1847. 



GENESEE FARMER. 



21 



Spanish Merino Slieep. 



On the preceding page we give a Plate rep- 

 resenting several Spanish Merino Sheep, from 

 the flock of Mr. R. J. Jones, of Cornwall, Vt. 

 As this breed of sheep is fast coming into favor 

 in Western New York, and other sections where 

 the Farmer circulates, we presume that our nu- 

 merous readers will be gratified with the accurate 

 and life-like portraits here given. During the 

 past season quite a number of sheep have been 

 purchased of Mr. Jones, and brought into this 

 section. Gen. Harmon, of Wheatland, has sev- 

 eral fine bucks and lambs of the same stock. 



The following extract of a letter from Mr- 

 Jones contains definite information relative to 

 his flock of Merinos : 



"My flock of Merino Sheep, about 12o in number, origi- 

 rated from the importations of Messrs. Jarvis, Humphrey, 

 and Livingston. For size and symmetry, and quantity anil 

 quality of fleeces — the four cardinal points of a sheep — I 

 have seen no sheep superior to them. My yearlings aver- 

 aged 6 li 8. and 1 oz., per head, of washed wool ; the en- 

 t re flock 05 pounds. The wool is worth now (.?eptember) 

 3-5 cts. per lb. 



The Buck represented in the accompanying engraving is 

 t'lree years old. He was shorn the 1st of Juno, 1846 ; weight 

 of fleece 11 lbs. 4 oz. — the grovMhof 11 months and 10 days. 

 The Ewes received the tirst preaiium at the AddisSn Co. 

 (Vt.) Fair, in October, 1845— and a Diploma at the Fair of 

 the American Institute, the same month and year. They 

 were purchased of S. W. Jewktt, and are, in every re- 

 spect, very superior animals. 



In selecting my flock of Merinos (during the past four 

 years,) I have seen nearly every flock of note in seven 

 States, and have never purchased without having an en- 

 tire selection — sometimes paying .$25 perifcad for ewes. — 

 If I have not good sheep, it is for want of judgment in 

 selecting. 



This breed of sheep are fast taking the precedence of all 

 others — combining the greatest number of good qualities, 

 and being well adapted to this climate, it is very impor- 

 tant that farmers should learn to judge correctly of sheep, 

 if they are desirous to make improvements. Here is the 

 cifficulty : Not being judges of sheep, people buy miserable 

 animals — and then, being disappointed, condemn the whole 

 race. I once found a man who would not buy a Merino 

 Buck, because he had preriously purchased a miserable 

 Berkshire hog ! 



I send enclosed a few samples of wool — three of them 

 from my stock bucks. They are not remarkably flne, but 

 of good quality for sheep that will shear 10 or 11 lbs. of 

 washed wool." 



The samples of wool alluded to by Mr. J. are 

 of superior quality. They can be seen at the 

 oflice of tliis paper. For history of the Spanish 

 Merinos, &c., see "Morrell's American Shep- 

 herd,' page 60. M. 



Rochester Flour. — The flour sent East 

 from Rochester the past season amounted to 

 .540,238 bbls. The receipts of wheat by the 

 two canals amounted to 1,-504,546 bushel?. — 

 There are in Rochester 18 flouring mills, with 

 82 run of stone. Next year two mills with 18 

 run of stone are to be added. 



Flouring in St. Louis. — There are 14 steam 

 flouring mills in St. Louis, which turn out 2000 

 bbls. flour daily — consuming 10,000 bushels of 

 wheat everv 24 hours, at a cost of $6,000. 



To Correspondents. 



During the past month Communications have been re- 

 ceived from S. Williams, D. A. Ogden, Lewis F. Allen, H. 

 P. Norton, J. W. Bissell, Alpheus Baldwin, W. J. Phelps, 

 E. S. Bartholomew, W. S. T., Student, David Bell, A. G. 

 xMelvin, James L. Ingalsbe, Hose* Straight, Monroe Co. 

 Ag. Society, N. Y. State Ag. Society. 



Several excellent articles from correspondents are neces- 

 sarily deferred. We are much obliged for the favors of our 

 friends, and w ill give each a hearing— or answer their in- 

 quiries — as soon as convenient. 



Books, &c., have been received as follows : 



" Experimental Researches on the Food of Animals, and 

 the Fattening of Cattle ; with remarks on the Food of Man.. 

 Based upon the experiments undertaken by order of the 

 British Government. By Robert Dundas Thomson, M. D., 

 Lecturer on Practical Chemistry, University of Glasgow." 

 For sale by S. Hamilton, Bookseller, Rochester. 



" Six Lectures on the Uses of the Lungs ; and causes, 

 prevention and cure of Consumption, Asthma, and Dis- 

 eases of the Heart ; and on the mode of preserving male 

 and female health to an hundred years. By Samuel Shel- 

 don Fitch, A. M., M. D." Hall Colby, Agent for Western 

 New York. For sale at the Bookstores in Rochester. 



" Prince's Manual of Roses. By WilliamRobert Prince." 

 [See notice of this work in our ^Horticultural Department.] 



"The Apiarian's Guide — being a Practical Treatise on 

 the Culture and Management of Bees. By William R. 

 Kelsey." 



" Charter and By-Laws of the American Agricultural As- 

 sociation. Adopted October, I846." 



" Transactions of the American Agricultural Association. 

 Part I.'' 



" The Rural Register and Almanac for 1847. Philadel- 

 phia—Lea & Blanchard."' For sale by S. Hamilton, State- 

 street Rook-store, Rochester. 



" The Ready Reckoner ; for Ship Builders, Boat Build- 

 ers, and Lumber Merchants. By J. M. Scribnrr, A. M." 



Published and for sale by Fisher &, Co., Exchange-street 

 Bookstore, Rochester. 



"An Address delivered before the Onondaga Co. Ag. So- 

 ciety, at their Annual Fair, Oct. 2, 1846. By Samuel B. 

 Woolworth, A. M., Principal of the Cortland Academy." 

 [See notice on page 11 of this paper.] 



" Dealings with the firm of Dombey & Son, Wholesale 

 and Retail and for Exportation ; by Charles Dickens (Boz.) 

 With illustrations by H. K.Browne. No. 1. To be com- 

 pleted in 20 Nos. at 8 cents each." Published by Lea & 

 Blanchard, Philadelphia. 



"Norman's Southern Agricultural Almanac for 1847 ; 

 edited by Thomas AfHeck, Esq." Published by M. B. Nor- 

 man, New-Orleans. 



Such of the above mentioned works as are not elsew here 

 noticed in this number, will receive propor attention here- 

 after. They were rec( ivad too late for examination previ- 

 uos to the publication of this months paper. m. 



Our New Volume. 



The reader will perceive that we have made some im- 

 provement in the appearance of the Farmer. Tiie paper 

 upon which it is printed is superior to that heretofore used, 

 and we intend that its mechanical execution shall be second 

 to no other publication in Western New York. The 

 Farmer will hereafter be printed upon a Steam Power Press, 

 and in the best style of the art. In future, the paper will 

 be issued and mailed with more promptness and attention. 

 In a word, as the patronage of the Farmer is fast increasing" 

 we shall avail ourselves of every facility within our reach 

 to furnish its subscribers a handsome and correct journal 

 in proper season, and thus endeavor to give entire satisfac- 

 tion to all its friends and patrons. jj 



