Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-09-24
AGRICULTURAL SCIENTIFIC.
FARM CATTLE.

ther kind is preferred to another individual
of the same kind, but merely to indicate
tbe use OF each, and the modes most ap-
proved for giving extension and value to
these uses.
TIE HoRSE.-Of this animal naturalists
admit but one species, but many widely
different varieties, which are again sub-di-
vided under the denominations of races
At the head Of these. by common consent
stands the horse of Arabia, and after him
the Pcrsian, the Barb, the Andausian, and
the English His flesh not entering, like
that Of the OK, into the general and ordina-
~ subsistence of man, he is valued only
for the beauty Of his FORM the nobleness of
his carriage, the rapidity of his march, and
the strength, spirit, and patience with
which he bears the heaviest burdens and
the most excessive fatigues.
0fthese powers some curious and extra
ordinary instances arc recorded. The cou-
rers Of Russia travel from Petersburg to
Tobolsk, a distance of 10 sec. % M, in
twelve days. Their rate of travelling is,
of course, about one hundred miles day.
What, in equestrian phrase, is called a
great mover will without pressing, trot $40
yards in 80 seconds, and, if pressed, will
90 over the same distance in so seconds
In the first case, the rate Of moving is 5
feet 8 inches per second, and in the other
S feet inches. The Roman horses, prob
ably defendants from Barbs, ran at the rate
Of II feet the second of time; and the Brit
ism horse Childers is said to have run at
the rate Of 45 feet inches; and Stirling
another British horse, at the rate of Is 10
feet per secoud. This may be regarded as
the maximum CT horse speed.
The ordinary load in France of q four
wheeled wagon, drawn by six horses on a
pavement, is 10000 pounds that of cart,
drawn by four horses, $500. With these
loads they travelled ten leagues day for
six weeks together. a single horse has
been known to draw 500 pounds at the rate
OF $40 yards in II seconds and on the
pavements of London single horse has
drawn 5000 pounds for a short distance,
and 5000 for a considerable distance, and
with facility, This appears to the maxi
mum of horse power in drawing.
Under the pack or saddle, 800 pounds is
the ordinary load for horse but, accor-
ding to NJ. Thiroux,a dragoon horse carries
$40 pounds. This includes the weight of
the rider and his arms, accoutrementS, and
baggage. The well known experiment of
Marshal SAKE shows the maximum Of horse
power in this respect. He directed that a
Strong and vigorous horse, while in motion,
should be loaded until he fell, The effect
was not produced until the load amounted
to 1900 weight.
TIE MULE.--This is the well-known
product of jack and mare, or of horse
and jenney, the name given to female ass.
Their advantages over the horse are, that
they are more patient of hunger and heat !;
less nice or delicate with regard to their
food sustain better and for a longer time,
faticues of all kinds; carry heavier bur-
dens are more sure footed less liable to
sickness, and live to much greater age.
In Italy and Spain they are much employ
ed in harness, and in the mountainous parts
of those countries for the saddle. Their
values and qualities, however, depend prin-
cipally on the size of the jack: if he BIO
/ larce active and strong his progeny Will
be proporGonably valuable. Nothing there
fore can be more ill-judged than employing
small jacks.
THE Cow AND THE Ox.-It was long
supposed that this animal was native OF
Europe, and that the Auroch, found wild In
the forests of Poland, was the type OF the
species. The researches into comparative
anatomy of Cuvier have overthrown this
theory, and men of science now substitute
for it another, viz that the COW is native
of Asia, and has thence been translated to
! other parts Of the globe. Be this fact as 1t
may, her uses are so many, so various,
and so important, that we cannot hesitate
4 to transfer from the horse the distinction
! bestowed upon him by an eloquent writer
! of the last century, and to pronounce the
COW ''ibs MOBILES! conquest made 6y man. -
During two-thirds other life, which may be
protracted to twelve years, she is annually
producing her species, and during the same
period yielding an abundant supply of that
beverage so universally known and so gen.
erally acceptable a beverage so happily a
dapted from its compound nature (Part an,
lmal and part vegitable) to all ages and
i conditions, to the young and to the Old, 10
Il the poor and to the rich, TO the sick y to the
sound and which, in its concrete forms OF
butter and cheese, has, in all civilized
countries. become an article of the first ne
cessisy. Nor is her value diminished by
death for, having been fatted and prepar-
ed for market, her flesh forms our most saw
oury and substantial food; her talow IN the
form of candles, supplies the absence OF
II natural light her skin, wrought into leath-
err, furnishes shoes and other articles rem
aered necessary by habit or custom; her
horns are converted into combs and Ian
terms her blood is essential to the refine
r.at of our sugars; CHEMISTRY draws from
her hoof important uses her hair Is made
10 padd our colors and saddles, and, by en-
teriap INTO the construction OF our build
mos adds to their beauty, comfort, and So
ldity. If in her progeny (the OK strength
= and speed be less combined than In the
horse, it will be also remembered that his
Subsistence is much cheaper, and his labor
more continued and preserving that he IS,
besides, less liable to accidents which d.
fninish his value, and that he may even be-
come lame and blind without eventual loss
10 his owner: for, when prepared for the
SHAMELESS, like his parent, he gives us beef,
~ Itallow, &C., and those of a superior kind
How important, then, Is it that this useful
animal should be multiplied, and that pans
kbould be taken to ameliorate the breed.
~ If men gave three times as much at
-, a. thew now do to ventilation, ablu-