276 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



produce the largest secretions of milk. It is 

 found, likewise, by experiment, that, in order to 

 the largest secretions of milk, the temperature 

 in which the animal is placed must be comfort- 

 able; she must be free from external annoyances; 

 and she must be " at ease in her mind." These 

 things being equal, it is not easy to see why, 

 under an ample supply of fresh grass eaten with 

 a good appetite, there should not be an equal 

 production of milk in the stall as in the pasture. 

 Caiman's European Agricultural Tour. 



For the Southern Planter. 

 GRAIN-SHEEP. 



It is probable that the potato crop will be af- 

 fected with rot for many years, and if so, wheat 

 and other grain will most probably continue to 

 bear a good price. Wheat will bear land car- 

 riage the greater distance, because of its com- 

 manding the better price. Corn and other grain 

 will bear land carriage only a short distance, be- 

 cause of their commanding an inferior price. 



Indian corn being the more certain crop, I am 

 of opinion that persons having lands adapted to 

 its growth and convenient to shipping, should 

 now plant it largely for exportation. Land well 

 adapted to the growth of wheat should, of 

 course, be cropped with this at any reasonable 

 distance from water carriage. There are some 

 sections of dark alluvial lands on James River 

 which are not adapted to wheat, but are well 

 adapted to rye, and, therefore, should be sowed 

 in this crop, if the owner will take the precau- 

 tion to keep the rye at a respectful distance from 

 the wheat, particularly after harvest. What the 

 rye crop requires for its perfection, is saltpetre, 

 and all lands containing vegetable mould have 

 this salt. 



I repeat that it is my opinion grain is to sell 

 well for many years to come, and, therefore, hope 

 that more grain and less tobacco will be made. 

 It seems to me that any person who would now 

 make tobacco, where his lands are adapted to 

 grain, must make his estimates upon random 

 principles. Tobacco must sell for a very low 

 price for several years to come, although but 

 little shall be made. 



But my main object in taking up my pen, 

 was to say something on the subject of sheep, 

 and in the outset I will say in broad terms, that 

 I believe the grazing and rearing of sheep on 

 mountainous lands is now the best prospect for 

 profitable investment I can bring my mind to 

 bear on. 



Remember, I speak of mountainous lands, and 

 I will give reasons for its preference. 



I. The atmosphere, vegetables, and water are 

 most healthy on mountains, for all manner of 

 quadrupeds, but especially for sheep, and their 

 species. 



2. Nature will here place a coat of wool on 

 the body of the sheep adapted to the climate he 

 is in — for the colder the climate the more wool 

 is required for comfort. 



3. The land costs but a trifle. 



4. Every year the sheep are on such lands 

 the pasturage is improving. 



5. The shepherd can, whilst following the 

 flock, carry an axe and be continually improving- 

 the range by cutting bushes, and deadening and 

 trimming trees. 



6. So long as those grounds are pastured, no 

 timber can ever grow when once cut down or 

 belted, for the sheep will eat every sprout as 

 they appear. 



7. The highest mountain in Virginia is the 

 Cold Mountain in the county of Amherst, and 

 on this there is now to be seen the best sod of 

 greensward and white clover in Virginia, and 

 perhaps equal to any in the world. 



8. All the above being facts, sheep must here, 

 and on all such lands, grow to large size, fatten 

 kindly, and yield a heavy coat of wool. 



I am glad to learn that a gentleman of Lynch- 

 burg intends, next spring, to put a flock of one 

 thousand, on the Blue Ridge, and as I intend to 

 put about as many on the Cold Mountain at 

 the same time, I challenge him, in honorable 

 rivalry, to face me like a man, and name his 

 terms. My shepherd, too, is a man of parts 

 and chivalrous to a nicety, and as the two shep- 

 herds will be in full view of each other (only 

 about three miles apart) he will be watchful and 

 see that no man shall beat him in industry and 

 neat management. And for all this a coat of 

 many colors shall be his extra. 



Some seven or eight years past I grazed a 

 flock of about four hundred for two years in 

 succession on and above the Cold Mountain, 

 and when they returned home, in the fall, they 

 were as fat as I could desire. 



It is my intention to make a few acres of 

 meadow near the top of the mountain, the hay 

 from which, in addition to the grazing in and 

 out of the meadow will keep my flock till Christ- 

 mas, as well as in early spring. The flock will 

 be wintered at my residence. 



I will close with another eulogy on the moun- 

 tains of Amherst. Where the lands are either 

 much elevated or rich, neither broom or sedge 

 is to be seen ; neither is there a brier, or bur, or 

 needle, or indeed any other pest to be found. 



Za. Drummond. 



December, 1846. 



From the Keystone. 



NEW BEEHIVE. 



I have become very much interested in the 

 subject of bees, and my inquiries have led me 

 to the conclusion, that every farmer in our goodly 



