206 



THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



The importation of the large Spanish shepherd 

 dog has been recommended, as he will iftvariably 

 attack and kill any dow that approaches his flock, 

 but this would be an expensive and troublesome 

 measure, and it would take a long while to breed 

 a sufficient number of them here, before they 

 could become generally effectual. During our 

 recent visit to Kentucky, we learned a very sim- 

 ple, and -at the same time profitable way of 

 guarding sheep, which is this : — 



Put a few active cows, with their sucking 

 calves, in the same pasture with the fiock — five 

 would probably be enough for several hundred 

 sheep, to which add five aciive three year old 

 steers, and as many more two year olds. Take 

 a gentle dog into the field, with a long light cord 

 about his neck, the end held in the person's hand 

 accompanying, to keep him in check, and then 

 set him onto the sheep. The cows, thinking of 

 their oflispring, will immediately advance to head 

 the dog and guard the calves, the steers will fol- 

 low their example, and the sheep retreat behind 

 them. Thus coniinue a i'ev/ times, till the steers 

 are well broke in, when the cows can be taken 

 away and they will inevitably gore any dog to 

 death that dare persist in attacking the flock. 

 However brave a dog may be in other matters, 

 the moment he attacks the sheep, he seems to 

 be conscious of the ignominy of it, and as if con- 

 science stricken, becomes a coward, and will run 

 at the slightest approach fi-om other animals. 



When steers arrive at the age of (bur years, 

 it is generally requisite to remove them to better 

 pasture than is required for sheep, for the purpose 

 of fatting, or they are wanted for the yoke. But 

 just before this is done, add as many two year 

 olds as you wish to remove of the older ones, and 

 the three year olds left will soon break in the 

 young ones, and so the system can be annually 

 icept up as long as requisite. 



For these guards, we would recommend a 

 small active race of animals, with sharp horns, 

 as they would more efi'ectually gore and toss a 

 dog, and it will require a small active animal to 

 support itself on feed, that is generally as short as 

 sheep pastures usually are. The hardy red cattle 

 of New England would be admirable for this 

 purpose, or indeed any active native animals, 

 those chosen from the hill or mountainous districts 

 would be best, as more fleet and pugnacious when 

 required. We are told by hunters, that it is thus 

 the wild buff"alo protects himself, on the vast plains 

 of the west, from the attacks of savage bands of 

 wolves, and they not unfrequently afford protec- 

 tion to whole herds of deer. Mr. Hart, of Ken- 

 tucky, defended the deer in his park by the elk, a 

 single pair of which, would be sufficient to guard 

 hundreds of them, as they would run down the 

 fiercest dog in a few minutes, and cut him in two 

 by perhaps a single stroke of the sharp hoofs of 

 their fore feet. 



IRISH POTATOES AND OATS IN KEW LAND. 



From the N. H. Montlily Visitor. 



We have heretofore endeavored to impress 

 upon our readers the value of our rough moun- 

 tain lands. There yet remains much land in the 

 upper counties of this state considered of little 



value that may be made valuable. In conversa- 

 tion with Winihrop Folsom, Esq., of Dorchester, 

 a few days ago, we gathered the following facts : 



Four or five years ago he purchased a lot of 

 eight acres of uncleared rocky land, for which he 

 gave three dollars per acre : this land, covered 

 with a growth of wood, he cut down, cleared, 

 burnt and fenced at an expense of eight dollars 

 per acre — making the cost of land eleven dollars 

 per acre. It was planted with potatoes: he 

 charged himself one dollar for every day's work 

 done, and twentv-five cents per bushel for the 

 seed potatoes. He called the potatoes raised that 

 year on the ground worth sixteen cents the 

 bushel ; and he found the sain of this year's ope- 

 rations, above the cost of land and clearino: and 

 the expense of seed and labor, to be ninety dollars, 

 or nine dollars per acre. The next succeeding 

 year he raised on the same ground four hundred 

 bushels of oats : since that time the same land 

 has produced a decent crop of hay, and is now 

 good pasture land. 



Mr. Folsom has more recently purchased a 

 lot of three hundred acres of these wild lands 

 at the price of one dollar an acre. On this land 

 he has commenced clearing. His first clearing 

 was fifteen acres at the cost of eight dollars an 

 acre. His first crop of potatoes on this ground 

 was 3,100 bushels. Three thousand nushels 

 so!d to the starch manufacturers at one shilling 

 the bushel, brought S500 — one hundred bushels 

 drawn home worth S17 — making the year's pro- 

 duct ^517. The cost of land, fencing and clear- 

 ing, 8160, would leave the clear gain of this 

 year's operations on these fifteen acres, three 

 hundred and fifty-six dollars. The second year, 

 (which was the last year, when the crop sufi^ered 

 much from drought) the same land produced 475 

 bushels oats, worth at 50 cents, 237.50, and 14 

 bushels of rye worth Sl.OO, making S251. After 

 the two crops were taken off, it would not be 

 hiffh to value this land at five dollars the acre. 



The method of planting the potatoes is ex- 

 tremely sinnple. After the ground has obtained 

 a good burn, the planter proceeds with a bag of 

 cut potatoes swung over his shoulder — strikes a 

 sharp hoe into the ground through the outside 

 root turf— covers with the foot, making each hole 

 at the distance of about eighteen inches in the 

 row, and the rows three feet apart. Planting in 

 this way makes three fair days' work to tl^e acre, 

 worth ^2.25. The digging of an acre of potatoes 

 at four shillings per day, six days' work, is worth 

 $4. No hoeing during the season is necessary ; 

 and so well does the seed operate in the ground, 

 that the vines often grow to a sufficient size to 

 cover the land. The whole expense of raising 

 potatoes on burnt ground, after the ground ia 

 cleared, Mr. Folsom informs us, will not much 

 exceed six cents a bushel. 



SOWING CORN BROADCAST. 



From ttie American Farmer. 



In the Farmer of April 20th, I observe over the 

 signature of "Ledyard" some inquiries in relation 

 to sowing corn broadcast, and the best method of 

 securing the crop. 



Having tried the experiment last year I offer a 



