THE CULTIVATOR. 
51 
I regret that we have not had more trials of the rela¬ 
tive value of the different breeds of hogs. It is a matter 
of great importance to the agriculturist. I have made 
many experiments myselfj and am satisfied that a proper 
course of experiments would be of great benefit to the 
country; but if I were to give those that I have made, it 
would be said by the advocates of other breeds, that I 
was partial and in favor of the Woburn. Well, I ac¬ 
knowledge such preference; and would still prefer the 
hog that will beat them. 
If the advocates of the Berkshires had been willing to 
risk the reputation of their hogs, we might long since 
have had this matter settled. Some of them write big 
bantering letters to their correspondents, but they never 
tome up to the trial. 
I agree with Mr. A. there are many hogs called Wo¬ 
burn, but this neither increases nor lessens the value of 
the variety which I have. 
To take Mr. A.’s statement as amended, I should not 
want more than seven and a half pounds of corn for 
each one, to prepare a lot of 200 Woburns for market, 
in six weeks feeding, and each hog would give an in¬ 
crease of 100 lbs. in an open lot. 
Mr. A. intimates a willingness to feed Windsor Castle. 
Now this is the right spirit, I hope he is in earnest. 
I propose putting my white Berkshire boar Albion in 
the hands of some disinterested person, to be fed against 
the Black Berkshire Windsor Castle. Mr. A. and his 
brother have done much to prejudice the public against 
this hog. Now let them come fairly and honestly up to 
the test, and see which which will give most flesh for 
food consumed. 
Although we have never had such trials as I could have 
wished and proposed, yet we have had enough to estab¬ 
lish som e facts, a few of which I will give you, and will 
at the same time observe, that the advocates of the Black 
Berkshires or Kennilworths, can have opportunities of 
making more experiments with the Woburns. 
1st. It is a fact, that in the only trial I have known to 
determine this matter, the Woburn Patience was proved 
to be a smaller eater than the Berkshire Belinda. 
2d. It is a fact that in the trial between J. Barclay’s 
Woburn and Wm. Barclay’s Berkshire boar, that the 
Woburn boar beat the Berkshire, fifty pounds in thirty 
days feeding. 
3d. It is a fact that in the trial with Mr. Fanning, my 
pigs gained forty lbs. more, in sixty-one days feeding, 
than his did, in one hundred and twenty days. 
4th.' It is a fact that my pigs weighed nearly two hun¬ 
dred pounds heavier than Mr. F.’s at six months old. 
5th. It is a fact that Mr. Fanning said his pigs “ are 
very superior,” and “ the pigs are the largest Berkshires 
of this vicinity of their age.” 
6th. It is a fact that in the trial between Courtenay, 
(Woburn) and Belinda, (Berkshire) that the Woburn 
gained nine pounds most, in ten days, upon the same al¬ 
lowance of corn. 
7th. It is a fact that Patience, although made sick by 
trying to eat as much as did the Berkshire, still gained as 
much in ten days, upon the same allowance of corn. 
From the above facts it is proved, (in the case of Pa¬ 
tience and Belinda,) that the Woburns are the smallest 
consumers, and that they and their crosses, will nearly 
double the Black Berkshires in growth and fattening. 
I confess that I am not able to write with the host of 
writers by whom my hogs are assailed, but my hogs have 
been able to defend themselves, and are not “ afraid to 
fash their beards beside even a Kennilworth.” 
Colbyville, Ky., Dec. 1841. Sam’l D. Martin. 
ECONOMICAL USE OF FUEL. 
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Editors of Cultivator 
■The above drawing will 
enable those who have never 
seen one, to form some idea 
of an AIR-TIGHT STOVE (fig. 
25). Its horizontal section 
is an ellipse; the transverse 
diameter is 23 inches, and 
the conjugate diameter is 
18] inches in length; the 
distance D E between the 
upper and lower plate is 28 
inches; the depth D F of 
(Fig. 25.) the perforated hoop on the 
top is two inches; (this hoop is of course solely for or¬ 
nament;) the distance E G from the lower plate to the 
under part of the pipe is 19 inches; the diameter of the 
pipe is 5 inches; length of pipe 16 inches; the hight of 
the lower plate E from the floor is 5 inches; the damper 
B is 2_{ inches square; and the feeding door A is 6] inch¬ 
es square; the bottom of B is 2 inches, and the bottom 
of A is 12 inches above the lower plate; the hoop F D 
at the top I have represented as perforated with dia¬ 
monds. The whole is made of Russia iron; and the 
cost of the stove and pipe complete, ready for setting in 
operation, is $6. Its advantages are, 1st, its cheapness; 
yet it is neat and ornamental in its appearance; there is 
no patent on it; any mechanic can make them. 2d. The 
little trouble they occasion, they ought to be supplied 
with wood in the morning, just before dinner and at tea 
time; this is amply sufficient. The ashes need not be 
taken up oftener than twice a week; its surface being 
smooth, it is easily kept clean. 3d. Its freedom from 
danger; there is no danger from sparks or from coals 
falling out on the floor. If the family wish to leave the 
room, they can close both dampers and nothing can take 
MERINO BUCK—(Fig. 26.) 
Messrs. Gaylord and Tucker —The subject of the 
inclosed drawing is a merino buck, the property of 
William Lame of Cornwall, which sheared last June, 
thirteen months old, six and a half pounds of washed 
wool. At just eighteen months old he weighed one 
hundred and twenty-eight pounds. I think you have a 
good delineation of this tup, which is stout, long and 
woolly—even down to his fetlock; his form is far bet¬ 
ter than merinos commonly are. I am the owner of its 
sire, now three years old, which served one hundred 
I and thirty-five ewes last season, and sheared last spring 
I just twelve pounds of washed wool. This buck origi- 
j nated from that celebrated Paular stock of William Jar- 
I vis of Weathersfield, this state, which he imported when 
consul to Spain. A good drawing of this perfect sheep 
I have sent by request to the corresponding secretary of 
the New-York State Agricultural society, which may 
soon appear in a work that is to be issued by that So¬ 
ciety. S. W. Jewett. 
Weybridge, Vt., Dec. 1841. 
fire till their return, when they will have a warm room 
to come to. 4th. The economy of fuel; this is its 
crowning glory. I fully believe that it will take one 
fourth less wood than any stove now in existence. One 
armful of wood in common winter weather, without 
wind, will keep a room warm 18 feet square, and with a 
western aspect. 
The theory of the stove is simple. The combustion 
can be kept up just in proportion to the wants of the 
room, irrespective of the quantity of wood in the stove, 
by means of the damper B; both A and B slide upward 
and downward in grooves; and when closed, their bot¬ 
toms also shut into grooves; and the stove is perfectly 
air tight. A being closed, no air can enter it except 
what is admitted through B. Then by raising or lower¬ 
ing B, we can perfectly regulate the supply of air, and 
thus limit the combustion to the actual wants of the 
room, and ensure a perfect equilibrium of temperature 
through the day. When the wood is reduced to coal, 
B may be entirely closed, and a powerful heat will be 
thrown out for some time without waste of fuel. This 
equilibrium of temperature cannot be maintained by 
other stoves, nor can they burn the fuel so economically, 
because they are not air tight, and because they admit 
air above the body of the fire; hence the combustion 
cannot be regulated at will. 
In order to use the stove after it is set up, throw a 
good coat of ashes on the bottom to prevent the floor 
from being heated, put in a quantity of wood, and throw 
in a shovel full of coals, close A tight, and let B be half 
open; in 5 minutes you will have a fire without the aid 
of chips or the bellows. If the fire is too hot, lower 
the damper or close it entirely; if not warm enough, 
raise it. When going to bed put in two or three sticks 
and close the damper; the chill will be kept off the 
room all night; and in the morning open the damper, 
and the room will be warm in 5 minutes. Although 
farmers do not generally buy their fuel, yet the chopping 
and hauling and cutting up at the door forms no incon¬ 
siderable item in his labors, which they would be glad 
to abridge or dispense with. It is with this view that I 
send you the foregoing for publication in the Cultivator. 
12th month, 17th. This day being a cold snow storm, 
I selected it to test the capacity of the stove. The wind 
blew strongly from the N. NE. until 12 M.; then N. un¬ 
til 4 o’clock, when it returned to N. NE. The stove 
consumed 129 lbs. of half seasoned white oak wood from 
] past 7 o’clock A. M. till 11 o’clock P. M. The ave¬ 
rage temperature of the open air during that time was 
16.85°, and the average temperature of the air in the 
room was 67.28°; these averages are deduced from 
horary observations through the whole time. The 
thermometer in the open air had an eastern exposure. 
That in the room was horizontally distant from the stove 
10 feet 6 inches, and 6 feet 4 inches above the floor. 
The temperature in the room did not vary 4° during the 
whole day. The room in which the experiment was 
made is 18 feet square, 7] feet high; it has a western 
aspect, with two windows; 4 doors open into it; and 
the house being old, there are many fissures and crevi¬ 
ces for the wind to get through. The stove was in ope¬ 
ration 15] hours, which shows the hourly consumption 
to be 8 lbs. 5 oz. of wood; and that this quantity thus 
consumed kept the air in the room 50.43° above the 
temperature of the external air. 
18th. Strong NW. wind till noon, then it became 
more calm; temperature of air 14.66°; air of room 
67.81°; quantity of wood consumed 114 lbs.; time of 
burning from 7 A. M. till 11 P. M., or 16 hours; hourly 
consumption 7 lbs. 2 ozs. 
1 19th. Temperature of air 25.33°; temperature of 
room 73.27°; wood consumed 86] lbs.; time of burning 
14 hours; hourly consumption 6 lbs. 1 oz.; wind N. 
but very light. 
These extracts, from the journal of my experiments, 
will suffice to show the capacity of the stove. It was 
partly my intention in making the experiments, to as¬ 
certain the ratio between the quantity of wood con¬ 
sumed and the temperature of the external air; but I 
find this cannot be obtained; because at the same tem¬ 
perature the stove will require a great deal more wood 
in a windy day than in a calm day. Thus, the tempe¬ 
rature on the 18th was 2.19° colder than the 19th; yet 
the hourly consumption was 1 lb. 3 oz. less on account 
of the cessation of the wind after 12 o’clock M. 
N. N. D. 
P. S. Perhaps the above statements in the following 
form will be more generally intelligible. White oak 
wood, according to Marcus Bull, weighs 3,821 lbs. 
when perfectly dry; green wood weighs 42 per cent 
more. The wood I used was about half seasoned; 
therefore, add 20 per cent to 3,821 and we shall have 
4,585. Then one cord of wood would keep a room 
warm as follows: 
35 such days as the 17th, 
40 “ « 18th, 
53 “ cc 19th. N. N. D. 
Stockport, 12 th mo., 1841. 
COMMENTS ON THE NOV. AND DEC. NUMBERS 
OF THE CULTIVATOR FOR 1841. 
Once more, Commentator presents his compliments to 
Messrs. Gaylord and Tucker, and wishing them a happy 
new year, together with a continual increase of that 
popularity to their excellent paper which it so well de¬ 
serves, he will resume, with their permission, his com¬ 
ments on such articles of the Cultivator as have particu¬ 
larly attracted his attention. Several circumstances, 
which it is needless to mention, have interrupted his 
volunteer criticisms for many weeks past. To make up, 
therefore, for “ lee way,” he will include in one com¬ 
munication all he has to say in relation to both the last 
two numbers of your paper for the by-gone year. 
The first article in your November number gives us 
an interesting account of the last cattle show and fair of 
your State Agricultural society; and the specimens of 
the speechifying uttered on that occasion are very cre¬ 
ditable to the speakers. I was particularly pleased with 
the remarks of your ex-lawyer and senator—the Honora¬ 
ble Micah Sterling, in regard to the folly of parents 
forcing so many of their sons to become lawyers and 
doctors—at least in name. If he could possibly cure 
them of this most pernicious infatuation, or could even 
mitigate it in some degree, he would well deserve the 
thanks of his country. This state show and fair, consi¬ 
dered in connection with the other numerous exhibi¬ 
tions of a similar character, which took place in your 
state during the last autumn, is highly gratifying to all 
the true friends of American husbandry everywhere. 
But it must be so especially to you New-Yorkers; for it 
clearly proves that in your state, at least, if nowhere 
else, the true spirit of agriculture “ is abroad,” as well 
as “ the schoolmaster.” 
The next article upon which I will offer a few re¬ 
marks is the drawing of “Barnaby and Mooer’s Premi¬ 
um Side Hill Plow.” It will probably be deemed very 
presumptuous in me to offer a single objection to an im¬ 
plement which has already received two premiums, and 
each awarded by several farmers together, who, proba- 
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