VOLUME V.
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
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Ftoiu the London Fanner's Magazine, for July
1839.
ON THE REASING AND FEEDING OF CATTLE.
In our islands, where the domestic nni.
mats enter so largely into the article of human
food, a great part of the farmer's at.
tentioo must be devo-ed to the rearing of
^ them to the degree of perfection their ultL ,
mate use requires ; for every labor bestowed
on any kind of cultivation, aid every ,
article the firmer produces by the applies
tion of tliat labor, teuds to the same result ,
?the production of food for man and beast.
Before the introduction of green crops, a ;
very imperfect system of rearing prevailed, (
from want of succulent food for winter; ,
grass-fed animals could only be brought to ,
market, and if kept through winter tb.-y lost
during that time the degree of condition they ,
had acquired during summer; for hay and ,
s raw if used in profusion will not rear or
fe d the animals quickly and profitably.? (
The cultivation of grcx?n crops has com- ,
pletely altered the whole sysem, and has {
introduced an entire revolution, both in the ,
cultivation of the land, and the management |
of the domestic animals, a be fer and more ,
regular supply of food has been obtained, f
and a vast addition to the number and qunli- E
ty of every article produced on he farm.? ?
An improvement in supply of food carried c
along with it corresponding improvements s
in the animals themselves, and on m> poim ?
of rural economy has more skill and ex?*r- a
lion been shown, or more persevering in- t|
dustry exercised, than we have witnessed Q
by many breeders in this kingdom in im- /
proving the qualities of the animals, by in v
termixing and engrafting tho properties of n
the one on the other, so as to develops and c
bring forth those qualities for the use of ^
man o. ?r hreeds ot'naitlo are numerous. 1 ?
hot the various crosses and remnants of old ^
breeds need not bo enumerated, and they ?
may be reduced to the few breeds that are c
now most approved, and from which we r
may choose for any situation in the king- f
dom. For all rich soils and fuvored situa t
tions* the Durham breed, or short-horns i
are preferred, and the long-horns are still N
^ kept by many exce.lent cultivators. The j
Herefords and short horns seem nearly ha- t
lanced in merits, if we may judge from the (
prizes awarded them. For inferior lands
we have the Devon breed, not surpassed by ^
any cattle in the kindom, and besides we s
have multitudesof nondescriptanimals,that c
do not fall under any class, but which are p
yet much used in all parts o( the kingdom. *
In Scotland, where great numbers of cattle <
are reared and exported, the nutive breeds j
are three?the Ayrshire which are evident j
ly allied to the Yorkshire breed?the Gallo- }
ways, or polled blacks, and the West High- '
land breed of horned black, shaggy-haiied ,
animals, which are found, with some little *
variation, all over the western and northern t
Highlands of Scotland. Great numbers of s
these animals are fed in England ; and an <
opinion is entertained, and my own experi. t
^ ? f .Ui>. | .
cnce goes iur III supptiri ui i>, mm kucoc s
mountain cattle pay more mo :ey per head t
and per acre, than any of our fine breeds, 1
after all the improvements that have b(,en (
made. The cost of production is small and t
the boof commands a higher price in the <
marke'. In briugiug cattle forward to the 1
state when they ure disposed ofto consumer, j
farmers have adopted two methods ; some 1
prefer to breed and feed on the farm, a num. 1
ber that the farm can support, and others to <
buy yearly a number they can afford to feed. 1
The prefeience given to either of the two |
metheds would seem to be, or should be, de? 1
termined by locality and other circumstan. ;
ces ; yet caprice and fancy would seem to 1
do much, for it is hard to conceive how two 1
farms adjoiningeuch other should be made (
suitable to different modes except in the
bare opinion of the farmer, or how two 1
breeds of animals can be most profitable
in similar ensses, except in opinion only.
T? moni. oitii.llmo llm ,11 flh iran/u f/s 1,^
ill IIIUIIJ vJUMUUVUg l??C VJ I II * ' 1 vll vv IU vw \J '
served between breeding and feeding, is
most marked, and it is very fortunate that
? the diversity of opinion prevails in other
places, for it affords a ready market for our
mountain breeds, which if the case was
otherwise, might not be so profitable. In
choosing a native breed, the farmer will he
guided by the quality of the soil, the food
he can produce, and by other circums'.anoes,
and much will depend on his own fancy
; but if he prefer to buy in, rather than
breed, it will be found that the S>-o?ch polled
and West Highland breed will pay more
money than any other. A very general
mistake is committed in not allowing them
sufficient time on the land, in order fend?
not less than eighteen months should be a!
.# .V D C .
MM? WWHWW?HBWHf
CH]
KHHHHMnMBMBBHHBBaBH
lowed, or twelve in cases where they hnv*
been bought in good condition, Greer
crops being now known to ns, which if dul)
cultivated will afford succulent food during
winter, it is unders'ood thut no farmer neg.
lects providing u suffieient quantity if he
wishes to rear and f ed profitably, no on!)
with regarl to the profits of the aniin ?l itself.
but to themmur" rnsed for the futur?
benefit of the farm But no'withs and -n-j
the long acknowledgud profi s of hes>
crops ami also efimproved breeds of sroek,
we fin J great neglect prevail on both
pomts; for if we look into Smithfietd, r
any other market, we find ho 'inorovi d ini
mals bear a small proportion to the others ;
-- -- j ?.
Farmer* yei persist in un;eiiiu<4 VIy U41HII lily
animals, and for want of green crops
;hey arc bred and starved upon a sysbin.
In many car*s however, we find both breeding.
and teeding carrried on syaterna ic.dly
and profitably, with due attention to the
profits expected from the Hnimal itself, from
the attention and food bestwed, and also to
the fu'ure benefits expected from the system.
Cow-sheds should be provided with calf
pens adjoining, under the same roof, where
the calves are confined in separate apartments
for one animal, and floored with
boards, pierced with auger holes that they
may lay dry and comfortable. From these
apartments they ant brought twice or thrice
a day to be suckled, led by a hal er, and
tied, when sucking, to a rope extended
along the cow sited. Suckling i9 always
to be preferred to nursing by the pail;
when milk is exposed, much of the value is
los , the gaseous fluids go off by evaporation
and the appearance of the calves
nil?ao^ K?/ ko Iufa mrif tiA Iff IO ffe ciiftl *i< nf
Iiuisvy VJJ ir* inw Iiivtuv '*9 >u U ?? - ...
decision. Suckling is attended with less
(rouble, a d an experienced cow.man will
soon be able to judge of the proper q lautitv
'o be allowed them. From J.muury to
June is the proper time for weaning?early
culvos maintaining a decid d superiority
jnless greater encouragement b" afterwards
ifforded to the later ones in situations
ivhere futt -ning fo- veal is found profi able,
rath weaning and fattening go on together ;
ind even where cheese and butter are manu
kctured, all the three nr?y be; e.isilv mantged,
by allotting a number of cows for
luckling and a number to be milked for tbe
lairy. Calves fed for veal must not be retrictcd
in the quantity of milk ; for wenm
ug, they must be allowed such a quantity
swill keep thein always in a sleek a id
driving condition, withou- fatting them, for
ny fit produced at that time would he lost,
in ordinary cow will feed four calves for
eal.or make veal of two and wean three,
nuch depending on h" mdky nature of the
ow, and on the quality of the pasture. The
' irious substitutes for milk that have been
hi (fed abroad among farmers have all
iroved an utter fallacy, only supplying the
arnvT with a few pounds of butter on^
heese at the expense of the uniinal. Tiie\
lever fail in producing a large belly and of
al, an infallible mark of degeneracy and
>ad keep, in any animal, and in no case
lavo we been yet able to improvo upon
vhat nature has provided the mother wi U
n nursing her offspring. During that time
he mother should form the chief object of
>ur attention.
In the month of May, when the weather
ins become warm, and the young grass has
prung, the earliest calves will be turned
tut into a grass paddock of fine pasture,
irovided with water and shelter, and con.
anient to the homestead, and where they
tan be suekled twice a day. The cow's
jasture should be adjacent if possible, ai d
ilso well provided with water and sholter,
ind laid down or improved for the purpcwe.
The paddock for the calves may consist of
>ne or two acres, and an orchard suits very
veil, the fruit trees affording shelter from
he heat and amusement in rubbing. A
shelter shed is indispensable, with a dry
veil li terud bottom, and may be so con_
rived, as to suit for l imbing the ewes ;n the
ipring, wh ch business will be concluded
)efbre the calves are turned out. The ewes
ying nil night in the pud-lock, will bestow
a goo i top dressing, which must b" attended
:o by rolling. Attne ageot 10 weens ine
salves will be ready to go to th pasture
fiHd, the quantity of tnilk having been
gradually reduced as the calves learned to
eat the grass. As they are removed from
the paddock the next oldest ones arc turned
out from the calf-pens, and when the weaning
season is near a close, as many of the
latest calves as the paddock can maintain
may remain in it for the season, to be near
at hand for receiving some bettor encouragement
to raise them to an equality with
I he oldest. Nothing more disfigures a herd
of cattle than to see them of different sizes
and qualities, and colors, and in many cases
of different breeds, showing a great want ol
skill in the breeding, and of cure and attention
in the nursing and rearing. After tho
weaning season is over, the milk for the re.
mainder of the season may be applied to
sucki ng for veal, or to making butter and
cheese, ns si uation may direct. In places
whore these articles arc the staple produce,
the weaning of calves will be on a smaller
scale; but on these farms some are wean,
ed, to which the above observations wil
equally apply.
When the calves are removed from the
home paddock, the best pasture on the faru
will be given them, w?*ll watered and stud
lered if pos ible ; in many cases the latter
math of a hay crop answers well. Whet
fi'dds lie in permanent grass, a shed witl
a view to permanency may bo erected ii
euch field at a very trifling cost, and ma;
be so contrived as to suit both cattle ani
>
II E It .1 W
ER.4W, SOUTH-CAROLIJ
? sheep. Where ihe alternate system o
) finning prevails, a corner wnere tin
' plough does not str'ke, may be got, and t
\ vry useful shelter erected Cuttle of nr
. age should pasture together, and the small.
j er t.w* lots the better.
' By the en I of October, the apprnach ol
. cold weather will render neceisarv the re-1
* movl of the cattle to die homeyard. Every
; farm 's, or ought to be provided ivi h a num<
i her <?l yards sui -*d to i1a s zu and to the
, quality of the soil, the bottoms level wit i
i that of shelter-shed, raised above that
' of the yard, to throw the moistur*- ou'war's,
that the cuttle may lie dry ; cribs for hoiduig
the roots given to th** cattle are ranged
along th 1 subdivision walls, and sometimes
placed in the sin lier-shed under cover; die
most approved are of a square shape with
a lattice I bottom, which allows all moisture
to escape. Buildings of stone and lime
hiivo lx?n erected along the walls, but they
hold water and sludge very much; wood is
cleaner, and where used, the bottom planks
should be p-rforat'-d with holes to discharge
the water. Troughs of stone, of wood, or
of cast iron, ure placed across :he division
walls, so as to supply two yards ; and the
water is conveyed in pipes from a pump,
or supplied by ball cocks and pipes from a
cistern placed aloft for that purpose, in some
house of the farmery, and to which the water
is raised by a forcing valve in the yard
' pump. Turnips are now mostly given in a
cut stare, and where straw is rank and abundant.
it may be cut to shorter lengths,
which will render it more manageable and
easier of reduc-ion.
Into these yards properly furnish"d, the
cattle are put in lots of ages and sizes, varying
in number from 3 to 7 when feeding ;
voting cade m iy be kept in great numbers.
M ?sf feeders now prefer t ie open yard to
housing, though on -urnip farms, a feeding
h ?uso is very necessary where a few . h ?iee
an m ?ls may bo fattened, or a few interior
ones may be brought more quickly to p"rfeet
ion. Fresh straw should bo put fre
quendy into the racks, and cabbages are a
vpry proper article to begin the feeding of
young stock for the first winter. These
and turnip tops ar-? given once, and better
if iwic a day, and continued through the
winter?if tliey fail, potatoes and beets are
given in moderate quantities, so as to keep
the young animals in a si ck and thriving
condition, without any tendency to gorge
th< ai, or induce them 'o nausea e their food.
They should always how a keen appedte,
and seem able to eat more rhan is given
The yards are frequently littered, thinly at
a time, so as to keep them drv and comfortable,
and also mix the manure properly.?
The strnw ra'-ks are shifted often, that the
straw may not lm dry around them, and toe
vads are of such n size as will admit of the
ratdo trending, dunging, and watering on
verv part. A very common error prevads
on this pot t, the yards are too much 100
large, the straw lies, dry and unmixed in
many parts, and the good dung li^s hu 'dh-d
together in the other places. Space sufficient
for the cattle to move about freely for
air and exercise is quite enough, due regard
being had to warm h in the sheltershed.
An equal mistake wi h too much
space lies in making the yards too small.
In the month of May of each year the
pasture fields will b? ready for stocking,
when the different sizes and ages will be arranged
by the best judgment oflhe larmer.
In Ocrnber of each year, the cattle will be
e * 1 n J L
turne?i into tne loiu-yaras, ana iea wmi ample
allowances of roots and straw, and with
the yards kept dry and comfortable. As
tne cattle increase in age, the fewer numbers
must be put together in one yard, and during
the third and fourth winter, they will be
fed ofTood sold. 1 have recommended all
culves to suck the cow for veal or for weaning,
and I now mention that the treatment
of any animal during the first year of its
growth generally stamps its future distinction.
If it be stint *d in the quaniiiy or in
the quality of the food, future pampering
w.ll noi recover its losi growth ; and if ii be
well fed during the first year, and attain a
good size, indifferent treatment afterwards
will have much less fleet. If a culf be well
suckled, great a tention is necessary
during utho first winter that it receive
such treatment as will carry it forward, and
that it does not lose in that time what it
gained the previous summer. Ti?is result
ofien happens from want of winter food of
roots ; for though hay and straw be in pro.
fusion, they never can supply the place of
green crops.
Cattle when feeding must have a full supply
of food, but not to pall their appetites,
which must always be keen and in full action.
Tne fool previously given them
should be clean eaten up, or nearly so, before
unv more be supplied, and the cribs
I t
regularly cleaned out and every filth removed.
The first feed of cut turnips, potatoes,
or beet, is given by the break of
day, and he last so long before darkness sets
' in as will allow time for the cattle to eat
the whole during day-light, ns any accidents
i from hovmg or choking ha?e a better
, chance of being seen and remedied. A dry
bed in the shelter-shed, and in any part ol
- the yard during dry weather, is indispensaI
bit*.
Opinions difier as to the most profitable
> age of teediug our best breeds of cattle.?
t My own experience agrees with the opin'
- ion expressed by Earl Spencer, one of oui
highest authorities, that the oge of foui
i years seems the most advantageous, as th<
? most lik'ly to secure the utmost weight o
1 the animal, and to avoid unnecessary expen
v diure in trying to obtain more bulk, am
d also the loss by slaughtering at too early ai
' "GAS
AD V
VA, FRIDAY, FEBRUAK
i- *
f Rge, before the animal had reached matt
3 rify. I have observed that a great part c
? our cattle are starved on system?-they ar
j gr??zed and gained something in summm
. and lose it in winter. The miserable ap
pearance of young stock, both in the yaw
r and in the fields, sufficiently support thi
opinion, and the case will not be mendei
till green crops are more extensively culti
vnted. We know plants adapted I mat
i say to almost every soil, end it only remain!
to cultivate ih^m. In order to produce i
thoroughly well fef and ripe animal it mus
be gradually fed from the day of its birh
by good keeping, which will keep t'le bodj
in a thriving condition and full of juices, anc
a Introduce that mixture of fat and lean si
necessary to oonsiitute beef of good quality,
fl-nce arises the well furnished animal in
the hands of ihe butcher, and from starving
system is owing the bad quality of much ol
our nnimal food; for unless the animal b'
well "fattened and regularly, the lean is dry
and wholly wanting in juices, which can
only be imparted by a ripe state. Thn
one-half at least of our cattle in market are
not fat; they are starved in early years, and
then for a short time thev are tied to a stake
and gorged with food to produce an ap.
pearance quickly, and sold off to save ex.
pense ; and hence arises the badly furnished
animal in the hands of the butcher. A animal
always in good condition is fattening
gradually and profi ably, the dung is ol
more va'ue, and when the age of fattening
often arrives, a small application of more food
concludes ihe process. A greater number
of cuttle is often kept on a farm that it can
maintain profi ably?an erroneous policy,
but very common.
I have observed that where a farmer
choo-cs partly or wholly to follow the buying
system in place of breeding, it will be
found ihat our small mountain breeds will
pay more money than any other. In most
cas'-s, too short a 'ime is allowed them to
feed, for ihe na'ural pr pensity to fatten has
not b< en in them any way improved by
breeding or keeping, and in that respect
they ilifTr from our n<*w breeds. Tocy are
mostly ^'d verv poorly in their youth, and
when transported 10 rieh pastures, fat cannot
he laid instantly; but in course of lime,
fin fair condition, a year will bo sufficient,
but if bought in a lean fate from droves,
they should be on the ground for 18 months,
fed the first winter 011 half the full allow,
ance of green food, well grazed the follow ng
summer, and fed ofFthe ensuing winter.
This h gradual fi;?*drng, and in-h?p"nanblf,
if we wish for good beef. The nge should
be four or lather five years when slaughtered.
Ol cake, bean, and barley men I, oats,
and other articles have been used in the
feeding of cattle, but experience has long
since proved that if the farmer will only try
'o raise potatoes, beet, cnbimgeg, and turnips
in quantity, he neids no substitu'e, except
m eiue of a failur of the abov- crops.
Straw alone is required for litter, and for the
catile to eat a little when inclined.
J. D.
BIDLAUDFAU CABBAGE.
There is now exhib.vd in Pans a cabbage
which is regarded as the greatest wonder
of the vegetable creation. The dimensions
of this mammoth are 10 feet high and 52
feet 6 inches in circumference. The seeds
of this curiosity are sold at one franc each,
it has been doubted whether these will ie.
produce the original subject. To settle
this question the Royal Society of [lorticul.
tore appointed a comrmsion to examine the
plant. The commission was composed of
three scientific members ; they expressed
themselves thus:
44 It is probable that it comes from the
Poicticra cabbage, as we have already
seen the Daubcnton cabbage to proceed
from the same source. It bears a greater
resemhlance to the latter than the former,
as its lower branches are nearer the ground,
but differs from both in being much toiler.
It is not very pro(table that M. Billaudenu's
cabbage can owe its prodigious dimensions
to the nature of the ground, since it was
found in the middle of a field of cabbages,
not one of which was above the usual size;
but *e may suppose that the seed which
produced it was predisposed to develope itself
to excess, as other seeds are inclined to
produce plants with curled leaves, or streaked,
or with double flowers, &c., without
our Doing able to ass gn any reason for
their so doing.
44 We could bring forward many othci
instances of similar re-productions, but the
examples we have quoted are sufficient t?
show that the Billaudeau cabbage, being t
new species of extraordinary size, may be
i # i i r
re-proaucea irom seea, ana oy means <> ru
peatcd purifica:ion, be made to form a dis
tinct and permanent race."
THINGS THAT I HAVE SEEN.
I have seen a Termer walk up to hit
knees winter after winter through manun
in going to his stable ; when for years hi
; garden had been unproductive for tho war
of the article so much in his way, in th
' yard.
f I have seen a farmer pass fifty ti nes b
. a breach in his fence and never stop t
aright it, always putting it off till anothe
) day, until the greater part of his crop wu
destroyed.
I have seen a former ploughing aroun
r bunches of briars until his field was s
r taken with them that lie was compelled t
a abandon and give it up to the neighboi
f around him as a blackberry patch in corr
- mon.
i I have seen a farmer put up bis stoc
nj fodder io so careless a manner that the fir
% "V ^
SET!
T I Z E R.
Y 21, 1840.
i" wind would blow down the stacks; in
>f winch condition they would remain until the
e fodder was so spoiled that half starved catr,
tie would refuse to eat it, and ho would
>. wonder why h:s cat'le were so much poorer
I, than his neighbors.'
s I have seen a firmer who took great
j care of bis fodder, hut in feeding it to his
_ cattle would let in the hogs, or not separate
V them from the caitlp, and before they could
i mas'icate half thoii allowance, ihe remain,
i der was so roo'eri about, and so filthy that
t they must be more than half starved to eat
, it. He, too, is one of tho "wondering"
r class. [Anon.
I '
> Great, Greater, Greatest.?I was inform.
ed by one cf my neighbors that Messrs.
, Cheney & Shepard, of Catlum, Middlesex
r counly, were favored with a litter of j^Berkf
shire pigs from one sow sow, amounting to
i twenty-eight in number. I took the trouble
r to ascertain the fact, found it was correct,
i and think it wilt outdo any thing of the kind
i on record. Russel Taylor.
Chesire Farmer.
From the Maine Cultivator.
winter work.
A good Farmer has jus' leisure enough
in Winter o be as busy as a bee in divers j
matters and things that relate to his success
as a wise and provident husbandman. In
j. all his leisure hours he works hard, with
head or hand.
In the first plane, there are his books and
acnounts to be put in order?bills to be
j drawn off, dues to be collected and debts to
I be paid. All this requires considerable
I attention and time, and th? Winter is the
' pioper s ason to regulate such matters. A
good hus andnrin will keep all his books
and papers in such order, ihat if he wers to
die lo-rnorro , his affiirs could be settled
up safely and coi reedy by his family.?
This is a very important desideratum.
( In the next place, a farmer must think
1 , and read in wint. r to qualify him to make
1 tan best caleul.itioris us to the labors and
i business of t'?e approaching year. Good
; ; calculations, which embrace a systematized
plan of operations. are often a saving of
almost half ones'time and labor when the
' season of it arrives. When Spring opens,
' you will seu Mr. A. sep briskly for h to
' his fields, jugt as if he knew what he was
' about ; he takes a direct course, knows
where to be begin to the best advantage,
and how tostr kcthe first blow. His tools
1 are all. at hand ami in order, and he loses,
1 no time in getting things in readiness, or in
concluding win re or how to go to work.?
But Mr. B goes hesitatingly forth, pauses
to think, or retraces the ground; arrives
at his field ; lounges over tho fence, looks
around as if at a loss what to do or where |
to b?*gin. H>* hits not concluded whether
to plouyti here or there, and he must take
time to think about it. And so back he
goes to think. Wlrn he has finally made
up his mind, and wou d go to work in earnest
he finds his 'oolsou' of order, or does not
find them at ull, without a long search about
tl.e premises or amongst his neighbors.?
Hours are lost?days are lost?weeks in
the aggregate, . are lost?good crops
lost; and all, because his calculations hud
not been well definitely maured before
hand. Conclude now just what you intend
to do next spring.
Besides putting tools in order, procuring
the best sort of seeds, taking measures to
improve your stoek, giving at ention to tne
horses, cattle, fowls, pigs. <Scc. &e. now is
the time to get out fencing stuff and to bring
to the d'>or a years' supply of wood.?
No firmer need be idle in he winter.?
Thuru is enough to do every day and every
hour. *
But he must not be so engnged in mere
secular ma-ters as to deprive himself of
time to gather bis family around him daily,
superintend their studies, give them good
counsel and provide for their moral and
intellectual wants. Ho should be more
solicitous to furnish them with a supply of
appropriate food for their minds, than with
the requisite subsistence and clothing for
their bodies. The mind is the highest part
of our natures, and should receive the first
and highes: attention.
GREEN VEGETABLE MANURE.
The value of green vegetables as manure
! was strikingly proved by me in the spring
of 1833. I had a trench opened of suffi.
. cient length to receive six sets of potatoes ;
( under three of these sets I placed green
> cabbage lea\es, but the other three nothing
( but the soil. When the crop was dug up,
, the plants over the cabbage loav js yielded
about double the produce of the other.?
[J. D. Parks, Hartford Nursery, January,
' 1839.]
Notwithstanding the immense grain crops
9 of this country the past season, and the fact
3 that large quantities of flour have been ex9
ported to Europe, several vessels huve arit
rived at New York lately, with rye from
e Odessa. This may seem somewhat strange
fo those who are not acquainted with the
y fact that this rye is intended for the distil/ery
o Daily Times,
r
s ENGLISH AGRICULTURE.
The good land of England is much more
d productive than that of America?and this
o j swperioty is probably derived, not so much
o from greater original strength of soil, as
rs from more skilful agriculture?depending
i. mainly on two great facts, faithful tillage
and faithful manuring,
k The English farmer does not believe tbat
at thgre is any tiling necessarily inherent in the
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NUMBER 15.
nature of good soil which makes it productive,
independently of nutritious matter and
foreign aliment returned to it by the cultivator,
as a compensation for the crops it
has yielded. Hence his first, his principal
care is to collect and form manure from
every possible source.
. Nothing is more common wherP one is
travelling in England, than to see in the
roads adjacent to the fields, heaps of compos?,
consisting of turf, tops of vegetables,
such as turnips and carrots, stubble from,
the wheat fields, which is cut by a second
reaping alter the crops have been rnoyed;
dead animals, ih? offals of barnyaftitjsnd
stables, and in short, every thing which'li *
capable cf being convened by putrefaction
into vegetable mould.
It is therefore because this business of
manuring is so pet fee ly understood, and
so diligently practiced in England, more
than for any other cause, that their lands
are much richer than ours. Indeed, H is
nothing more than an imitation of the economy
of nature.?Silliman.
SILK CULTURE.
THE COCOONERY?FIXTURES?FEEDING SILKWORMS,
be.
By Gideon B. Smith?
From tho Journal of tlio American Silk Society.
Il is a common remark that stIk-worm9
require no particular building or. fixtures,
and nothing but the most ordinary attention;
that they do as well in barns and open sheds
hs any where else ; and that wet weatner
and damp night air do them no injury. It
is readily admitted, that silk-worms may be
raised in this way, and that good silk and
a tolerable profit may result from it. But
when those who preach such doetrioe as
the above shall have had a few years ex.
perience, they w ill concur with tho writer
of these essays in spying, that, though tarns
and sheds will do tolerably well, prdpgjrly
constructed cocooneries will do much befc
ter; for, though the former will yield a
small profit, the latter only can be tfepended
upoa for a satisfactory result at all times
and under all circumstances, AU Will admit,
that some corn can bo produced from
ground badly ploughed, poorly tilled, and
subject to depredation from catrie for want
of u gooc! fence; but surely that would be
n poor argument with good farmers against
a higher grade of cultivation and attention;
they evell know, that though the soil will do
much, it is from their care and industry
that the main profit of the crop ia to bo
d> rived. With silk culturists, care and
attention, with proper cocooneries and fix*
tures, are all important. The writer has
several times proved, that, with close fttention
the worms can be made to spin their
cocoons in twenty-five days ; whereas or.
dinurily they requirefortytwo days; and
that of the cocoon, produced in twentyeight
days, only eight pounds were required
to make a pound of raw silk ; while it rook
ten pounds of those produced in forty-two
days ; and further, it required one-eighth
more raw silk from the latter to mako a
% f - W. llflt. .1 J!J _|?.L
pouna 01 nmsnea suk man n ukj <m me vermer.
These are practical facta which every
one's experience will demonstrate (hat tries
i he experiment. It is a curious circum.
stance, and we will try to reduce lite fig.
ures, to show the difference in parallel columns
;
100,000 worms, 100,000 worms,
42 days, co, 20 days, cocoons
300 to coons 240 to
the pound, the petted,
333 lbs. co. 416 lbs. co.
coons,33 ibe. coons will
raw silk, at make 52 lbs.
$500 $165 00 raw silk at
Cost of labor, $5 00 $260 00
leaves, &.c. Cost of labor,
six weeks, leaves, &c.
say 100 00 four weeks, 67 00
Profit, 65 00 Profit, 118 00 ?
By the other
33 lbs. of system. 65 00
this raw silk -j 1 ; "
will make 24 Differonce, $128 00
lbs. finished *
silk worth 52 lbs. of this
$8 00 $162 00 raw silk will
iA II
1 muti IUB.
finiithed silk
at $8 00, *336 00
By the other
) aysttm, 193 00
Diffrrenes, *144-00
The above estimates are, it is believe^
strictly correct. If they vary from the re.
suits of actual practice, it is believed to be
in favor of the negligent system rather than
against it. But it is said they raise silk,
worms and make silk in the cabins of the
peasantry of France and Italy, every little
family keeping them in their small cabins,
in the midst of their children &c. and hence
an argument is drawn in favor of neglig.
ence. We should scarcely deem it necessary
to waste time in refuting stteh argument,
were it not for the mistaken notion so
generally prevalent, that in France andfjto!y
the silk business is universal, has arrived at
pcrfeciion, and that whatever is done thero
by the people at large must be right; when
the fact is, that there is as much effort now
making in those countries to improve the
system of silk culture as there is here.
There are numerous periodicals published
there devoted to the improvement oT the silk
culture ; not only to the improvement, but
to the inlroduetion of it in those countries
generally. This will no doubt surprise ma*
ny of our countrymen, but is not the less
true. The French periodicals are laboring
hard to introduce it into France generally*
i They even publish diaries of the work (sucb
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