1869. 



'SEW ENGLAOT) FAK^IER. 



263 



is small or large, cut or whole, so that a strong 

 germ or eye is used ? — But we camiot follow 

 you further. The Italians have a saying that 

 "all roads lead to Rome." Is it not equally 

 true that all these ways of planting lead to 

 potatoes'? Instead then of throwing down 

 your books in despair, take up your hoe with 

 courage, — thankful that potatoes will grow on 

 so many kinds of soils, under such a diversity of 

 treatment, and that cultivators are not con- 

 fined to any procustean mode. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 CABE OF STOCK.— COTSWOLD SHEEP. 



The time has come when all kinds of farm 

 stock need the best of care and feed. Stock 

 that has been well fed and sheltered during 

 the winter still needs watch and care. The 

 prevailing opinion of the correspondents of 

 the Farmer seems to be that, to feed meal to 

 milch cows, just before or just after coming in, 

 is likely to produce milk fever. I have known 

 quite a number of cases of milk fever from ex- 

 posure to rain storms, every one of which 

 proved fatal ; but never have known a case 

 produced by high feeding; and I am not 

 much inclined to believe In the doctrine. 

 Although I am aware that feed has much to do 

 in producing milk of suitable quality for the 

 young of all kinds of farm stock, yet I do not 

 believe it produces milk fever. 



I have never been able to feed my long- 

 wooled sheep with corn and oats alone without 

 foundering the lambs, and my losses from this 

 cause alone may be counted by scores of 

 dollars. I am now feeding a mixture of one 

 part of corn.in the ear, ground with two parts 

 of oats, two of wheat bran, and two of buck- 

 wheat bran, with entire success. I have fed 

 my entire flock so far through i he winter on 

 clover hay, and they are now in very fine con- 

 dition. I sold a pair of ewes a few days 

 since which weighed at the depot 185 and 190 

 pounds. 



Clover hay Is better adapted to the wants 

 of the sheep than any other kind of hay, but 

 it should be cured In good weather, in the 

 cock, opened to the sun, and made so dry as 

 not to heat in the mow. It should be cut just 

 as it is coming into bloom. Persons Intending 

 to invest In raising long wool should make 

 their engagements' of sheep in the spring; the 

 stock to be sTiifced in September or October. 



It would be very much to the interest of 

 every producer of wool both fine and coarse, 

 to naarket his own clip. The expense of send- 

 ing it, as soon as shorn, to a reliable commls- 

 don merchant in Boston, is very trilling. 

 These dealers may be supposed at all times to 

 knpw the market, and be able to get the full 

 market prices. The demand for long-wooled 

 sheep at the West is at present such as to 



make the breeding of them very remunerative 

 for years to come. Congress having refused 

 to re-establish the Canadian Reciprocity Treaty 

 has acted in accordance with the wishes of the 

 farming community, which secures beyond a 

 doubt the market for long wooled sheep and 

 combing wool for years to come. 



The Cotswold sheep are more liable to 

 stretches than other breeds. This, however, 

 very seldom occurs if they have constant ac- 

 cess to water and sufficient exercise. Mr. 

 Daniels of Woodstock, Conn., lately gave me 

 a receipt for its cure which I have had occasion 

 to try, and with entire success. A mixture of 

 oil, either castor or sweet oil, mixed in very 

 strong soap suds, a part of It turned down the 

 throat and a part as an injection, has afforded 

 Immediate relief. 



I have lately been into Dutchess county, 

 N. Y., among the fancy breeders of Cots- 

 wolds, some of which weigh over three hun- 

 dred pounds and sell for four hundred dollars 

 each for bucks, and ewes two hundred each. 

 These are fed to the highest degree and made 

 very beautiful animals, and consequently sell 

 at very high prices. T. L. 1L\J!,t. 



West Cornwall, Conn., April 1, 1869. 



For the New England Farmer. 



HEAVY TATOOIi COTSWOLD— PHODTJC- 

 TION OF SEXES. 



I have for years been breeding Cotswolds 

 with a view to compactness of fleece and have 

 succeeded so far with a portion of my flock as 

 to have those that are nearly as well protected 

 from storms as the Merinos. Having suc- 

 ceeded In establishing a good degree of com- 

 pactness, I have occasionally bred my sheep 

 to bucks of the longest wool that I could find, 

 with very favorable results, having in some in- 

 stances sheared twelve pounds a head frons 

 yearlings. At present prices of combing wool 

 the weight of fleece Is a matter that should not be 

 lost sight of; besides weight, the protection a 

 compact fleece gives is of importance so far as 

 the comfort and health of the animal is con- 

 cerned. 



The fashion of sheep, like all other fashions. 

 Is subject to changes. Twenty-five years ago 

 the fashion was to have clean heads, or those 

 free from any wool In the forehead. The 

 presence of a tuft In the forehead would have 

 excited suspicion cf a cross with the Merino ; 

 but now the fashion has changed, and a tuft of 

 wool is, by some whose observation does not 

 extend very fir back, considered almost the 

 standard of purity. 



The subject of producing the different sexes 

 in our domestic animals has been under dis- 

 cussion to some extent for a few years past ; 

 and it is a subject of much importance to the 

 breeder. That the different sexes can be in 

 all cases produced at the pleasure of the 

 breeder is doubtless not true ; but that this 



