Notices for a Young Farmer, xxxix 



their proper level ; for home consumption and external com- 

 merce. 



A farmer should confine his objects, to such as properly 

 fall within his system of economy ; so that one member of his 

 general plan shall not interfere with, but be assistant ta 

 another. There are sheep for farmers, and sheep for flock- 

 masters. Speculation should not be indulged ; being- adverse 

 to habits of industry ; and tending to bring on reverses, which 

 an husbandman is ill calculated to bear. Extravagant specu- 

 lations, in any pursuit, defeat their own objects, by lessening 

 the value of an article increased beyond the demand ; and, 

 in such case, a kind of reaction reduces its price below its 

 real estimation. A farmer should sedulously avoid propen- 

 sities which foster ideas, that profits are to be gained by 

 lucky hits in the lottery of chances ; in preference to the slow 

 but sure rewards of industry, economy, and prudent manage- 

 ment, 



XXI. Familiarize your young Dogs with sheep, and 

 correct them, when they chase or annoy them ; and they will 

 protect, in place of injuring your flocks. Dogs become sheep- 

 killers, by neglect in training them. Starved curs prowl for 

 prey, and become savagely mischievous. Those who do not 

 pen their sheep, and bring them home at nights for protec- 

 tion, but leave them in distant fields, expose victims to such 

 dogs ; and they ruin even innocently inclined dogs, by throw- 

 ing temptations in their way. They have no right, therefore, 

 to complain of injuries. Good and faithful dogs are as ne- 

 cessary on farms, as sheep. 



Accustoming dogs to feed on raw and bloody food, renders 

 them inclined to seek it. The sight or smell of blood, infu- 

 riates many animals. Horned cattle are peculiarly affected 

 by it. Not only dogs, but horses, operated on by the sight 

 or smell of blood, have been known to be seized with fits of 

 sudden rage ; and instances can be related, in which they 

 have dangerously attacked persons whose garments had been 

 stained with, or smelt of blood, although commonly familiar 

 with them. Animals, (man included,) become habitually and 

 culpably fond, of what, at first, may have even excited an- 



