SHORT HORN, OR DURHAM HEIFERS reason to expect, sir, something better of you, The Short Horned Cattle, under which denomi- than this, after all your assertions of love for our birds. And as to robins not eating insects, you tion are included the Holderness and Teeswater certainly are mistaken, for I have noticed them breeds, have been supposed to have derived their several times, the past summer, feeding their origin from a cross with some large bulls that were young with worms. Ah! my dear, but the earth imported a century ago, from Holland into York-worms, which you saw in the robins' mouths are shire, and in the east and north parts of which not insects, and I am sorry here to notice your country the two latter breeds had been long es- should destroy them, as they are entirely harmignorance. And I am unwilling that your robins tablished and deservedly esteemed. less, and useful in pulverizing and preparing the The cattle are of a good size, and are beautiful-soil for plants. And I am constrained to say, ly mottled with red spots upon a white ground; that after many years' observation, I do not hesitheir backs are level; the throat clean; the neck tate to pronounce the robin as the greatest of all pests to the cultivators of fruit, not even excepting fine, but not too thin, especially towards the shoul- that personification of mischief to the horticul der; the carcass full and round; the quarters long; turist, the Cherry Bird. It begins by committing and the hips and rump even and wide. They its depredations on the first fruit ripe in the garstand rather high on their legs, but this must be den, and continues to do so, until the last is gathcarried to a very little extent; they handle very ered. There are also many trees, shrubs and plants, whose fine appearance in Autumn, dependkindly, are light in their bone, in proportion to ing principally upon their scarlet fruit, that are detheir size, and have a very fine coat and mellow prived of all their beauty by robins, in their eager hide. They possess the valuable properties of fat- desire to obtain the berries as soon as ripe. There tening kindly at an early age, and of yielding large is hardly anything in the shape of small fruits quantities of milk. or berries they refuse. We have seen them feed There is considerable diversity of opinion as to withstanding they were made to feel their drastic the berries of the Buckthorn and Arum, notupon what breed of cattle is best for the yoke, the powers. They also devour Poke-berries, until their shambles and for milk; but we believe that who- very flesh is stained with their crimson juices. ever rears and feeds well the Short Horns, will The claim which the robin may be supposed to have no cause to complain of them for either of have on our sympathies, in consequence of its rethe objects mentioned above. For the New England Farmer. BIRDS OF NEW ENGLAND. THEIR PAST AND PRESENT HISTORY..... No. 8. BY S. P. FOWLER. lation to its English namesake, is, in our opinion, rather slight. The English robin is smaller than ours, and resembles it in nothing but its red breast. It cannot, I think, be any nearer related to your favorite bird, than fifth cousin. And now, although truth has compelled us thus to speak of the robin's habits, we do not wish to be understood as entertaining any murderous feelings towards The American Robin is found throughout the him, such for instance, as would, under any cir whole of the North American continent. Its hab- cumstances, however provoking, tempt us to shoot its are so well known to every one, that no des- him. No, nothing shall move us to harm "the cription is here necessary. The claim, which this little bird with bosom red," for notwithstanding bird is supposed to have upon our protection, in "all their faults, we love them still." We will consequence of its feeding on insects, is, we fear, continue to cherish and protect them, for the not well founded. We have noticed some contro- honest confidence they manifest toward us, for versy in our horticultural journals upon this point, their pleasant and vigorous note, on a bright and and are sorry to be compelled to take the unpopu- beautiful spring morning, and for the interest and lar side of this question, against the claims of the beauty they impart, in common with other birds, robin, as a bird, useful to the farmer and horticul- to the landscape and garden. We will protect turist. The Redbreast is a thrush, feeding for the them, in fine, for the love we entertain for all birds; es; sometimes, and the love of an ornithologist, so ardent and strong, perhaps from necessity, upon insects. We had like that which prompted in view of death, the proceeded thus far in our communication, when a author of the American Ornithology, Alexander female friend looking over our shoulder, exclaimed, Wilson, to exclaim, "bury me where the birds will sing over my grave." you certainly do not intend to give the robin a The next bird, which bad name, and publish it to the world, by send- will claim our attention is the King-bird, who ing it to the editor of the New England Farmer. stands at the head of the Fly-catcher tribe. His habits are well known to every farmer, and he is I replied, you would not have me exhibit the character of the robin, to our farmers and horti-distinguished for his love for the honey bee, and his fondness for seeking every opportunity to tease culturists, in a more favorable light than the truth a hawk or crow. This constant habit of the kingwould warrant. You wrong me in supposing any such thing. Wrong you, quoth our fair friend, bird, in attacking birds of prey, and driving them her sympathy for the good name of her favorite from the precints of the farm-yard, together with bird, being now fully enlisted; who has wronged his feeding upon insects, renders him of service to you? certainly, I have not, it is you, that has the farmer, and more than counterbalances the wronged the dear Robin-red-breast, that covered mischief he sometimes occasions, by his fondness with leaves the babes in the wood, and whose in-for honey bees. We cannot do better, in vindicanocence and social habits, have so long been sung tion of the character of the king-bird, than to in pastoral poetry, and nursery rhymes. I had quote the language of Mr. Wilson, who says "the There death of every King-bird is an actual loss to the his perch in the shade. The Pewee feeds upon farmer, by multiplying the numbers of destructive insects when they are to be obtained, and when insects, and encouraging the depredations of these fail, in Autumn, upon wild berries. crows, hawks and eagles. For myself, I must are in New England several species of these birds say, that the king-bird possesses no common share to be found. These are the Pewet, Fly-catcher, of my regard. I honor this little bird, for his ex- or Phebe, River-sided Fly-catcher or Pe-pe, Wood treme affection for his young; for his contempt of Pewe, and small Pewee. The farmer has no readanger, and unexampled intrepidity." son to complain of their habits. The Cedar-bird, Mr. Wilson continues, as a friend to this per- perhaps better known as the Cherry-bird, is dissecuted bird, and an enemy to prejudices of every tinguished for its beautiful silky plumage, the gendescription, will the reader allow me to set this tle fondness of its disposition, and its gluttonous matter in a somewhat clearer and stronger light, by habits. They arrive from the south about the first presenting him with a short poetical epitome of of April, and feed principally upon insects, until the King-bird's history!" "Soft sits his brooding mate, her guardian he, He drives the plundering Jay, with honest scorn, And, 'midst the clouds, prolongs the whirling war. the ripening of the mulberries and cherries. At this period, they are well known as great pests in the fruit garden. And should we stop here, in our investigation into the character of the Cherrybird, we should be compelled to admit, they had but little to recommend them to the tender mercies of the cultivators of May Duke's. But we are happy however to notice, that the usefulness of this bird to the cultivators of fruit, is at the present time more generally admitted, than it was when Mr. Wilson wrote its history. The author supposed that the use of the Cherry-bird to the farmer consisted principally in their agency in transporting various kinds of seeds and berries, on which they feed, the action of the stomach not injuring their vegetative powers. In other respects however, their usefulness to the farmer may be questioned; and in the general chorus of the feathered songsters, they can scarcely be said to take a part. We must rank them therefore, far below many more homely and minute warblers, their neighbors, whom Providence seems to have formed, both as allies to protect the property of the husbandman from devouring insects, and as musicians to cheer him while engaged in the labors of the field, with their innocent and delighful melody." Such was Mr. Wilson's opinion of the merits of the Cherry-bird. Since this distingished ornithologist's time, the character of this bird is in better repute, we trust, among intelligent and discerning horticulturists. It having been If e'er a family's griefs, a widow's woe, found, at least in the towns and cities in the eastHave reached thy soul, in mercy let him go! ern part of Massachusetts, that the Cherry-bird is Yet should the tear of pity nought avail, very useful in destroying the canker worms. Let interest speak, let gratitude prevail; period from their arrival, which we have said, is Kill not thy friend, who thy whole harvest shields, about the first of April, to the time of their pairAnd sweeps ten thousand vermin from thy fields; ing, which takes place the first of June, is spent Think how this dauntless bird, thy poultry's guard, by these birds, congregated in small flocks, in proDrove every Hawk and Eagle from thy yard; curing their insect food, principally canker worms, Watched round thy cattle as they fed, and slew and small caterpillars, And in this connection, The hungry, blackening swarms that round them flew. we would notice the social habits of the Cedar-bird, To guard his post, and feed his faithful mate. Some small return-some little right resign, -I plead in vain! Amid the bursting roar, The as observed by ourselves, as well as others. We have seen a flock, containing some six or eight of these birds, after having silently fed upon the canker worm to repletion, seat themselves in a row Another bird of the Fly-catcher tribe, we shall on a dry limb, in a state of listlessness, pluming now notice, is the Pewee, a loitering fellow, with their wings, and occasionally lisping their feeble a drawling note, which some would think indicat-note, and thus quietly digesting their meal. Presing great laziness. But upon a better acquaint- ently, one of their number, more vigilant than the ance, his note would no longer be considered rest, discovers at a short distance from the perch, lackadaisical, but simply pensive, without affecta- a well-fed insect, which he at once seizes, and potion. He certainly loves his ease, and spends many litely presents to his neighbor on his right, who, a warm sultry summer's day perched upon a dry declining to partake of it passes it to the next, branch of an old oak, in apparent listlessness, but who also refuses to eat it, and it is in this way, not unmindful of the hum and motion of the in- sometimes passed round several times, before one sect world around him; occasionally launching can be found to accept it. Notwithstanding this forth into the bright sunshine, to secure some pass- disinterested trait in the character of the Cherrying fly or small wild bee, and again returning to bird, they are sometimes gluttonous in the ex treme, gorging themselves with fruit, until no as you have described, from making proper inmore can be swallowed, and even in some cases, quiries of those more familiar with the use of filling their throats so full, as to cause suffocation, guano than himself. resulting in death. Although we have said in this communication, that these birds are the perTHE WINTERING OF STOCK. sonification of mischief to the cultivators of fruit, more especially the cherry, yet, in view of the Taking the last census as the basis of the calcumany insects, particularly that pestiferious one, lation, and there are at this time about six hundred the canker worm, which they destroy from the million dollars worth cf live stock in the United time of their first arrival, to the ripening of our early fruits, we should pause when meditating some murderous design upon their lives. Danversport, Nov. 18th, 1853. [TO BE CONTINUED.] S. P. F. For the New England Farmer "SOMETHING NEW-GUANO." States. Their value exceeds that of all the manufacturing establishments in the country, and also exceeds the capital employed in commerce, both inland and foreign. Live stock is an immense national interest, but one which has been sadly overlooked by American statesmen and writers on public economy. How to winter cattle, horses, hogs, sheep, and poultry in the most economical way, all things considered, is a subject on which an instructive volume might be written. The science of animal physiology sheds much MR. EDITOR:-I have recently seen it asserted, light on the business of keeping live stock, both in by gentlemen claiming to have superior intelli- winter and summer; and if properly studied in its gence in matters agricultural, that an article bearings on this great interst, would add indefinite written for publication, was not worth publish- millions to the income of farmers, and the wealth ing, "on the ground of its not suggesting any of the nation. But how can we pursuade our thing essentially new on the topics treated.' readers to study animal physiology in connection An ambition to show off some new thing, is the with the production of the flesh of their domestic rock on which many founder. It seems to me, animals? It is impossible to show them the valto put forth ideas useful and practical, in a man-uable fruits of any science relating to husbandry ner calculated to convince the understanding, is before its seeds are permitted to be planted and an effort much more deserving approbation, than cultivated in any State in the Union. Neverthesimply showing something new. These new the-less, as the truths of seience and the truths of emories, and speculative notions, are the bane of all piricism never contradict each other, many learn useful improvement. Take for instance, the ac- by the latter not a little of the wisdom taught by counts that have been given of the application of the former. Thus science informs us why it is guano, to the growing of crops in New-England. that cattle and other animals subsist on less food How many have succeeded to their expectation in winter, and keep in better order, if well stabled by such application? One in ten, perhaps. When or housed, and regularly fed, than they will if they do succeed, proclamation is made of their suc- subjected to the rigors of cold storms, snow, rain, cess. When, they do not, it is carefully kept mud, and irregular feeding. The latter system in the back ground. Beyond question, there is consumes both forage and flesh needlessly, and, of much virtue in this fertilizing material-but it course, involves a prodigious loss to such as folcan only be used to advantage-by those who low it. know how to use it. Warmth is the equivalent of food, because food One of my neighbors, a gentleman of high is used in the bodies of all animals to generate standing in the community, owning a farm of 200 what we call animal heat. How far warm stables acres, on which he has expended at least $100 will save hay, grain, roots, corn-stalks, and other an acre-besides the first cost, for which his fath- food of domestic animals, is not known; but a er paid, set about raising a better crop of grass number of experiments lead to the conclusion that than any of his neighbors. Accordingly he select- one-third may thus be saved with advantage to ed a couple of acres of meadow-land, turned it stock. A man at work out in the cold of winter, over, pulverized it fully, and put on a liberal dress- needs double the food that would serve him if he ing of guano, and sowed his grass seed. The remained idle in a warm room through the winter; consequence was, his seed came up, and there it and the same is true of an ox or horse. A large stopped-and when the time for mowing came, share of all domestic animals do not work, and are there was nothing to be mowed, while his neigh- kept for the production of flesh, milk, or wool. bor, having a meadow of like character adjoin- They need a reasonable amount of exercise to preing, plowed it as usual, and applied a fair dress- serve their health, as well as good keeping in the ing of compost, costing much less than the guano matters of food, drink and shelter. -and there grew more than three tons of hay to In wintering hogs, true economy requires that the acre, the present season. So much for some-one should keep no more than will give the maxithing new-without understanding it. mum of flesh for the food consumed. To keep a pig without his gaining in weight involves not only the loss of the food he consumes, but all the injury resulting from stunting his growth. Few are aware of the damage done to young animals by prematurely arresting the growth of their bones has received an irreparable injury. and muscles. A stunted pig, calf, colt, or lamb A CONSTANT OBSERVER. REMARKS.-HOW could the knowledge of the proper use of guano ever be acquired without the aid of experiments? We believe judicious experiments are doing much for the farmer, while we deprecate that foolish pride of opinion which more fully make amends for the shock given to the prevents a person, about engaging in such a work vital functions, than you can give a horse a new You can no TRIMMING TREES. seeing eye in place of one that has been put out by violence. No after-feeding of a horse will give Fall is the best time to trim trees. It removes him a new eye; and no good keeping will develope the surplus wood that otherwise would take the an animal frame perfect in all its parts after it has sap, and heals over much quicker than at any othbeen stunted in youth. er time. If long limbs are cut off, put on paint to keep out the wet and prevent cracking. I think the best time for trimming all kinds of trees is when the fruit is gathered. I have tried all seasons and have come to the above conclusion. S. A. SHURTLEFF. Spring Grove, Nonantum, Nov. 25th, 1853. REMARKS.-The cranberries sent are high-colored and very fine. They very closely resemble those we have raised ourselves on sandy upland. Most farmers attempt to keep too much stock, both in winter and summer, for their food to be manufactured into flesh, dairy products, or wool A few superior animals well housed in winter, and well fed at all times, yield the largest profit. Of course, stables should be properly ventilated that all animals may have a full supply of pure air. Most stables, and all sheds, give too much of it, especially in cold wintry weather. Look out for a plenty of straw, or other litter, to absorb all urine, unless you have a tank or other reservoir for it to run into. Manure is now as valuable as money at ten per cent. compound interest; for all the crops that manure aids so much in their annual growth sell at high prices. It costs nearly as much to plow, plant, hoe, and harvest an acre of two gallons of water, for young trees, and double corn to obtain 25 bushels as 50 bushels; and ma-that quantity for old trees. In careful hands we nure will double the crop.-Genesee Farmer. believe such a wash would not be injurious; while the pound and gallon practice is a most danger For the New England Farmer. UPLAND CRANBERRY. The young orchardist will not fail we hope, to notice how sparingly Dr. SHURTLEFF uses potash water as a wash for trees-four ounces, only, in ous one. For the New England Farmer. WINTER EVENINGS. MESSRS. EDITORS:-I Some time since informed you that I had on my farm in Carver, cranberries growing on high, sandy land, and 1 send you a Winter is rapidly hastening his rather unwelsample that you may see the quality. Crossing my come appearance; unwelcome, because of the field where corn and rye grew but a short time gloomy aspect he gives to the fields and forests, since, I saw cranberries growing on the hills quite the garden and nursery, which for months have thick; they must have been propagated by seed. received such a large share of our attention, and More than a quarter of an acre was covered with occupied so large a place in our thoughts, as we vines, and they were quite full of fruit in many vegetable world. The sun, as if unwilling to linger have meditated upon the sublime beauty of the places, of the best kinds; it is about five years long on the dreary sight of earth reft of its beausince the crop of rye was taken off. While the fruit was injured by the frost on very low mead- ty, hastily disappears behind the western hills. ows this year, I found it perfectly sound on my To all, whose business lies beneath the open sky, apland; not a single berry was hurt. I have in- the hours of labor are made less, and the time for formed you before, that rest and pleasure and improvement increased. The best fruit my grew on upland, and I am confirmed in my belief this year. since art can supply what nature refuses, and the mechanic in his workshop may pursue his calling, I picked the fruit last week; there are bushels now on my fields perfectly sound where the water nevlawyer, doctor and minister, have long been fabled er stands, and in all seasons it is perfectly dry. to grow wise by the use of midnight oil. But the farmer scorning to labor when nature seeks repose, quits the business of the day, with the going For many years I have salted my plum-trees and down of the sun, reserves the long interval behad large crops of fruit, but last winter I omitted tween labor and rest, to be devoted to whatever to salt the trees, excepting three, and the conse-pursuit inclination or fancy may dictate. His evenquence was, that I had no plums excepting on the ings are almost his only leisure time, and how to trees that I salted, which confirms me that the spend them, is an important question. How shall only sure way to get a crop of plums, is to put the farmer occupy the only time, in which he is salt around the trees in the winter; about four busied with the cares and duties of his avocation, quarts is sufficient for a tree; put it around in a so that he may receive the greatest benefit, is the circle about a foot from the tree, any time in Jan- query which we propose to consider. uary or February will do, without regard to snow being on the ground. SALTING PLUM TREES. POTASH WASH. If the inquiry was, how have farmers spent their evenings, it might be easily answered. The storekeeper would perhaps tell of their nocturnal as sembling at his mart of trade, to smoke "short I have used it ever since my first communica- sixes," talk politics, discuss town matters, hear tion in 1840, and find that if I put four ounces in the news, and engage in other equally interesting two gallons of water, for young trees, or eight employments. The taverner might divulge what ounces in two gallons for old trees, that no injury is no secret, that where the carcass is, there the is done, but a great deal of good: it removes or eagles gather together. He might draw a picture, kills all the insects that are in the bark, and it "founded on facts," as the novelists say, that loosens all the useless bark, destroys the moss would give farmers rather too prominent a position and kills all the lice and scales. It should be for their own credit. He might tell of a room, done in March or April, and then scrape off the dark and dingy, filled with the fumes of rum and loose bark in about week. tobacco, loathsome in the extreme to the unpollu |