SHEEP AND CIIESNUT3. 



From all the periodicals thatreach us, conduct- 

 ed by our colleagues and predecessors, we might 

 select interesting matter enough to make up a 

 most valuable miscellany, but as we suppose, 

 and most sincerely hope that most, if not all, of 

 them are taken by the patrons of the Fanners' 

 Library, we think it bolter to give matter which 

 otherwise they would not be likely to see. 



We take the following from the ' Cultivator ' 

 because the first will be useful as a practical 

 guide to those, of whom there are many in the 

 South, inquiring for Sheep ; and the second com- 

 presses very useful information in a small com- 

 pass, about planting Chesnuts — a thing most 

 improvidently neglected — and which needs to 

 be particularlj' illustrated. 



There is no planter, who, if he should live to 

 be sixty years of age, might not provide an 

 ample supply of Locust and Chesnut timber?/" 

 he would. By-the-b}', Mr. Manice, at his most 

 beautiful residence on Long-I.sland, has the 

 Spanish Chesnut in great number, of which he 

 offered as many as we chose to take. They are 

 now all gone. 



Live Stock in Connecticut. — Sheep. 



Connecticut has many fine-wooled flocks of 

 sheep, some of which we had the pleasure of 

 examining in our late excursion through the 

 State. 



John AVard, of Salisbury, near Falls Village, 

 has a flock of 700 Saxons. Their fleeces ave- 

 rage 2^ pounds, and sold last year at 60 cts. per 

 pound. In another part of Salisbury, we saw 

 a small flock of Cotswolds, belonging to John C. 

 CofEng, Esq. They were purchased of Mr. 

 Devine, of Wa-shington Hollow, Dutchess 

 county. New-York. 



^ H,. "G. Camp, Esq., of Litchfield, Ct., has a 

 very superior flock of 170 Saxons. They were 

 derived mostly from the noted flock of Charles 

 B. Smith, Esq. of Torringford, Ct. The wool of 

 Mr. Camp's sheep is very fine, and the fleeces 

 averaged this season, 2 lbs. 14 ounces, vv-hich 

 sold at 663 ct.s. per pound. Mr. Smith imported 

 two bucks from Saxony, in 1843. Both of these 

 bucks Mr. Camp has used in his flocks. His 

 lambs of the present season, many of them, are 

 certainly very fine. 



Mr. Lucas, of Goshen, N. Y.,ha3 a small flock 

 of mixed Saxon and Merinoes, which are re- 

 markable for the weight of their fleeces. 

 Twelve ewes, six old ones and six yearlings, 

 eight of which reared lambs, gave this .season 

 CI J lbs. f.f well-washed wool — being an ave- 

 rage of 5 pounds and 2 ounces. 



Henry Watson, Esq., of East Windsor, has 

 one of the best and mo.st profitable flocks we 

 have met with. He is a veteran in the breed- 

 ing of Sheep, as -well as other .stock. He, in 

 connection with Mr. Hurlbut. of Winchester, 

 purchased some of the best Saxons of the first 

 importation of Messrs. Searle, of Boston, in 

 IS-ij. His present flock are of various grades 

 of the Saxon blood then obtained, cro.ssed with 

 the pure Merino. His wool is fine, and he ob- 

 tains the highest prices for it. At .several man- 

 ufacturing establishments v.-here we happened 

 to call, we saw or heard Mr. Watson's wool 

 given as an example to wool-growers of what 

 (.5081 



waa wanted in quality and condition, fo7- fine 

 Kool. Tliis year it brought 50 cents per pound, 

 sold in his neighborhood. Last year he sold it 

 in tlie dirt, obtaining a price equal to 60 cents 

 per pound for washed wool. His fleeces ave- 

 rage over three pounds, washed. Bucks' 

 fleeces weigh from 5 to 6^ pounds. 



Planting Chesnuts. — The rapid growth of 

 the Chesnut, the excellence of its timber, and 

 its fine ornamental appearance, render it a de- 

 sirable object of cultivation. The fruit vv-hich 

 it produces too is not the least consideration. 



Many, however, who attempt raising the trees, 

 partially or wholly fail in causing the seeds to 

 germinate. This is usually owing to the seeds 

 becoming dry before they arc planted. A few 

 days' exposure to drj-air is sufficient to prevent 

 their growing. Hence, as soon as they are ta- 

 ken from the tree they should be at once planted 

 before drying a day, or mixed witli moist sand, 

 and kept in that condition till planted. They 

 shovild not be covered more than inch and a liall 

 deep, if the soil is heavy, nor ,more than two 

 inches if it is light ; but a still bettor way is to 

 plant them half that depth, and then spread on 

 a thin covering — say one inch of peat, or rotten 

 leaves, wliich will keep the surface soft and 

 moist. 



It must be remembered that mice are exceed 

 ingly found of the nuti, and if planted near 

 grass lands, or other places fi-equented by mice, 

 the young plants will be missing the next 

 season. 



MUCH SAID IN A SMALL COMPASS. 



If men of influence in society, and of power 

 in government, would read and ponder what fol- 

 lows, it might go far toward bringing about a 

 more practical system of instruction in our com- 

 mon schools, and of ultimately improving the 

 face, as weli as the morals of the countiy. Un- 

 fortunately, the men to whom the great business 

 of legislation is confided, are too often men 

 without qualification, or ambition to learn any 

 thing beyond the readiest means of achieving a 

 — party triumph ! 



One Important Cause of Non-I.mprove- 

 MENT IN Agricueture. — I had occasion to visit 

 the son of a friend of mine, at a school of great 

 respectability in a wealthy agricultural district. 

 The master, a very intelligent person, showed 

 me the details of his well-airanged establish- 

 ment, which was certainly a pattern in every 

 respect. On entering the well-filled school- 

 room, he observed, that most of his scholars 

 were farmers' sons. Glancing at his library, I 

 inquired what books on agricultural subjects it 

 contained ? The master seemed stnjck with 

 surprise (as if the thought of such books had 

 never occurred to him,) and replied, " With 

 •shame I acknowledge, not one ; but send me a 

 list of such as you recommend, audi will imme- 

 diately procure them." Now. I apprehend this 

 case might be multiplied hy a thon.sand or more. 

 Can we wonder then that a youth who never 

 heard the word agriculture nt school, and who 

 is seldom or never sent into different district.': to 

 be taught agriculture as a science, shonlil go 

 home to his parent, and follow his plan of farm- 

 ing^bc it good, bad, or indifferent. In all other 

 trades and professions an apprenticeship is ecu 



