126 MONIIiLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



the west, particularly for winter feeding. You are aware that I did not succeed 

 in my first attempt at sheep feeding ; but that I consider ov/i.ig to the grossest 

 neglect in my absence in Pennsylvania. But what sheep I have now are doing 

 almost as well as I could wish, requiring little care. I consider that sheep 

 should yield 3 lbs. of wool each, worth 20 cents per lb. and each ewe a lamb 

 worth half a dollar ; so that each ewe would, all things considered, yield a dollar 

 yearly. Wethers or wedders would produce as much, from the additional wool 

 they will produce and the increase in value for mutton ; they can be driven a 

 great way to market, at a small expense, to the eastern cities, and where I believe 

 any quantity could be profitably disposed of. I intend increasing my present 

 stock, as I find I can do it with advantage, having the ground fixed to answer it, 

 and 1 feel satisfied that for the capital embarked and the care required, nothing 

 would pay better. I think you will admit I have put down the quantity of wool 

 and price at a low figure. I think, all things considered, if a person was once 

 well fixed, sheep could be fed in this district at a quarter of a dollar a head, all 

 expenses included — not certainly if they get over-high priced shepherds, put up 

 handsome and expensive sheep-houses and one hundred other things they don't 

 require in this country. In Scotland, Avhere the snows are deep in winter, and 

 lie for a long time, it is rarely they lose their sheep — I mean the Cheviots ; they 

 are a hardy, thrifty animal, and could live the winter through here, five years out 

 of six, except the flocks were very large and the bounds small, with little or no 

 winter food, such as turnips or hay — with both they would no doubt be better. 

 I think I have given all the information requisite. There is another thing to 

 be guarded against : that is, choosing a laurel district ; for in winter when the 

 ground is covered with snow, and also the lambs are subject to eat of it, and al- 

 though there are many effectual remedies, if applied in time, the chance is, they 

 will not be discovered in time to save their lives. Folding at night I consider 

 unnecessary and rather injurious than otherwise. If there is any farther informa- 

 tion I can give you, it will give me pleasure. If your friend wishes to import 

 Cheviots, I can put him in the way of doing it safely — I mean without his run- 

 ning the risk of his being taken in. I would recommend the importation of a 

 few bucks and half a score of ewes, and crossing the native ewes with the Cheviot 

 bucks. From all I have observed, the last winter has been the severet-t there 

 fias been here for twenty years, and from all the information I could collect, I 

 feel no doubt in my mind, that very little winter food is necessary here for sheep 

 in general. They suppose here they can do in winter, like the bears, without 

 food, from all they provide for them, as far as I have observed. 



Believe me yours, truly, W. .MURDOCK. 



"We apprehend that our friend has allowed rather a high price for Cheviot wool. A pur- 

 son embarking in the busbiess would probal)ly do well not to count on more tliau 15 cents, 

 oiae year with another. Col. Hampton, of South Carolina, has a flock of about 7t)0, which 

 are never fed, and he kills as flue mutton as ever gi-aced the table of a Lord Mayor. 



[Ed. Farm. Lib. 



INDLVN CORN IN IRELAND.— The Dublin correspondent ol' the Moniiug Chronicle 

 Rays : " The use of Indian meal lias now becomi.' quite general throughout the couutiy, auil 

 the people prefer it to the potato, the enormous price of which, for some mouths past, had 

 placed it beyond the reach of the laboring classes. One good effect of this change hi the 

 i()od of the humbler classes is a reduction in the price of potatoes, botli for seed and for 

 immediate consumption." 



As Indian corn, says Hayden, has lately been imported largely into Ireland, it 

 may not be uninteresting to give (he following a place here: 



"The Nutritivk Propkrties of Indian Cohv compared with those of the Potato. 

 I'rojtortion of uutrition in 100 parts of potatoes, 24; proportion of do. in Indian ecru, 88 

 proportion of water in 100 parts of potatoes, 7-2 ; proportion in do. of Indian corn, 9." 



CULTURE OK THE ENGLISH WALNLT.— Mr. Wm. .Ienison-, of Ciunbridge, Mass. 

 thinks the culture of tlie English w;ilnut would be a lucrative business for the farmei-s of 

 Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. He states that he has known a single tree to pri>- 

 jluce 24 bushels in a season. [Albimy Cultivator. 



(270; 



