Year: 1865

Physical Degeneration Of the IToma Of


Americd


From the Country Gentleman


The Massachusetts Board of Agriculture
held 4 two days meeting last winter at
Greenfield, for the diacussion of matters con-
nected with the subject Of agriculture, and
for the delivery Of lectures


During the discussions Professor Agassiz
said that locality should be taken into ac-
count in the selection of breeds Of cattle. He
had noticed that the cattle were small in
alpine and granite districts, and large in
limestone and marlish sections Every pool
i'll Jura contained lime water, and the cattle
there drank in bones and growth. IIenever
took care of a cow and didn't know how to
feed one; but rs 4 psychologist, if he wanted
size, he should mix crushed lime or chalk
in their feed, and thus give them something
to build upon, &c.


These statements open an interesting field
for some general remarks and comments re-
lating not only to the growth and well-being
of animals, but men.


Influence Of soil upon the Grouib Of 1ni-
mdis.-There are no doubt many thousands
of acres of the freestone lands of New Eng
land that have been in grass almost from
time immemorial that have been so far tx
hausted Of the little lime they once con-
tained as to leave an inadequate supply for
the building up of the frames Of the animals
reared upon them. This deficiency of bone
forming material may some time manifest
itself only in the dwarfed appearance of the
animals, without any evident signs Of dis
ease; in some instances, however the def
cheney is so great that young animals become
weak i'll sheir frames, and manifest n great
desire for bones, which they will chew for
hours. These cases require an immediate
remedy, and ground bones are often fed
with beneficial effects, and . "a Professor
Agassiz suggests, the mixing of crushed hmc
or chalk with their food may answer the
same purpose. But while these lands have
parted with their lime by long continued
cropping, it is not probable that they are
equally wanting in the other ingredients es-
sontial to the building up Of the muscle as
well as the bone of the animals reared
upon them? This being the fact, then, and in
order TO render the cure permanent and the
farming profitable, the remedy should be APP
piled to the land, not only in the application
Of lime, but Of such other enriching materials
as will improve the crops generally. Nature
never intended that animals should be fed
on crushed bones or lime to furnish the
material to build up their francs, but the
supply should come from natures laboratory
in the well fed crops of grass and grain. The
alpine and granite districts alluded to no
doubt are not only deficient in lime, but the
essentials generally Of good soil hence the
cattle reared in these districts will necessarily
be small. The Devon and the smaller breeds
of cattle are adapted to the soil and climate
Of New England, while the Durham, or short
horn, finds paradise in the luxuriant fields
Of Kentucky. The impression has prevail
ed that the celebrated blue grass Of Kentucky
was a variety peculiar 10 that particular
locality, when, in fact, it is simply the com
mon June blue grass Pod preteRsisl Of our
door yards. Il is owing 10 the remarkable
depth and richness Of the soil Of some six or
eight Of the central counties Of Kentucky,
in which this grass grows in the greatest per
fection, that gives the name to that section
Of the State as the " Blue Grass Region"
The geological character Of this section Of
Kentucky is very remarkable and interest
ing. The soil is two or three feet deep, rest
ing upon a foundation Of fosiliferous lime
stone. Its average depth below the surface
is about six feet II abounds in organic re-
mains, and by the constant action Of time Is
undergoing a rather rapid disintegration,



to the soil Perhaps in no country in the
world can a more perfect and lasting soil be
found IL contains not only an abundant
supply Of lime, but all the other elements
essential 20 the most productive soil. have
said that the limestone Of this section Of
Kentucky lies at an average depth Of SIX OF
eight feet below the surface, but there j.
hardly farm on which IL does not crop ont
in a number Of places, generally ON the face
Of the Southern slopes. This stone lies in
thin strata, and furnishes a yery cheap and
easily wrought material for any amount Of
fence required.


Dr. Robert Peter, Of Lexington, connected
with the late geological survey Of the State,
who has analysed several hundred specimens
Of soils, minerals, waters, grains, DC, fur
nishes some very interesting facts for the
farmers Among these numerous analyses
two samples Of Indian corn we're submitted
TO chemical tests. One sample was grown
upon the poorest land in ore Of the poorest
counties in the State; and the other was the
product Of the rich blue grass land Of Fay
cite county, near Lexington The object Of
the analysis was 10 determine the difference
in the nuitritive quality Of the two samples
and also TO ascertain how much more largely
the corn grown upon the strong limestone
land OF Eayette would partake Of the min
eral or inorganic constituents Of the soil,
than that which was produced on the poor
land. The result proved that the corn
grown upon the Fayette land was richer by
very considerable percentage in IT. iatten-