mutton. the basin During this operation, one workman is heep, and on the success of British farmers in ob-for the greatest quantity of sewing silk made from employed in pouring in the plaister, another in mix-taining a race fitted to supply fine wool, and fine cocoons of silkworms which have been bred in ing it in the basin with a rake or scraper. Pennsylvania, and fed on the Italian mulberry tree. When the mixture is finished, the operators pass 2. Mr. Philips gave an account of the successful 2. Twenty-five dollars for the best treatise on the to another, and so on to the sixth. Then the first experiment of a gentleman in Philadelphia county, culture of the Italian mulberry tree, and on the is emptied for the purpose of commencing operations in sowing rapeseed. The crop was great, and af- breeding and management of silkworms, the result anew. The mixture is finished by further drying in forded very nourishing food for sheep, for which of practice in the United States. the air. animals, the plant is regularly sown in Europe.- 3. A silver cup, value fifty dollars, for the best At the end of the day, the quantity of urate which The roots survive the winter, and vegetation in the specimen of wool adapted to the manufacture of has been made since morning, is to be broken down following spring furnishes excellent pasture. Some superfine broad cloth, reference being had to the by means of a cast iron cylinder rolled over it; af- of the oil was pressed from the seeds, at a flaxseed form, properties, and characteristics of the sheep, ter which it is sifted (passée à la double claie) and mill, and gave at the rate of one gallon to the bushel. fitting it for the production of high flavoured mutthen immediately stored or packed up to prevent It was shown to a regular English wool-stapler set- ton, with light offal. the absorption of moisture. tled in Philadelphia, who offered to contract for se- 4. A silver cup, value fifty dollars, for the best By this combination, the urine being dried by its veral thousand gallons annually at one dollar per specimen of long or combing wool, reference being union with the absorbent matters, which is itself a gallon, for the purpose of oiling wool prepared for had to the form, properties, and characteristics of the manure, unites all the vegetative powers of its two making cloth. He remarked that one cause of the animal, affording most flesh and tallow with least component parts, and will constitute the most pro-inferiority of American cloth, was the want of rape offal. ductive of all our manures, in consequence of the oil to grease the wool. It is preferred to olive oil. 5. A silver cup, value twenty-five dollars, for the very small quantity that is necessary to employ to Mr. John Parkin, of Newport, Delaware, cultivates best potatoes produced from the seeds of the apples, procure the best results. rape, and an account of the mode to be pursued, reference to be had to the product and quality of with respect to it, is given by Mr. William Parkin root. STEAM MILLS. I have designated six substances as being proper to absorb the superabundant water of urine, and I in the American Farmer, vol. 5, p. 295-Rape offers The publishing committee reported that the fifth have only mentioned them without pointing out any a new object of profitable attention to the Ameri-volume of the Society's Memoirs would probably particular one, as I thought that no country is with- can farmer-furnishing superior food for sheep, in be presented at the next meeting. out some one of them. But in case I am mistaken the spring and summer; and excellent food in the in this opinion, very great advantages may still be winter:-useful and abundant oil from the seeds:derived from urines, by mixing them with burnt rich food for cattle in the cake after the expressing earth, (that of heath soil is to be preferred,) or with of the oil, and being an excellent preparative crop [Information wanted, on the practicability of havnatural ashes, (cendres naturelles.) I only estimate for wheat. The powdered cake is extensively used ing recourse, profitably, to steam mills of small powthe value of this mixture as a means of obtaining all in England as a manure for drilled turnips, and the er where continued droughts have exhausted water the salts of urine in a solid state, which will facilitate sum stated by Mr. Bloomfield, of Norfolk, when on power in the country.] its transportation and employment in agriculture. a visit to the United States a few years since, to be Oak Hill, Fauquier co (Va.) Jan. 23, 1826. The ancients considered urine as the most pow-annually laid out by him for that object, would, if Dear Sir-I am desirous of procuring information erful of manures. This is not therefore the end of mentioned, excite wonder in some, and disbelief in on a subject of considerable importance to me; and my invention, which consists alone in its sudden des others who pride themselves on never having been as my retired situation precludes me from opportusication and solidification, and the draining or dry-out of their native state,' and who, probably, des-nities of personal inquiry and observation. your ing up of those infectious depositories of this sub-pising all knowledge of agriculture contained in goodness will excuse the liberty which I take in stance to be met with in the environs of large cities, books cannot have an idea of the extent of a British availing myself of your superior advantages. Should where they furnish inexhaustable sources of unheal farm, the capital invested in it, or of its garden-like you think it advisable to make your valuable jourthy exhalations. culture. From the rape seed oil, too, and potash, nal the medium of communication on this subject, I leave it to the learned societies to express their the Savon Vert or green soap is made, which for I must request that my signature may not appear. judgment upon the qualities of the urate, and restrict scouring wool, is preferred in the manfactories of This has been the worst season for millers in this myself to the application for a brevet of invention, France to all other soaps. part of the country, known within the memory of for a method of preparing it immediately, so as to 3. Dr. Mease gave an account of a new and ex- man. Of this respectable fraternity I have the hodestroy at the same time the odour of the urine tensive source of consumption of merino wool, in nour to be a member. My little mill has two pair of (Signed) DONAT. its use for the bodies of hats, the manufacture of stones-one 44 feet diameter for merchant work, cawhich is extensively carried on at Hamilton Vil-pable, with a sufficient supply of water, of manulage, on the west side of the Schuylkill, by ma facturing twenty-five barrels of flour per diem; but chinery moved by a steam engine of five horse alas! the stream is so light, even in the most favourpower. The inventor is Mr. Isaac Sandford. The able seasons, that I could not make more than half wool employed is of its natural length, and the hats, that quantity. It has occurred to me that steam when plated with fine fur, are as light and neat, but more durable than rorams. The prices also, of the power might be applied to it advantageously. My impression is that an engine of 8 horse power would bodies, and of the hats when finished, are much re-be required for the purpose. Allow me, therefore, duced. A quality of wool is stated by Mr. Sandford as much wanted for hats, viz: that of lambs to propose the following interrogations: shorn about the end of August. This practice is Paris, January 19th, 1819. [Here follows the certificate granting the brevet or patent to M. Donat, for 15 years; signed by the Ministerial Secretary of the interior department. COUNT DECAZES.] Attest, with all the fixtures and appurtenances, of power i. What would be the cost of a steam engine, 44 feet burrs? PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY FOR PROMOT. Partially followed in the United States, and two of sufficient to give the requisite motion to a pair of ING AGRICULTURE. the few practical farmers who favour the publick with the result of their experience, have spoken de Annual Meeting, January 17, 1826. cisively in favour of the practice, as regards the The President, Richard Peters, in the Chair, thickening of the succeeding fleece, in preventing The election of the Officers of the Society took place as follows:: President.-Richard Peters. 2. What quantity of (wood) fuel would it consume in 24 hours? 3. What number of hands would be necessary to the loss of wool in the following year, and in pro-attend it? moting the growth of the animal. One of these farmers writes, after seventeen years experience. be indispensable? Vice Presidents.- William Tilghman, Jas. Mease, Both refer to the common sheep of the country; Nicholas Biddle, Isaac C. Jones Treasurer-William M. Walmsley. Curators.-Reuben Haines, Roberts Vaux, phen Duncan, Jeremiah Warder, John H. Powel. 4. How long would the presence of an engineer 5. What would be the annual cost of repairs on a fair average? with respect to Merinoes, it is known that the fleece of the lambs of one of the breeds abounds with 6. Would the grinding be sufficiently regular? hairs, which unfits it for making cloth, but does not 7. Could the power of steam be applied in such a Ste-prevent its use in forming the body of hats. The manner to an ordinary overshot mill as to retain the second fleece from these lambs, if they have been water wheel, &c. and allow resort to the water powshorn in the August of their first year, will be freeer on suitable occasions? from hairs, and sell for more than if the first fleece 8. If not, in what manner is the power applied? had been permitted to grow. The wool of the first shearing will consequently be a clear gain, and at the same time the manufacturer would be supplied with the article in an improved state. Librarian-William S. Warder. The following communications were read— 1. By a Member-Observations on the importance of yolk for the nourishment of wool; on the advantages of attending to the form of Merino' The following premiums were proposed: COTTON PLANTER. 1. Fifty dollars, or a gold medal of equal value, of a Cotton Planter, invented by Mr. Smith, accom panied by inquiries whether any such machine bad of the article, and is interested in the benefits of the vious year, in consequence of the increase of its culbeen used; I am induced to state that Mr C. Ford, patent. tivation. But little wheat is raised with us, and that of Virginia, has obtained a patent for such a one, The weather continued unusually dry and warm the last season was destroyed by rust and weevil. after having tested its performance in planting his through all the seasons of this year up to the 1st of This insect not only extended its ravages to the Inown crop last spring. Having seen the description this month-since then it has been cold; but little dian corn in our cribs, but also to the grain standof both, I think them essentially, if not identically, rain and only one small snow has fallen. The sum-ing in the field. Except weevil and the insect which alike in their construction. Your Edisto Island cor-mer and fall drought was excessive, which materi- occasions the rust on the cotton leaf, no others aprespondent, or any other anxious to try the machine ally injured our crops of corn and cotton, notwith-peared during the year in unusual quantities. could be supplied by Mr. F. Follett, hardware mer-standing which, more of the latter article will be chant, Petersburg, Virginia, who will keep a supply carried to market from the state, than in any pre SMITH'S PATENT COTTON PLANTER AND CULTIVATOR. Yours, &c. A DUCK RIVER PLANTER. A. The hopper-B. a sheave attached to the wired vating the cotton, to be applied after A. F. G. & H. Jland must be first listed with three furrows together axle for separating the seed. C. C. a dotted line, are removed. -one machine keeps pace with three ploughs. represents a moving board within the hopper, to The subscriber respectfully informs those inte- The price of each machine is $15. For further keep the seed from clogging. D. D. the wheels rested in the cultivation of cotton, that the above particulars, refer to a former letter in the 7th vol. which give motion to the machine. E. another machine having been highly approved by all who American Farmer. Address to me at Eastville, sheave between D. D. over which the band passes have seen it in operation, he has taken out a patent Northampton county, Virginia. to give motion to B. F. the coulter. G. the cover for the invention, and is now ready to receive orders er. H. the roller. K. two small ploughs for culti-for them. To put the machine in operation, the [From the New England Farmer.] COB MILLS. Roxbury, Jan. 25, 1826. MR. FESSENDEN-I noticed in your paper of the 20th, an inquiry from a correspondent, C. whether Corn Mills for breaking and grinding cob and corn together are in use in the neighbourhood of Boston. I would inform your correspondent that mills for that purpose have been made and sold at the Agricultural Warehouse, No. 103, State street, but were found on trial of working with hand labour, much too hard, and not to do the work sufficient for the purpose. A mill on the same principle, and calculated for horse power would answer the purpose well, and may be had at the above establishment. Yours, &c. FRANCIS H. SMITH. we put in it a pair of stones for rye, and a pair for troduce us to the banquets of the ancients, of which corn, in the usual manner: for the cob meal we took their wines formed so essential and celebrated a a pair of large stones, cut the eye of the runner 12 portion. These topics the title-page led us to exinches at top, and 14 or 15 inches at bottom, and pect, and Dr. Henderson's researches have not been bosomed it out large, as we term it; in this manner spared, to render them interesting and amusing as it answers every purpose for cracking and grinding well as instructive. With considerable learning, corn in the ear. Yours, respectfully, L. BUCKMINSTER, Jr. HORTICULTURE. From the Westminster Review-London. WINES. and great judgment and taste, he has succeeded in making the dry details of the geoponical writers, the short and occasional information or allusions of the didactic, historical, or miscellaneous writers of Greece and Rome, and the fervid and joyous praises of Bacchus, with which the poems of Horace especially abound, shed mutual interest and light on one another. A history of the wines of the moderns required and admitted a different mode of management; and accordingly our author has, in this portion of his work, given us the result of much personal observation and inquiry, and of much reading, respecting MR. FESSENDEN-If I can contribute any thing DR. HENDERSON has done well what the title page the vineyards, vintage, and principal wines of for the information of your correspondent C., I will of his book promises, and he has done more than it France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Hungary, Mado it with pleasure. promises. A history of the wines of the ancients deira, the Cape of Good Hope, &c. And in his Framingham, (Ms.) Jan. 26, 1825. By Alexander Henderson, M. D. I formerly had a cast iron corn and cob cracker would be very incomplete, if it did not make us chapter on England he has pointed out the various in my grist mill, and practised grinding corn, rye acquainted with their mode of managing their vine-changes in our wines, produced by changes in poand cracked cobs, as occasion required; but I found yards, the processes of their vintage, and the pre-litical relations, fashion, and other causes. This that after grinding cracked cobs and corn, the stones paration and preservation of their wines, as well as portion will justly be deemed by the bon vivant would not make good meal for bread until they were with the varieties of the wines themselves, and the much more interesting and instructive than the part new dressed. resemblance of their qualities, as far as such resem-relating to ancient wines; but we miss those classiblance can be ascertained, to well-known wines cal allusions, and that familiarity with the ancients among the moderns; and such a history would be in their domestic circle, which throws a powerful comparatively dry and uninviting, if it did not in- charm over the first part of the work. In 1824, the old mill privileges being taken up for factories; I undertook with another man to build a mill on a good stream, near the centre of this town; So far we have given this very general idea of ther, we have the express authority of Pliny, and This author also describes another preparation of Dr. Henderson's volume, it merely answers to its Philostratus, in that strange gallimatia of romance, the juice of the grape, to which he says the name of title-page; but there are, besides, chapters on the miracles, and truth, his life of Apollonius of Tyanæa: Arab sorbet or Arabian drink, is given, equally inprinciples of fermentation, and the constituents of the latter represents it as equally intoxicating with toxicating as wine.* wine in general; on the classification of wines; on wine from grapes.* In Persia, therefore, we must look for the origin certain modes of keeping and mellowing wines; on Wines, therefore, from rice and the palm, were of the vine. We know not that it is indigenous the mixture and adulteration of wines; and on the the favourite drinks in Hindostan and China at the elsewhere, except in America: in the northern parts dietetic and medical qualities of wines. There are, remotest period of our knowledge of these coun- of that continent a small grape was found by the besides, several useful articles in the appendix, par-tries; and nearly all the intervening notices between Icelanders when they first discovered it; and hence ticularly a note and table on the quantity of spirit that period and the present time, are equally silent they gave it the name of Vinland; and very lately contained in different wines; a note on the escape respecting the use of grape wine. Regarding Chi- luxuriant and prolific vines have been discovered of alcohol and aroma during fermentation, and a na, the earliest information we possess is derived near the borders of California. The discovery of valuation of the wines of France, according to their from the Mahomedan travellers, who visited it in wine in Persia, to which we have already alluded, several qualities. By far the largest, and the most the ninth century, their words are express, "Their as given on the authority of a Persian MS. by sir generally interesting portion of the work, relates to drink is a kind of wine made of rice; they have no John Malcolm History of Persia, i. 16,] may be thus the immediate subject of the title-page, and of this other wine in the country, nor is there any brought briefly told;-The Persian emperor who founded portion we shall lay before our readers a rapid to them." [p. 13.] "They drink no wine, nor admit Persepolis, being extremely fond of grapes, put analysis, interspersing it with notices of such errors vinegar, because it is made of wine." [p. 33.] "The some into jars to preserve them; tasting them while or omissions as have occurred to us. Indians have no grapes, and the Chinese not many." they were fermenting he found them so bad, that he We could have wished that our author had di- [p. 36.]t The only notice of the culture of the vine put them back and marked poison on the jars. His rected his reading and thoughts to one topic which in China, with which we are acquainted, is to be favourite mistress, from some cause, weary of life, appears to us curious; we mean the extreme eastern found in Marco Polo, who says, in Cathay or north- drank the liquor, which, the fermentation being at limit beyond which at no time, ancient or modern, ern China are numerous vineyards yielding wine.‡ an end, was so pleasant as to reconcile her to life, the cultivation of the vine and the manufacture and In Bengal, however, he expressly states, that the in- instead of poisoning her. The king discovered what use of wines appear to have passed! At the com- habitants live on flesh, rice, and milk, having no had taken place, and thus wine was discovered.† mencement of his chapter on the wines of (Modern) wine, but making an excellent wine from rice and Little is known of the qualities of the wines of anPersia, he says, "Persia is supposed to be the na- spices. cient Persia Proper; but, from the interesting pictive country of the vine." This opinion we believe Beyond the Indus, therefore, the cultivation of ture Nearchus has drawn of the province of Persis: to be correct: the apochryphal, but by no means the grape and the use of wine seem scarcely to have and of its superior culture of the vine, it seems proimprobable, tradition of the discovery of wine in passed, though the climate and the soil of many bable that the wine of Shiraz, which is in that proPersia we shall afterwards notice. In the mean parts of this division of Asia, must have been equally vince, was similar in repute and quality to what it is time we may refer our readers to a treatise of Dr. lavourable. It is in vain to conjecture the cause of at present. The ancient wines of the dominions Sickler, which Mr. Loudon, an excellent judge on this limit to the eastward, and equally vain to point belonging to the kings of Persia in Asia Minor, will this subject, assures us, gives a learned and curious out the cause which has given to the vine, as well be noticed when we come to Dr. Henderson's chapaccount of the migration of the vine from Persia to as to most of the knowledge and improvement of ter on Greek wines; and the Lodern wines of PerEgypt, Greece and Italy. mankind, a progress from Asia Minor or its vicinity, sia, when we notice his chapter on that subject. To the east of Persia, or, at the furthest, to the east a gradual but almost unchecked progress towards From Persia the grape and wine passed into Asia of the Indus, we know of no authority for the cul- the west. The great waves of population, as they Minor and Egypt: but at what period it is impossiture of the vine and the use of its beverage. Bac- have not unaptly been called, the Celtic, Gothic, ble to fix; their passage into the former district was chus, indeed, is said to have brought the vine from and Sclavonian, have been impelled in this direc- natural and easy; their passage into Egypt probably India, but, so vague and fluctuating were the ideas tion; and undoubtedly the most highly civilized por- took place in consequence of the conquests of Seattached by the ancients to the term India, that we tion of the globe, Western Europe, and Eastern sostris. But, at whatever period, or from whatever think we have extended its limits, as known to them, America, have derived from Asia Minor, or its vi- cause introduced into Egypt, the culture of the sufficiently far to the east, when we have extended cinity, two of the most useful instruments of know-grape and the use of wine seem soon to have disapthem to the Indus. The army of Alexander muti-ledge, the numeral and literal arithmetic, and at peared there, and to have given place to the use of nied on the banks of the Hydaspes, a branch of least two of the most useful and sublime branches beer. Herodotus informs us that beer was used bethat river, and we shall immediately perceive that of science, geometry and astronomy. With scarcely eause the soil of Egypt was not calculated for the he had advanced to the eastward of the cultivation a single exception, nothing seems to have moved grape; certainly the low, alluvial, and rich soils of the vine and the use of its beverage. eastward beyond the Ganges, neither man, nor that of this country, and the annual overflowings and The earliest notices we possess of India, which which most exhilarates his animal, or those things deposits of the Nile are not extremely favourable are at once authentic and minute, are derived from which most exalt his intellectual and moral exist- to the vine: but, as it was introduced there from the materials collected during the expedition of ence. Persia, and again cultivated in the time of the Ca Alexander. Our present object being exclusively But though native wine was scarcely known, and sars, the cause of its disappearance must be sought confined to the customary beverage of the Indians foreign wine little used to the east of Persia in an- from another source. This source was superstition, at that period, we shall refer only to the Journal of cient times, there were one or two preparations the same which debarred the Egyptians, for a long his Admiral Nearchus, as preserved in the writings of the grape, or its juice, which were in much period, from applying to maritime affairs. Plutarch of Arrian, Strabo, Diodorus and Pliny, and translat- request. In the Periplus of the Erythrean sea, dipse informs us, that before the reign of Psammeticus, ed and illustrated with much learning and research or rub of grapes, manufactured at Thebes in Egypt, the Egyptians neither tasted wine themselves, nor by Dr. Vincent. From it we learn, that the Indians seems to have been a common article of export from offered it to their gods, under the idea that it was planted rice in water, and made wine from rice, the Red sea to the east: and we can trace this that is, arrack. This we regard as a decisive proof through the intervening ages to the present time, as that distillation was known in Hindostan before it a favourite relish there. Besides the authorities on Busbequius p. 91, 92. In the preparation of rob pears from the Periplus of the Erythrean sea, as- † Ancient Accounts for India and China, by two Ma- * Dr. Vincent on the Navigation of the Ancients, i., 18. Rice, Oguga: Urithi, in Sanskreit, i. 14. Marco Polo; in Kerr's Collection of Travels, i. 339, 351. Sago is mentioned by Oderic, who travelled in 1318, p. 409. § Navigation of the Ancients, xi. 751. A somewhat different version of this story is given in the Ancient Universal History, vol. v p. 335. It is, perhaps, worth noticing, that Noah, to whom the Bible ascribes the discovery of wine, was in the vicinity of Ararat, when that took place; and this mountain is either in Persia or near it. Vincent i. 412. the blood of the giants who had warred against account, since uncommonly prolific vines in Grena-veral of the strange ingredients which, according to them.* And Heliodorus, in his Ethiopica, repre- da, where the climate is extremely favourable, oc- Columella, ought to be added to wine, were, in fact, sents Calasiris as abstaining from wine, because he casionally furnish only about one-third the produce added for the purpose of clarifying as well as of perwas an Egyptian of Memphis and a priest of Isis, mentioned by that author. The returns, taken at a fuming it; but, after all, this chapter leaves on the so that even at this period, after wine had been en-moderate estimate of produce and price, were mind of a modern reader no high idea of the taste couraged, with other luxuries, by Cleopatra and the among the ancients upwards of six per cent. for the of the ancients, nor of the excellence of their wines, Romans, superstition still restrained the priests of money invested in a vineyard.-In Burgundy, about if they were manufactured according to the preIsis from its use.t seven per cent. in Champagne not much above one-scriptions of that auther. In this chapter, too, we Beer, then, was the general beverage of the Egyp-third of this. miss all allusion to the songs of the vintage, a subtians in the age of Herodotus, and probably till In this chapter as well as in some other parts of ject which would have relieved its necessarily dry the conquest of their country by the Romans. That his work relating to ancient wines, we think Dr details. The songs of the wine-press of which we it, as well as palm wine, was drunk in the countries Henderson has too much overlooked those Greek have two in Anacreon [Odes 50, and 52,] and others between the Caspian and the Mediterranean in authors who would have afforded him information sung during the dinner of the vintagers, and in the common with wine, we have the authority of Xe- on the management of the Greek vineyards, vin- different intervals of the day, accompanied with nophon. Between the Euphrates and the Araxes tage, &c. in those points in which it differed from dancing, as well as the festivals at the conclusion of he came to some villages where he found beer in the Roman management. We would refer him the vintage, are often alluded to or described in anjars, in which the malt was still floating on the particularly to Theophrastus, de Plantis, Hesiod cient authors. Dr. Henderson, also, should have brim, with reeds of different sizes and without Opera et Dies,] Xenophon [Memorabilia, Lib. 5,] referred us to Hesiod, who, in his Opera et Dies, has joints; with these the liquor was sucked out; it was Longus, and some passages in the Iliad and Odys described the most simple, and it seems to us, the very strong, and pleasant to those accustomed to sey, and in Aristophanes with the Scholia on them. original mode of making wine from the juice which it. Before Xenophon had commenced his regular On the subject of the diseases to which the vines are spontaneously flowed from the grapes.* This mode, retreat, he arrived at a delicious plain where he liable, and the insects and animals by which they adopted by the Greeks in his time, in some impor found palm wine, so strong as to cause violent head are attacked, and of the means of prevention adopt- tant particulars differs from that described by Dr. aches. In other parts of the narrative he men- ed by the ancients, he is silent; indeed these topics, Henderson from Pliny-p. 39. tions grape wine; so that in this division of Asia, as well as the minutiae of their training, grafting, we have evidence of the use of three kinds of exhilirating or intoxicating liquor, wine from grapes, palms, and barley. (To be continued.) LADIES' DEPARTMENT. THE UNNATURAL MOTHER. suck to their young ones." LAMENTATIONS, ch. iv. v. S. (Concluded from page 356.) &c. as he remarks, are foreign to the more immediate object of his work. But as some of these topics illustrate ancient authors, a notice with this Let us now attend to Dr. Henderson: he begins view would have been acceptable. As an instance the first portion of his work with a chapter on the of what we mean, we shall advert to the mode vineyards of the ancients. On this topic he informs adopted by the ancients to protect their grapes from us of the soils, and the exposure they selected, and goats, foxes, &c. That most beautiful and living [From the Sermons of the celebrated William Cobbett.} of the various modes of planting and training the description of the engraving on the shepherd's cup "Even the Sea-monsters draw out the breast: they give vine. There seems to have been some difference of in Theocritus [Idyll. 1.] is illustrated by the custom opinion regarding the height to which it should be of the ancients stationing boys to protect the ripe trained: Cato, Pliny, and Columella recommending grapes from the fox And Isa. i. 8, and Job, xxvii. 18, lofty vines, and Saserna, father and son, celebrated allude to the temporary huts covered with boughs writers on husbandry, condemning them. The va- erected in ancient vineyards, for the shelter of the It becomes wives, and young wives in particular, rieties of the vine known to the ancients were very watchmen.* Hasselquist informs us, that the jack- to think well of these things; to reflect, that she who numerous; but for most of them it is impossible to as- all in the east often destroys whole vineyards; the disinherits her son from the moment he sees the sign modern appellations. The Aminean was a great fondness of the fox for grapes is proverbially known; light, voluntarily abandons half her claims as a wife favourite, which produced a rich and highly flavour-and the festival celebrated by the Athenian hus- and all her claims as a mother. Marriage is a ed grape. There is a curious passage in Vopiscus' bandmen in honour of Bacchus, at which they sacri- human institution intended to prevent promiscuous life of the emperor Florianus, in which the change ficed a goat, was undoubtedly derived from the de- intercourse and to secure the careful rearing up of of this grape from white to red at the commence-struction caused by that animal to his favourite tree. children. But, if mothers cast off their children, ment of his reign is marked as ominous.** The No- Dr. Henderson has displayed so much felicity and one object of the institution is not answered; and mentan, containing more mucilaginous matter than taste in his illustrations of the ancient writers, that that law appears unjust which enforces fidelity in the former, was also a favourite vine. The vitis we are sorry he has allowed any direct and proper the husband and duty in the child, towards a wife apiana, the modern muscat, which probably receiv- opportunity of extending and varying these illus. and mother, who has refused to perform her duty ed its modern, as well as its ancient name from its trations to escape him. towards either. A son, who is able to maintain his liability to be attacked by bees or flies, was also in The second chapter relates to the management mother, is, by law, compelled to do it, in case she high repute. The ancients were extremely careful of the vintage, and the process used by the ancients stands in need of relief. But, is this just, if the and judicious in selecting the vines best adapted to in the preparation of their wines. Their vintage mother have robbed him of that which nature the various soils and situations; and some spots generally began in September; and they were care- awarded him, and exposed him to the manifest risk were planted only with a single species. The most ful in commencing it with those parts of the vine-of perishing in his infancy! And, under different interesting portion of this chapter relates to the ex-yard that had attained the greatest maturity; the circumstances, under circumstances where the law pense and profit of an ancient, as compared with a first-collected grapes in their opinion yielded most is silent, and where filial affection is the only tie,. modern, vineyard. On this subject Dr. Henderson must; the second gathering the best wine; the third what affection, what obedience, what respect has enters with considerable learning and research; the the sweetest. The practice of twisting the stalks, she to expect from a son, when that son knows, that result is, that if Varro did not exaggerate (which and stripping the leaves, and leaving the grapes she banished him from her breast, and that he owes there is rather reason to suppose he did) "the pro- thus exposed to the sun-which is still pursued for his life, and, perchance, his disease and debility, to duce of a quantity of land equal to an English acre, rich wines-was followed by the ancients. The the mercenary milk of a hireling; when he knows, would amount to upwards of 544 hogsheads; a quan- ophrastus, in his treatise to which we have already that, in the true sense of the word, she has made tity far above any thing that is derived from modern referred, informs us that occasionally a light dust him a bastard: it being impossible that a child can vineyards" [p. 34.] It ought, however, to be re- was thrown over the grapes to defend them from be basely born, and it being notorious, that the unimarked, that the ancients forced quantity out of the heat of the sun. The various modes of prepar- form custom of men has been to give the appellation their vineyards, at the expense of quality; yet, after ing the must, the names and qualities of it when of bastard to all animals borne by one and suckled all, we must suppose great exaggeration in Varro's prepared in these different modes-the wine-press- by another! Let it not be pretended, that a hirethe admixture of salt water, and other ingredients ling will feel for the child that which the mother still more abhorrent to a modern taste, such as pitch, would feel; that she will have the same anxieties and southern-wood, and various aromatic herbs, are take the same care. Nature, which causes the treated of in a full and clear manner. We agree stream to start when the mother's ear meets the with Dr. Henderson, in his conjecture, that se- sound of the longing voice of the child, as which *Plut. de Osiride. † Heliod. Ethiop. lib. iii. p. 150. The general, not the universal; for this historian informs us, that one article of Grecian exportation to Egypt was wine in great quantities, twice a year, in large jars, lib. iii. c. 6. § Ancient Univers. Hist. vii. 478, note. | Ibid. 445. *Watch Towers were sometimes erected in them, Isaiah, v. 1, 2. Messrs Mangles and Irby saw some near Hebron that appeared to be antique [Travels in Egypt, &c. 342] Sometimes the vineyards were protected by Mangles and Irby saw in Syria, 321. ** Vopisc. Florian. apud Histor. August. Scriptor, p.stone walls [Proverbs, xxiv. 31;] these also Messrs. 17. Edit. Schrevelii. Lug. Bat. 1661. of us has not seen the milk of the ewe begin to the lamb, though at the distance of half the field; drop the moment she heard the demanding voice of nature, which creates this wonderful sympathy, * Hesiod, Opera et Dies, v. 610, &c. SPORTING OLIO. gives the lie direct to all such false and hypocritical to look for the great comforter of old age; the affecpretences. When the rival mothers came before tion and attention and obedience of children? For, SOLOMON, "The king said, bring me a sword: divide always bear in mind, that he, who has not known a the living child in two, and give half to the one, and mother's breast, has no mother! As you recede he half to the other. Then spake the woman whose advances; while decrepitude and deformity are the living child was, unto the king (for her bowels creeping over you, he is bounding on in all the pride yearned upon her son,) and she said, O, my Lord! of health, strength and beauty. Tender and most give her the living child and in nowise slay it. But, affectionate mother as you may have been, and, as the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but it is to be hoped the far greater part of you will be, divide it." Never was there a more happy illustra- he still stands in need of the command of God: tion of the difference in the feelings of a real and "Hearken unto thy father, and despise not thy mothose of a pretended mother. Observe, too, that the ther when she is old." But, if, even in such a case, the hireling must begin by being herself an unnatural precept is necessary, what is to bind the son in cases mother; she must begin by robbing her own off- where, from the unnatural conduct of the mother, spring of his birthright, by driving him from her the precept does not apply? If the son have grown breast, and, ninety-nine times out of a hundred, to manhood with a knowledge of his infant bastarfrom her sight: she must begin by doing that which dized state; for to hide this from him or to make even the sea-monsters are not guilty of, and which him forget it is impossible; if he have grown up THE FIELD DOG. in is condemned by the uniform practice of every beast habitual coldness and indifference towards you, how Sassafras Neck, Cecil county, Md. Jan. 25, 1826. of the field and every fowl of the air. are you, when age and deformity and approaching MR. SKINNER, And, from a son of such a mother, whether the dissolution have laid their hand on you, to expect Having lately perused with much interest the vahirer or the hireling, is the mother, when he has reverence and attentive listening at his hands? No-rious sporting communications in your paper, I have escaped death and grown up to manhood, to expect thing is more praiseworthy, nothing more truly ami- thought that the performance of the dog is entitled that obedience, which can only be the effect of filial able, than to see men, grown up to the prime of life, to a share of the praise given to the sportsman. affection? SOLOMON, Prov. chap iv. v. 1, to 4, in listening with attention to the voice of their parents; It will be admitted by every one acquainted with inculcating obedience, states how he listened to his but, is this to be looked for, or even hoped for, in woodcock and partridge shooting, that a good dog own parents, and gives this reason for his attending the absence of filial affection? And how, amidst all is a matter of importance, and that a bad one had to their precepts: "For, I was my father's son, ten- the other objects of affection, which passion creates better be left in the kennel. If those who favour der and only beloved in the sight of my mother." in the breast of youth, is that affection to exist, un-you with the result of successful shooting, would That is, that he was the favourite son of his father, less implanted in infancy and cherished all the way mention the performance of the dog, if truly fine; and that his mother loved him in an uncommon de- up to manhood? And how is it to be implanted, if and also his owner's name, together with a short gree This was the foundation on which he rested the mother cast off the child to a hireling breast? pedigree, it would be highly acceptable to those the obedience of children; this was the cause to There is indeed, amongst the monsters in human who take a delight in improving the breed. A diswhich he ascribed his having listened to their advice. shape, now-and-then a son to be found, who can pute has been maintained in the English sporting But, what, then, is a mother to expect from a son, despise the counsels and even mock at the suppli- journals, whether the setters or pointers are in the who fails not, and who cannot fail, to know, that he cations and tears of the affectionate, and tender whole preferable, it would be well to name the kind was a cast off from his mother's breast? What gra- mother, whose breast has nourished him; who has of dog, that this question might be in some measure titude is he to feel towards one, who, from love of known no joy but in his smiles, and no sorrow but settled. pleasure or from love of gain; from a motive the in his wailing; who has watched with trembling I am induced to call the attention of sportsmen most grossly disgusting or the most hatefully sordid, anxiety every quiver of his speechless lips; to whose to this on account of having been so much disapleft him to take, in a stranger's arms, the even heart every writhing of his infant body has been a pointed in dogs. I am convinced that many breeds dagger; who has wholly forgotten, amidst the dan- of the setter and pointer, although broken upon the chance of life or death? The general deportment of mothers towards chil- gers of contagion, her own life while his was in dan- most approved system, are worth but little, while dren that they have driven from their breast is very ger: there is, amongst the monsters in human shape, others, with scarcely any pains, are invaluable in different from what it would have been if they had now-and-then to be found the son of such a mother the field. It is to be hoped that those who are duly performed their duties as mothers. The mere to mock at her supplications and her tears. But, zealous to promote a particular breed should not act of bringing forth a child is not sufficient to cre- let us hope, that, in England at any rate, such suns decide positively in favour of it, until ample expeate a lasting affection for him. A season of severe are rare indeed. And, even in such a case the mo- rience had been derived in comparison with many suffering is not calculated to leave behind it a train ther has this consolation; that the fault has not been others; nor recommend it, until they were satisfied of pleasing and endearing reflections. It is in her hers; that she has done her duty towards God and that it possessed, in the highest degree, the traits of arms and at her breast that he wins her heart for towards her child; and that, if she have an unnatu- humility, staunchness, nose and activity. It is a fault ever, and makes every pang that he feels a double ral son, she has every just and humane heart to among sportsmen, and has been ridiculed in the pang to her "Can a woman," says ISAIAH, chap sympathise in her sorrows. "Annals of Sporting," that "every one thinks there xlix v 15, "forget her sucking child, that she should But, under similar circumstances, what consola-is but one good dog in the world, and he has it." not have compassion for him?" But, if the mother tion has the unnatural mother? How is she, who For myself, I have taken some pains in improving have merely brought him into the world; if none of cast her son from her breast, to complain of his want the breed of the setter; yet am free to confess that the endearments of the cradle; if none of the inter- of affection? Oid age has overtaken her, the fancourse of babe and nurse have taken place between cied beauty, for which she bartered his birthright, is stock (except that derived from Old Czar, of Baltimore, which is too young to hunt,) has been them; if the mother have, in the fulness of her fond | gone for ever. The gay hours, which she purloined completely beaten by an old setter, nameless* and ness and amiable partiality, nothing to relate and to from the cares of the cradle, are all passed away, fameless, and therefore feel anxious to know where boast of in the history of his first twenty months; if and cannot be replaced by the comforting conversa- the best breed is to be found. this space be with her a blank in his life, she never tion and heart-cheering obedience of her son. She loves him as a mother ought to love; while he, taught now feels the force of the maxim, No breast, no mo PHILOKUON.. Frederick countly, Jan. 23, 1826. by unerring nature, is quick as lightning in pene- ther. The hireling is more his mother than she. DEAR Sir, trating her feelings, and repays her with that indif- The last stage of life is no season for the officious Although I disclaim all merit to the introduction ference and coldness which, though a punishment attention of friends; and he, who would have been of the shot cartridge, yet I have great pleasure in of great severity, are her just reward. worth all the friends in the world, has in his breast replying to the inquiries of "Scolopax." I first saw Wives, and young wives in particular, let me be- no feeling sufficiently strong to draw him to this scene them used by an officer of the Royal Artillery in seech you to reflect on these things. Let me be- of sadness. If held by some tie of interest, his hypo- 1811, at that time my shooting companion, and a seech you to cast from you, not your children, but crisy, which he cannot disguise from the sharp sight most accomplished sportsman. We shot a great those crafty flatterers who would persuade you, that of conscious want of duty, only adds to her mortifi- deal together, and used the cartridge exclusivelyto preserve your health and your beauty, you must cation; and, though she roll in riches, she envies the as far as my experience enables me, I give it debecome unjust, cruel, base, gross and unnatural; happy mother in rags. Thus, without a single ray cidedly the preference to any other mode; there is that, to provide for your health, you must dam up to dissipate the gloom, she passes on to that grave, none so convenient or so gentlemanly. the fountains the flow of which is in many cases ne- on which she knows not a tear will be shed, and in In dry weather I have seldom found any difficulty cessary to your very existence, and that, to make her fate proclaims to the world the truth, which can- in ramming home the cartridge, at least none more yourselves objects of love, you must cast from you not be too often repeated, that the duties of children that which of all things in the world is best calculated and those of parents are reciprocal, and that, to in [*Ought not our correspondent to ha e given the to rivet to you the hearts of your husbands. But, sure the performance of the former, the latter must name of this excellent dog, that it might be recorded in after all, old age must come; and then where are you first be performed. the Sporting Olio.] |