348 
THE TRUE PRINCIPLES OF FARMING. 
large, quiet, docile one: and I invariably find the 
larger animal to be the quieter one. My own pre¬ 
possession is in favor of a large breed of animals, 
as believing that they come to—grow to—a heavier 
weight in the shortest time, upon proportionably 
the least food. With the view of exciting discus¬ 
sion on these points, and consequent improvement, 
I send you the following dimensions of sheep taken 
at the late York meeting. I withhold the numbers, 
at least for the present, as I have no wish to come 
into collision with individual exhibitors. The 
whole were fairly and carefully taken before the 
prizes were declared, and in utter ignorance as to 
w r hom each animal belonged. I would further say, 
that I had ample time to make my selection, which, 
with two or three exceptions, were the largest 
sheep in each class. 
Admeasurement of sheep in class at York meet¬ 
ing, taken before the prizes were declared. 
Breed. 
Class. 
Age. | 
(’ 
iirdi. | 
Length. | 
| Height. 
1 
Months. 
ft 
in. 
it. 
in. 
ft. 
in. 
Long-wools No. 
1 
16 
5 
1 
3 
8 k 
2 
6k 
16 
4 
8k 
3 
6 
2 
6 
16 
4 
9k 
3 
7 
2 
6 
16 
4 
8 
3 
7k 
2 
5k 
No. 
2 
40 | 
5 
7 
4 
0 k 
2 
91 
52 
5 
7k 
4 
1 k 
2 
85 
28 
5 
4 
3 
11 
2 
7k 
Lei cesters 
No. 
1 
16k 
4 
4 
3 
6k 
2 
5f 
15 
4 
2 
3 
5 
2 
4 k 
16 
4 
6k 
3 
5k 
2 
5 
14 
4 
6k 
3 
7k 
2 
61 
16 
4 
4 k 
3 
6k 
2 
5 
16 
4 
6k 
3 
7 
2 
6 
16 
4 
3 k 
3 
4 k 
2 
n 
No. 
2 
27 
5 
2 
3 
9 
2 
51 
30 
4 
11 
3 
9 
2 
5k 
40 
4 
11 
3 
7 
2 
6k 
55 
5 
ik 
3 
82 
2 
6 
27 
4 
8 k 
3 
8k 
2 
5k 
28 
4 
9 
3 
6k 
2 
3 k 
28 
5 
1 
3 
9 
2 
6k 
28 
5 
0 
3 
6k 
2 
7 
Southdowns 
No. 
1 
16 
3 
10 
3 
10 
2 
21 
16 
3 
8k 
3 
7k 
2 
2 k 
16 
4 
1 
3 
7 
2 
3 k 
16 
4 
0 
3 
9 
2 
3 
No. 
o 
55 
4 
5 
3 
11 
2 
3 k 
29 
4 
0 
3 
9 
2 
3 
■ 29 
! 4 
6 
4 
1 
2 
4 
40 
! 4 
1 
3 
9 
2 
2i 
I give you my estimate of the comparative 
weight of the heaviest sheep in each class of same 
age, according to my judgment. 
Breed; 
Class. 
Age. 
Weight per 
quarler. 
Wool. 
Months. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
Long-wools . . 
No. 1 
16 
52 
14 
Leicesters . . . 
“ 1 
16 
46 
11 
Southdowns 
“ 1 
16 
36 
8 
Long-wools . . 
“ 2 
40 
72 
15 
Leicesters . 
“ 2 
40 
56 
11 
Southdowns . . 
“ 2 
40 
46 
8 
With all deference, I beg to say, that in the 
Leicester classes nearly every variety of Leicesters* 
and long-wools was to be found; the pure Lei- 
cesters not predominating, and the long-wool 
classes embraced a very superior Cheviot.— Eng 
lish Paper. 
THE TRUE PRINCIPLES OF FARMING. 
If persons engaged in this pursuit would only 
use that sense which God has provided them with, 
and which is generally styled common , the busi¬ 
ness would be divested of a great deal of its mys¬ 
tery. Some people will say that it is much easier 
to find out what is wrong than to say what is 
right; and this is true to a certain degree ; but re¬ 
garding the cultivation of the land, there are cer¬ 
tain inviolable principles which should always be 
kept in view; and these I will endeavor to enume¬ 
rate. The first that strikes me is the clearing of 
the ground • it is absurd to think of trying to grow 
grain under trees in a wood, nor is it sufficient to 
take away a part of them—I mean, of course, with 
the idea of perfection. For instance, suppose you 
have 50 trees on an acre • that is, about one to 
every three square rods; the soil capable of bear¬ 
ing 50 bushels of wheat, or 1 bushel to each tree; 
and suppose that you cut down 49 of them, you 
will only (be able to grow 49 bushels, instead of 
50—the annual waste or cost of that tree being the 
value of one bushel of wdieat, or whatever crop 
might have been on the 3 rods of ground which that 
tree monopolized. Therefore, if it is necessary to 
clear the land before you can grow grain, it is rea¬ 
sonable and self-evident that it should be entirely 
cleared, every fractional part you leave doing in 
jury in its degree. 
The next point to notice is the dryness or wet 
ness of the soil ; see if the stagnant water is suffi¬ 
ciently near the surface to do injury to the crops, 
even by capillary attraction, which, science tells 
us, will raise water 4 feet—and practice has shown 
that it must not be nearer ; therefore, if the stag¬ 
nant water be nearer than 4 feet, drain it to that 
depth. It is absurd to attempt to cultivate land 
against so powerful an euemy as water. Thirdly, 
we consider “ the pulverization of the soil.” 
Ought it to be pulverized at all % To this ques¬ 
tion I think our common sense will give an answer 
in the affirmative, so that the plant may more easily 
expand its roots to seek for nourishment in the 
soil, which soil and which \ ulverization should 
extend as far as the roots of the plant; but is it 
common sense to think that 5 or 6 inches only is 
the distance that the roots of plants extend. I will 
not take advantage of a few facts that have been 
noticed of the immense depths that roots descend, 
but merely appeal to common sense and ask whether 
it is not reasonable to suppose that the roots be¬ 
neath extend as far as the plants above the soil, 
and if so, ought not the. soil to be pulverized to 
that extent, viz. about 4 feet % 
The first expense of this, I am aware, ren¬ 
ders it almost impracticable; but this I cannot 
help. I cannot alter the true principles of nature. 
I must assert with common sense that the deeper 
you pulverize, the more you move in the right di¬ 
rection. — TV. G. Grossmith , in Gard. Chronicle. 
