196 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
MR. BEMENT’S SHORTHORN BULL ASTOR!A.-[Fig. 88 .] 
The subject of the above cut is the “ Improved Durham Short 
Horned Bull” Astoria, bred by, and the property of, C. N. De¬ 
ment, of Three Hills Farm, Albany. It was cut on wood by Mr. 
Hall, of this city, from a painting from life by T. R. Van Zandt, 
also of this city, a young artist of great promise, in the line of- 
animal painting; and I avail my self of the present opportunity 
of recommending him to the notice of gentlemen who feel desi¬ 
rous of preserving their animals on canvass, and encouraging a 
modest, unassuming young artist, whose terms are moderate, 
and whose skill in delineation, is admitted by all who have seen 
his portraits. 
The painting from which this was taken is acknowledged by 
all who have seen the animal, to be a good and faithful portrait 
and not flattered; but on transferring it to the block, the head 
has been diminished and placed a little too high, which, howe¬ 
ver, is not much exaggerated, when animated by the appearance 
of other cattle. The ham is also too full, the back too straight, 
and he is cut up too high in the flank. 
It would not be proper for me to say much in favor of my own 
property ; nor is it expected that any animal should be so per¬ 
fect as to merit entire approval; but the owner would be per¬ 
fectly satisfied to submit him to a comparison, taking him in all 
points, with any other bull of the same age, and reared under 
the same circumstances, having never been pampered or fed 
high on grain. He has no very extraordinary point to catch the 
eye, but is remarkably even and symmetrical. 
Astoria, when painted, was two years and eleven months old, 
and measured, at the time, from the center of his horns to the 
root of his tail, seven feet and three inches—girth around his 
heart, six feet and nine inches—around his flank, six feet seven 
inches—four feet seven inches high, and raised the beam with 
1510 pounds in ordinary working condition. I am well aware 
that his measurement or weight is nothing extraordinary, un¬ 
less his treatment and keeping is taken into consideration; for 
it is well known that by forcing with high feed, animals maybe 
made to measure and weigh much more, and it is equally well 
known that animals so forced, particularly bulls, often become 
impotent and useless. 
Although he is full and ripe in all his points, he is not yet in 
his prime ; still he possesses the essentials of good handling — 
his skin being thin and elastic—his hair soft and silky. His co¬ 
lor white, inclining to a cream, interspersed with dark red spots 
on his neck and body. He is deep in the fore quarter, as you 
will perceive by the portrait, well filled up behind the shoul¬ 
ders, a point sometimes deficient in animals of this breed— 
broad across the hips and loin—flank well let down—body round 
and ribs arching—legs neither too large or too small, but well 
proportioned. He has more vigor and stamina than any other 
bull I have ever owned; but after all, the best evidence of his 
value is in his stock, which he stamps with the same gay, up- 
headed appearance as himself; giving them small beautiful 
heads, with bright, full, and prominent eyes. I have now a 
yearling bull of his get, more promising than his sire was at the 
same age, and one bull and six heifer calves, sired by him, 
which are acknowledged by all who have seen them, to be very 
beautiful animals, possessing in an eminent degree that gay and 
lively appearance of their sire. 
Pedigree. —Astoria was calved July 14, 1939, got by Ajax, 
(bred by Gen. S. Van Rensselaer, and got by Washington,) dam 
Delia, by Carlos, 17S7,—g. dam Dulcibella, (bred by Mr. Whita¬ 
ker,) by Frederick, 1060 —g. g. dam Delicia by Major, 3252— 
g. g. g. dam by Comus 1862 —g. g. g. g. dam by Marske 413— g. g. 
g. g. g. dam by Wetherell’s-. 
This bull was exhibited at the late Fair, of the N. Y. State Ag¬ 
ricultural Society, in the first class, and received a premium 
of eight dollars, and excited great attention by the. numerous 
visitors on the ground, and by many considered the best bull 
exhibited. C. N. BEMENT. 
agriculture, have such a deep interest ? It affords me pleasure 
to say, that a disposition has already been evinced, in that quar¬ 
ter where it is most likely to effect the object in view, of aiding 
effectually the advancement of meteorology. The following 
paragraph, which is taken from another Philadelphia paper, 
dated July 11, 1840, will doubtless oe gratifying to those who 
have not already been made acquainted with the information 
it contains, and who desire the promotion of this science. 
' Philosophical observations. —Mr. Adams from a select com¬ 
mittee, reported to the House this day, the following resolu¬ 
“ Resolved, That the sum of twenty thousand dollars ought 
to be appropriated for the establishment of five several stations, 
at suitable distances from each other, for making observations 
of terrestrial magnetism and meteorology, conformably to the 
invitation from the Royal Society of Great Britain, to the Ame¬ 
rican Philosophical Society at Philadelphia, and other learned 
societies in the United States ; and that the said sura should be 
u ? dcr direction and at the disposal of the Secretary 
ot War, for the fulfillment of those purposes, he to account for 
the expenditures thus authorized, to the Treasury of the United 
States.” 
The foregoing paragraph which was a detached one, was not 
accpmpanied with any date, except the date of the newspaper, 
which of course cannot be the day mentioned in it; it is, how¬ 
ever, to be inferred that the report was made during the last 
session of Congress ; and it appears evident, (though I have no 
other information on that point, than what is contained in those 
two paragraphs,) that it was intended thereby to co-operate in 
the plan proposed by the British government, above mentioned 
Be this as it may, the proposed measure, (for I have not heard 
that the resolution was adopted,) is a wise, and even liberal 
one in this incipient stage of the science, and reflects much 
credit on its illustrious proposer, though doubtless incompara¬ 
bly small in proportion to the advantages which would accrue 
to the farmer and mariner, and -indeed, in a greater or less de¬ 
gree, to almost every citizen, if this subiect receives the atten¬ 
tion which it merits. But lest, for the want of a proper degree 
of interest being manifested in the subject by those' whom it 
most concerns, even the proposed aid should be withheld let 
us, farmers especially, take the matter in hand individually, 
yet co-operatively, and there is but little doubt that by making 
observations on the weather, of the proper kind, in every part 
of our country, and duly comparing them, we shall be enabled to 
convince the most incredulous of the advantages of, ensure the 
aid of government in, and when that is obtained, greatly assist 
and hasten the accomplishment of its designs for the promo¬ 
tion of meteorology. ]j. g. 
Montgomery county, Penn., Dec. 31, 1840. 
Traveling Memoranda——JMo. S. 
Baltimore, Sep. 9, 1841. 
Editors or Cultivator— Once more I am ready to make ano¬ 
ther memoranda for the perusal of the readers of the Cultivator 
How I could dilate upon the subject of the great change that 40 
years have wrought upon the face of Ohio. How the dense for¬ 
est has given way before the hand of persevering industry, and 
laid open immense fields of the richest of soil to cultivation, 
and increase of wealth and happiness. But notwithstanding 
the splendid mansion now occupies the site of the lowly log ca¬ 
bin, I cannot believe that there is more real enjoyment within, 
than the owner used to feel while gathered around the broad 
blazing fire of the settler’s new home. It is the contented 
and cheerful mind that finds enjoyment in whatever situation 
his lot may chance to be cast. 
What a wild uncultivated waste was this fine region 40 years 
ago. Even 15 years since, how we used to toil along the mud¬ 
dy roads of Ohio, the stage often to the axles in the soft, wet 
soil, and the passengers not unfrequently called upon to lend 
the strength of Hercules to lift the vehicle into an upright posi¬ 
tion. Now the road from Cincinnati to Columbus is nearly all 
Macadamized, and from thence, or rather from Springfield to 
Wheeling, we roll in ease and comfort, at great speed, along 
the great National road that was designed to connect the east 
with the far west. As an evidence that the roads are not quite 
impassable, I have only to state that I took the “ fast mail” at 
11 o’clock on Friday at Cincinnati, and on Monday night I slept 
at the “ relay house,” nine miles from Baltimore, traveling by 
stage all the way, except the short distance from Frederick to 
the junction of the Washington City Road. 
The passes of the almost impassable Alleghanies, have been 
made passable, and are daily passed by a host of passengers 
with great speed, if not great safety; for the truth is, that fear 
of accident does not seem to be a part of the composition of the 
drivers over these dangerous mountain roads, for they crack 
the whip and rattle down the long declivities much after the 
manner that we are all heedlessly rattling through the world 
We are all sure to reach the end of the road, but not always 
“ right side up with care.” 
It was with no small degree of interest that I looked upon 
these hills piled on hills. For 16 years I had been treading the 
fertile plains of the west, and in all that time had not seen an 
eminence worthy of the name of mountain. Here were old ac¬ 
quaintance that should never be forget. And here upon every 
little spot of level ground was perched the hut of a hardy moun¬ 
taineer, as blythe, as happy and contented as him who could 
count his thousands of acres of far more fertile and feasible 
soil of the west. I could not but ask, “ why do you toil here 
upon these rocks and hills?” and yet perhaps I should do wrong 
to urge them to give up situations, with which they are con¬ 
tent, for the more promising plains that spread out invitingly 
and uncultivated away beyond the “ beautiful river.” 
Of my doings at Washington in regard to the contemplated 
National Society, you are acquainted. Of the state of 
agricultural improvement around the capital of our country, I 
cannot speak encouragingly. In fact, to me, the quality of the 
soil presents a very forbidding aspect. By far the greatest por¬ 
tion of it looks to me as though it would cost more than it would 
come to, to put it into a good state of cultivation. The “ skin¬ 
ning system” seems to have been thoroughly practiced here, 
where originally there was but little to skin, until the fertility 
has been so completely skinned from the soil, that I should 
think the present cultivators would find some difficulty in rais¬ 
ing enough to keep their own skins full. 
But there are some noble and spirited friends of agricultural 
improvement in and around Washington, among whom Mr. 
Ellsworth stands foremost. While I was there, he was engag¬ 
ed in an experiment of making a cheap machine for making a 
ditch and bank fence, of which the public will hereafter hear 
something. He is constant and unceasing in his efforts to pro¬ 
mote the agricultural interest of the United States, and has 
partially succeeded in converting the Patent office into an agri¬ 
cultural bureau. He has purchased a few acres of the “ va¬ 
cant lots,” which abound upon the original great plat of this 
to be great city, for the purpose of trying different kinds of 
seeds, and making experiments and illustrations in farming, for 
the benefit of the community. His plan of distributing seeds 
throughout the country has been of great advantage to the 
country, at small cost to the government. Every friend of the 
measure should feel it a duty to forward to him for distribution, 
a small quantity of every rare seed that he may possess. And 
I hope that every friend who attends the first meeting of the Na¬ 
tional Agricultural Society on the 15th Dec. next, will at least 
take his pockets full of such seeds as he may happen to possess, 
for the purpose of exchange. 
Washington city, like a great many other great things in this 
great country, was begun on too great a scale. I judge from 
Means of Promoting: a Knowledge of Meteo¬ 
rology. 
[The communication from “ B. S.” has been along time wait¬ 
ing for a place, and we are now only able to give a part of it. 
For some previous remarks on the subject, the reader is refer¬ 
red to Vol. 7, p. 97.] 
The various sciences which hnve engaged the attention of 
mankind have been almost entirely originated by the efforts and 
discoveries of individuals, and by the same means, brought to 
various degrees of perfection and consequent usefulness, but 
where they have been made greatly or extensively useful, it 
has seldom been by unassisted individual exertion. Indeed it 
could hardly be expected that persons should exert the facul¬ 
ties of the mind, and of the body in some cases, to any great de¬ 
gree, with no other prospect of remuneration, than that of 
fame, or the gratification of their curiosity, neither of which, 
though in some cases they have effected, and may still effect 
much, can be expected to produce that energy, (much less as 
respects some of the sciences, especially this one,) that simul- 
taneousnesg of action, so necessary to their successful prose¬ 
cution. To what, therefore, shall we look for the means of 
producing the necessary co-operation and accuracy? 
This may be best answered by referring to those sciences in 
which great and useful improvements have been effected, and 
inquiring into the means by which those improvements were 
brought about. 
Astronomy had been cultivated from very remote antiquity, 
and by a great number of persons, some of wealth and power, 
but (even among such,) it was usually privately, or as a mat¬ 
ter of curiosity, and not as a matter of necessity, or of great or 
general interest, to any great extent, and was cousequently 
ursued in quite a desultory manner; hence, though considera- 
le progress was made, yet'at the revival of learning in the 15th 
and 16th centuries it had attained but little of that practical ac¬ 
curacy so necessary to render efficient aid in the extended voy¬ 
ages that began to be undertaken. As commerce still increas¬ 
ed, the want of greater certainty in ascertaining the place of a 
ship at sea, and especially of a method of determining the lon¬ 
gitude, attracted the attention of various European govern¬ 
ments, especially of Great Britain, and in the latter produced 
the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, and similar establish¬ 
ments in France and elsewhere. The benefits that have accru¬ 
ed to commerce from these, scarcely need commenthere. Suffice 
it to say they are intimately connected with the rapid progress 
which it has made in modern times. And similar are the good 
effects of the patronage which the French government extend¬ 
ed to chemistry, when, cut off from their accustomed supplies 
of.saltpeter and sugar, by the naval ascendancy of Great Bri¬ 
tain, they sought to produce them within their own territory, 
and by its aid, as is well known, completely succeeded. But, 
(among others which might be adduced,) we have in our own 
country an instance which is scarcely less conclusive; Iallnde 
to the geological survey, the benefits arising from which are so 
great, and beginning to be so well appreciated that the mention 
of them is deemed a good confirmation of the principle involved 
in the other instances just given, that though private investiga¬ 
tions may do much, yet to bring about that perfection in sciences 
of public utility, which will enable them to give extensive or 
important aid in the arts, the more efficient aid of government 
must be given. 
But what probability is there that governments will be indu¬ 
ced to give aid and encouragement to this science ? 
Judging fro^ri past events we should say that when individu¬ 
als by their private efforts give decisive evidence that the im¬ 
provement and perfecting of meteorology would be really prac¬ 
ticable and useful, governments would not be long in extending 
their aid, upon a due representation of the subject to them ;— 
and though in a general way it may be said that a republican 
government is more reserved and shy of new schemes than oth¬ 
ers, yet the prompt and almost simultaneous action of most of 
our states upon the subject of geological surveys, is an abun¬ 
dant earnest of the encouragement which would be given to this 
science under suitable circumstances. 
But notwithstanding the small advancement that has hitherto 
been made in meteorology, at least so far as refers to exhibiting 
decisive proof of its practical utility, (though it rpust be admit¬ 
ted that some facts of importance have, been ascertained,) we 
have very encouraging evidence of a disposition to promote this 
science. The following is taken from a Philadelphia paper, 
July 6, 1839. 
“ The cause of storms, it appears, is beginning seriously to 
engage philosophical attention. Lord Glenelgy the Colonial 
Secretary of the British Government, has sent instructioiis to 
various agents of the government resident abroad, captains of 
posts, harbor-masters, and keepers of light-houses, to keep 
journals of the weather, on the principle of log-books of ships, 
to note the height of the barometer, and enter all meteorologi¬ 
cal observations worthy of notice. As the object in instituting 
these inquiries is the advancement of knowledge and science 
generally, the governors of the several British colonies are di¬ 
rected to consider how far it may be in their power to obtain 
useful information bearing on the subject from countries ad¬ 
joining to their governments in the possession of foreign pow¬ 
ers, or how far it may be useful to the study of meteorology, 
to exchange the observations made within their governments 
for those of other countries in the neighborhood.” 
Thus it appears that this greatest of the nations of the old 
world, after having obtained such lasting and beneficial results 
through the policy which has there been so well persevered in, 
of encouraging every science which there was reason to believe 
would be beneficial to society, is not disposed to abandon one 
which has been productive of so much good, not to itself alone, 
but, it is but just to say, to other nations, and particularly to 
ours. The plan adopted, also, appears highly judicious, par¬ 
ticularly on account of the provision to obtain observations over 
so large a part of the habitable globe, as the widely sejiarated 
dominions of the British Empire, and the proposed plan of ex¬ 
changing observations with other governments will enable them 
to do; and not less valuable is the provision to obtain observa¬ 
tions on the natural phenomena, which appear to have been but 
little attended to hitherto, but without which it appears to the 
writer, (and the opinion is corroborated by the example of the 
other natural sciences,) that results of practical utility to “ the 
plowman, the mariner, and the fisherman,” will not be obtain¬ 
ed. 
If such is the vigor with which the British government is about 
to prosecute this science, shall the United States, which have 
already reaped such advantages from sciences promoted by 
other nations, be backward in lending their aid in the promp- 
tion of this, in which another has so fairly led the way, and in 
which they as the second commercial nation on the globe, and 
still more so, on account of their vast and rapidly increasing 
