MO. 5. 



THE farmers' cabinet. 



71 



have a poor one, make it better — if you have 

 none at all, set out one as soon as possible. 



[Maine Farmer. 



From the Memoirs of the Philadelphia 



Ai(riciiltiirul Socirti/. 

 IVoticcs for a Yoiiii^ Farmer. 



Always ratlicr understock your farm with 

 domestic animals. An extra number of horses 

 is the most oppressive. No farmer should be 

 without a due proportion of workmg oxen. 

 The neck yoke is the simplest; but is not 

 deemed the best mode of enabling tlicm to 

 work. That fitted on the forehead, and at- 

 tached to their horns or collars, and other 

 appropriate gears, are, by many, preferred. 



Have no more Swine than you can feed 

 well; always rung, and kept within your 

 own inclosures, if your farm be in a popu- 

 lous neighborhood. Running hogs are fertile 

 sources of bitter enmities, and petty contro- 

 versies. A rooting hog wastes its flesh, and 

 requires more food to restore it than is gain- 

 ed by the scanty prey after which it labors. 

 Nothing is better for store swine, than red 

 clover eaten off the growing plant. But 

 differently from horned cattle, green clover 

 cut and given to them will not keep them in 

 good plight. They waste as much a§ they 

 eat, and do not relish it in this way. 



In a well managed butter dairy, skimmed 

 «nd butter-milk will afford means of raising 

 a store-pig to each cow, besides a due allow 

 ance for some sows, to produce pigs for store 

 hogs, and roasters for the market. Few farm- 

 ers, however, do so much, because they will 

 not raise esculent roots, as substitutes for 

 grain, for winter keep of store hogs. A milk 

 dairy furnishes food for sows and pigs, from 

 the offal and unsaleable milk. 



Let all your stock of animals be of the best 

 breeds; but study useful qualities more than 

 showy figures. Yet well proportioned and 

 sightly animals are generally the most valua- 

 ble, both as it regards usefulness and keep. 

 There are exceptions, in dairy cows particu- 

 larly. Large horses, cattle, sheep and swine, 

 are not the most profitable. Those of the 

 middle sizes are, on every account, to be pre- 

 ferred. Ostentation, (and as it respects the 

 horse particularly, a less innocent motive,) 

 more than real benefit, too often excites those 

 who value themselves in exhibiting beautiful 

 horses, very large and very fat, and of course 

 very expensive, cattle, sheep and swine. 

 This may be and is a laudable pride in those 

 whose circumstances admit of indulging it : 

 and breeding well formed and well eidowed 

 animals, is highly worthy of encouragement 

 and merited praise. But hardihood and easi- 

 ness of keep, should be prominent qualities, 

 especially in the stock of a farmer. For such 

 qualities, and many other good properties, 



the Tunis sheep will be found worthy of 

 great attention. 



The principle of adaptation of animals, as 

 well as plants, to soil, climate and situation- 

 will bo found in nature, with rare exceptions. 

 Tiie various species of sheep prove this prin- 

 ciple. Dry countries are best, for all, as they 

 require little drink, and wet soils produce 

 diseases; yet fenny countries, and coarse 

 bites, (especially if salt,) are favorable to 

 some kinds. The Lincolnshire and longr 

 woolled, will thrive in such situations, and 

 with such feed, where fine fleeced sheep 

 would perish or degenerate. In our zeal for 

 fine woolled sheep, we overlook this princi- 

 ple, and believe that any pastures would suit 

 them. 



The Chevoit sheep delight in mountainous 

 ranges, often covered with snow ; and the 

 Shetland race in short bits, salt air, and bar- 

 ren browsing ; yet the fleeces of the latter are 

 finer, though scantier than those of the Me- 

 rino. Instances of other animals might be 

 adduced. Old pastures, dry and elevated, 

 are better for sheep, and preferable to arti- 

 ficial grasses. Of such grasses, Mr. Coke, 

 of Norforlk, in England, finds the cocksfoot, 

 (our orchard grass,) constantly fed, the most 

 eligible. He inoculates a clean fallow field 

 with sods of old lay, three inches square, and 

 the same distance apart, to renovate old pas- 

 ture, so valuable is it deemed. His fields 

 are well cleaned, by his row-culture, which 

 he extensively and profitably practices. New 

 countries produce no proper pastures, gener- 

 ally, for fine-fleeced sheep, though there may 

 be selected spots. The sheep for such coun- 

 tries should be those of the heavy fleeced 

 and long woolled breeds. Prairie countries, 

 it would seem, are peculiarly calculated for 

 them. 



Household manufactures are of the first 

 importance, and practical farmers should 

 breed heavy fleeced and worsted, or long 

 woolled sheep, for common purposes, in such 

 manufactures, as well as for marketable car- 

 casses, even in old settlements and districts 

 of country. But for any flock, a better mode 

 of providing for their keeping through the 

 winter months, must be introduced. Succu- 

 lent food, consisting of carrots, potatoes, Swe- 

 dish or other turneps. Mangle Wurtzel, &c. 

 must be provided. Sheep out of condition 

 are most worthless stock. Wool or mutton 

 can no more be produced from a starved 

 flock, than can a profitable crop be gathered 

 from a sterile and ill cultivated field. No 

 question is intended to be discussed on the 

 subjects of large manufacturing establish, 

 ments, or fine woolled sheep. Enough, 

 both of experience and discussion has al- 

 ready been exhibited, to enable every one to 

 form his own opinion. Under prudent and 



