1852 
THE CULTIVATOR 
317 
poison, (imparted in a similar manner, according to cases 
cited, but not quoted here for the want of space,) there 
is no difficulty in understanding, and it is quite within the 
bounds of probability, that the foetus if contaminated 
with it, by its father, may convey it to its mother.” 
Many instances can be cited like the peeled rods of 
Jacob, to prove the influence of imagination ; but in all 
cases the impression has been made either at the time of 
conception, or subsequent to that period; but in all the 
cases above referred to, the impression, whatever may 
have been the cause, must have been antecedent to that 
period. 
It was not the design of the writer, neither of the au¬ 
thors quoted by him, to convey the idea that in every in¬ 
stance where she had borne offspring from more than one 
male, that all her young must resemble the one she was 
first served with, but that such resemblance might occur; 
and to guard against this possible source of disappoint¬ 
ment, its source was designated. If the mind alone, re¬ 
ceives the impression, then the necessity still remains to 
have the female first impregnated with the same animal, 
or the same breed of animals, that it is desired her offspring 
should resemble. If Mr. “ Thick Boots” has a nice bull, 
whose services are cheap at $5, and some of his get are 
not as good as he could desire, would it not be for the 
credit of his animal, to be able to show that the blame 
rested with the previous management of the cow, and not 
in any want of certainty or purity in the blood of the 
male? 
It strikes me, that in this way only, can we account 
for the many inferior animals, the product of well bred 
horses and cattle. “ The true course for farmers will be 
to send their cows to well bred males,” no doubt, and 
then, if they are disappointed in their calves, not to rail 
against all improved breeds of stock, but to remember 
the liability of all animals to the sources of disappoint¬ 
ment I have endeavored to call their attention to ; and 
then by beginning aright, they may be almost absolutely 
certain of success, and of pecuniary reward. 
A few words in regard to myself, and I have done. 
Many farmers have supposed no one but those who fol¬ 
low the plow, and wear thick hoots, can know anything 
about farming, and if anything is said by outsiders, it is 
scouted as mere theory , and unworthy thought or atten¬ 
tion. This, doubtless, has deterred many in my profes¬ 
sion, as well as of other callings, from writing for the 
Journals, and thus valuable thoughts have been lost for 
the time, to the world. The truth probably, is, that a 
thoughtful and observant country physician, especially if 
he has first learned the art of farming, as far as it can be 
learned by working on a farm during his entire minority, 
as I have, done, will see more correct, and more errone¬ 
ous farming, in the course of one season, as he is riding 
in the course of his practice, than the laborious cultiva¬ 
tor of the soil would be able to observe in ten years time; 
and therefore would he feel some degree of confidence in 
presenting the results of his observations and reflections 
to the public, without, however, writing “ as one hav¬ 
ing authority.” Most people care nothing in regard to 
the wearing apparel of those who write for the Cultiva¬ 
tor, and could I have done so with propriety, I would 
gladly have allowed them to remain in ignorance, in re¬ 
gard to my calling; but since the matter has been brought 
prominently forth, I do not hesitate to admit that I am 
not a practical farmer, and yet I profess to know how 
much about the farm should be done. C. H. Cleve¬ 
land. Waterbury, V £., August, 1852 
Borrowing Tools. 
It is an old saying that “ he that goes borrowing, goes 
sorrowing j” and a still older one, “ the borrower is ser¬ 
vant to the lender.” But so far as applies to farm tools, 
yankee ingenuity seems to have reversed these sayings, 
for one of the greatest annoyances of some neighborhoods 
is the necessity for lending tools. Won’t you lend me 
your cart to-day?” “ I wan’t to borrow your crow-bar” 
—“ Can’t you let us have your drag ?”—■“ Are yougoin’ 
to use your old mare to-day ?”— 1 “ Father want’s to get 
your oxen”—I wan’t half a dozen of your new bags,” 
&c., are usually followed with long searches for lost 
bags, half days spent in getting carts and harrows re¬ 
paired, &c. “ Why, father, Mr. Dumplin said he would 
pay for that cart, if you would get it mended.” “ He 
would, indeed, would he,-—this would cost him about 
one-fourth of my loss of time in going to him for it, and 
taking it to and returning it from the blacksmith shop, 
to say nothing of three days delay in getting my work 
done?” “ But, father, you know that’s a great deal bet¬ 
ter than Mr. Sugarplum did when he borrowed your 
cultivator, for when he broke it, he swore at you behind 
your back, for lending him such a ‘ rotten machine,’ and 
wouldn’t never pay a cent.” 
11 John, where’sthe crowbar?” l( I don’t know sir, I’ve 
hunted for it a good deal for two or three days.” “ Have 
you looked in the barn?” “ Yes, I hunted all through 
the barn, and the carriage-house, and the corn-house.” 
“ Have you asked Jim?” “ Jim haven’t you seen the 
crow-bar no where?” u Why, yes, I saw it at Squire 
Noodle’s; he borrowed it one day when you was gone 
away, to pry up a bar post, and its been stickin’ there 
ever since.” • 
Every farmer should have a full set of implements and 
tools, AND HAVE A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING, AND EVERY¬ 
THING in its place. If he has not the means, let him 
sell off a corner of his farm to procure them. 
Manure Cellars. —Please insert the following in the 
columns of the Cultivator. 
Can any one favor me with information in relation to 
Manure Cellars, by describing a plan, materials for wall, 
&c.,—also size and cost for a farm of one hundred acres 
of cleared land. The amount of stock designed to be 
kept, is enough to consume all that is raised. B. Glenn , 
July 21, 1852. -- 
Family Ice-House. —I would ask for information 
through your journal, as to the best method of construct¬ 
ing a small ice house, from 10 to 15 feet square. I am 
aware that our large establishments, on the Schuykill are 
built entirely above ground, and my object in this inquiry 
is to know whether ice will keep better in that position, 
or below the level of the earth, and what kind of pro¬ 
tection is necessary in either case. R. R. Wright. 
Philadelphia. 
