1870. 



XE'W ENGLA^s'D FARMER. 



395 



widely among the farmers of this vicinity, so that ! 

 there are several acres under cultivation the pres- 

 ent season. I regard them altogether ahead of all 

 other root crops. I have never seen but one per- 

 son who has grown this variety from seed obtained 

 elsewhere than the town mentioned above. This 

 was a gent'eman from Braintree, Vt., who. after a 

 careful examinarion of speci-mens, avers that he has 

 raised the same from seed pur«hased of seed grow- 

 ers. May it not, then , be raised in other localities 

 besides this ? 



Enclosed are a few sepds which, though rather 

 late in the season, will if sown soon, sufficiently 

 mature to give vou a good idea of the variety. 



Brookfield, Vt., June 11, 1870. C. B. Fisk. 



Remarks —The seeds were received June 20, 

 and immediately planted. We shall be glad to 

 receive information in regard to the mode of cul- 

 tivation adopted by our correspondent. 



COMBlJjfQ WOOLS. 



To speak candidly, we consider the climate 

 of England better fitted than ours for a rapid 

 and economical development of mutton sheep. 

 There they can have green feed (grass or 

 turnips) off the ground most of the year — 

 not scorched by our long dry summers — not 

 locked up and rendered inaccessible by the 

 frosts and snows of the severe winters of our 

 Northern States. The artificial advantages 

 are also even more in their favor in England. | 

 The high price of mutton, the inexhaustible j 

 demand for it, the accessibility to markets, 

 the necessity of obtaining manure for grain 

 crops, &c., &c.. probably render sheep about 

 or nearly as profitable there as cattle, without 

 taking the wool of the former into account. 



Suppose that, owing to natural or artificial 

 circumstances, or to both combined, England 

 can now raise long-wool cheaper than the 

 United States, does that prove that the United 

 States are not fitted to its production. 



1. We are yet to learn that long-wool 

 sheep (Cotswolds, Leicesters, Lincolns, ifec.,) 

 are not, under the same treatment, or we 

 should rather say under correspondingly good 

 treatment, as healthy here as in England. 

 They will not bear herding together in large 

 numbers, or severe climatic exposures, or 

 neglects of any kind here, nor will they in 

 England. 



2. We have not a particle of doubt that 

 their mutton, when properly fattened, is as 

 good here as in England. 



3. We believe that under good manage- 

 ment their wool is as heavy to the fleece and 

 of as good quality here, in every respect, as 

 in England. 



4. It is probably true that the demand for 

 mutton, and the all-important consideration 

 of manure in England, renders them more 

 indispensable there; but they now yield a 

 handsome profit here on mutton and wool, to 

 say nothing of the extra one of raising them 

 to sell for breeding purposes. The latter ad- 

 vantage will, of course, diminish as the 

 country fills up with them ; but with a supply 



properly graduated to the demand, they will 

 always remain profitable while the present 

 wool tariff stands. This would seem to be 

 absolutely inevitable. The relative consump- 

 tion of mutton is constantly inoreasing. Our 

 systems of hu&bandry are steadily improving, 

 and both the necessity and advantage of util- 

 izing manures are being better understood 

 and acted on. Combing wool manufactures 

 are rapidly increasing among us. We believe 

 that the time will come when long-wool sheep 

 will be regarded, throughout extensive re- 

 gions of the United States, as essential an 

 element to the success of mixed and convert- 

 ible husbandry as they are in England. They 

 are as essential on the rich producing grain 

 farms, as the Merino is on the grazing farms 

 to be found in every State, and on the broad 

 natural pasturages of the South and West. — 

 Dr. Randall, in Plural Neio Yorker. 



TREATMENT OP BHEEDIWO- EWES. 



As I have bred Leicester sheep for several 

 years, and have carefully studied their habits, 

 wants, &c., 1 will endeavor to reply to inquir- 

 ies for information pertaining to the feeding 

 of Leicester sheep at about lambing time. My 

 idea is that all breeding animals, especially 

 sheep, should be handled and fed with that 

 thing in view long before the lambing time , 

 arrives. To begin, I would say have your 

 ewes in good condition In the fall when they 

 come into winter quarters, and then immedi- 

 ately take the ram from among them, as a 

 great many rams, when they get into a small 

 yard with the ewes, will chase and hunt them, 

 which is not caly injurious to the ewes, but 

 very bad for their lambs, frequently causing 

 abortion. Next, feed them carefully and 

 regularly ; do not allow your feeder to rush 

 suddenly into their yard, making them nervous 

 and wild, but let him approach them cautious- 

 ly for a few days at every feeding, when they 

 will get accustomed to him and he will be paid 

 for his extra care and trouble. Also their 

 feed should be regular as to time, quantity 

 and quality, and not feed one morning at six, 

 another at seven, and then at eight o'clock, but 

 let the hour be the same every day, whether it 

 be six, seven or eight, and then your sheep 

 will not be worrying and waiting for it, as I 

 can assure you that sheep know when feeding 

 time arrives as well as we know when dinner 

 time comes, and will not be easy until they 

 get It. 



If sheep are not in high condition when 

 winter sets In, a little grain morning and night, 

 (say half a pint to each sheep per day,) will 

 be good for them ; also some roots at noon 

 are excellent. A mixture of oats and corn is 

 my choice, and they should be of good quality. 

 As lambing time approaches roots should be 

 reduced and grain increased, as too many 

 roots are apt to cause too much milk, which is 

 not so desirable until after the lambs are two 



