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Cultivation of the cedar among us. Perhaps the tree that propagated itself by layers in 1684, might be from the seed received by Mr. Evelyn; and the reputed age of that at Hillingdon agrees with the time of that importation; supposing that importation was made about the time of the delivery of the Discourse on Forest Trees: nor probably, notwithstanding tradition, is that at Hendon to be referred to a higher date. Why Sir Hans should wonder at the cedar thriving so well in the open air at Chelsea, I know not; for, though it be found in the warmer climates, it is known to be a native of the snowy mountains of Libanus, and consequently not likely to be destroyed by the inclemency of an English winter. But, I believe, we generally treat exotics, upon their first arrival among us, with more tenderness than they require. Perhaps the fear of losing them may be one reason; perhaps, too, they may be gradually habituated to endure a degree of cold which at first would have proved fatal to them. Upon the first introduction of the tea-tree, it was either kept in our green-houses, or, if planted in the open ground, matted or otherwise sheltered in the winter; we now find such care unnecessary. I have had one, at a degree N. of London, thrive and blossom for some years, in the open air, without the slightest protection, in the sever

est winter.

That this little memoir may not appear to terminate in mere curiosity, I think it warrants me in recommending the cultivation of the cedar for common use; as it is well known to be a very valuable material in the hand of the joiner and cabinet-maker. Mr. Miller observed their quick growth at Chelsea, in a poor gravelly soil: those at Hendon, Hillingdon, and Enfield, shew that they thrive as well in a very different one. Those planted by the old Duke of Argyle, at Whitton, have made the happiest progress; and I am assured that a room has been wainscotted with their timber. If these slight notes should induce any better informed person to throw more light on this subject, it would afford entertainment to many, as well as to,

1779, March.

Yours, &c.

JOHN CULLUM,

XLVI. The Harmless Nature of Hedge-Hogs.

MR. URBAN, Aug. 17, 1779. A COUNTRY churchwarden wants to be informed, whether the law hath set a price on the head of a hedge-hog, and whether it hath inclination and the power to milk the cow.

As to the first part of this inquiry, your correspondent may rest assured, that no such law is now in being, or ever did exist: for to what purpose should mankind be roused to persecute, even with circumstances of barbarity, a poor, harmless, inoffensive creature, slow and patient, incapable to offend, or to do the least injury to any part of the animal creation, except devouring worms, snails, and other such creatures, on which it feeds, together with the berries of hawthorns and brambles, and other wild berries? Perhaps the appearance it makes may have disgusted some unthinking people, being guarded by nature against all common dangers, by prickles, and a power of rolling itself round in them when apprehensive of an enemy, by means of a strong membrane or muscle, something like a foot-ball.

As to the power and inclination of milking a cow, I may venture to say, that such a notion is one of the most absurd and the silliest of all vulgar errors. Had providence intended the hedge-hog should have been vested with such a power, it would have been properly enabled to have carried that power into execution, by endowing it with a mouth large enough to receive the pap of the cow, and without giving any uneasiness to the cow during the operation of sucking: but, instead of that, the head of the hedge-hog terminates in a snout like that of a common hog, the mouth is small, armed with sharp and short teeth, utterly improper for suction, and which must destroy the very supposition of such a power; and thence we may safely conclude the hedgehog cannot have any inclination to milk a cow. The hedgehog lives in the bottoms of hedges and among furze or whins; it collects moss, dry leaves, and grass, wherewith to make a warm bed. I remember formerly, that a roasted hedgehog and fried mice were reckoned good in the chin-cough, or hooping-cough.

1779, dug.

S. L

XLVII. Account of the Free Martin.

An Extract from Mr. Hunter's Account of the Free Martin, in the Philosophical Transactions.

IT is a known fact, and, I believe, is understood to be universal, that when a cow brings forth two calves, and that one of them is a bull calf, and the other a cow to appearance, the cow calf is unfit for propagation. They are known not to breed: they do not even shew the least inclination for the bull, nor does the bull ever take the least notice of them*; but the bull calf becomes a very proper bull.

This cow calf is called in this country a Free Martin; and this singularity is just as well known among the farmers as either cow or bull,

This calf has all the external marks of a cow calf.

When they are preserved, it is not for propagation, but to yoke with the oxen, or to fatten for the tablet.

They are much larger than either the bull or cow; and the horns grow larger, being very similar to the horns of an

ox.

The bellow of the Free Martin is similar to that of an ox, which is not at all like that of a buil; it is more of the cow, though not exactly that.

The meat is also much finer in the fibre than either the bull or cow; and they are more susceptible of growing fat with good food. By some they are supposed to exceed the ox and heifer in delicacy of food, and bear a higher price at market.

However, it seems that this is not universal; for I was lately informed by Charles Palmer, Esq. of Luckley, in Berkshire, that there was a Free Martin killed in his neighbourhood, and, from the general idea of its being better meat than common, every neighbour bespoke a piece, which turned out nearly as bad as bull beef, at least worse than that of a cow. It is probable, that this might arise from this one having more the properties of the bull than the cow, as

I need hardly observe here, that if a cow has twins, and that they are both bull calves, that they are in every respect perfect bulis; or, if they are both cow calves, that they are perfect cows.

† Vide Leslie on Husbandry, p. 98, 99.

we shall see hereafter that they are sometimes more the one than the other.*

Free Martins are said to be in sheept; but, from the accounts given of them, I should very much suspect that these are hermaphrodites produced in the common way, and not like those of cattle. They are often imperfect males, several of which I have seen. They are mentioned as both male and female, which is not reconcileable to the account given of the Free Martin.

I believe it has never been even supposed what this animal is, with all those peculiarities.

From the singularity of the animal, and the account of its production, I was almost ready to suppose the account a vulgar error; yet from the universality of its testimony it appeared to have some foundation; and therefore I made all the inquiry I could for an opportunity of seeing one, and also to examine it. Since which time I have accordingly had an opportunity of seeing three; the first of which was one belonging to John Arbuthnot, Esq. of Mitcham, which was calved in his own farm, He was so obliging as to give me an opportunity of satisfying myself. He allowed me, first, to have a drawing made of the animal while alive, which was executed by Mr. Gilpin. When the drawing was made of Mr. Arbuthnot's Free Martin, John Wells, Esq. of Bickley Farm, near Bromley, in Kent, was present, and informed us, that a cow of his had calved two calves; and that one was a bull calf, and the other a cow calf. I desired Mr. Arbuthnot to speak to Mr. Wells to keep them, or let me buy them of him; but, from his great desire for natural knowledge, he very readily preserved them both, till the bull shewed all the signs of a good bull, when he sold him,

From the dissection of the three abovementioned Free Martins, Dr. Hunter says, it plainly appeared, that they were all hermaphrodites differing from one another; as is also the case in hermaphrodites in other tribes.

An account exactly similar is given by one of our corre

* The Romans called the bull taurus: they, however, talked of taure in the feminine gender, And Stephens observes, that it was thought the Romans meant by tauræ, barren cows, and called them by this name because they did not conceive any more than bulls. He also quotes a passage from Columella, lib. vi. cap. 22, “and like the tauræ, which occupy the place of fertile cows, should be rejected or sent away." He likewise quotes Varro, De Re Rustica, lib. ii. cap. 6. The cow which is barren, is called taura.” From which we may reasonably conjecture, that the Romans had not the idea of the circumstances of their production,

Leslie's Husbandry, p. 156,

spondents. "I am assured," says he, "that the female twin will never breed; and that it is usual in such cases to yoke the steer and heifer together." At the same time it is allowed, that if the twins had both been heifers, both would have bred. In both cases the assertions are founded on repeated experience.

1780, Jan.

XLVII. Account of a Gigantic Child.

MR. URBAN, Enfield, Mar. 11. OBSERVING your readiness to record in your valuable Repository whatever is wonderful in the economy of nature, I send an account of an astonishing phenomenon with respect to growth, in a child of nine months old, which was com municated to the Royal Society, addressed to their Secretary, JOSEPH PLANTA.

SIR,

Enfield, Nov. 25, 1799.

INCLOSED I send you the proportions of an extraordinary large child, a native of this parish*, as taken by Mr. Sherwen, an ingenious surgeon and apothecary of this place, whose accuracy and judgment I can confide in, as I have not yet had an opportunity of examining this phenomenon myself. The child's father has the conduct of a paper mill by the side of Enfield Marsh, and is, I believe, about 36 years of age, his mother about 42, and at present of a healthy habit; neither of his parents remarkable for their size or stature. They have had five children; the eldest of the three now living is 12 years old, and rather small of his age; but his paternal grandfather was of a size larger than ordinary. They had another son of uncommon proportion, who died of the measles in Jan. 1774, at the age of 15 months; the carpenter who made his coffin observed, that he had never measured so tall a child. The present subject being the second of the kind, excites a greater degree of curiosity, of which the father intends to avail himself, by carrying the child up to London, and making a public shew of him.

* He was born Feb. 7, 1779,

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