218 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
June. 
Importation op Sheep.-—-Wm. R. Sanford, E q., 
of Onvell, Yt., has lately returned from Europe, whith¬ 
er he had been for the purpose of procuring sheep which 
he deemed suitable for improving the Merino flocks 
of the United States. After a critical examination of 
all the flocks of note in Spain-, France, and many of 
those of Saxony and other German states, he made a 
selection of twenty-five in Silesia, and two selections 
from flocks in France. In making his examinations and 
selections in Germany, he was accompanied byCHAs. L. 
Fleichmann, Esq., American consul at Stuttgard. whose 
intimate knowledge of the country, and acquaintance 
with the most distinguished sheep-breeders, was an im¬ 
portant aid. We had the opportunity of seeing the lot 
purchased in Silesia, as Mr. S. passed here on his way 
to Vermont, and were well pleased with them. They 
are mostly of only one year old, and were, from the 
effects of their long confinement not in the best condi¬ 
tion to show; but they have generally good forms, are 
uniform in appearance, and remarkably well covered 
with wool on all parts of the body. The staple is finer 
than that of most Merinos in this country, and at the 
same time the weight of fleece in proportion to the car¬ 
cass appears large, especially in the ewes. The wool is 
oily but not gummy, and Mr. S. states that the average 
of the 600 head belonging to the flock from which these 
were selected, has been four pounds per fleece, clean 
washed. They are represented in the certificate received 
by Mr. S. of the breeder, as being purely descended 
from the Infantado Nigretti flock of Spain, a selection 
from which was taken to Silesia in the year 1811. The 
sheep purchased in France, are expected to arrive short¬ 
ly. We understand that Messrs. E. Hammond, of Mid- 
dlebury, R. T. Hall, and Wm. Remilee of Cornwall, 
Yt., are associated with Mr. Sanford in these importa¬ 
tions. Mr. S. informs us that he has purchased a Devon 
cow and heifer of Mr. George Turner, Devonshire, 
England, which will come to this country in the course 
of the season. -- 
Mechanics’ Institute. —This institution was founded 
in New-York, in 1831. Its object is the improvement 
of the mechanical classes by means of lectures, holding 
conversational meetings, debates and discussions, public 
exhibitions of specimens of mechanical productions, &c. 
It occupies a large building—comprising four floors, each 
containing 3,500 square feet—at the junction of Division- 
street and the Bowery. It has a large library and read¬ 
ing-room, and is fitted up on the general plan of the Po¬ 
lytechnic Institution in London. A steam engine has been 
erected for the purpose of showing the operation of new 
machinery. The exhibition was opened on the 15th May. 
It is designed to keep the exhibition constantly open, 
and it will afford an interesting and attractive place to 
persons who wish to obtain information in reference to 
mechanical philosophy. For particulars apply to Thos. 
C. Dodd, Actuary. -— 
York County, N. B., Ag. Society. —This Society 
will hold its next show at Fredericton, on Tuesday and 
Wednesday, the 14th and 15tli days of October next. 
Very liberal premiums are offered, embracing all kinds 
of live stock, and the principal agricultural products of 
the province. We are glad to see that the agriculture 
of this section is improving. 
New-England Poultry Society. —By the *Second 
annual report of this society, it appears to be in a flourish¬ 
ing condition. The treasury has a balance on hand of 
upwards of $200. Vigorous preparations are in pro¬ 
gress for another exhibition at Boston in November next, 
and the report gives a full account of the last. Attach¬ 
ed to the document are several pages of cuts of fowls. 
Some of these represent well-known and valuable varie¬ 
ties j others belong to newly invented sorts which were 
brought out at the last show,—as “ Imperial Chinese, 0 
“Wild Indian Mountain Fowl/’ “Bengal Mountain 
Game Fowl,” “ Burrampooter Fowl,” &c. They are 
from the same manufactory as the “ Plymouth-Rock 
Fowl,” “ Fawn-colored Dorking,” “Yankee Game,” 
“Pride of India Fowl,” and “ South American Eagle 
Fowl,” which were advertised a year ago. From the 
ugliness of some of the figures, it might be supposed they 
were mere caricatures; but persons who have seen the 
originals will have no hesitation in admitting that they 
are quite truthful portraits, and the sight of them may 
be a useful warning against being deceived by the names. 
Fish Guano. —It will be seen that Messrs. Emery &Co. 
offer for sale an article under this name, which, from all 
we can learn in regard to it, is likely to become of great 
importance. It has Deen very carefully analysed by 
Prof. Norton, who deems it of excellent quality— 
“ equal in value to medium qualities of [imported] 
guano.” Mr. Ciias. Roeinson, President of the New 
Haven county Horticultural Society, states that he tried 
it last year, on various plants, and its results were fully 
equal to Peruvian guano. We think it should have a 
careful trial on various soils, and should its effects be 
such as may be expected, it will have a great advantage 
in cheapness, over imported guano. Should the demand 
render it an object, it can be produced in very large 
quantities for future years. 
Morgan Horses. —Mr. N. B. Hogg, of Newark, Ohio, 
has purchased of Mr. Wier, of Walpole, N. H., a mare 
and a three year colt, both got by the well known “ Gif¬ 
ford Morgan.” The mare, we understand, is the dam 
of the fine horse “ Morgan Hunter,” owned by Messrs. 
Gilbert & Ackley, of East Hamilton, Madison county, 
N. Y. We have not seen Mr. Hogg’s horses, but have 
been informed that they show many of the good points 
of the Morgan stock, and we cannot doubt that they 
will be highly useful in improving the horses of the sec¬ 
tion to which they have been taken. 
Extraordinary Cow. —The Hereford cow which won 
the first prize at the last Birmingham show, was slaugh¬ 
tered a few months since, and her weight, as given in an 
English paper, was as follows: Live weight 2,356 lbs. 
Dressed weight—four quarters, 1,695—tallow, 198— 
hide, 85—total, 1,978 lbs. The heart weighed 7 lbs. 
and the head 32 lbs. - 
Devon Oxen. —Oxen are less worked in English 
farming than formerly, but Devons, and in some instan¬ 
ces Ilerefords, are still used to some extent. In a late 
report of the Agriculture of West-Norfolk, it is stated 
that Mr. Hudson, of Castleacre, works sixteen Devon 
oxen, besides several pair of horses. The oxen work in 
pairs, the same as the horses, “ and walk quite as quick- 
