P. S.-1 recieved a letter from you on Saturday, asking me to do something for you in the way of getting up a large club for the FARMER. I should be very happy to do so, if I could, but it seems difficult at present. The farmers here most all plead poverty; still the most of them pay enough every three months for tobacco to pay for the FARMER a year, at least. I have been preaching to them for the last seven years, every opportunity, that it would be for their best good to quit the use of that poisonous, filthy weed, and spend their money for the FARMER, Or some such purpose. I speak to them from experience, too, having tried it for the last fifteen years myself, and it has furnished me with from four to seven weekly papers, besides the FARMER, and money saved at that; and then there is the happy thought that I am not contributing to poison God's pure air, when I walk the streets these beautiful mornings and evenings. But it is hard converting them, and I am almost tired of talking to them. Suppose you write and publish an article on the injurious and pernicious effects of tobacco, in the February number, and I will get my neighbors to read it, and perhaps bring some of them over to our side. I wish every farmer in the State, that could, would subscribe for the FARMER. Only think of a farmer doing without a paper of any kind himself, and bringing up a family of children in the same ignorance of what is going on in the world around But so it is with many, and so it will be, I suppose, in spite of us. I will get a few more subscribers, if I can, and send in their names with "the needful." them. A WELL WISHER TO THE FARMER. Sauk Co., Dec. 30, 1861. REMARKS. The above communication hits the nail so directly on the head, that we deem it of more value than the article which the author proposes for us, and accordingly publish it just as received. The man who, for the sake of gratifying a perverted appetite of any kind is willing to deny to himself and family the bread of knowledge, is a heathen, and the fittest subject in the world for missionary effort. We hope "A Well Wisher" and others who appreciate the mission of the FARMER, will persevere in well-doing. Progress of Agriculture in France. Since 1815 her foreign trade has quintupled, her manufactures have quadrupled, her agriculture has doubled its produce, under the influence of those three great principles of peace, justice and freedom, which are the eternal counterpoise of the hateful effects of miles of roads have been opened in the counwar, violence and despotism. Eighty thousand try; 10,000 miles of railway have been completed, or are now in progress; canals have been made, rivers rendered navigable, ports and docks constructed. The progress of rural economy, especially from 1815 to 1847, kept pace with this great movement, and has not been sensibly thrown back by the unfavorable and extraordinary courses of the last few years, in spite of bad seasons, the potato disease, the and the disturbed state of the political world. vine disease, the mortality of the silk worm, The tenure of land has of course been modified to a considerable extent by the laws of succession established in France, but this change is less rapid and complete than is commonly imagined in England. Taking the area of France at 45,000,000 of hectares, M. de Lavergne computes that one-third of the soil is still held by 50,000 large proprietors, possessing an average of 75 acres; and the last third by 5,000,000 of small proprietors, possessing an average of 7 acres. This calculation is obviously merely approximative; but it is certain that there are in France 16,000 land owners the State, and about 37,000 land owners paypaying 401. a year and upwards in land tax to ing 20l. to 407. since 1789 about 5,000,000 of acres have been added to the productive area of the country; vineyards and orchards and meadows have considerably increased; woods have diminished. In tillage cultivation the fallows have decreased by one half; the growth of wheat, barley and oats has increased a third; that of rye and the inferior kinds of grain has diminished. Water-meadows have tripled in extent, and the cultivation of roots, which was hardly known in 1789, now covers 5,000,000 of acres. But the quality of the crops has risen even more than their extent. The quantity of wheat In the allotment of the soil it seems that actually grown has nearly doubled; live stock has also doubled in number and value; the silk crop and the rape oil crop have quintupled. The production of home grown sugar has come into existence, and the growth of wine has also doubled. From these facts M. de Lavergne concludes that the total value of the agricultural produce of the empire must now exceed 200,000,000l. sterling, or at the rate of about 61. per head of the population. He also infers that rents have risen since 1789 in the proportion of 12 to 30; farmers' profits in the proportion of 5 to 10; outlay in that of 1 to 5: taxes on land and dues have diminished in the proportion of 7 to 5; and laborer's wages have doubled." STOCK REGISTER. Abuses of the Horse---No. 4. SPAVIN. Any bony growth or bony enlargement, however small, which is to be seen or felt upon the inner side or the hock is a 'spavin.'" Usually the enlargement is produced by a hardening of the ligaments or a transformation of them into bone. Sometimes the disease only partially impedes that grace of motion which characterizes the action of the perfect limb, and The 200,000,000l., at which the annual value of French agricultural products is nowe stima-again it becomes not only a deformity, but ted, is 75,000,000l., or 60 per cent. over the produces a positive and very serious lameness. estimated annual value of the same interest 50 years ago; and even our own agriculture, we presume, can hardly exceed so rapid a movement as that. We quote the following local pictures and particulars: "Large fortunes have at all times been made by agriculture in the neighborhood of Paris, but more especially in the last half century. Some of the farmers have their million of francs, many more their 20,000l. or 30,0007. Farming is here an art, employing large capitals and returning large profits, especially in that district called France par excellence, because it formed part of the original domain of Hugh Capet. Large estates are here also less divided. More than 3,000 of the rural assessments exceed 1,000f., and there are many land owners having from 2,000l. to 4,000l. a year. -London Ag. Gazette. The Manure Yard the Farmer's Meal Chest. Two from two leaves NOTHING! All the As to cause, it is, in most cases, traceable to strains occasioned by the horse being put to an unreasonable test of his speed, by his being too severely taxed in the way of jumping over ditches or carelessly-thrown-down bars, or compelled to draw too heavy a load. Detection in the advanced stages is not difficult, as the enlargement and the lameness will show for themselves. But in the earlier period of development it often requires the closest scrutiny for its detection. In the language of Mayhew, "there are four points of view to be taken: behind the animal, though always at a safe distance from the heels; in front, but not close to the horse, yet so near that the examiner must bend to view the hocks between the In all streaks of good fortune in the world can't up- fore legs; and from both the sides. set this simple proposi tion. But then is it equally true, that one from ten leaves but nine. And so it will prove with our rich soils. The one tenth loss may not be perceptible to the farmer who shuts his eyes to the gradual deterioration of his soil, but the time will surely come when he will lament that he has sold off or thrown away the cream and has nothing but bonný clabber left! FARMERS, SAVE YOUR MANURES! The Dioscorea, or Chinese Potato is said to be growing in favor in France, and gradually becoming common in their markets. these positions it is prudent now to elongate the distance, and now to approach nearer, then to move the head about, and occasionally to step to the right or left. In short, it is advisable to get as many different points of sight as possible; for in one, and only in one, may a spavin be detected on the hock, which seen from any other point shall look perfectly clear. At the same time, from every point, care should be taken to compare one hock with the other; if the slightest difference in point of size can be detected, it is fair to suppose one is enlarged by the commencement of disease. Any indication of this sort is always to be sought for. The disease may have just begun; but it is impossible to say where it may stop. ware the hoof and shoe, this is evidence against his soundness. "The cure for Spavin is good food and rest, perfect rest,-such rest or stagnation as a healthy horse submits to in the stable. This enjoined for months, with the occasional appli * In examination for spavin, however, allow-cation of a mild blister with the best of food, ance should be made for the age of the horse. to enable nature to rectify man's abuse, will Spavins in young horses may be regarded with do more good, cost no more money, and occualarm; in old animals, they generally are py no more time, than the devilries usually perfected, and, however large they may be, adopted. * *While inflamation exists, probably they will grow no bigger; on the apply poultices, and well rub the part with a contrary, as the years increase, they are usu- mixture of belladona and opium-one ounce ally diminished, being absorbed; but the bones, of each rubbed down with an ounce of wateronce locked together are never subsequently or place opium and camphor on the poultices; unloosed, although all the swelling should en- or rub the enlargement with equal parts of tirely disappear." chloroform and camphorated oil. The pain having subsided, and the heat being removed, apply with friction some of the following ointment; it may reduce the disease by provoking absorption; at all events, it will check all further growth by rendering further deposit almost impossible : Having examined the part carefully with the eye, you may next proceed to a more close and direct inspection, taking the part in hand and deliberately feeling first one and then the other in the manner represented in the annexed cut; always taking good care to keep so close to the horse's leg as not to be damaged, should he attempt to kick, and to have the person who holds time, the fore leg on the same side. Next comes the trotting test, which to the experienced eye, will surely discover the disease should it have advanced to the stage of impeding the free movement of the bones and muscles of the limb. And here one caution should be observed to make this examination while the HORSE IS COOL, and not after he has been warmed up by action. If the owner objects to this you have a right to suspect that all is not right. In trotting, if the horse does not lift his foot up easily and place it down squarely and firmly, but inclines to drag the toe so as to HUMANITY AND HORSES.-The following remarks by Mr. Rarey are worthy the consideration of every man who has anything to do with horses: "Almost every wrong act the horse commits is from fear or mismanagement; one harsh word will so excite a nervous horse as to increase his pulse ten beats a minute. When we remember that we are dealing with dumb brutes, and reflect how difficult it must be for them to understand our motions, signs and lanthem because they do not understand us, or guage, we should never get out of patience with wonder at their doing things wrong. With all our intellect, if we were placed in the horse's situation, it would be difficult for us to understand the driving of some foreigner, of foreign ways and foreign language. We should always recollect that our ways and language are just as foreign and unknown to the horse as any language in the world is to us, and should try to practice what we could understand were we a horse, endeavoring by more simple means to work on his understanding rather than on the different parts of his body." The Feeding and Fattening of Stock. [From an Essay prepared for the Royal Dublin Society, cold and not permitted the same amount of exercise. * * * * * by EDMUND W. DAVY, M. B., M. R. I. A., Prof. of Agri- do not pay sufficient attention to the warmth Hence we see the folly of those farmers who culture and Agricultural Chemistry.] I shall now refer to some practical points, showing the influence which warmth, exercise, and light have on the quantity of food required by animals dependent on the foregoing principles, and then offer a few remarks on the food of fattening animals, and the proper ventilation of the places where they are kept. 1st. Warmth. We have seen that the heat of the animal is inseparably connected with the process of respiration, which is merely a modified form of combustion, dependent originally on the food which is taken to sustain it.Hence it follows clearly that there is a direct relation between the temperature at which the animal is kept and the amount of food required by the animal. This is a point of great practical importance to the feeder of stock; for by exposing his cattle to cold they require additional food to keep up the necessary heat of their bodies; but, on the other hand, by keeping them shel tered and warm, he not only diminishes the quantity of food required to sustain the animal heat, and other functions of the body, but likewise causes a larger proportion of the food which is consumed to go to the formation of flesh and fat. This is not only shown on scientific grounds, but is also proved by the practical experiments of various agricultural gentlemen. I shall only refer to the experiment of Mr. Childers by way of illustration. That gentleman made a comparative experiment on two lots of twenty sheep each; the lots being as nearly equal in weight as possible. One lot was folded in an open field, and the other was placed under a shed in a yard. Both were fed for three months, viz., during January, February and March, upon as much turnips as they chose to eat, with half a pound linseed cake and half a pound of barley, together with a little hay and salt for each sheep daily. The sheep in the field consumed the same quantity of food from first to last, viz., 19 lbs. of turnips daily for each sheep, along with the allowance of linseed cake, barley, hay, and salt, and increased in weight 36 stones 8 lbs. Those under the shed consumed at first as much food as the others, but after the third week they ate 2 lbs. of turnips less each sheep in the day; and on the ninth week again 2 lbs. less, or only 15 lbs. instead of 19 s. each sheep daily; of the linseed cake they also ate about one-third less than the other lot, and yet they increased in weight 56 stones 6 lbs., or about 20 stones weight over the others. Thus, the cold and exercise in the field caused the one lot to consume more food and form less flesh than those protected from the of their stock, but suffer them to roam about in the open air, exposed to the most inclement weather. tant point to attend to. The amount of exercise is another most imporThe more an animal moves about, the quicker it will breathe, and the more starch, gum, sugar, fat, and other respiratory elements it must have in its food; and if an additional quantity of these subdemand, the fat and other parts of the body stances is not given to supply the increased will be drawn upon, and the animal will become thinner; also, as before observed, every destruction of the muscles which produce that motion of the body produces a corresponding motion. rove the more the animal moves about, the more of It is, therefore, quite evident that it must receive in its food. Hence we see the the heat-producing and flesh-forming principle propriety of keeping our cattle in sheds and yards, and not suffering them (those particularly which we intend to fatten) to about, consuming more food, and wasting away more rapidly the various tissues of the body already formed, and making it more expensive and difficult to fatten them. We must not, confine the action of the limbs too much; for however, run into the opposite extreme, and whatever diminishes the ease and comfort of the animal will interfere with its thriving, and tend to retard its fattening. For this reason we see why yards and close boxes are superior to stalls. When the animal is tied up, its movements are confined, and it gets in some degree cramped by its more or less fixed position; the muscles, too, for want of exercise, become relaxed, and in many cases unable to support the weight of the animal. The happy medium, therefore, seems to be, to give the animal sufficient space to turn about freely, and no more. These latter observations, however, are more applicable to fattening than to rearing and growing stock; for in the latter you want them to have a good constitution, and to increase in their general size and muscles. These objects can only be attained by considerable exercise in the open air, and the use of a highly nutritious diet. The absence of light also exercises a very great influence over the power possessed by food in increasing the size of animals. Whatever arouses and excites the attention of the animal, and makes it restless, increases the natural waste of the different parts of the system, and diminishes the tendency of food to enlarge the body. To the rearers of poultry the rapidity with which fowls fatten when kept in the dark is well known; and direct experiment on other animals, whether by keeping them in the dark or by the cruel practice of sowing up their eyelids, as is adopted in India, have led to similar results. Absence of light, from whatever cause produced, seems to exercise a soothing and quieting influence on all animals, increasing their disposition to take rest, making less food necessary, and causing them to store up a greater portion of what they eat, in the form of fat and muscle. There exists a great diversity of opinion as to what is the most profitable food for the fattening of stock; this, of course, will depend on a great variety of circumstances, as the season of the year, the kind of stock, the agricultural capabilities of the district, and a number of other circumstances. As to the winter feeding of bullocks, some maintain that Swedish turnips and chopped straw or hay are the best materials for manufacturing beef; others, that a moderate quantity of oil-cake, about from 3 lbs. to 5 lbs. daily, according to the size of the animals, economizes the turnips and improves the quality of the meat and manure, so that they more than pay for the additional expense of the oil-cake. Any of our ordinary kinds of straw, but still better that of beans or peas, when cut into chaff and moistened with a kind of soup made of linseed meal, has been given with great advantage. It is thought that the expense of making the soup may be dispensed with by merely moistening the chopped straw with water, and then sprinkling over it about two pounds or so of oil-cake meal (wheat bran, or corn meal will likewise answer an excellent purpose.-ED.) for two of the feeds, the other two being turnips and straw. It appears that the error with many hitherto has been, that of using too large a proportion of roots in the feeding of their stock, which, by their containing so large a proportion of water (viz., about 88 per cent. and upwards), makes it difficult to combine with so great a proportion of fluid a sufficient quantity of more solid and nutritious food, consistent with the capacity of the stomach of the animal; for it must be ever borne in mind that it is not the quantity of food which we put into the stomach of an animal which accomplishes the object of enlarging its size, but that which is thoroughly digested and assimilated. In order to effect this object, and make the food more nutritious and condensed, bruised corn, beans, or oil-cake have been added to the turnips and hay or straw, the great constituents of the food of stock. mers look to it as the chief source of profit, even from an expensive system of feeding. But whatever system of feeding we adopt, physiology and chemistry have shown that it must contain the five following principles of nutrition, viz., the saccharine, or those substances resembling sugar; the oleaginous or oily; the albuminous, or those substances resembling the albumen or white of the egg; the saline or alkaline and earthy salts; and lastly, the aqueous or watery, all of which we find in suitable food, and those substances which are regarded as most nutritious are those which contain a proper admixture of each, as, for example, milk, bread, or meat: they each contain the five necessary principles of nutrition. Hence we see that the food required by an animal, to keep it in health, must of necessity be a mixed kind, and the skillful feeder of stock will not employ any one description of food alone, but will use a variety of alimentary substances. He will also occasionally change the kind of food, or alter the proportions in which he gives the different substances. He will also adapt the quality of food to the age of the animal, and the purposes for which it is fed. For although every crop which the farmer raises contains all the substances required by animals, yet some contain more of one kind of matter, and some of another; so that it requires some attention on the part of the feeder of stock to give that mixture of food which will contain the five principles of nutrition in that proportion best suited to the age and condition of his stock. Ventilation. But all systems of keeping and feeding stock will fail, and be attended with great loss to the agriculturist, if proper attention is not paid to ventilation. Cattle have been kept in sheds and houses so badly constructed as regards the supply of air, that they have been compelled to breathe an atmosphere loaded with deadly poison, instead of being supplied with pure air. I need hardly say that during the respiration of animals a very large amount of carbonic acid (a most deadly gas) is produced; thus, a tbs.; a cow upwards of 21 tbs.; and a horse man in twenty-four hours produces about 21 upwards of 24 lbs. It has been ascertained by direct experiment that air containing 5 per cent. of this gas acts as a poison on animals. By this gas occurring in much smaller quantity in air-as, for example, 1 per cent.-will gradually injure the health of animals. In nature such attention is paid to this circumstance, that, though enormous quantities of carbonic acid are continually being sent into the atmosphere from a great variety of sources, still a number of circumstances are made by Infinite Wisdom to combine together to prevent the accumulation of this noxious substance, so that its average quantity in the atmosphere does not exceed about 2 parts in |