AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
7 
ailment known as stretches, which, if not attended 
to, often proves fatal to sheep. A feed of routs, 
apples, or any succulent vegetables, three times a 
week, will obviate all danger in this direction. 
To produce the finest and evenest fleeces, or an 
even-sized and even-lengthed fiber, nothing is 
more important than good food, and an even con¬ 
dition of flesh throughout the year. Fat at one 
time, and poor at another, will surely produce an 
uneven fiber, and materially injure the qualities 
of the wool for most manufacturing purposes. 
High feeding is certainly not favorable for the 
growth of the finest wool. Ruta-barga turnips in 
large quantities, fed to sheep during the Winter, 
injure the quality of wool for fine fabrics, and so 
does Indian corn, when given plentifully. These 
articles of food sparingly do little harm—other 
grains, roots, and beans are preferable. 
Water. —Many farmers hold to the notion that 
sheep need no water during Winter ; but surely 
there is no ground for it, for no animal drinks 
more freely, or with a better relish; and it is as 
essential to their health and condition, that they 
have a full supply regularly, as that they have a 
full supply of good food regularly. 
Every good and experienced flock-master 
knows how important it is, to keep sheep up in 
good condition in the Fall, and to have them come 
to the sheds at this season in full flesh and health. 
No animal is so hard to bring up again, after be¬ 
coming poor, as the sheep. Indeed, having had 
the experience myself, I speek feelingly on the 
subject. There is nothing more unsatisfying than 
the very humane occupation of nursing up a poor, 
weak, diseased animal, which has been reduced, 
and brought upon the sick-list by one’s own care¬ 
lessness and neglect. 
Dressed or Net Weight of Animals, 
Cattle. At the West, and generally among 
farmers, where cattle are sold by weight, instead 
of by the head, the live weight is understood 
This is obtained at the scales, or perhaps more 
frequently by estimate. At the New-York cattle 
market, cattle are usually sold by the weight of the 
four quarters dressed. Thus, when a butcher buys 
a bullock at 9 cents per lb., it is this price for the 
dressed meat, and does not include the feet, head, 
hide, and loose tallow. If he retails the meat by 
the pound, at prices which average 9c., he gets 
the hide, tallow, head, and feet, for the expeiue of 
killing, selling, and profit, and this usually pays. 
At the cattle market the net weight is generally 
estimated by the eye. Sometimes cattle ate sold 
at so much per pound, to be weighed soon after 
killing. Sometimes they are weighed alive, and 
an agreed allowance deducted for offal cr shrink¬ 
age. A bullock of average size and in #ood flesh, 
will generally shrink about 44 lbs. on each 100 
lbs.; that is, each 100 lbs. of live weight will give 
56 pounds of meat in the quarters. Large fat 
bullocks will sometimes dress as high as 58 to 61 
or 62 lbs. to the 100 lbs. live weight; while some 
poorer, thin animals, will dress no more than 48 
to 52 lbs. to the 100 lbs. live weight. Frequently 
“scalawags’’ will run considerably lower, their feet 
bead, and horns making up a considerable portion 
of their live weight.—In. Boston, (or its cattle 
market at Brighton), and indeed in most markets 
aside from New-York, the selling net weight in¬ 
cludes what is called the “ fifth quarter,” that is, 
the head, hide, and loose tallow. This fact 
should be kapt in mind when reading and compar¬ 
ing the cattle reports from different cities. 
Calves. These are almost universally sold by 
the pound for the live or gross weight. A calf 
shrinks just about one third in dressing. Small 
young calves in the New-York markets are usu¬ 
ally styled “bobs,” and sometimes “kittens ” ; 
these are generally sold by the head, without 
weighing. 
Sheep are sold more frequently by the head, 
though very often by the pound, live weight. 
Sheep shrink in dressing about one half. This de¬ 
pends somewhat upon the length or weight of the 
wool, and considerably, of course, on the fatness. 
In Autumn, as a general rule for sheep in fair 
condition, the net weight of the dressed carcases 
is estimated at about 5 (a) 5 $ lbs. for each 10 lbs. 
of live weight. 
Hogs. These are usually sold, before killing, by 
the live weight, at an agreed price per lb. After 
killing, the pork is sold by the weight of the car¬ 
cases, including the head and feet, the entrails and 
loose fat being removed, and also the heart, liver 
and lights (lungs). The net weight varies less in 
hogs, than in other animals. A general rule for 
medium hogs is to allow one pound in five for 
shrinkage. The old Kentucky rule for fat hogs 
is, we believe, as follows: From the first 100 
pounds of live weight deduct one pound in every 
four for offal.—For what is over 100 lbs. up to 
200 lbs., deduct one pound from every eight 
pounds for offal. For what is over 200 lbs. up to 
300 lbs., deduct one pound from eveiy sixteen 
pounds. All above three hundred is counted net 
weight. Examples: From a hog weighing 164 
lbs. alive, deduct 25 lbs. for the first 100 lbs., and 
8 lbs. (1 in 8) for the 64 lbs., that is, 33 lbs. in all 
from the 164 lbs., leaving 131 lbs. for the dressed 
or net weight. From the live hog weighing 280 
lbs., deduct 25 lbs. for the first hundred, 12£ lbs. 
(1 in 8) for the second hundred pounds, and 5 lbs. 
(1 in 16) for the eighty pounds ; in all 42J- lbs., 
leaving 237i lbs. as the net or dressed weight. 
From a live hog weighing 400 lbs., deduct 25 
lbs for the first hundred pounds, 12^ pounds for 
the second hundred pounds, and 6£ lhs. for the 
third hundred pounds, and nothing for the fourth 
hundred pounds, in all say 44 lbs., leaving a net 
weight of 356 lbs. We think, however, that 2 or 
3 lbs. should be deducted from the fourth and fifth 
hundred pounds. These, as well as the previous 
figures, will vary somewhat with age, rize of 
frame, and degree of fatness of the animal. 
-——--*-«.- 
Whistling. —We believe in whistling—we love 
to hear it, and to do it. The boy or man at the 
plow who whistles indicates, that he is contend¬ 
ed, and he will plow more than your silent, glum 
one, who hath no music in his soul, nor in his lips. 
The Albany Times is right when it says : The 
man who don’t believe in whistling, should go a 
step further, and put a muzzle on bobolinks and 
mocking birds. Whistling is a great institution. 
It oils the wheels of care, and supplies the place 
of sunshine. A rnan who whistles has a good 
heart under his shirt front. Such a man not only 
works more willingly than any other man, but he 
works more constantly. A whistling cobbler will 
earn as much again money as a cordwainer who 
gives way to low spirits and indigestion. Mean 
or avatacious men never whistle. Who ever 
heard of a whistler among the sharp practicioners 
of Wall St. 1 We pause for an answer. The man 
who attacks whistling, throws a stone at the 
head of hilarity, and would, if he could, rob June 
of its roses—August of its meadow larks. Such 
a man should be looked to. 
Dr. Adam Clark, who had a strong aversion to 
pork, was called upon to say grace at a dinner, 
where the principal dish was roast pig. He is 
reported to have said : '• O 1 Lord, if Thou can’st 
bless under the Gospel what Thou did’st curse 
under the Law, bless this pig.” 
Wind Mills. 
There are. doubtless very many locations, where 
power may be obtained for farm purposes by the 
erection of wind mills. Many flour mills in this 
country, as well as in Europe, have long 
been driven by this power, and the fact of their 
continued use, is demonstrative of their utility. 
We are constantly inquired of as to the best 
form. We have also some half-a-dozen commen¬ 
datory communications on the subject, but all of 
them, or all but one, are from individuals, direct¬ 
ly or indirectly interested in some particular pa¬ 
tent. We are very desirous of supplying our 
readers with correct information on the subject, 
for it is needed ; but we frankly confess that we 
are not yet able to give a well-grounded opinion, 
and in this, as in other instances, we prefer to be 
silent, until able to judge and speak intelligently 
—even at the risk of losing an editor's reputation 
for knowing everything. We hardly know how 
to get at this matter, without spending a month 
or two, or more, and traveling several thousands 
of miles to thoroughly and carefully examine the 
various mills constructed, and in operation in dif¬ 
ferent parts of the country. If we can get at the 
matter in any way during the year, we shall cer¬ 
tainly do so. Details of their operation from un¬ 
interested persons will be gladly received. Let 
us know, for example, what kind is used.describ 
ing its construction ; how long it has been used ; 
what was its first cost, and the after cost for re¬ 
pairs ; what is its capacity ; whether you would 
put up another at once, just like it, if this were 
burned down. This last question is a good test 
one, which may well be applied to other struc¬ 
tures, when estimating their real value to the 
owner, or for others. We often form a kind of 
attachment to a thing, more because it is on 
hand, and we are used to it, than from its real 
utility. 
Large Yield of Rye. 
George J. Ryerson, of Wayne, Passaic Co., 
N. J., informs us that he cut within a fraction of 
75 bushels of rye from two acres. It was the 
common rye, sown early in October, on “dark 
sandy loam.” The field, a meadow, was plowed 
in Spring of 1856, and planted to corn. In Spring 
of 1857 planted with potatoes, and a single hand¬ 
ful of unleached ashes scattered on the top of 
each hill after planting. After digging the pota¬ 
toes, the ground was plowed, and 10 loads (25 
bushels each) of well-rotted yard manure per acre 
harrowed in. The rye was then sown broadcast, 
about H bushel to the acre. 
---■—ga^taoi - 
Blotting Paper usually becomes nearly use¬ 
less in a short time. Cause : The oil from fingers 
rubbed over it coats the surface, and prevents its 
absorbing the fluid ink. Remedy : Always keep 
the same side up, and apply the fingers only to 
that side. This is an “ original discovery”—a 
small one, but nevertheless a useful one to those 
who have much writing to do. We shall not ap¬ 
ply for a “ patent.”— Ed. 
“ Sir : Your account has been standing for two 
years, I must have it settled immediately.” Re¬ 
ply, “ Sir, things do usually settle by standing, I 
regret that my account is an exception. As it 
has been standing so long, suppose you let it run 
a while.” 
A spendthrift, who had wasted his valuable in¬ 
heritance, rallying a frugal country gentleman, 
said, among other things, “ I’ll warrant those 
buttons on your coat were your grandfather’s.’ 
“Yes,” said the other, “but 1 have still got my 
grandfather's lands, tool" 
