Lynchburg Virginian

From the N. Y. Spirit of the Times

TOUR OF AN AMERICAN STOCK BREEDER.

New York Oct. 22, 1841.

I have just had the pleasure of a most interesting conversation with my friend A. B. Allen, Esq., of Buffalo, New York, who returned last week in the London packet ship "Hendrick Hudson," from an Agricultural tour in England. Supposing that your readers would like to hear a little about Mr. Allen's movements, I send you a hasty line.

He says that there is nothing abroad that will compare with our unrivalled Roadsters and Trotters, and that if we continue to cultivate the breed with care, embracing such stock as Abbé Lalal's, Bellfounder's, Messenger's, &c., we may eventually become large exporters. Many inquiries were addressed to him on various occasions respecting them, and he has brought home orders to purchase a few first-rate ones. I observe that the London "Farmer's Magazine" has called upon Brother Jonathan to make a show of trotters at the next meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society, and as it is open to the whole world, I trust that some of our spirited breeders will do so next year at the annual meeting in July, in Bristol.

The English cart horse Mr. A. also thinks inferior to the great Pennsylvania wagon horse, and is of opinion that our racers here have more game or bottom than theirs, and would beat them in heats at three and four miles. Our soil and climate are decidedly superior for the perfection of this noble animal to those of England, especially on this side of the Alleghanies.

Of Short Horns, he seems to think that there is but one man's herd in England that is worth while crossing here—refer to Umfravile from; and throughout the stock of those breeders, New York, Ohio, and Kentucky would advantageously exhibit against all England. There are other breeds of horned cattle which he esteemed highly: as the Hereford, the Sussex, Devon, and North Devonshire, and Scotch Highlanders.

Mr. Roach had previously imported very superior South Down sheep from the celebrated flocks of the Duke of Richmond, Mr. Grantham, Mr. Ellman, and others, and these now arrive I cannot but prove a valuable cross upon them. A beautiful Shepherd's dog of Mr. Ritchie's accompanies those sheep, of a breed so superior that it requires to breaking in for the management of the woolly pack.

I was much pleased with the famous Dorking fowls, that, like Goliath, have an extra toe, and fatten occasionally to the great weight of 81bs. Some beautiful pheasants, the game bird of England, and the cross of which on the common barn fowl produces the game cock, are among the importation.

In swine, Mr. Allen went into a thorough examination, from the different species of the wild boar from Asia, and the forests of Germany, kept in the Zoological Gardens, the various kinds of Chinese, to all the most approved breeds of England. He pronounces the Berkshire as taking more good qualities in him on the whole than any other; and as size in them has been generally called for at the West, he has brought home specimens that stand three feet high, are of corresponding length, and will easily fat to 500 lbs.; but for fear these should not be large enough, he has added the greatest Keolworth breed, of a height of four feet, and which the London "Farmer's Journal" asserts will fat to the enormous weight of 1700 lbs. Mr. Allen thinks 1300 lbs. will be the maximum, but adds, with quiet naivette of expression, "if this does not prove large enough for the Southwest, I'll next year import a Rhinoceros that weighs three tons!" But I fancy that there will be no necessity for this; and that the advocates for size will now cry out "enough!" The Keolworth is really a good shape; their color is white.

In sheep, England I am nothing to compare with our fine Saxon and Merino. Of the long-wool tribe, such as the Leicesters, Cotswolds, and New Oxford, we only want a few, but of the South Downs he speaks very highly. Their mutton is far superior to their wool, fine enough for all family purposes. They are also of a very hardy character, and possess the best constitutions. Of these he has brought out two for Francis Rotch, Esq., of Butternuts, Otsego county, New York; for our late minister at the Court of St. James; and for the Right Rev. Bishop Meade of Virginia. They were selected from the flock of Mr. Jonas Webb, of Babraham, who carried off all the valuable prizes at the Royal Agricultural Show at Liverpool. They are of great size for South Downs. Mr. Rotch's buck lamb weighed in the scales when put on board ship, and only six months old, 152 pounds; Bishop Meade's, eighteen months old, 248 pounds; and Mr. Stevenson's, same age, 254 pounds. Mr. Webb killed a wether last Christmas that weighed, dressed, with the head on, 200 pounds; and his bucks usually shear from ten to eleven and a half pounds of wool, of a quality about three-fourths blood Merino. To show the value of these huge bred animals abroad, the sire of Mr. Rotch's lamb was let to the Duke of Newcastle, for this season alone, at one hundred guineas; and I learn that the price of those brought over by Mr. Allen is one hundred guineas a head.

The white and light spotted improved Berkshires he pronounces spurious breeders; and of far superior quality and shape. The true animal is just as one hundred times described in this and kindred journals, viz., black, or a dark rich plum color, with a slight flecking of white; and occasionally, though rarely, the fleckery may be sandy, or of buff color, preserved from the old originals.

He has selected stock from all the best families in Berkshire, and the neighboring counties that breed them, which he will keep apart at home, and thus prevent the necessity of again importing for years. He found good ones scarce and high, and was obliged personally to look over several thousand head, and personally buy extensively in every direction this large tier of counties, before completing his selections, notwithstanding his employment of several agents, and the most extensive dealers to assist him.

Indeed, he found the British farmer quite as careful in selecting for sowing as in choosing breeders for his stock—a matter now too little attended to at home. The implements of husbandry he thought generally cumbersome, complex, and needlessly expensive. Some things, notwithstanding, would be worthy of American adoption.

Of the corn laws he does not think there will be any modification that can substantially benefit us, though Sir Robert Peel, in order to quiet the manufacturers, may propose a small abatement of duty. But Mr. Allen takes the starting ground, that, if he would consult America's benefit alone, he would make them to stand just as they do now; and he defends this position by saying that it would greatly promote emigration of worthy, substantial people, and that the population, wealth and strength thereby procured to America would be much greater than if the ports of Great-Britain were open to the grain.
On the different ranks of the people in England, their condition, living, &c., and other interesting topics, we held much conversation; but I have extended my conversation too much already, and I am eager to say Mr. Allen will soon favor the Public with notes of his tour. So I forbear; only acknowledging my obligations to him for his prompt and frank manner of replying to my various and minute inquiries.

Yours, truly,
J. O. C.