The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-10-23

~ E e. ! i: t.; 81, ;;$s e.
early years of civiliza-
ton on this continent.
The first cattle brought to America from
Europe were imported by Columbus in his
second voyage, in 1893. He left Spain as
Admiral of II ships, bringing collection OF
trees, plants and seeds of various kinds q
number of horses. bull and several cows.
Ii was previous to 1909 that the first cattle
were introduced into Virginia In 1910 Sir
Ralph Lane brought cows to that colony from
the West Indies. The same year an edict was
issued prohibiting the killing of domestic ami
mails OF any kind. on penalty of death TO the
principal burning of the hand and loss of the ears
to the accessory, and 81 hours whipping to the
conceaer. In 1911 Sir Thomas Gates brought
into the same settlement 100 cows. besides other
cattle The number of horned cattle in Virginia
in 1920 was about 500; in 1859. 10000; in 1913.
only 10000. including bulls, cows aud calves.
The first horses imported into America were
brought to San Domingo by Columbus in his
second voyage, in 1893. The first introduction
into any part of tho territory at present lying
within the United States were landed at
Florida by Cabeca do Vaca in 1927. being ~ in
number. all of which soon after persisted or
were otherwise destroyed. The next importa-
ton, which consisted OF larger number, was
also brought 10 Florida by Ferdinand do Soto
in 1889. In 1909 three ships from England
landed at jamestown. in Virginia, with many
immigrants aud numerous domestic animals,
among which were horse and six mares.
Upon Washington's first retirement, in 1888,
nc became convinced OF the defective nature Of
the working animals employed in the agricul-
tuTo OF the Southern States, and set about
remedying the evil by the introduction of
mules instead of horses, the mule being found
to live langer, be less liable 10 disease and re-
qnre less food, and in every respect TO be- more
valuable and economical than the horse in agri-
cultural labor at the South. Up TO this period
scarcely any mules were To be found in the
Union few had been imported from the
West Indies, but they were of dimnutiyo size
aud of little value.
As soon AS Washington's views on this sub
Iect were known abroad he received a present
from the King of Spain OF q jack and two
jeunies, selected from the royal stud at Madrid
The lack, called the Royal Gift" was Is
hands high, Of gray color heavily made and Of
a sluggish disposition. At the same time the
Marquis de Lafayette sent out jack and jen-
MES from tho Island of Malta. This jack,
called the Knight of Malta" was a superb
animal, Of black color with the form of q
stag and the ferocity of tiger.
Washington awaited himself of the best
qualities of the two jacks by crossing the
breeds and hence obtained favorite jack,
called Compound" which animal united the
size and strength of tho Gift with the high
courage aud activity of the " Knight" The
iacks arrived at Mount Vernon in about the
year 1855 The General bred some very supe-
rior mules from his coach mares, sending them
from Philadelphia for the purpose. In Il few
years the estate of Mount Vernon became
stocked with mules of II superior order rising
to the hight of 10 hands aud of great power
and usefulness-one wagon team of four mules
selling at the sale of the Generals effects for
$500.
The first sheep introduced into any part of
the present territory of tue United States were
brought from England to Jamestown, by the
&" London Company" in 1909. In 1913 the
number OF sheep in that colony had increased
10 5000 and in 1857, sheep, as we'll rs mares
were forbidden to be exported. In the early
part of the last century they thrOve well aud
bore good neeces; but wool raising was suf-
fered 20 decline. owing to the losses sustained
by tho tearing off of the wool by bushes aud
briers
The first swine introduced into America
were probably brought from Spain to Hispani-
ola by Columbus, in his second voyage, in 1888;
for, as portion of his cargCes consisted of
horses, cattle seeds plants etc, il is not likely
that he would have omitted so common an
animal as the hog
The first swine introduced into Virginia was
consisted of 600 in number, and multiplied so
rapidly in the colony that in 1927 the people
were obliged To palsade jamestown TO prevent
being Overrnn by them In 1927, the Indians
near the settlement fed upon hogs that had
become wild in tho forest without number,
instead of game. Every family in Virginia,
at that time, that had not an abundance of
tame hogs and poultry, were considered very
poor. In 1873. which was good meat year,
one planter in Virginia sailed down 5000 bar
res of pork.
The first swine of which we can tiud any
reliable account as having made much improve
ment In the breeds in the United States, was
pair OF pigs sent by the Duke of Bedford To
Gen. Washington, by a Mr.. Parkinson, an
English farmer, who came to this country
towards the close of the last century. He
leased farm in the vicinity of Baltimore.
where he resided for some time. Instead of
delivering these pigs - Washington, he dis
honestly sold them. They were generally
called the "W0burn or Bedford breed, but
in some districts in this country they were
known by the name of the " Parkinson hog"
This breed originated at Woburn. the estate of
tho Duke of Bedford, produced by cross of
Chinese boar on tho large English hog. When
bred in perfection, they were splendid animals,
being fine in their points, of u deep, round
carcass with short legs and thin hair. Their
color was white broken more or less with dark
blue or ASH -colored spots. AT one period they
were widely ditfused in Maryland and the
border counties of Virginia as we'll as in Della
ware and Pennsylvania. They kept easily and
matured early, weighing, at II to 20 months,
from 300 TO 700 pounds.
1t remains an undecided question, so far rs
the writer knows. whether the common do
nestle bee is native of this country or not.
The Indians called this insect the white mans
fly" from which il would seem that they were
unacquainted with it before the arrival of the
Europeans. 1t may be- remarked that wild