RAISING SHEEP AT THE WEST.—MEETING OF THE STATE AG. S0CIE1Y. 
31 
ually did this ; having unintentionally been delayed 
in cutting his hay, till in the stage above mentioned, 
when he says he got better hay than that cut at the 
usual time along side of it; and at the end of five 
years, the gradual improvement in quantity reached 
two and a half tons. He accounts for it (the in¬ 
crease in quantity), by supposing that, when cut in 
its green state, the roots bleed and die out. But 
here is something very inconsistent with the preva¬ 
lent theory on this subject. First, the quality of 
the hay is generally thought to be better when cut 
in a green, juicy state, and that if left till ripe, the 
hay becomes hard and woody, and difficult of mas¬ 
tication and digestion. But this man’s experiment 
leads to a different conclusion. Second, he claims 
an increase in quantity. But the common theory is, 
that the oftener vegetation is cut off (under certain 
limits of course), the more young shoots will ap¬ 
pear from the old stocks, and the strength of the 
soil, not being required to ripen the seed, will cause 
them to grow more luxuriantly. Third, an extra¬ 
ordinary improvement of the soil is also stated. 
But vegetable physiologists say that the greatest 
exhaustion of the soil takes place during the ripen¬ 
ing of the seed. Therefore, the soil would have 
less taken from it, were the hay cut before this 
time, and of course its improvement be more rapid 
under any restoratives that might be applied to it. 
Therefore we conclude, that the results are to be 
ascribed to the peculiarities of the season, or some 
other cause than the cutting at the particular time 
stated. 
Yet, the writer’s confidence in his discovery is 
so great that he says he will “ take a poor field, 
that shows only a few spears of timothy growing 
in it, and by these simple means engage to cut 
two and a half tons per acre of superior hay.” 
And so he might, but his success would be owing 
to something else than that to which he ascribes it. 
One prominent reason I will mention in conclusion. 
Professor Johnston mentions in his lectures, that 
in the fourth or fifth year of a grass crop, the 
quantity of vegetable matter in the roots, is four 
times that contained in any hay crop that could be 
taken from it in any one year. The continual 
decay and decomposition of these roots furnish the 
means of increased fertility ; and hence the amelio¬ 
rating influence of laying land down to grass. 
A. R. D. 
Hackettstown, Warren Co., N. /., Dec. 18,1845. 
Our correspondent shall be answered next month. 
RAISING SHEeFAT THE WEST. 
An opinion has been very prevalent for a long 
time at the East, that sheep can be fed nearly 
throughout the year on the natural pastures of the 
prairies. Though we have never entertained this 
opinion ourselves, yet we have been unwilling to 
speak of it, without more definite information than 
we have hitherto had. We have made extensive 
inquiries on the subject recently, and have further 
testimony of some authentic written sources, and 
particularly from the editor of the Prairie Farmer, 
which induces us to state most explicitly, that all 
such opinions are entirely unfounded. 
The herbage on the rolling prairie, is frequently 
of a choice quality for grazing purposes, abounding 
as it does, in a variety of nutritious grasses, the 
wild pea, &c., &c. But this does not usually spring 
up in sufficient abundance to afford a full bite be¬ 
fore May, and the first severe frosts of autumn 
injure it to such an extent, as to make it entirely 
worthless to sheep. A few days’ pasturage on it, in 
this condition, will kill off sheep as rapidly as rot. 
Excepting some three or four of the summer months, 
then, the prairies are worthless as sheep-walks, and 
other sources than the natural pastures must be pro¬ 
vided for them. This can only be done by prepar¬ 
ing sufficient pasturage from the cultivated grasses. 
On these they can subsist as on similar pastures 
elsewhere ; but the rigors of cold weather will ren¬ 
der ample provision necessary for the late fall, win¬ 
ter, and early spring months, as with us. Good 
grass, straw, pea or bean vines, grain and roots, 
are just as essential to the health, thrift, and pro¬ 
duction of sheep on the prairies, as in similar lati¬ 
tudes at the east. 
The profits of sheep-raising at the West must, 
therefore, be reduced to an approximate level with 
those elsewhere. Then the low price of land is in 
their favor; here, proximity to market, and the 
higher price of mutton, give us a decided advan¬ 
tage ; and the improvements made here in fences, 
roads, buildings, &c., may well nigh neutralize the 
difference in the first cost of land. Certain it is, 
that the advantages of sheep-raising in the West are 
not such as to alarm our Eastern shepherds, from an 
apprehension that their business will be taken out 
of their own hands. It is now, and probably will 
continue to be a lucrative occupation with oui 
Western husbandmen, and as such, should enter 
largely into their arrangements; but its monopoly 
can nowhere be secured, we believe, on this con¬ 
tinent. 
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE N. Y. STATE 
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The annual meeting of the New York State Ag¬ 
ricultural Society will commence its session in the 
city of Albany on the 3d Wednesday (21st) of Jan¬ 
uary, 1846, and continue two days. 
The meetings for business will be held at the 
State Geological Rooms, commencing at 10 o’clock 
A. M., on Wednesday. 
A public meeting will be held at the Assembly 
Chamber of the Capitol on Wednesday Evening, 
where there will be a public discussion of subjects 
interesting to agriculturists. 
On Thursday evening, the annual Address will be 
delivered by the President of the Society. 
Farmers, and the public generally, are invited to 
be present. L. Tucker, Rec. Secretary. 
Save your Hay-Seed. —Many farmers never 
think of saving the offal from the cattle or horse 
manger, but throw it away, or into the manure 
heap. In either case the seed is lost, and in the 
last it becomes a great nuisance, if the manure be 
applied to hoed crops. We saved sufficient hay 
chaff one winter from feeding twenty-three head of 
animals, to stock down ten acres of meadow. Be¬ 
fore sowing it we were careful to pick out all the 
weeds. 
