THE BEST SHEEP CO.UNTRY. 
209 
ed, vary with the breed of the cow, with the food 
on which she is sustained, with the time that has 
elapsed since she gave birth to her young, with 
her age, state of health, and with the season of the 
year; but in most cases this fluid contains the same 
substances, though in different quantities. In 
warm weather milk contains more butter ; in 
cold, more cheese and sugar. 
The instrument in question is constructed and 
for sale at $1 each, including a tin case, by Messrs. 
Frye and Shaw, 222 Water street, N. Y. and may 
be described and used as follows:— 
Lactometer.—(Fig. 51.) 
It will be understood by the annexed cut, that 
the two extremes of the scale of the instrument are 
based upon Croton water at 60° F., and an aver¬ 
age quality of pure Orange county milk during the 
months of May, June, July, and August, of the 
same temperature. By mixing the milk and wa¬ 
ter in equal proportions, and of a temperature as 
above, the instrument will stand at 50°; when 
mixed in a proportion of one fourth milk and three 
fourths water it will stand at 25°, which will indi¬ 
cate that the mixture contains 25 per cent, of milk,, 
and 75 per cent, of water, and so on with other 
proportions. 
How to use the instrument .—Fill the tin tube 
which accompanies the instrument with a portion 
of the milk to be tested, and warm or cool it to a 
temperature of 60° F. Suspend the lactometer in 
the milk, and note the degree on the scale of the 
instrument, which is nearest the surface ; and the 
number corresponding thereto will indicate the 
per cent, of pure milk that the liquid contains. 
This instrument was invented by Mr. Frye at 
the special request 0 of the board of Agriculture of 
the American Institute, and has received their 
strongest commendation. D. J. B. 
For the American Agriculturist. 
THE BEST SHEEP COUNTRY. 
Fairfield, Iowa T., August 1 5th, 1843. 
I promised you some account of this Territory, 
and am now reminded of the performance of my 
promise by a late number of your paper, in which 
a writer on sheep-husbandry propounds the inqui¬ 
ry, “ What is the best region of the United States 
for sheep?” I am satisfied I can answer that 
question by naming Iowa Territory; especially 
the southern portion of it, which is, in my opinion, 
better adapted to sheep-husbandry than any other 
part of the United States. The soil is very rich 
and fertile, yet highly silicious, consisting of a 
black vegetable mould, with an admixture of 15 to 
20 per cent, of sand. The face of the country is 
dry and undulating. From the Mississippi, the 
country ascends gently to an altitude of at least 
500 feet above the level of the river, for a distance 
of 60 or 70 miles. Throughout that distance there 
is no flat, level land—it is all dry and rolling. The 
water is absorbed rapidly, or passes off quickly in 
the numerous streams. Good water for stock 
abounds. Groves.of timber and prairie alternate 
in beautiful variety and succession. The timber 
occurs in sufficient abundance for farming purposes, 
and consists of oak, hickory, elm, sugar-maple, and 
the usual forest growth of this latitude—41°. 
The prairies are covered with a luxuriant growth 
of grass, on which millions of sheep could be fed. 
It is said by those who have resided in this terri¬ 
tory for four or five years, that a remarkable improve¬ 
ment is perceptible in sheep, after having been a year 
or two here. Both carcase and fleece are improved, 
the latter in softness and quantity. I know that 
this is contrary to general received theory and ob¬ 
servation, that the quantity and quality of fleeces 
should improve at the same time. But such is 
the well-authenticated fact, and certainly I never 
