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“PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT.’ 
[SINGLE NO. FIVE CENTS. 
YOU. IX. NO. 3.1 
ROCHESTER, N. Y.-SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1858. 
5WHOLE NO. m, 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
AN ORIGINAL WEEKLY 
Agricultural, Literary ami Family Newspaper. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
WITH AN ABLE CORPS OP ASSISTANT EDITORS. 
The Rural Nf.w-Torker is designed to be unsurpassed n 
A’able, Purity, Usefulness and Variety of Contents, and unique and 
beautiful in Appearance. Its Conductor devotes bis personal atten¬ 
tion to the supervision of its various departments, and earnestly labors 
to render the Rural an eminently Reliable Guido on the important 
Practical, Scientific and other Subjects intimately connected with the 
business of those whose interests it zealously advocates. It embraces 
more Agricultural, Horticultural, Scientific, Educational. I.iterary and 
News Matter, interspersed with appropriate and beautiful Engravings, 
than any other journal—rendering it the most complete Agricultu¬ 
ral Literary and Family Journal in America 
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS t 
Prof. C. DEWEY, I/r. M. F. MAURY, 
T. C. PETERS, H. T. BROOKS, 
T. & ARTHUR, Mrs. M. J. HOLMES, 
Miss E. C. HUNTINGTON, Miss C. A HOWARD. 
JENNY MARSH PARKER 
EJV” All communications, and business letters, should be addressed 
to D, D. T. MOORE, Rochestcr,»N. Y. 
For Terms and other particulars, see last page. 
THE SOIL. 
The Soil is the farmer’s capital—to make it pay 
him good profits, his business. His means are in¬ 
vested in land, and from its generous bosom he 
must draw support for himself and family,—house, 
food, clothing, fuel, books, papers, education for 
his children — all the necessaries of life without 
which man cannot live, and all those luxuries with¬ 
out which life is hardly worth the having. The 
President in the White House, our ministers at 
foreign courts, the American loungers in Paris or 
Home, the missionary on the burning sands of Af¬ 
rica, the merchant in his counting-room, and the 
mechanic at his bench, all derive sustenance from 
American soil. Truly does the Scriptures say, “ the 
profit of the earth is for all; the king himself is 
served by the field.” This fact no political econo¬ 
mist can deny, no sophism can conceal. To keep 
his capital from depreciation, and in such a condi¬ 
tion that it may be able to honor his many and ne¬ 
cessary’drafts, so as to be in no danger of a panic, 
and that no suspension may become necessary, is 
the great business of the farmer. It is, then, of 
the greatest importance that we should know the 
character of the soil which a kind Providence has 
provided for our sustenance, and the best method 
of securing this desirable result. 
We need not tell American farmers that our soil 
differs in character, that we have clayey, loamy and 
sandy soils—nor that these different soils require 
a different treatment, and are suited to different 
crops. And yet we often think these important 
matters are forgotten, for how few who send us re¬ 
ports of their crops, of their success, or their fail¬ 
ures, give even a hint as to the nature of the soil 
in which the crops were grown, or the experiments 
tried. Then there is much need of information as 
to the best manner of cropping and manuring the 
different varieties of soil. We know of land in 
this section, that ten or fifteen years ago, was con¬ 
sidered so entirely unsuited to agricultural pur¬ 
poses that it was thought no sane man would buy 
it for farming purposes. Starvation or retreat 
was supposed to be the sure fate of any one bold 
enough to try the experiment These land 9 are 
now the most productive and valuable of any in 
this part of the State. This change has been bro’t 
about by skillful culture and a wise adaptation of 
crops to the soil. Valuable information is possess¬ 
ed by the cultivators of this land, which we hope 
soon to lay before our readers. 
Every farmer should possess a general knowledge 
of the formation, composition, character, and clas¬ 
sification of soils, and on these points we propose 
to give two or more plain articles, and while we 
do not design to present any thing particularly 
new or original, we shall endeavor to make the 
whole subject so plain that it will be understood 
and remembered by all. 
CHARACTER AND FORMATION OF SOILS. 
Soils are those portions of the earth’s surface 
which contain a mixture of mineral, animal, and 
vegetable substances in such proportions as to 
adapt them to the support of vegetation. We quote 
trom a valuable article in Morton's Encyclopedia .— 
“On examining the various soils in this or any other 
country, they will be found to consist generally, 
1. Of larger or smaller stones, sand, or gravel. 
2. Of a more friable, lighter mass, crumbling to 
powder when squeezed between the fingers, and 
rendering water muddy. 3. Of vegetable and ani¬ 
mal remains (organic matter.) 
On further examination of the several portions 
obtained by means of washings, we find, 
1. That the sand, gravel, and fragments of stones 
vary according to the nature of the rocks from 
which they are derived. Quartz-sand, in one case, 
will be observed as the predominating constituent; 
in another, this portion of the soil consists princi¬ 
pally of a calcareous sand; and, in a third, a simple 
inspection will enable us to recognize fragments of 
granite, felspar, mica, and other minerals. 
2. In the impalpable powder, the chemist will 
readily distinguish principally fine clay, free silica, 
free alumina, more or less oxide of iron, lime, magne¬ 
sia, potash, soda, traces of oxide of manganese, and 
phosphoric, sulphuric, and carbonic acids, with 
more or less organic matter. 
3. The watery solution of the soil, evaporated to 
dryness, leaves behind an inconsiderable residue, 
generally colored brown by organic matters which 
may be driven off by heat. In the combustible or 
organic portion of this residue, the presence of 
ammonia, of humic, nlmic, crenic, and apoorenic 
acids, (substances known under the more familiar 
name of soluble humus,) and frequently traces of 
nitric acid, will be readily detected. In the incom¬ 
bustible portion, potash, soda, lime magnesia, phos¬ 
phoric. sulphuric, and silicic acid, chlorine, and oc¬ 
casionally oxide of iron and manganese, are 
present.” 
Ali cultivated soils present a great similarity in 
exposition, all containing the above chemical 
constituents, and yet, notwithstanding this similar¬ 
ity of composition we observe a great diversity in 
their character. This is caused by the different 
proportions in which the constituents are mixed 
together, the state of combination in which they 
occur, and the manner in which the different soils 
are formed. All arable soils contain organic mat¬ 
ter, varying from half to twelve per cent. Good 
garden mould frequently contains from twenty to 
twenty-four per cent, of its own weight and in 
peaty bogs from sixty to seventy per cent, is not 
uncommon. It was once thought that the richness 
of a soil was plainly indicated by the proportion of 
organic matter it contained, but careful analyses of 
seven specimens of the best wheat soils of Scotland 
and yielding about alike, being made, they were 
found to range from three to ten per cent. The 
poorest peaty bogs, also, contain the greatest 
amount of organic matter, while they are noto¬ 
riously unproductive. 
The organic matter in the soil is due, for the 
greater part to the vegetable remains of former 
crops. The prairie soils are rich in organic matter 
derived from the annual decay of the grass for 
centuries. The soil of the forests is enriched by 
the fallen leaves. 
The manner in which soils are formed cannot be 
doubted by any one who has observed the appear¬ 
ance of large rocky masses, the bare surface of 
their smoother and harder parts, and the growth 
of mosses and small plants on the more softened 
portions. The soil in valleys, surrounded by rocky 
mountains, shows very evidently that they origin¬ 
ated in the disintegation and decomposition of the 
solid rocks in their neighborhood. One of the 
principal agencies in effecting a gradual disinte¬ 
gration of solid rocks is the oxygen of the atmos¬ 
phere. “Oxygen possesses a great affinity for 
many mineral substances, and has, consequently, a 
powerful tendency to form new compounds. Those 
compounds, or oxides, being always more volum¬ 
inous, looser, and less compact, are the primary 
cause of the bursting of many rocks, particularly 
of those containing much iron. In the course of 
the formation of these oxides, the compact texture 
of the rock is broken up, and the whole mass of 
the rock gradually crumbles down.” 
Another and powerful agency in the formation 
of soils is the carbonic acid of the atmosphere car¬ 
ried down by rain. Limestone is easily attacked by 
rain water, as the carbonic acid which the water 
contains dissolves the carbonate of lime. “ On fel¬ 
spar, granite, and other minerals consisting of 
silicate of alumina and an alkaline silicate, carbonic 
acid and water exercise a highly important action. 
Under their influence these minerals are decompos¬ 
ed into alkaline silicates, which in their turn give 
rise to silica and carbonate of potash or soda, and 
into silicate of alumina, or pure clay.” 
The lower orders of plants and animals take a 
very active part in the formation of soil from solid 
rocks. The seeds of lichens and mosses floating in 
the air attach themselves to the surfaces of rocks 
which have become partially decomposed by the 
action of the air and rain, as before described, and 
finding here sufficient food, grow, thus keeping the 
surface of the rock moist for a longer time after 
rain, and giving the water a better opportunity to 
exercise its dissolving powers. Insects feed on the 
moss and both insects and plants die and decay.— 
A thin layer of more fertile soil is thus formed, 
which is soon taken possession of by a higher order 
of plants and animals, which in their turn die, leav¬ 
ing a better estate to the succeeding generation. 
Mechanical causes, too, operate upon rocks._ 
The wind, thawing and freezing, and the principle 
of gravitation, affect them more or less. In our 
next we will give a few thoughts on the composi¬ 
tion of soils with reference to their classification. 
COMPARATIVE ANATOMY. 
INTRODUCTORY. 
No subject connected with farm econo- z 
my, and containing so mnch within itself of g 
importance to the possessor of either horses, G-'J. 
cattle, sheep or swine, has so little light 4 
thrown upon its many dark places, so little //^ 
knowledge generally diffused to guide amid //ll 
its thousand intricacies, and so little desire ’ J\ / 
manifested to know more concerning it as 3 
the Veterinary Science. Indeed, in the treat' 
mentof those that are well, we meet with 
disputed points at every stage of their 
physical development In the winter care of 
colts, witness how numberless are the theories.— 
A would stable comfortably, feed plentifully and 
with regularity; the colt and his homo should be 
cleanly, and every attention given in order to 
make a well-developed animal, while B contends 
that all this would weaken if not utterly destroy 
the constitution; that, to make a horse hardy, he 
must needs have what we, probably, in our inno¬ 
cence, conceive to be nothing more nor less than 
an infinitely hard time of it in bis colt-liood. And 
when any of our animals become diseased we only 
move from bad to worse. Vile decoctions are 
“got up for the occasion,” and when these “don’t 
seem to work right,” persons are called upon for 
aid, who, if they are possessed of any anatomical 
knowledge or medical skill, must have inherited 
it—as far as study or enlightened observation is 
concerned they are in total ignorance—and these 
deal out their lotions. For whose good? Verily, 
we can conceive of but one branch of trade accele¬ 
rated by their operations—tanning. We have read 
that in some portions of the Old World it was 
SMIS 
v ' • ,V/ 
V ' ' . 
' 
M'C. 
‘■5-Pi 
rfifl urvDERGEn.se; 
A, Cervical Vertebra;. 
formerly the custom for the physician, when called B B, Dorsal Vertebra;. 
, , , ,. C, Lumbar Vertebra;, 
in t.n nrnsuM’ihp. fur flip m pr fn first. t.nk A n. nnrf.inn »» ,, 
in to prescribe for the ruler, to first take a portion p’ Sacrum 
of the medicine, and if g4'd resulted, the king very E E, Coccygeal Bones, 
graciouslyconclndeditwassafetotry ithimself. In o'/miai Cartilages 
witnessing the inhuman treatment dumb animals ll, Scapula, 
oftentimes receive at the hands of these quacks, K j!’ 
we have wished that all displays of their skill might l’ Ulna, 
he turned against themselves. Good results would M^ciirpus or Knee, 
flow from such a course; if in no other way, there 2 ’ Semilunar. 
would soon be a marked scarcity of these torturers. 3 > Cuneiform. 
4, Trapezium. 
Before proceeding to a more intimate discussion 
. ,. , , , . „ , . , ~ geons, Sir Astley ( 
of our subject, perhaps a brief history of the rise . 
SKELETON OF THE HORSE. 
5, Trapezoid. 1, llenm. 
6, Os Magnum. 2, I’ubis. 
7, Unciform. 3, Ischium. 
8, Pisiform. S, Femur. 
N. N, Large Metacarpal or T, Patella. 
Canon. II, Tibia. 
0, Small Metacarpal, or V, Fibula. 
“ splint bones.” 
P P, Sesamoid Bones. 
Q Q, Phalanges. 
3, Os Suffraginis or i’as- 
tern Bone. 
2, Os Coronas. 
3, Os Podis. 
3, 2, 3, Phalanges. 
R, Pelvis. 
I, 2, 3, Phalanges. 
Y, Small Metatarsal. 
Z, Head. 
1, Inferior Maxilla. 
2, Superior Maxilla. 
3, Anterior Maxilla. 
4, Nasal Bone. 
W, Hock. fj, Malar. 
1, Os Calcis. 6, Frontal. 
2, Astragalus. 7, Parietal. 
3, Cuneiform Magnum. 8, Occipital. 
4, Cuneiform Medium. 9, Lachrymal. 
6, Cuneiform Parvum. 30, Squamous, 1 m _ , , 
0, Cuboid. 11, Petrous, $ Tora I )rl - 
3, 6, Cubo Cuneiform. 
X, Large Metatarsal. 
not inferior to the most favored university; and 
£ Temp’rl. 
of our subject, perhaps a brief history of the rise b . COria ’ ^ir Astley Cooier. The medical profes- not inferior to the most favored university; and 
and progress of the Veterinary Science would not Klon ’ Kaya Dr * UaT)I) ’ “ hailed tlie ncw enterprise as such astonishing discoveries, through the aid of 
onlv nrove of interest but of benefit. The term one not °nly calculated to ameliorate the condition chemistry and the microscope, are in such rapid 
of suffering domestic animals, hut what was of still succession surprising the medical world, and so 
gave attention to the Medical and Surgical care of gieatci . benefit to them and mankind, they perceiv- splendid are the achievements in the department of 
the horse. Connected with this was the mechani- ed H a fruitful field for the cultivation of com- Veterinary Surgery, that the noble sons of /Escu- 
cal operation of shoeing; and from the working in P araUve anatomy and physiology.” With this ob- lapius— our brethren of the human school—are 
iron, for which the Latin is ferrnm, came “ferrier,” J , ect . in v ' ew the nevv sclloo! was aided both b Y P r °- watching the labors of their kindred spirits with 
and, as applied to their craft, “ferriery.” The ^lonal influence andthe private purse. no ordinary interest.” 
usual corruption or improvement of language has Aboutthe commencement of the present century, In our own country there has been but little 
changed the word to that now in use — “ farriery.” P ubllcatl0ns u P on various subjects connected with movement made for the advancement of this sci- 
In many parts of Europe this term is appropriate, the vetennar y art > be S an to a PP ear 111 considerable encc or the dissemination of veterinary knowledge, 
as the blacksmith generally combines the faculty numberH - A tbls P e / lod tbe attention of Govern- True it is, that we have individuals who have labor- 
essionai influence and the private purse. no ordinary interest.” 
Aboutthe commencement of the present century, In our own country there has been but little 
publications upon various subjects connected witli movement made for the advancement of this sci- 
the veterinary art, began to appear in considerable encc or the dissemination of veterinary knowledge. 
numbers. At tins period the attention of Govern- True it is, that we have individuals who have labor- 
ment was called to the enterprise, and Parliament ed with a will worthy of all success, but no general 
of shoeing with the art of medical treatment With .V ... —vu wuu r wm »oruiy oi an success, dui no general 
the founding of a College under the patronage of V ° ted “ annU1 . ty . for ,ts au PP ort George 111 also movement of the mass of breeders and owners of 
Government, at Lyons, France, in the year 1701, we commissions to such young men as gradu- domestic animals has been perceptible. We noted, 
obtained the word Veterinary. In its application, ated and would act M sur S eons to the cavalry regi- however, in the Rural of last week, under the cap- 
however, this latter appellation covers greater me ” S ' _ . tion of “A Step Forward,” the first sign of awak- 
ground,-farriery was applied to the treatment of . IIcre we ™ a y fix the starting-point in the ascend- ening from this state of lethargy-the proposition 
the horse alone, while veterinary comprehends the In g scale of this art Advancementwasnowsteadily of Gen. Jesup for the establishment of an army 
care, both in health and in a state of disease, of all ™ ade ’ and im p ortance of skillful men in the Veterinary Corps. It is sincerely to be hoped that 
those animals domesticated for the laborious ser- C 1<ir ° e o c omes ic anima s w as, each day, more the movement will not only receive just attention, 
vice or for the food of man. Previous to this, very a PP reciated - “ Tn England, at the present day,” but that the scheme will mature, and that all men 
few passages in the writings of ancient authors in- « ^ 
dicate any knowledge concerning the treatment of 
the brute creation. They were observers, however, 
and have left a record of sufficient testimony to 
prove that some of the most frightful and fatal mal¬ 
adies of the present day were known to them. 
Four years after the establishment of the school 
at Lyons, a similar one was commenced at Allort, 
in which a regular system of veterinary medicine 
was adopted and taught. The enterprise was nar¬ 
rowly watched by other nations of Europe, and a 
few years saw institutions of like character in Hol¬ 
land, Prussia and Denmark, all of which seem to 
have met with much success. 
During the year 1790 the leading agriculturists 
of England began to take active measures for the 
promotion of veterinary knowledge. At one of 
their meetings it was resolved that “the parties 
had observed the good effects produced upon the 
public mind by tHfe exertions of the friends of the 
veterinary art for its improvement, and approved 
of a plan for establishing a public institution for 
tiiat purpose.” In 1792 the “Veterinary College at 
St. Pancras, London, for the treatment of all the 
diseases of domestic animals,” was established 
under the charge of Sr. Bel, a French gentleman, 
one of the first Veterinary practitioners of that day, 
and who may well be styled the father of the art. 
This institution may be called the parent of all that 
have since had being in Great Britain. It was effi¬ 
cient and eminently successful, and men of stand- 
3, Muzzle. 
2, Race, 
3, Forehead. 
4, Poll. 
5, Crest. 
6, Jowl. 
7, Gullet. 
8, Windpipe. 
9, Point of Shoulder. 
10, Breast or Bosom. 
mmA 
mm 
Fig h 
1 -‘L | m.iC£&V | , l” 
EXTERNAL PARTS OF THE HORSE. 
11, Arm. 
12, Elbow. 
13, Girth. 
14, Flank. 
16, Sheath. 
16, Stifles. 
17, Withers. 
18, Back. 
19, Loins. 
20, Hip. 
21, Croup. 
22, Dock. 
23, Quarter. 
24, Thigh or Gaskin. 
25, Hamstring. 
26, Joint of Hock. 
■ 27, Ham or Hock. 
28, Common. 
29, Fetlock. 
30, Large Pastern. 
31, Small Pastern. 
32, Coronet. 
33, Hoof. 
34, Knee. 
35, Common. 
36, Fetlock. 
37, Heel. 
38, Large. 
39, Small Pastern. 
40, 1 loof Pastern. 
ing and liberal education rallied to its support, says Dr. Dadd, “veterinary students rapidly in- whohavetodowithanimall’ifemaybeputinpos- 
o show the interest it created and the manner in crease; never were they so numerous; recruits session of this much needed information, 
winch it was pecuniarily sustained, donations and arrive from every quarter, to enlist in the army of Every breeder, in fact every farmer, should know 
assistance was rendered by the Duke of Nortlium- Scientific Veterinary Medicine. 
The ad- something concerning the conformation of domes- 
berland, the Earl of Grosvenor, Earl Morton, Drs. J vantages under which the veterinary art can now tic animals, should have a clear idea of their ana- 
Icnter and Crawford, and that prince of Sur- be studied in England, France and Germany are tomical structure; of the size, arrangement and 
