SOLON ROBINSON, 1844 397 



drachm of strychnine (the extract of nux vomica or "dog 

 butter") costs $1.75 and will make 175 doses. No matter 

 if it kills a few dogs too — they have killed more sheep 

 for me than ever wolves did. 



Do n't forget to shut up your own bucks from July 1 to 

 Nov 15, and make wethers of every other man's that run 

 at large. And above all, do n't forget to get the sheep. 

 And do n't forget the good advice of your old friend. 



Lake C. H., la., July, 1844. 



Driving Sheep to the Western Prairies. 



[New York American Agriculturist, 4:26-27; Jan., 1845] 



[November 27, 1844] 

 I have already written "Advice to Western Emi- 

 grants," as well as some information upon the subject of 

 keeping sheep in this prairie country, "Cost of a Prairie 

 Farm," &c, for which see Vol. I. of the American Agri- 

 culturist. 1 I now propose to furnish your eastern readers 

 a guide-board, to direct those vast flocks of sheep whose 

 heads are turned westward to stock the prairies; and 

 these I will start from the Western part of New York, 

 and drive them to the north-western corner of Indiana, 

 and there put them into winter-quarters. 



I will suppose a flock of 1000 sheep, with a large pro- 

 portion of ewes, at least three-fourths, and about 30 good 

 rams. I will also suppose the lambs yeaned about the 1st 

 of April, and shearing over the 1st of June. 



"Then up and away with jingling bells, 



Over the hills and through the dells; 



The prairie land is far away, 



But full of grass and sweetest hay." 



But first of all, before you start, get ready. And like the 



member who spoke upon the "hog law," who remarked 



that "he ought to know something of 'em, for he was 



brought up among them," I would also have you during 



the drive as familiarly connected with the sheep as he 



1 Printed ante, 343-47. 



