1868. 



2raW ENGLAND FARMER. 



607 



were imported by him from Lincolnshire, England, 

 about two years ago. He has forty-five now. 

 Two have been sold tor $300, and one, a burk, was 

 sold to a long-wool breeder in Canada for $120, in 

 gold. The weight of the bucks is about 340 lbs., 

 and the ewes'2.50 pounds each. Weight of fleeces : 

 bucks, loj and 17| pounds ; ewes about 12 pounds 

 each. The wool is very long, 12 to 15 inches, and 

 sometimes even 20 inches in length, it is said. It 

 is wavy, silky, and a remarkably fine specimen of 

 luster wool. These are probably the only Lincoln- 

 shire sheep in this country. They ai-e peculiar, 

 and we judge that for mutton and combing wool 

 they are the most dtsirable of any. 



JERUSALEM AKTICHOKB. 



This root possesses a high value for stock 

 feeding. Upon its introduction into this coun- 

 try, it was called the "Canada Potato," and is 

 so called by some aged people to this day. It 

 was also known by the name of "Virginia Po- 

 tato." It has ever been regarded as a sana- 

 tive production, possessing considerable ali- 

 mentary powers, and as a prolific bearer. Its 

 flavor is mild and agreeable, but it is not, like 

 the potato, dry and "mealy" when cooked, 

 but solid and "soggy." Most domestic ani- 

 mals are remarkably fond of it, and prefer it, 

 occasionally, to all other roots, and even to 

 grain. The yield of the artichoke has been 

 estimated as high as a thousand bushels per 

 acre, on good soil, and is said frequently to 

 have exceeded it by several hundred bushels. 



In some sections, the artichoke is had re- 

 course to for stocking pastures, in which swine 

 are confined, and for this purpose is said, by 

 those who have experimented carefully with it, 

 to possess a high value. 



We do not know that any one in this sec- 

 tion has as yet given much attention to its culti- 

 vation ; but we incline to the opinion that it 

 will ultimately become a favorite production, 

 — particularly as a food for stock. We have 

 sometimes grown it in the garden, and have 

 been surprised by its wonderful hardihood and 

 remarkable power of prolification. It requires 

 a rich, warm and mellow soil, and when once 

 planted, no fresh seeding of the land will be 

 needed for years, — the small tubers remaining 

 in the earth, after digging the larger ones, be- 

 ing amply sufEcient to make it propagate it- 

 self, without any further care of the producer. 



From certain indications, we are inclined to 

 the opinion that the potato plague has reached 

 its limit, and hereafter we are to have a return 

 of sound crops of that most useful vegetable ; 

 but should the limit of the disease not have 

 been reached — and the evil still continue to 



develop itself— the artichoke will furnish one 

 of the most valuable substitutes, and be no 

 doubt competent to supply, in a considerable 

 degree, the loss of bo important a vegeta- 

 ble. 



There is one characteristic appertaining to 

 the Jerusalem artichoke which may be re- 

 garded as an important commendation. It is 

 not, like the potafo, injured by shade, lut 

 flourishes almost with the same vigor in or- 

 chards as in localities where it is favored with 

 the direct influences of the solar rays. The tops, 

 also, are far more valuable than those of the 

 potato, and if fed to milch cows In seasons when 

 the herbage of the pastures is short and un- 

 succulent, will induce a copious flow of excel- 

 lent milk. They possess a pleasant aromatic 

 flavor, which renders them highly palatable to 

 the animals, and are sanitary and stimulating 

 in their effects. We suggest an experiment 

 with them by many of our farmers, — but in a 

 small way at first. 



IMPROVED KESNTUCKY SHEEP. 

 The best mutton at Faneuil Hall Maiket is 

 from Kentucky. Within a few years past the 

 supply from that source has largely increased. 

 Messrs. Geo. AV. Ilollis and Dan Brown, the 

 leading dealers in Kentucky sheep, and who 

 keep buyers constantly in that State, estimate 

 that their receipts of Kentucky sheep at this 

 market is at the rate of $12,000 per year. The 

 fine appearance of these sheep, both on the 

 hoof and on the hooks, has led us to inquire 

 into the history of a class of animals which 

 give such great satisfaction to both producer 

 and consumer. In the last Report from the 

 Agricultural Department, we find the follow- 

 ing detailed statement of the course of cross- 

 ing and breeding which has been pursued for 

 over thirty years by Robert W. Scott, of 

 Frankfort, by which he claims to have estab- 

 lished a race, known as the "Improved Ken- 

 tucky," which have been widely diffused, and 

 are essentially alike and uniform, and maintain 

 their identity and impart their qualities as 

 surely as sheep of any other breed. 



In the beginning, about thirty ewes were 

 selected from a floik of unimproved common 

 sheep, and they were bred to a very large and 

 fine Saxony or Merino ram ; the object being 

 to give in the offspring, more thickness to the 

 fleece and more fineness to the fibre of the 

 wool. This step was thought advisable before 



