224 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
July 
per hour with the ponderous diligence filled with 20 
passengers, and their luggage, besides a large quanti¬ 
ty of merchandize, the whole said to weigh 10 or 11,- 
000 pounds. In the Malle-poste they are frequently 
driven ten and eleven miles per hour.” 
I have often wondered that there were not more of 
this valuable breed of horses introduced into the United 
States. They would unquestionably improve our breeds, 
and as the horse for all-work, are better than the Eng¬ 
lish blood stock. The few that have been introduced 
into this country have proved to be fine animals, for in¬ 
stance, the importation by Mr. Harris of N. Jersey, 
and the sire of the Morse Grey. 
They could be purchased convenient for shipment, at 
Havre, and the best of them might be had for $200 or 
$250. A Maryland Subscriber. Baltimore, June 
5, 1848. 
Advantages of Water in Barn Yards, 
By reading the able communications that have from 
time to time appeared in the Cultivator, I had formed 
a favorable opinion of the advantage of having running 
water in my cattle and sheep yards. Although I had 
a supply of water within ten or fifteen rods of my barn, 
I determined to fetch a spring that was situated nearly 
half a mile off; and I will now say, that after a trial of 
several months, it has more than realised my highest 
expectations. I am satisfied that I shall save at least 
one cart load of manure from every ox or cow that I 
feed in my yard, more than I did when they had to go 
to the river to drink. Then they would seldom go but 
once in a day, and in stormy or bad weather, not so 
often; consequently, when they did go, they would 
drink so much as to render them uncomfortable for sev¬ 
eral hours. 
Now they will drink on an average about five times 
a day. I am satisfied that they will keep in better 
condition on less feed than formerly. I think that in 
the item of manure, it will paj the expense, to say 
nothing of the comfort of not being obliged to go ten or 
fifteen rods in cold and stormy weather to water hor¬ 
ses; and it is often difficult when the ground is slip¬ 
pery, to get cattle to go a few rods to get their water. 
There are very many situations, where, with a trifling 
expense, persons could have water in their yards at 
all times; and I am satisfied, that if they once knew 
the advantages of this, and of having running water at 
their dwelling houses also, they would not do without 
it again for twice the cost. A small stream of good 
soft water will answer for a large family, and will save 
many a step and many a hard pull to draw it from a 
well. 
Inquiry. —I think of paving my cattle stables with 
stone; also to form drains to convey the urine to a cis¬ 
tern, with the intention of using it to saturate the ma¬ 
nure after it is thrown from the horse and cattle sta¬ 
bles. What kind of cement would stand the water, the 
frost and the tread of the cattle? how made, and how 
used, and what would be the cost ? A Subscriber 
Westchester County, March, 1848. 
Old Fashioned Theology.-— -The following remon¬ 
strance against mechanical improvement exhibits the 
light in which the first introduction of the fanning mill 
was viewed by some persons, at the time when sifting 
it in a current of wind was the only known way of ex¬ 
purgating the chaff:— 
“ Your Ladyship and the steward has been pleased 
to propose that my son Cuddie should work in the barn 
wi’ a new fangled machine for dighting the corn from 
the chaff, thus impiously thwarting the will of Divine 
Providence, by raising wind for your ladyship’s own par¬ 
ticular use, by human art.” 
Notices of New Publications. 
Chemical Technology ; or Chemistry applied to the Arts and to 
Manufactures. By Dr. F. Knapp, Professor at the University of 
Giessen, translated and edited, with numerous notes and addi¬ 
tions : By Dr. Edmund Ronalds, Lecturer on Chemistry at the 
Middlesex Hospital, and Dr. Thomas Richardson, of Newcastle- 
on-Tyne. First American edition, with notes and additions, by 
Professor Walter R. Johhson, of Philadelphia. 
This is one of the most valuable books that has lately 
been issued—valuable on account of the vast amount of 
information it contains relating to the useful arts. It 
consists of two general divisions, the first of which de¬ 
scribes those branches of manufacture depending on the 
process of combustion, and the second the processes 
concerned in the production and application of the 
alkalies and earths. In the first chapter, the value 
and uses of different kinds of fuel in the production of 
heat, are considered at length, together with the va¬ 
rious modes of heating and lighting buildings; modes 
of making illuminating gas; different kinds of lamps; 
making charcoal and coke, the production of tar, &c. 
Other portions of the work describe the processes of 
obtaining potashes, soda; the manufacture of soap in 
all its details; of various acids used in the arts; of gun¬ 
powder, gun cotton, salt petre or nitre, salt, &c. &c. 
The work contains 500 pages, octavo; is very hand¬ 
somely printed, and contains upwards two hundred 
well executed engravings and illustrations. We shall 
have occasion to draw on the contents hereafter. Pub¬ 
lished by Lea & Blanchard, Philadelphia. 
New System of Vegetable Physiology. —We 
have received a pamphlet with this title, written by 
Daniel Vaughan, Cincinnati. The chief design ap¬ 
pears to be to show that the ascent and elaboration of 
sap, the conversion of humus into woody fibre, and the 
production of vegetable compounds generally, is affec¬ 
ted by currents of electricity, aided by the agents light 
and heat. Some of the author’s reasoning is certainly 
very plausible, though we have not sufficiently consid¬ 
ered the subject to pronounce, positively, in regard to 
the theory advanced. 
Self-Education : or, the Philosophy of Mental Improvement. By 
William Hosmer. Published by Wm. H. Ongley, Havana, 
N. Y. 
The above is a duodecimo volume of 262 pages. It 
is a work well calculated to aid the mind in the ac¬ 
quirement of knowledge. The author appears to be 
familiar with the subject he has undertaken to illus¬ 
trate, and has given many valuable ideas in a clear and 
perspicuous style. He considers education the ac¬ 
quirement of knowledge, which is valuable just in pro¬ 
portion to the importance of the things learned. We 
think the work will prove useful to a large portion of 
the youth of our country, whether they enjoy the ben¬ 
efit of schools and instructors, or are obliged to pursue 
unaided, the toilsome journey up the u hill of science.” 
Report of the Commissioner of Patents for 
1847.—The report of Mr. Burke, Commissioner of 
Patents, for the last year, is a document which reflects 
credit on that officer, and the individuals from whom 
the valuable materials of which it is composed, were 
obtained. It forms a volume of 661 pages, comprising 
a greater amount of useful information than any previ¬ 
ous report from this department. In addition to much 
statistical intelligence of a general nature, in regard to 
the products and trade of the country, there are sev¬ 
eral original papers on various subjects, drawn up 
with care and labor. Of this class we may mention 
the elaborate and valuable article on wool-growing 
and the management of sheep in Germany, by Mr. 
