EDS. CULTIVATOR-Before I answer the inquiries of your correspondent, permit me to give you the outlines of our phynological or reformed practice and theory of disease. We contemplate the animal system as a perfect piece of mechanism, subject to life and death; that while the vital power has free and unobstructed action, the animal is in a physiological or healthy state; but when by any means the vital power is obstructed, by over feeding, exposure, &c., it is in a diseased or pathological state.

We recognise a conservative or healing power in the animal economy, whose unerring indications we endeavor to follow. Our system proposes, under all circumstances, to restore the diseased organs to a healthy state, by co-operating with the vitality remaining in the organs, by the exhibition of sanative means; and under all circumstances, to assist and not oppose nature in her curative process.

prevent friction. No matter what the nature of the disease, the treatment should be conducted on these principles. Finally, to relax, to contract, to stimu late, and to furnish the system with the proper ma. terials for nutrition, constitute the whole modus operandi of the reformed practice.

With these preliminary remarks, we will return to your subscriber's communication, in which he states that he has lost several calves within a few days by black-leg, and knowing of no medical treatment for the disease of any value, has searched the back columns of The Cultivator in hopes to find something recommended as a specific, [there is none in existence] but has found nothing except what is contained in the March number for 1847, vol. 4, p. 98. Regular and good feeding is there recommend ed as a preventive.

Good and judicious feeding, with proper attention to the management of calves, is one of nature's preventives. Dr. White, a veterinary surgeon of London, observes-" In horses or cattle, it is probable that almost all diseases may be prevented by judicious management with regard to feeding, breeding, rearing and exercise." Again, Dr. Dixon observes"Nature is ever busy, by the silent operations of her own forces, endeavoring to cure disease. Her remedies are air, warmth, food, water and sleep; their use is directed by instinct, and that man is most worthy of the name of physician, who most reveres its unerring laws.'

Black-leg, quarter-evil, joint murrain, blackquarter, and dygangrene, are analogous: by the dif ferent names is meant their grades. In the early of mild forms, it consists of congestions in the veins or

It is clearly evident that disease is an unit-that all its different manifestations depend on local or constitutional peculiarities. In the animal, there are numerous tissues to be obstructed; and if the disease were named from the tissu, it would have as many names as there are tissues. If it were named from the location, it would have as many names as there are locations, as horn-ail, black-leg, quarter-evil, foot-rot, &c. If it were named from the symptoms, it would be numberless, and boundless. It is of no use to decide what particular nerve, blood vessel, or muscle is diseased, seeing that the proper and only rational treatment consists in acting on all the nerves, blood vessels and muscles. But suppose we do ascertain exactly the location of the disease, have we any specific that will act upon it, other than through the healthy operation of nature's secreting and excreting process? We answer, that there is no such thing as a specific, in the popular sense of the term. Any medicine that is good for a practical symptom in disease, is equally good for any and every symptom, provided its action is physiological.

The indications of cure, are to relax spasm, as in lock-jaw, stoppages of the bladder, or intestines, obstructed surfaces, &c. To contract and strengthen weak and relaxed organs, as in general or local debility, diarrhoea, scouring, lampas, &c. To stimulate inactive parts, as in the black-leg, quarterevil, foot-rot, &c., where chemical agency has gain ed the supremacy over vital action. To equalise the circulation, and distribute the blood to the external surface and extremities, as in congestions. To furnish the animal with sufficient nutriment to build up the waste that is continually going on, and

when chemical action overpowers the vital and gets the ascendancy, it assumes a putrid type, and gan grene is the result, or a destruction of organic integ rity. Its proximate cause exists in any thing that can for a time, intercept the free action of the vital machinery. Its direct cause may be found in over-feediing, exposure in wet situations. The milk of diseased cows, is a frequent cause of disease. Men who are engaged in preparing cattle or calves for the market, attempt to fatten without any regard to their general health, climate, the quantity of food, its quality, or the state of the digestive organs. They are very apt to think that as long as the animal has what they term "good food," and just as much as they can cram into the stomach that they must be healthy and will fatten, when in fact, too much food oppresses the stomach, impairs and overworks the digestive organs, and converts the food into a serious cause of disease. Whenever the digestive powers are overtaxed, the food accumulates in the stomach and its appendages, and being submitted to the combined action of heat and mois ture, gas is evolved which distends the vicera, interferes with the motion of the lungs and diaphragm, presses on the liver, and interrupts the circulation of the blood through that organ, seriously interfering with the bile-secreting process. This is not all, the gas evolved from the putrid mass in the stomach, is absorbed, and enters into the cellular structure, hence emphysema, &c.

Your correspondent observes-"My calves are well fed and in good order, and those that fell vic tims were in the best condition." The old maxim, an ounce of preventive is worth a pound of cure, is true; and I have no doubt your correspondent, if he makes the trial, will find it more convenient and less expensive. The reason why disease manifests itself in the extremities, is because they are more exposed to damp ground. and because the blood, in

returning to the heart, has a kind of up hill work to perform, hence it accumulates in the veins. Now, although we observe alarming symptoms in blackleg, it is no more a disease of the legs, than it is of impaired digestion, absorption, secretion, and circulation, for the whole functions are involved, and the cure of black-leg is the cure of all other mala. dies.

There is no particular treatment for black-leg, other than we have already alluded to, viz., to im part healthy action to the whole animal system, and to remove the direct cause. If the animal has been over-fed with a view of fattening, reduce the quantity of food, give mucilage of slippery-elin, and rub the leg with tincture of capsicum.

Our advice to farmers is, let your animals have their meals at regular hours, in sufficient quantity, (and not a particle more;) if they waste it, put less before them each time, until they eat the quantity given, without waste; let them have good beds of straw on which to rest their limbs; do not permit them to breath the emanations that arise from the dung and urine; keep them clean, and avoid undue exposure. Finally, govern them in a spirit of kindness and mercy, and there will be little foothold for disease. G. H. DADD. Boston, Jan. 1850.

Blind Teeth in Horses.

EDS. CULTIVATOR-Some two or three years since, I did myself the pleasure of giving you my experience on the subject of Wolf or Blind Teeth;

since which time no actual case has occurred under my observation till lately. I now send you enclosed a Wolf tooth, extracted from the upper jaw of a horse of mine, immediately in front of the grinders. I had observed a considerable degree of inflammation in the eye of this horse, and a thin film was gradually forming, which threatened its destruction. I tried various remedies in vain, when I discovered the Wolf tooth, situated as above described, which being extracted, the eye rapidly recovered, and is now entirely well.

As the existence of these teeth, and their effect upon the eye of the horse has been doubted by scientific men, I send you the tooth and state the facts, leaving it for science to say what is the connection between the cause and the effect. WM. LITTLE.

CARBON AS FOOD FOR PLANTS.-Mr. J. W. ROGERS says he was refused the gold medal offered, a few years since by a public body in Ireland, because he had set forth that carbon, given to the roots of plants, would invigorate them. He observes-This was then deemed a fallacy, but I am happy to say, any one may now aliege the same without being laughed at. A that period, a popular chemist had set it down 'that all plants depended upon the atmosphere for the carbon they contained,' but the leading chemical writer of the present day says very differently. Brande states, in the 6th edition, published 1848, that' although the accumulation of decaying matter which chemists call humus performs an important part in vegetable nutrition, it is not by its direct absorption and assimilation, but by its influence as a source of carbonic acid, which is partly taken up by the juices of the roots, and partly evolved into the atmosphere, so that plants, independent of their leaves, can thus receive carbonic acid."

The idle man is the devil's hireling, whose livery is rags, whose diet and wages are famine and disgrace.

He is a fool who makes his doctor his heir.

2. To the one sending us the next largest number, the sum of FORTY DOLLARS. 3. To the one sending us the next largest number, the sum of THIRTY DOLLARS.

4. For the next largest list, the sum of TWENTY DOLLARS. 5. For the next largest list, TEN DOLLARS.

6. For the FIVE next largest lists, each FIVE DOLLARS. 7. For the TEN next largest lists, each THREE DOLLARS In addition to the above, a copy of Thomas' "AMERICAN FRUIT

CULTURIST. price one dollar-a very valuable work just publishedto every agent who sends us Fifteen subscribers and $10, and who does not obtain one of the above prizes.

The American Fruit Culturist.

This work has been sent by mail, only to such Agents as have requested it. Many have sent us 15 subscribers, entitling them to the work, who have said nothing about its being sent; and we have ta ken it for granted that they intended to procure more subscribers, and to be competitors for a higher prize. We therefore give notice that the work will be sent by mail only where specially requested, and that we will send it in any manner desired, and at any time, to any person who has sent 15 or more subscribers for this volume.The postage on the work is only 21 cents, to any post office in the United States.

To Postmasters and other Agents.

Cultivator, to clubs; we state,
Some of our Agents seem not fully to understand the terms of The

1. That in forming clubs, it is not necessary that all the papers for different offices as required. one club should go to one post office. They will be sent to as many

2. It is not necessary that for a club of seven or fifteen, all the copies should be ordered at once. Any one will be entitled to seven copies after paying $5, though he sends but one at a time. For instance, when a Postmaster sends us $2 for two copies, he will be entitled to five more copies for $3, making 7 copies for $5. So when an Agent sends $5 for 7 copies, he will be entitled to 8 more copies for the second $5. making 15 copies for $10.

3. When an Agent has sent $5, for 7 copies or $10 for 15 copies, he will be entitled to any additional copies he may order at the rate of $2 for three copies. Postage of the Cultivator.

In answer to several inquiries, we repeat the statement so often

made, that The Cultivator, when sent without cover, is subject to newspaper postage only-that is, one cent within the State, and 14 cents if out of the state, and over 100 miles from Albany. This Generals. For Certificate of this, see Cult. for 1848, page 97.

question has been several times settled by the differeut Postmaster

AND JOURNAL OF RURAL ART AND RURAL TASTE. This popular work is edited by A. J. DOWNING, author of "Landscape Gardening," "Designs for Cottage Residences," &c. &c., and is published by the proprietor of "The Cultivator," each No. containing 48 pages, embellished by an engraved frontispiece and numerous other illustrations, at $3 a year. Three vols. are completed, and the fourth is now in course of publication. Price per vol., bound, $3.50-unbound, $3. When two or more vols. are taken, a discount of 50 cents per vol. will be made.

Franking Privilege of Postmasters.

We notice that many Postmasters, who are Agents for The Culfollowing letter from Hon. F. H. WARREN, Assistant Postmaster tivator, pay the postage on their letters to us. It will be seen by the General, that they are entitled to the privilege of franking their remittances: Post Office Department. Appointment Office, Dec. 31, 1849.}

Sir-The Postmaster General, after careful consideration of the question as to the right of Postmasters that have the privilege of ey for subscriptions or the names of subscribers, has decided, that franking, to frank letters to publishers of newspapers covering monwhen the Postmaster is Agent for the publisher, he has the power to frank such letters, and his Agency will be presumed from the fact that he franls them. these communications but when he is such an Agent, it is proper to As no Postmaster has any authority to frank regard him as acting in that capacity when he so conducts, until information is received to the contrary. In doing this business, the Postmaster must be regarded as entirely the Agent of the publisher, and not of the Department. FITZ HENRY WARREN.

Notes for the Month.

COMMUNICATIONS have been received, since our last, from Gleaner, W. L. Eaton, G. H. Dadd, S., Levi Bartlett, A. B., A Farmer, Agricola, Argus, A Subscriber, Mary, Calvin Stow, C. G. I., L. Durand, Jonathan Wood, C. E. G. (all too late for this month,) J. B. Garber, S. Tillotson, J. J. C. BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, &c., have been received as follows:

Proceedings of the St. John (N. B.) Agricultural Society for 1849, from ROBERT JARDINE. Esq., President.

Northern Spy and Melon Apple, from ELWANGER & BARRY. Belcher's Farmers' Almanac, for 1850, Halifax, N. S., from C. H. BELCHER, publisher. Proceedings of the Seneca County (N. Y.) Agricultural Seciety, for 1849, from JoHN DELAFIELD, Esq., President of the Society. Sherwood's Manual for Magnetizing, with the vibrating magnetic machine, and for the magnetic treatment of diseases, from the publishers, FOWLER & WELLS, New-York.

York.

New and Improved Poudrette of the Lodi Manufacturing Company, a pamphlet jus: issued by that company, 66 Dey-street, NewReport of the Ohio Nurserymen and Fruit Grower's Convention, held at Columbus, Dec. 5, 1819.

PROF. JOHNSTON'S ADDRESS.-We give in this number, the address of Prof. JOHNSTON, delivered before the N. Y. State Agricultural Society at Syracuse. It is hardly necessary for us to invite the attention of our readers to this document; we presume it will be read with avidity by all who have the opportunity; and like other emanations of the same prolific pen, it will be found replete with useful facts and suggestions, beautifully and forcibly expressed. To make room for the address entire, we have been obliged to use small type; but we think the advantage of having the whole in a body, will overbalance this objection.

STATE FAIR. It will be seen, by reference to the doings of the State Agricultural Society, that it has been resolved to hold the next Fair at Albany. We trust that our citizens will take timely hold of the matter, with a determination to make it, as it can be made, the best exhibition ever held in America. The Fair will be held on the 3d, 4th, 5th and 6th days of September.

PROF. JOHNSTON'S LECTURES.-These lectures, of which a programme was given in our last num. ber, were commenced at the Assembly Chamber of the Capitol on the evening of the 4th ult. They have been attended by large audiences, composed of several of the prominent members of the Legislature, and many of our most intelligent citizensall of whom have been deeply interested and gratified with the admirable manner in which the various subjects have been treated. It is expected that the lectures will be printed shortly, and we shall endeavor to give them, or a portion of them, as soon as practicable, through our pages.

The late hour at which we received the copy of Prof. JOHNSTON's Address, and our desire to present it entire this month, has rendered it necessary to omit several communications intended for this No., as well as to curtail very considerably the department devoted to Horticulture.

If "A GLEANER" will furnish us his name, we will address him privately on the subject of his

communication.

"H. C. W."-Our correspondent, Hon. F. HoL. BROOK, writes "I wish you could induce H. C. W.,' of Putnam Valley, to try his hand oftener at writing for the Cultivator. He has a beautifully graceful and strong style, and I want to hear often

er from him. His light must not be hid under the the bushel nor his talent wrapt in a napkin." We earnestly second these sentiments, in which we will venture to say we are joined by all our readers. NORTHERN SPY AND MELON APPLES.-We are

indebted to Messrs. ELWANGER & BARRY, of Rochester, for handsome specimens of these esteemed new varieties of apples. The Melon being in perfection at the time of its arrival, (first January) we had a better opportunity for testing its qualities than we have had before, and unhesitatingly pronounce it an excellent apple. The Spy is not yet ripe, it being a late spring fruit.

ALBANY PRUNES. We have received from Mr JOHN LOSSING of this city, specimens of excellent dried prunes, produced by trees raised by him from seed brought from Germany.

SAXON SHEEP.-In our last number, we noticed an importation of Saxon sheep by Messrs. CATLIN & SMITH. We have since had the opportunity of seeing these sheep, at the farm of Mr. CHARLES B. SMITH, Wolcottville, Ct. In several respects they are quite different from most Saxons we have seen. They are evidently the result of extraordinary skill in breeding; and as sheep producing the finest quality of wool, seem to approach nearly to a standard of perfection. The ewes are from two to three years old. They are handsomely formed-have, generally, fall briskets and broad loins. Their weight is from eighty-five to one hundred pounds The rams are larger, in the usual proportion. What will be their weight when fully grown, we cannot say; they are only yearlings, (lambs of 1848) and of course may be expected to become considerably heavier.

each.

These sheep have not only very fine wool, but they are especially remarkable for the evenness of their fleeces; they have no coarse spots-the wool being fine all over the body, with but little variation in quality. We have samples taken from the neck, shoulder, middle of the back, hip, and thigh of the same sheep, which will give a better idea of the uniformity of the fleece, than anything we can say. The wool is generally thickly set; and we should think the weight of the fleeces, cleaned as has been customary with Saxon wool in this country, would average three pounds. Their appearance indicates good health and fair constitution. We have no doubt they will prove a very valuable addition to the sheep-stock of the country, and we trust the enterprising importers will find their investment in all respects satisfactory. We should be pleased to show the samples of wool to persons who may wish to see them.

FINE FOWLS.-Our attention was lately called to a lot of beautiful game fowls, (about twenty pair,) bred by Mr. T. C. ABRAHAMS, of West Troy, and which were about being sent to different parts of the country. We mentioned on a previous fowls from a cross made with the English pheasant. occasion, that Mr. A. had bred a portion of his He still continues this stock, in which many of the traits of the pheasant are distinctly visible. has, also, several other varieties, one of which was

He

brought from Mexico, and is said to be the same that SANTA ANNA held in great esteem. Another is the Earl Derby variety, so celebrated in England, characterised by the black breast, and purple band across the wing, with yellow legs.

WASHING SHEEP-Our correspondent "S. W.," of North Easton, Washington county, New-York, writes- In conversing, recently, with a woolgrower of considerable experience, he gave me his mode of washing sheep, which is to use a wooden