1839] 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



363 



nished at the most reasonable rates. Pure seeds, 

 planis, &c., could also be had at such a farm ; and 

 what would be the expense? ^6,000 per annum 

 would borrow SIOO.OOO, whicli would amply suf- 

 fice for the establishment, including a large liirm, 

 which would be annually increasing in value, and 

 the income trom which might be made, by good 

 management, much, if not all of the interest on 

 the cost ; for the implements, seeds, &c., would all 

 be considered as proved, and the demand, for them 

 would be almostiinlimited. There, too, could be 

 demonstrated the best melhodfe of aariculture in 

 every branch.' Much speculation would be put to 

 rest. Any improvement, when shown to be such, 

 would be quickly adopted, and agriculture advance 

 with rapid strides. I do not pretend to say, there 

 may not be more advisable modes of advancing 

 the agricultural interest ; but I am well convinced 

 that such a plan would render it a great service. 

 The best stocks of domestic animals could be con- 

 centred on these farms; all grains, seeds, imple- 

 ments, machinery, &c. &c., and an agricultural 

 school might be attached to it. 



Such plans, or similar ones, I believe, have 

 been repeateiily suggested ; but it seems, that as 

 yet, the public mind has not been sufficiently en- 

 lightened to be ripe for it. I think, however, (hat 

 every agricultural jourhiij ought to urge it, until the 

 subject is taken up, and some such plan adopted." 



SHEEP TICKS. 



From the Gencsco Farmer. 



Farmers sometimes ask liow they shall contrive 

 to ti-ee tlieir flocks from the sheep lick, since every 

 one is aware that if these pestiferous insects abound, 

 it is impossible to keep th.e animal in good order, 

 or prevent a serious diminution in the quantity of 

 wool. Some have recommended mercurial oint- 

 ments, but these are always dangerous, and should 

 only be resorted to in cases of necessity arising 

 from disease, such as the scab, or other obstinate 

 cutaneous diseases. Some have proposed dipping 

 in an infusion of tobacco, and this would, in our 

 opinion, be preferable to ointments containing 

 mercury; but this occasions considerable trouble, 

 and to be efficacious, must be perfoimed with more 

 care than is usually given to such matters. 



We will tell how we manage this matter. We 

 do not keep a large flock, only one or two hundred, 

 yet our system is applicable to any number, and 

 for several years past not a tick, or scarcely one, 

 has been seen on our sheep. In the first place, 

 we wash our sheep in a large tub, of such capaci- 

 ty that the sheep cannot reach the bottom, and 

 wide enough at top to allow two to wash at once. 

 The tub is kept full and running over slowlj', by a 

 small stream conducted into it of clear, pure water. 

 In washing our sheep, soap is always used at the 

 rate of about two gallons to a hundred, and after 

 a few have been washed, the water in the tub 

 will be strongly impregnated with soap, or in other 

 words, will be soap suds. This cleans the wool 

 and the sheep thoroughly, and by letting the sheep 

 remain a lew days after washing in a clean pasture, 

 the wool becomes again -saturated with the oil 

 which is so essential to its sotlness and elasticity. 

 This is the first step in freeing the animal liom 

 ticks. At shearing, it is well known, when this 



operation is performed as it should be, and no pla- 

 ces where it is only half cut by the shears, or tag- 

 locks aroiind the belly and legs are left to give the 

 vermin a hiding place, that Uiey will quit the old 

 sheep for the lanib, in the wool which they find a 

 secure place of retreat. To get rid of them fiilly 

 and finally, we now shear our lambs. Some far- 

 mers apprehend that such a process would injure 

 ilie lamtis, but the experiments we have purposely 

 made, and the experience we have had, has con- 

 vinced us that such li^ars are ffrotmdless, either as 

 respects tj^ animal itself or the effect on the next 

 clip of wool. Let any farmer whose sheep are 

 rendered poor and sickly by the constant irritation 

 of these insects, try washing thein in soap suds, 

 and at the proper lime shearing the lambs, and we 

 think he will make no more complaints of ticks on 

 his sheep. 



CrpE FOR GRUBS IN HEAD OF SHEEP. 



• From the Genesee Farmer. 



Havinfr read considerable in the Genesee Far- 

 mer concerning diseases in sheep, and seeing no 

 account of the grub in the head, I think proper to 

 awe the public a relation of a circumstance which 

 took place with me when I had a email flock of 

 sheep. It was in the latter part of winter, one of 

 my flock was taken sick, and became so week it 

 could not rise without being lifted. I suppose its 

 ailment to be the grub in the head ; and knowing 

 something of the virtue of flax-seed oil, I resolved 

 to try an experiment on it. I laid the sheep on its 

 rump, or rather on its back, with its nose a little 

 inclinint; backward, and poured in near a fable 

 spoonful of the above oil, part in eacii nostril. 

 The next morning the sheep was able to get up 

 and eat with the rest of the flock, and speiidily 

 recovered. After that, nnd while I kept sheep, 

 when I discovered- any of them snotty-nosed and 

 coughing, (an indication of the grub.) I put q lit- 

 tle oil in their noses as above, and they soon be- 

 came clean and healthy. I do not remember that 

 I failed in one instance : some of my neighbors 

 also received benefit bv the above process. 



T. B. 



Columbiana cowity, Ohio, 5th mo. 18, 1839, 



IMPROVED DURHAM SHORT-IIORXS. 



[Subject continuoil from page 350.] 



From tlje Whip. 



What we have said, it is considered, will render 

 superfluous any attempt more particularly to de- 

 scribe the sbort-horns. Of course they will be 

 found to vary greatly ; but sufficient may be collec- 

 ted from what is presented to the reader to inlbrm 

 liitn ;is to the character of this superior breed of 

 cattle. The next object, then, will be to show 

 their capabilities to iTiake a return for food consum- 

 ed, and the unparalleled early period at which 

 stich return may be made. Indeed, early maturity 

 is the grand and elevating characieristic of the 

 short-horns, and their capacity to continue grow- 

 ing, and at the same time attaining an unexam- 

 pled ripeness of condition at an early age, has 



