576 



MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



them to go alone and brine up ' the stock every 

 evening'. Farmers generally, as well as others, 

 are fond of getting labor-saving machines. — 

 What is the difference whether it be a dog or 

 machine ? 



The breed of Boxer is sometimes caHed the 

 Drover's or Tailless breed. 



In the N. Y. Farmer and Mechanic of April 

 30, 1846, the estimated loss of sheep annuaUj- de- 

 stroyed by dogs in the State of Ohio is stated 

 at S80,000. One farmer lost fifty in one night 

 If such loss takes place in one State, the amount 

 must be enormous, including all — enough, I 

 should judge, to awaken sheep-raisers to the 

 importance of keeping a sheep-protecting dog, 

 in preference to these murderous, sheep-killing 

 curs. Kill them off and sell their hides, and the 

 produce %vould soon be sufficient to stock the 

 country with a different race. 



In some parts of Europe they take the pups 

 from the slut, and let them be suckled by a ewe 

 and grow up with the flock — when, in case of 

 danger or fright from strange dogs or enemies, 

 they immediately run to their protector, kno^v- 

 ing he will not suffer them to receive any 

 harm. 



Youatt says instinct and education combine to 

 fit this dog for oar service. The Pointer will 

 act without any great degree of instruction, and 

 the Setter will crouch ; and most certainl3- the 

 Sheep Dog. especially if he have the example of 

 an older and expert one, will almost, without 

 the teaching of the master, become everything 

 that can be v^-ished — obedient to every order, 

 even to the slightest motion of the hand. There 

 is a natural predisposition for the office lie has 

 to discharge, which it requires little trouble or 

 skin to develop and perfect 



THE OLD GRAIN-GROWING AND PLANTATION STATES. 



THEIR CAPACITY TO GROW THEIR OWN WOOL AND AVEAR THEIR OWN CLOTH.— FACIL- 

 ITIES AND IMPEDIMENTS. 



The notes which follow this hasty introduc- 

 tion, and which are taken from the last Number 

 of the " Teass.ictions of the Highlaxd Ag- 

 RicrLTCRAL Society" of Scotland, may prove 

 both usetul and interesting, as they are drawn 

 from the experience of a district of hiUy and high 

 country — in some material respects resembling 

 certain regions in our own — which appear to be 

 in a fair way of being appropriated to the same 

 branch of industry. They will serve, at least to 

 aSbrd to a certain extent a standard of compari- 

 son between the weight of fleeces and of wool, 

 and the prices for the latter in America, and in 

 that country where the whole business of sheep 

 husbandry is probably ptirsued. ^vith as much 

 judgment and exactness in all its bearings, as 

 in any part of the world. 



One powerful consideration, which forbids 

 with us the pursuit of certain Agricultural ob- 

 jects which are followed with profit in Europe, 

 under circumstances of general similaritj", is the 

 great difference between the cost of labor there 

 and here. But in the business of raising Sheep, 

 and growing Wool, the labor employed bearing 

 so small a proportion to the results, the crop 

 being so large, compared with the culture and 

 the harvesting, this consideration in the cost 

 of production, loses its force in a great measure, 

 and leaves it a matter of just wonder and reason- 

 able inquiry, how it can be, that raising Wool at 

 ~(12r?6) 



existing prices, should constitute still an attract- 

 ive and profitable pursuit, in such countries as 

 the stormy and snow-cap-ped hiUs of Scotland 

 and Vermont and yet not be pushed to a much 

 greater extent than it is, in the mountainous and 

 cool regions of the southern and south-wentem 

 States ? We have a right to characterize the 

 Sheep business as being attractive and profita- 

 ble among the people to ■whom \ve have re- 

 ferred, for all who know anything of their char- 

 acter will admit that they are not the people to 

 persevere in any path blindly, and without look- 

 ing ahead to see ■where it leads. If the Scotch- 

 man says to himself, " Riches are got vi-i' pain, 

 kipt wi' care and tint wi' grief," it is equally the 

 good maxim of the Yankee to " look before he 

 leaps." 



We do not see, in fact how it would be easy 

 to designate any one source from which the ag- 

 gregate income of Maryland, and Virginia, and 

 Georgia, and the Carolinas could be so large- 

 ly and easily augmented, and with so little out- 

 lay, as it might by the increase of their flocks of 

 Sheep — improving them by a sufficient infusion 

 of the blood of breeds that would ensure, accord- 

 ing as circumstances may invite, either greater 

 weight of meat or more or finer wool. 



To this, however, there is one great difficulty : 

 need we specify what that is. or is not every 

 reader ready to sjisv;eT^popularity hunting ! 



