84 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
them. It is too much to claim for them also the palm 
in milking. Their character stands justly high, inde¬ 
pendent of that desirable qualification. But I must say, 
I think the quality of beef of the Hereford breed is supe¬ 
rior to the Durhams; and the beef of the polled Gallo¬ 
way Scots superior to either, as is proved by the London 
market, where Galloways sell from a halfpenny to a 
penny per pound higher than any other breed. 
Cows of the old Yorkshire breed of Short Horns are 
generally good milkers. They, as well as high bred 
Durhams, require rich pasture in summer, and to be 
well fed in winter. Crosses between well bred Durham 
bulls and coarse Short Horn cows generally produce 
useful animals, and will go on for several generations 
without deteriorating. Crosses between cattle of dis¬ 
tinctly different characters is not commendable. They 
soon degenerate. 
Ayrshire Cattle —The Ayrshires are a diminutive 
variety of Short Horns. They are in great repute as 
milkers, and are fast spreading over these islands. They 
are in every sense “ the poor man’s cow.” They thrive 
and give a good portion of milk upon very short com¬ 
mons, where larger breeds would starve. There are 
also high breds or well breds among the Ayrshires, as 
in the Durhams, and with similar qualifications, with the 
exception of size. 
Disease in Calves. —In the Cultivator of November 
last, Mr. Merrick states that in the preceding spring he 
reared eighteen calves, part Durhams, and well fed, and 
that in the latter part of summer five of the calves died 
in quick succession of a disease which he describes. He 
requests information on the cause and remedy, and whe¬ 
ther the disease is infectious. 
From the description given, I conclude it is the dis¬ 
ease called in England by the several names of black 
leg, quarter evil, black quarter, and by other local 
terms. Young, high bred cattle, Durhams for instance, 
having a great disposition to fatten when forced with 
rich food, particularly in autumn, are subject to the dis¬ 
ease. Young cattle in had condition are seldom attacked 
by it. It is supposed to proceed from overflow of blood, 
accelerated by sudden change of atmosphere, and speed¬ 
ily terminates in mortification. Many remedies. have 
been applied, but rarely with success, after the disease 
is firmly established. Preventives are the surest cure. 
When calves or yearlings of a high breed are forced with 
rich food, and full in condition, and exposed to atmos¬ 
pheric changes, particularly in autumn, they should be 
frequently blooded, and drenched with doses of nitre and 
sulphur. If that is strictly attended to, the preventive 
means will seldom fail of success. The disease is not 
considered infectious. 
Young Leicester sheep, of a good breed, forced with 
rich food, are liable to overflow of blood, and conse¬ 
quent mortification. The same preventives are applica¬ 
ble to them as to young neat cattle. The disease is the 
effect proceeding from the cause here explained. 
“If children are fed upon roast beef, they will require 
a good deal of physic.” 
And now, Messrs. Editors, I trust my eager desire for 
the prosperity of agriculture in whatever clime, will 
plead my apology for thus commenting upon some ar¬ 
ticles published in your admirable periodical, and sub¬ 
scribe myself, your humble servant, Tweedside. . 
“Tweedside” will please accept our thanks for his 
favor. We shall be glad to hear from him frequently; 
and if he will favor us with his address, we will send 
him the Cultivator regularly.— Eds. 
products would leave $54.50, or $10.90 per acre for the 
use of land. The annual products of 40 acres, upon 
this calculation, would be worth $872. The cost of cul¬ 
tivation at one dollar per day would be $436, which de¬ 
ducted from the whole amount of produce would leave 
$436, or $10.90 per annum for the use of land. This 
calculation, however visionary it may appear at first 
sight, is founded on facts and principles which every 
practical agriculturist will acknowledge to be correct. 
The great benefits of this plan are, it proposes a sys¬ 
tem; and all must acknowledge that system in agricul¬ 
ture is as necessary as in any other business. It gives a 
proper variety to our agricultural productions. It re¬ 
commends a more particular attention to the root crop, 
which is one essential item in a system of good husband¬ 
ry. It gives a more equal division of labor through the 
season. It would save much labor in making and sup¬ 
porting division fences, which on this plan would be 
unnecessary. By this system, every species of noxious 
weeds, even the Canada thistle, would be eradicated, 
and the amount of labor would be greatly diminished, 
while the amount of agricultural products would be in¬ 
creased. Homer, N. Y. Jesse Ives. 
ENGLISH BREEDERS. 
POTATOES. 
ROTATION OF CROPS. 
Editors of the Cultivator —The subject of agri¬ 
culture is becoming one of absorbing interest to the 
great body of our farming population; and the most im¬ 
portant question that can be raised on the subject is, 
how the two great articles of farming capital, land and 
labor, can be made the most productive. In countries 
that are new, labor may be most profitably employed in 
clearing, fencing and improving land, and preparing it 
for cultivation; but when the land is thus prepared, 
the inquiry is, how shall this land be cultivated so as to 
o-ive the greatest nett proceeds for a number of years in 
succession? What amount of labor to the acre shall be 
expended, and what course shall be pursued, to preserve 
the productive powers of the soil? An acre of good til- 
lao-e land, say a clover lay with 25 loads of good barn 
vard or ho 0- pen manure, with proper cultivation, will 
produce at° least 60 bushels of corn. The cultivation 
will cost $20. The corn at 50 cents per bushel, will be 
worth $30, and the stalks worth $10. After the com, 
raise roots, potatoes, ruta baga, sugar beet, carrots, or 
some of each. This crop would be worth $30. I his 
will violate no principle of good husbandry. An ameli¬ 
orating crop will follow an exhausting one, and by 
havino- two hoed crops in succession, the land will be in 
the most perfect state of cultivation for a crop of spring 
s-rain. After roots, sow spring grain, wheat, barley or 
oats The crop will be worth $15, and the cost of cul¬ 
tivation $5. With your spring crop, sow clover seed, 
fifteen pounds to the acre, with from one to two bushels 
of plaster, when your crop is well up. This acre of 
clover, cut and fed green to horses, cattle and swine, or 
cured for fodder, will be worth $12. This acre of and, 
after lying two years to clover, and giving ^ ac ^. ® 
manure that is made from it, with careful attention, wil 
be prepared for another 60 bushels of corn. 
The value of products on five acres at the lowest com¬ 
putation cannot be less than $109. The cost of cultiva¬ 
tion at one dollar per day would be $54.50, or half of 
the product, which deducted from the whole value of 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —You no doubt recol¬ 
lect the experiment I submitted to you through the Cul¬ 
tivator and Farmer, volume 2d, number 4, with the 
Mercer, Yam and Rohan potatoes. My sole object then 
was to show that the Mercers and Yams were as pro¬ 
ductive as the Rohans. In planting the same kinds 
again, giving them all an equal chance, I find the Yams 
far superior to any I have ever raised, not excepting the 
Mercers, though I have always been very partial to the 
latter, and considered them the best for culinary purpo¬ 
ses and for feed; but I find by an experiment last year, 
that the Yams are far superior on several accounts. 1st. 
They out yield all other kinds I have ever raised; they 
are very seldom hollow or pithy as, according to my 
experience, the Mercers are very apt to be. 2d. 4. hey 
are a much firmer potatoe, and will keep better through 
the summer than any I ever had. 
I will now give you my experiment last summer, 
which I consider a pretty fair one, if we make allow¬ 
ance for the unfavorable season for the potatoe crop. 
The land was a clover sward, plowed in the fall, and 
manured the next spring at the rate of about twelve 
wagon loads to the acre. My seed potatoes were all 
cut, and calculated to have but one eye on a piece. I 
planted three pieces in a hill. The ground was all 
nearly alike, except about half an acre in one corner 
that was wet, which I made no account of. In the first 
place, I planted twelve rows of Mercers. One way 
they were about three feet apart, and the other way 
about fifteen inches apart, as near as I could get them. 
We plowed them through only one way. There were 
about two hundred and twelve hills in the rows one 
way. Next, I planted six rows of Yams, and next to 
them twelve rows of Black potatoes, and next to them 
six rows of Rohans, and next to them I planted a variety 
of kinds mixed together, such as Door Yards, English 
Whites, Kidneys and Pinkeyes. They were all tended 
alike, and I saw no reason why one kind should be bet¬ 
ter than another, unless the difference might be in the 
different kinds of seed. When I dug them, I found the 
result as follows: The Mercers gave, on an average, 
one bushel from eleven to thirteen hills; the Yams, a 
bushel from eight to ten hills; the Black potatoes, a 
bushel from thirteen to sixteen hills; the Rohans, a 
bushel from twelve to fourteen hills; the other mixed 
kinds, it took about sixteen or eighteen hills to make a 
bushel on an average. Thus you see a large balance in 
favor of the Yams. Some may ask why I did not plant 
as many rows of Rohans and Yams as I did of other 
kinds? In answer to that, I would say in the first place, 
I had not seed enough of the Yams. All the seed I had 
of them I raised from twelve potatoes the year before; 
and in relation to the Rohans, I planted no more of 
them, because I considered them inferior to some of the 
other kinds on several accounts. 
The Yams are a new kind of potatoe to me. I have 
raised them only two years. I know nothing respect- 
in 0- their origin. A friend of mine g'ave me twelve of 
them in the spring of 1840. The result you have in the 
above named number, I believe he got the seed in the 
city of New-York, though I am not certain. He told 
me they yielded excellently with him, and he extolled 
them very much. . 
As the Cultivator opens away for the introduction of 
new articles in the agricultural line, I beg to avail my¬ 
self of its agency for this object. An objection may be 
raised against the color, which is externally of a beau¬ 
tiful purple, with about two-thirds of the inside answer¬ 
ing to the exterior, which is no less esculent than the 
whiter portion. When cooked, they are very dry and 
mealy; and when “mashed,” nearly answer to white, 
though rather of a purple cast, and are not surpassed by 
any other kinds I have eaten. One thing I had like to 
have forgot to mention. They are almost worth cultiva¬ 
tion for the beautiful flowers they produce; the tops 
and flowers being different from any I ever saw. I think 
they deserve the attention of agriculturists in every part 
of the union. 
I shall have fifty bushels or upward unengaged, which 
I shall dispose of as they shall be called for, on the 
opening of the spring navigation. I shall be pleased to 
forward you, gentlemen, a box containing a sample of 
the Yams for your inspection. 
Fallsburgh, N. Y., March 1842. Solon Smith. 
Messrs. Editors —As guardians of the public inte¬ 
rests, connected with agriculture and its kindred branch¬ 
es, I beg leave to call your attention to the fact, that 
through the columns of the Cultivator and otherwise, 
the idea has been industriously circulated, and to some 
extent has gained credence, that “by some kind of 
witchery or other,” Mr. Bates, of Kirkleavington, Eng¬ 
land, has not only succeeded in obtaining the very “ ne 
plus ultra ” of Durham stock, but that, like patent medi¬ 
cine, none genuine are to be had of any one else, what¬ 
ever their origin, character or appearance; and while I 
admit Mr. B. has some good cattle, particularly that his 
Dutchess family are so, I cannot admit that others 
have not as good, or that excellence can be found con¬ 
centrated and confined to one man’s yard, where so 
many gentlemen of fortune, taste, education and judg¬ 
ment have (father and son) for so long a period given 
their attention to the subject, and made the cattle of 
England what they are. It is true that reliable excel¬ 
lence is confined to such as have done so, and that they 
are comparatively few; yet no one or dozen individuals 
may arrogate to him or themselves the distinction, and 
to suppose the contrary necessarily involves a violation 
of all the laws of consanguinity; and neither Mr. Bates 
or his friends will claim notoriety on that ground. They 
do indeed claim that breeding in and in may be to some 
extent and under certain circumstances safely adopted; 
but to show that Mr. B. is not entitled to his celebrity 
by the adoption of such a system, it is only necessary to 
look at his practice. His cow “ Oxford,” (which brought 
him her full share of it,) so named in consequence of 
her having taken a first premium at Oxford, where very 
few Durhams were shown, and in the vicinity of' which 
not more are raised, was the produce of Matchem, bred, 
not by Mr. Bates, but by Mr. Brown, of whom he pur¬ 
chased her in 1832. Her sire was the Duke of Cleve¬ 
land, got by Mr. Whitaker’s Bertram 1716, to which, in 
1830, his dam, the Dutchess, was sent by Mr. Bates, 
with five or six others. 
With “Matchem,” Mr. Bates bought 16 other cows 
and heifers, for all which he paid £157—less than £10 
each; and though for no inconsiderable part of his mo¬ 
dern celebrity he is indebted to this stock, not bred by 
himself, nor the result of any peculiar system, yet the 
aggregate price paid, (and it may fairly be supposed to 
be some evidence of merit,) was less than that frequent¬ 
ly paid by a spirited breeder for a single animal. At 
Mr. Dodd’s sale in September, 1840, 38 of the descend¬ 
ants of Waterloo 2816, and Belvidere 1706, (from which 
were Mr. Bate’s 1st and 2d Dukes of Northumberland,) 
sold for an average of less than £45 each, while at Mr. 
Collins’ sale in September, 1839, 15 of the descendants 
of Mr. Whitaker’s Frederick 1060, from 3 months to 9 
years old, brought an average of £99, 12s. each; and at 
Castle Howard in the same month, 9 of his Fairfax 1023, 
brought an average of £95 each; 14 of his Belshazzar 
1704, an average of £67; 12 of his Rockingham 2550, an 
average of £63; and 12 of his Marlboro 1189, an average 
of £106 each. And I have now by me catalogues of the 
sale by the Rev. J ohn Higginson at Dishforth, in Sep¬ 
tember, 1841, of that by Mr. Benj. Willson at Brawith, 
and of that by R. M. Jaques, Esq., near St. Trinians, 
both in the same month, and all showing about the same 
results as do the comparisons above made; and yet I 
have no doubt, were it in my power to institute others 
still, the relative complexion might be in some measure 
changed; for Mr. Bates is a very respectable breeder, 
and my object is not to disparage his stock, but only to 
show that it is not beyond comparison in England; and 
I ask if the representatives are so in this country? 
I have stated that Mr. Bates’ cow Oxford took the first 
prize at the show in Oxford; and will you allow me to 
compare with this Mr. Whitaker’s Miss Fairfax, which 
also took the first premium at the great show in Leeds 
in 1839, and was declared the best cow ever seen in 
England; and that her son, Sir Thomas Fairfax, carried 
the first prize the next year at the great Northallerton 
show, beat the Clementi at a match of 5 guineas a side, 
and has never been beaten. May I also call your atten¬ 
tion to the following notice of the Sir Thomas Fairfax 
in the 2d number, 16th volume London Farmers’ Maga¬ 
zine, (where a fine likeness of him is given,) and where 
it is said that “he was sold by Mr. Whitaker to F. H. 
Fawkes, Esq., of Farnley Hall, and while in his posses¬ 
sion obtained the following premiums, viz: as the best 
1 year old bull at Otley in August, 1838, 3 guineas; 
as the best 2 year old bull at Leeds in September, 183.., 
20 sovereigns, (at the same time he won a match of 
5 guineas against Mr. Tempest’s celebrated bull, Dan¬ 
iel O’Connell, which obtained the first prize as the best 
bull of any age at the above meeting;) and that at the 
Yorkshire agricultural society’s meeting at Northaller¬ 
ton, (where he beat Clementi, as before spoken of,) m 
August, 1840, the first prize of thirty sovereigns, as 
the best bull of any age there, was awarded to hiW- ' 
The opinion is also confidently expressed, that if he a 
appeared as a competitor at the meeting of the Hig an. 
Society at Berwick he would have won the first prize; 
and yet for the bull that did take it, “Buchan ero, 
Mr. Whitaker paid £200, and could have had £1W 
advance after the award was declared, and as mac ai 
vance on the last price paid for Sir Thomas, has e 
offered his present owners and refused. 
Albany, April, 1842. E- P- P RENTI 
Fine Sheep.— Twenty one fat sheep were recent 
exhibited in Philadelphia, by Philip Reybold, Esq., o 
Delaware, whose weight averaged 214| lbs. each. 
