THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



441 



m<ated discussion upon some subject unknown to me. In 

 about fifteen or twenty minutes, al! would proceed to their 

 i'eedinp grounds with busiuess regularity. In the after- 

 noon if food had been plentiful) an erening visit would 

 take pace ; but this was dilTerently conducted, for all sat 

 solemnly perched, and no cawing, nor any disturbance, was 

 allowed This was a Quaker meeting; and after a short time 

 spent in a quiet orderly manner, a gradual dispersion took 

 place in twos aud threes, and, before dark, they had joined 

 the metropolis, where would be heard a grand burst of caw- 

 ing as every detachment arrived. I fully believe that ques- 

 tions were asked and replies given ; but I doubt if we shall 

 ever master the rook-tongue. Perhaps a Chinese might 

 make out some of it, but then the grand difficulty would be 

 to understand John Chinaman.— Correspondent of the 

 Family Friend. 



FOOT ROT IN SHEEP. 



This disease is, I believe, but little understood by farmers 

 generally, except those who have been brought up on flock 

 farms, and have made the nature aud diseases of these animals 

 their special study, aud foot-lameness arising from over-driving^ 

 or wetness of pastures, is often mistaken for it. The real foot 

 rot, which is a terrible compLunt if you once get it among your 

 flock, is easily detected by a peculiar smell arising from the 

 diseased feet that doej not attach itself to the common foot. 

 lameness, although I have no doubt if neglected, that complaint 

 will ultimately resolve iteelf ia the foot rot. The stench arising 

 from the parts affected is so unlike any other that if you once 

 smell it you will never after mistake it, but can no more be 

 described than a Yankee hunter can describe the stink of a 

 skunk. Foot-lameness frequently causes discharge, but no* 

 ofthatfcetid natura that characterises the real disease, and 

 may generally be cured by simple remedies ; but if you detect 

 in the discharge an indescribable foetid smell, depend on it you 

 have got the foot rot among your sheep, and in that case put 

 them on your dryest pastures, or if possible under cover, and 

 feed and fat as fast as you can ; but by no means allow sound 

 sheep to come upon the land tainted by the diseased ewes for some 

 time, or the complaint will arise again among your fresh flock, 

 and especially upon wet soils, which seem to retain the power 

 of inoculation much longer than dry ones. It is a difficult 

 thing to get rid of a diseased flock, except by fatting ; and it 

 is a very dangerous experiment to sell them to a feeder if you 

 have the slightest symptoms of it among them ; but if they 

 were thoroughly diseased it is equally diflicult to fat them well • 

 and then, after having found that simple remedies do not 

 check the disease, I should advise the adoption of the following 

 measures, which I have known successful when all else have 

 failed. Let your shepherd examine the sheep singly, and, after 

 cleansing the diseased foot thoroughly, drop on the affected 

 parts one or two drops (not more) of butter of antimony. In 

 two or three days again examine them, and take a small quan- 

 tity of blue vitriol, aud add it to a pint of white vinegar, vary- 

 ing the strength of the dilution according to the violence of the 

 disease, and dress the foot slightly with this mixture. You 

 will soon see that the sheep improves in appearance, it treads 

 more soundly, and the eye gets brighter, having a more fresh 

 appearance altogether. And then with the following ointment- 

 Take of lard and soft soap half-a-ponnd of each, and simmer 

 gently over a slack lite ; add 2 oz. of rosin while it is cooling, 

 aud when nearly cool simmer again, adding, while simmering, 

 a quarter of a pint of green oil ; while it cools, put in a small 

 bottle of balsam from the chemists, and stir the whole until it 



is thoroughly mixed. This plan, although tedious, will cure 

 your sheep, but do not trust them agaiu or breed from the 

 ewea ; fat them off at once, and get a fresh flock. The oint- 

 ment is extremely useful to keep by you during the lambing 

 season, as, after straiaing, it allays inflammation by applica- 

 tion to the parts, and in difficult cases facilitates the getting 

 away of the lamb. A Farmer. 



— Sussex E-^'press. 



CALENDAR OF AGRICULTURE. 



The planting of beet and potatoes must now be 

 quickly finished, if any remain undone from last 

 month. Horse and hand-hoe all drilled crops : 

 allow not a single weed to be seen. 



Turn over the heaps of winter-prepared dung ; 

 and fermentation will readily commence. During 

 its progress, lay the dung in drills. Reverse the 

 ridglets, and sow the seeds of Swedish turnips 

 immediately, which will derive much benefit from 

 the near contact with the fermenting dung. In 

 the first place sow common swedes, then Laing's 

 and Matson's Hybrids, and follow with Aberdeen 

 Yellows. In dry weather, roll the drills imme- 

 diately : in moist, showery weather, it may not*be 

 required. 



Plant cabbages, kohl-rabi, savoys, and winter 

 broccolis from the seed-beds, on drills three feet 

 apart, and the sets two feet asunder along the 

 drills. Apply very moist half-rotted dung in a 

 large quantity on strong clay loams, and dibble 

 the plants into the ground during the wettest wea- 

 ther in which work can be performed, as the plants 

 require much moisture. Fill up blanks with fresh 

 plants, in order to procure an even crop. Sow 

 early turnips for an early crop, as Tankards and 

 whites; and sow rape, to be consumed on the 

 ground, as preparatory for wheat. 



Pare and burn rough lands, and spread the 

 ashes, in order to cool their warm condition. Pre- 

 pare the fallows for green crops, and also clay 

 fallows for wheat. 



Stall-fed cattle will now be disposed of— the fat 

 animals to the butchers : the leaner will go to the 

 pasture-fields, to be fattened on grass; but the 

 milch cov/s to pasture of permanent grass, adja- 

 cent and convenient, provided with water and 

 shelter, and improved by frequent top-dressings 

 and the sowing of clovers and of strong perennial 

 grasses. But a rich natural quality will not require 

 any assistance. The oldest calves may go to the 

 grass paddock ; and if the grass be scanty, assist- 

 ance must be given in racks, with clovers and 

 vetches. A shelter-shed and a supply of fresh 

 water are indispensable. 



The latest lambs will now require much atten- 

 tion, and must have the best pasture on the farm, 



