THE CULTIVATOR 
33 
the best variety to cultivate, which the best method of 
cultivation, what amount of seed per acre, &c. &e. If 
some of your readers would furnish the information, 
they would confer a favor. 
MAKING PORK—A SUGGESTION. 
I have kept an account of the food that I fed to my 
hogs this fall in fattening them, and find it exceedingly 
difficult to make pork for $3 50 per 100 lbs., when corn 
will sell for 50 cents and potatoes at 20 cents per bushel. 
I may give you the particulars hereafter. Would it not 
be well for our farmers to ascertain the cost of making 
pork, by making some fair trials ? If it should turn out 
to be better for them to give their hogs away and sell 
their grain, than to make pork, it is time they knew it; 
or if they can make pork profitably, by the introduction 
of improved breeds of swine, let them learn by the trial 
of fair experiment which breeds are the best, for I will 
guarantee they will never be the wiser from learning the 
result of such experiments as Dr. Martin and his friend 
tried between the Woburn and Berkshire sows, which 
the-Doctor gives an account of. Yours, &c., 
E. Cornell. 
Ithaca, N. Y., Dec. 27, 1841. 
HORSES—ORIGIN OF THE MORGAN BREED. 
In my communication on this subject, published in the 
late October number, I have expressed too confident an 
opinion in saying I believed that the original horse was 
of French Canadian origin. I have recently had some 
acquaintance with a Morgan horse, endowed with all the 
peculiarities of the breed, sufficient to make me forbear 
any decided opinion on the point in question, until very 
clear evidence is adduced. The affidavit which I fur¬ 
nished is only probable and not conclusive testimony 
that the original horse was of Norman French descent, 
and procured in Montreal. 
The horse which has been with me of late is one 
of those called, from being in-bred, a full blooded Mor¬ 
gan—an absurd term, for it is impossible that a de¬ 
scendant can inherit full blood from a single progenitor. 
The term full blood or thorough bred can only be used with 
propriety where the distinctive appellation is derived 
from a race or sort which furnished both parents; thus 
we may say a thorough bred or full blood English race 
horse, a full blood or thorough bred Alderney cow, if 
both sire and dam were of the breed or sort designated. 
The term thorough bred, however, has heretofore been 
almost exclusively applied to race horses, because for 
centuries before the present, the racing breed of horses 
has unfortunately been the only breed of animals highly 
cultivated, and of which the pedigrees could be proved 
fey written or printed documents. 
All the accounts, being not less than half a dozen, 
which I have heard of the origin of the first Morgan 
horse, agree in this, that one Justin Morgan of Ran¬ 
dolph, Vt., from whom the name was derived, owned 
the animal while he was yet a colt. Doubtless there live 
persons who can testify to his origin, whether or not it 
be such as represented in the late affidavit. The public 
would not only be gratified, but greatly benefited by 
such evidence. There has probably never been another 
stallion whose stock for thirty or forty years have pro¬ 
duced so much nett profit to the growers. 
I will now endeavor to point out what appear to be 
the chief points of distinction between the Morgan breed 
and the horses of Norman French descent, produced in 
Canada. Let me premise that a great variety of races 
exists in the Canadian breed, yet all clearly impressed 
with a certain general character. The broad, courageous 
looking head, with the ears far apart, thick neck, gene¬ 
ral stoutness of frame, full breast and strong shoulder, 
with a round or fleshy croup; the low set muscles and 
large sinews,with those tough feet,that know not disease, 
are distinguishing marks of the French Canadian horse. 
The shagginess or abundance of hair in the mane and 
tail and on the legs, are much owing to the severity of 
the climate, with the manner of rearing the animals, and 
may be expected in a great measure to disappear under 
good cultivation, long before the innate excellencies and 
peculiarities will perceptibly change. 
The Morgan horse does not partake of all these marks 
in common with the Canadian. The clear and deep toned 
bay color, too, which prevails in the Morgan, is rare 
among Canadian horses. It occurs in individuals; but, 
unless characteristic of the race for a long period of 
time, it could hardly be supposed that this color would 
so generally occur as it does in the Morgan horses of the 
present day. Peculiarities produced by a single cross 
are apt to wear away in a few generations, unless main¬ 
tained by careful selection on the part of the breeder. 
If, then, (supposing the Morgan horse to have come from 
Canada,) his color was an accidental variety, it would 
not have so generally marked his numerous offspring, 
unless great pains were taken to preserve it by selection, 
which has not been the case. It appears evident, from 
the prevalence of this color through several successive 
generations, as well as the similar descent of various 
qualities, which are authenticated as having belonged to 
the first known sire, that the Morgan horse, whatever 
may have been its origin, was of one pure stock; that is, 
that he was not cross bred, or produced by the union of 
two different breeds; for in that case, there must have 
been a greater variety in his progeny, some running to 
one family and some to the other, whereas a remarkable 
similarity is known to prevail in all of this race. And 
here we may notice that the breeder is apt to find an es¬ 
sential difference in the two races; the Morgan, crossed or 
mixed with the various common breeds, inclines to retain 
its peculiar characteristics and its small size in the offspring 
for many generations, while all the French Canadian 
races, though not larger for the most part than the Mor¬ 
gan, when used as a cross, increase the size of the pro¬ 
geny, and frequently assimilate so that the blood can 
only be recognized by a practiced observer, in the 
greater development and robustness of form, and the 
courage, spirit, and aptness to thrive, which are com¬ 
monly reckoned as constitutional health. 
The Morgan differ essentially from the Canadian horses 
in their action or mode of traveling. A Mcfrgan horse 
glides over the ground eight or nine miles an hour, with 
such easy movements of his legs, that one would ithink 
they only felt relieved when so employed; the Canadian, 
if he has speed, seems to go by main strength, every 
stride arising plainly from a purposed exertion of his 
powerful muscles. 
Another principal dissimilarity is in the endurance of 
the feet; and here the Canadian horse has all the advan¬ 
tage. The Morgan appears to be subject, as much as 
equally strong constitutioned horses of any breed, to 
founder and other diseases of the feet, while with the 
Canadian such ailments are less known, perhaps, than 
with any other breed in the world. There are numbers 
of horses in Canada that, under a mass of shaggy hair, pos¬ 
sess dry, sinewy legs, on which the severest service never 
raises a wind-gall. The legs of the Morgan, though 
destitute of long hair, have this excellent conformation 
in a very high degree. 
The Morgan is a great traveler, an untiring all-day 
horse, but seldom a very fast trotter or galloper, and less 
frequently a perfect saddle horse. The Canadian, if he 
has the power of rapid locomotion, inclines for the most 
part to put forth his energies only for a short time, and 
then to take a leisurely gait, as if a slight sense of fa¬ 
tigue overbalanced the alacrity of his nervous system. 
There are, however, splendid exceptions to this descrip¬ 
tion, horses that, with no light load behind them, will 
travel eighty and even ninety miles in a day. Some of 
the lighter footed Canadian horses, too, are very pleasant 
under the saddle, though in general file weight of the 
neck and uprightness of the shoulder disqualify them for 
this use. The head of the Morgan, though not less 
energetic, Is somewhat dissimilar to that of the Canadian. 
The ears of one are upright, of the other more apart. 
The head of the Canadian horse is broader at the upper 
part than that of the other. Each has a great breadth 
between the eyes, which is considered a sure indication 
of energy in an animal. The Morgan has the best open 
nostril for wind and bottom, more like that of the race 
horse; and the whole of the muzzle, as well as the eye 
and ear, indicate more breeding, or a longer period of 
cultivation, than those of the Canadian. There is a dif¬ 
ference of shape observable throughout the whole figure. 
The Morgan is long in the side, but always short on the 
back, and strong and beautiful in the loins. His fine 
shoulder, too, differs from that of the Canadian horse. 
It is deep, well sloped, comparatively thin at the top and 
heavy at the bottom, serving, conjointly with a wide 
chest and the fore legs set far apart, to give the horse an 
appearance of strength and endurance scarcely to be 
looked for in one of his spirit and fleetness. 
The high crested neck and thick, wavy tail of the 
Morgan, show much of the character of some races of 
the Canadian. 
Whether the Morgan be a scion of the Canadian stock, 
or be derived from the Dutch or some other breed which 
has disappeared in the United States, appears to be a 
question of some importance to those who would make 
good Selections in order to improve the breed of horses; 
and whoever can throw any light upon the s-’hject will 
gratify a large portion of your readers by making known 
his information through the Cultivator. If the French 
Canadian did not supply the Morgan, I, for one, should 
be glad to learn what other breed has ever been known 
upon this continent that could boast such excellent quali¬ 
ties for common service as are universally admitted to 
distinguish both of these breeds. 
George Barnard. . 
Sherbrooke, L. C., Oct. 25, 1841. 
FRAUD IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SALT. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —Permit me to draw 
the attention of the public, and especially of law makers, 
and those whose duty it is to see that the laws are faith¬ 
fully executed, to an outrageous imposition, a base fraud, 
which is being, or at least has been, perpetrated upon 
more or less of our citizens in the article of salt. I 
have pronounced it a base fraud: it is more; for, in its 
operation, it does not only unjustly and dishonestly take 
from one what rightfully belonged to him, and appro¬ 
priate it to the use of another, but renders perfectly 
valueless that which cost much and is worth much in 
supplying the daily wants of mankind. The grievance 
complained of consists in the introduction of so large a 
quantity of lime, in the manufacturing of the article, as 
to destroy its antiseptic properties in the curing or pre¬ 
servation of animal food. 
I am informed that the liberal use of lime, in the ma¬ 
nufacturing - of salt by boiling, makes it handsomer, and 
perhaps has a tendency to facilitate the process. It 
matters little what the motive is which induces the 
amalgamation of lime with this valuable and indispen¬ 
sable article, but all are interested in its effects. I will 
state to you the somewhat expensive experience I have 
had in this matter, as facts are justly considered the best 
arguments. A few weeks since, I put down several 
barrels of pork, very nice and sweet at the time of 
packing; used over one feushel of salt (so called) to 
every two hundred pounds of meat, and covered it with 
a very strong brine. Some three or four weeks after¬ 
wards, upon examination, I found it nearly worthless. 
The meat appears to be literally covered with lime, and 
is utterly unfit for table use. Unfortunately, I am not 
the only one who has thus been imposed upon. 
It appears to me that this is a subject that calls for im¬ 
mediate and thorough investigation by the proper au¬ 
thorities; and if those whose especial duty it is to take 
cognizance of it omit to do so, then it behooves the 
people to devise means to nip in the bad so vile an impo¬ 
sition and base infraction of their rights. 
I trust this communication will be sufficient to enlist 
the attention of those whose immediate province and 
duty it is to remove the cause of complaint. Its import¬ 
ance must be acknowledged by all. Will not the editors 
of our agricultural papers bring their aid to the accom¬ 
plishment of the object ? The agriculturists are deeply 
interested. A Farmer of Cayuga Co. 
EARLY WHITE WHEAT OF VIRGINIA. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —In the autumn of 
1837, Mr. Cocke of Virginia sent a barrel of White 
May Wheat to the former editor of the Cultivator. The 
following is an extract from Mr. Cocke’s letter accom¬ 
panying the wheat: “Of late years, in this part of Vir¬ 
ginia, we have seen some of our favorite kinds of wheat 
go almost entirely out of use, from gradual and succes¬ 
sive failures, while other kinds of inferior quality have 
taken place of them, in consequence of their superior 
productiveness, attributable to no other cause, as far as 
we can see, but having been produced in different soils 
and other climes. The early May White wheat of Vir¬ 
ginia,which first gave superior character to our flour, and 
the Mexican wheat, very similar to the early May White, 
are now rarely heard of among our agriculturists. Not 
doubting that these varieties would be very valuable in 
any quarter of the wheat raising region of our country, 
where they would be new, and being anxious, for the 
general interest of agriculture, that they should not be 
lost, as, doubtless, after some acclimating in New-York, 
they may again be returned advantageously to the south, 
I have been at some pains to procure a barrel of the first 
mentioned kind, which I have sent to you at Albany. 
By putting it into the hands of some of your careful 
farmers, I am persuaded they will find it a valuable ac¬ 
quisition. The specimen sent has an appearance of being 
yellow or red wheat, but this is owing to its having been 
raised for a succession of years on red land; upon grey 
soils, it would soon return to its native whiteness. For 
the beautiful and large proportion of superfine flour to 
the quantity of grain, we have never found any wheat to 
equal the early White May, until our soils became tired 
of it. The early May wheat will do well, sown any 
time in October, or on very rich land in November; in 
short, I think it not improbable it would do with you as 
a spring wheat, sown in February or March, fully as 
well as the Florence.” 
Through the favor of Judge Buel, I received one peck 
of the White May wheat. On the 28th of March, 1838, 
I sowed one quart, from which I obtained eleven quarts 
of badly shrunk wheat; that, with the remainder of the 
peck, I sowed on the 12th of September following, on 
land summer fallowed; on the remainder of the field, I 
sowed White Flint wheat; all sown the same day. Their 
appearance in the spring was very similar; as the sea¬ 
son advanced, the White May came forward faster than 
the White Flint, and in heading out, the White May 
was two weeks earlier than the Flint. At harvest, the 
May wheat was plump and a fine berry; the Flint was 
so badly shrunk that the millers would have seventy- 
three pounds for a bushel; it ripened prematurely, being 
struck with the rust, which was very general in this 
vicinity in 1839. On the 13th of September following, 
I sowed the White May and the White Flint on summer 
fallowed land, the same field, and on the 17th, some of 
the White May in a separate field. The quality was 
very similar in every respect, except the White May 
was fit to cut one week the earliest; both varieties plump 
and fine; the berry of the White May retained its red 
appearance, and weighed sixty-six pounds to the bushel, 
the Flint sixty-three. On the 14th of September follow¬ 
ing, I sowed the White May on summer fallowed land, 
and on the 3d of October, three acres on potatoe ground; 
my Flint was sown on the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 17th of 
September. 
The White May that was sown on the 3d of October 
was in head and ripe tire same time the White Flint was 
that was sown on the 10th of September. The cold 
and wet, through the month of April and more than 
half of the month of May, injured my White May more 
than it did tire White Flint, but not as much as it did 
several other varieties that I have under cultivation. My 
late sown White May was not more than half as good as 
that sown on the 14th of September; the berry was 
good; it retained its red appearance. It is a bald wheat, 
white chaff, the head some heavier than the Flint. For 
late sowing, on unfavorable soil, it is not as valuable as 
the White Flint. I have sown but a small quantity this 
season. I shall test it for a few years more, to see if it 
will not regain its former quality. Mr. Jones of Ro¬ 
chester was in Virginia in the fall of 1840, and saw some 
of the White May wheat, and was so pleased with it, 
that he sent home ten bushels for himself and ten for Mr. 
Ely. It was late before it arrived, was sown out of sea¬ 
son, and proved a failure. 
Rawson Harmon, Jr. 
Wheatland, Monroe Co., N. Y., Dec. 16, 1841. 
