THE CULTIVATOR 
the right hand make a single cut, through the skin only, 
about one inch long, measuring from the point of the 
first rib backward. This exposes the two ribs, and mar¬ 
gin of a large muscle running down the thigh. This 
muscle is not in danger of being injured, if the proper 
point is ascertained where to make the incision, but if 
otherwise, an injury to it will cause lameness. Divide 
the muscle between the ribs by introducing the knife at 
the point of the first rib, and cutting backwards; this 
about one inch. In this way the plura is avoided, and 
of course an escape of air. Introduce the hooks, whieh 
will by the power of the reed draw apart the ribs and 
expose a bundle of muscular fibres, which is the inter¬ 
nal-costal muscle. Should the incision be too small it may 
be enlarged, by passing the knife around the point of the 
second rib; this will divide the ligamentous connexion 
between the two ribs. Divide the belly of the internal- 
costal muscle longitudinally. This done, a thin, delicate 
semi-transparent membrane is seen, which is the peri¬ 
toneum, and must be divided also, taking care to cut as 
far from the plura as possible; a branch of the ceolic ar¬ 
tery traverses this membrane, and may be injured by 
carelessness. On passing through the peritoneum, the 
upper testicle is brought distinctly to view, lying on the 
margin of the lateral spinous processes, surrounded by 
nerves and blood vessels. It is a small yellow body, its 
color somewhat darkened by the membrane covering it. 
Introducing the elevator and pushing towards and down¬ 
wards the intestines, the lower testicle is seen, some¬ 
what diagonally to the other, lying centrally between 
two large blood vessels. On elevating it with the ele¬ 
vator it comes in contact with the membrane; the lower 
blood vessel then is obscure. This vessel is the mesen¬ 
teric vein that lies between the two testicles; contigu¬ 
ous to the aorta is the descending vena cava. Proceed to 
remove the lower one first, in all cases by rupturing or 
lacerating the peritoneum, or that part of the membrane 
between the two large blood vessels. This is done with 
the tenaculum. The operator cannot be deceived on this 
point; wherever the membrane is divided, the testicle 
presents a shining or bright yellow. After dividing the 
peritoneum, introduce the canula and hair, carry the hair 
into the rupture, then pass the elevator under the testi¬ 
cle, in the loop of the hair—with the canula close against 
the body of the testicle, draw the hair tense, when if 
the elevator and canula be properly adjusted the hair 
catches the chord over the testes. Leaving the eleva¬ 
tor remaining under the testicle, holding the canula 
with the left thumb and fore-finger—bearing it slight 
against the spermatic chord—with the right thumb and 
fore-finger hold of the knot formed in the hair, the 2d 
and 3d fingers passed through it, give it a sawing or ro¬ 
tary move, which will soon divide the chord. The ele¬ 
vator or forceps will raise it out. The upper one is re¬ 
moved in nearly the same way. To rupture the peritoneum, 
use the forceps, instead of the tenaculum, as is recom¬ 
mended in removing the lower one; and cut it with the 
scalpel near the center of the testicle. There is generally 
a slight connection of the upper part, with the dia¬ 
phragm or midriff: it may be loosed with the knife. The 
edges of the wound are simply drawn together with a 
needle and thread, a single stich. The difficult part of 
the operation is in removing the lower one. But the 
real danger is in removing the upper; as, contiguous to, 
separated only by a few lines lies, the aorta, the large 
arterial vessel, sending blood continually to nearly every 
part of the body. The spermatic arteries come from this 
large trunk—their use is to convey arterial blood to these 
organs—the artery of this testicle being much shorter 
than that of the other, the divided edges of the artery, 
or more properly speaking the contractile power of this 
vessel is overcome by the momentum of circulation, and 
hemorrhages occur that destroy life in a few minutes. 
Should this occur it will take place before a coagulum 
forms capable of making further resistance than the na¬ 
tural contractile power of the arteries themselves; and 
the operator at once sees the sacrifice of his capon, (much 
to his sorrow if he has an anxiety to succeed, aided by a 
zeal and laudable desire to spare life after inflicting so 
much pain,) by the great flow of blood. The arteries 
of animals as well as human, possess a c -ntractile power 
peculiar to their construction, the inner coat is muscular, 
the muscular fibres running in circles. On laceration 
these fibres shorten by irritability, and hemorrhage is 
stopped in consequence. As soon as the operation is done, 
release the subject and let him run; if he lives 10 minutes 
after, or even commences feeding, therubicon is passed. 
The advantages gained are many. A change of habits 
takes place. They are great feeders and fatten readily. 
The male fowl in his natural state takes on fat slow—eat¬ 
ing more than their value in market in grain. It is al¬ 
lowed that one of them will consume easily 3 pecks of 
Indian corn, to say nothing of other condiments, and 
after this consumption nothing to boast of. The capons 
become extremely fat, perhaps to many unaccustomed 
to eating fat fowl, not very palatable. The flesh is more 
juicy, delicate and soft, highly prized by good eaters 
and epicures. They command double price in the mar¬ 
ket. An acquaintance of mine last winter sold 12 pairs in 
the Philadelphia market, for $5 per pair; they weighed 
from 18 lbs. to 21 £ lbs. per pair. They grow larger. The 
difference is as perceptible as it is in the bull and ox. 
They resemble the Berkshire in the facility with which 
they fatten. Are quiet and gentle, enormous feeders. These 
are the peculiar advantages gained by the operation, suffi¬ 
cient in my opinion, to induce any one possessing means 
and disposition, to undertake to caponize. The female 
may be operated upon also, with the same apparent 
change in the organization and orgasm, the opening to 
be made in the opposite side. As a different organization 
exists between the male and female, a description of the 
modus operandi will not now be attempted. As your pa¬ 
tience must be exhausted, if you have followed me thus 
far, I will in charity to you, recompense you for your 
attention, and close. 
Accompanying this communication, or following it I 
fancy, I send you a pair of capons. One about 12 months 
old and the other 5 months. The oldest is of the mon¬ 
grel breed, the other of the common Dominico. The 
first was not emasculated until he had obtained near his 
full growth; hence the difference in his size is not so 
great as with the other, who was emasculated when quite 
young. As a general rule a capon will weigh double the 
weight of a male of the same breed. They are not fat; 
they have not been fed, but have always worked for 
their own living. If convenient, please exhibit them 
at the fair, after which they are at your disposal, if they 
are worth an acceptance. Fat them well against the 
holidays, and if your inclination and taste prompts the 
sacrifice, you may feast on good fat capon. 
Yours, most respectfully, J. N. Keeler. 
Mulberry Farm, N. J. Sept. 4, 1842. 
WORKINGMAN’S COTTAGE_(Fig. 106.) 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —I send enclosed, the 
plan of a second cottage. It can be introduced into my 
“ Working Man’s Establishment ,” (see Cult. vol. IX. p. 
161,) without any material change as to the grounds or 
other buildings, and will be preferred by many to the one 
there presented. The main building is a perfect square, 
and consequently, as economical in its structure as it can 
be made. 
The drawing, (fig. 106) is a representation of the cot¬ 
tage, as seen in perspective. The beauty of its exterior 
would be greatly enhanced by the addition of porticoes, 
a verandah, &c. with the windows of the drawing and 
dining rooms, made to extend to the floor. Nor are 
these mere ornaments. In a climate like ours, they are 
the source of no little comfort and convenience, in af¬ 
fording us a place where we may regale ourselves of the 
coolirg breeze, secure from the intense heat of the sum¬ 
mer’s sun, or what is still worse, (at least for health,) 
evening dews. 
Ground Plan _ (Fig. 107.) 
The main part of the building is 36 by 36 feet. The 
addition in the rear is 18 by 24 feet. Every additional 
foot to its breadth and width will give a proportional en¬ 
largement to each room. 
I deem it unnecessary to give a plan of the second sto¬ 
ry, as most would prefer the ground plan. That would 
give three spacious sleeping apartments, 18 by 18 feet, 
with a bedroom 10 by 18 feet. R. North, Jr. 
Berlin , Co-nn. Aug. 10, 1842. 
197 
SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 
Messrs. Editors— Having had some experience in 
the business of wool growing, I propose advancing some 
of my views upon that and kindred subjects, which have 
been gathered from various quarters. Some twenty 
years since, the citizens of the contiguous county, (Wash¬ 
ington,) began to turn their attention to the subject of 
growing fine wool as a staple article, so that by 1836, it 
had become the most important business of the county. 
In 1833, large and fine flocks were introduced into this 
county, but the falsely so called compromise act, passed 
over us, and now few are left to tell the tale of former 
times. Protection being withdrawn from domestic 
manufactures, they could not afford what seemed a re¬ 
munerating price for our wool; consequently our flocks 
have mostly disappeared, and thus have remained unem¬ 
ployed the facilities of Pennsylvania, which are equaled 
by those of no country in the world. We have in this 
state millions and millions of acres of land in our moun¬ 
tains, (which occupy three fourths of the state,) which 
are suited for nothing else than grazing sheep in summer; 
it is poor, rugged and rocky. I have for some years 
kept from six hundred to a thousand sheep for four 
months in the year, upon land so poor as scarcely to 
yield a vestige of grass; yet they would return in the fall 
of the year in a much finer condition than the most luxuri¬ 
ant pasture in the lowlands could have made them. You 
ask, how can that be ? The high mountain and cold 
clime is suited to their nature, the low stunted bushes 
afford them food more acceptable than grass, and at the 
same time afford a shade, which enables them to feed 
throughout the day, instead of being driven to the shade 
very early in the morning. So apparent were these ad¬ 
vantages, that in prosperous times, flocks have been driven 
the distance of seventy mile3 to mountain range. I make 
these statements, so that others similarly situated may 
turn their attention to the subject and improve their ad¬ 
vantages. Some years’ experience in the business war¬ 
rants me in the belief, that the most luxuriant lowland 
pasture is not equal for sheep, to the most indifferent 
mountain range, when covered with bushes. A fair 
market for wool would in a few years make Pennsyl¬ 
vania one of the largest wool growing states in the 
union. Our mountains may become to this country, what 
the Highlands are to England and Scotland, and the moun¬ 
tains of Spain, Switzerland, Germany and Cachmere, are 
to their respective countries. 
Where a farmer can keep a certain number of sheep, 
he will soon see the advantage of keeping as many ewes, 
and raising as many lambs as possible; these last cost 
nothing fill the beginning of winter, and they are then 
as valuable (age and place considered,) as old sheep. 
This plan enables him to keep a young flock, and to 
sell off a corresponding number of old sheep every year, 
(which should of course be wethers.) The farmer on 
this plan may have each year one third lambs, for the 
whole number of his flock. 
Three years since, I tried the experiment of a new way 
of washing sheep, which proving effectual, I have since 
retained. My shepherd brought it from Scotland, 
where the plan generally prevails. You and others will 
be as sceptical as myself, in regard to the efficiency of the 
mode before trial. I select on a creek a place where 
there is a current, with a bank four or five feet high, and 
the same depth of water; a pen is built about thirty feet 
long, being narrow near the bank; a scaffolding four or 
five feet high above the surface of the water, over which 
the sheep are driven three or five times: half a dozen 
being driven over, the others follow without trouble; 
they should swim about twelve feet, not more, and come 
out on a sandy or clean beach. My experience is, that 
by this plan they are not fatigued half so much as by 
washing by hand, and the wool is as well washed as by 
hand washing; two hands may in this manner wash eight 
hundred in a day. In this matter, as in many others, ex¬ 
perience will demonstrate what theory will condemn. 
In passing let me touch a popular error in regard to the 
comparative weight of common and Merino sheep. The 
former are generally kept in very small flocks, and have 
the range of a whole farm, nipping close what cattle 
cannot reach, whereas the merinos are kept in larn-e 
numbers generally, and have not the same advantages. 
Having many low grade sheep when I established my 
flock, the coarse sheep would not thrive with the others, 
and I could select the poorest by picking the coarsest. I 
have little doubt that the Merino with the the same fare, 
will weigh as heavy as the common. As to comparative 
health and endurance, it is in favor of the fine sheep - for 
several years my loss from all diseases averaging from 
one to two per cent. As a general rule, I believe that 
the animals of this country are less liable to disease than 
those of the British Isles, perhaps owing to our drier cli¬ 
mate, and becoming hardier by being left to shift for 
themselves, and following the prescriptions of nature 
rather than those of quacks. 
I must congratulate you and your readers, upon your 
good fortune in obtaining the able correspondents, who 
have given us practical information upon the important 
subject of sheep husbandry. More information from 
them on this subject, and more protection from those 
who are appointed to watch over the interests of the 
country, and this will become one of the most impor¬ 
tant interests of the country. All we ask from govern¬ 
ment is protection for a short time, till our infant manu¬ 
factures shall have acquired skill and capital sufficient 
to sustain themselves. The stability of government as well 
as of the currency, is more surely promoted by a do¬ 
mestic rather than foreign trade, especially when the vast 
variety of climate and soil, can furnish us with nearly all 
