VOLUME I. 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
■PUBLISHKD WEEKLY. 
Office in Burns’ Block, corner of BuflUlo and State 
streets,'(entrance on State,) Rochester. 
CONDUCTED BY D, D. T. MOORE. 
(Lafe Publisher and Associate Editor Gen, Farmer.) 
L. B. LANGWORTHY, Associate Editor. 
Corresponding Editors: 
ELON COMSTOCK and II. C. WHITE. 
Educational Department by L. WETIIERELL. 
The New-Yorker contains more Agricultural, 
Horticultural, Scientific, IMechanical, Educational, 
Literary and News matter, than any other Agricul¬ 
tural or Family Journal published in the U. States. 
Those who wisli a good paper, devoted to useful 
and instructive subjects, arc invited to give this one 
a careful e.\amination — and to bear in mind that 
the postage on a first class periodical is no more 
than on the smallest .sheet, or most trashy reprint, 
[CT For Terms, &c., see last page. ^ 
ROCHESTER, N. Y.-THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1850. 
rROGKESS AND IMPROVEMENT. 
COUNTY FAIRS. - SUGGESTIONS- 
It is cheering to the lover of Agricul¬ 
ture to witness the increased interest mani¬ 
fested in the display of our County Fairs, 
and to see, too, the substantial improvements 
that are being made. It augurs well for 
the agricultural spirit—promising a broad 
foundation for its continued progress. It is 
true that every thing should be done that 
can be, to augment the interest and give 
greater and yet greater impetus to agricul¬ 
tural improvement. 
Time and observation are fast dispelling 
"the horror that veiy many of our tillers of 
the soil have held against book knowledge 
applied to farming, Science is really be¬ 
coming the handmaid to Agriculture, and 
the day is not far distant in this country 
when the ignorant tiller Yvill have to take 
to the “books” in earnest or starve. The 
soil too generously rewards the intelligent 
hand that stirs it, to leave this a question 
for debate. Agricultural associations have 
done very much toward bringing around 
this good result; and as their sphere shall 
continue to widen, and embrace all that can 
prove auxiliary in aiding the agriculturist, 
so shall their good results redound to the 
glory of the cause they have at heart. 
It has seemed to me that County Soci¬ 
eties might add very greatly to the circle of 
their usefulness, in not onl^ promoting the 
interests of Agriculture but of Science and 
Education, by adopting successful measures 
for the full investigation of the geological 
and mineralogical developments of the coun¬ 
ty, together with every thing that has con¬ 
nection with the soil or receives its suste¬ 
nance therefrom—as the plants, animals, 
birds, insects, fishes, efea, within their res¬ 
pective boundaries. Such a course would 
more fully develop the resources of the 
State, add greatly to the improvement of 
agriculture, while it would directly tend to 
make thinking, observing, practically self- 
taught tillers of the great mass of our far¬ 
mers. Discoveries might thus be made, 
that would add immensely to the wealth 
and prosperity of the people, aside from the 
good that must naturally come from such a 
course. If well and perseveringly carried 
out by all the county societies it would give 
to the State a more correct, full and thor¬ 
ough survey of its every department than 
could be accomplished by any official corps 
of engineers and professors, 
I trust the day is close at hand when 
every County Society will become of so 
much importance that its doings shall be 
preserved by the “Art of all Arts ” in sub¬ 
stantial and appropriate “ Transactions.”— 
With the above suggested ideas acted up¬ 
on and carried out, tliey would become in¬ 
valuable repositories of local knowledge that 
would be much sought after, and serve to 
throw around agriculture another charm.— 
Is it not worthy of a trial ? t. e, w. • 
SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 
\^Concluded from our last number.) 
It was the design of the writer, in treat¬ 
ing upon this subject, merely to make a few 
suggestions in relation to the character, and 
relative value, of the different breeds of fine 
wool sheep. In regard then, to the wool of 
the Merino, it is universally known that fa¬ 
vorite breeds of this blood have oily, gum¬ 
my fleeces; very heavy at shearing, but 
which, when thoroughly cleansed for manu- 
hicturing, lose a large per centage of their 
Averght. To this ffict, no doubt, much of 
the boasted weight of Merino fleeces is often 
to be attributed. Besides, as a general fact 
the staple of the Merino is less fine, soft and 
silky to the feel, than that of the Saxon; 
the finest quality of Avhich, is necessary to 
the softness, beauty and finish of extra super 
cloths. And Ave must have such fabrics^ 
for the Avants, the Avealth, -and the pride of 
our high circles, demand them. And if Ave 
have not the Avool for this purpose, the wool 
or the fabric will be imported from abroad, 
and Ave must furni.sh the gold to pay the 
bill. Now it must be readily conceded by 
every unprejudiced mind, that the quality 
of the Saxon fleece, as a general thing, is 
superior to the Merino. 
Is then the Saxon at the present day as 
sound in constitution, and as easy to keep, 
as the Merino ? 
It has already been remarked, that expe¬ 
rience and careful observation of facts must 
decide this point; and that, to the satisfac¬ 
tion of th- writfr, thr>y Lad conolusivoly 
settled it. I.will here only add, that every 
breed of fine avooI sheep,' however sound in 
constitution, is entitled to all such comfort 
and protection as a Avise economy may sug¬ 
gest. No animal of this character, hoAvever 
capable of endurance, ought over to be ex¬ 
posed to cold and storms Avithout a shelter. 
Their fleeces, Avould receive and retain, such 
an amount of water in a cold storm, as 
Avolud jeopard if not destroy the constitution 
of any other, even the hardiest domestic 
animal. 
• The question only then remains, are the 
fleeces of both breed.s, as a general fact, of 
equal Aveight ? 
The fleece of the Saxon at an early 
period, hardly equalled the weight of the 
Merino. It was then comparatively clean, 
and free from oil, and Aveighed light ; 
while the Merino was heavy with yolk, and 
a consequent accumulation of dust But the 
fleece of the improved Saxon of the present 
day, I am satisfied, Avill yield as much weight 
of wool perfectly cleansed for manufactur¬ 
ing, as any other breed that makes any ap¬ 
proach to it for fineness of quality, if not 
more. Originally, the ordinary Aveight of 
the Saxon fleece might have been from 2{- 
to 3|- lbs. At the present time, it may be 
from 3| to rising 4-^-lbs. And how has 
this improvement been achieved ? I Avill 
state hoAV, in my OAvn case, CA’cn at the haz¬ 
ard of being thought prolix and tedious. 
DREEDING. 
W ith a flock of 200 Merinos on hand, a 
beginning Avas made Avith 25,imported Sa.x- 
on eAves and six bucks. At first, and for 
some years, I bred for numbers, retaining 
all the increase—i. e., this Avas the paramount 
object; and all other objects, though fully 
kept in vicAv, Avere considered subordinate un¬ 
til the desired number was acquired. Next 
I bred for size, form, and vigor of constitu¬ 
tion, as the leading object. Of course, an¬ 
nually, the smallest, and feeblest and least 
valuable, equal to the number of the annual 
increase, Avere drawn from the flock and 
disposed of. These objects secured, the last. 
and grand object Avas, improvement in the 
quantity and quality of the fleece. Of this 
effort, I Avill give the details. The flock, 
noAV one thousand in number, was constitut¬ 
ed as folloAvs: —400 breeding eAves; 300 
fine Avethers, kept for their fleeces—and 300 
lambs, (more or less,) being the annual in¬ 
crease of the flock. 
.SELECTION 'OF BUCKS. 
Annually, the buck lambs of the flock 
say 1.50 in number, Avere preserved enih-e, 
until shearing time. Then 25, the best in 
all respecH were selected. The residue, 
after being shorn, Avere converted into weth¬ 
ers by the “ cording” process. From this 
25 at two years old, the ten best Avere se¬ 
lected for service, and the remainder other- 
Avise disposed of. These ten selected bucks 
Avould be very perfect in all respects. Still, 
no tAvo Avould be just alike. Some dis¬ 
tinctive trait Avould predominate in most of 
them. One might surpass in beauty of 
crimp—one, in length of staple—and one, 
in thickness of fleece, <fec.—and one, pos¬ 
sessing every excellence, might surpass in 
size and beauty of form. 
USE OF BUCKS. 
At the season of using the bucks, which 
Avas the first of December, the CAves were 
divided into four flocks of 100 each. In the 
centre of a field of 50 acres, that had been 
divided into four equal lots, was a barn 
erected, surrounded on all sides Avith deep, 
substantial sheds; making four largo yards 
—each opening by a gate into the adjoining 
lot. Into each of these lots a flock of 100 
CAves Avere put; each flock having among 
them six or eight teazers, securely aproned, 
and redded on the breuat. ‘ 
Twice a day at the commencement of the 
business, the flocks were driven into the 
yards, and the redded OAves selected. Un¬ 
der the shed in one of the yards, aVrs a small 
pen 12 by IG feet, into Avhich the red¬ 
ded OAves Avere put, surrounded by four 
smaller pens, .about 8 by 10 feet each. In 
each of these small pens were tAvo or three 
of the selected bucks; secured, each to his 
feeding manger in the corner by a strap; 
all having been well taught to lead. One 
of the two men assigned to this service, 
caught a ewe by the neck; (and I never 
suffer a sheep to be caught in any other 
manner.) Her form and size were careful¬ 
ly surveyed, to see if in any point improve¬ 
ment was still needed—her fleece closely 
examined by the eye, and often through the 
glass—and if thin, the thick avooI buck Avas 
led out and put to her—if short, the long 
wool buck—if straight, the buck Avith the 
finest crimp was ordered—and if perfect, 
the perfect buck Avas used, so as to keep the 
increase perfect. 
Now it is no marvel, that pursuing 
this course for a series of years, a flock 
should attain great perfection. That Saxon 
ewes, originally delicate, should become ro¬ 
bust—Aveighing originally GO to 80 pounds, 
should ultimately weigh 80 to 100 lbs.,— 
that breeding eAves originally yielding 2-|- to 
3^ lbs., should ultimately reach from 4, to 
rising 5 lbs. Such has been the result. — 
It has so continued for many years—it has 
been so this year. 
It is no marvel that the j^eece should at¬ 
tain great uniformity; great beauty and per¬ 
fection. That from the eye to the hoof the 
entire carcass should be thickly set with fine 
Avool. That the belly, hips and legs shoidd 
be covered by a fine, thick fleece. So that, 
in sorting for ordinary manufacture, the en¬ 
tire fleece should need to be divided into 
two sorts only, fine and superfine. 
Now I am prepared to Fear both the 
grain fiirmer and the dairy farmer, Avho keep 
50 to 100 eAves, exclaim, “ We cannot think 
of devoting such attention to this business. 
It is out of the question. It is too great a 
cost of time and labor for the value of the 
object.” Is it so? Do you excel in any 
enterprise Avithout care, labor, and good 
calculations ? Do you not devote time and 
expense to procure the best grains for seed, 
and the best sires and dams for stock ?— 
Can you rear any other stock that will come 
to maturity in the short period of one year; 
and also yield an income within that period; 
thus producing lOO per cent as increase, 
and another 100 per cent in the fleece of 
that increase ? Can you enrich your farms 
half as much by any other stock in your 
power to obtain ? And if you keep this 
kind of stock, is it not wise to keep the best ? 
In this object it iS not now necessary to 
pursue in detail the same steps that were 
indispensable to success 15 to 20 years ago. 
All that is now needed is, to select and ob¬ 
tain a buck each year, that is in all re¬ 
spects “rifht.” And at the proper time, 
permit him to run at large with 30 or 40 
eAves. Then draw annually from the flock, 
and dispose of, all such as are in any respect 
inferior. All this can be done, with less la¬ 
bor than to ride ten miles abroad, to pro¬ 
cure a superior sample of “ Soule’s wheat” 
for seqd. And this course, annually pur¬ 
sued, Avill, by and by, make your flock as 
perfect as the buck from which you breed. 
If you use the large, stiff wooled, oily, gum¬ 
my buck, rather coarse on the hips, with 
a sprinkling of hairs over his surface, you 
will shortly acquire a stock, as perfect in all 
these respects as he is; but you have no 
right to expect ^any thing- more. The ob¬ 
ject lies before the farmer—it is plain—he 
sees tlie goal—and can attain, Avithout un¬ 
reasonable effort, just such a result as he 
desires. A Farmer. 
November, 1850. 
QUERIES BRIEFLY ANSWERED. 
Will the Kural Neaa’-Yorker tell a 
subscriber Avhich variety of fowls it would 
prefer, could it keep but one?—(a) What 
two varieties of potatoes are to be preferred 
for a general crop? (b) What breed of 
swine should have the preference ? (c) What 
musk-melon next to the green-fleshed citron^ 
is the best ? (d) What Avater-melon after 
the Spanish, should be chosen ? (e) What 
winter squash deserves the premium ? (/) 
And tell us why a spot of ground in the 
shade of a building, a fence, or a pile of 
boards—or shaded from any cause--becomes 
rich in all the elements of fertility in a year 
or two ? (y) 
If the Rural Avill respond to these inter¬ 
rogatories, it Avill confer a favor on a reader 
Avho is about to purchase a small farm, and 
Avill not be satisfied with any plant or ani¬ 
mal short of the best. c. s. 
Neioport, N. Y., Nov., 1850. 
Ansavers.— (a) The Dorking. 
[b) Some would prefer the Mercer and 
Long Pink-Eye; others the Irish cups, and 
the flesh-colored; others still, have different 
favorites from these. We cannot pretend 
to decide between them. 
(c) The Leicesters. 
(il) The nutmeg. 
(e) The white imperial proves the next 
best, if not the best, in this section. 
(/) The Valparaiso, or acorn squash, is 
one of them. The “ Polk Squash,” men¬ 
tioned by a correspondent in our last num¬ 
ber, is probably another, and may prove 
superior. 
(y) The earth found in caves, and that 
taken from beneath buildings long erected, 
is sometimes leached for the manufacture of 
salt-petre; and hence, we presume that such 
situations have some attractive poAver for 
that salt, and that the fertility consequent, 
arises from the presence of this and kindred 
substances. 
Such are our opinions. If others think 
differently, shall be glad to give their views. 
^ NUMBER 48. ) 
' ' II I I (, 
PREMIUMS ON BREAD. ^ 
An exchange paper expresses surprise \ 
that our Agricultural Societies have offered S 
no premium for the best Bread. | 
Our New-England friends have been tiy- I 
ing their hands at encouraging their fair ) 
daughters in this useful branch of house- ^ 
Avifery. At a Fair held at Dedham, Mass., I 
159 loaves of bread Avere presented for < 
premiums, resulting in the following aAvards: 
Wheat and Indian, by Mrs. C. L. Hunt, ^ 
of Milton—premium $10. Unbolted wheat, ■ 
by Mrs. Mary A. Adams of Milton—premi- ( 
um $10. Rije and Indian, by Mrs. Sarah ) 
M. Kollock of Canton—silver cup, A'alue $10, ( 
and a half barrel of flour. Wheat, by Mrs. ^ 
J. Arnold of Milton—silver cup, v'alue $10, ( 
and a barrel of flour. | 
This looks business-like, Avith one excep- > 
tion—all the premiums were awarded tola- ( 
dies distinguished by the honorable prefix < 
of Mrs. The Society Avould have been do- ( 
ing good service to the country, if it had re- ( 
stricted its premiums to the daughters of \ 
farmers,'under 18 years of age. It is in- ( 
deed tirhe public attention Avas directed to ^ 
the necessity of educating daughters for the < 
real, useful vocations of after life. Paint- 
ing, embroidery, music, (fee., are all well ■ ( 
enough in their proper places, but they do | 
very little toward fitting young ladies for < 
the more responsible duties of wives and \ 
mothers. ; 
People talk about Agricultural Schools^ < 
and Collecres to educate farmers sons, which ' 
is all right; but we deem it more important ( 
to have in each homestead, a college organ- 
ized that shall teach young ladies, not only ; 
how to make the best bread, but fully > 
qulify them to receive the honorable de- s 
gree of —and thus prepare them to shed ^ 
a happifying influence upon those with Avhom > 
they may be associated. The subject of ^ 
granting such premiums is commended to > 
all Agricultural Societies. ii. c. av. > 
REMEDY FOR CHOKED CATTLE. | 
I 
A FEAV years since, a man in Vermont a 
published a manner of relieveing choked ) 
cattle, under the sanction of his name, Avhich ’ 
he averred would infallibly and instantly re- ^ 
lieve animals from that distressed situation. | 
We do not think it is generally knoAvn, nor | 
do we comprehend the rationale of the op- 
eration, unless its acts by irritating the pha- 
rynx or larynx of the throat, and causing a ) 
spasmodic action of the respiratoiy muscles, ) 
by Avhich the offending substance is ejected. ' 
His direction is as follows:—“ Take gun \ 
powder—the most convenient way is to put 1 
it in a paper like a common cartridge, say 
three inches in length—introduce it into the 
throat of the animal with the hand—(all 
farmers knoAV hoAv this is done by holding J 
out the tongue;)—let the head of the crea- I 
ture be held up for a inoment to preA^ent ^ 
spitting out the poAvder, and the choking ’ 
substance Avill be instantly ejected. Re- 
member and try it, as by this simple means ^ 
many valuable animals have been saved.” ^ 
A CORRESPONDENT of the Mass. Plough- •; 
man gives a similar remedy, as folloAA''S:— ) 
“ Warm a small quantity of lard and mix \ 
with it a small quantity of gun poAvder, and \ 
pour into the throat in the usual manner, 
(not handling the tongue.) I once prepared ' 
a second dose, but had no occasion to use it.” J 
Means to Ends.— It is a curious fact } 
that the constituent elemmits of several < 
grains are varied to the Avants which they ( 
supply in the different latitudes Avhere they ^ 
are cultivated. Indian corn, Avhich at its s 
northern limit abounds largely in oil and > 
sugar, especially heeded there, to sustain the ^ 
animal heat of its consumers, becomes near ^ 
the tropics almost Avholly composed of starch, ( 
and suited to the demands of the constitu- j 
tion for lighter nutriment s 
