999 
1863 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
know that many men living on new lands will 
laugh at tlie idea of using manure, hut the laugh 
will be on the other side not many years hence, 
when their lands begin to show signs of weak¬ 
ness, as those of western New-York have done. 
It is very easy to keep a soil fertile, but a slow 
and costly operation to restore a worn out one. 
But whether the manure be used or not, I be¬ 
lieve it will be found to pay to feed out grain 
before sending it to market. Jonathan. 
Sale of South-Down Sheep at Thorndale 
The large amount of space devoted to a full 
report of the sale of South-Down sheep from 
the flock of Mr. Samuel Thorne, is justified by 
the fact that it is of general, we may say nation¬ 
al importance. The beneficial influence which 
the dispersing of such improved stock through 
the country will have on our flocks, can hardly 
be estimated. As is well known, the animals 
disposed of by Mr. Thorne, were descendants 
or direct importations from the best flocks in 
the world, and it may be questioned whether a 
collection of sheep can be found even in England, 
superior to that from which these were sold. 
In answer to inquiries made of Mr. Thorne, we 
learn that the 81 ewes disposed of as reported 
below, yielded at the last shearing 419 lbs. of 
clean wool, an average of 5 lbs. 2| ozs. per head. 
The rams were shorn unwashed, and gave from 
8 to 12 pounds per head. Another fact of much 
interest may be stated for the benefit of many 
readers of the Agriculturist, who have made in¬ 
quiries upon the subject. A cross of the South- 
Down ram upon the Merino ewe, produces the 
finest sort of lambs for marketing. This has 
been practised at Thorndale for years, and, Mr. 
T. informs us, has proved one of the most profit¬ 
able parts of sheep husbandry. 
The recent sale, held Sept. 2d, was very well 
attended, the day being propitious, and the bid¬ 
ding was spirited, although prices were hardly 
what might have been anticipated in view of 
the demand for sheep, and the reputation of the 
flock. However, as will be seen below, enough 
was realized to prove that the raising of im¬ 
proved sheep is a business that will pay. Want 
of space compels us to omit further introduction. 
EWES. 
YEARLINGS. 
Ewe by Archbishop, dam by No. G, grand dam an 
imported Ewe, from the flock of Henry Lugar, Esq.; _ 
Toi*. W. Jones, Amherst, N. H. $2a 00 
Do by do., dam by imported Prize Ram, 112, g. dam 
an imported Ewe as above; J. C. Tatum, Wood¬ 
bury, N. J.-4>22 00 
Do. by do., dam by No. 6, g. dam an imported Prize 
Ewe; Hon. E. Cornell, Itliaca, N. Y.§20 00 
Do. by do., dam by Young Salisbury, g. dam an im. 
Prize Ewe; G. H. Brown, Waslin Hollow, N. Y...§26 00 
Do. bv do., dam by No. G, g. dam an imp. Prize Ewe; 
Hon. E. Cornell, Ithaca, Is. Y.§21 00 
Do. by do., dam by No. G, g. dam an imp. Prize Ewe; 
Hill & Jones, Delaware, Ohio.§37 00 
Do. by do., dam by No. G, g. dam by 112, gr. g. dam 
an imp. Ewe from Duke of Richmond's flock ; G. H. 
Brown, Washington Hollow, N. Y .§41 00 
Do. by do., dam by No. 10. g. dam an imp. Ewe, a9 
above; Hon. E. Cornell, Ithaca, N. Y......§28 00 
Do. by do., dam by No. 0, g. dam an imp. Webb Ewe; 
Hill & Jones, Delaware, Ohio.§40 00 
Do by do., dam bv 112, g. dam an imp. Webb Ewe ; 
R. A. Alexander, Woodburn, Ivy.§41 00 
Do. by do., dam by No. G, g. dam an imp. Webb Ewe; 
Hon. E. Cornell, Ithaca, N. Y..§37 00 
Do by do., dam by No. 6, sr. dam an imp. Webb Ewe; 
G. H. Brown, Millbrook, Wash’ll Hollow, N. Y.§41 00 
Do by do., dam bv Young Salisbury, g. dam by No. 
6 gr. jt. dam by 112, gr. gr. g. dam, an imp. Webb 
l£we; J. S. Homans, New-York. .§31 00 
Do. bv do., dam by No. 10, g. dam by 112, gr. g. dam. 
imp.Richmond Ewe; Hon. E. Cornell, Ithaca, N. 1 $33 00 
Do. by do., dam by Young Salisbury, g. dam by 112, 
gr. it. dam an Imported Prize Ewe; J. C. Tatum. 
Woodbury, N. J.§30 00 
Do. by do., dam an imp Webb Ewe, by Reserve; 
Win. Hurst, Albany, N. Y..§50 00 
Do. by do., dam an imp. Webb Ewe, by Young Nor¬ 
wich ; R. A. Alexander, Woodburn, Ivy.§51 00 
Do. by do„ dam an imported Webb Ewe, by Henry 
Webb’s Pet; li. A. Alexander. Woodburn, Ivy.§51 00 
Do. by imp. No. 14, dam by Young Salisbury, g. dam 
bv 112. gr. g. dam, an imported Prize Ewe; lion. E. 
Cornell, IUmca, N. Y. .§3S 00 
20. Do. by do., dam by No. G, g. dam an imp. Ewe; Hon. 
E. Cornell, Ithaca, N. Y.$13 00 
21. Do. by do., dam by No. G, g. dam an imported Lugar 
Ewe; Hon. E. Cornell, Itliaca, N. Y.§37 00 
Average.$35 39 
EWE S—T WO-YE ARS .OLD. 
22. Ewe by No. 5, dam by No. G* g. dam an Imp. Prize 
Ewe; Hon. E. Cornell, Ithaca, N. Y.§46 00 
23. Do. by do., dam an imp. Prize Ewe; R. A. Alexan¬ 
der, Woodburn, Ky.§60 00 
24. Do. by do., dam an imp. Prize Ewe; G. II. Brown, 
Washington Hollow, N. Y. §51 00 
25. Do. by do., dam an imported Ewe; Hon. E. Cornell, 
Ithaca, N. Y.§30 00 
2G. Do. by do., dam by No. G, g. dam an imp. Prize Ewe; 
Hon. E. Cornell, Ithaca, N. Y..$46 00 
27. Do. by do., dam by No. 6. g. dam an imp. Prize Ewe; 
J. W. Alsop, Middletown, Conn.$40 00 
2S. Do. by do., dam by No. G, g. dam an imp. Ewe; Hon. 
E. Cornell, Ithaca, N. Y... ...$15 00 
29. Do. by do., dam by No. 19, g. daman imp. Richmond 
Ewe ; G. H. Brown, Wash’ll Hollow, N. Y.§51 00 
30. Do. by do., dam an imp. Webb Ewe; Sandford How¬ 
ard, Boston, Mass...$GG 00 
31. Do. bv do., dam an imp. Webb Ewe ; Hon. E. Cor¬ 
nell, Ithaca, N. Y.§15 00 
32. Do. by do., dam an imp. Webb Ewe ; It. A. Alexan¬ 
der, Woodburn, Ky.$S0 00 
33. Do. by do., dam an imp. Webb Ewe; Sandford How¬ 
ard, Boston, Mass.§63 00 
34. Do. by do., dam by No. G, g. dam an imp. Webb Ewe ; 
Sandford Howard, BostoTi, Mass.§45 00 
35. Do. by No. 31, dam by 112, g. dam an imp. Lugar 
Ewe; Hon. E. Cornell, Ithaca, N. Y.§58 00 
3G. Do. by do., dam by 112, g. dam an imp. Prize Ewe ; 
Hon. E. Cornell, Ithaca, N. Y. . .§37 00 
37. Do. by do., dam by 112, g. dam an imp. Webb Ewe; 
Sandford Howard, Boston, Mass.$51 00 
3S. Do. by do., dam an imp. Webb Ewe; S. W.Robbins, 
Wethersfield, Conn.§55 00 
39. Do. by do., dam by No. 6, g. dam by 112, gi\g. dam 
an imp. Webb Ewe; G. H. Brown, Wash’ll Hollow, 
N. Y.§G5 00 
40. Do. by do., dam by 112, g. dam an imp. Webb Ewe ; 
G. H. Brown, Wash’ll Hollow, N. Y.§60 00 
Average.§53 37 
EWES—THREE YEARS OLD. 
41. Ewe by Young Salisbury, dam an imp. Prize Ewe ; 
R. A. Alexander, Woodburn, Ky.§52 50 
42. Do. by do., dam an imp. Webb Ewe; G. H. Brown, 
Wash. Hollow, N. Y.§43 00 
43. Do. by do., dam by 112, g. dam an imp. Richmond 
Ewe; Sandford Howard, Boston, Mass.§45 00 
44. Do. by do., dam an imp. Webb Ewe; R. A. Alexan¬ 
der, Woodburn, Ky.§45 00 
45. Do. by No. 6., dam by 112, g. dam imp. Lugar Ewe; 
R. A. Alexander, Woodburn, Ky.§10 00 
4G. Do. by do., dam by 112, g. dam an imp. Webb Ewe; 
Wm. Hurst, Albany, N. Y.§40 00 
47 Do. by do., dam an imp. Lngar Ewe; J. C. Tatum, 
Woodbury, N. J.§32 00 
48 Do. by do., dam by No. 19, g. dam an imp. Lugar 
Ewe; G. II. Brown, Wash’ll Hollow, N. Y.$3S 00 
49. Do. bv do., dam an imp. Lugar Ewe; J. C. Tatum, 
Woodbury, N. J.§30 00 
50. Do. by do., dam an imp. Webb Ewe; G. II. Brown. 
Wasli’n Hollow, N. Y.§95 CO 
51. Do. by do., dam by 112, from an imp. Richmond Ewe; 
E. Thorne, Po'keepsic, N. Y.$25 00 
52. Do. bv do., dam an imp. Webb Ewe; J. S. Homans, 
New-York. §37 00 
53. Do. by do., dam an imp. AVebb Ewe ; G. H. Brown, 
Wasli’n Hollow, N. Y. §37 00 
Average.§42 25 
EWES—FOUR YEARS OLD. 
54. Ewe by No. 6, dam an imp. Lugar Ewe; E. Thorne, 
Po’keepsie, N. Y.§35 00 
55. Do. by do., dam an imp. Prize Ewe; S. W. Robbins, 
Wethersfield, Conn.§31 00 
56. Do. by do., dam an imp. AVebb Ewe; F. P. Kincaid, 
Spring Station, Ky.§37 00 
57. Do. bv do., dam an imp. Webb Ewe; J. S. Homans. 
New-York.§33 00 
58. Do. an imp. AVebb Ewe by Reserve; Wm. Hurst, 
Albany, N. Y.§31 00 
59. Do. an imp. Webb Ewe by Young Norwich; AVm. 
Huyst, Albany, N. Y. §51 00 
GO. Do. an imp. AVebb Ewe by Reserve; AVm. Hurst, 
Albany, N. Y. §45 00 
61 Do. an imp. AVebb Ewe by Young Salisbury; E. 
Thorne, IVkeepsic, N. Y. §40 00 
62. Do. an imp. AVebb Ewe by the sire of Archbishop; 
AVm. Hurst, Albany, N. Y..§18 00 
Average.§39. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
64. Ewe by 112, dam an imp. Lugar Ewe; P. R. Close, 
Greenwich, Conn. §35 00 
G6. Do. bv No. G, dam by 112, g. dam an imp. Richmond 
Ewe; J. AV. Alsop, Middletown, Conn.§29 00 
67. Do. by do., dam an imp. AVebb Ewe; It. A. Alexan¬ 
der, A‘Voodburii, Ky. §28 00 
65. Do. by 112, dam an imp. Lugar Ewe. §26 00 
G9. Do. by No. G, dam by 112, g. dam an imp. Richmond 
Ewe; J. W. Alsop, -Middletown, Conn.§23 00 
70 . Do. bv do., dam an imp. Prize Ewe; S. T. Angel, 
Salt Point, N. Y.§2G 00 
71. Do. by 112, dam an imp. AVebb Ewe; Wm. Hurst, 
Albany, N. Y.§42 00 
72. Do. by do., dam an imp. Prize Ewe; It. A. Alexan¬ 
der, AVooclburn, Ky. $49 00 
73. Do. by do., dam an imp. Prize Ewe;J. AV. Alsop, 
Middletown, Conn. $30 00 
74. Do. by No. 19, dam by 112, g. dam from an imp. Rich¬ 
mond Ewe; E. Griflin, Clinton Corners, N. Y.§29 00 
75. Do.hy 112, dam an imp. AVebb Ewe; J. S. Homans, 
Ncw-York. §23 00 
76. Do. imported from the flock of the late Jonas AVebb, 
Esq.; J. S. Homans, New-York. .$20 00 
77. Do. imported from the flock of Henry Lugar, Esq.; 
J. AV. Alsop, Middletown, Conn. §22 00 
7S. Do. an imported Lugar Ewe; J. H. Allen. Pleasant 
Valley, N. Y. $2S 00 
79. Do. by 112, dam an imp. Richmond Ewe; J. II. Al¬ 
len, Pleasant Valley, N. Y .§20 00 
80. Do. by do., dam an imp. Lugar Ewe; D. Haywood, 
Copakc, N. Y.§25 00 
81. Do. by do., dam an imp. Prize Ewe; J. H. Allen, 
Pleasant Valley, N. Y. §20 00 
82. An imported Prize Ewe; AVm. Hurst, Albany,N. Y.$13 00 
83. An Imported Webb Ewe; J. S. Homans, New-York.$14 00 
Average.§25 53 
RAMS. 
1. Imported Prize Ram Archbishop; G. II. Brown, 
AVashingtou Hollow, N. Y.§500 00 
[He was selected and purchased from the flock of the late 
Jonas AVebb, Esq., in 1SG0, at a cost of 250 guinea**, ($1250). 
He won the 1st Prize in the Yearling Class that season at the 
Royal Show, and, as will he seen 7>y reference to the Cat¬ 
alogue of Mr. Webb’s last Southdown Sale, was used more 
largely by him than any other Sheep.] 
2. Three yrs. old Ram by Young Salisbury, dam an im¬ 
ported Prize Ewe; John Bard, Barrytown, N. Y $30 00 
3. A two yrs. old by No. 5. dam by No. 6, g. dam an im¬ 
ported Prize Ewe; G. Armstrong, Orange Co., N. Y$23 00 
4. Do. bred by the late Jonas Webb, Esq., got by 88, 
dam by Reserve; E. Thorne, Po’keepsie, N. Y.$125 00 
5. Do., same as No. 4; Josiali Kirk, Sag Harbor, L. I..§40 00 
G. Yearling, by No. 14, dam by Yonng Salisbury, g. 
dam by 112, gr. g. dam imp. AVebb Ewe; J. C. Tatum, 
AVoodbury, N. J. §30 00 
7. Do. by Archbishop, dam an imp. Webb Ewe by Re¬ 
serve; Thos. George, Newburgh, N. Y.§52 00 
8. Do. by do., dam an imp. AVebb Ewe, by Young Nor¬ 
wich; P. AV. Jones, Amherst, N. H.$17 00 
9. Do. by do., dam an imp. AVebb Ewe, by Reserve; 
Sandlord Howard, Boston, Muss.§131 00 
10. Do. by do., dam by Young Salisbury, g. dam by 112, 
gr. g. dam imp. Lugar Ewe; J. Robinson, Clinton 
Corners, N. Y. $28 00 
11. Do. by do., dam by No. 6, g. dam an imp. Prize Ewe; 
A. W. Storne, Dutchess Co.. N. Y..§30 00 
12. Do. by do., dam by No. 6, g. dam by 112, gr. g. dam 
an imp. Iiichm’dEwe; J. O. Sheldon, Geneva, N. Y.$55 0C 
13. Do. by do., dam by Young Salisburv, g. dam by 112, 
gr. g. dam an imp. Lugar Ewe; £. M. Bottsford, 
Newtown, Conn. ..$26 00 
14. Do. by do., dam by 112, g. dam an imported Prize 
Ewe; Sandford Howard, Boston, Mass.....§57 00 
15. Do. by do., dam by 112, g. dam an imp. Prize Ewe; 
E. Thorne, Po’keepsie, N. Y.§70 00 
10. Do. by do., dam by 19, g. dam by 112, gr. g:. dam imp. 
Richmond Ewe; P. AV7 Jones, Amherst, N. II.§41 00 
17. Do. by do., dam by No. 6, g. dam an imp. Prize Ewe; 
Wm. Hurst, Albany, N. Y. .$50 no 
18. Do. by do., dam an imp. AVebb Ewe by Reserve; 
Sandlord Howard, Boston, Mass..§35 00 
19. G yrs. old, by 112, dam an imp. Prize Ewe; F. P. Kin¬ 
caid, Spring Station, Ky.$50 00 
Average.§73 26 
Two of the animals advertised, Lots No. G3 and 65, died 
before the sale, leaving 100 the number actually sold. The 
average price obtained for the whole was §4-1.92. 
TriE RAMS REFERRED TO IN THE FOREGOING FEDIGKERS, 
ARE AS FOLLOWS: 
112, (Gaiety,) was imported from the flock of the late Jonas 
Webb, in 1853. AVinncrof 2d Prize at the Royal Show at 
Lewes, was purchased at Mr. AVebb’s Annual Letting for 130 
guineas (§650). 
No. G, sire 112, dam an imported AVebb Ewe. He was win¬ 
ner of First Prize at the U. S. Show in 1S56, and of First 
Prize in Aged Class at N. Y. State Fair in 1859. 
No. 19, sire 112, dam an imported Prize Ewe. 
Young Salisbury wa9 bred by the late Jonas AA’ebb, sire the 
First Prize Yearling Ram at Salisbury. 
No. 14, bred by Wm. Rigden, Esq., Brighton, England. 
AVinner of the First Prize at Chichester in I860. 
No. 5, sire 112, dam an imported Ewe from the flock of 
Henry Lugar, Esq. 
No. 30, sire No. 6, dam by 112. g. dam an imp. A\ r obb Ewe. 
AVinner of First Prize in the Aged Class, at the N.Y. Slate 
Fair at AVatertown, in I860. 
Spreading Straw, or Composting it. 
We are often told of the fine effect produce 1 
by simply spreading straw on land in the Fall, 
and allowing it to lie and rot. It protects the 
roots of clover and grain in the Winter, and 
shields them from burning suns the following 
Summer. This practice is common at the West 
and South. On the large wheat fields of those 
sections, it would he quite laborious to haul 
grain home to the barn-yard for threshing, as 
we do at the North and East, and then after it 
had been fed out or mixed with manure, to cart 
the strawy dung hack again in the Spring. 
The western plan doubtless has its advantages. 
Yet we question whether the waste of straw is 
not more than enough to pay for the exl.ia labor 
required by the eastern practice. When left on 
the field, straw has little manurial value. It is 
dry, woody matter, and amounts to little more 
than a good mulch. If drawn to the cattle 
sheds and housed, it would serve in part, as a 
coarse fodder, and as litter for all kinds of stock, 
It is of no slight importance to keep stock clean 
and warm in Winter. Then, by absorbing their 
liquid excrements and being mixed with the 
solid, it makes a large stock of valuable manure. 
