THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 



359 



Uuder the next head, low marshy grounds, even in a dry 

 season, would affect the respiratory functions of the sheep, as 

 already shown ; so that in a wet season, like the past, an in- 

 crease of debility would arise from impurity of the blood, the 

 result being thus similar to the others. 



And, lastly, with regard to sheep getting fat on this 

 disease, the anomaly is easily disposed of — for fatness at the 

 best is an approximation of disease ; and, in this case, the 

 increase of weight arises chiefly from an increase of water, 

 and inferior fatty matter in the system, or, as it is termed by 

 the different authors quoted, a sort of dropsy. We have no 

 relish for mutton of this quality, much less do we wish to 

 countenance its productiou, commerce, and consumption — 

 the fat, lean, and juices being all bad. When sheep assume 

 this dropsical state, it is obviously a very bad symptom of the 

 disease. 



In practice, a combination, in some way or other, of what we 

 have thus disposed of uuder four separate heads, is probably 

 that which is generally experienceJ. Such combiuations will, 

 no doubt, present a very wide diversity when individually 

 considered, so that no two of them may be alike in every re- 

 spect. In point of fact, this is absolutely necessary, to reconcile 

 the wide diversity of predisposing causes (if we may be 

 allowed the expression) with the uniformity of the result pro- 

 duced. 



With regard to the perconlra side of the question, the 

 various plans pursued to prevent disease are aa easily re- 

 conciled with the salutary effect produced by them, as we have 

 Been is the case on the other side. When the balance is in a 

 state of equilibrium it requires little to turn it the one way or 

 the other. Just so is it when the vh medicairix naiurce of the 

 sheep is in a state of equilibrium with that debilitated state 

 of the system which constitutes the first stage of the disease. 

 Under such a condition a dry bed at night, a little dry food, 

 " 31b3. of salt to forty sheep," or simply to allow the dew to be 

 " evaporated from the grass of a morning," thrown into one 



scale, may turn the trembling beam in favour of the aheep, just 

 as a few dewdropa in the opposite scale produces the con- 

 trary effect. But when once fluke begins to infest the liver 

 the gradual ruin of that organ is manifest, while the action of 

 unhealthy bile upon the alimentary functions, daily increasing 

 from bad to worse, cannot fail to terminate in what may be 

 justly termed a rotten state of the whole system. 



Again, the fact of the various prcventive-nostrums, aa salt, 

 decoctions of bitter plants, and such like, not having met with 

 the approbation of practical farmers, is just as easily reconciled 

 with science and the natural requirement of the sheep. It does 

 not require logic to prove this, for such preventive nostrums 

 are wholly incompatible with the hygeinic economy of this 

 little mountain quadruped. Salt may prevent fluke, but this 

 is not enough, for it is not by the mere prevention of this en- 

 tozoon that farmers live and pay their rents. It was not 

 upon salt that the writer's sheep bred and got fat in his salt 

 marshes, but upon the herbage, whose health and chemical 

 properties were affected by the salt as well as tho?e of the 

 sheep. On the contrary, the less the quantity of salt the better. 

 Sheep require a certain amount of salt daily ; but aa excess, to 

 prevent worms, is hurtful ; and if bitter aromatic principle is 

 wanting in the food of sheep, an extra quantity of salt must be 

 used to prevent worms, and then the practice will not pay 

 the farmer. Again, decoctions of bitter plants are not the 

 practical plan to exhibit bitter aromatic principles to this 

 animal. It is at variance with its natural habits; and be- 

 sides this, it won't pay. The farmer's proposition is not to 

 prevent the growth of fluke and other entozoon, but to sup- 

 ply his sheep with food of the quality its natural wants 

 require ; and for these the preventive nostrums do not make 

 satisfactory provision. Hence their rejection by practical 

 farmers of the old school, as well as by those of the pre- 

 sent day, as unsatisfactory, and only used by them in the ab- 

 sence of better. W. B. 



THE BULL "WINDSOR.' 



[The following letter has been addressed to Mr. Carr, of 

 Stackliouse, who has forwarded it to us for pitblication, as 

 bearing upon the description of his herd :] 



Braithwaitc, April -Llli. 

 Deab Sir, — As reflections or doubts as to the capabilities 

 of Windsor being a sire are expressed by parties referred 

 to in the notice of the Stackliouse herd, I give you the re- 

 sult of his visit to Braithwaite, which is due to Mr. Booth 

 and all shorthorn breeders that have used buUs by Windsor. 

 The bull Windsor arrived 22nd of May, 1860, and remained 

 until first week in February, 1(^61. He came not on hire 

 or to replace any other bull, but as a kind and generous 

 loan. In all I had 21 cows and heifers, most of them 

 ready for him. The following list is the amount of my 

 success with him : Two cast their calves in December and 

 January, ^'esper calved the 8th of March a roan c. c. ; 

 Sweet Carnation, ]st of April roan c. c, twins. I expect 

 one on the 9th of this month, ditto on the 15th of May, the 

 22nd of June, Gth, 12th, and 27th of July, 5th and 29th of 

 Angust, and one almost certain in September — if not to 

 Windsor to no other; she has not been in season since the 

 end of January, just before Windsor left for Killerby: a 

 f»ir lot for an old bull labomiug undsr an impediment, 



which, after the Warlaby herdsman's instructions, was 

 easily got over. No other bull was used from 22nd of 

 May until the end of November but for two animals, which 

 proved barren, and Windsor became ill with dysentery. 

 Prince George was then used to the cows that had missed 

 to Windsor. The latter bull then went to Killerby, and J 

 saw him a few days since, and hope another Soldier's 

 Bride may yet be produced to the owner of the Warlaby 

 herd, who has so generously helped so many tenant- 

 farmers to good stock by such acts of real kindness as 

 were conferred on myself by a visit previously, for five 

 weeks, of Sir Samuel, before Windsor's arrival ; the result 

 a beautiful white heifer calf, and a dark-red and white, 

 both li\ing, and a b. c. cast. 



If my testimony is of any avail in removing the errone- 

 ous impressions that Windsor is no sire, pray use it. That 

 at times there is more certainty than at others of his being 

 fruitful is true, but with patience and perseverance calves 

 are obtained. Windsor was out at gi-ass, and no artificial 

 food until November was given to him. 

 I remain, yours truly, 



Kayjiond Bbverk, 



