1848. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
223 
of indifferent wheat, grown on the borders of the Black 
Sea, and employed in making the finest description of 
maccaroni, gave 2.71 per cent of nitrogen. He remarked 
in conclusion, that while the produce is greatly increased 
by the employment of ammonia, it appears that the per 
centage of nitrogen in the grain is rather diminished. 
That under a proper temperature, starch is accumulated 
by the influence of ammonia, and that in general, those 
wheats which bear the highest price, are compara¬ 
tively poor in nitrogenous compounds. This latter 
conclusion agrees with analyses made long ago. Davy 
showed that spring wheat and red wheats generally 
gave a larger per centage of nitrogen than the highest 
priced white wheats. 
Sir John Johnstone stated before the Council, the 
results of some experiments he had made on a soil na¬ 
turally good for wheat, which came into his hands in a 
foul and exhausted state. In reference to the value of 
Liebig’s patent mineral manure, he had found it to pro¬ 
duce the smallest results in comparison with the other 
artificial manures he had used along with it. 
Professor Way alluded in a highly complimentary 
manner to the valuable experiments conducted by Mr. 
La wes, and the excellent papers he had written, 
which had been published in Journal of the Society. 
If he did not entirely agree with the views of Mr. L., 
he “ felt convinced that he was pursuing a system of 
inquiry that must ultimately elicit the true principles 
of agricultural science.” He thought the facts brought 
forward by Mr. L. were calculated to “ encourage the 
agriculturist in all reasonable hopes of improvement, 
but at the same time to dissipate the illusory notion 
that he could at any time become independent of sea¬ 
son and climate.” In regard to the experiments with 
mineral manures, Professor W. thought they proved 
the impossibility of obtaining valuable agricultural re¬ 
sults by the use of mineral substances alone, unless 
there were an abundance of matter in the soil capable 
of yielding the ammonia and carbonic acid necessary for 
vegetable growth. In regard to the failure of Liebig’s 
manure, Professor W. considered that in “ seeking to 
render the alkaline salts more permanently available 
to vegetation, the mark had been overshot, and that the 
manure was not sufficiently soluble for the wants of 
the crop to which it was applied; at least he judged 
so from a sample he had himself analyzed.” 
Animal Physiology. 
An English periodical, in noticing Richardson’s work 
on swine, lately published, gives a quotation in refer¬ 
ence to the “ points of a good pig,” in which it is sta¬ 
ted that the breast should be broad, as denoting 11 good 
room for the play of the lungs, and a consequent free 
and healthy circulation, essential to the thriving or fat¬ 
tening of any animal.” 
This, though a point upon which practical men are 
generally agreed, is contrary to the theory of some 
physiologists, viz: that animals, to fatten readily, 
should have small lungs. Prof. ‘Playfair assumed, 
that if two pigs were taken, one of which had lungs of 
twice the size of the other, the one with the smallest 
lungs would make twice as much fat for the food con¬ 
sumed, as the one with the largest lungs. 
So far as the observations of the writer have exten¬ 
ded, this theory does not appear to be supported by 
facts. To obtain positive results, however, it is obvi¬ 
ous that a series of close and thorough examinations 
and trials with various animals would be necessary. 
At the same time, it may be useful to give such facts 
as come within our reach. 
In our April number, we noticed some fat animals 
which had been lately slaughtered in this city. We 
saw most of these animals before they were killed, and 
particularly noticed their forms and outward points 
generally. We also saw several of them dressed, and 
had the opportunity of examining their internal organs. 
Of the cattle, the most remarkable were the heifer, 
fattened by Mr. McKown, the twin oxen from Mr. 
Bassett, and the calf from Mr. Woolford. These 
were of extraordinary fatness, and it may be remarked 
that when an animal is fattened to so great a degree, 
the lungs become compressed by the accumulation of 
internal fat, and are, therefore, of less bulk than when 
the beast was in a more natural condition. 
We took particular notes in regard to the appearan¬ 
ces of those animals, but not having room at present 
for the details we will simply state, that in every case 
the heart and lungs corresponded to the external di¬ 
mensions of the chest; and that the qualities of early 
maturity and fatness, were in proportion to the size of 
these organs; in other words, the fattest animals were 
those wdiich had naturally the largest chests and larg¬ 
est heart and lungs. 
Sheep in South Carolina. 
Mr. B. F. Stanley, who dates at Pliny P. O., S. 
C., wishes to obtain a Scotchman, who has been accus¬ 
tomed to the management of sheep, with the assistance 
of dogs. He says—“ I have abundant opportunity for 
wintering 400 or 500 sheep, and ample range during 
the summer months; but the difficulty is their ram¬ 
bling off and being killed by dogs. I have seen sheep 
pass the whole winter here without being fed or re¬ 
ceiving any attention whatever; they looked well in the 
spring. It is seldom we get up in the fall, more than 
half the number we turn out in the spring—-at least so 
it is with me. 
“I should like to employ a man, and give him a 
share in the profits of the sheep. I would prefer a 
single man, though one with a small family would not 
be objectionable. My place is not twenty-five miles 
from that portion of the Alleganies called the Blue 
Ridge. I can vouch for its exemption from the fevers of 
the cotton region.” 
Norman Horses. 
Messrs. Editors: —Allow me to confirm, from per¬ 
sonal observation, the statements in the last Cultivator, 
of your correspondent “J. B. B.” in regard to the 
merits of the Norman horse. I think, however, that 
they will average a larger size than that stated in the 
article alluded to. The following is an extract from 
notes made, when travelling in France, in 1845: 
“From what I have seen of the horses in the northern 
and central departments of France—such as are used 
in the diligences—I consider them a superior breed of 
animals, and most of them are well made and hand¬ 
some, with remarkably fine shoulders and quarters. 
One-fourth, perhaps, were inferior and wanted size; but 
take them as a whole, and the general average is bet¬ 
ter than the public coach horses of England. English¬ 
men themselves, will tell you this. The Norman horse 
is strong, surefooted, very true, with good wind and 
great power of endurance. They are also very docile 
and free from vice, as frequently five, seven or nine 
stallions are attached to one diligence, and they are 
so easily driven that a boy of twelve years of age might 
safely take the place of the coachman. The most com¬ 
mon colors are roans and greys. 
“ The largest and heaviest of these animals are capi¬ 
tal for slow draught, and also would make fine coach 
stock for the city; while the lighter weighted are well 
calculated for pleasure carriages and quick work. They 
possess many qualities in common with the Morgan, 
though of a larger size. They are the best horses I 
have seen in Europe for hard and fast work, as I have 
frequently known from five to seven, make nine miles 
