1858. 
THE CULTIVATOR 
203 
ing to his having casually ascertained that a certain 
specimen of premium butter derived its excellence 
from this source, that he first purchased several head 
of the breed. He has also been a considerable breeder 
of Short-Horns and Ayrshires, and still retains some 
animals of each. Not having the time and inclination, 
however, to devote himself mainly or exclusively to 
improved stock, he has preferred a milk farm to the 
business of a breoder. Such stock as he could procure 
in accordance with the system above described, proba¬ 
bly grades more or less remote from earlier importa¬ 
tions, he has found to prove equally productive of milk 
and profitable for his purposes, with that boasting 
purer blood and higher pretensions. That he has ex¬ 
erted himself to call the attention of his neighbors 
to the importance of some improvements upon their 
former herds, it is proper to mention a very public spi¬ 
rited offer he kept open to their acceptance for several 
years. Instead of selling his young Durham bulls, he 
advertised that he would present one to any applicant 
who would undertake, on a penalty of a forfeit of -$10, 
to exhibit him at the Show Of the County Ag. Society 
for the three following years, and moreover offered a 
silver cup to the one which should prove on these oc¬ 
casions the best, and to have been best cared for. 
Nineteen, I think, were accepted the first year upon 
these liberal terms, and more during several succeed¬ 
ing seasons; the cups were duly awarded, and the re¬ 
sults are now plainly to be seen in the change wrought 
by the use of these improved males in the whole farm 
stock of the surrounding region. 
Tobacco Growing and Turkeys. 
Prince George is still a large tobacco growing county. 
The ordinary practice is to alternate this crop, or corn 
with those who prefer it, with oats or wheat if the land 
is rich enough. The culture of tobacco, Mr. Calvert 
has, however, given up. There is one use to which it 
puts another kind of farm stock—namely the poultry, 
that renders this on tobacco farms a very important 
subject. Turkeys are the great protectors of the young 
plants, ranging the fields and devouring the worms, 
and growers of the crop are consequently interested in 
any assistance they can receive as to the breeding and 
management of this fowl. Another source of protec¬ 
tion to the crops from insect depradations, Mr. C. thinks 
most highly of, and affords to it in turn all the protec¬ 
tion in his power. This is the birds—he will allow no 
gun to be shot upon the estate, and does not even mo¬ 
lest that much hated race, the crows, preferring to 
make allowances in planting for the extra corn they 
will eat, rather than have them give up the pursuit of 
their animal food through the fields. Like other ani¬ 
mals, they cannot well live on meat alone, and he does 
not begrudge them a few kernels of that grain which 
is even better appreciated by man and beast and bird 
at the south than at the north. 
Soiling and Root Culture. 
In the care of stock Mr. C. is approaching more and 
more nearly to a system of soiling, and has no doubt 
of the superior merits of this mode as compared with 
pasturing alone. Orchard grass mixed with clover has 
been found better than other kinds, as after cutting, 
or after it is grazed off, it renews itself very quickly. 
Readers are already informed that Mr. C. has in past 
years been an extensive grower of roots. As his stock 
has decreased of late, of course the quantity grown 
crop was some 25,000 bushels. In one case 1,300 
bushels were grown upon an acre. Ruta bagas he sows 
from the 1st to 15th July, and finds that the roots if 
cut up and mixed with a little salt and meal or ship 
stuff, 12 hours before they are required for the cows, 
will impart no flavor whatever to their milk. He was 
fully aware of the injudicious nature of too exclusive 
feeding on roots, and his habit has been to make a 
mixture to each bushel of one gallon of corn meal, or 
two gallons of meal and bran together, to two bushels 
of roots, varying the amount fed to each animal from 
the quantity first named to the second, according to 
the requirements of the case, accompanying it with 
all the hay they wanted. As turkeys, he remarked, 
would not be healthy or well fattened, if confined ex¬ 
clusively to a diet of worms, but should have also a 
modicum of corn to accompany their animal food, so 
the cattle would thrive much better upon a proper ad¬ 
mixture of roots and grain and hay. 
Wire Fences, &c. 
At the risk of repeating what has heretofore been 
published, I am tempted by Mr. Calvert’s success in 
wire fencing to add a word as to his way of doing it. 
He has a very large extent of this fence, and is well 
pleased with its durability and strength. It is a fre¬ 
quent occurrence for strangers who notice it in passing, 
to write requesting a description and directions for imi¬ 
tating it—a letter of the kind arriving while I was 
there. It is made in panels, a post being placed once 
in about eight feet, for which not very heavy wood is 
required, say three inches in diameter at the top. Once 
in about; a hundred yards, however, a strong and well 
braced post is necessary, or when possible a tree is 
made to answer the purpose. To one of these the 
wires are securely fastened and carried to the next 
stretching post, where they are tightened as straight 
as possible and well secured. The intermediate posts 
they do not pass through by means of holes—it is 
found preferable to attach them by a staple driven 
down upon the wire , so that it cannot slip in one di¬ 
rection or the other. Each panel is thus made com¬ 
plete in itself; that is, the wire if broken does not slip 
through from one to another, the contraction in cold 
weather is not sufficient on a distance so short to work 
injuriously, and a much more secure barrier is formed 
against stock than where a little pressure will affect a 
greater length. A strip of board six or seven inches 
wide is nailed next the ground to keep out hogs ; two 
wires follow, each five inches apart, then one at a dis¬ 
tance of six inches, and lastly, two more,.each twelve 
inches from the one below. No. 4 wire makes the 
strongest fence. 
The extent of Mr. Calverts’ green-houses is such as 
to render them a source of profit, as they iuclude the 
means of propagating many more plants than his own 
grounds require. Of verbenas, fuchsias, camellias, 
and many rarer plants, his collection has become very 
large. It is expected that the grapery, when the 
vines come into full bearing, will also be a source of 
considerable revenue. The account of Riversdale be¬ 
fore referred to, is so complete in its details of the 
arrangement of the pleasure grounds and houses, that 
I shall not go into any particulars here. I will men¬ 
tion, however, a rustic and very neat way of con¬ 
structing the stairs to ascend the terraces, as although 
perhaps not new to some, it was to me, and may be a 
useful suggestion to others. The steps are made, not 
