288 THE CULTIVATOR. Sept. 
bling him to maintain the process of breathing, and for 
generating the necessary warmth of body ; there is the 
nitrogen for contributing to the growth and renovation 
of organs; the lime and the phosphorus for the bones; 
and all the salts which a healthy circulation demands. 
In fine, the potato may well be called the universal 
plant; and the disease under which it now labors, is 
an universal calamity. If any agricultural institution 
should ever be so fortunate as to make us acquainted 
with the means of controlling it, its name would quick¬ 
ly rank by the side of the proudest universities, and if 
the great discovery should proceed from a single indi¬ 
vidual, his name would live when those of the greatest 
generals and conquerors have become as uncouth and 
strange to human utterance as their deeds were un¬ 
friendly and opposed to human happiness.” 
Principles of Breeding. 
At the late meeting of the Royal Agricultural Socie¬ 
ty, lectures were given by persons previously appointed, 
on various subjects connected with agriculture. Dis¬ 
cussions of similar subjects were likewise held, at times 
when the members of the Society were not otherwise 
engaged. We think the feature a good one, and shall 
be glad to see it adopted by societies in this country. 
On the occasion above referred to, Prof. J. F. W. 
Johnston delivered a lecture on the applications of 
science to agriculture. Another lecture was given by 
Professor Simmonds, of the Royal Veterinary College 
-—the general subject, the parturition of cows and 
sheep; but in his preliminary remarks, he made some 
valuable observations on the principles of breeding, of 
which we give the following, from the Marklane Ex¬ 
press: 
“ Breeding with a view to improvement, might be 
said to be founded on nature’s established law that like 
produced like. This was only true in part, for there 
was a constant tendency to change, arising from a va¬ 
riety of causes; such as domestication, living in a dif¬ 
ferent climate, or on a different kind of food. The ma¬ 
nagement to which animals were subject, had its in¬ 
fluence. While those might be looked upon as the chief 
causes in operation to produce this constant change, 
at the same time they were means (added to others) 
which weie used to effect an improvement. In order 
to improve the breed there were two plans, advocated 
by two sections of practical breeders. One was com¬ 
monly called the ‘ in-and-in system,’ the other the cross¬ 
ing plan. The im-and-in system originated from Mr. 
Bakewell, and it had at least the effect of destroying 
the prejudice which had existed against breeding from an¬ 
imals having a relationship. But the system had a ten¬ 
dency after a time to deteriorate the breed; in fact it 
might be said to be limited, so far as its benefits were 
concerned. Every improvement of breed required the 
application of the same means to retain it which pro¬ 
duced it; the chief of these was care in the selection of 
stock, so as to avoid a tendency to hereditary disease. 
Crossing was founded on a principal just as secure as 
Bake well’s principle of care in selection, added to the 
in-and-in system Certain diseases were hereditary, 
and so was color, and they could only get rid of this color 
and this predisposition to disease by crossing. Still this 
crossing required care in selection. Mr. Simmonds illus¬ 
trated this peculiar tendency to propagate disease or 
defects, by referring at some length, to the fact of the 
large proportion of horses in Yorkshire known as ‘roar¬ 
ers.’ Animals bred from these ‘roarers ’ had a peculiar 
susceptibility to the disease, and if one of these York¬ 
shire horses was exposed to the ordinary causes of dis¬ 
ease, the peculiar defect would be found developed, 
while other horses similarly exposed would escape. 
What was true with regard to horses is as true in re¬ 
gard to cattle, sheep, and all domesticated animals. 
The tendency of like to produce like , Mr. Simmonds illus¬ 
trated, by referring to the results of crossing various 
breeds of cattle, such as Devons with Herefords, both 
the color and form of the parent animals being thereby al¬ 
tered or modified. In a state of nature the tendency to 
change was not observed to the same extent as in do¬ 
mesticated animals; therefore in a state of nature de¬ 
generation of a thing did not take place to the same 
extent as among the same breed when domesticated. 
The lecturer then passed on to remark upon the im¬ 
portance, in crossing animals, of suiting the male to 
the mind or taste of the female. Some might smile 
at this notion, but Mr. S. showed, by several facts, the 
importance of paying attention to this point.” 
The above is a root puller as I would propose to con¬ 
struct one. The centre-wheels, A A are light and so 
placed that the puller balances on their axletree in such 
a way, that the heaviest part rests on the cast-iron rol¬ 
ler B ; the man who holds the handles, C, walks through 
the clearing as if he were plowing; and whenever he 
meets a shrub or bush which is to be removed, he pres¬ 
ses on the handles and the points of the Puller enter 
the ground behind the roots, while the pulling of the 
team will lift the whole forepart of the implement up 
till the desired extraction is accomplished. 
I think this an improvement on the common way of 
dragging the puller about wherever it might be wanted. 
Alb. C. Richards. June 29, 1848. 
AUTUMN. 
How dear to roam along the sunny hills, 
When Autumn spreads her bounties on the plain; 
When Industry his garnered treasure fills 
With richest stores from fields- of ripened grain; 
When slow across the fields the pondrous wain, 
Deep laden with the yellow ears, is drawn, 
While from wide trees that overhang the lane, 
The ripe, red apples, shaken down at dawn. 
Lie scattered thick and far along the level lawn. 
The winding rill along the sunnyvale 
Sings its sweet song to cheer the reaper’s heart; 
And oft its voice the pensive autumn gale 
Will join and cause the rustling leaves to start; 
While scores of screaming blackbirds bear their part, 
With varied notes, yet lull of melody; 
And troops of noisy boys, with dog and cart, 
Are hasting t'o the hills with youthful glee, 
To shake the clustering nuts from the tall walnut tree. 
But soon this beauteous pageantry shall fail, 
And every mellow tint of Autumn fade; 
A melancholy murmur fills the gale, 
And sorrow saddens o’er the yellowing glade ; 
Through thickening clouds the suns of autumn wade, 
And beauty sets upon the hills no more ; 
The verdure of the wood is prostrate laid, 
And soon the Autumn rains begin to pour, 
And down the craggy rocks the swelling torrents roar. 
Such is the fortune of majestic man ! 
The leaves of fragrance round his forehead flow, 
The laureate wreath, that gales of fortune fan, 
For which he climbed so high or stooped so low; 
But soon approach the tempest clouds of wo. 
To mar the beauty of his brightest deed; 
Yet while he mourns his fortune’s overthrow, 
He looks to heaven for some more glorious mead ; 
Thus to the autumn winds I tune my Dorick reed. [Selected. 
