THE GENESEE FARMER. 



16 



our climate, and for our future, if not for our pres- 

 ent needs. From all I could learn, I was satisfied 

 that Webb's sheep were nearer perfection than any 

 others, and accordingly I procured a few of his 

 sheep from Col. L. Gr. Mokeis. Three years ago, 

 I put my flock of South-Downs I then had, out on 

 shares, and commenced my Webb flock. At Col. 

 Morris's sale I purchased nearly one-fourth of his 

 entire female flock. Last fall, I procured from Mr. 

 Webb "Frank" and five very superior breeding 

 ewes (one dying on ship). These were secured at 

 a heavy cost, as I wanted the very best for breed- 

 ing. With the increase of lambs, I have now a 

 fair-sized flock, and one which has cost me a great 

 deal of money and labor." 



We have great pleasure in presenting our readers 

 with excellent engravings of "Frank" and three 

 of the four imported ewes, which are undoubtedly 

 model breeding sheep, having been selected by Mr. 

 Webb himself. "Frank" is half-brother to the 

 celebrated first-prize Paris ram that was hired for 

 nearly $1,000, and afterwards sold for over $2,000. 

 He was the winner of the first prize at the last New 

 Jersey State Fair, and also at the Monmouth Co. 

 (N. J.) Fair. 



We hope, and believe, that Mr. TatlOr will 

 find his enterprise a successful one, and that his 

 "Webb's American Flock" will become as justly 

 celebrated as that at Babraham. 



STJiJGESTSD ITEMS. -Nj. 16. 



FiFTEEJT months ago I began these "Items" for 

 the Genesee Farmer^ and have kept it up, not with 

 all the spirit which should characterize such brevi- 

 ties, yet ever in the hope that your readers acce})ted 

 my notings with something of the favor witii which 

 you have received them. If this be so, I am con- 

 tent. Meanwhile tlie habit of reading the Farmer^ 

 pen in hand, has grown upon me, so I must contiruie 

 scribbling, trusting that the same kind reception 

 will be awarded. Allow me here to disclaim any 

 assumption of superior knowledge, in that I remark 

 freely upon the contributions which enrich your 

 pages. I claim only to be still learning^ and doubt 

 not that very many who now write for you, could 

 better occupy ray space. 



Fast wanes 1857, the December number has gone 

 to its readers — these lines greet them in the new 

 volume for 1858. Let not the hard times induce 

 one farmer to practice the mistaken economy of 

 " stopping his papers." They are a necessity in this 

 age to the man of progress, and any agricultural pa- 

 per will pay for itself many times over in the prac- 

 tical knowledge it brings the intelligent reader. 



'■''Progress in Agriculture^ has undoubtedly been 

 made during the past year, and yet it is too slight 

 to be called general progress. In one item, I be- 

 lieve with yourself that the wheat midge will prove 

 a " blessing in disguise" — that its effect is and will 

 bQ ' to cause us to till less land and cultivat^e it bet- 



ter to sow only the best portions of the farm to 

 wheat, and enrich tliem more, while we are under- 

 draining and otherwise improving the low and poor 

 portions." It causes us also " to keep more stock 

 and to make more and better manure," and we are 

 then laying the foundation, at least, for true pro- 

 gress in agriculture. 



" Farmers'' Debating Societies, might well be es- 

 tablished in every neighborhood, if those who 

 would aspire to manage them were men of pract"- 

 cal aims, instead of wordy and inflated talkers — • 

 ready with theories on every subject, but with little 

 or no depth of thought. Did you ever notice the 

 character of the questions usually discussed at De- 

 bating Societies — how utterly senseless they are ? 



" Hacks for Feeding Sheej),^^ and all other domes- 

 tic animals are the true economy. But we need 

 shelter also, and our racks especially should be un- 

 der cover, for cattle and sheep do not like wet fod- 

 der. Racks, sheds, and plenty of straw for litter, 

 are necessary to comfort, economy, and convenience 

 in wintering stock. 



" Good Culture for Com,'''' is what brings the 

 good crops of corn. We inust plow deeper if we 

 want to insure against drouth and wet ; and one or 

 the other is always "the reason" why there are so 

 many poor corntields in the country. " Your large 

 hill of corn, from which you expect two or more 

 ears to the stalk," says Judge Butler of Conn., 

 '■'■must have roots and rootlets to correspond; and 

 where shall they run for the nourishment required 

 to perfect their growth? Down, do you say? Why 

 you furrowed and planted three inches below the 

 surface level, and there are but four left to the 

 plow's floor, and what is that for the rootlets of a 

 very large hill of corn ? Laterally, do you say ? You 

 have drawn up to the hillsatleasthalf of the seven 

 inches from between the roAvs, and there is but very 

 li'.tle depth or substance for the roots there. There 

 is no other place to go, and when earing time comes, 

 unless your land is very highly manured or very rich, 

 your ears will not be numerous or fill out." 



" Management and Breeding ofSheej) " is not well 

 understood by too many formers. We do not make 

 them pay half what we might do under the course 

 of management you describe. I hope those whom 

 3'ou call upon " will give their experience to the 

 readers of the Ftrvier,'''' and that mutton as well as 

 wool will be jjroduced and marketed. 



" Care in Setting Trees " will insure success. But 

 setting trees as one sets a post, is not doing the work 

 either well or successfully. Mr. Parks pursued the 

 true course, and his letter shows how truly profita- 

 ble the "right way" ever proves. 



'■'■A Settlement in the Wilderness P^ — How sug- 

 gestive of " old times" are these familiar pictures. 

 The "Pioneer's Progress" is wonderful, and can^ 

 never be fully understood by those who had no 

 share in pushing it on. The humble log cabin ia. 

 the clearing has long since given way to the com- 

 fortable farm-house surrounded by spacious fields, 

 and beautiful orchards ; and Pioneer life,., as it exis- 

 ted in Western New York forty years ^o, will 

 never be known again in any country. b. ^ 



Niagara Co., N. Y., Dee. 1S5T. ^ i 



Farmees should examine their implements, and 

 put all in good repair needing iU 



