Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-07-23
A mgfcult
gro IMPROVE THr son AND THE MIND
ORGANIC IMPROVEMENT or DOMEs-
TIC ANIMALS.


doinesiicaitd. long before their bped cap
tors and masters were able to keep record Of
their Goings for the benefit Of their posterity
Hence, we know little OF the original stock
from which our domestic animals have des-
cended and less Of the early treatment they
received, at The hands of their own progenjtors.
Nor Is tins information important. ltconcerns
us mainly to understand how change of food,
temperature, and all surrounding ciTeumstan-
ces. viii either improve or deteroatc the or
ganic structure and national functions, which
transform for the practical farmer MS cultiya-
ted plants. their seeds and roots, into wool.
beef, pork, milk, lard, butter and cheese
That there is a wide difference 10 the results
Obtained bg the operation OF this living ma
chinery in different animals, no observing man
can doubt. OF two cows Of equal weight, and
consuming equal quantities precisely alike one
will elaborate for IT'S owner Ia quarts OF milk
in "a hours. while the ether can form but nine
quarts in the same length of time. a pig,
whose organization, apparently, is nearly
perfect, viii elaborate from given amount Of
raw material. twice as much flesh and fat. as
another whose respiratory and assnilatiny
machinery are very defective. Experience
and science alike demonstrate the truth Of the
remark that il takes fifty per cent. more food
oproduce given amount OF muscular strength
and power OF loeomotlon IN one horse or OK,
than is required in another. Animals that had
a common parantage ten generations back,
now possess not only widely different forms,
bat organic and constitutional peculiarities, of
great importance to those that may become
rich or poor, according TO the well or i'll man
agement Of their herds and flocks. Eminent
success alone attend skill in the breeding and
keeping Of domestic animals. This valuable
skill is acquired by close observation. and stu
dying the uniform laws Of nature that govern
the growth. maturity and decay of organic
beings. The most imporan, and material
changes in the development of the organs Of
animals, and in the function of each organ,
are made during the period that elapses
from the first formation OF the embryo, 10 the
maturity Of each complex structure.
AS the ,wis j. bent the trees inclined
The Elasticity Of young animals and plants.
and the extreme changes that may be wrought
in their forms and habits. are truly wonderful.
The human brain itself can be moulded in in
fancy, into any shape TO suitthe whin or taste
OF ..ilat-heado or "Iound- head" indian
Nor IS there single mental or physical tunc-
ton in the human system. that may not be
either improred or impaired by the good and
bad influences which are brought about 10
Wtdt ulDn IT, j ne sGltING VI pllY SONSN II d
noble science. 1t enables cultivated reason 10
trace results-the products Of animal life, such
as flesh, fat. milk, and wool back 10 their
known causes and elements.
can hardly expect to give you an outline
of the organization and workings of this com
pick vital machinery There are, however. a
few cardinal points in this matter. which will
endeavor to make clear and Ineligible. One
is, that no animal or plant can possibly trans
mute one simple elementary substance INTO
another. lfa hen can be fed on food quite des-
titute o. lime, the organ Of her system can not
form an egg shell. So if child calf, or colt, be
kept on food that lacks phosphate of lime. It's
bones will be soft and cartiagnous. No 9th
er minerals can be changed INTO lime and
phosphorus
Animal fat is a compound made OF carbon,
hydrogen, and oxygen; and no other simple
elements can possibly make ii. Lean meat
and wool contain the same elements, with the
addition OF nitrogen. sulphur, and several 9th
or earthly ingredients, in minute quantities.
Knowing that no animal can create anew
one particle OF matter, and that each compound
product has It's peculiar constituent elements I:
knowing also how much of those elements is
contained in any article oil food, We can Judge
OF its fitness or It's unttness TO produce either
bone, muscle, TAT, wool, or any other animal
product In other words we can wisely adapt
our means to our ends we have in view
Suppose a farmer had 100 hens in his poul-
try yard, and he desired them to lay as many
and as pertest eggs as possible Would ii be
an unreasonable prescription to say to him that
''you must feed them literally on food which
contains not only lime, but all the elements of
The contents OF an egg shell in concentrated
form. ~ estern Cuitiuaior