VOLUME III. NO. 7. /■ 
ROCHESTER, N. Y-THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1852 
: Slgrintltarnl li'j.nirfmnit. 
1 PHOORESS AM) IMPROVEMENT. 
THE MANAGEMENT OF WOOD LOTS. 
> - 
\ The cold, bleak weather of the present 
► winter lias often reminded us both in city 
! and country, that one seated at an open fire 
| placo, heaped with blazing wood,was enjoying 
i “ the sober company of Comfort,” and that 
!| fuel in some shape is an article of the first 
necessity. And, the high prices which it 
commands every where in this country, save 
in the wilderness itself, incites us to thoughts 
j on the sources and permanence of the sup¬ 
ply and the best means of its increase and 
preservation. 
Our Stato was once a dense forest, and, 
in the march of the pioneer, his sturdiest 
enemy seemed the old, thick standing trees 
which hid the fertile rallies from tho sun. 
Ilis work and his true policy was to clear 
away a portion of this growth that he might 
plant and sow, and gather food and wealth 
from the virgin soil. Through the long win¬ 
ter he plied the axe, and tho towering trees 
crashed often to the earth, and the skies of 
spring and summer were hazed by the smoko 
or reddened by the glare of burning logs 
which would have sufficed to heap the hearth¬ 
stones of a city with fuel. Only the most 
valuable oak and pine was saved and year 
after year tho work went on as long as the 
woods dared cast their morning or evening 
shadows on his humblo roof-tree. 
— But this, though no fancy picture, may 
seem misplaced here. Neither is it fancy that 
the value of our forests is coining home to 
the pockets of our farmers, as timber for 
lumber, fences and fuel yearly rises in val¬ 
ue. There has unquestionably been some 
mismanagement of our resources, and a few 
hints on tho time of cutting, or planting, 
and in relation to the sprouting and after¬ 
growth of forest trees may prove valuable 
to our readers. 
The season of the year when forests are 
cut off, has long been known to have an 
influence upon their future growth, as it 
may bo observed in every wood lot that cer¬ 
tain trees, without much regard to the kind 
of timber, sprout again freely, while the 
stumps of others send out few or no shoots 
and soon decay. We published lately the 
results of several experiments called out by 
a promium offered by a Mass. Ag.’l Society 
to test this question. Several years were 
allowed for tho trial and tho report of the < 
committee who made the award sets forth 
the conclusion, that trees cut in the spring ] 
when the sap flows most freely, almost al- I 
ways sprout again and send forth a most 1 
flourishing growth. The gentleman who i 
took the prize adds that lie is “satisfied that ; 
the nearer the ground wood is cut, tho bet- t 
tor the shoots will start and grow more 1 
thrifty, and aro less liablo to split down.”— 
From theso facts and opinions it would ap- j 
pear that we should cut timber from land 
that we wish to clear, when the sap will not t 
flow, and whore wo desire its growth again, f 
when it flows most freely. 
Whether it is best to cut only tho full a 
grown and decaying trees, leaving the young t 
and thrifty, or to cut clean, taking every li 
tree as wo go, is a disputed point. Those t 
who advise tho latter, say that as tho new f 
trees start up, all have an equal chanco and h 
mako a handsome, straight growth. The t 
trees will be many moro in number than n 
when the other course is pursued. Where o 
only the young and vigorous aro left, the b 
forest is comparatively thin, and tho most p 
thrifty troes spread wide thoir branches, b 
shading and discouraging any new grow’th. c; 
T his seeni3 good argument. However the t< 
question may bo decided, cattlo and tho fire u 
must bo kept from the woods, and a few years o 
will suffice in most cases to show a thrifty o: 
young forest, once more. cl 
I he valuo of most of our present farm tl 
wood lots may be increased by planting the o 
openings to young trees, and by encouraging fi 
an undergrowth,—which heretofore, in most t 1 
instances, has been destroyed by permitting 
cattle and sheep to browse our forost pas- r< 
tures. There are also on many farms, somo 
acres of broken ground, difficult of cultiva¬ 
tion on that account, which ought always to 
be kept in wood. Where they have been 
cleared, they should be planted again to 
such timber as the soil seems best adapted 
to produce. Many New England hillsides, 
in the old, long settled neighborhoods, 
have thus been clothed in verdure, and in¬ 
stead of being barren and worthless to the 
owner, they now bear a crop worthy hundreds 
of dollars the acre, and increasing in val¬ 
ue every year. 
A correspondent (F. W. L.) remarks that 
“ tho increased number of railroads, from 
the quantities of wood which they require 
as fuel, as well as the greater facilities for 
tho transportation of lumber which they ■ 
offer, must not only bring up, but keep up 
tho demand upon our forests.” Growing 
timber may become as profitable as most 
other crops, and we hopo at any rate, that 
all available means will bo made use of for 
the increase and preservation from needless 
waste of this great staple, and prime neces¬ 
sity of the country, as long as ships and 
houses are built of wood and its use for fuel 
continues. 
BREEDING.-SELECT THE BEST SIRES. 
In looking over a number of tho Gen. 
k Farmer of 1848, I read a communication of 
Mr. Bingham of Vermont, in relation to his 
! lino French Merinos—and noticed his re- 
> marks on tho importance ot selecting and 
obtaining “ the best sires for use, in order to 
improve one’s stock, let tho cost bo what it 
; may.” I consider his suggestions on this 
i point sound and valuable, and do not believe 
farmers, generally view tho subject correct¬ 
ly; or in a suitable degree realize its impor¬ 
tance. Thoro are many items that enter 
into tho structure and character of an ani¬ 
mal, that, united, constitute the measure of 
his excellence. But it is important that 
theso items should not be merely casual and 
contingent. Ihey should bo constitutional 
characteristics—so that reliance can be pla¬ 
ced on the fact, that they will be perpetua¬ 
ted in tho progeny. In sheep, these items 
are beauty of form, fine sizo, good constitu¬ 
tion, and excellence of fleece. This last 
item involves, fine length and beauty of sta¬ 
ple—uniformity of fineness all over the car¬ 
cass,—and to bo so thickly set upon the 
body, that in clipping, the shears can scarce¬ 
ly enter half an inch ; thus securing quan¬ 
tity as well as quality of fleece. These 
characteristics, by long and careful breeding, 
will become constitutional, and will be im¬ 
parted from the sire to his progeny. Hence 
the indispensable necessity to the farmer, 
who would perfect his stock, to select sires, 
not only the most perfect in themselves, but 
also those whoso history attests the fact, 
that this perfection has been inherited in the 
lino of a superior ancestry. 
These suggestions, adapted to the pur¬ 
poses of tho wool grower, aro particularly 
applicable to the improvement of neat cat¬ 
tle and horses. A high-bred horse, satis¬ 
factorily perfect in every particular, inher¬ 
iting his excellence in the line of a notable 
ancestry, is expected of course, to impart to 
the product of a common dam, one-half of 
his own good qualities—and tho product of 
this half-breed and tho same or a similar 
full bred sire, will inherit three-fourths of 
his valuable qualities—i. e., they will be 
three-quarter bloods. But tho farmer, in 
most cases, will breed from the three-fourth 
or half-blood sire instead of the full , 
bred, because tho chargo will be less; ex¬ 
pecting tho product of a common dam to 
be equal to tho half-blood sire, whereas it ( 
can be but half as good, being only a quar¬ 
ter blood. Now tho greatest improvement 
upon tho common stock of tho country can ( 
only bo realized, by a constant resort to sires 
of tho greatest perfection in all tho leading . 
characteristics of valuo. Ilenco'tho fact, t 
that Mr. B. has uniformly resorted to “sires ( 
of the best character, regardless of cost,” 
furnishes the key to the secret of tho beau¬ 
ty, sizo, and perfection of his stock. 
I ho article alluded to abovo, caused tho j 
reminiscence of an incident occurring' some . 
many fowl fanciers to be superior, taking 
all the good qualities desired into considera¬ 
tion, to any other breed. They aro hardy, 
o - - ■■ 
thy neighbor, Deacon B. on meeting me 
said, “ I understand sir, you have been get¬ 
ting a splendid bull, of. a breed highly cele¬ 
brated for milk.” 
“ Yes sir, I have,” I replied. 
“ Well, I have got a fine little cow, an ex- 
ii i. mi i,i. . ' mu uiuv two which was awarueu I rat.nor thinlr 
° 1S 1 Sim ’S . and 1 shiIlingS ’ and >’ ou ask mo a dollar.” that aI! of those fortunate seven wore badges 
charo-n v’° Ca 10m H I ^t 10 you ‘ Well, Deacon,’ I replied, “remember, of distinction on the Fair ground. 
“ Only one dollar, sir.” ’ 7 °™™ *° W * tW ° 8hU,ing CaIf ’’ For tho A Farmer. 
( ( A n „ ,i„ li, i i u i i . . I no next season passing him at his cate -- 
One dollai One dollar ! why it ,s a I inqured, “ Has your cow calved vet COTSWOLD SHEEP AND HEKEFOBD CATTLE. 
great price ! A, ™ • -. 
“Not0Teat Doar.nl! cnnsUlr.,.;™ ^ 1 }’ es > aml tho calf was butchered two Mu. Moore —Dear Sir :—I was 
‘Not great, Deacon, considering the cost weeks S ; I1W 
and valuo of the animal, and the expense of « „ i 3 ., . ° ~~ ~~~ *■ iii y oiu menu, 
his care and keeping.” K “J7 y ? f ° r * ’ Mr ‘ Cother’s, heavy sheep. I have long 
“ Well, I must have a heifer calf, I think.” « T L° en SU known him as a very successful breeder of 
The next spring he called at my gate and ( i n ]i. U ', ?< N ^ ' °f,l J 0U gave 1110 one c °tswolds, and also of Hereford cattle. Ho 
said, “ my cow has got a calf-I am greatly T ‘ ‘ 1 ™ ' y ° m ' CU f ° r ^ 15 ~ lcavin S a «d his brother-in-law, Mr. Wm. Hewer, of 
disappointed—it is not a heifer.” 1 ' , year you gave ‘ Sam j Northleach, Gloucester, have long been 
“I will Stop over with you, Deacon, and ™°rtSavta, C “STth•T"*'n !•**? -condanc, ; the former hav- 
socit. Well sir, it is a noble calf. What Ls.” P " U “ ceD ,M ' “ g P™c,pally used rams from tho flock of 
&o 6 , i worth?v^7 fl now 1 ™ b nhtak a tor |,■ H ° t " nl ° d ™ d ' ,01ll y on ( bia h ° o1 . d ™ppod months old, drossod with his head"'on! 
dollar bill ” ’ ’ ‘ / CJ ° “ pon , the S round , and entered his without caul or rough fat, that weighed 51* 
“ Oh i -nri i” i • t < 0 ° r ' Isow thero ar o too many farmers, : lb. per quarter. (Mr. Cother’s sheen were 
only consoling him D Z 
In a few days a gentleman from a northern ers. J , ! 0 g ea ^ tn ° bostot 
county called to purchase a bull calf. I said ___ * D ’ j judges—while hanging in the shambles at 
Mu. Moore — Dear Sir :—I was much 
gratified to see a notico of my old friend, 
Mr. Cother’s, heavy sheep. I havo long 
known him as a very successful breeder of 
to him: ‘ A REVIEW OF the cta-p o Stow in the Wol d, Gloucestershire, on Fair 
“I have none sir, not already engaged. THESIS *Am.- H 0. 2. day 1836-who thoroughly examined ,he 
But my neighbor has a fine calf, that will BY A gARM ER ‘ teeth °f lhc V^ling, and found him <o be of 
suit you, and he will sell it I presumo for Ik mv last T stafpd p • T - , V° <lge ^ l<3 was ro P reseilt od. I consider 
six or eight dollars, but 1 think a purchaser ought to bo revised for as it was Tho'funds I ' ' f° T° f’"*!®™ 6 ' 1 t0 an ? broodors 
tttotm 1 *° ° VOr With ° f t, So ®j et L "" 4' » low i :„ y E “fS rountr 118 “ 
“ ’ ' wealthy individuals, to the exclusion of the I I was further or-itifinD i.„ ,. 
. il f W Th- aV ° C ti led ’ DeaCOn ’ t0 Seo y° ur h0m ° P roducers - iIan y of tho premiums the pair of Herofords imported by Mr Eras- 
cal f -„ lhls gentleman wante t0 P ur chase on stock are too large m proportion to oth- tus Corning, as they were from the well- 
° n ,p, . or tlim S s * and t0 t! ‘° am ount appropriated known and spirited breeder Rev J R 
I ho good man was alarmed at the first on stock, in proportion to the number of Smythers, of Linch Court, whose exalted 
“ , . ,, compebtors, tho premiums ought to be character is too well known to need any 
« 0 f ,,7 * “?• S "“ "" m0ro numoro ““ » « ‘0 give on- comment. This gentlemen offered to show 
Oh you w,li selll um-as you don t wont couragemont to more of the producing far- any number of cows, heifers and calves of 
to keep hnn, you wdl sell bun at a suitable mors. differentages_„„t„vcr tweniy head-,!mU 
T ....... ,, .... . It is well known that thero are but a few bull or two, as would be discretionary with 
„ Fir: 1 F 1 * 1 shant 8C|1 h ' ms "' 1 °f“r ‘ b0 brc « ls of neat the views of the Royal Agricultural Society 
can t sell him.” stock in the State, and that thov am in , g h«nuunooueiy, 
nt , .. , , „ „ . . I* dIe 111 ^ho against a given number of any breeders or 
Shoitly after, another applicant appeared, hands ot a few individuals. To give the breed in the United Kingdom of Great Bri 
and we called on tho good man. “ Wo want same number of premiums on these few, as tain for one hundred pounds 
to see your calf sir. This gentleman wants on those that aro generally bred, is to pat- This challenge was intended lor animals 
to purchase. The old man fetched a sigh- ronfke a favorite few to the exclusion of the for all purposes. It was never accepted 
lie w gone sir. home breeders, which ought not to be done although left open for a year, and Mr.’ 
“Yes S ° A 10 r i,i ? i ^ Sn f Ut t ira association, whoso osten- Smythers said in a private letter to me last 
Yes. A stranger called, and I refused siblo deject is to increase and improve homo fall, that he was ready at any time to accept 
to sell. But ho pressed me so unreason- productions, and the elevation of the char- “It was a point of merit and not of boasting 
ably to name a price, that m order to get acter of the producers. I that induced him to muko this propositioa 
WHOLE NO. Hi. 
The native and grado cattle ought to ho 
exhibited in separate classes, for they can¬ 
not bo correctly judged of together; and 
each class ought to receive the same num¬ 
ber and amount of premiums as any of the 
improved breeds, for there are many valua¬ 
ble animals amongst them, and they number 
more than any of the improved breeds, and 
their owners and breeders aro the producing 
tanners, who ought to he encouraged. 
There were entered for competition at 
the List State Fair, 3o0 brood animals of 
neat stock which belonged in tho State, 
(viz., bulls, cows and heifers,) by 114 com¬ 
petitors, on which there were awarded 8.9 
premiums, amounting to $1,061—or viz., 87 
head ol Durhams, by 30 competitors, which 
received 23 premiums, amounting to $275. 
152 head of Devons, by 35 competitors 
which received the same number and ain’t, 
of premiums as the Durhams;—24 head of 
J Herefords,. by 5 competitors, which received 
i 19 premiums amounting to $248 ;—and 12 
j head of Ayreshires, by four individuals, to 
j which there was awarded 12 premiums 
amounting to $168. Seventy-four head of 
| native and grade cattle were entered, by 40 
MR. NEWELL’S WHITE SURREY DORKING. competitors, which received 12 premiums 
rp , y " amounting to $103, (which was 3 premiums, 
a o^q portrait, drawn from life, re- handsome, prolific, easily raised, and asset- amounting to $18, more than was on tho 
piesents a puio White Surrey Dorking ters and mothers not to be surpassed.— premium list.) $103 was awarded to 40 
ooster, tho piopcrty of Mr. I). P. Newell Browne’s American Poultry Yard says: competitors who exhibited 74 head, and 
o tiseitv As we have previously given a “Their bodies are long, plump and well- $168 to four individuals, who exhibited 12 
sketch of the origin and characteristics of fleshed, and the breeder as well as the house- head— which looks something; like favwitism 
hese fowls we need only refer to them in wife, generally beholds with delight their A further review of the premiums which 
cneral terms here. Ihey are thought by short legs, full, broad breasts, little waste in were awarded on tho above named stock is 
all n 1 IV tQ l ns (, Tal. and the hirge quantity of good, profita- worthy of notice. There were only two of 
all the good qualities desired into considera- ble flesh, tho flavor and appearance of which the competitors on the nitivo and Z jl 
t.on, to any other breed. They are hardy, is inferior to none.” o.nhT 8 
u c cattlo, who received more than one premi- 
^ .i . , , urn, and tliosc two only twoDroiniuiQs (Nidi • 
t y yoais ago, a amuset me at the rid of him, I said I would tako $15 for him, whereas on the improved stock one received 
= K'on^X'Z ^ het °° khimina — gone j ton ^ premiums, amounting 
said, “ I understand sir, you have been get- Meeting him some time after.— “Well j eight, $125—one fiv^iSS—one fturWs— 
ss"’ of * brecd hig% co '°' i •• “ ^ " av ° b °‘ con,c yet i t f™- .. • s „ 
“ Yes sir I have ” I renlied ! that SCV ° n ° ut of tho 114 competitors get 
“W ll t’u \ c 1-4, 0 1 no ’ 10 answcre d, have been to j 43 of the 89 premiums, and $547 of the 
Well, I have g-ot a fine little cow an ex- ‘Sam’s’ shop. He charges mo only two $1,061 which was awarded I rather think 
cellent milker, but she is erowins 1 old. and T stilling ...... , „ „ J ,, , .. ’ L llUn cr tnmk 
