124 



THE GENESEE PARMER 



April 23, 1831. 



THB CJiiWBSES rAKMBK 



SATURDAY, APRIL E3, 1831. 



SHEEP. 



As our country is well supplied with fine- 

 waolled sheen, both Merino and Saxony, we 

 would now invite the attention of our farmers 

 to other breeds which we think would be equal- 

 ly valuable to the country. Mutton is undoubt- 

 edly the cheapest meat for food that can be 

 produoed in this country, and when well fed 

 is a tolerable substitute for beef. The Eng- 

 lish claim the title of a "beef-eating nation," 

 but they do not eat as much beef in proportion 

 to their population as the Americans. Fine- 

 vvoolled sheep are not propagated in England 

 to any extent, although they require fine wool 

 for their manufactories. This they purchase 

 from the Continent, in preference to growing 

 it at horns. Their coarse-woolled sheep are 

 mure profitable to them than fine-woolled, for 

 several reasons. They grow to a large size, 

 and are disposed to become very fat — their 

 flesh is the cheapest for the support of the la- 

 boring class of community — they also furnish 

 tallow for candles, and they produce heavy 

 fleeces of wool, which by the use of machin- 

 ery they manufacture into stuff goods, each 

 pound of coarse wool giving more profit to the 

 manufacturer than a pound of fioo wool. — 

 Hence the thrift of those towns which have 

 beon engaged in the manufacture of worsted, 

 has been greater than those which have been 

 manufacturing broadcloths. 



Although manufacturing has increased iu the 

 United States very fast for the last ten years, 

 yet the manufacture of worsted goods has 

 scarcely commenced, and the reasons for it are 

 plain. We have but few iong-wooik-d sheep 

 to furnish such establishments. Once intro- 

 duce the sheep, and the manufactories are sure 

 to follow. 



In selecting sheep for breeding for this pur- 

 pose, we would recommend the following 

 kinds : 



The Lincolnshire Sheep. — This breed fatten 

 better than any we have examined, and the size 

 of them as they are drove to Smilhfield mar- 

 ket, is from sixty to one hundred and twenty 

 pounds dressed. The mutton is almost as fat 

 as pork, and is tolerably well flavored. This 

 mutton sells for little tnoro than half the pries 

 of the Welch mutton, wh.ch is from smaller 

 sheep, much the same as. the common flocks of 

 this country. As Welch mutton is preferred 

 by the epicure's, the butchers turn this preju- 

 dice to their account. They select the smal- 

 lest and youngest carcasses and hang them in 

 a cool place for a week or two, when they are 

 Hold for Welch mutton. Perhaps the average 

 .weight of fleece may be rated at one pound of 

 wool for every ten pounds of carcase. These 

 sheep are white faced, with small heads, which 

 are without horns: they are broad and heavy 

 in tlu-ir build, and arc very lazy in disposition. 

 The Teestoater Sheep. — These appear to he 

 much tho same as the Lincolnshire ; the dif- 

 ference, we cousidor. has arisen from in-and-in 

 breeding without any cross ol blood — in short, 

 flocks hearing the different names would no' 

 readily be distinguished in the market. 



Tin Leicester Bred. —These are highly priz- 

 i by the English farmers. They arc beauti- 



ful animals, rather taller than the Lincolnshire 

 without horns, very cleaD in the face and legs, 

 and small-bsced considering their size. They 

 are not qaite so heavy as the Teeswater sheep 

 — perhaps an average might be put at about 

 eighty pounds the quarters. The wool is rath- 

 er longer than other breeds mentioned, but is 

 not so thick set, and has a beautiful white, 

 wavy appearance, unlike the wool upon any 

 other breed that we have examined. 



Wo think the introduction of these three 

 breeds amongst our farmers in Old Genesee is 

 desirable. They should be kept distiuct from 

 the Merinos and Saxony breeds, as the valua 

 ble properties of the breeds are diamctricallv 

 opposite. Wo believe the above breeds have 

 already been imported into the United Slates, 

 and probably may be procured in the vicinity 

 of Boston or Philadelphia. 



We find the following notice of an impor- 

 tation in the New England Farmer of June 

 26th, 1829 : 



" English Sheep. — Mr, Pickering, passengei 

 iu the Mary Howland, from Liverpool, has 

 brought out two ram? and two ewes, of the 

 Lincolnshire long wonl breed of sheep, one of 

 which was shorn on the passage and yielded 

 the extraordinary fleece of nineteen pounds. 

 He has also three rams, six owes, and six lambs 

 of the Leicester cowling* fleeces, bred by 

 Samuel Wiley, Esq. at Granbv near Yotjt.— 

 Mr. P. is to take them to Albion, state of Il- 

 linois." 



* This we conclude is a typographical error, and 

 should have been combing, as the fleeces are used 

 (or worsted. 



INSECTS OK TREES. 



By carefully examining fruit trees at this 

 season of the year, it will he found that many 

 have passed the winter in a torpid state in Jip 

 cracks of the hark, others about the buds, ami 

 others have deposited their eggs, which hatch 

 into life by the heat of the sun early in the 

 season. It is desirable at all times to keep 

 trees free from insects: we would therefore 

 recommend at this season of the year to wash 

 the stems and as many of Ihe branches of fruit 

 trees as you can conveniently, with soft soap 

 or very strong soai' suds : — this will not oniy 

 destroy a great proportion of the insects and 

 eggs which are upon the tree, but will giic the 

 bark a fine healthy appearance, and as it is 

 washed to the ground by rains, it will serve ns 

 an excellent manure, and will al-o dos'.roy ma- 

 ny insects and larva: which are deposited in .he 

 ground about the roots of the tree. This is the 

 proper season for examining poach trees about 

 the root, for the purpose of destroying i tie grub 

 Was it nol for tho two enemies to our peach 

 plum, apricot, and nectarine trees, the curculio 

 and grub, perhaps few countries in the world 

 would excel the northern parts of New -V r 1 

 and Ohio for raising these delightful I'ruiis; we 

 therefore urge it upon ourroaders to continue 

 their experiments for tho destruction of them 

 It appears to us, that a preparation of India 

 rubber dissolved in fish oil and applied io the 

 bodies of troes, would prevent insects from 

 climbing llioni — as it may be made about the 

 consistency of honey, when it is very adhesive 

 and is not suljoct to dry and become hard, as 

 .»lhe case with tar. To prepare India runhcr 

 for this purpose, let it be cut small and put in- 

 '.o oil and kept hot for one day, when it will 

 oe dissolved sufficient for the above purpose. 



HORTIClil.TCRAIi. 



At a meeting of the Executive Committee of 

 the Monroe Horticultural Society, held at their 

 room iu the Arcade Buildings, on the 7th of 

 April inst. in the absence of the President, the 

 Hon. Ehsha B. Sirong, Vice President, was 

 called to the chair: when it was 



Resolved, That the Executive Committee 

 shall meet at their room every Thursday after- 

 noon, at 2 o'clock, from and after tho first day 

 of May next, until the next regular meeting ol 

 the Society, for the transaction of such busi- 

 ness as may come hefore them. 



R,:solvett, That Mr. J. L. D. Mathies be en- 

 gaged 'o prepare and fit up a showcase for ex- 

 h'biting specimens, and that the expense of 

 the same be defrayed from the funds of the 

 Society. 



The Committee then proceeded to the rating 

 and fixing of Premiums to be offered for spec- 

 imens which may be presented to the Receiv- 

 ing Committee, Messrs. J. L. D. Mathies, E. 

 Watts, and H. N. Langworthy— when the fol- 

 lowing were established : 



ON FRUIT. 



For the best quartof ripe Strawberries, $1,00 



" " " Raspberries, 1,00 



" " " " Cherries, 1,00 



" 2d best " " do. 50 



" best pint Gooseberries, 1,00 



ON VEGETABLES. 



For the best 1-2 peck of Early Peas, $1,00 



" •' 100 shoots of Asparagus, ' 1,00 



u •' dz. young Onions from seed, 50 



" " 1-2 peck of Early Potatoes, 1,00 



" 3 E irly Cabbage Heads, 50 



" " 25 Early Radishes, 50 



" ,( 6 Lettuce plants, 50 



" >• 6 Larly Beet-, 50 



" " 6 Early Cucumbers, 1,00 



" " 2b stalks of tne Pio Plan!, 1,00 



ON FLOWERS. 



For most desirable spec'n Tulips, §1,00 



" " " Hyacinth. 1,00 



" " Monthly Rose, 1.00 



" Hardy Rose, 1,00 

 " 3 mnst desirable specimens of Flow- 

 ers not enumerated, 1,00 

 Resolved, That ihe Executive Committee 

 hold a special meeting on the 7th day of July 

 rext, for receiving the Report of the Receiv- 

 ing Committee, awarding Premiums, and for 

 fixing he Premiums fo. the annual meeting ol 

 the Society, HESTOR STEVENS, 



Recording Seo'y: 



FOR KEEPING POTATOES. 

 Amongst all too discoveries foi keeping po- 

 tatoes for summer use, we believe there is no 

 way i.ioro effectual than to lake out the eye or 

 bud with a knife, or some sharp instrument. — 

 Thi* not only renders the potatoe more valua- 

 ble for keeping, but is a matter of economy 

 wiiii the farmer; for if he will prepare a knife 

 for the purpose which he can do by bending 

 the poin' of a common case-knife, and grinding 

 it in such a manner that the eye can be scoop- 

 ed out without cutting deep into the potatory 

 llic eves so scooped out will plant as much 

 ground as the potatoes would if planted with 

 hem; audit is affirmed by many who have 

 given it a fair irial, that ihey are equally pro- 

 ductive. Thus tho valuable p.:rt of the pota- 

 to, may be saved for family use, or boiled and 

 given to stock, which at this season of the 

 year require a lililc extra feeding. When boil- 

 ed, mashed and mixed with milk, and fed to 

 v'vi s. they ha\e a vary pood effect, and if a 

 little meal is also mixed with them, calves mav 



