34 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Another advantage of a pen is, that if too much hay is 
thrown down for a foddering, it can remain in it, and 
save the trouble of pitching it back. I choose to be 
thus particular, Messrs. Editors, about small matters. 
“ Take care of the cents and the dollars will take care of 
themselves,” is a proverb farmers too frequently forget 
to practice. Furthermore, inattention to small things is 
productive of more evil to farmers, in the long run, than 
any other cause within my knowledge; and to no branch 
of farming will this remark apply with greater force 
than in reference to sheep husbandry. 
Having cleared the ground thus far, I proceed to speak 
of something of vast importance to the welfare of the 
sheep, viz : frequent littering of the sheds and yards 
with straw, for with no other domestic animal will a 
want of cleanliness, and consequently impurity of air, 
so soon induce disease. Recollect that aside from this, 
you are rewarded in other respects, for the sheep will 
consume more or less of the straw, and the residue is 
converted into manure. Said a brother farmer to me 
once, who had two or three ill constructed hovels for 
his sheep, “I am getting quite out of the notion of 
sheltering my sheep, for the place where they roost gets 
so nasty.” Ho you ever put any straw under your ho¬ 
vels? “Sometimes.” How often? “ Two or three times 
in the winter.” Pray, how often do you clean out your 
horse stable ? “ Every morning;” and you littter the 
stalls every night, do you not ? “Yes, of course.” Well, 
sir, what sort of a place would it be if done no oftener 
than you litter your sheep hovels. Nasty enough, was 
his reply. Suffice it to say, he got himself into a cor¬ 
ner, from which he did not escape till he was served 
right and left with knock-down arguments in support of 
the necessity of at least paying as much attention to his 
sheep as the rest of his stock. This occurred sometime 
ago ; a few days since I met him again; he told me he 
had built better hovels—that he littered them once a 
week or fortnight, and his sheep never had done so well 
before; that it was a pleasure every morning to see them 
come out of their clean, warm nests; and further, was 
now well persuaded that increase of profits from sheep, 
like every other stock, must come from increase of at¬ 
tention. I grasped his hand with pleasure—told him he 
reasoned “ like a book,” and confirmed his good im¬ 
pressions, by assuring him, that sheep were the most 
grateful creatures on earth, by returning five dollars for 
every one expended in protecting them from the terrible 
storms of winter, good keeping, and attention the year 
round. 
It will be inferred from the above, that it is my prac¬ 
tice often to litter my sheds; it is done once a week, on 
an average, throughout the foddering season. And with 
a view to greater convenience in this, late in the fall, 
several loads of straw are drawn and deposited in a 
pen, for the purpose, adjoining each barn. I would 
have your inexperienced readers understand, that very 
little straw is necessary at a littering; just enough to 
cover the excrement is all that is necessary. I will add, 
that at the time of drawing the straw, a considerable 
quantity is scattered about the yards; by adopting this 
course you will save all the manure from your sheep, 
by being intermixed with the straw. 
On reflection, so much occurs to me, yet unsaid, in 
reference to winter management, that I shall be obliged 
to trespass on the columns of the March No. before 
my subject can be completed. 
I can not conclude, gentlemen, without expressing the 
unqualified pleasure, the perusal of the last number of 
the Cultivator afforded me. Think it not flattery, but 
a just compliment, when I say, that several of the arti¬ 
cles, both editoral as well as communicated, in elegance 
of composition, would grace the columns of the first 
periodicals of our country ; add to this, the useful know¬ 
ledge imparted to the farmer, which, if carried into prac¬ 
tice, would increase his gains some twenty fold, and how 
cheap is a year’s subscription to your valuable paper. 
There is not a farmer in the land, butwhose pride should 
prompt him to take an agricultural paper, to say noth¬ 
ing of the advantages of instruction derived from it, ap¬ 
plicable to his calling. God speed you, in your ho¬ 
norable and useful vocation; may your zeal not abate ; 
and I trust something more solid, than grateful hearts, 
will be your reward. Your friend. L. A. M. 
Lansing, Tompkins co. New-York. 
Soil and Climate of Florida. 
To the Editors of the Cultivator: 
You perceive that in this delightful tropical climate, 
we have a vegetating temperature on every day of the 
year. You also know that these exclusively calcareous 
islands, are covered with a luxuriant growth of native 
plants of the tropics. You farther know, that the Morus 
multicaulis is a tropical plant, from the tropical Phillip- 
pine islands, and that hence this Manilla mulberry is 
now naturalized in its native climate, on the tropical 
Florida Keys. You moreover know, that in this tropi¬ 
cal climate the Manilla mulberry is an evergreen tree, 
which is propagated by its numerous buds, and which 
does re-produce its enormous leaves, on every day of 
every year. And you should hence know, that in this 
tropical climate, the silk-worms can be fed, and their 
silk-cocoons can be produced on every day of every year. 
But probably, even you have not duly reflected on the 
wonderful peculiarity of the only earth which consti¬ 
tutes these islands, and on hence the wonderful produc¬ 
tiveness of their exclusively calcareous soils. I have 
repeatedly announced, that the long range of numerous 
islands from Cape Florida to the Tortugas Keys, is com¬ 
posed exclusively of the carbonate of lime; and that 
hence on all these Keys of exclusively calcareous mate¬ 
rials, not a particle of silicious sand, or aluminous clay, 
has heen created by nature. 
Indeed, whence could be naturally supplied, either 
sand or clay, to coral rocks on a limestone foundation in 
the depths of the sea ? As then these islands are mere¬ 
ly vast beds of the great mineral manure of civilized 
agriculture, is it not as surprising that any plants are 
flourishing on these beds of exclusively mineral manure, 
as it would be to find any plants flourishing on any beds 
of exclusively vegetable, or exclusively animal manure ? 
All scientific vegeculturisls, should hence feel great 
curiosity to learn not only what indigenous plants are 
really luxuriating on these exclusively calcareous soils, 
but also, what exotic plants may equally flourish on 
these arid calcareous Keys. Besides the Morus rubra, 
which is indigenous to the mainland near Cape Florida, 
the exotic Morus alba, also flourishes on this little coral 
rock, called Indian Key. From the fruit of the Morus 
multicaulis, ripened on this islet last spring, my younger 
daughter has a vigorous seedling, which promises fairly 
to prove a very valuable variety, entitled to the distinc¬ 
tive epithet of multiramas, or many branches. From 
some mulberry seed imported direct from Canton, I have 
also one seedling, which also bids fair to become a very 
valuable variety—of which one distinctive characteris¬ 
tic in the leaves, is the convexity of their upper surfaces. 
(By the bye, this single plant may be the only compen¬ 
sating equivalent for the twenty-five dollars I paid to 
Thorburn in New-York, a year ago, for ten ounces of 
Chinese mulberry seed.) 
Scientific horticulturists will hence perceive, that dur¬ 
ing the wintry weather of the northern states, the most 
valuable experiments can be made on this miniature isl¬ 
and of Indian Key. The most intelligent patriots will 
best appreciate the national importance of speedy trials 
of all valuable seeds on these arid islands. The enlight¬ 
ened Commissioner of the Patent Office at Washington, 
has furnished the only practicable means for the direct 
transmission of valuable seeds to all sections of our ex¬ 
tensive country. Need I say more to excite the imme¬ 
diate co-operation of all intelligent philanthropists, in 
my isolated endeavors to form a miniature collection of 
all possible varieties of valuable plants for future propa¬ 
gation over all the calcareous soils of Tropical Florida. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
HENRY PERRINE, 
Sup. for theTrop. Plant Co. of Florida. 
Indian Key, Tropical Florida, November, 1839. ) 
[Lat! 24° 48/ Long. 80° 55' W.] $ 
Agriculture and its Improvement. 
In reviewing the varied fruits of industry, and the 
aids it receives from the inventive genius of man, my 
mind has ever been attuned to the persuasion, that what¬ 
ever we owe to the beneficial talents of others, our 
first gratitude is due to him who makes a blade of grass 
grow where grass grew not before. This sentiment 
calls to mind the late lamented Editor of the Cultivator, 
who, to the thorough study of the science of agricul¬ 
ture, added its most suc-essful practice, in converting 
the sandy and barren plain into fields blooming and 
yielding, in rich abundance, almost all the varied pro¬ 
ductions of our climate. To one who had seen the soil 
of his farm, previous to his becoming its cultivator, it 
now seems to have been visited by some magic hand, 
and it would be incredible, that the work of man could 
have produced such a change, were it not that so many 
eyes have witnessed the astonishing fact. The fruits 
of his labor, with other kindred spirits, in advancing the 
cause of agriculture, are already seen in the general 
improvement of our farms ; and the whitened fields of 
our country for generations to come, yielding their dou¬ 
ble and threble amount of annual crops, will be the ever 
blooming monuments of his skill and industry, and if 
honor be rendered to whom honor is due, his name will 
descend to posterity among the first benefactors of man. 
During the many years I have been engaged in com¬ 
merce, I have ever had an eye to the superior impor¬ 
tance of Agriculture; not by handling the plow, which 
my special avocation forbade, but by facilitating, as far 
as within me lay, the application of the most approved 
theories to practical, but often unskilful operations of 
the husbandman. My own practical knowledge was ne¬ 
cessarily limited to Horticulture, on a small scale. In 
the management of my garden, I have paid much at¬ 
tention to the growth and propagation of vegetables, 
fruits, plants, and flowers, and by a free distribution of 
seeds and their products, carefully selected from the 
best stocks I could procure, and cultivated with assidui¬ 
ty, I have, I hope, done some good. Not confining my- 
self to the larger opportunities which presented them¬ 
selves, I availed myself occasionally of the smallest 
means that promised success. Of this latter, you will 
discover an evidence by an inspection of some razors re¬ 
cently presented for your acceptance. The words “Ag¬ 
riculture” and “ Horticulture,” etched on the blades, 
will show, that if they are of little intrinsic value, they 
are yet in character; I am desirous that the farmer, even 
when using this implement, should be held in mind, that 
we are his debtors; with this view, I ordered a quantity 
of these razors to be manufactured for sale in my store. 
Of all civil occupations, that of agriculture should be 
regarded as foremost: It is the most indispensable, the 
best preserver of health, of morality, of virtue, and of 
religion ; it was the occupation of our first parent, and 
has been that of the majority of his descendants in all 
past ages, and must necessarily so continue to time’s 
end. How largely are we interested in its improvement 
• and success! It is, however, a painful truth, that its 
, progress in our country, is far from being exhilerating. 
Habits, venerated only for their antiquity, are obsti- 
' nately adhered to, to the exclusion of “book farming,” 
i and this without any investigation into relative merits. 
Numerous are the deformities growing out of this error; 
1 slovenly managed farms, not arising from idleness; for 
! idleness is not the besetting sin of the tillers of our soil; 
, farms disproportionate to the means of proper cultiva- 
| tion; fields rendered unproductive by a succession of 
wasting crops, and then left to be resuscitated by the 
slow operation of nature. To these might be added 
other equally obvious defects, too numerous for present 
detail. 
It is passing strange, that while the aid of the press 
is consulted in support of nearly every design, even of 
those of minor importance, or of doubtful policy, agri¬ 
culture, the most important of all, seems alone to reject 
its influence ; this unhappy prejudice is gradually yield¬ 
ing to better judgment, and we may hope the day is not 
distant when the farmer will be no more without his ag¬ 
ricultural hebdomadal, than he would be without his 
almanac. 
There are certain primary principles so evident as to 
be within the unaided observation of every tiller of the 
soil, yet even these often require a friendly monitor to 
keep them present to the mind: others there are, de¬ 
pendent on scientific research, and seldom to be disco¬ 
vered except by the studious reader. The press, in 
these cases, is the best monitor, and the truest instruct¬ 
or. _ In truth, the few shillings annually charged for an 
agricultural journal, if properly attended to, are the 
most productive outlay of the farmer. 
The proper selection of seed grain is an important 
consideration. The best if possible should alone be 
used. Grain is liable to degenerate by long succession 
of unchanged seed. An occasional change of seed for 
that of other farmers, will often be found beneficial, inso¬ 
much, that even that received in exchange, will, al¬ 
though apparently of an inferior quality, frequently 
yield a produce superior to that given in exchange, 
especially if the latter has exhibited any symptom of 
degeneracy. The potato is a very necessary and valua¬ 
ble esculent; there is perhaps no vegetable more liable 
to degenerate by a continued succession of the same 
stock in the same soil; were it not for the friendly agency 
of nature which annually scatters its seed on the ground, 
and thus gives birth to a new generation, this necessa¬ 
ry article of food might be entirely lost. This effort of 
nature never fails in mild climates, but should not be 
relied on where the rigorous cold of our northern win¬ 
ter seldom fails to destroy delicate seeds when exposed 
to its action. An exchange of seed potatoes with a 
neighboring farmer, will generally check the menaced 
evil, but the true mode is to imitate nature; the farmer 
should every two or three years preserve a small quan¬ 
tity of the seed, which is contained in the balls growing 
on the green tops or stalks of the potatoes, and sow the 
same in a bed in his garden ; the plants, when they ap¬ 
pear over ground, should be transplanted, and placed 
at the usual proper distance. The produce of the first 
year’s growth, generally of a size too small for use, may 
be reserved for the next year’s planting. This is 
deemed an infallible remedy against degeneracy, and 
gives the best security for good and wholesome crops, 
in regard to abundance and quantity. 
The improvement of his breed of cattle is an object 
of the greatest solicitude to every r farmer. He does not 
always know how much is directly in his power, in re¬ 
gard to this object. The secret, if it be one, consists, 
in no small degree, in a plentiful supply of food to the 
young animal; the full grown beast will eat less and 
fatten sooner, than were he neglected while young. An 
early attention to abundant feeding, will improve the 
humblest stock of cattle, while the best breed, if neg¬ 
lected, or not sufficiently fed while young, will degene¬ 
rate, and become, in their maturity, unsightly and pro¬ 
fitless. 
The overflow of the river Nile is a display of irriga¬ 
tion on a magnificent scale; on the subsiding of its wa¬ 
ters, the agriculturist almost without an effort, raises an 
abundant crop. Egyptian grain has, by reason of its 
quality and abundance, become proverbial. Lands, ad¬ 
joining rivers, or streams of water, where the over¬ 
flows are periodical or occasional, and not too frequent, 
produce results proportionally similar to those of the 
Nile. I have seen no calculation made with a view to 
ascertain the utmost amount of money, or of labor as the 
equivalent of money, which a farmer may safely expend 
in the irrigation of his lands. I incline to the opinion 
that the outlay may profitably exceed the general ap¬ 
prehension. The watering of the kitchen garden is 
deemed by the horticulturist indispensable; the labor 
is generally performed by hand and watering-pot, the 
most expensive of all modes in use; yet, I believe that, 
on a minute calculation,it would appear that no equal 
extent of the farm yields so large, or, all matters con¬ 
sidered, returns so large a per centage on the capital 
employed. This, if true, goes far to prove, that small 
farms, well cultivated, and irrigated, even at considera¬ 
ble expense, are more productive of profit, than large 
farms without the means of a thorough cultivation, and 
depending on casual falls of rain for the necessary 
moisture. 
All lands, at all worthy of cultivation, contain the 
means of retaining them perpetually in a state of con¬ 
tinual productiveness. Ignorance or prejudice alone 
would permit any part of the farm to be fallow. Com¬ 
post is the common production of every farm, and is 
