50 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
better than small ones for planting. This year I re-^ 
solved that the experiment should be a decisive one^ 
and therefore separated my potatoes, about half a 
dozen varieties, planting first the large, and then the 
small ones of each variety; but the rot has so near¬ 
ly destroyed the crop, that the result could not be 
observed. 
Some varieties of potatoes are almost uniformly 
small, with any cultivation they may receive, and 
they also closely resemble some of the best varieties. 
Now if the farmer allows any of inferior kinds to 
mix with good ones, and plants only small ones, the 
inferior varieties will obtain the superiority, and the 
crop will deteriorate. 
A large proportion of the small potatoes which are 
produced, are either the result of too much seed be¬ 
ing used, or cultivating the crop after the first set 
of tubers have formed, so that another set starts out 
of small size. 
The opinion, therefore, which I have formed, is, 
that small potatoes of a good variety, are at least 
equally good with the large ones for seed. T. S. 
Gold. Cream Hill , Ct., Nov. 4, 1850. 
Wool and « Gum.” 
Eds. Cultivator — I have read your remarks upon 
the Addison county sheep, published in the Novem¬ 
ber number of the Cultivator. To your inquiry as 
to the object of producing so large a quantity of that 
gummy matter, you were, you say, answered that 
it was considered c< profitable so long as the manufac¬ 
turers or their agents would pay for it at the same 
price per pound as for wool.” This answer some¬ 
what surprised you. I formerly believed that wool 
was what a manufacturer wished to purchase under 
the denomination of wool, and I supposed that if 
their business required the use of oil, or gum, or 
grease, they would prefer purchasing those articles 
separately, as it is somewhat difficult to ascertain 
the exact proportion that the wool bears to the 
grease and gum. 
I have carefully perused an article published in 
the Vermont Mercury , written by J. M. Colburn, 
Esq., of Springfield, Vt. He is a large wool-grower, 
and has for many years been a large purchaser of 
wool for the eastern manufacturers. He speaks of 
a noted buck which produced annually a fleece 
weighing from eleven to twelve and a half pounds. 
He purchased the clip of wool which belonged to this 
remarkable buck. The manufacturer directed his 
stapler to ascertain the quantity of wool that fleece 
contained. The fleece, before cleansing, weighed 
eleven and a half pounds, and there proved to be 
precisely four pounds of wool, harsh and ordinary 
in quality, though in its first state it appeared rather 
fine. He gives also the relative loss of three other 
lots of wool. The first lot 27 per cent, the second 
35 per cent, and the third 41 per cent, by cleansing. 
I examined two lots of wool purchased in this town 
Jan. 
at 40 cts per lb. One lot was in good condition, and 
fine wool; the other very harsh, and much mixed 
with gum and grease, and I should judge it would 
lose near 50 per cent by cleansing. 
With these facts before me, and having a know¬ 
ledge of the general practice of wool-purchasers, I 
am not sure the Addison county wool growers do 
not act wisely. I will admit, that with 40 years 5 
experience as a wool grower, I have not been able to 
learn wherein the value of this great quantity of 
grease and gum lies. This is an important subject, 
and one in which the wool-grower must feel a deep 
interest. I hope, therefore, you will obtain, if pos¬ 
sible, the services of Professor Norton, to make an 
examination and analysis of this matter. He pos¬ 
sesses a remarkable talent of presenting a subject in 
such a way as to appear clear to any mind of common 
capacity, and if he can, with his superior knowledge 
of chemistry, show the wool-grower W'herein con¬ 
sists the great value of this gum and grease in wool, 
he will add as much to the interest of sheep husband¬ 
ry, as he has already done to other branches of ag¬ 
riculture. J. S. P. Vermont , Nov., 1850. 
Devon Breed of Cattle. 
Eds. Cultivator —The first Devon cattle, of pure 
blood, that I ever saw, were brought into Litchfield 
county, Connecticut, by Lemuel Hurlbut, Esq., 
about 30 years ago. Their color was a pure maho¬ 
gany-red, free from white, except the brush of the 
tail. They had short heads, broad across the eye, 
with long, slim horns, standing high upon the head. 
I was very much pleased with them, and commenced 
crossing from them, first with the Heaton breed of 
cattle, and afterwards with the Durham, introduced 
by the late Henry "Watson, of East Windsor, Ct. 
About seven years ago, I purchased the pure blood 
bull Matchless, bred by Col. White, of Danbury, 
Ct., and also a cow and heifer of Mr. Hurlbut. 
Since that time, I have purchased a number of females 
from the stock of Col. White, all free from visible 
marks of impure blood. I have for several years 
endeavored to carry out the principles of thorough 
breeding. I do not claim that all my stock are of 
pure blood, but I have a number that are entirely 
unmixed Devon. A part of my stock are crossed, 
as before mentioned. I never saw any white on a 
pure Devon, except at the end of the tail, till within 
the last few years. 
Some fresh importations have now been made, and 
it is thought by some, that we should cross those 
bred in this country with those lately introduced. 
It is, however, important to breed from animals 
which show no impurity of blood. Some animals 
of the late importations, show some points which 
are different from what I have heretofore regarded 
as indicating pure blood. I do not say they are not 
pure, but as they are in some respects different from 
the Devon stock we have before had. I wish the 
