0.7. 



Berlishire Hogs. — Wintering Sheep. 



227 



antily of food consumed. Here lies the 

 Dfit more than in the individual weight, 

 small, well-made animal may bring more 

 )ney to the farmer, than one of twice his 

 ;e, from the difference in the fattening pro- 

 rty. It is generally admitted that very 

 ■ge animals are not profitable. They may 

 to grace the columns of a paper, and gra- 

 y those who have a penchant that way, with- 

 t regard to the expensive process, but they 

 11 not suit the common farmer. I once was 

 zed with this desire to feed a large hog ; 

 rchased of a breed well known for attaining 

 mense weights, but was completely cured, 

 weighed between five and six hundred, 

 d consumed as much food as I am since 

 ;isfied would have fattened double the 

 sight of Berkshircs. It is a satisfaction to 

 3 early friends of the Berkshires, to observe 

 It public opinion in respect to them has 

 3sed through the collapse state ; that wher- 

 er the pure breed exists, prejudices even 

 ainst colour are rapidly dying away; and 

 it they are slowly but surely creeping into 

 'our, and earning the emphatic appellation 

 the farmer's hog. One thing undoubtedly 

 lich has retarded and still retards their re- 

 tation is the vast number which, since they 

 ire first introduced, have been palmed off 

 genuine Berkshires, having very little if 

 y of that blood. The cause of this is to be 

 ind in the high prices at which they were 

 d, $30 and S40 per pair, and the absurd 

 le for testing purity, that they must be pre- 

 ely of a certain shade of colour, having so 

 my white feet, and so many white hairs in 

 ; tail ; thus inviting imposture, and inducing 

 rsons, wherever they could obtain these 

 irks, which often appertain to a half or 

 •ec-quarter blood, as well as to the full 

 lod, to pass them for genuine Berkshires. 

 cross for the purposes of speculation has, 

 doubt, often been founded on very inferior 

 ick. The true Berkshires have thus been 

 ide to bear not only their own burdens, but 

 ve been charged with the sins of a whole 

 rd of worthless mongrels. However breeds 

 ly be denoted by certain external marks 

 her of colour or shape, no rule for all cases 

 ti be invariably established : there will oc- 

 sionally be exceptions. Durham cows 

 nerally run into light colours, and it is 

 )re absurd to say that Berkshire pigs are 

 are not pure on account of their feet or 

 1, than to condemn a Durham cow which 

 ppened to be of a red colour, or had a dark 

 se. P. M. 



Jast Bradford, Chester Co., Pa. 



The man who is attached to the soil will 

 deavour to make it better, instead of wear- 

 l it out, with the view of leaving it "year 

 ;er next." 



Wintering Sheep. 



It is commonly considered more difficult 

 to winter sheep, than most other domestic an- 

 imals, and this is doubtless true to a certaia 

 extent. But in nine cases out of ten, the 

 want of success is owing to bad management, 

 which is generally misnamed illluck. Sheep, 

 in order to bear the winter well, should first 

 of all be prepared for it, by being kept in good 

 condition at the commencement. About the 

 first of December, instead of being left to 

 roam over the fields, to obtain food from the 

 scanty herbage, they should be entirely fed 

 on the preserved growth of summer. Little 

 nutriment can be found in grass at this sea- 

 son — besides, what now remains should be 

 lefl to prepare it for an early and vigorous 

 growth in the spring. 



There is one subject which has as yet re- 

 ceived little attention from our farmers — it is 

 that of providing suitable sheds for the pro- 

 tection of sheep from the winter's cold. Now 

 we are aware that many farmers consider 

 this as wholly unnecessary, and believe that 

 sheep, with their thick coats of wool, would 

 be no more benefited by shelter than the 

 down-clad animals of the arctic regions. But 

 this is a great error. Who has not observed 

 them, on approach of severe weather, care- 

 fully seeking what feeble protection they 

 could obtain from the storm by the side of 

 stacks, or under open fences 1 Would they 

 do this if it did not contribute to their com- 

 fort ■? Certainly not. Whatever, therefore, 

 contributes to their comfort, demands atten- 

 tion, and whatever causes suffering to them, 

 should be carefully avoided. 



But by constant exposure in open fields to 

 storms and snow, they are almost constantly 

 suffering in a greater or less degree, through- 

 out the long months of winter. In those 

 countries of Europe which grow large quan- 

 tities of the finest wool, strict attention is 

 given to this subject, and sheep are not only 

 sheltered every night, but whenever the wea- 

 ther demands it during the day ; and this is 

 said to be essentially necessary in preserving 

 the quality and fineness of the wool. 



It is a mistaken notion that water is not 

 necessary for sheep ; the fact that they al- 

 ways drink when it is supplied to them, 

 proves that it is needed for the performance 

 of the animal functions to which it is as re- 

 quisite as in other animals. Experience has 

 also proved the correctness of this. — West, 

 Far. 



Every substance which swims on water 

 displaces so much of the water as is exactly 

 equal to its own weight ,- but when a sub- 

 stance sinks in water, it displaces water equal 

 to its bulk. 



