THE CULTIVATOR. 
ON SHELTER FOR CATTLE AND SHEEP. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —In the June num- 
ber of the Cultivator, I find a communication from 
James M. Garnett, of Va. in which he propounded some 
questions. In reference to the one, “ which is best, to 
shelter or not to shelter sheep and cattle from snows and 
coldrains ?”—I would say,that about the year 1817,1 com¬ 
menced the winter in Onondaga county, N. Y., with a 
small flock of sheep, mostly of the native breed, and no 
other shelter than what nature provided. The country 
was then comparatively new, and the improvement, (if 
improvement it could be called) on the farm on which I 
had then but recently settled, was small, and made by 
girdling the large, and clearing out the small timber 
and bushes. In this situation my sheep increased and 
did well. I was rather inclined to the “ let alone sys¬ 
tem” of which your correspondent speaks, and went on 
without providing shelters. I bought, sold, raised and 
soon began to lose some, till in about nine years, I had 
something over 150 in my flock, mostly a mixture of the 
native and merino breeds. 
. During this time the country had undergone an essen¬ 
tial change; the improvements had much extended, 
and the girdled timber had nearly disappeared. The 
bleak winds of winter, frequently laden with snow, 
came heavily upon us, and in the winter of 1826—27 
which was distinguished for the long time snow lay upon 
the ground, my flock was reduced more than one-third, 
that is to less than 100. 1 was not sensible that I did 
not take as good care and feed as well as formerly, when 
more successful, but all to no purpose, the sheep would 
die for all that. I consoled myself that it was a season 
of uncommon mortality among sheep every where, as 
many of my neighbors lost near or quite the same pro¬ 
portion of their flocks that I did ; and from Vermont to 
Ohio, there were accounts of the same fatality attend¬ 
ing the flocks of the woolgrowers. So I still continued 
on without shelters for sheep, and my loss continued to 
be large in proportion to the number that I kept, till 
at length driven—yes, absolutely driven from my pre¬ 
judices, I began to try shelters, and having followed 
that plan for several years, I am now persuaded, that 
with good shelters and good suitable food and at¬ 
tention, there is not much if any more danger of loss 
in wintering than in summering sheep ; at least my ex¬ 
perience shows such is the result. 
Cattle and sheep will frequently leave good hay, if 
placed in exposed situations, in hard storms, for their 
shelters. If they choose their shelters rather than re¬ 
main out long enough to fill themselves with good food, 
is it not unmerciful and bad policy, to compel them to 
remain constantly exposed to the severity of such weath¬ 
er. I am aware there is a difference between the cli¬ 
mate here, and in Virginia, and do not know that shel¬ 
ters are as imperatively necessary there as here, but still 
think they must be decidedly beneficial. Here, sheep 
and cattle appear to suffer as much from the storms of 
sleet and rain in the spring, when the season is not 
colder than the winters in Virginia, as they do in the 
cold snow storms of our winters. 
Having tried several kinds of shelters, I will here 
give an opinion of the kinds that are to be preferred. 
Good sheds attached to barns are probably the best, or 
on sideling and dry situations, good shelters may be made 
under barns, which I think a very economical method of 
building. Supporting roofs, make a large item in the 
expen litures necessary for farm buildings, and where 
shelters are formed under other buildings, this expense 
is saved. Permanent shelters made in this way, should 
not be less than about seven or eight feet high. If 
made low, it occasions great inconvenience when getting 
away manure ; also when taking care of cattle, and 
especially sheep and lambs in the spring season, when 
much attention is necessary, and when the greatest 
amount of manure in the year will have accumulated. 
Beside the convenience, I think the health of animals, 
particularly sheep, is better promoted by a high rather 
than a very low shelter, where the air must be more 
confined, and consequently less pure. But there are 
many others besides myself, who are not able immedi¬ 
ately to have all the good and permanent shelters that 
are necessary : I will therefore describe a temporary 
kind which I have found very convenient for sheep. 
Two sills only of light and durable timber, about 
eight inches thick before being worked, are used, and 
these serve for runners also. They should be about 15 
feet long, the lower side left round, the upper side 
straightened by hewing, and trimmed down the other 
way to about five inches thick. The ends should be 
hewed off on the under side, so as to turn up something 
like runners. Thus prepared they may be placed about 
ten feet apart, from outside to outside of the timber. 
Four posts, or one for each corner of the building 
should be set about eighteen inches from the end of the 
sills, which will make the building about ten by twelve 
feet square. One girt for each end'only should be used, 
of smart timber, and large enough to hold to draw the 
building by; and be framed into the posts about six 
inches above the upper side of the sill. This elevation 
is necessary in order that the building may be moved 
over uneven ground, or through snow; and the boards or 
siding should not run below the girts. The posts for 
the front, or open part, should be about four feet long 
between tenons, or from the upper side of the sill to the 
plate, and from the backside two feet. Three sides of 
the frame should be covered with thin, light boards, and 
the highest side left open. A loose board may be fitted 
down at each end to close the space below the girt, and 
removed whenever it is desirable to remove the build¬ 
ing. Sheds of the above description may be moved 
easily by one pair of oxen or horses. Larger ones 1 
have found to be heavy and uncomfortable to move, I 
think it better to enlarge the number than the size. But 
neither good shelters, or good shelter and good food 
alone will make healthy fat animals, without regular 
feeding. The breeder of animals, whether cattle or 
sheep, will find that the attention necessary to ensure 
success, will always be amply repaid by the fine condi¬ 
tion and rapid improvement of his flocks and herds. 
Otisco, 1840. LEVI DEMING. 
URATE AND POUDRETTE. 
Messrs. Editors —An establishment for the manu¬ 
facture of the manure called urate and poudrette, has 
been erected at a considerable expense in the state of 
New Jersey, near the city of New-York, and an act of 
incorporation has been granted by the legislature of 
the state of New-Jersey, by the name of “ The Lodi 
Manufacturing Company,” for purposes of agriculture, 
wherein it is provided that 500 shares, a portion of the 
stock reserved for subscription by farmers and gardeners, 
within a limited time, shall be entitled to receive 50 
bushels of poudrette yearly for 5 years, viz. in 1840 
1841,1842,1843, and 1844, upon each share of$100, which 
is at the rate of 20 per cent per annum for those years, 
and after that period to receive an equal dividend with 
the other stockholders. 
The manufactory has gone into operation according 
to law, a sufficient number of shares having been sub¬ 
scribed for that purpose and capital paid in, and the 
first dividend has been regularly paid to the subscribers; 
the next dividend is payable in September. But the 
company needs a larger moneyed capital than it now 
has to carry it on to better advantage. Inquiries hav¬ 
ing been made whether all the stock had been taken; 
and the difficulty at the present time of obtaining funds, 
to a sufficient amount, from a few individuals, has in¬ 
duced a renewal of this notice to farmers and gardeners 
and every other person who may have spare funds, (as 
every person is now permitted to subscribe.) that there 
is yet a considerable portion of the reserved stock, which 
by law is to receive 20 per cent per annum payable in 
poudrette; one half in May, and the other half in Sep¬ 
tember, in the years 1840, 1841, 1842, 1843, and 1844, 
not yet subscribed for, and the books are now open to 
receive subscriptions for the same, by any person, 
whether gardener, farmer or otherwise, at the office of 
the Lodi Manufacturing Company, No. 73, Cedar street, 
in the city of New-York. Terms for the reserved stock, 
$100 per share in cash ; and for the other portion of the 
stock an instalment of $25 per share on subscribing, and 
the residue, (being $75 per share,) to be called in by 
instalments of $5 per share after 30 day’s notice. 
These manures have been fairly tested and very ge¬ 
nerally approved of, as being the cheapest and best ma¬ 
nures, and more economically applied than any other 
known substance used for manure. 
As the article can be furnished from the city of New- 
York only to a limited extent, (not more than sufficient 
to manure 35,000 acres annually,) it must follow that in 
a few years it will necessarily be confined to the use of 
the stockholders alone. 
It is important to agriculture, and the enterprise de¬ 
serves the liberal support of every enlightened farmer. 
By order. 
WM. M. WILLSON, Sec’y. 
At an election for directors of the Lodi Manufactur-' 
ing Company, held at Jersey City on the 6th day of 
July, 1840, the following persons were elected directors 
of the company, to hold their offices until the first Mon¬ 
day in October next, namely, Anthony Dey and Jacob 
C. Dey, of New-York, J. D. Miller, Andrew S. Garr, and 
Rodman M. Price of New-Jersey. 
INQUIRY. 
Messrs. Editors—I have a large body of flat land, 
lying on a water course, which is subject to be inunda- i 
ted in case of high water, and which I propose securing j 
by dykes or embankments. The construction of the 
embankments with a view to getting rid of the running 
water is plain enough ; the difficulty is in repelling the 
back water, and also securing the means of escape to 
the surface water, and that rising on the flat within the 
dikes. I could cover up or blind (as it is here termed) 
the small ditches, and pass them under the embank¬ 
ment, but in that case there would be no vent or issue 
for the water furrows, which are necessary to discharge 
the surface water. The object of this communication 
is to ascertain from you or some of your readers and 
correspondents, the best mode of constructing a trunk, 
gate, or valve, calculated to discharge the water that 
stands or rises on the land, and in case of high water to 
repel the back Avater. In the tide water section of Vir¬ 
ginia, trunks are very common on reclaimed marshes, 
and are constructed to raise and sink with the tide, 
which ebbs and flows at regular intervals. I fear, hov f - 
ever, that trunks constructed on that principle would 
not answ r er the desired purpose on streams that are 
swollen only by extraordinary rains at long and irregu¬ 
lar intervals, as they would be prevented from rising 
and subsiding with the water, by the sand, loam, &c., 
which would accumulate in the ditches, and be lodged 
upon them. The construction of these dikes will be at¬ 
tended with considerable expense, (not commensurate, 
however, with the increased value of the land in case it 
can be made secure from overflow). Before incurring 
this expense I wish to be satisfied of the feasibility of 
the scheme, which is my apology for troubling you with 
this inquiry, the answer to which will be thankfully re¬ 
ceived by one of your readers and subscribers. 
LEWIS E. HARVIE. 
Mtllc Hill, Amelia county, Va., July 9, 1840. 
FLORIDA KEYS. 
Messrs. Editors —I have lately observed, in the 
periodicals of the north, several articles from the pen 
of Dr. Perrine, upon the character of the Florida Keys • 
and I have seen in them, with regret, much that must 
tend greatly to mislead the public mind. Now, as 1 am 
a resident of one of these keys, and as several of the 
articles alluded to, have appeared in your widely cir¬ 
culated paper, I desire, through the same medium, to 
present your readers with a more accurate view of the 
true character of this peculiar region. I would pre¬ 
mise, however, that Dr. Perrine is deserving the thanks 
of the public for his energy and perseverance in at¬ 
tempting to introduce and acclimate in South Florida, 
such exotic fruits and plants as may be beneficial to the’ 
country. And I am well satisfied, that though he may 
be vexed and disappointed at his own slow progress, 
and the apathy with which the world may look upon 
his labors, his exertions will eventually be truly bene¬ 
ficial to his country, and particularly to the barren and 
desolate regions which he so much desires to improve. 
The Doctor dwells unceasingly upon the “ ivovderful 
productiveness of the exclusively calcareous soil” of the 
Florida Keys, and would make the public believe that 
they are in reality rich and readily productive of pro¬ 
fitable crops. But to the stranger, a little explanation 
is necessary to enable him correctly to appreciate the 
nature of this exclusively calcareous soil. The founda¬ 
tion of all these keys is solid but soft limestone, which, 
in some places, appears naked, without any soil, and 
here and there, in cavities of a few feet or rods in di¬ 
ameter, called pot holes, may be three or four feet be¬ 
neath the incumbent vegetable mold. But generally 
it lies but a few inches below the surface of the ground. 
Upon this solid rock lie loose limestones of all sizes, 
which generally are as closely packed as if they had 
been emptied there from a cart; and the soil is nothing 
but the vegetable mold that has settled among these 
loose stone- Consequently it can neither be plowed 
nor hoed; and if the stone be removed, the sun will dry 
up the soil and it will soon disappear. 
Along the shores, the sea has in many places thrown 
up ridges of calcareous sand, to the depth of several 
feet, upon which cocoa nut trees thrive very well, but 
nothing else. So also, where the rock foundation lies 
below the surface of high water, there lies a deposite 
of salt calcareous soil, upon which nothing grows but 
mangrove bushes and coarse stinted grass. 
Poor, however, as is the soil of these islands, some- 
thing might be done with it if there were sufficient 
rains. But there are not. I have known six continu¬ 
ous months to pass Avithout sufficient rain to wet the 
surface of a board. Nevertheless, as the Doctor says, 
these keys are covered Avith a dense groAVth of native 
vegetation; but as might be expected, it is stinted, 
dwarfish and of little imlue. 
In the spring of 1839, the Doctor glowingly urged 
the immediate cultivation of the Chinese mulberry upon 
these islands, and set forth the large profits that thus 
might be realized ; and he succeeded in inducing one 
gentleman of Key West to try the experiment. He se¬ 
lected the best spot, in his opinion, upon the island— 
cleared it off—dug a ivell, that he might water it in 
time of drouth—and planted out several thousand cut¬ 
tings of the Chinese mulberry, taken from trees that he 
had reared in his garden. Some ten or fil'teen of these 
grew to the height of a foot or less, and finally, towards 
the end of the summer, died; and thus ended the expe¬ 
riment. 
The red mulberry has been transplanted from Cape 
Florida, Avhere it is indigenous, to Key West. To these 
the Doctor refers, and says, that they are flourishing 
and green throughout the year. I have lived there, and 
noticed them for five years past, and well know that 
they are bare of foliage every winter for several weeks, 
and are never flourishing, except during a short time 
when rains are frequent. 
The intimation, that tropical fruits thrive on these 
keys, is a deception. Cocoa nuts and limes do Avell— 
tamarinds, so so—papaws, passably, with good care and 
cultivation—bananas and plaintain are abandoned at 
Key West. But indifferent fruit of the kind may be 
raised, with good nursing, upon artificial ground. Capt. 
Housman, of Indian Key, has succeeded better with 
these fruits, than any other person on the whole coast. 
But he is wealthy, and has devoted to their cultivation 
several thousand dollars. There are a few bearing le¬ 
mon trees on these islands—one only at Key West. 
None have yet succeeded in raising oranges, though 
hope has not quite left us. But pine apples, mama ap¬ 
ples, alligator pears, mangoes and other unmentioned 
tropical fruits, are believed to have a desperate chance, 
for our citizens are constantly trying them without 
success. It is true, that Dr. Perrine may haA r e young 
seedlings of all the fruits you enumerate, but he xvill 
find great difficulty, I apprehend, in bringing them to 
maturity. It is to be hoped that he Avill continue his 
efforts, as some in Key West are now doing and intend 
to do. 
The colony of the Florida Tropical Plant Company, 
which, in your May No. you say was established by 
Dr. Perrine, in the southern part of Florida, and broken 
up by the Indians, was like the Dutchman’s barn — 
7 
