230 
HE RURAL MEW-¥©RK£R. 
APRIL 13 
plants for pollen from other sources, and 
I should be glad of a partial self-impregnation, 
if I could bring it about. I was aided by the 
stigma of tho Eumelan boiDg so much more con¬ 
spicuous than thoso of some other varieties. I 
could see just where I was placing the pollen, 
and I simply used clusters from the other vines, 
touching the stamens of the transported clus¬ 
ters, with tlieir fresh pollen grains adhering, to 
the waiting pistils at the right moment, jest 
after tho viscid water appeared thereon in the 
morning,—repeating the operation next dai 
upon the stigmas which showed, by tho viscid 
water reappearing, they had not been fertilized. 
Of course, pollen can only be had in this way. 
where vines blossom together, or nearly at the. 
same time ; hut by shading tokOep them back, 
or throwirtg artificial heat upou others with 
boards set up on the north side to relleot the 
heat of tho sun and hasten blossoming, fresh 
pollen cau always be obtained. It is so much 
more certain to succeed than pollen that has 
been retained any length of time, that the little 
extra trouble is well repaid. I would add here, 
to illustrate the matter aud increase the perti¬ 
nency of such experiments, that I have grown a 
great many nnhybridized seedlings, from all 
sorts of vines, and in all sorts of w'ays, only to 
reject them with disgust after fruiting, for we 
already have enough of crude varieties. T hero 
is seldom any gaiu ; hardly one in a thousand 
■will sport enough to show an advance. Nor have 
I had auy good results from mixing the pollen 
with the same botanical classes for varieties; 
nor yet in u-ing pollen from V. vinifera hybrids 
with our native classes, or thoir seedlings. All 
of my experience goes to show that auy admix¬ 
ture of V. vinifera with our native olasses is at 
the expeuso of the health of such seedlings, aud 
my advice to others would be to depend wholly 
upon improving our own classes and varieties. 
The Eumelan, in my judgment, is invaluable as 
the pistillate parent, though imperfect in 
itself. 
Few Americans like the pulpy, insipid taste of 
some Enropean grapes; the more sprightly and 
healthy acids of our natives are preferred, but 
seeds at the expense of pu'p enlarging the berry, 
are even loss desirable. Herein is one of the 
marked defects of our native grapes, especially 
of our Lahursoa class. How to eliminate this 
excess of seeds is one of the problems to be 
solved, and to which these studies arc, in part, 
directed. Nature, uuder normal conditions, 
cares only to perpetuate her kind; all tho pro¬ 
cesses of the plant seem to be directed to this 
end, viz. tbe production of seeds. 
The important part to man in our fruits is the 
covering, hut man by taking advantage of certain 
tendencies, can make what is only an accessory 
to become the principal object, and he has been 
enabled, by working through long periods of 
time, to direct and control these mine r forces, 
so as to develop for liis sustenance the rich 
fruits we enjoy. Still too much of tho energy 
and natural forces of our vines ate wasted in the 
development of so many seeds. To ripen those 
and develop their harder or stony parts is 
wherein the great call upon the forces of the 
vine is made. If the clusters be too abundant, 
tbe call is sometimes so enormous as to almost 
kill the vine, the ripening prootssea fail and the 
season is worse than wasted. If bv grafting or 
any other process tho soed can be lessened in 
numbers and diminished in size, then more of 
the energies of the vine may be directed to ma¬ 
turing the pulp and enlarging tho berry, (bus 
maturing more bulk of fruit at greatly lessened 
expense to all the vital energies of tho plant. 
Now f.ir tho results of the experiment abovo 
alluded Lo : After rejecting the iniperfeot ones 
I find the fruit of some of t icse hybrid seedlings 
rivals in bight, pure tone, and delicacy of flavor 
ViLis vinifera, tho European grapes of California. 
I am an ex Californian and know whereof I 
speak. The emasculated clusters of the Euras¬ 
ian are replaced by full, compact clusters, (some 
of them are a week earlier) with abundauce of 
pollen, perfect pistils and stamens,never failing 
to set fine large compact clusters, more than the 
vino eau possibly carry. Tho colors of some of 
them, too, are new ones in American grapes. In 
one or two the skin aud pulp aro so transparent 
that tho seeds can be seen, aud what is pertinent 
and important, the seeds aro smaller and less 
in number?. This is just where the gain from 
grafting was desired, and what tho experiment 
was made for and expected to accomplish. I 
have only come short of my hopes in failing to 
increase tho size of the berry up to the stand¬ 
ard of the popular taste, but iho failure is more 
apparant than real, for the experiments must 
he repeated agaiu and again from such improved 
vines. I have more pulp aud less seeds. Our 
people admire every thing large, but I do not 
despair. Wo have in tho Union Yillago a rival 
of foreign grapes in size of berry and bunch, if 
I can refine and bring up Us low standard of 
quality, put ptllp in place oT seeds, aud re¬ 
tain its bizo, I shall feel that I have not lived in 
vain. 
Let me add here 1 have no new seedling grape¬ 
vines to sell nor will I ever have, uules I obtain 
decided improvements. 
If any readers who are bonafi<le workers in this 
speciality and per-consequence in the possession 
of practical experience in this department of 
horticulture, entertain different views, or have 
valuable experiments to communicate, or if a 
number of them desiro more specific directions 
for carrying on their hybridizing processes, then 
write to the Rural New-Yorker to that effect. 
Let the public reap the benefit of the knowledge. 
Exchange of views based upou such louudalious 
will always interest. Persons writing for infor¬ 
impossible, in those days, to get her matchedt 
aud she was put to breeding, and Young Poca¬ 
hontas was her second foal. 
Or ,|loultrii ftetr. 
ORIGIN OF BRAHMAS. 
HENRY HALES. 
I have read the articles contributed to tbe 
of tho Royal Dublin Agricultural Society, in 
April 1810, and they were very common a few 
years later. In 1852 I was present at tho Poultry 
Show held in Madame Tussard’s Rooms, Baker 
Street, London. Immense numbers of Cochins 
figured there of all the colors now known, The 
step from Whito Cochins to Light Brahmas is 
not a very deep one. I have often seen White 
Cochins—or birds exhibited for such—so much 
the Brahma Bhape that they only required tho 
penciling on neck, and block on tail and wings 
to make them perfect Light Brahmas, with 
single combs, like thoBe of many at that time. 
Mr. Min Kit asks why Captaiu Stewart did not 
exhibit his fowls at poultry shows. Does not 
Mr. Miner know that in 1816 poultry shows were 
scarcely established anywhere except tho local 
shows in some counties in England, where some 
breed was made a hobby of, aud local rivalry 
was brought out, as in Yorkshire with the 
Mooneys? Poultry were also au adjunct to Ag¬ 
ricultural and Zoological Societies. One canuot 
but feel a littlo surprised at a gentleman of Mr. 
Miner's experience and knowledge on this topic, 
asking such a question. Where were the 
poultry shews at which they could be shown ? 
The great London Show of 1852 may justly be 
called the first great poultry show in England in 
which the public took interest. 
Mr. Miner also Bays English officers and 
French clergyman, are not likely to be judges 
of poultry. I know nothing of French clergy¬ 
men, but I do know that many British 
officers are men reared in country homes 
with stock of all kinds surrounding them, as well 
as aviaries of birds, game, etc., aud that they 
would be just the men to appreciate a good fowl. 
I am acquainted with a number of American 
Army officers aud, singularly enough, they are 
all poultrymen ; why should British officers be 
au exception ? 
YOXJNGJ- POCAHONTAS. 
mation should study up tbe subject, and begin 
their experiments at tho present stato of our 
knowledge, not repeat old experiments. There 
is usually much lime lost lu re. The study is 
au enticing ono. The interested student will bo 
impatient for the annual procession of the sea¬ 
sons. His life will bo beguiled and robbed of 
many of the ills that fall to the lot of man. lie 
will bo enticed and carried close to, and per¬ 
chance may penetrate into, some of the hidden 
secrets and mysteries of nature, and science. 
Jefferson, Co., N. Y., March 18 TS. 
iT!)f |)orsfiimti. 
NOTED TROTTERS. NO. 4. 
YOUNG POCAHONTAS. 
Pocahontas, the younger, is interesting to the 
public mainly from the circumstance that she 
is a very faatrtrotting daughter of the famous 
pacing mare of the same name. Before she had 
done more than give promise of great speed, she 
was purchased by Mr. Bonner and thus with¬ 
drawn permanently from the trotting track 
where she would doubtless have made a very ex¬ 
cellent record. Her Bira was the noted trotter 
Ethan Allen and she inherits the beauty of form 
which distinguished him iu his prime, while her 
mother bequeathed to her a groat deal of her 
marvolous staying qualities. A few years ago 
her owner declared that she was able to out- 
speed Dexter anywhere on the track, aud at a pri¬ 
vate trial she w'eutto the half-mile polo in 1.04& 
aud at earlier trial sped over a full mile iu 2 in. 
18 s. 
Old Pocahontas, the most remarkable pacer 
that ever spurned the trotting track, was foaled 
in 1817 in Madison township, Butter Co., Ohio. 
Her sire was Irons’ Cadmus, by American 
Eolipse, but so littlo wa> thought of her in early 
days that as a two-year-old she was knocked off 
at a public sale to the highest bidder for *30. 
She was engaged chiefly in farm work until 1853, 
having passed through several bauds iu the in¬ 
terval. At the latter date on a trial under 
saddle she showed a 2 58 gait, and was at ouee 
subjected to a system of traiuing. Her first 
contest was with a very fast pacer, Ben nigdon, 
whom she easily beat in 2.31. In 1851 Bhe dis¬ 
tanced Tvcmmeh aud Dolly Spanker at New Or¬ 
leans in 2 20, though the contest took place only 
two months and nine days before she dropped a 
foal. After this remaraablo display of speed 
and pluck, it was for some time impossible to 
match her at auy odds; and at a private trial on 
the Queen’d Course, L, I., in tho fall of 1851, 
when placed on the track in excellent condition 
and accompanied by a running horse she made a 
mile in 2 08) a'. Her best public record, however, 
was made iu her match with Hero, Juue 21,1855, 
she to wagon, he to harness, when she distanced 
him iu the first heat iu 2 17) j. After this it was 
Daui) I 
Rdual by Mr. Miner and Mr. Wallace on tbe 
origin of the Brahma, aud am also acquainted 
with the claims of Mr. Cr. P. Burnham iu ti e 
same connection. This subject has at times 
produced much acrimonious dispute as to claims 
of priority. Mr. Wallace says he saw Light 
Brahmas at Capt’n. Stewart's estate, in Ireland, 
in 1846. l or this statement he is sharply taken 
iu hand l»y Mr. Miner. Now, I say distinctly, I 
have no wish to enter into this Brahma con¬ 
troversy which has been already made a subject 
of notoriety; yet I oan see no reason why fowls 
brought either from China or India may not have 
produced iu Ireland or England birds somewhat 
like the American bred birds, which were brought 
originally from China to this country. Of course 
these would not be called Brahmas, as tho name 
was not then known. 
From 1843 to 1852 great numbers of Asiatic 
fowls were imported into England from China; 
yes, and from India too ; but fowls of this kind 
brought from India wore fowls that had been 
taken there from China. The extensive trade 
which exi ts between the two countries easily 
acconutH for this. East Indiaus are people fond 
of breeding poultry and pigeons—a fact well 
known. As two shipments of these birds are 
claimed by Mr. Burnham to have come from 
China, one to New York aud the other to Phila¬ 
delphia, and as Mr. Miner claims that another 
from which Mr. Chamberlain’s were bred, came 
from India, why should the probability ever 
bo denied that some such birds may have reached 
England, especially when tho trade between 
England and those countries is of such great 
magnitude compared with their trade with 
America, It is asking a trifle too much of our 
credulity to require us to believe that while those 
throe American shipments of fowls all produced 
Light Brahmas, yet none could bo produced in 
England. And still in London alone there is a 
large dock of splendid vessels continually going 
and coming between England and India, and 
taking their name of East-indiameu from their 
occupation. Many of these are manned by East 
Indians, and are always bringing over everything 
in the way of novelties that the East produces 
both from China and India. 
I do not say that birds were so introduced that 
bred Brahmas in tho United Kingdom ; but I do 
think it very probable that birds may have been 
bred there very much tho same as onr Brahmas, 
quite as early as if not sooner than we had them 
here, without its being generally known. Every 
year thousands of poople are going to and fro 
between India and Clreat Britain ; trade betweon 
India and China is largely carried on by British ; 
now, why should it not be probable that birds 
similar to those that came here three times 
should have been landed there too. 
‘•But,” Bays Mr. Miner, “Cap. Stewart's 
fowls were probably Ohittagougs." Why Chitta- 
gongs? Cochins wore introduced at that time. 
From 1813 to 18-16 mauy importations took place. 
Tho Queen had them on exhibition at tbe show 
DAIRY PRODUCTION THE YEAR ROUND. 
E. W. STEWART. 
Our great dairy interest is represented 
by 11,000,000 of cows, absorbing a capital of 
*500,000,000 in this stock, and the land neces¬ 
sary to maintain these cows cannot be less 
than fifty millions of acres, which at even *20 
per acre, represents a value of $1,000,000,000. 
This great industry is gradually being reduced 
to order and system. The factory system has 
revolutionized cheese-making and is fast do¬ 
ing the same for butter-making. Dairy butter 
has been undergoing a fearful ordeal during 
the last few years in competition with cream¬ 
ery butter, and it is now only a question of time 
when all our market butler will be made iu 
creameries or upon the creamery system. The 
old haphazard way employed in private dairies 
could not stand against any regular system; 
oven oleomargarine, (caul-fat butter) is pre¬ 
ferred to it. The time has already come when 
this miscellaneous class of dairy butter eau bo 
sold only for groaBe or baker’s shortening. It 
will not therefore be produced much longer; 
the loss is so great that it cannot longer bo 
borne. It lias not for tho last year even paid 
for the labor of production. This unanswer¬ 
able argument will compel the patrouago 
of cheese factories or the establishment of 
creameries for the improvement of this large 
class of dairy product. 
The art of keeping butter, which has been 
made in good order aud flavor, is so little un¬ 
derstood that manv millions of pounds aro 
spoiled, every yoar, in endeavoring to hold for 
a better market. Iu fact, the public taste is 
fast demanding fresh butter during tbe whole 
year. The summer or fall made butter is 
passed by for fresh-made winter butter having 
a pleasing artificial color. The art of coloring 
has been so much improved that city people, iu 
looking at these pleasing Huts, cau smell tho 
clover fields in January. They spread this 
delicacy upon their bread with such absolute 
confidence in its flavor, that straw, bran and 
meal are transformed into tho nectar of the 
grasses. 
The- drift is now all toward fresh tuodo butter, 
aud this is well for the dairy interest, because 
a much larger proportion of butter is passable, 
even agreeable to the taste if used fresh than 
if kept, even for ono month- There can bo no 
doubt but the present state of tho art of but¬ 
ter-making required the product to be used 
within ten or twelve days after making; and 
this system in full practice would save a loss 
Of thirty to fifty millions per year to dairymen. 
To carry out this system, one-half of the cows 
must drop their calves iu October or November, 
and the other half in spring. It is not neces¬ 
sary that each herd should b9 thus divided, 
but different dairymen may follow the spring 
or the fall system. Yet in large herds, it would 
