot but believe in special manures. 'The dif¬ 
ference between us on tliis point is referable to 
what we understand by special manures.— Eds. 
| by the Astor, Metropolitan, and other large 
1 hotels to pay twenty cents per pound for all good 
j South-Down mutton sent them. We presume 
j under the'-hhacl South-Down, all coarse wooled 
j sheep a re.-included. With such prices, and there 
j is no prospect that they will he materially lower- 
I ed, wno- can doubt the'economy of keeping mut¬ 
ton sheep. 
Mr e recommend any of our readers who have 
flocks of common Merino sheep on any of tho 
leading railroads, to place with them a Leicester or 
South-Down buck the latter end of this month or 
the beginning of next Every lamb next summer 
will fetch from $1,50 to $3. Of course you will 
not think of breeding from such a cross, but will 
sell off all the lambs to the butcher. Every far¬ 
mer we have met with who adopted this plan last 
by judicious selection in breeding; their aptitude 
to fatten and mature early has been much increas¬ 
ed, though, at the same time, their size lias been' 
somewhat reduced. They are, however, at pres¬ 
ent, quite large euough, averaging, when well bred, 
at a year old 150 lbs. live weight, while 4C0 lbs. 
is no uncommon weight for them to attain when 
kept and fatted for show. Compared with South- 
Downs, or even with New Leicesters, they are a 
coarse sheep. In tho Smithfield market, Cotswold 
mutton is not worth so 
lb. as that of tho Sussex-Down, 
termed “the poor man' 
much by three cents per 
They have been 
sheep,” on account of 
the low price at which their mutton can be sold. 
In this case, as in most others relating to the great 
practical arts of life, experience indicated what 
scientific experiment has clearly brought to light. 
4 he experiments of Mr. Lawes, as given by that 
gentleman in the Genesee Farmer for August, 
” On the comparative fattening qualities of the 
various English-brceds of sheep,” demonstrate that 
the Cotswolds will lay on fat with greater rapidi¬ 
ty and move in proportion to the amount of food 
consumed than that of any other breed. The 
following table gives the pith of the results of 
these accurately conducted experiments: 
Oil-cake. Hay. Turnips. 
lbs. oi. lbs. oz. lbs. 
Cotswold, . ‘259 12 219 1 3603 
Hampshire,.291 259 12 39 tl 
Leicester,. 262 8 251 3759 
Hail-breed wethers. 261 251 37;<5 
do ewes,. 263 250 3666 
Sussex. 314 4 304 3 4686 
1 he “half-breed” was obtained by placing a 
Sussex ewe with a Leicester buck — a favorite 
cross iu England, by which it is supposed that the 
fine flavor of the South-Down is combined with 
the increased size and superior fattening qualities 
ot the Leicester. It will be seen by the table 
that the Sussex-Downs consumed 54 lbs. oil-cake, 
84 lbs. clover hay, and 478 lbs. ruta baga, to pro¬ 
duce 100 lbs. of increase more than the Cotswolds, 
and that the Cotswolds are superior, in this respect, 
to all others. They are thus shown to be “ the 
poor man’s sheep.” 
The Cotswold sheep have been imported into 
this country to some extent. They are held in 
high estimation by those who possess them, — and 
their wool is said to be finer, longer and heavier 
than the Leicester, though this is by no means 
certain. The Cotswold, Teeswater, Lincoln, New 
Oxfordshire, and Leicester sheep, being of large 
size, with long open wool, we should suppose that 
they would not stand the rigors of our northern 
winters so well as the South-Down, Merino, or 
other smaller, close wooled sheep. This, however, 
does not appear to be the case ; those who have 
most profitable sheep to raise. 
SOURING FOOD FOR CATTLE AND ECG3. 
liiE cause is rather remote upon which this 
principle is based. It is asserted upon good au¬ 
thority that Rye, Barley, or Indian Coni meal, 
made into a mash and allowed to ferment and 
pass into the same state, when mixed with cut 
hay, straw, or other dry vegetable food, exhibits 
the most marked fattening effects. A very con¬ 
sistent and observing friend of ours remarked the 
other day, that he could with barley meal aloue, 
properly fermented and soured, make hogs as fat 
in sir weeks, as they could, or ought to be, and 
that he preferred such process to cooking the food 
or any other method. 
It is a familiar fact to all feeders of swine, that 
sour and coagulated milk is worth one quarter 
more for those animals, than fresh and sweet mil c; 
but how its action in that state is to bo accounted 
for, and its operation on the animal economy of 
the stomach, is not very apparent. It is known 
by the experiments of Dr. Beaumont, that milk 
and all substauces capable of coagulation arc al¬ 
most instantly changed on mixing with the gastric 
juice, and tbe rejection of milk by the infant im¬ 
mediately after sucking, also shows that fact. 
ant min¬ 
orals. In some, tho eilex prevails and in 
others clay greatly predominates, but thoso 
t vo earths composo all tho different admix¬ 
ture of soils that aro cognizablo by any of 
our senses. 
I havo very littlo faith in special manures, 
that is, particular manures for particular 
soils, nor in mineral manures of any kind ; 
nor do I believe that a soil can bo improved 
as a soil, independent of its producing 
ability, except by proporly compounding tho 
quantity of clay to tho sand. 
Then tho quostion recurs, what aro the 
peculiarities or components that constitute 
a good over a poor one, being in composition 
so near alike? I havo an idea, perhaps not 
a very clear ono or very philosophical: I 
think that subsoils or straturns of pervious, 
or impervious matter, havo an important 
influonco on vegotation, but tho two greatest 
items required are, vegetable matter in a 
proper stato of docay, and tho ability of ono 
soil over anothor to contain, retain and 
absorb water. 
Water is tho grand agent of vegetable 
life and production, and with it and a proper 
quantity of decayed vegetable mattor, any 
soil with a proper admixturo of clay and 
sand, and of a propor fineness and division 
of particles, will produco ono as well as 
another. Tho gases generated in the earth 
that aro solublo in water, and tho constitu¬ 
ents of tho atmosphere, I havo no doubt 
havo some agency in tbe vegetable economy, 
and I do not believe that any thing else is 
taken up or carried into circulation,—and 
therefore all special manures adapted for 
particular soils, are of as doubtful benefit, 
to my conception, as tho introduction of 
big chickens. L. Manly. 
Chestnut Ridge, 1853. 
Remarks :—What is the composition of soils? 
is a question that has occupied the attention of i 
Remedy for Wixter-Kill.— This disease some¬ 
times attacks cattle and sheep early in spring— 
occasionally terminating fatally, even before that 
period. The following recipe was given by a 
Western cattle doctor, and is found a sure pre¬ 
ventive or cure: 
It.—Refug. opt. q. s. 
Zea. pulv. q. s. 
Aq. font. q. s. 
Which the unprofessional reader may translate: 
good shelter, corn meal, and clear water—the Zea. 
pulv. to be applied as a poultice to the mucous 
membrane of the stomach. It may be well to 
add that the crows denounce the above recipe as 
rank quackery, and a gross infringement of their 
.fights and privileges. We hope none of our 
readers will remain strangers to its virtues. 
It is cortain 
that tbe yield of wheat, in a range of from 
20 to 40 bushels por acre, is dependant on 
tho quantity of ammonia in tho soil.— 
Undordraining, and tho extensive cultivation 
of roots, aro tho two principal causos of the 
groat amount of produco obtainod on an 
English farm. With their gonoral introduc¬ 
tion here, wo shall witness a like improve¬ 
ment in our acroago productions, especially 
in the yield of wheat. 
Wo had supposed that it was tho want ol 
congenial climate that retarded tho cultiva¬ 
tion of roots in this country, but find that 
English and Scotch farmers are of opinion 
that they can, with tho samo labor, obtain 
quito as largo root crops hero as in Great 
Britain. They all agree, that it is not tho 
