ers, to show a little spirit, not to be afraid of their shadow 
in a good cause; the best things in the world cannot be 
bought at low prices; the expense and risk of shipping is 
very heavy, and not a very pleasant business for a “ sea¬ 
sick sailor .” 
I have bought all kinds of seed grain of the best sorts, 
and shall be much gratified to share them with our friends. 
The Whitington wheat is not much liked there; the best 
farmers say the straw is very rotten, the ears uneven, and 
the flour of a weak nature; I have brought a little for trial, 
thinking climate might change it. Brown’s Prolific is a 
new sort lately introduced and much approved. The Ta- 
lavera is an excellent quality. The white Bullstroud is 
very fine; but the old red Lammas, of long standing, is 
more generally liked, the most certain, and considered the 
most productive. I have all these kinds, with a little of 
many others. The Potato oats, the Caspian, the Waterloo, 
the Dutch, the Poland and the Tartar; the Chevalier bar¬ 
ley, the Moldavia, and the different kinds of early; all 
kinds of grass and garden seeds, most kinds of turnep, 
ruta baga and potato, as good as England can produce. 
We shall have much pleasure in distributing them, when 
we know their results in a different climate, so that the 
enterprising may have no excuse to stray from the im¬ 
provement of their country, that requires nothing else but 
good husbandry. 
I am further of opinion, that the substantial English 
cart horse would be a very great benefit to this country. 
A good, strong, steady team, with a heavy plow behind 
it, would do its work effectually, while a trotting, flirting, 
jumping, baulky one, with a light plow, will skip over 
much soil, and leave the weeds growing. The observing 
traveler proves this daily, by “ occular demonstrationthe 
pernicious weeds skipped by bad plowing, shoot forth 
without a check, and, like the thorns, “ spring up and 
choke the grain,” impoverishing the soil much more. Ano¬ 
ther thing the same traveler notices: the manure lying in 
the yard of the thoughtless farmers, while their sons are 
gadding about the country wjth their trotting horses. If 
they owned the steady steed, he would always have a load 
behind him ; he is a business horse, and cannot be put out 
of his place by folly, and their sons would be engaged in 
usefulness, drawing out their most profitable article. 
Farmers, look at this and meditate; and if your views 
meet mine, I will endeavor to procure the animals. 
Another idea strikes me, that farmers have a very anx- ' 
ious desire to put out money on interest, at six or seven ! 
per cent, while, if judiciously applied on their own soil 
and stock, it would pay full double the amount in better 
security and substantial credit; if the former will produce 
a double quantity, with proper management, it is enhanced ; 
in value accordingly. If the latter are supported with less ! 
provender, and sold at 200 per cent higher prices, to the 
satisfaction of the purchasers, it is clear proof of the ad¬ 
vantage derived, without reference to the supposed extrava- ‘ 
gance of the original cost of approved sires and dams. 
Nothing but the most rigid judgment will sanction an ex¬ 
traordinary price. This I consider a subject that will bear 
the close investigation of enlightened farmers. 
I cannot finish this letter without referring you to the ( 
worthy sire of the Hewer family, Mr. Wm. Hewer, sen’r, . 
Northleach, who I consider one of the best farmers Eng- , 
land contains, and one of the best of men. He has never ‘ 
been led astray by fashion, or the foibles and follies of the 
gay and the great, but kept the standard of mediocrity, 
and pursued and maintained its usefulness. I may say 1 
with confidence that no man has done more real good for 
his country, or brought up a family with more credit; his , 
honor has never been tarnished, and I think I may say with¬ 
out fear of contradiction, that his character is without a 
stain. He has excelled in good judgment in stock, to great , 
perfection, selected his sires and dams with the most con- ] 
sidered care and attention, without reference to price, when 
the animal suited; he well knew the deficient points and , 
quality he wanted to improve, and made his crosses with 
true science; by this principle he has established himself ; 
at the head of breeders, and has kept them longer than 
any other man in the country. To improve a bad flock is ( 
not difficult, but when bordering on purity, it requires the i 
most accurate examination, and is one of the most difficult 
situations in the world, to avoid degeneration. Mr. Hewer 
has maintained this standard sufficiently long to be a pat¬ 
tern to farmers, an example to all, and deserves as high a ; 
station in society as a nation can offer. When a tenant, 
his system of farming was pursued with the nicest accura- ' 
cy; his soil was never impoverished, but every thing turn¬ 
ed to the best advantage. He hired good laborers, and ; 
paid them well for their services; although he employed a . 
great number, they were all placed in a situation where 
their toil would refund the outlay. Penurious farmers 
thought him extravagant, but he pursued his course with 
true economy; his judgment paid him ample interest. He ! 
was a mark of the highest respect in his parish, and uni¬ 
versally beloved by ail who knew him. He is now land¬ 
lord of his own soil—400 acres—which he purchased se- » 
ven years since, in the most slovenly and impoverished : 
condition, in the 60th year of his age. He has three sons 
in business near him—the eldest under Lord Sherborne, 
&c. 500 acres; the second, under the same landlord, had 
400 acres—the third, under himself, 150 acres, with a 
mill. I think I may safely challenge the world to show 
four farms in one family, under a better state of cultiva¬ 
tion ; or even one to compare in stock with either of the 
three former. Give America such farmers as these, and 
no nation in the world can compare with it. 
I send you a paper with an advertisement, showing the 
Queen at the head of an agricultural society, with an anx- j 
ious wish that the heads of America will follow the good 
and noble example she has patronized. It is my opinion 
that Agricultural Societies are the first props for improve¬ 
ment. Could we be able to establish one in each county, 
with a right spirit and a firm principle, it would have the 
desired effect on all. 
Isendyouashort treatise on the epidemic among cattle, Ac. 
presented to me by one of the members of the Royal Agri¬ 
cultural Society; if you are disposed to publish it, it is at 
your option. 
These ideas are from my own observation and practice, 
and I hope they will be received with the same good feel, 
ing as they are issued. My former ideas on the Cotswold 
sheep, were known in the September number of the Culti¬ 
vator, 1836, on sheep husbandry, signed “ A Subscriber.” 
I then gave my ideas on the different breeds, and am sorry 
to say, it did not meet with the views of the Merino and 
Saxony breeders; it was not my intention to deter those 
from breeding, but to prove the benefit of their breeds. I 
did not then answer “ The Wool Grower,” or Mr. Grove, 
but met the latter at the State Society in Albany, where 
we talked the matter over amicably, and I believe him to 
be, from his conversation, a scientific breeder, and hope his 
breed will answer his expectations fully, as fine wool is 
wanted, and in some instances, may be profitable. 
Let us all endeavor to get the best breeds of all kinds, 
and we shall not want to advocate a forced market, or 
strive for good reputation, without deserving it. We must 
not sanction the idea, that gold and silver alone constitutes 
wealth, but good stock and good land, well cultivated, with 
industrious undertakings, well understood and relished; 
and banish from the mind all sluggish inactivity; by this 
we shall be able to establish our object, distinguish the 
name of farmers as we ought to do, and let it be practical¬ 
ly realized; it is the on ! y time way to happiness, prosperi¬ 
ty, and distinction ; and allow me to make a remark which 
is as certain as death, that no land can be kept in a good 
state of cultivation, without a sufficient quantity of sheep 
and cattle. The former is a remarkable rich manure, and 
I think folding sheep in this country, in the autumn, is too 
useful a branch of husbandry to neglect. 
Yours, most sincerely, 
WM. H’Y. SOTHAM. 
N. B. It is useless for any person to apply for any kind 
of animal but those of the first quality. I have firmly re¬ 
solved to import nothing less. The only way to arrive at 
superiority, is to begin right and continue so. 
Perch Lake, Jefferson Co. N. Y. June 1, 1840 
The following are the pedigrees of the beasts and 
sheep sold by me this day, April 10th, 1840, to Wm. H. 
Sotham, Perch Lake Farm, Jefferson County, New-York, 
North America: 
1. An 8 year old cow, Lumpy, was sired by Nelson, 
dam by Panic, grand dam by Alpha. Nelson’s sire was 
by Trogan, dam, Bloomy, grand dam, old Bloomy. 
2. A five year old cow, Gay, and bull calf, Sir George. 
Gay sired by Noble, which was sired by Sovereign, that 
sired Cotmore, which won the prize at Oxford Royal 
Agricultural Society, 1839, and is admitted by all breed¬ 
ers to have sired more prize beasts than any other in 
the county of Hereford. Dam by Conqueror, grand dam 
Spot, by Alpha; Alpha by Trojan, the owner of which 
offered to show against any bull in England, for a thou¬ 
sand pounds, and was not accepted. 
3. Young Sir George, by a son of Sir George that won 
the prize at Hereford, for the best aged bull. 
4. Four year old cow, Maria and calf, by Young Fa¬ 
vorite by a son of Alpha, dam by Noble. 
5. Calf Matilda by Major, which won the prize at 
Hereford, with his dam and sire, for the best bull, cow 
and offspring, Oct. 1837, and the prize for the best year¬ 
ling, 1838. 
6. Yearling Victoria, by Major, dam by Favorite, Fa¬ 
vorite, by a son of Alpha. 
7. Bull calf Young Major by Major, dam by Young 
Favorite. 
8. Two year old Aston Beauty, by a son of Old Sov¬ 
ereign ; dam by Fitz Favorite, which won the prize at 
Cirencester show. 
9. Two year old Spot, by Sir George, dam Gay. 
10. Two year old Nancy, by Sir George. 
11. One year old Cherry, by a son of Sir George, dam 
Lumpy. 
12. One year old Flora, by son of Sir George, dam by 
Noble, grand dam, Mr. Hewer’s old bull, son of Alpha. 
Three ram sheep, eleven ewes and lambs, and one ewe 
teg, all descended from the well known rams, old Grey and 
Rumpey. The former was allowed by the most compe¬ 
tent judges, to be the best sheep they had ever seen. 
The five ewes with their lambs, shown at the Royal 
English Agricultural Society, Oxford, were the only 
sheep ever shown by Mr. Hewer, and won the prize. 
The one of the five Mr H. Sotham has purchased, is 
the largest, but not the fattest; if any man in England 
could have beaten these sheep, they would have shown 
against them. 
We hereby certify that the above statement is correct. 
W. A JOS. HEWER. 
Northleach, Gloucestershire. 
Mr. Guerrier’s Letter. 
London and West Smithfield, 17th April, 1840. 
Dear Sir —As I could not conveniently, during the 
busy engagements of our market, rejffy to your inquiry 
respecting the breeds of Durham and Hereford cattle, I 
take this opportunity to state, that during 20 years expe¬ 
rience as a salesmen of cattle of all breeds, in this mar¬ 
ket, (Smithfield,) although I have time without number, 
when I have had some of the best descriptions of Dur- 
hams to sell, could I succeed in persuading my best cus¬ 
tomers at the west end of London, to purchase Durhams 
when I had any well bred Herefords to part with; they 
one and all stated, in cutting up the beef, they find so 
much more roasting beef, to that of boiling. To satisfy 
your mind still, farther, just cast your eye over the par¬ 
ticulars (which I send for your perusal) of our last 
Christmas Show of cattle. There you will perceive the 
Hereford takes the top prize. Attend our Smithfield 
Show, and you would be more than ever assured of the 
importance of the best breed of Herefords, before that 
of Durhams. Last Christmas, I had Durhams 15 stone,per 
ox heavier than Herefords, but could not realize so much 
by 4 d. per stone of 8 lbs. as I could for the Herefords. 
I am glad to find you are about to take some Cots¬ 
wold sheep out with you. I think if I mistake not, they 
are some of Mr. Hewer’s breed, of Northleach. My 
father, 16 or 17 years past, grazed 3 of Mr. H’s. two 
shear sheep, which I sold to a butcher to slaughter, at 
=£10 per sheep. I think you will find, speaking as a 
breeder and grazer of cattle, the Hereford are much less 
trouble, and particularly quick feeding stock. 
Wishing you success in your undertaking, 
I am sir, yours respectfully, 
WILLIAM GUERRIER. 
W. H. Sotham. 
N. B. I need not observe to you, the remarks I have 
made regarding Herefords, are not because I am at all 
prejudiced against Durhams, Seotts or other breeds, but 
having with my father grazed all breeds, for many years, 
and as a salesman, having for 20 years past, during 
which time I have annually sold from 5 to 10 thousand 
cattle, consisting of all breeds, from Ireland, Scotland, as 
also in this Kingdom, I never found any breed of cattle 
more profitable than the said Herefords, if well bred. 
MANAGEMENT OF PIGS. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —The management of 
fine bred pigs is eliciting more attention at this day through¬ 
out this country and England, than at any former period. 
All the essays I have noticed on the subject have passed 
very indefinitely over what I conceive to be the most diffi¬ 
cult period of the animal’s existence, and one through which 
he seldom or never carries all his good points—which is 
that of leaving the sow. 
The cause appears to me to be this: sows’ milk is much 
more rich and nutritious than cows’, consequently little ac¬ 
tion or concoction of the stomach previous to being carri¬ 
ed into the circulation is required; for indeed swine being 
carniverous by nature, possess at all times very weak di¬ 
gestive powers ; the pig being taken from the sow or wean¬ 
ed by her, large quantities of cows’ milk is almost invaria¬ 
bly given as a substitute, perhaps three times per day. The. 
large quantity nearly paralyzes the little digestive powers 
the pig previously possessed; consequently his belly be¬ 
comes distended far beyond its wonted size, assuming a 
disgusting bladowy or bellows-like appearance; he grows 
poor, his shoulders contract, his rump becomes peaked, his 
back settles down back of his shoulder blades, and then 
rounds up something like a hedge hog’s, and to finish the 
picture, his hair is no longer brilliant and glossy, but dry, 
crumbling and dead, and often turning the other way ; not 
a vestage of that clean cylindrical form, which never fails 
to elicit admiration, where beauty has any attraction, re¬ 
mains, nor does he ever effectually recover. Blood and pedi¬ 
gree are no guards against this. I would hazard a few 
suggestions as a remedy, not that I conceive them to be 
unexceptionable, but that they may be the means of draw¬ 
ing forth some that are, from Messrs. Lossing, Bement or 
Allen, or any other talented gentlemen engaged in the cul¬ 
tivation of “ the noble animal.” 
I would have the pig well accustomed to the trough be¬ 
fore weaning, in a place shut off from the interference of 
his mother; I would feed him four or five times per day 
with boiled rice, and boiled potatoes mashed, alternate¬ 
ly, adding a little milk from a new milch cow, all to be 
given in very small quantities, with trough kept clean; 
small quantities of beeve’s liver, have a fine effect in yielding 
nourishment profusely, is easy of digestion, without distend¬ 
ing the belly unusually; sheep’s plucks are good, but should 
be boiled. 
No pig should be taken from its mother while she gives 
any milk at all; but in cases where it is unavoidable, it 
should be done by degrees^ the pig left to suck perhaps once 
a day for some days with the above mentioned feeding. 
Much blame has been attributed to the breed or blood, 
where the management has alone been at fault; I have 
witnessed so many disastrous effects from taking pigs ab¬ 
ruptly from the sow and sending them on a long fatiguing 
voyage, that I have resolved that no pig shall go from me 
until it has passed the ordeal of weaning. No valuable 
pigs should be sent any distance without some interested 
person to attend them, who has had some experience in 
their management. 
There is another source which has often proved fatal to 
whole litters of pigs, which is that of interfering with the 
sows at the time of their littering; the sow should have her 
litter at the place of her own choosing; it is the only place 
at which she will be at home; it is idle to suppose that dic¬ 
tation or interference of any kind can be of service to her; 
she is governed by an instinct infinitely surpassing human 
calculation on this point. I never interfere farther than 
to prevent all interference, and scarcely ever lost a pig. 
Z. STANDISH. 
Albany, June 25, 1840. 
