296 ADVERTISEMENTS.-CONTENTS. SAXTON & MILES, BOOKSELLERS, PUBLISHERS, AND STATIONERS, Also just received Essays on Agriculture by Adam Beatty, and a work on the Cultivation of the Grape and Manufacture of Wine. By Alden Spooner. No. 205 Broadway, New York, Would particularly call attention to their assortment of works pertaining to Agriculture and Rural Economy, a few of which are enumerated, with the retail prices, from which a liberal dis-sale and retail, at the lowest prices for Cash. count will be made when a number of works are ordered at one time, viz. : Orders promptly attended to, for all kinds of Books in every department of Literature. Also, on hand, a complete assortment of School, Classical, Medical, and Miscellaneous Books, which they offer at whole Townley on the Honey Bee. 50 cents. The American Flower Garden Directory. Price $1.25. Johnson's Agricultural Chemistry. Price $1.25. Stock Raiser's Manual. Price 83. American Fariner's Encyclopædia. Price $4. 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Each number of the Agriculturist contains but One sheet, and is transported by mail under the same regulations as newspapers, viz. free any distance not over 30 miles from its place of publication; over this and within 100 miles, or to any town in the State of New York, one cent postage on each number, and one and a half cents if over 100 miles, without the State. Back Volumes of THE AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, with tables of contents complete, for sale at $1.00 each; elegantly and uniformly bound in cloth, $1.25. These are handsome, tasteful books, and make very desirable premiums for distribution with Agricultural Societies, and should also find place in all our District School Libraries. They constitute the best and most complete treatise on American Farming, Stock-Breeding, and Horticulture, extant. When several copies are ordered, a liberal discount will be made. Editors of newspapers noticing the numbers of this work monthly, or advertising it, will be furnished a copy gratis upon sending such notice to this office. PROUTY AND MEARS' PLOWS. Quite a variety of the above plows can be had at the New Importation of Pure Merino Sheep...... Show of the New York State Agricultural Society New York Farmers' Club-Crow Report... The Alpaca, No. 4... } Peruvian Guano on Wheat and Grass Practical Facts about Bacon, Solon Robinson.. 265 266 AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. OTT RDAM Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. The chance for a Tuesday, Oct. 6th.-The Horticultural Exhibition opens this morning at 9 o'clock. An Address by a member of the Institute, at 12 o'clock, M. Wednesday, Oct. 7th.-The Steam Engine, with Thursday, Oct. 8th.-At 3 o'clock, P. M., an An Address in the field. Saturday, Oct. 10th.-The evening will close Live Stock must be made on or before this day, Tuesday, Oct. 13th.-Making lists of Cattle. CATTLE SHOW AND FAIR OF THE hibition. ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS in the Taber- the man of science the same question, and he will nacle, at 7 o'clock, P. M. The New York Sacred answer, "that after growing a certain kind of Music Society have, as usual, kindly volunteered grain, vegetable, or plant, in the same soil for a their services. Visitors may obtain tickets free of series of years, the said soil will become exhaustcharge, at the Clerk's desk. ed of the necessary elements to perfect the said The Managers desire strongly to impress ex-grain, &c.; that it then inevitably deteriorates, and hibitors with the necessity of bringing their contri- must be renovated by bringing similar grain from butions early, to avoid the crowd and confusion a distant locality, grown in a soil with somewhat usual on Saturday afternoon and evening, and the delay caused thereby, in well arranging, in season, the articles for opening the Exhibition, which will not be delayed beyond 12 o'clock on Monday, the 5th of October. Again, the Judges meet early the first week, when the examination takes place of articles for competition, after which a re-examina- hold a sufficiency of said elements to increase its tion will not be admissible. Further conditions and regulations of the Fair will be posted on the desk and in other parts of the Garden. A label accompanying the articles, with the price and place where sold, would be a convenience to purchasers, and for the interest of the exhibitor. In no case, whether there are competitors or not, will any article be entitled to a premium, if undeserving of particular commendation. At the last Fair, 34 gold medals, 35 silver cups, 181 silver medals, 255 diplomas, 170 dollars in cash, and 128 volumes of books, were awarded as premiums. They will be increased at the coming Fair. different elements, and that such seed will be sure to produce with pristine vigor." And forthwith he adopts the change, without inquiring whether the seed actually has the exhausted elements required in it, or reflecting whether an article so small as many seeds are-wheat for example-can possibly growth of straw and grain in said exhausted soil, sufficiently to make it a good crop. We hold it utterly impossible in this instance, and most others; for what is now wanted is as plain as the nose on a man's face. It is this: not a change of seed, but a restoration of those elements to the soil of which it has been exhausted by the crops carried off. For example, in wheat. Potash is the principal matter which has been carried off in the straw; gluten and starch in the grain; so that to grow good wheat again on the exhausted soil, it must be dosed with barn-yard manure, or muck, or vegetable mould, or with ashes, charcoal dust, lime, and bones. Then we may have good seed. Indeed, the seed may be improved rather than deteriorated by constantly growing it on the same soil, as has been repeatedly proved in this country. The importance of an Annual National Exhibi-wheat again without the necessity of change of tion in so central a situation as New York, the great mart of trade, where producers of all occupations resort in such multitudes, is obvious. It ensures a full display of the most perfect specimens from the fields, the gardens, the factories and workshops of our country; and enables the accurate observer to compare improvements from year to year, and note the progress of our growing republic, in producing and multiplying the enjoyments of life. The visitors, at a single Anniversary, have exceeded two hundred thousand, representing most of the States in the Union-an assemblage that has no parallel in this country. T. B. WAKEMAN, Sec'y. New York, October, 1846. POPULAR ERRORS.-No. 1. UNDER this head we intend to write a series of articles showing up various fallacies in practice among the good people of our country. They will be theoretical or practical according to the subjects treated, and as we happen to be in the mood. For any hints from our friends by way of assisting to carry out our scheme, we shall be much obliged. We shall aim to make the articles entertaining as well as instructive. Trees and Shrubbery Around the House.-A great error in disposing of these, lies, in planting them too near buildings-the house especially. No large growing tree should be nearer to the house than 100 feet, and if several acres of lawn are around, a distance of 200 or 300 feet would be still better. The smaller growing trees and shrubbery should be proportionally near. The objections to trees being placed near to buildings are, first, if ever blown over they endanger the house; second, they keep the sides and roof so constantly damp, that if of wood, it decays much faster than it otherwise would; third, they harbor flies and mosquitoes; fourth, they hide the view of the surrounding country, and make the house dark and gloomy. There is nothing so beautiful immediately around the house as a well-kept lawn, interspersed with little mounds of flowers, and an occasional flowering shrub. English grounds are thus arranged, and they are usually in much better taste than in America. If shade be wanted, it is much better to Changing Seed.-There is no greater popular have a verandah running all round the house, with error than this, namely, that it is beneficial to bring Venetian blinds or a movable canvass curtain_atseed from a distant field or farm, or different section tached to it in front. This is the plan adopted at of the country, or even a foreign land, for the pur- the South, where their houses are kept as cool in pose of change, in supposing that this change alone the summer as ours are at the North, and without will obtain a superior crop, except occasionally the danger, annoyance, and gloom, of trees planted from a high latitude to a low one, and sometimes too near. vice versa. Ask the reason for this opinion, 66 and the ordinary answer is, Well, I don't know, CYDONIA JAPONICA.-The fruit of this handsome but I reckon or guess," as the case may be, flowering shrub, which is abundantly produced, is "it is a good thing to change. After a while, a great improvement to an apple tart, if cut into things in our country run out, and come to nothing, thin slices or finely minced. One fruit is sufficient and to keep 'em up we must make a change." Ask for a small tart, and two for a large one. THE ALPACA.-No. 5. THE ALPACA.-NO. 5. cutaneous disorder, which attacked the tame as well 66 wrote to me thus: 299 Proper treatment," says Mr. Walton," is not, Diseases, &c.-Inca Garcilasso tells us of a tion. In my own mind I have long been convinced, however, the only point to be taken into consideraplague, wearing all the symptoms of a malignant that the mode of obtaining these animals in Peru as the wild varieties, and by the Indians was called in which they are generally brought over, the facts was injudicious, and, as regards the ruinous manner carache, literally meaning the itch. This epidemic already adduced will speak for themselves. I have occurred towards the year 1544, and the disorder chiefly showed itself under the belly and round the even ventured to think that there are better breeds joints, on those parts most divested of hair, and, Europe The first proposition is placed beyond on the Andes slopes than those usually sent to spreading outrageously, carried off nearly two-doubt by the incontestible evidence of General thirds of the country sheep, from which period they O'Brien, who, a few days after visiting Knowsley, have never been so numerous as before. It even reached the guanaco and vicuña, but among them "I think that the mode generally used for bringwas not so destructive, in consequence of their in- ing the alpaca over to this country is defective. habiting a colder region, and not going so much in For instance, the captains of ships who arrive on flocks as the tame breeds. This, however, was a the coast of Peru, give an order for two or three rare occurrence, occasioned, no doubt, by the state pairs, which are brought down from the interior, of the atmosphere, as it extended to the foxes and other wild animals, and one that has never since not be a judge of the animal, is glad to take what say fifty leagues' distance. The captain, who canbefallen the country. It has frequently been re- he can get, good or bad, as the first cost is only marked in Peru, that both the llama and alpaca, trifling, say from eight to twelve shillings each when taken down to the lowland towns, and kept (about $3). He then puts them on board, with there as pets, perspire as soon as the hot weather some dried clover. The animals are sure to be old comes on, and, if neglected, a scurf forms on the ones, as the aborigines are cunning enough to keep skin. In their new character the coat is, of course, the younger stock for themselves, and one-half die carefully preserved, as being ornamental; but if it before the vessel doubles Cape Horn. The others, is shorn off, and the animal bathed in the cool part which the captain brings to England, not unfreof the day, before the system has been heated by exercise, or the natural warmth of the climate, the quently are old and past bearing, and even live only a short time-but why? Because, I answer, sufferer, in a short time, invariably recovers. It they are placed on some rich and heavy soil, protherefore, follows, that the loss of their fleece at the bably in a park, as I have seen them at the Earl of proper season is serviceable to these sheep, and Derby's and other places. They do not there enjoy helps to preserve them in good health. the high mountain air; they become sickly, and Dr. Unanue, speaking of the climate of Lima, then probably comes on the mange. Their native remarks" that cold and damp, suddenly coming on, home is at least 10,000 feet above the level of the are apt to check perspiration, which produces an sea. The highest and most barren mountains in irritation on the skin, and this, if neglected, ends in this country would be more congenial to the anian eruption, and finally in the itch; but that, when mal. Although the Earl of Derby, and others here, taken in time, it is easily cured by a cooling medi- take particular care of them, yet those gentlemen cal treatment." The same causes produce similar must pardon me when I say that they are mistaken. effects on the alpaca. Soon after leaving the sul-I speak from experience; for I have bred some try coast of Peru, shut up in a crib fastened to the thousands, and also used them as beasts of burden deck, the poor animals are hurried through the to carry down the ores from my mines.' variable latitudes of Cape Horn, where heavy gales "Nothing can be more just than these remarks. frequently occur, accompanied by torrents of rain, Too liberal an allowance of rich and stimulating which necessarily must affect the prisoner. The food to an animal extremely abstemious, and habitfirst visible symptom is, that the animal experiences uated to live on coarse and light herbage, and that a nausea or sea-sickness, and abstains from food; in small quantities, must be injurious; but, above in which case it droops, lingers, and dies. If, all, if we are to have alpacas, let us begin by plachowever, it has the spirits to accept the dry pro-ing them in a suitable climate, the more necessary vender offered, sometimes tainted with bilge water, after a long and tormenting voyage. guano manure, or otherwise affected by the smell "Convinced that one-half of the failures in rearof the vessel, it survives in a weak and languid ing Peruvian stock were attributable either to state; but too often contracts the disorder comwrong food or over-feeding, I wrote to Alfred plained of, in consequence of the wet and cold Higginson, Esq., surgeon, of Liverpool, to whom, currents of air, under the sails, to which it has in 1841, I was indebted for an interesting series of been exposed, and through neglect and long stand-remarks on the stomach and intestines of two ing, the eruption assumes a serious character. alpacas dissected by himself. Knowing that his The cooling remedy above pointed out they them-attention had ever since been directed to the same selves seek; for when taken down to the heated subject, and that subsequent opportunities had preatmosphere of the plains, should this rash break sented themselves to him of further examining the out, both the llama and alpaca instinctively go in digestive organs of several more which died withsearch of a refreshing stream. This Mr. Stevenson noticed in his llamas, erroneously supposing that it was with a view to allay thirst. No alpaca run, therefore, if possible, should be without a rivulet; one, indeed, that in some part has a depth equal to three feet, but, if more, it ought to be paled off. out any ostensible cause, I requested him to favor me with the results of his last operations, which he politely did under date of May 15th, and in these words: "Of the three dissections of alpacas dying in this neighborhood, the last was, perhaps, the most im 300 TENDENCY OF LIME TO SINK BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE SOIL. portant, and most characteristic of over-feeding, of which there were, however, signs in all. It may be nearly two years since my examination of the last, which died in a pleasant part of the country, a few miles from Liverpool, and where, as I am informed, the animal had the range of a paddock, with several more of its kind, and had sufficient access to water at all times. I found no fat in the interior cavities of the body of this, or the other animals; but on the surface it was rather more abundant in this than in the other two. It was a female, and the state of the bones showed it to be not quite fully grown. "The viscera of the chest were in a healthy condition; but those of the abdomen drew my attention as being out of order in, perhaps, several respects. The stomach was much gorged with food, hay, and oats; the former very imperfectly masticated, and the latter quite whole. Whether their condition varied in the different cavities I cannot say, as the stomach, being wanted for a preparation, was not cut open, but evacuated of its contents through the esophagus, with much difficulty. Large quantities of half-digested food loaded the intestines; whole oats and hay, in a still fibrous state, being found in the small intestines, and much hard focal matter in the large intestine. "The intestines were pretty extensively adhering to each other by their peritoneal coat, on which a rough deposit of crystalline particles, of great minuteness, but very numerous, had taken place. This deposit having formed most in the parts most dependent after death, made me think that it was probably of post mortem occurrence; and I have lately been confirmed in this opinion, by observing the same to have occurred in a dead rabbit. thought the coats of the bowels weaker in some parts than is natural, for they gave way very easily, chiefly in the small intestines, in attempting to wash out their contents with water. The head was not opened, and the immediate cause of death may, therefore, have had its seat in the brain; but there is no doubt that such a state of repletion with food would much predispose an animal to fatal disorders. I have not had such opportunity of observing the diseased state of the alpaca's feet, as to give any definite notions on the subject of its ordinary appearance and course.' ourselves could not masticate until they have passed through the millstones. The herbage which they cull on their native hills, is to them meat and drink, and they vary it according to taste and the season. They select it themselves on a wide range, in this respect evincing a strong instinct; and if it is wished that they should prosper, they must be allowed to do the same with us. "There is not, I feel assured, any disorder to which Andes sheep are liable, either at home or here, that could prevent them from being successfully bred in our isles. Mr. Tayleure mentions the disease with which his little flock was afflicted; but insinuates that the circumstance was owing to contact with animals imported subsequent to the possession of his first alpacas. Mr. Edwards remarks, that those he had were subject to the scab, and seldom free from it; but at the same time gives us to understand, that this disorder was attributable to the nature of the food of which the strangers partook. The other breeders agree that they have fared well, even in situations by no means eligible; and their earlier maturity with us is an additional proof that the climate agrees with them, and that on our pastures they find kindly herbage TENDENCY OF LIME TO SINK BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE SOIL. Ir is remarked by Dundonald, in his "Treatise showing the Intimate Connection that subsists between Agriculture and Chemistry," that lime is known to have a tendency to sink below the upper surface, and to form itself into a regular stratum between the fertile and the unfertile mould. After breaking up pasture ground that formerly had been limed on the sward, it is frequently observed in this situation. This has been generally ascribed to its specific gravity, and to its acting in a mechanical manner. In gravelly, or sandy soils, there can be no doubt but that the diffusibility and smallness of the particles of lime will induce it mechanically to sink through the larger particles of the sand or gravel, and to remain at rest on the more compact stratum which may resist its passage. When lands of this description have been limed, and kept constantly under annual crops, the greater mechanical process of the plow will operate "The preceding results clearly show that the against the lesser one of subsidence, and keep the animal dissected, besides having taken improper lime diffused through the soil; but in clayey or nourishment, had been over-fed-the mistake com- loamy soils, which are equally diffusible with lime, mitted by the greater part of our early breeders, and and nearly of the same specific gravity, the tenthe one which, beyond all doubt, gave rise to many dency which lime has to sink downwards cannot deaths. Mr. Edwards confesses that, at the begin-be accounted for simply on mechanical principles. ning, his alpacas had a good deal of hard foodoats, beans,' &c., besides grass and hay; but when they died so rapidly, he discontinued the practice, and only gave them grass, hay, and vegetables. Notwithstanding Mr. Stirling's success, I here take occasion to repeat, that the experiment of giving beans to animals accustomed to succulent herbage, is, in my opinion, a dangerous one. Their peculiarly framed stomachs are not adapted for dry and hard food, the best proof of which is their habitual abstinence from water. If, at home, they are ever treated with grain, it is maize or millet, in their green, soft, and milky state. A Peruvian would laugh to see us giving them substances which we In lands of this description, under the plow, the lime is dispersed or mixed with the soil, until such time as these lands are laid down with grass seeds. After remaining in this situation at rest for a certain number of years, on breaking up, a floor of calcareous matter will frequently be found lying immediately beneath the roots of the grass (a). This effect, contrary to the general opinion of its being disserviceable, is of great utility, as the staple or depth of the soil is always increased and rendered less retentive of water in proportion to the distance which the lime penetrates downwards; and thus by increasing the depth of the soil a greater scope is afforded for the expansions of the |