350 



MOORE'S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 



OCT. 30. 



"SHEEP, ABOUT THBSB DATS." 

 1r the teachings of » communication under this 

 heading, Urt March, have been heeded, sheep ere 

 now in good order, for It was the primary rale 

 then promulgated, that "sheep should never be 

 allowed to get poor in summer— because it was 

 diffl ull to fallen tbem opin the falL" Ttaeaecond 

 " head" stated that " sheep thould never be allow- 

 ed to get poor fu the fall, because it will cost 

 much more to winter them well than if they came 

 into the yard ' ° B ood order," and our present pur- 

 pose Is to offer some bints on the full and earl; 

 winter management of these animal?. 



Ewes with lambs are apt to get low In flesh Ii 

 summer and autumn, from the demands of their 

 young for nutriment, and it Is well to give tbem 

 especial good feed while a supply of milk is re- 

 quired, fiat In many cases, we think this demand 

 Is allowed to continue too long; Iambs are allowed 

 to run with their dams at all times — sucking even 

 Into the winter mouths. It is better for both par- 

 ties to separate them early In October, giving the 

 lambs the run of some newly seeded clover lot 

 and allowing the ewes, also In good pasture, to re- 

 pair the waste of flesh while the grass 1b yet good 

 tn autumn. Wo think we have had better lambs 

 under this treatment than any other, and that our 

 old sheep wintered better also. Sheep mutt *<■ in 

 fair flesh when brought to the yard, in order to 

 leave It In the same condition in spring — though 

 it Is very generally the case that poor fall sheep 

 are drafted for crow-bait in Pebraary or March— 

 their owners following np the neglect of summer 

 throngh the year, and reaching tho oulmtnating 

 pointjustatthotimetolose nine monthB growth, a 

 lamb, and a good fleece of wool, always secured 

 uDderthe "never-get-poor" system. 



To keep a (lock of sheep in good order they 

 must be divided off, according to age and condi- 

 tion, both in summer and winter. It is especially 

 necessary now that the lambB have good pasture, 

 that they may not lose flesh by weaning. Tho 

 ewes, also, oh mentioned above, and the whole 

 flock should be well fed that they may come in 

 Hood heart to tho Held. If any of the flock, from 

 age, disease, or any cause have become poor, they 

 Hhould he given a separate place, and particular 

 attention, and we should take into consideration 

 the policy of disposing of them at some rate 

 rather than keeping them another season. 

 As the grass becomes frosted and poor, 

 to be on the watch to see that our flocks have all 

 the food necessary, and that it ia good 

 keep them growing. We are not In favor of the 

 close confinement of Bheep in pleasant weather, 

 but would allow them the run of pastures for some 

 time after we began to feed them occasionally.— 

 In stormy weather, however, they should be under 

 shelter, for the long, cold rains of early winter are 

 very Injurious, and, if exposed to them, sheep of- 

 ten get diseases of the lungs from which they suffer 

 much, even if they ultimately recover. 



For fall and winter (eeding racks are indispen- 

 sable to proper economy. These can be wholly or 

 partially tilled, and what is not eaten will not be 

 run over and wasted. We would no more attempt 

 sheep without our "Rack and Feeding 



to perfect the business, acd thus bless your con 

 try. Your position and resources are anch as I 

 enable you to do much. Act well your part i 

 ibis direction, sir, and the country will bless yo 

 but pursue an illiberal coarse and shame and mo 



t.ili:; 





.,1868. 



p, S— Since writing the above, afriendhaadone 

 much to relieve my mind by assuring me that hi 

 has sent a homeopathic vial full of Sorghum Syruj 

 to W. B. P., with full instructions for its admiois 

 tration to cure the fidgets. This must prove i 

 remedy. r. s b. 



r working horse! 



Trough 11 (combined) lhan 



without a stable to ah 



equally a necessity, and before they ore actually 



wanted, is the time to provide them. "About 



these days," we have plenty of Btraw from buck- 



wheat, rye, clover seed, fto., this, with a few boards 



and rails will make as good sheds as one can ask 



for. Of course if one has the " where-with all" 



money— permanent sheds will be better— though 

 they cannot furnish any greater warmth or shelter 

 than a properly built straw Bhed. 



Wo must not neglect our Bheep "about these 

 days." The prospect is good for better prieeB for 

 wool next summer, and good care in winter will add 

 materially to the amount we ahajl have to dispose 

 of at that time. It is said that wool grows most 

 in cold weather— if so, it is doubly important that 

 Bheep be well fed that they may have the material 

 wherewith to grow heavy fleeces 

 In full vigor through the winter. 





ABOUT EOBGHUM-GROWTNG. 



Miasm Eds.:— On taking up your issue of the 

 26th nlL, I saw an article from W. B. P., iaquiring, 

 in great agitation of mind, for the resulta of 

 sorghum-growing this year. This article gave me 

 great alarm for the future of my friend. He exhibits 

 unmistakable symptoms of tins fidgets, and, being 

 a medical practitioner, I well know his danger. 

 Will he not caU to his aid some physician and 

 preservo to tho pnblio a life bo truly progressive 

 In all the elements of Improvement? I would vol- 

 unteer a prescription, but you know the adage, 

 "offered services," Ac. 



The gentleman is in a state of great trepidation 

 aa to the fature history of sorghum- growing-I 

 can assure him that la safe. It u sure to become 

 one of the " institutions " of the Northern States. 

 I fear be carried his eye* in his pocket during his 

 trip East and North the past summer — had they 

 been wide awake I think he must have seen much 

 sorghum, for the country la foil of It. There are 

 scores of acres in this immediate vicinity, and 

 within eight or ten miles I presume there are one 

 hundred acres, with " full panicles of bright seed, 

 already burst from the upper joint," and well- 

 brawned on tho way to perfection. 



I have a piece of three fourths of an aore which 

 contains some thousands of stalks, varying from 

 fifteen feet to a red In height. Mr. Lovbbjko's 

 experiments of last year proved that cold weather 

 ia no way injured the cane; therefore the grower 

 is in no hurry to harvest his crop this year. When 



7° C0 »Veted my experiments and gathered 

 ana worked D p my oropi r lmend ^ fc ^ 



reaolUothepnblic From some experiments we 



a imperfect hand- 



of syrup superior 

 se syrup ever pro. 

 uuocu. ««,».!». .-. mayoniet bis fears on the 

 score of cheap sugar. Doni lel ttM wo 

 eir. but rest assured you aha!) ^ weU B lie( j 

 with the sweets of life, if you will come out this 

 way. Na, no, my friend, layaside yourjw^f,, ^ 

 compete with your friends, not to aee who can 

 east the mos t ridicule npon bo valuable a mmer 

 bat compete with them to eee who shall do most 



have made pressing t 

 wife's rolling pin," but'wTtn ', 

 maohine, we got four qaam 

 stalks. This yielded one pin 

 in quality to the best sugar ho 



SEED CORN. 



OarorKALLT educated for commercial life, I 

 served an apprenticeship in a coontlng-ro 

 one of our Atlantic cities. At the expirat 

 that apprenticeship I became a farmer — mor 

 thirty years ago. Among the blenders i 

 novitiate was the storing of some excellen 

 corn, fresh from the field, in a hogshead < 

 ham floor. In the spring, not noticing any defect 

 In the seed thus saved, a floe intervale field of 

 twenty acres was planted with it. A very large 

 part of the Beed failed to germinate, to my great 

 disappointment and serious loss. While I was 

 freshly in possession of this bought wit, Judge 

 BrjEt., in the Albany Cultivator, published direc 

 tions for saving seed corn, which were to leave a 

 little husk on the choice selected ears at huBking 

 time, and, on the tame day the corn was huiktd, to 

 suspend theae ears across a rope or pole in a dry, 

 airy situation. I have practiced this method ever 

 since with entire success, (excepting one year 

 when I procured com from a neighbor's crip with 

 results,) till last fall No matter what the 

 n proved — whether dry, or cold, or wet, or 

 how great the complaint of poor seed com around 

 !,— mine never failed to germinate in such pro- 

 rlion as to insure a good stand of corn. Last fall 

 a, however, an exception. I had been husking 

 jut ten days, saving a little seed corn each day, 

 1 suspending it where I could give it a current 

 air at will, when the severe frost occurred. The 

 d corn was frozen hard, selected BOft con 

 e atone. During the winter I placed som< 

 in tumblers, in a warm room, and tested my 

 corn, and found that which was first hung up bet- 

 ter than the last. I found that an average of from 

 half to two-thirds would germinate, — planted f 

 cordingly, and obtained a good stand. 



For many years I have Baved an early variety 

 garden seed corn suspended in an open shed and t 

 r have in this 



PBEVB5TTHG DBOUTHS. 



Eds. Ecu aa:— After my beat respects to you, 

 please allow me to express my gratitude and ac- 

 knowledgments to the Atlantic Telegraph, for pro- 

 curing space in yonr columns for my Bain Tueory. 

 In your remarks upon my article, you appear to 

 tbink the electricity would be as apt to » go up a? 

 down, and thus prolong, instead of alleviating the 

 drouth,'' Now. I think, I ha»e the advantage of 

 you here; for I can point to any thunder storm and 

 Bhow you, not only a greatly disturbed equilibrium, 

 but evidence of an abundance of electricity in the 

 clouds; while you cannot show me any evidence 

 of terrestrial electricity. Were your suggestions 

 well grounded, it would be wisdom in us to invert, 

 at least, a part of our lightning rods under cer- 

 tain atmospheric conditions. Von eay, "Will Mr. 

 Poblps give bonds not to make the matter woraer 

 Moet assuredly, I will gf« bonds with approved 

 setttrity- provided, that you will furnish me capital 

 to experiment on; or give me your influence to- 

 wards getting CongreBB to do so. I am truly glad 

 that you deemed the subject worthy of discussion, 

 and hope no feellngsof oourtesy towards me, will 

 prevent you, or any other person, from showing up 

 any seeming or real absurdities in my theory,— at 

 the same time, I crave the assistance of any one 

 who can furnish either facta or philosophy, in ita 

 support. o. J. Phelps. 



INQUIRIES AND ANSWERS, 



kb Barlkt. — As I eee mention n 

 Barley in the Rural. I would like t 

 e of your readers, the kind 



this crop,- 



PREMTBHS AWARDED OK STOCK, 

 Boom, hbu. at SrtAcrss, Ocrouw, isis. 



■ 



*«u"ITIkkij ?,»*„. 



- Bright Er» em.- 



■«ii: BowsBji "■'.«■'■"'»; ;'■■/ '' 





..Ii..- r. 

 ■ ■ -: :■ 



■ 



"w: 



r rye.— S. B., Ameliasburgh, C. W., Oct, 181 

 Remarks.— The information sought by on 

 sspondent, will be found in the discussion reported 

 n onr first page, last number. Any good wheat 

 ail will grow winter barley. A tolerably dry and 

 well drained eoil is necessary to prevent inji 



!■ ],■;>:: 



The seed thus t 



always germi 



nated well, proving that a very low tempe 

 will not injure seed corn after it becomes we 

 soned. The damage last fall was obviously owing 

 to the cob and chitnot being sufficiently seasoned. 

 If we are to expect a recurrence of anch intense 

 early frost, Borne addition to Judge Bt/bl's direc- 



BORROWING TROUBLE. 



It! 



bad policy to be always contemplating evil 

 and predicting disaster. This constant straining 

 of the eyes to see omens of ill, and calling public 

 attention to possible prospective calamity, by dis- 

 tracting the minds of the people, uuflts them for 

 the duties which lie at their hands, and by the con- 

 stant performance of which the threatened ca- 

 lamity might be averted. Exercise the demon of 

 distrust which possesses the entire community.— 

 The farmers, eveD, to whom the promise is given 

 direct, that " seed-time and harvest shall continue," 

 sows his grain with distrust — the season promises 

 to be so unfavorable that probably both the seed 

 and his labor will be loatl He almost grudges the 



! t..ll!-ii-iJ 





am he puts In the 

 ith the germs of the future harvest, 

 ill be so cold. 



June and July pour down fierce 



irn will all dry up; there ia no rain ti 



ie roots!" But the roots steadily draw 



from beneath, and by-and-by rain falls. 0, what 



ants! "The fields will be deUged! The corn 



be beaten into the earth!" September comes, 



and again man assumes the care or wind and 



lather. Early frost ia predicted. "The crop 



will yet prove a failure! Beed and laborlostl I 



ild it— the farmer's toil is so uncertain of 



otwithstandlng m 

 doobts and murmurs 

 a have steadily a 

 The harvest moon rii 



, has done all he could by 

 prevent it, the forces of 



ed with the usual result. 



i gloriously over fields of 



yellow grain, standing up in maturity, and pre- 

 nting its spikes defiant of frost. How well 

 pened! — what a bountiful harvest! All granaries 

 e filled. But next year offers the same doubts 

 id replniugs; the same hesitation and faithle&s- 

 188. So on, year after year —none becoming 

 ,ser or more trusting from all his blessed expert- 

 ;ce. Always croaking. 



Only a year ago last June what famine was upon 

 threatening the whole community — starvation, 

 cording to the newspapers. These said there 

 should be sunshine when rain fell— there should 

 heat, when the air was bracing in ita coolness. 

 They lost confidence in God and consulted the 

 l! The comet flamed onward without answer- 

 ing. In due time the fleldB whitened with harvest, 

 and hoarded bread molded where it was hidden in 

 speculator's bosom, tainting him pbjBlcaliy, as 

 >re be was morally putrefactive. Now, news- 

 era grow merry with ringing harvest songa— 

 ichoes from press to press. Thanksgiving is 

 well— it is due. If kept with unleavened cakes 

 instead of staffed turkeys, the lesson of abundance, 

 ceof expected scarcity, might not be so Boon 

 forgotten. 



Ie who honestly and steadily attends to his hu- 

 es*, with a patience and cheerful trust, need fear 

 famine, and he will not tremble when commer- 

 1 trouble shakes the multitude. Sustained by 

 the influence of a life of integrity, he is serene 

 hen others stand aghast with terror. Only the 

 upright can trust. m. l. t. 



Horse Hoe, These i 



to avail ourselves of, if we cou 



aod where they are to be had - 



.' M„ 



N. V., i 

 Remarks — The plow i 

 to our knowledge. It c 

 Tan, but at what price \ 





f.iriu".-.!. 



thiB city, 

 be obtained in Penn 

 are not at present in- 

 fficiently advised as to 

 Havre's Horse Hoe to give prices, or where obtain- 

 able—except of the manufacturers, Satbb & Ebm- 

 ikoton, Utlca, N. Y. The patentees and manufac- 

 turers of these, and many other Improved imple- 

 ments, would undoubtedly find it a good investment 

 to advertise, stating prioea, Ac , in the Rpbal,— but 

 as they probably understand their own business, 

 and may consider ns interested In making the 

 iggestlon, we only hint at it in a Pickwickian 



-i;p. 





id allowable, Whereas, as far as I 



formation from eastern maaufacti 



lyers, they call such "dead wool 



* .ble. Now, if you will plei 



throuRh your paper your 

 knowledge, in tttis matter. I am persuaded 

 be a satisfaction to mauy wool growei 

 though they naturally want all the woo 

 their fleeces that is allowable, have too mc 

 anything that they are awar 

 merchantable. In so doing you will moo 

 a subscriber.— Joseph Dorland, West Fa 

 Co., N. V, 1868. 



Remakes.— Having submitted the abovi 

 contributor, T. C. Pstbhb, Esq., who was e 

 the Wool Grower, he has famished the ft 

 response to the Inquiry: 



loing as you would that 

 should do unto you, applies well here. If 

 washed there ia no Impropriety in 

 o the fleece. My rnle is* to put I 

 themselves and include them in t 

 t the other wooJ. Buyers 

 ly objeot to such a course.— p. 



imd fgpgftttang. 



Sprfacb Draikiso. — One of the best wheat 

 growing countias iu England is Essex— i(e wheat 

 is of the highest repute in the London market — 

 A correspondent of the Mart Lane Express, gives 

 some interesting particulars relative to soil and 

 culture. The surface is a tenacious clay, with n 

 aubsoil as tenacious as it is possible to imagine.— 

 The soil is not much nnderdrained, but the land is 

 p'owed upon stetcbes of sis-and-a-half feet, and 

 the furrows between two or three inches below the 

 ordinary furrows. Cross surface drains are dug 

 with a spade about six inches deeper than the plow 

 farrowa, about fifty yards apart. Thia system of 





..'-.<;■ 









Mock and I 



feel Interested 

 queutly talk wi 



I am a professional i 



farmers on the suhje 

 a large quantity ot i 

 He applied it very treely last s 

 rround on whioh he planted tol 

 that the 



Tna days of blustering winds, 

 e almost upon us. and the farm 

 uing for their advent. Make 

 and tight around tbi 



f haU and snow, 



iverythiug right 

 i ly, and don' 



■ii.i I 

 wi 



18,1 



ae would spoil or 

 i us in the next Da 

 apply it directly & 

 heap, and how itsho 

 "' )na of lime? — bow 

 11 thus oblige 



led byd 



e domestic animals, experiment tried. 



Co., N, ¥., Oct. 1858. 

 Remarks.— Swamp muck is of a peaty nature, 

 containing a good deal of vegetable matter which 

 will not readily decay. It is generally sour, and 

 before being applied, it is best to correct tbia 

 acidity and get it into a state in which it will de- 

 cay, to afford the food for plants, the only olject 

 of using it. Composting with lime corrects the 

 acidity, and hastens the decay of the vegetable 

 matter. Nothing Is better than swamp mock for 

 composting with stable manure, as the muck pre- 

 vents the manure from becoming jire fanged, and 

 the heat evolved in the decomposition of the ma- 

 nure ciuses fermentation in the whole mass. A 

 compost heap made of layers of muck and dung 

 in the spring, will, in the fall, be one mass of rich, 

 well decomposed manure, much more valuable 

 than though the whole bad been made of stable 

 dung. When swamp muck is applied directly to 

 the soil, little good will result, at least the first 

 season, and in some cases, we think, we have known 

 of positive injury to the first crop. When spread 

 on the surface of grass land*, it is fully exposed to 

 the action of the air, and the result has been good 

 almost every case, where 



if wheat in usnai good seasons being from 40 to 

 iG bushels per acre. Wheat la grown on these 

 ands twice to three times every aix years, beanB 

 ind clover being tho alternating crop; on the 

 ;halhy clays barley is also grown veryauccesHfally. 



fWhb 



',Ok: 





Agricultural Bureau of the Patent Office has 

 ved a letter from Mona. J. De Nottrbcb, the 

 ig-Conanlate-General of Russia for the United 

 ?, dated at New York, Oot- Dth, in which that 

 eman says, that wishing to send to several of 

 uBsian sgricnltural and Horticultural Sooie- 

 aamples of wheat, earn and other seeds of 

 ican growth, he requests that be may have a 

 ackages of each kind to be distributed among 

 In exchange he will invite the Societies of 

 a to forward for the Patent Office, such varie- 

 f grain as are peculiar to Russia. The officers 

 a Patent Office replied that they would com- 

 ith the request, and are now making arrange- 

 • to secure seed of the several varieiea of 

 grain as are to be found in this country. 



[ake Damaoed Hat F 

 it of the London Field suggests a method by 

 unpalatable hay may be rendered savory to 

 da of stock. In stacking adopt the well- 

 sprinkling of salt, and previous to the con- 

 on of the hay by cattle, cut it with tho chaff 

 and then take one pound of molasses, mix 

 lately with two gallons of water, and sprinkle 

 i Sucre over seven bushels of the out food. 

 laials wilt devour this compound with ap- 

 y as great a relish as the alderman docs his 

 and, moreover, soou exhibit a similar ten- 

 to obesity by the indulgence. 



i Urn 



• On 



Mr. Bird, a fanner 

 since. He had a 

 a "dipped" in a 

 roylng ticks, &G., 



I" M. > Jf n iin . tj.rj "-liJl ]■'"' ' 



JQogk. Pn«chs*ito,t"', W. '*■»'■/■ '■'' J L "" t ", 



i. L^m't-J I> PiKwio-V 



.' " Pk.wL-.ri. 3 'l^,,, ...„ ;„ 



Burton, England, some wecki 



fiook of 867 sheep, which we 



cbemioal solution used for des 



id then turned to grass. It Is i 



lotion was washed off the she* 



.in and fell upon the grass, whit 



the sheep, poisoned them. Only '. 



of 807 remained alive. 



POLAND Pays iron Makbbe.— It is esti- 

 mated that Eugland pays annually three hundred 

 millions -f dollara for manure — more than the 

 entire commerce of that country. The total value 

 of a year's crop has been reported to Parliament, 

 some time ago, aa being about three thousand mil- 

 lions of dollara— the crop includes the animal as 

 well aa the vegetable. The turnip crop has been 

 ) be worth fifteen bun- 



Ak Aged Hoksb.— Daniel Goodall, of Ecorse, 

 Michigan, says the Spirit of the Times, owns a 

 pony mare, formerly gray, but now white, who was 

 thirty-four years *ld last spring, and has produced 

 twenty six foals. This mare has never known the 

 luxury of a stable, nor the aid of a scythe In pro- 

 curing her food; cropping with her teeth for a 

 living, summer and winter, and now presents tho 

 appearance of six or eight years of age. She ia 

 fat and healthy, and as active and apry as any colt. 



