good pasture. The horses of the county are not good, most of them being too slender for heavy farm work. A beautiful stallion of the English cart-horse breed has been introduced, and although his (half-blood) stock have proved themselves of uncommon strength and endurance, yet such is the mania for fast driving, that his merits are but little appreciated. The celebrated horse "Alfred," which received the first prize at the late State Fair, has some excellent stock in this county, and for a horse of all-work, is not probably excelled. An increased attention is given in the county to sheep, and the native stock has been crossed with Merino and Saxon; the latter, from their tenderness and small size, are becoming unpopular. Some very excellent Leicesters have also been introduced. The swine in the western part of the county have been greatly improved by Leicesters and Berkshires, and especially the latter, some very fine specimens of which exist; and halfbloods are very highly esteemed. The amount of food consumed by them to produce a given quantity of flesh and fat, is not probably half as much as is the case with the common swine of the country.

The number of domestic animals in the county, as furnished by the last census, is as follows:

Agricultural Implements.-Various modifications of the original cast-iron plough have been more or less used; one termed the "Cayuga County Plough," to which the county premium has been twice. awarded, is becoming a favorite with farmers. Various harrows are used; the square-double hinged is perhaps the most common, and is considered the best. A few farmers have found a decided advantage, except on the roughest land, in employing harrows with smaller and more numerous teeth than usual. They are constructed of timber only two inches square, and the teeth are half an inch by three quarters of an inch, and about eight inches long. Being thus nearly double the usual number, without adding to the weight of the harrow, they produce a more thorough pulverization than with a common harrow. Straw cutters, with the exception of the common simple one, worked by an alternate motion of the hand, are not extensively used. Some of improved construction, among the rest Gilson's, are used by enterprising farmers; one of whom drives a Gilson cutter by horse-power, and cuts all his straw and cornstalks by this means. Thrushing machines, formerly employed, were stationary; but these have nearly gone out of use, and itinerant ones are taking their place-thus saving a heavy outlay in their purchase. One of the very best among the latter, and which appears to be preferred by all farmers who have used it, is Pitt's thresher and separator. It requires but about half the num[Assembly, No. 100.]

48

ber of hands; may be driven all day with scarcely a moment's interruption; saves all the chaff with the straw, and obviates the laborious process of after cleaning with the fanning-mill. Melish's and Gilsons' root shears have been used to some extent; the latter are preferred. The revolving rake is almost universal, and is regarded as indispensable almost as the plough. The roller is used by good farmers; the double roller being much the best, and turning about more easily: hollow ones are better than solid, surmounting obstructions more readily. The cultivator is coming into extensive use, and the practice of hilling corn gradually disappearing.

Much improvement has been made within a few years, in many instances, in the agriculture of this county; but a doubt cannot exist that improvemont is yet in its infancy. Great and obvious changes for the better may be effected; and among a few of these are perhaps the following: A thorough draining of all wet, low, and swampy ground, chiefly by underdrains, which would be of incalculable value. In a few instances, it has already increased the value of such land many fold. One piece of land, which a few years ago, would not sell for five dollars an acre, now yields a nett profit of more than the interest on $150 the acre. Regular rotation of crops would also be of the highest advantage. The county possesses uncommon facilities, in its large quantities of marl and peat, for the manufacture of manures these, if largely employed, with a free use of the sub-soil plough, on a soil possessing many advantages over the more clayey lands farther south, would render this county pre-eminent for its agriculture. To a free circulation and spread of agricultural knowledge, we must look as the chief source, whence the necessary intelligence and enterprize must spring, to call these latent treasures into action, and to secure the most desirable results."

STATEN-ISLAND.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE AGRICULTURE OF RICHMOND COUNTY, †

[By SAMUEL AKERLY, M. D. of Southfield.]

In my communication of last year, (1842) some of the fish taken along shore during the spring and autumn in small hoop-nets were merely named. As the fishing season is now over, I am enabled to be more particular, from practical experience, having noticed the several genera and species taken in 1843. In previous years the privilege of setting nets on my shore was given to a fisherman, on condition of receiving an occasional mess of fish; but having been frequently disap

*It is but justice to state that the short residence of the writer in this county has much limited his means of information, and the preceding remarks are chiefly confined to the south-western part. He is indebted to J. A. Miller of Newark, for some valuable facts, + Vide former vol. of " Transactions."

pointed, and frivolous pretexts given, I had a net prepared and set; and for six weeks in the spring, and two months in the fall, the family were daily supplied with a superabundance of eatable fish, together with some, though eatable, yet not generally esteemed, and others not eaten except by the hogs, and when not given to them, buried in the soil to make manure.

The following catalogue contains the common names of the fish taken in the spring and autumn of 1843, on the shore of Oakland Farm, near the Great Kills, on the south side of Staten-Island, viz :

Also crabs, lobsters, speckled crabs and horse-feet.

In addition to these, there were taken in the latter part of September, soon after the fike was set, a green tortoise, and a cow-nose stingray. The same name is frequently given to different fishes in different parts of the country, and several names are sometimes given to one fish. Each one of the above will therefore require some remarks, and that they may not be mistaken, the scientific names will also be given from the works of the late Dr. Samuel L. Mitchill,* and of Dr. J. E DeKay. t

WEAK-FISH.-Labrus squeteague, of Mitchill; Otolithus regalis, of

De Kay.

This is a most delicate edible fish, the flesh fine and tender. It dies very soon after being taken out of the water, and in a short time becomes soft and flabby. It is frequently taken with the hook and line. in the waters about Staten and Long Islands. It sometimes appears in the fish markets of the city of New-York, but the difference of eating it there when stale, and here when recently taken, is very great. Its flesh is not solid enough to be boiled, and it is usually prepared by broiling. It is sometimes taken of the length of a foot, and of eighteen inches, weighing from two to three pounds.

KING-FISH.-Sciona nebulosa, Mit.; Umbrina alburnus, De K.

This is also a very excellent edible fish occasionally taken in these waters, in nets, and by the hook and line, but not so plentifully as the weak-fish. King fish are more abundantly taken in the bays on the south side of Long-island. The flesh has more solidity and consistence than the weak-fish, and is equally delicate eating. It seldom appears in the fish markets of New-York.

Flat fish. Of the flat-fish or flounders, four species were taken

* Mitchill's New-York Fishes, in the Transactions of the New-York Lit. and Philos. Soc. † Nat. Hist. of New-York, Part 1. by J. E. De Kay, M. D.

in the fike, and in greater numbers, both spring and fall, than any other fish.

NEW-YORK FLAT-FISH.-Pleuronectes planus, Mit.; Platessa plana, De K.

NEW-YORK FLOUNDER. Pleuronectes dentatus, Mit.; Platessa dentata, De K.

The above two species, are excellent pan-fish, and taken in greater abundance than the two following:

NEW-YORK PLAICE.-Pleuronectes maculatus, Mit. and De K.

NEW-YORK SOLE. Pleuronectes mollis, Mit.; Achirus mollis, De K.

These are small and thin, and though eatable, are not eaten because there is so little on them.

BLACK-FISH.-Labrus tautoga, Mit.; Tautoga americana, De K. This is a chunky solid fish. It is taken all along our coast in great abundance by the hook and line, and in deep water and rocky bottom. It is tenacious of life, and lives some time out of its own element. The New-York markets are amply supplied with black-fish, and although wounded with the hook when caught, they survive the injury, and are kept in cars, whence they are taken alive, fresh and good. Those taken in hoop-net, are of the smaller sizes, but fine pan-fish.

SUN-FISH OF LITTLE PORGEE.-Labrus obliquus, Mit.; Leiostomus obliquus, De K.

This is somewhat like a fresh-water fish of the same name. It is shaped something like a porgee, but not so deep from the dorsal to the pectoral fins. It is not abundant nor large, being four or five inches long. It is a good pan-fish, but not so much esteemed, nor so delicate as either of the preceding species noticed as eaten.

DOG-FISH.-Squalus canis, Mit.; Mustelus canis, De K.

This is a small species of shark, eighteen inches to two feet long, sometimes taken in the fikes, whither it pursues other fish to devour them. It will bite at the hook and line, and old sportsmen know its presence by the manner of taking hold of the bait. If the fisherman cannot hook him, he need not expect to catch other fishes, for they give him a wide birth. The dog-fish is not eaten.

BLADDER-FISH, NEW-YORK TOAD-FISH OR PUFFER.-Tetrodon turgidus, Mit, and De K.

The puffer is an eatable fish, but not often eaten, as it is small, and is not taken in large numbers. It is a stray or unsocial fish, running singly; and not more than two or three are caught at a time. When taken out of the water, it swells into a round mass like a bladder, hence its name. If eaten it must be skinned, and its flesh is white and tastes like an eel.

TOAD-FISH.-Lophius bufo, Mit.; Batrachus tau, De K.

This is an unsightly slimy inhabitant of the salt water, troublesome to fishermen, difficult to handle, and not eaten. It will bite at the hook, but other fish avoid its company, and are not taken as long as a toad fish is near the bait. As they swim along shore, however, they get entrapped with better fish.

SHAD.-Clupeta alosa, Mit.; Alosa præstabilis, De K.

Of this excellent edible fish, an account was given in my communication last year. It is sometimes taken in the small fike along shore, but large hoop-nets are set farther from the land and in deeper water to catch them in abundance.

HERRINGS.-Four species of these fish are occasionally taken in the small fikes, but not in large numbers, as they usually keep farther from shore in deeper waters. They are the

COMMON AMERICAN HERRING.- Clupea harengus, Mit.; Clupea elongata, De K.

MOSSBONKER.-Clupea menhaden, Mit.; Alosa menhaden, De K. The herrings are all eatable fish, but the Mossbanker is so full of bones that it is difficult to eat it without the danger of being choked with the bones. This species is only employed as manure.

DOREY.-There were a number of individuals of two species of Dorey taken in the fall. They are beautiful and singular beings of the fish kind, of a bright silvery whiteness, small and thinner than any of the flat-fish, but swimming on the edge. Both are figured and described by Mitchell and De Kay.

ROSTRATED DOREY.-Zeus rostratus, Mit.; Argyreiosus vomer, De K.

HAIR FINNED DOREY.-Zeus capillaris, Mit.; Argyreiosus capillaris, De K.

STRIPED-BASS OR ROCK-FISH.-Perea Mitchilli, Mit. Labrax lineatus, De K.

This excellent fish is the striped-bass of New-York, and the rockfish of Philadelphia. It is taken in all the neighboring waters by the hook and line, by the seine or drag-net, and by the fike or stationary hook-net. New-York market is abundantly supplied with striped-bass, taken by every method. The smaller-sized ones run with the tides close along shore, and find their way into the small hoop-nets. But occasionally some of the larger-sizes, weighing three or four pounds, are taken in them. In the fish-markets of New-York, a large bass, fit