132 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Analysis of Grain, Roots, &c. 
We invite the attention of the reader, and of our scientific 
ones in particular, to the remarks of Mr. Garnett, in the an¬ 
nexed letter, on the subject of a chemical analysis of the prin¬ 
cipal roots, grains, grasses, &c., grown in this country, with a 
view of testing their comparative value for the purposes of nu¬ 
trition. There can be no doubt that climate and soils have a 
very great influence in determining the value of plants for the 
purposes of food, and it has long appeared to us that a compe¬ 
tent chemist could hardly perform a more acceptable service for 
the country, or one that would reflect more credit on himself, 
than by making an analysis of the principal American plants 
and vegetables cultivated for food. As Mr. Garnett has well 
remarked, the analysis of Sir H. Davy entirely omits some that 
are of the greatest importance to us; and though no analysis 
can be considered infallible, yet the science of chemical analy¬ 
sis, and particularly that relating to vegetable physiology, has 
made such advances since Davy’s time, and so many new mat¬ 
ters have been introduced as subjects of culture, that a re-ex¬ 
amination of his positions, and the analysis of the important 
plants omitted by him, seems very necessary and desirable. We 
hope some of our scientific friends will take this matter into 
consideration, and, if possible, add to the favors they have al¬ 
ready conferred on the agriculturists, such an examination and 
analysis as the value of plants demand. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —It is well known to all farmers 
and gardeners that a great number of the plants which they 
cultivate, will so mix together, if sown or planted near each 
other, as soon to lose their distinctive qualities, and material¬ 
ly to injure one another. Some of the species of each genus 
and all the varieties of the same species will thus mix, and it 
requires much labor and trouble to prevent it. Hence it is an 
inquiry well worth making, whether it would not be best for 
every farmer and gardener to dispense entirely, in his own case, 
with the culture of several of the varieties of each species,— 
if not with some of the species themselves, since the former at 
least,differ so very slightly in taste and other qualities, that such 
differences can hardly be considered equivalent to the extra 
trouble and labor of keeping them all separate and distinct. 
This is true of garden peas, beans, water and musk melons, 
cucumbers, cymlins, pumpkins, cabbages, turneps, and 
many others which it is needless to enumerate. It is likewise 
true of the different varieties of grains, and other plants gen¬ 
erally cultivated in the large way for revenue, as well as food 
for ourselves and our farming stock. 
There may possibly be situations in which some one species 
or variety might suit much better than others, but surely there 
can be none where all will suit equally well; nor can these 
differences of situation probably be so numerous, under the 
same parallels of latitude, as to constitute a majority of cases, 
and thereby make it necessary to continue every where to cul¬ 
tivate all the varieties of garden and crop plants now known 
to us. Seedsmen are interested in encouraging this notion, but 
no other persons. I will endeavor to make my meaning plain¬ 
er by taking the single instance of the garden pea. Having tried 
almost every variety, both of the early and late kinds which, 
for many years past, have been sold in our seed stores ; and 
some of which, although very good, are no longer mentioned 
in their catalogues,* I believe I may safely affirm that the 
nicest palate cannot distinguish any difference in the taste be¬ 
tween the different varieties either of the late, or of the early 
kinds. And if a regular succession is all we seek by sowing so 
many sorts, we might easily attain it, simply by sowing only 
one kind at different times. The only quality, therefore, which 
seems to be worth seeking in any of the varieties is, superior 
productiveness of nutritive food. A few comparative trials, if 
accurately made, might suffice for this, and then much trouble 
and labor might be saved in the almost impracticable attempt 
to prevent injurious mixtures. The same may be said of all 
the other plants I have enumerated, both for the garden and 
our staple crops. 
The foregoing considerations induce me, most respectfully, 
to make a proposal to your numerous correspondents, by a 
compliance with which, I am very sure (if I may judge by my¬ 
self,) they will greatly oblige a large portion, if not the whole 
of your readers. It is, annually to make small and accurate 
comparative trials between all the most popular vegetables in 
field and garden culture, with a view to report the results to 
you, together with a statement of the climate and soils in 
which the experiments were made, as well as of all other es¬ 
sential particulars. These communications would induce 
many others to make similar trials, by which means we should 
all be soon able to ascertain what varieties each of us could 
most advantageously cultivate, instead of having to depend, as 
most of us now do, upon the recommendation of persons who 
have a pecuniary interest of their own to promote by it. Hence 
the numerous humbugs of which we read such frequent com¬ 
plaints in our agricultural papers. Hence also the fears of 
deception, which often attend the introduction of new, but high¬ 
ly useful plants,—new at least, in many extensive districts of 
our country. All this would probably soon be prevented by 
such reports as I have here taken the liberty to recommend, for 
they would be made, in almost all cases, by persons having no 
other interest in them, but that which was common to all. 
And now, gentlemen, if you will not deem me too officious, I 
will make another proposal to yourselves, which would great¬ 
ly enhance the value of such communications as I have ventur¬ 
ed to recommend, if you would comply with it. This proposal 
is, to procure for publication, from some of your scientific 
friends in Albany, or elsewhere, an accurate analysis of the 
different roots and other plants which are food to our stock. 
The only thing of the kind which we now have, is, Sir Hum¬ 
phrey Davy’s “ Table of the qualities of soluble or nutritive 
matters afforded by 1000 parts of different vegetable substances.” 
And to this, all who write on the' subject are obliged to refer, 
although, for aught they know to the contrary, the same sub¬ 
stances may yield very different proportions of nutritive mat¬ 
ters in our soils and climates from what they do in England. 
Add to this, the table itself is defective in several particulars, at 
least for our use. Thus, many grains, grasses and roots are alto¬ 
gether omitted; for instance, Indian corn, broom-corn, and 
rice, the burnet, the Guinea, the Gama and striped grasses, and 
the sweet potato and Jerusalem artichoke; neither is any no¬ 
tice taken of pumpkins, squashes, cymlins and apples, all 
which are much used in some of our States, for feeding stock. 
Again, the table gives the various proportions of nutritive mat¬ 
ters contained in the different varieties of wheat only, although 
Sir Humphrey himself shows, in another part of his work, that 
the varieties of the potato differ nearly or quite as much, in 
that respect, as the varieties of wheat; and so, probably, do 
the varieties of all the other plants which he has enumerated. 
Lastly, in the. column headed “Mucilage or starch,” he gives 
only the aggregate of the two substances contained in each of 
the vegetables noticed in the table, although mucilage and 
starch are very different things, and differ much in their nutri¬ 
* The Spanish Marollo or Maratta is one of them, being the 
most productive and lasting that I have ever tried of all late 
varieties. 
tive elements, as may easily be seen by reference to almost any 
of the standard works on chemistry. 
The foregoing remarks are offered, not with any design to de¬ 
tract from the great and well-merited reputation of Sir Hum¬ 
phrey Davy’s excellent work; for it is of far higher value to 
the agriculturist, than any thing of the kind that has ever 
yet been published in this country ; but simply in the hope that 
they may induce you to favor my proposal. If one or more 
competent chemists could be persuaded to prepare such a ta¬ 
blets I have suggested, we should at once have a standard by 
which we might soon settle most of the numerous controver¬ 
sies relative to the comparative value of different vegetables 
tor feeding stock, with which our agricultural papers are too 
often filled, and with very little profit either to the authors or 
readers of them. Some, without doubt, would still appear, for 
nothing probably will ever materially diminish that numerous 
class of persons who are much too wise in their own conceits, 
to pay any regard to the opinions and experience of others. 
But the great majority of our brethren being sincerely desirous 
to improve in the science as well as the practice of their pro¬ 
fession, would gladly, I am confident, possess themselves of 
such a table of reference, for it would save them much time in 
making those comparative trials in which many of them are 
frequently engaged, to ascertain the most nutritive of all the 
different grains, grasses, roots and other plants with which 
they feed their stock. Another advantage in possessing and 
using such a table would probably be at least to diminish, if 
it did not entirely extirpate that senseless prejudice against 
books on husbandry, which too many of them still entertain; 
for when they found the statements of the table verified by such 
trials as an examination of it might induce them to make, they 
would readily perceive that it contained much more than what 
they had been accustomed to consider as mere fanciful theory ; 
and they would thus gradually be tempted to read and study 
something else in relation to their profession. In a word, they 
would soon be convinced that the work of the head, aided by 
books, is quite as necessary as the labor of the hands to make 
an accomplished agriculturist. Without a regular, persevering 
resort to both we can no more expect to reach the first rank in 
our profession, than to live without food or drink. But if we 
will thus occupy ourselves, and with a degree of zeal proportion¬ 
ed to the importance of the objects at which we aim, although 
we may not reach the highest rank, we may confidently hope 
not to be far short of it. Could all of us be only actuated by 
this highly laudable ambition, how immeasurably different 
would be the estimation in which our class would be then held 
by the other classes of society, and how much more worthy 
should we be of being called, as we sometimes vainly call our¬ 
selves, “ the bone and sinew of our country!” There would 
soon be scarcely a man left in our whole brotherhood who would 
not feel in his inmost heart the truth of the following admirable 
sentiments expressed by Sir Humphrey Davy in the conclusion 
of his Agricultural Chemistry. “Nothing,” says he, “is im¬ 
possible to labor, aided by ingenuity. The true objects of the 
agriculturist are likewise those of the patriot. Men value 
most what they have gained with effort; a just confidence in 
their own powers results from success ;—they love their coun¬ 
try better, because they have seen it improved by their own 
talents and industry; and they identify with their interests the 
existence of thoge institutions which have afforded them se¬ 
curity, independence, and the multiplied enjoyments of civilized 
life.” 
And now, gentlemen, heartily wishing you all the success 
that your laudable efforts in the cause of American husbandry 
justly deserve, I remain, yours, with regard, 
JAMES M. GARNETT. 
P. S.—Perhaps some of the vegetables most in use for our 
stock, have already been carefully analyzed by competent chem¬ 
ists. If so, you yourselves could soon prepare a highly useful 
table, provided those gentlemen would be kind enough to send 
you the results of their experiments. 
June Hdth, 1841. ___ 
Cotswold Sheep and Rereford Cattle. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —I regret that I did not receive 
this communication before ; it has been in the Watertown post 
office with many other letters until now. I have one also in 
answer to the attack made on our breeders by Messrs Hep¬ 
burn and Randall, which I will send you at some future period. 
Time will prove what facts will do, even when disputed by influ¬ 
ential men. I have written an article on sheep breeding, but 
have not sent it you, as I began to lack in spirit, finding that 
good things were not appreciated as they ought to be by men 
who say they value their country, and make its welfare their 
study as breeders and farmers should do. Mr. Cother’s name 
may be found in the Farmer’s Magazine, as winning prizes for 
cross bred animals, at the Royal Agricultural Shows, and at 
other societies: and a man well known in England by all 
breeders of stock. Yours sincerely, 
WM. H’Y. SOTHAM. 
Middle Aston, Oxfordshire, Feb. 1st, 1841. 
Mr. W. H. Sotham —I am happy to inform you that our Ram 
season closed very satisfactory for the breeders of Cotswolds: 
their superiority is acknowledged by the extraordinary demand 
and the high prices given for them, which is easily accounted 
for by their being much better sucklers, maturing earlier, pro¬ 
ducing more lean and heavier fleeces, than the Leicesters. 
Their fame is now spread far and wide, and I expect in a very 
few years, that nearly every long wooled flock in England will 
be “ alloyed” by Cotswold blood. 
The heifer you call Eliza, is not by Young Sovereign, but by 
Favorite, jr., a son of Fitz Favorite. Fitz Favorite was by 
Favorite, the sire of Old Sovereign, and the latter was the sire 
of more prize beasts than any other bull of his day, and was a 
remarkable instance of successful in-and-in breeding, being the 
produce of a mother and son, the pedigrees of which can be 
given if required, for a period of more than forty years ; and I 
would add that the dams of each of the bulls I have named, 
were pure Herefords, the pedigrees of which can be given with 
equal accuracy. The dam of Favorite, jr., I knew well, and 
it is my firm opinion that I never saw ten so good. 
This, I should hope, would be sufficient to satisfy the most 
sceptical as to the purity of her pedigree on the male side. 
Her dam was bought of Messrs. Brown and Lion, the great 
north-country cattle dealers, and was purchased by them at 
Darlington, in the county of Durham. It was fortunate you did 
not have her sister, as she has cast her calf. 
The whole of my 3 years and 9 months old steers by Favorite, 
jr., grazed on my inferior land, and finished with £3 worth of 
oil cake each, have made this Christmas £41 a piece, a price 
which I am of opinion very few pure Short-Horns or Herefords 
have arrived at, in the same time, and under similar treatment. 
These were the second cross from Short Horns, with a pure 
Hereford bull each time; a cross I do not by any means recom¬ 
mend you to adopt. You are in possession of some of the very 
best Hereford blood this country can produce, (a few of the 
heifers are perhaps a little too much in-and-in breed,) and all 
you now require is a couple of first-rate bulls, with the addition 
of a few heifers of different blood to make proper crosses with, to 
start you as a first class Hereford bull breeder;—and depend 
upon it, that your neighbors will ultimately discern that they 
can live harder, work better, feed equally quick, if not more 
so, and produce a stall of meat superior in quality, with a less 
quantity, of course, than the Short Horns, and milk as well as 
the highest bred animals of other kinds. In short, I believe, 
they will pay more money for the food they consume than any 
other breed, in which opinion many of the most eminent gra¬ 
ziers agree, some of whom reside in short horn districts, and 
travel nearly 160 miles to the Hereford fairs to buy oxen,—a 
distance unparalleled by graziers in search of cattle of any 
other kind in this country. 
I advise you to breed pure bulls, and let others cross for the 
shambles, and in so doing I think each will benefit his country 
as well as himself. 
. Hard things, indeed, may justly be said of some cattle wear¬ 
ing white faces, and with equal truth it may be observed, that 
there are many very bad ones of beautiful roan, and spotted 
color, with short horns; such are frequently good milkers, and 
so are the Herefords, which are low bred, and of bad form. I 
imagine that Mr. Youatt and others who have designated the 
Herford cow “ an inferior animal,” could not have done so 
from actual observation, for it so happens that in symmetry 
of form, with substance and quality combined, a more beauti¬ 
ful animal (of her species) cannot be found in Britain. Nor 
can it be very pleasing to owners of such superb animals as 
are very many of the Hereford cows, to have them so denomi¬ 
nated in what is called “ a standard work on British Cattle;” 
nor do I think such an opinion (libel) ought to go uncontra¬ 
dicted, given as it must have been (one would suppose) from 
information, and not from occular demonstration. 
However “ astonishing” it may appear to Mr. Randall, that 
the Herefords on the Gloucester Hills “ should have escaped 
the notice of Mr. Youatt six years since,” they were located 
there long before that period, and in many instances cows and 
heifers have been known to weigh from 15 to 19 scores per 
quarter, (when dead,) [exclusive of hide and tallow,] and the 
oxen from 20 to 28 scores per quarter. 
A Hereford steer and heifer, both bred in the parish of North- 
leach, Gloucestershire, fed in the county of Wilts, and slaugh¬ 
tered at Oxford this Christmas, the former under 4 years old, 
weighed nearly 18 scores per quarter, and the latter 3 years 
and 6 months old, more than 17 scores per quarter. 
I now take my leave of the “ lady-like” females, for the pur¬ 
pose of pursuing their ‘ lordly’ sons to the Smithfield Club Cat¬ 
tle Show, where the tug of war is annually kept up between the 
two contending breeds. Of their extraordinary fame there, let 
the annals of the Club testify ; but I would observe by the way 
that they are by no means well represented there, in proof of 
which, a great number of graziers of high reputation, viz. 
Messrs. Rowland, Lidbrook, Terry, Hewett, Manning, the three 
Pains, Bull, and many others equally noted, who are purchas¬ 
ers of a large quantity of the very best steers Herefordshire pro¬ 
duces, seldom, if ever, exhibit an animal; the reason of which 
as some of them have stated to me, is, “ that winning a prize 
entails a certain loss,” while the breeding and feeding of them 
is almost neglected by wealthy owners of the soil. 
Not so with the Short Horns ; they are reared, fed, and shown 
under the fostering care of the Marquis of Exeter, Lords 
Spencer and Brownlow, Sir Charles Knightly, and other oppu- 
lent men to whom expense is not an object. In making these 
observations, do not suppose that I wish to detract any thing 
from their merits; on the contrary I consider them a credit to 
their noble owners. But 1 cannot pursue this subject further 
without transcribing the opinion of an eminent breeder, Mr. 
Bates, of Kirkleavington, Yarm, Yorkshire, whose cattle 
bore away nearly all the short horn prizes from Oxford. He 
says, at page 426, Farmer’s Magazine, for Dec. IS40 :—“I visit¬ 
ed Hereford about 50 years ago, and was then, and continue 
still, an admirer of the best variety of cattle (Herefords.) But 
I consider now, and have for above 40 years, been convinced 
that the very best Short-Horns (which are only a few,) are capa¬ 
ble of improving all other breeds of cattle in the United King- 
dom, as well as the ordinary Short Horns, which are far from a 
good breed, and inferior to the Herefords, Deions, and others.” 
And so would any moderate judge of stock conclude from 
taking a survey of Smithfield market at Christmas, (where and 
when some of the best of nearly every kind are pitched,) the 
Herefords reigning paramount to any other breed, in numbers 
and quality combined, making more money per head, than a 
like number of any; other variety. 
Should the position I have taken be doubted by any of your 
American opponents, I would say to such, come ana see, and 
do not be satisfied with a view of a few inferior of their kind, 
but go home to the best breeder’s houses, where they will meet 
a hospitable reception and a hearty welcome, and will find 
such animals as are worthy of a place in a herd-book; but in 
the absence of their names and pedigrees in print, their own 
good qualities will be found a sufficient passport. 
It may be asked what reason can a man find for resorting to 
a cross breed who so extols the Herefords ? The question is 
solved in a few words; I was resolved to breed rather a large 
size, and it being difficult to procure large, well-bred Hereford 
cows, except at very high prices, (and not having a long purse) 
I preferred as good Short Horns without pedigree, as I could 
procure, rather than Herefords, under the like disadvantage, 
considering (with the “ Alloy” in my mind’s eye,) that by so 
doing I should procure a rent-paying, though not a bull-breed¬ 
ing stock, and I have much reason to be satisfied with the steps 
I took at that time, since which I have added some well bred 
Herefords to it, and am now in possession of one bull by Cot- 
more (the Oxford pet,) and two others embracing the blood of 
Old Trojan and Old Sovereign in a high degree, which I think 
would be as likely to do good in America, as a very near rela¬ 
tive of the two latter has done in Scotland, a son of which won 
a prize in London this Christmas. 
I should deem it impossible to get up a Hereford herd-book 
here ; the breeders are so satisfied of the superiority of their 
own breed that they are at perfect ease on tne subject; but I 
advise you to have a well authenticated pedigree with every 
beast you import, and commence a herd-book of your own. 
Mr. Wm. Hewer’s Major, the sire of most of youT heifers, 
won a prize at Farringdon, beating a number of Short Horns, 
and at Cirencester he did the same. Major, and a daughter of 
Sir George, and his (Major’s) son, won the prize for bull, 
cow, and offspring; a daughter of Old Sovereign, winning an¬ 
other prize as the best breeding cow. And a bull calf, 10 
months old, by Major, won another prize as the best under 2 
years old, and here also they came in competition with Short 
Horns. Will it be asserted again that “ on the bleak highlands 
of Gloucester, no breed has been cultivated with any very 
marked success?” 
I say it has been for 20years, and can prove it, and I say more; 
no man has a right to injure another by an assertion he cannot 
prove. These may be considered hard words, but they are just 
ones ; used only for the purpose of correction, and not intend¬ 
ed to give offence. 
My three fat ewes which you saw, were killed at Oxford last 
month by Messrs. Greening, Aldew and Barr, and weighed re¬ 
spectively 228 lbs., 1S5 lbs. and 184 lbs. 
Your friends and acquaintances are all well, many of whom 
speak anxiously of your success, which I sincerely hope may 
exceed your most sanguine expectations, nor do I doubt it, for I 
consider you have fixed on the breeds of cattle and sheep well 
suited to the rigor of your climate; recollect Devons are na¬ 
tives of a much warmer country than are the Herefords. 
Yours truly,___WM. COTHER. 
Orchard Grass in Tennessee.— A gentleman residing 30 or 40 
miles below Memphis on the Mississippi river, has made experi¬ 
ments on blue grass, clover, timothy, and orchard grass. The 
first three did not succeed, but the orchard grass, he says, was 
as fine as his eyes ever saw any where. It is very luxuriant, 
and though but three-fourths of a bushel of seed was sown to 
the acre, completely sodded.— Louisville Journal. 
