106 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
March, 
country. The remarks of the author on the importance 
of sheltering colts from storms and showers is worthy of 
careful consideration. I have no doubt much injury is 
inflicted on our stock by neglect of this matter. If we 
paid more attention to their protection from the weather, 
we would not have so many horses with heaves and broken 
wind. We certainly have many more of them than they 
have in Great Britain. I must quote our author on this 
subject: 
“ Here it is necessary to urge the importance of adopt¬ 
ing the utmost caution not to allow them (young foals) 
to be exposed to wet, not even a shower of rain, on any 
account whatever. At any future period likewise the 
utmost attention is necessary to guard young stock from 
getting wet across the back or loins. 
The woolly texture of the coat of a foal is of such a 
nature, that when once it becomes wet through, it is 
some time ere it gets dry again. There may be some 
persons who conceive this to be a species of unnecessary 
caution, and that under the impression of bringing up their 
stock more hardy, they should be exposed to the casual 
vicissitudes of weather. A greater error cannot be com¬ 
mitted. I can only remark that a state bordering on 
disease is not calculated to promote a robust constitution. 
A catarrhal affection, or cold, let it affect what part it 
may, is a disorder that should never be thought lightly 
of; frequently repeated, it becomes constitutional; thus 
if the head, the glands, and the throat are attacked, they 
fall into an unhealthy state, and,when the strangles makes 
its appearance, it in all probability issues in a decided 
ease of roaring. To rear stock that shall be hardy and 
robust, every event likely to produce disease, however 
trifling it may be in itself, should be carefully avoided.” 
I repeat the opinion, that this is sound advice. If we 
would make breeding horses profitable, we must take 
more j>ains. It is what is called bad luck that interferes 
with the profits of breeding. Many colts die—many get 
maimed, &c. Now more than one half of them could be 
brought profitably to market, if we would but take a 
little more care of them. Accidents and diseases always 
follow neglect. 
Our author next makes some excellent remarks on 
stabling. He says: 
“ One of the principal features in the good arrange¬ 
ment of buildings for the purpose of sheltering horses, 
is ventilation. Most persons are willing to acknowledge 
the importance of ventilation; and yet many buildings 
appropriated to the use of horses, are very imperfectly 
constructed in this respect. It may therefore appear 
necessary to add a few more words on this important 
subject, the result of investigation made by an acknow¬ 
ledged authority. Boussingault calculates that the horse 
consumes thirteen pounds three and a half ounces of oxy¬ 
gen in twenty four hours, which is used in converting the 
carbon into carbonic acid. Presuming therefore that the 
same excess of oxygen is consumed by the horse, that is 
consumed of carbon, according the experiments of Bous¬ 
singault, a horse requires more than five times the amount 
of fresh air essential to the vital process in man; and, 
furthermore, when it is observed that the air in a confined 
room, becomes contaminated and deprived of its vital 
properties by the process of inspiration and expiration— 
how important it must appear that horses should be kept 
in apartments very perfectly arranged for the admission 
of fresh and the escape of foul air.” 
This too is a consideration that has not yet received, in 
our country, one half the attention it deserves. The 
author also enjoins it upon all farmers, to keep their 
stables dry. To have no moisture under the floors, and 
no walls that will collect moisture, as it is a fruitful 
source of disease. 
In the construction of stalls he recommends side drains . 
of tiles or other material which shall convey the wet to a 
tank in the yard, for the use of the farm. The flooring 
of stalls he thinks should be a pavement of small smooth 
stones. These he considers better than bricks, because 
the horse is not so liable to slip on them. He prefers 
wells or mangers for hay to racks, because they put the 
head in a more natural position for feeding, and because 
racks cause more waste of hay by pulling out, &c., and 
fill the eyes and ears with seeds, &c. Our people think 
colts should eat from high racks, to teach them to hold 
their heads high. This I think is rather a whim; if they 
will not hold up their heads by the excitement of driving, 
they are not of the right sort, and I doubt whether any 
kind of early training will raise the head of a lubber, or 
keep down the head of a flyer. 
The necessity of great cleanliness, in all parts of the 
stable, is enforced by various considerations, such as the 
prevalence of epidemic diseases in stables where this is 
disregarded. But I have made this article too long. My 
next will contain extracts more particularly related to 
breeding. B. Syracuse, Jan. 1852. 
Remarks on a few Varieties of Plums. 
Eds. Cultivator —The following remarks on the un¬ 
der named varieties, are in accordance with my own ex¬ 
perience, after ten years trial. My soil is light and sandy, 
but kept in good condition. It may assist those who are 
are about making a selection for such soil. I have a few 
others on trial, the result of which I shall give from time 
to time, after being fully tested. I do not pretend that 
the results given are uniform in every soil and location, 
but only applicable to such as I occupy. 
Bolmar’s Washington. —This variety, although highly 
extolled, I cannot speak of in terms of commendation. 
It has fruited with me for six or eight years, and although 
the fruit sets well, so great is its liability to rot in all 
seasons, and all weathers, that from heavily loaded trees, 
I have never been able to obtain more than five or six 
perfect plums from each tree. I have no hesitation in 
pronouncing it worthless with me, and this is the charac¬ 
ter it bears with many persons who have cultivated it in 
the part of the state where I reside, and of whom I have 
inquired. Its large size and handsome appearance seems 
to have given it a popularity far beyond its merits. It 
may do better elsewhere. I do not think it adapted to 
Connecticut. [This is the result with this otherwise fine 
plum, in many other portions of the country. Eds.} 
Prince’s Imperial Gage. —This I have cultivated for 
the same period as the Bolmar. It is a plum of excellent 
flavor and a prodigious bearer, but like the former is 
rather liable to rot. It is very prolific, and by protec¬ 
tion from curculio, it generally yields a profitable crop. 
Red Gage. —This variety I cannot speak too highly of. 
It is of good quality, a regular bearer, and the fruit very 
hardy against the rot. I have retained this as one of my 
best plums. 
Orleans —may be Smith’s Orleans. —(The tree and 
fruit, pretty closely agree with the description of the lat¬ 
ter given in books.) This plum I consider valuable for 
light soils; it is a great and sure bearer, of excellent 
quality, and tolerably hardy against rot, excepting when 
hanging too thick, but pretty sure of yielding a profitable 
return with proper attention given to it. Respectfully 
yours. J. Waters. New Milford , Ct. } Dee . 18, 1851 # 
