can be rendered very palatable, however, by a free ap plication of salt, in frequent and successive layers as it is deposited in the stack or mow; the amount of which may vary from a peck to a half bushel of salt to a ton of hay. Coarse hay, thus prepared, is frequently preferred by cattle to fine hay not so prepared. All hay should receive an application of salt when stacked or stored away, as the salt not only preserves it from injury in keeping, but domestic animals, which are frequently much neglected in salting in winter, thus obtain a constant and regular supply, administered to them in the best possible form. DEATH OF DR. AKERLY. Soon after the publication of our last number, we received the painful intelligence of the death of Dr. SAMUEL AKERLY, well known through the medium of our columus for several years under the names of "Richmond," and "A Practical Farmer." He died at his residence on Staten Island, Sunday, July 6th. By this sad event we, in common with the readers of the Cultivator, have been deprived of a most valuable co-laborer in the field of agricultural improvement, and the community generally have suffered the loss of an estimable and highly useful citizen. Like his eminent brethren, Fessenden, Buel, and Gaylord, he was called away suddenly-having been in his accustomed state of health only twenty-four hours before his death. He was a learned and talented, as well as benevolent and philanthropic man; and his death will be sincerely lamented by numerous personal friends, and also by a wider circle to whom he had become known through the public press. We find in the New-York Commercial Advertiser a short notice of his life and labors, from which we give the following interesting extract: "Doctor Akerly was born in this city, was a graduate of Columbia College, and having inherited from his father ample pecuniary means, he received the best medical education this country could furnish, under the superintendence of his distinguished brother-in-law, the late Doctor Samuel L. Mitchell. His habits of application and study, in the commencement of his professional life, brought on a disease which was the source of great annoyance through many years, and at length terminated his life at the age of sixty years. He has been a large contributor to medical and scientific journals-was for several years a member of the common council. During the late war between this country and Great Britain he was hospital surgeon-was mainly instrumental in getting up and sustaining, through the first years of its existence, the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, and was the second president of that institution. He was, in like manner, instrumental in procuring the passage of the act of incorporation of the Institution for the Blind, of which he was the first president. "A few years ago the state of his health compelled him to leave the city, and he established himself on a farm on the south side of Staten Island, where for several years, and to the day of his death, he devoted him-1 self to agricultural pursuits with great ardor. He has given to the world during his retirement, through agricultural journals, many of the results of his observation and experience in his new pursuit. "He has also been enabled, during that retirement, to prepare, or rather to complete, a full biography of his friend and relative, Doctor Mitchell. We have learned that the work was nearly ready for the press, and we presume that it will soon be published under the direction of his representatives." PRESERVING EGGS. Many receipts are given for preserving eggs, all strongly recommended, and many of them failing on trial. They may be successful in one case, but varying circumstances may cause a different result. For instance, lime water may be very successful when of the right degree of strength or causticity; but skill appears to be required in managing properly such preparations. Some have been very successful by packing them in salt, plaster of Paris, and other pulverulent substances, with different degrees of success. But the main point appears to be to pack them in some soft or powdery substances, with the small end downwards, in an exactly perpendicular position, and so embedded that they shall never touch each other. Provided these requisites are strictly attended to, it does not appear to be very impor tant what they are packed in; we have been uniformly successful in the use of salt, never failing in keeping them for a year, and a neighbor in one case kept them three years in a perfectly sound state. STATE OF THE CROPS. We have received a letter from Col. A. McDONALD, of Eufalla, Ala., dated Edgar county, Illinois, July 9. Mr. McD. is on a tour through the western states, and may, as he intimates, continue his journey to this state, and visit the show of our State Society, at Utica, where it will give us pleasure to meet him. He informs us that he left Eufalla on the 4th of June, that through all that portion of Alabama which he travelled, (a distance of 100 miles,) the crops were suffering much for want of rain. The corn crop in the richest sections, however, looked well. From all the information he could gather, the cotton crop would probably be a short one. In reference to Illinois and Indiana, he writes: "We have now travelled 130 miles in these statesthe soil we find immensely rich-particularly in the valley of the Wabash. Here we travelled one hundred miles over the richest country in point of soil, I have ever seen. I thought by far a better farming country than middle Tennessee, that I examined last year; as the Wabash lands are not only rich but so level that we travelled sixty miles in this rich valley of lands, on almost a perfect level-passing over extensive prairies of the finest soil. On these extensive prairies we find large crops of wheat and corn. The report is that from forty to fifty bushels of corn to the acre is common, and that from twenty to thirty bushels of wheat per acre are here produced. I found the corn generally planted 4 feet each way, and 4 stalks in a hill. Owing to the immense quantity of rain that has fallen in the month of June, the wheat crop, it is thought, is somewhat injured. The corn crop is also injured in some places. It has been impossible to plow the fields here for the last three weeks.” We have also a letter from Dr. N. B. CLOUD, of Macon co., Ala., dated June 19th. He informs us that the cold continued very late-frost having occurred south of 33 degrees, on the 17th of May. The cotton plant suffered not only from the cold and drouth, but from lice(aphides.) "The cotton crop," he states, "is not so forward as the last, yet the warm weather having set in with the present month, and showery weather for the last 10 or 12 days, the crop improves astonishingly. The stalk is not as tall as usual at this period, yet it is well formed and exceedingly promising. I counted on the 15th, upward of 100 blooms and squares on one stalk. "The corn crop never promised finer in this sectionthe spring has just suited it-the great body of the crop has been in silk and tassel since the 1st of June, and the later corn looks equally well. I have seen but little of the crop in the prairies, but what I have seen promises fair, both corn and cotton, and I have been informed that their prospects have seldom been finer. "The oat crop is fully fine through this immediate neighborhood, and with our present prospects, after the drouth of spring, (which, upon the whole, is favorable,) the rains having set in, I think the crop will prove, at least, a fair one." Our correspondent, SOLON ROBINSON, writes from Vincennes, Ia., July 6: "Wheat was a pretty fine crop here, but there has been such a perfect deluge of rains that many fields are totally ruined in the shock; while in the northern part of the state we suffer with the drouth to that degree that wheat headed out not more than knee high in many places. The grain is good, but the quantity will not be large. Other crops are much injured there by drouth, while here, the drouth first injured crops, particularly THE CULTIVATOR. corn upon the clayey lands, and now it is completely drowned. Upon some of the Wabash sandy bottom lands, the corn is fine; I saw many fields as I came along, where it was higher than my head." M. DAVIS, Jr., Esq., Lynchburgh, Va., under date of July 11, states that vegetation was there suffering from a drouth of long continuance. The tobacco and corn of last year, were on some plantations a good deal injured, and there has not, he says, been rain enough since. The winter was uncommonly mild-in February, the wheat fields and grass lands had the appearance they commonly have in May. Cold weather recurred in March, and frosts followed at different times up to 1st June, "the result of all which is," says Mr. D., "we have literally no fruit, many garden vegetables failed, no clover hay, grass meadows very light, many oat fields not worth cutting, the pastures dried up, and the corn suffering; though if we have rain soon, we may have a tolerable The wheat crop forms our only crop of the latter. bright spot." A letter from South Carolina, of the date July 11, states that the corn-crop "through the whole upper part of the state, is cut off perhaps one-half, by the unprecedented drouth." Our correspondent adds, "while I write, however, we are having a refreshing shower, and I hope we may yet do better with our late corn than we anticipated. Our wheat has been very good.". L. P., of Pa., informs us that there was a frost on the sixth of May which totally destroyed much of the wheat in Chester, Lancaster, and large portions of Montgomery and Delaware counties. The prospect there for corn and potatoes was said to be good on the 7th July. Oats short and thin, estimated at about half a crop, owing to drouth. In a tour through a portion of Connecticut and Massachusetts, last month, we found the hay crop much lighter than usual, owing to drouth. Rye, which is cultivated Wheat is not largely quite extensively, is middling. cultivated; but the few fields we met with were very good-the straw beautifully bright aud the berry plump. This was particularly the case in the valley of Connecticut river, where wheat has latterly been considerably introduced-it following tobacco, (a staple crop there,) with good success. Apples and pears are not as promising as usual cherries were plenty. Corn was rather backward, but the late extreme heat, where it has not suffered too much from drouth, has been favorable for it. HAY CROP IN ORANGE COUNTY.-A letter from Newburgh, dated July 24, states that in consequence of the extraordinary drouth, and the total want of a heavy rain since April, that the hay crop will not average more than one-third, or according to the estimate of some, one Another correspondent from quarter of the usual crop. the interior of the county, considers the hay crop as insufficient to winter half the cattle of the farmers. third. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. By the Britannia we have our foreign exchanges to Considerable sensation had been occasioned in consequence of sentiments expressed by Sir Robert Peel and Sir James Graham, favoring a total repeal of the corn laws. Of the policy of Sir Robert Peel, it is said"his plan evidently is to make periodical changes, all in favor of the manufacturers and prejudicial to the farmers, and it is now abundantly evident that the occupiers of the The wool trade was brisk, at fair prices, both in Great soil have nothing to expect from the present ministry." Britain and on the continent. The hop trade was rather dull. It is observed-"The accounts from the plantations are exceedingly favorable on the average, and this checks business." Prices are given as from 71. to 91. per cwt. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AT CIRENCESTER.-This institution, it is expected, will go into operation in the course of the year. Prince Albert has become a Patron, and is also one of the governors of the college. THE BAKEWELL LONG HORNED CATTLE.-A writer in the Farmers' Journal states, that in a late tour through the midland counties, he found to his great surprise, some extraordinary fine cattle of the once famous Bakewell or Dishley breed. Some of the best were at Mr. Twycross's, near Canby, the place where Mr. Bakewell obtained his two first celebrated breeding heifers. A fine herd of them are also spoken of as belonging to Hon. Mr. Nugent, of Hingham, Leicestershire. Six of these were to be exhibited at the great Shrewsbury show in July. The writer says "My friend with me was struck with amazement to see long-horned cattle which had been said to be nearly extinct, so good and so heavy, with such fine, firm, thick flesh, good symmetry, strong constitutions, and at early maturity.” THE EXHIBITION OF DOMESTIC POULTRY, under the auspices of the ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, closed at Regent's Park on the 14th of June. The show appears not to have quite equalled anticipations. The first prize for were also given for fowls of the Surrey, Old Sussex, Dorking fowls was awarded to Rev. G. C. Gillett. Prizes Hamburgh, Black Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Malay, and Also for ducks, From various letters, we give the following summary: Rochester, July 18.-Hay is not more than half a crop. several varieties of the Bantam breed. nish fowls are spoken of as of large size and very beauCorn looks well, except where damaged by the wire geese, turkeys, pheasants, and pigeons. The black Spaworm, which in some cases has lessened the crop one tiful. The gold and silver spangled Bantams-a breed Wheat never looked better-we saw in a three which originated with Sir John Sebright-are said to days tour, probably 20,000 acres, several fields of which have formed decidedly the most beautiful part of the exPotatoes and oats generally hibition. The white Aylesburg ducks are said to have will yield 40 bs. pr. aere. been very large. promising. Barley CURING BACON- lb. of bay salt, lb. of saltpetre, Canandaigua, July 18.-Wheat an average. best ever known here. Hay on old meadows very light. 1 lb. of coarse sugar, and about 1 lb. of common salt. Corn, potatoes, and oats pinched by drouth, but if rain This is sufficient for the bacon and faces of a hog of 10 or 11 score. Pickle all together, and let it remain in the comes soon, may be good crops. cury 82 to 100 degrees. The flavor of bacon depends quite as much upon its Elbridge, July 22.-Crops generally good, except hay pickle a month, turning and rubbing it all every day. Wheat good being properly smoked and kept after it is made, as it -not much more than half a crop of that. S. M. BROWN. does upon the curing. -barley and oats promising. Syracuse, July 22.-Wheat is injured by rust, and in some cases will yield one half less than appearances four weeks since indicated. Barley and oats good. Corn backward. Grass light. Weather hot and dry till Sunday night, when we had two heavy showers. T. H. HYATT. Weather hot-mer- E. MARKS. To PREVENT VERMIN ON POULTRY.-Scatter slacked lime on the perches and floors of the hen house, as often as once in ten days. It will effectually eradicate the lice S. BARROWS. and promote the health of the fowl. CHINESE GRASS.-During the past week, Messrs. Hargreave and Brothers, flax spinners and power-loom linen hibited a sample of Chinese grass. This article is remanufacturers, of this town, called at our office and expresented as possessing all the qualities of flax, but in a higher degree than any other known to our spinners of manufacturers-surpassing the best qualities in strength, fineness, and length of staple. These gentlemen also showed us a sample of fine linen manufactured by them from this article, which greatly resembled French cam bric, but with a more silky appearance. It would ap-ashes, brine, solutions of arsenic, vitriol, &c. We have pear that the Chinese grass can be supplied in unlimited tried nearly all these substances, and give the preference quantity, and if that should be the case it must be a sub- to vitriol. Our mode of using it has been as follows: ject for congratulation that an article of such large con- Dissolve in hot water two ounces of blue vitriol, (sulsumption in this country should be presenting itself as phate of copper,) for each bushel of wheat; add as much another exchangeable commodity for our manufacturers, water as is necessary to cover the grain, stirring the sothe rapidly extending consumption of which throughout lution well. Soak the wheat two or three hours, and China seems to be limited only by the means which they dry it with plaster before sowing. possess of making a suitable return for them.-Leeds Mercury. WINTER GRAIN-STEEPS FOR SEED. In regard to fertilizing steeps, we do not know that we can add anything to the suggestions given in our May No., page 158, to which we would refer those wishing to make experiments of this kind. NEW PERIODICAL. THE FARMER'S LIBRARY AND MONTHLY JOURNAL OF We should be in favor of sowing rye as early in September as practicable; and where there is no danger to be feared from the fly, we would observe the same rule in regard to wheat. There is a particular reason for early sowing rye this season, and that is the advantage it will afford for feed to sheep and young stock. The dry weather has lessened the hay-crop to a great extent, and the supply of grass in pastures must in many cases be very small. Rye, if allowed to get good root, may be pastured with light stock in the fall, and to some extent during winter. In some cases it may even be expedient to feed in spring. The diminution which results to the yield of grain is not equivalent to the advantages as pasture. The crop starts very early, and is particularly adapted to the dry lands on which the grass has suffered most. Would it not be judicious to sow this crop largely, to be used this fall and next spring as a substitute for hay and grass? In passing through the country, we notice in the barn-yards, and around the barns, or sometimes by the road-side, considerable piles of manure, exposed to waste by evaporation and washing of rains. If some of the fields where the grass is dried up were plowed, and all the manure now lying useless, was carefully collected and applied to them, a large amount of feed might be produced, which would be" Lectures to Farmers on Agricultural Chemistry," a available before much grass would be had next season. In the preparation of ground for winter grain, either wheat or rye, we doubt the propriety of bringing to the surface, the sward, and vegetable matter which had been buried but a few weeks before; especially where the soil|| is sufficiently porous and loose. Some tool should be used which will sufficiently mellow the soil, without reversing the furrows. A cultivator, if rightly constructed, and worked at first mostly lengthwise of the furrows, is found to answer a good purpose. We are much pleased with the plan of THE FARMER'S LIBRARY. Each number consists of two parts, one of which is to be devoted to the re-publication of new and valuable works on Agriculture-the other to constitute the Journal of Agriculture. The first part of the present number is occupied with a re-publication of Petzholdt's work issued the last year in London, and which has been highly commended by the foreign agricultural press, but which we have as yet had no opportunity of examining. The Monthly Journal opens with an appropriate and interesting biographical notice of the late Hon. STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER, of this city, whose labors in behalf of 'agriculture are well known, accompanied by a well executed portrait on steel. This department shows that our friend Skinner has lost none of his enthusiasm for the cause, or ability to manage a journal of this description. Sixteen chapters are devoted to the consideration of various subjects, such as Deep Plowing-The Value and Progress of Agricultural Science-Claims of Agriculture together with several pages of miscellaneous matters. A lithographic print is given of three of Mr. Gratham's prize South Down wethers, and another of the Silk Plant (apparently a species of "milk-weed,") from Tripeli. The preparation of the seed is an important matter. The cleanest and heaviest should be sown. If it contain seeds of pernicious plants, they should be taken out. It will amply pay to pick over by hand a peck or half bush-on the Business Community-Southern Agriculture, &c., el of wheat, or other grain, to be sown on a spot of good clean ground, purposely for seed. Chess, oats, and other seeds, lighter than wheat kernels, may be principally taken out by putting the grain in strong brine, a small quantity at a time, and stirring it with a stick. The foul seeds will rise, and may be skimmed off. When it has been finished, it may be put on a floor and dried off, or rendered fit for sowing, by mixing with it air slacked lime or plaster. Passing the grain slowly through a good winnowing mill, will clean it from nearly all the small seeds, such as wild pink, wild mustard, and seeds of most weeds, as well as the most shrivelled and imperfect kernels. The various kinds of smut in grain have been well ascertained to be vegetable parasites of the fungi tribe. The species known as Uredo fætida, commonly called "dust, or pepper brand," is the most injurious to wheat. Its seeds are so minute that they are believed to be taken in by the spungioles of the plant, and are with the sap carried up the pores into the cavity of the embryo kernel, where the fungus reproduces itself; causing an abortion of the grain, and giving in its place a black dust of most pungent and disagreeable odor and taste. GRAPE-VINES ATTACKED BY ROSE-BUGS. In our answer in the July No., to an inquiry on this subject, we stated that we had not before heard of this insect having attacked grape-vines. Our attention has been recalled to the subject by a letter from H. W. S. C.," of Oatlands, near Burlington, N. J. He remarks that his vines suffered from this cause some years since, and refers to a remedy given by Dr. Underhill, in the Cultivator, vol. 9, page 199, which we had overlooked. The remedy recommended by Dr. U., was to go over the vines every morning, and brush the bugs into cups containing water. H. W. S. C. thinks he has found out a readier way to kill them. He takes a lillte spirits of turpentine, instead of water, in the cup, which he says saves the necessity of treading on them, as it kills them instantly. "The next season," he observes, "after having practiced this mode, there were certainly not There is no longer any doubt that this substance may half as many insects as the first, and this year there has be eradicated from wheat by means of certain substances been comparatively none, and my vines are now loaded applied to the seed. So often has this been proved by with fruit, with scarce a berry injured by the rose-bugs. actual experiment, that we "hold him no longer guilt-The fact stated by Dr. Underhill, that the rose-bugs breed less," who neglects the application of the remedy. The in the ground, is clearly demonstrated by the following vegetative power of the fungus may be killed by lime, fact: I was last summer preparing a heap of compost heavy, weighing generally eight pounds, and some as near my grape vines, which in the fall was put into a green-house in which I was planting foreign grape vines. Early in May I was surprised to find rose-bugs on the young vines in the green-house. Fimmediately destroyed them, but they kept increasing for several days, Of the kinds, quality and yield of the grain and grass though none were seen out of doors for full three weeks afterwards. The eggs, therefore, must have been laid grown at Vancouver, Capt. W. gives the following acin the compost heap the season before, and brought into count: "The wheat averaged sixty-three pounds to the the green-house with it, where the heat hatched them bushel; barley yields twenty bushels to the acre; buckOats do not thus much sooner than their existence would have com-wheat, in some seasons, gives a good crop, but it is by no means certain, owing to early frost. menced in the open air." thrive well. Peas, beans and potatoes yield abundantly. Little or no hay is made, the cattle being able to feed all the year round on the natural hay, which they find very nutritious, and fatten upon it. The grass grows up rapidly in the beginning of summer, and the subsequent heat and drouth convert it into hay, in which the juices are preserved. Besides this, they have on the farms along the river two luxuriant growths of grass; the first in the spring, and the second after the overflowing of the river subsides, which is generally in July and August. The last crop lasts the remainder of the season. Neither do they [the stock] require shelter, although they are penned in at night. The pens are moveable; and the use of them is not only for security against the wolves, but to manure the ground." THE CULTIVATOR ALMANAC FOR 1846. This work, with Astronomical calculations for Boston, New-York, Baltimore, and Charleston, has just been issued. It is got up in a uniform style with the previous years, beautifully illustrated with a great variety of engravings, and contains much useful matter on gardening and farming, which we should be glad to see generally Editions will be circulated throughout the country. printed for Booksellers and Merchants, with the privilege of occupying the last page with advertisements, at $15.00 per 1000. Address the publisher of this paper. The Cultivator Almanac can now be obtained of M. H. Newman, 199 Broadway, and A. L. Halstead & Son, No. 7, Platt-street, New-York-Armstrong & Berry, booksellers, Baltimore-Wm. H. Moore & Co., book-) sellers, Cincinnati-D. Baker & Co., booksellers, 80 Camp-street, New-Orleans-Wm. Alling, bookseller, Rochester, and T. Morehead, Jr., Erie, Pa. DISEASE IN POTATOES. From several sections we hear there are already symptoms of this disease. B. P. JOHNSON, Esq., of Rome, writes us, July 18th: "I have examined, within the last few days, a number NARRATIVE OF THE UNITED STATES EXPLO-of fields, and find indications of the disease in almost RING EXPEDITION. every field. The upper leaves first show indications of the disease-the leaves shrivel or curl up, and it soon extends to the entire stalk. In some instances when the potatoes have been dug, on cutting them open, a small black spot is found in the centre. In others the potatoe appears sound and healthy. All the volumes of this work, five in number, have been received. We have before spoken of the two first volumes-to the others we have not given the attention requisite to enable us to give a particular notice of their "The disease is not confined, so far as my observacontents. The narrative appears to detail with all necessary minuteness every important incident, from the sailing of the squadron in 1838, to its arrival in New- tions extends, to any particular variety of potatoe, or to York in 1842. In the fourth volume, which we have any special location. Seed procured from the west, just been looking over, we find some interesting remarks where no defect was apparent last year, suffers equally relative to Oregon, a portion of which territory was ex-with seed selected from the crop raised in this section amined by Captain Wilkes and some of his officers with last year. I planted some this year, and made a preparaconsiderable attention. A visit was made to Vancouver, tion of salt, plaster and house ashes, of nearly equal a post on the Columbia river, occupied by a branch of quantities, though of ashes the most, and put about a the Hudson Bay Fur Company. Here considerable pro- handful in each hill before covering. The vines look gress has been made in farming and in horticulture- remarkably well, and as yet are free from the curl in the a garden almost vieing with the Chiswick gardens of the leaves. Whether they will escape, a few days will deDuke of Devonshire, belongs to the post, under the di- termine. rection of Dr. McLaughlin. "The farm at Vancouver," On says Captain Wilkes," is about nine miles square. this they have two dairies, and milk upwards of one hundred cows. There are also two other dairies, situated on Wapauta island, on the Williamette, where they have one hundred and fifty cows, whose milk is employed, under the direction of imported dairymen, in making butter and cheese for the Russian settlement. They have likewise a grist and saw-mill, both well constructed, about six miles above Vancouver, on the Columbia river." "I am led to believe, that this disease is somewhat analogous to smut in wheat. As it has made its appearance so early in the season, I hope careful observations will be made, in order if possible to aim at some definite conclusions in relation to the cause of the disease and remedy.” Dr. CAMP, of Windham, Greene co., has sent us a couple of insects, of a kind which he thinks causes the rot in potatoes. He states that the blight which precedes affected stalks, he finds more or less of these insects. The the rot, has already attacked the crop, and that on all the healthy vines, he states, have no insects on them. "The stock on the Vancouver farm is about three thousand head of cattle, two thousand five hundred sheep, At the dairy we Col. H. S. RANDALL'S MERINO SHEEP.-Last season and about three hundred brood mares. were regaled with most excellent milk, and found the we noticed the enormous clip of the Merino sheep of whole establishment well managed by a Canadian and Col. Henry S. Randall, of this village. This season we his wife. They churn in barrel churns, of which there learn that his Paular stock, including two rams, averaged are several. All the cattle look extremely well, and are over six pounds of well washed wool per head! A three rapidly increasing in numbers. The cows give milk at year old ram sheared 13 lbs. 8 oz., (the heaviest fleece, the age of eighteen months. Those of the California we believe, ever taken from a three year old Merino in breed give a very small quantity of milk, but when the U. S.,) and a yearling 8 lbs. 8 oz. Many of the ewes crossed with those from the United States and England, sheared 6, 7, and 8 lbs. per head, and one the unparalleled do very well. I saw two very fine bulls that had been weight of 9 lbs. 1 oz. Col. R. received the first preimported from England. The sheep have lambs twice mium on rams, and the first and second on ewes, at the a year; those of the California breed yield a very infe- State Fair at Poughkeepsie, (1844,) and the gold medal rior kind of wool, which is inclined to be hairy near of the Society, for the best managed and most profitable the hide, and much matted. This breed has been crossed flock of sheep, at the annual winter meeting of the Sowith the Leicester and other breeds, which has much im-ciety in Albany. Cortland against the world!-Cortland proved it. The fleeces of the mixed breed are veryDemocrat. NOTES ON VERMONT FARMING. (Continued from page 221.) has been much celebrated for its excellent horses,-distinguished for the quality of activity, great strength in CATTLE.-Much less attention is paid to the improve-Proportion to size, ability to live and labor on comparament of cattle in this section than to sheep. Several tively little food, with remarkable hardiness and endurance. We shall not attempt a minute history of the years since some cattle from Connecticut, whose blood Vermont horse-this would be fruitless. He is undoubthas not been duly ascertained, were brought here and edly a mixture of several breeds. The first settlers, who considerably improved the stock. Some Durhams have been introduced, and herds are frequently met with in Rhode Island, carried with them such stock as they had. were principally from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and which traces of this blood are to be seen. Mr. PARIS Connecticut and Rhode Island were in possession of valFLETCHER, of Bridport, has a bull showing some fine uable horses at a period as far back as the commencepoints, purchased of George Vail, Esq., of Troy, and got ment of the American revolution. The horse called by his bull Duke of Wellington. Mr. F. showed us Ranger,-asterwards known in Virginia as Lindsey's some good yearlings and calves by this bull. Mr. Cha's. Arabian, said to have been an Arab, presented by the L. Smith, of Bristol, has several cows showing more or Emperor of Morocco to the commander of a British Jess Durham blood. Among them is a large, strong frigate, and by the latter subseqently given to the captain framed, and well-made cow, said to have been imported of an American vessel,—was brought to Connecticut, as a full blood Durham. Several of his cows have the and became the sire of a numerous and very superior appearance of being large milkers. Mr. Wightman Chapman, of Weybridge, has an Ayrshire bull, present- was said to have been got by this horse. The Naragenprogeny. General Washington's celebrated grey charger, ed him by J. P. Cushing, Esq., of Massachusetts. setts of Rhode Island, (so called from being bred in the He is a good bull-has a small, clean head, and clean vicinity of Naragansett bay,) were famous at as early a limbs, a well-shaped body, and mellow skin. With the day as the horses of Connecticut. What those Narraganexception of Mr. Archibald's bull sent to the Pough-setts were, we know not-it has been said they sprung keepsie show from Montreal, he is decidedly the best from an imported English Hunter. Ayrshire bull we have ever seen. We saw in the neighborhood several very fine heifers by this bull, which have just come to milk. Their appearance is very romising, and we have no doubt they will make superior cows. Indeed we have no doubt that this bull has qualities which would greatly improve the stock of the neighborhood for all purposes. In At Mr. HYDER BARNES's, in the town of Addison, we saw an uncommonly large ox. He is six years old, has as yet only been fed with hay and grass, and was at pasture in only good store trim. His girth at the chine, by our admeasurement, was eight feet six inches. July last, (a year ago,) he weighed twenty-six hundred and twenty pounds. He is one of the largest oxen we ever saw in the same state of flesh, and if thoroughly fatted, would probably come nearly or quite up to the weight of any which have been slaughtered in this country. Though not fine his shape is better than that of such very large animals usually, and he may fatten well. His blood is not known. His color is a rather light red, with a white face, and narrow strip of white along the back. We saw some good stock in the vicinity of Vergennes. Mr. Rodman Chapman introduced a bull here several years since, that we understood was bred by Colonel Jaques, of Massachusetts, which, from what we saw and heard, evidently much improved the stock. Mr. Chap man now has a cow by this bull, which is one of the best animals we saw in Vermont, Mr. C. B. Cook, of Charlotte, has a young bull and two heifers, which appear to be nearly full blood Devons, purchased in Litchfield county, Ct. They are pretty animals, the bull particularly so. It is a matter of no less surprise than regret, that farmers in general in this superior grazing section, should be so indifferent to the quality of their cattle. While they have become generally awakened to the improvement of their sheep, and have become possessed of a highly profitable variety, they seem not to be aware that equal advantages would accrue from a systematic and judicious cultivation of the breed of cattle. We will not attempt to say what particular breed would be best adapted to this location. We have no doubt the introduction of the best bulls of either the Durham, Hereford, Devon, or Ayrshire breeds, would be productive of improve ment. Vermont, took with them mares of these stocks; and It is reasonable to suppose that the early emigrants to from the contiguity of the state to the province of Lower Canada, there has always been a greater or less infusion of the blood of the Canadian French horse, which came originally from Normandy. The stock thus derived has blood introduced at different times. The rugged features been variously commingled, and mixed also with other of the country, the rigor of the climate, the mode of feeding, and the general management, have all tended to produce a hardy race, as well as to assimilate them in some degree to a general standard of points. But the greatest celebrity of the Vermont horses has been unquestionably derived from a particular animal commonly known as the "old Justin Morgan horse." This horse is, we believe. universally admitted to have been the root of the famous race, to which the name of Morgans has been given, though there has been some diverse accounts of his origin. The most authentic history yet obtained, and which, so far as it goes is undoubt edly entitled to full belief, is given by a son of Justin Stockbridge, Vt., [see Cultivator vol. IX, p. 99.] Mr. Morgan, bearing his father's name, and now living in Morgan states that his father removed to Randolph, Vt., from Springfield, Mass.,-that in the year 1795 he visited Springfield, and on his return to Randolph took with him a "two years old colt, which was the same that has since been known all over New England as the Morgan horse." Mr. Morgan does not state anything in regard to the blood of the colt, but is confident his father obtained him in the vicinity of Springfield. This statement of Justin Morgan 2d, is confirmed by John Morhe was a near neighbor of Justice Morgan senior, previgan of Lima, N. Y., [Cult., vol. IX. p. 110.] who states ous to his removal to Vermont. He recollects the colt purchased by Justin Morgan, which he states was got by a horse owned by Sealy Norton, of East Hartford, Conn., called the True Britton." " This horse was said to have been stolen from Gen. Delancy, commander of the refugee troops on Long Island, during the Revolutionary war. The Delancy horse is said to have been nearly or quite thorough bred. [Skinner's Introduction to Youatt's Treatise on the Horse, p. 54.] in regard to the blood of the first Morgan horse. His imThis we believe comprises all that is positively known It may serve to correct an error, if we remark here mediate descendants were numerous, and remarkable for that we were in some instances shown stock under the their good qualities, and striking resemblance to each name of Durham, which were a burlesque on that cele- other. Indeed so remarkable was their similarity that brated breed. If certain blue-skinned, black-eyed, black- they were readily recognized by ordinary observers. nosed, coarse-boned animals, are thought to be Dur-Even when crossed with the common country stock, hams, we cannot wonder at the prejudice which appears to exist with some against the breed! HORSES.-Vermont, in common with New-Hampshire, their peculiarities were often obvious to the second and third generation, A horse called "Sherman Morgan," got by the "old Morgan," and owned by Mr. Bellows, of Bellows'-Falls, Vermont, is generally believed to have done more towards giving "character and fame" to the Morgan stock, than any other horse, not excepting |