310 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND EMILY NEWSPAPER. 
LOCATION OF THE STATE FAIRS. 
> Eds. Rural New Yorker I have ever 
J been a stickler for a permanent location for 
> the State Fairs, and deprecate the course 
J pursued of peddling so important an instr- 
| tution about the country—selling its usoful- 
) ness and benefits to th§ highest bidder, as 
! wo used to do with the town’s poor. Has 
1 it come to that pass, that no important 
, point in this great and flourishing State can 
be found that will pay the price—that will 
sign tho bond ? It certainly shows an omin¬ 
ous squinting that way, when Saratoga, 
a small village situated on tho extreme 
verge of agricultural improvement,—all 
north being rocks, sand and water, and 
with only a singlo railway to transport the 
immense paraphernalia that goes to consti¬ 
tute a successful State Agricultural Show 
and fair.—is selected as tho site of tho An¬ 
nual Exhibition. I predict a great falling ofl 
in the receipts, and in the respectability of 
the exhibition, in implements, and animals, 
as compared with other periods which have, 
and should continue to increaso continually, 
with tho advance of improvements and 
population. 
Is not this course beneath the dignity of 
this great State, and will the persons that 
control the destinies of this all important 
institution, bo held blameless if my surmi¬ 
ses are just ? 
The true course should have been to have 
located the institution in some central por¬ 
tion, purchased a site and erected perma¬ 
nent and respectable buildings and protec¬ 
tion, in a style commensurate with its im¬ 
portance, and the means they possess— 
means now lying idle and hoarded up for 
not even an ostensible purpose. But this 
course would not suit tho central power, 
the Regency that so authoritively controls 
its affairs. It would removo tho officers 
from their quarters and depreciate tho pow¬ 
ers of the throne. 
The course pursued by tho managers of 
the institution, will inevitably bring public 
opinion to one of two courses; either that 
it shall bo permanently located at some im¬ 
portant central point, or that the Society | 
shall bo divided into a Western and Eastern 
institution, auxiliary to the State organiza¬ 
tion, tho dividing line to bo at Utica or 
Cayuga Bridge. The public will never 
stand this hawking about the interests of so 
important a trust, giving its benefits to any 
locality that is verdant enough to sign the 
bond. Tho next appointment may bo El¬ 
mira or Capo Vincent. 
I have no envious feelings against Sara¬ 
toga, although I am aware that by some 
management it was carried there by sur¬ 
prise some four or five years ago; wiA the 
present appointment, I am not advised that 
any course was taken that can be complain¬ 
ed of, but it is so far removed from tho 
great central marts of business, and so illy 
provided for land or water carriago, and so 
near the confines of sterility, that in my 
view it involves a most remarkable obliquity 
of vision in the locating powers. 
If my views are correct, you will hear 
more on this subject from your correspond¬ 
ent, for I think the public aro waking up 
on this topic, and a proper and temperate 
agitation may draw out important sugges- 
t'ons and opinions that may have an impor¬ 
tant influence on its futuro usefulness. 
Unity, Sept., 1853. H. Y. 
“BLOOD CATTLE—PEDIGREES, &e.” 
Eds. Rural :—In your paper of tho 17th 
inst., we observo an article headed as above, 
and signed P. Whoever P. may be we 
think he is ashamed of his namo or of un¬ 
fairness. He complains of attending a cat¬ 
tle sale a few days since, and of losing both 
time and money ; but as ho has withhold 
names he has left it for all to guess at.— 
The reason of our writing this is, we had a 
sale of cattle about tho time P. speaks of, 
and as there are no names given by him, it 
is just as likely he intends a slur on us as 
any one else, and wo think in fairness ho is 
bouud to come out and state particulars.— 
As it now stands there is no chance to re¬ 
fute what tho writer says. We have of late 
seen more than one man looking for pedi¬ 
grees of blood cattle that in our humble 
opinion could not tell a half blood from a 
pure animal, and yet appear willing to pay 
almost any price if tho pedigree is to their 
notion, without any other recommend. 
Mr. P. play fair. Como out and show your 
name and give names, and then tho others 
will have a fair chance to defend themselves. 
David Brooks & Son. 
Avon, N. Y., Sept. 19, 1853. 
Banner Wheat. —Winter wheat is raised 
in Maine of a variety called “ Banner 
Wheat,” in compliment, wo believe, to Rev. 
W. A. Drew, editor of the Gospel Banner, 
who has been: instrumental in bringing it 
into notice. He assures us it is hardy, 
standing the winter well, and yields thirty 
to forty bushels per acre. We have prom¬ 
ise of seed for another season. t 
IMPORTED SUFFOLK BOAR, “PRINCE.” 
In tho month of January, 1852, John C. 
Jackson, of New York, imported from tho 
yard of His Royal Highness, Prince Albert, 
8 Suffolk pigs, of which number, “Prince,’ 
above represented, was one. Shortly aftor 
their arrival these pigs were transferred to 
Col. Sherwood, of Auburn, of whom the 
PATENT OFFICE SEEDS. 
We observe that tho Commissioner of 
Patents has issued circulars, addressed to 
all tho Post-Masters in tho United States, 
requesting them to send him a certain num¬ 
ber of names in their respective counties, 
(eighty being tho ratio allowed to this 
county,) who would bo proper persons to 
receive and experiment with grain, grass 
and flower seeds, to bo forwarded from that 
office. Why tho duty of seed peddling 
should bo charged on that department, is 
difficult to divine; but such has been the 
practice for a numbor of years, to dispose 
in somo way of the seeds and plants, which 
it is made the duty of every commander of 
a vessel on a foreign station to aid in pro¬ 
curing. The duties of tho Patent Office, 
and the duties of a seedsman, aro wholly 
incongruous, and should be resolved into an 
Agricultural Department. 
Much good ought to grow out of a judi¬ 
cious management of tho immenso amount 
and variety of productions procured from 
foreign countries; but thus far (and we 
have for a number of years been in the re¬ 
ception of large packages for distribution,) 
very little if any benefits have boon derived 
from them, as far as we aro advised, or our 
experience goes. Probably from tho ago of 
tho seeds, or tho improper manner of keep¬ 
ing, not ono quarter ever germinate at all, 
while many aro not adapted to tho climate, 
and others aro of tho commonest varieties, 
or worthless kinds. 
It is a pity Uncle Sam had not us there 
to peddle his seeds. We raythcr think wo 
would find out whether thoy had been par¬ 
boiled or roasted, before wo sent them 
thousands of miles to be tried. 
POULTRY-FOREIGN FOWLS. 
Mr. Moore :—Your correspondent from 
Chesnut Ridge, is altogether too severe in 
his remarks on the “ chicken fever.” That 
the speculation has gone to an unwarranta¬ 
ble extent in many cases, is certain. But to 
class it with others of absolute worthless¬ 
ness, is wrong. lie takes positions that are 
not tenable—aro not correct. Referring to 
the foreign varieties of fowls, he says, 
“ they are no better layers, nor produce lar¬ 
ger eggs, nor indeed near so large, as tho 
Dorkings, Malays, and their crosses; and 
their flesh is coarse and lacks flavor,” &c.— 
Now I have cultivated the Dorking with care 
for many years—and the China and India 
fowls for two years. The Oriental fowl is 
just twice as good a layer as tho English, 
and lays a larger egg. They have com¬ 
menced laying before six months old, which 
the Dorking has never done, and have laid 
during tho severity of winter weather, while 
the Dorking, in the same circumstances, has 
not. They are intrinsically worth, for all 
valuable purposes#' to tho farmer, full twice 
as much as any English or American fowl 
within my knowledge. As to their quality, 
it is excellent. I speak not without book, 
for I had on my table, a few days since, two 
large, broiled chickens, superior in every 
item that constitutes tho excellence of the 
article. And on my dinner table recently 
had a singlo ono, that weighed over six 
pounds, as excellent in quality as need bo 
desired. 
Now that the farmer can obtain genuine 
stock at a small price, it is altogether a 
mistaken policy not to do it. The cost of 
the stock will be repaid from eggs this 
winter, while common fowls will not lay at 
all. A Farmer. 
September, 1853. 
Cut up Corn. —If it is not all quito ripe 
cut it up at the roots, and put it in good, 
snug stooks. It will cure well, and every 
ton of it, if cut fine, is nearly equal for cows 
and cattle to a ton of hay. 
Manure is to tho soil, what bread is to the 
human system — its life, nutriment and 
strength. 
subscriber purchased tho subject of this no¬ 
tice. As an evidence of tho value of this 
stock of swino, I mention the fact that I 
have this day sold “ Prince ” to Mr. John 
S. Clark, of Throopsville, N. Y. for tho 
sum of one hundred dollars, ($100.) 
John R. Page. 
Sennet, Cayuga Co., N. Y., Aug. 25, 1»53. 
THE BEST FOWLS FOR FARMERS. 
My blooded fowls do not prove equally 
profitable : tho Polands, being yarded and 
well fed, having lime and gravel and a little 
fresh meat, have laid moro eggs than most 
other varieties ; but when without meat the 
eggs have been low. 
My Bolton Greys have cat little and laid 
well, without setting ; but several litters of 
their chickens have all been taken by the 
rats, and I have labored in vain to raise any, 
where rats could get to them. 
Tho Goldon Pheasants aro moro boauti- 
ful ; have laid almost continually, and none 
of their chickens have been taken, though 
running upon tho same ground with the 
Greys. Tho Grey chicks aro weakly, while 
tho pheasants aro too sprightly to be 
caught. 
Guilderlands, after being with a cock of 
another variety, produced half-breeds at 
first; but the second litter was obviously 
pure. They lay the largest eggs, though 
less in numbor, and propagate their marks 
of purity liko a wild original breed. 
The Black Shanghais I find no demand 
for, nor any satisfactory specification of 
their faults, leaving us to reflect upon their 
likeness to an unfortunate race. The Dom¬ 
inique or Grey Shanghais seem overy way 
valuable. The White are delicate, and do 
not rear as well. I had 7 chickens hatch 
from 60 eggs, and 5 of them lived ; while 
nearly all of the Buff color hatched and aro 
doing well. 
I can discover no superior utility in the 
longer logs and necks of tho Cochin Chinas, 
yet their great size and other faultless 
qualities, speak volumes in their praiso.— 
Of the 8 varieties which I breed, tho Buff 
Shanghais (sometimes called red, sometimes 
yellow) I liko tho best. With me they have 
reared the best, even the common dunghill 
not excepted. Thoy have laid a good num¬ 
ber of large eggs of tho best quality, and 
have nursod their broods well. Those of 
tho best stock weigh from 8 to 10 lbs. Ono 
of my breeders weighed 8£ lbs., another 9£ 
lbs. If the farmer who has not yards for 
separate breeding would supplant all others 
with this variety, it could not fail to in¬ 
crease his income. And when tho hen fever 
shall be past, and its high prices fall away, 
his chickons in common markot would soil, 
not for a shilling, but for half a dollar, and 
would give a proportionable supply of tho 
finest meat at homo.— Cor. Ohio Cultivator. 
NATIONAL HORSE EXHIBITION. 
To BE HELD AT SPRINGFIELD, MaSS., Oct. 19 TO 22. 
CHINA FOWLS. 
Ciiittagongs, Cochin-Chinas, Shanghais. 
Of these varieties of fowls, a writer in the 
Pa. Farm Journal says : 
“For my part, I havo seen somo large 
and very fine collections of the threo breeds, 
and I havo never been able to discriminate 
so nicely as to point out tho distinctive 
features of tho three breeds, and that there 
is really any very marked difference in them 
is a question as yet unsolved in my mind. 
“ I have had what were represented to mo 
to be tho three distinct species, and when 
placed together in tho same yard, I could 
discover really no difference in them. 
“ They aro all represented as originating 
from the same source—a wild fowl of China 
—and so far as I am informed, derive their 
names from tho respective States from 
which thoy aro exported, and in my humble 
opinion there are no distinctive features in 
either of tho three, other than thoso which 
persons interested in their traffic are pleased 
to fancy.” 
Drilling in of Winter Wheat.—L. Ham¬ 
blin, in Prairie Farmer, says:—“The im¬ 
portance of drilling in winter wheat, and tho 
benefit derived from it, on our prairie soil, 
is not yet properly appreciated, and but lit¬ 
tle practiced. Had I time and space, I 
would give you my reasons moro fully of its 
utility, from practical experience. I can 
with tho utmost confidence recommend tho 
practice to my brother farmors. If it is well 
done, tho difference in favor of drilling over 
broad cast sowing, will be from one-third to 
one-half increase of tho wheat crop. It will 
also give greater certainty of a crop. Illi¬ 
nois has the reputation of not being a first 
rate (or good) wheat growing State. By 
tho use of the seed drill a fair reputation 
may yet bo won.” 
Mr. Milton Draper, at Flynn’s Lick, 
Jackson city, Miss., recently raised on his 
plantation a watermelon weighing sixty-two 
and a half pounds. He says that ho has al¬ 
so taken from his vines five watermelons 
weighing together two hundred pounds. 
__YThe first National Exhibition of Imported 
Blood and American breeds of Horses will be 
held as above, under the auspices of the U. S. 
Agricultural Society. The idea is a novel and 
good one, and has already been most cordially 
responded to by the press and the public. The 
Board of Managers is apparently of the right 
stamp, and it is believed every arrangement will 
be made to secure a highly creditable and satis¬ 
factory exhibition. 
A Circular just received from the Board says 
they “ anticipate by far the largest and finest col¬ 
lection of Horses ever known in this Country, at 
least. They believe it will inaugurate a new in¬ 
terest in that noble and useful animal, — and be 
the precursor of similar annual exhibitions, whose 
influence will tend to elevate the character of the 
Horse, by improving the breeds, securing to him 
greater care and attention, and in every way mul¬ 
tiplying the causes and sources of improvement.” 
They anticipate a largo collection of people, inclu¬ 
ding eminent men of ail professions. The Com¬ 
mittee announce “an Agricultural Banquet — 
learned, eloquent and popular addresses — and a 
large and magnificent display of Fruits and 
flowers.” 
We annex the Rules and Regulations, and List 
of Premiums: 
RULES AND REGULATIONS. 
1. Horses intended for exhibition and premium, 
or for sale, should be entered with the Recording 
Secretary H. S. Noyes, on or before Saturday, Oct. 
15, 1853. On payment of the entrance lee, a 
check will be given, which must be presented 
when the horse is brought to the exhibition 
ground. 
2. Horses intended for sale will be labeled ac¬ 
cordingly, but cannot be withdrawn until the close 
of the exhibition, except by written permission of 
the Board of Managers, and there will be no 
return of freight money by the Railroads on all 
horses sold. 
3. Pedigree, proofs of origin and age, must be 
furnished, if required, for every horse offered for 
premium. 
4. A Board of Judges will be appointed to ex¬ 
amine all horses entered, who will award premi¬ 
ums agreeably to the annexed list, which will be 
paid or delivered at the close of the exhibition. 
5. All horses entered will be at the risk of the 
owners. The most effectual means will be taken 
through the agency of the police and otherwise, 
to guard and protect the horses exhibited, but the 
Managers cannot be responsible for injuries that 
may be occasioned by accident or otherwise. 
6 . Owners or agents offering horses for premium 
of exhibition, will receive tickets of admission to 
the exhibition grounds, but in no case transferable. 
7. The' exhibition will occupy “ Government 
Square,” directly East of the United States Ar¬ 
mory grounds, which will be properly enclosed 
for the purpose. Stalls for horses and seats for 
spectators will be provided ; also, a suitable course 
for trials of speed and the display of horses. 
8 . Entrance fees will be charged as follows, viz : 
For all horses or spans of horses entered for 
premium, $5. For all horses or spans entered for 
exhibition and sale, $3. For each person, with 
privilege of seat, season ticket, $1. For each per¬ 
son, single ticket, 25 cents. Seats, 12) N cents. 
9. Persons wishing for more particular informa¬ 
tion will address (post-paid! William Stowe, Cor¬ 
responding Secretary and General Agent of the 
Exhibition, Springfield, Mass. 
LIST OF PREMIUMS 
To bo awarded at the Great National Exhibition of Import¬ 
ed Blood and American Breeds of Horses at Springfield 
Mass., Oct. 19th, 20th, 21st and 22d, 1853. 
Stallions. — For the best Stallion of 7 years and over, 
first Premium, $200; 2d do. 100; 3d do. 50; 4th do. a sil¬ 
ver goblet valued at $25. 
For the best Stallion of 4 years and under 7, first premi¬ 
um $10(1 ; 2d do. 5U ; 3d do. a silver goblet valued at $25. 
Geldings. —For tho best gelding of 4 years and over, 
first premium $100 ; 2d do. 50 ; 3d do. 25; 4th do. a silver 
goblet valued at $20. 
Breeding Mares. — For the best Breeding Mare of 4 
years and over, first premium $100 ; 2d do. 50 ; 3d do. 25 ; 
4th do. a silver goblet valued at $20. 
Breeding Mares with Foal by tiieir side.— First pre¬ 
mium $50; 2d do. a silver goblet valued tit $25. 
Matched Houses. —For the best span of Matched Horses 
of 4 years and over, first premium $100; 2d do. 50; 3d do. 
25; 4th do. a silver goblet valued at $20. 
Fancy Horses. — For the best span of Fancy Horses 4 
years and over", first premium $100; 2d do. 50; 3d do. a 
silver goblet valued at $25. 
Colts. —For the best Stallion of 3 years old, first premi¬ 
um $50; 2d do. 25 ; 3d do. a silver goblet valued at §20. 
Best Filly, §25. 
For the best Stallion of 2 years, first premium §25; 2d 
do. a silver goblet valued at §20. Best Filly, a silver gob¬ 
let valued at $20. 
For the best Stallion of 1 year, first premium §25; 2d 
do. a silver goblet valued at §20. Best Filly $20. 
Farm or Draught Horses. — For the best pair of Farm 
or Draught Horses, first premium §50; 2d do. 25 ; 3d do. 
a silver goblet valued at $20 
Best single do., first premium $25; 2d do. a silver gob¬ 
let valued at §20. 
Ponies. —For the best pair of Ponies, first premium $50; 
2d do. 25 ; 3d do. a silver goblet valued at §20. 
In addition to the Premiums above stated, a 
liberal sum of money, with Medals and Diplo¬ 
mas, will be placed in the hands of the Commit¬ 
tee on Premiums, to be distributed by them to 
such exhibitors as, in their discretion, they shall 
deem most deserving. 
George Dwight, President. 
Jas. M. Thompson, Vice President. 
William Stowe, Secretary. 
ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF DOMESTIC 
ANIMALS. 
From the comparative perfection to which Stock 
Breeding has been carried in England, it is natu¬ 
ral that we should look there for information on 
this all important subject. The following article 
from the London Farmers' Magazine, though 
somewhat lengthy, will be found worehy of peru¬ 
sal and careful consideration: 
“ The first quarrel on earth took place between 
a farmer and a grazier.” So commenced a ser¬ 
mon by a living divine, in a large manufacturing 
town ; and well it might, when there were no men 
but farmers and graziers to quarrel. But the con¬ 
troversy between the two, and between each other, 
has not yet been settled. One class of opinions 
prevail in one district, and another in another ; 
some preferring Southdown, others Leicester, 
and some Cotswold sheep ; some praising Short¬ 
horn cattle exclusively, others Hereford, and oth¬ 
ers Devons; some"again insisting on large, others 
on small animals being the best and most profitable. 
There are points where controversies begin to 
converge; anu there are others where they diverge 
with almost the same rapidity. For instance, all 
can agree that the power which a breeder pos¬ 
sesses over plastic nature is perfectly wonderful. 
There is not a breed, how far soever it may be 
from beauty or excellence, which may not be vast¬ 
ly improved in itself. The Highland sheep has 
perhaps undergone more real improvement than 
any other kind of animal. Take the ordinary 
run, say twenty years ago, and compare it with 
those often shown at the Highland Society’s 
Shows, and while you have every absolute char¬ 
acteristic of the breed, you have animals as far 
superior as if the species had no alliance whatever. 
Now had all these varieties one common origin ? 
Were they varieties improved or changed by cir¬ 
cumstances from one common stock, of which we 
have not any types ? or were they followers of one 
common ancestor, now defunct ? 
That the first is a much more reasonable sup¬ 
position appears evident from the fact that altlio’ 
changes will pass over domesticated breeds of 
animals, it is not only easy- to change for better 
or for worse by proper or judicious attention on 
the part of the grazier, but it is equally difficult, 
without the same care being exercised, to keep a 
breed in its state of purity and caste ; yet in wild 
animals no change whatever seems to take place. 
The wild cattle at Chillingham, for instance, are 
the same as they were centuries ago ; nor can we 
see any changes pass over wild animals of any 
description. It is artificial domestication which 
produces all these changes in the characteristics 
of a race. 
It now seems to he generally admitted that at 
least all kinds of sheep had one common origin ; 
here the controversy between the farmer anti the 
grazier converges into unanimity ; but when the 
identical original animal is to be pointed out, the 
divergence is as wide as possible. The treatise 
by Milburn on the sheep and shepherding, pub¬ 
lished by Orr, contains a discussion of tlie ques¬ 
tion at some length, and inclines, for reasons there 
given, to the Argali as the original of the sheep. 
Quoting first the opinions of the best and most • 
observant zoologists as to the natural history of 
that animal, its faculty of domestication, its ten¬ 
dency to lay on fat. the shape of its horns, <fcc., 
lie traces the earliest indications of history, and 
applies these incidental allusions to the animal, to 
the habits which Cuvier and other naturalists 
prove possessed by the Argali, and then appealing 
to the drawings discovered hv Beizoni in Egypt 
and Layard at Ninevah, shows the Egyptian and 
Assyrian sheep of these early ages to be in Argali 
in its transition state. 
He says, “ Applying our knowledge as obtained 
inferentially from the most ancient records, we 
find incidental notices leading to fix the character 
of the earliest sheep of which history informs us, 
with one or other of the class of animals alone 
referred to, but especially the latter, (the Argali,) 
Abel had firstlings of his flock, lienee lie possessed 
domesticated animals. The lambs of the Argali 
would be a ready means of procreating a flock, as 
they are even now easily domesticated, and which 
would hardly be the case with the untameable 
Musmon. A bel also offered flit, which is a secre¬ 
tion common to the Argali, but of which the 
Musmon is said to be destitute. The sheep of the 
patriarchs too had horns; at any rate the rams 
had that distinction. Nor could they be simply 
upright; as a ram, it will be remembered, was 
caught in a thicket by his horns, when the staying 
angel arrested the hand of Abraham. The curva¬ 
ture of the horns being much more mearly com¬ 
plete in the Argali than in the Musmon, which 
are nearly bent backwards, renders it most likely 
of the two to be entangled in a thicket. That 
the sheep were some of them brown in Jacob’s 
day, is quite certain, from tiieir being set apart for 
bis wages, and this again agrees with the color of 
the Argali." 
Carrying the proofs onward, beyond the written 
and to the pictorial, lie speaks of the Nimroud 
sketches as “giving a very accurate idea of the 
progress the Argali had been made in supply¬ 
ing the wants of man at this early period. The 
tail had lengthened and thickened, the fat had 
begun to accumulate, and the hair had become 
woolly; the horn, which was still nearly circular, 
had become smaller, and the legs and head thick¬ 
er.” In reference to the Beizoni sketches, he 
says, among other marks of progress, “ there is a 
long, thick tail, exhibiting either fat or wool, 
either of which would be an approach towards 
some of our modern breeds. The legs and feet 
are clearly those of a sheep, but the body is deer¬ 
like, and very much resembling the Argali." He 
goes ou in a subsequent part of the work to give 
a list of sheep now existing, showing types of 
what he conceives to be every step between the 
Argali and the Leicester, tracing the changes, one 
by one from the Barbary and Cape sheep, down 
to the Welsh, Shetland, Dorset, Cotswold, and 
ends with the Leicester. 
Through these we shall not now go; but the 
practical bearing of the question is one highly in¬ 
teresting to the farmer. Cannot a Dorset sheep, 
for instance, he vastly improved ? If the remark¬ 
able tendencies of that animal to breed all the 
year round, and twice a year, could be combined 
with a little improvement of fleece and carcass, 
would it not amply repay the breeder ? 
The same writer gives some hints on improving 
a flock, which, as it applies to all kinds of animals, 
is worth quoting: “Uniformity,” he says, “is 
best attained bv drafting off regularly the failing 
ewes, and breeding from one common sire, which 
appears to have a peculiarly favorable influence 
in the breed, greater even than the mother appears 
to exercise in the flock ; for while a mother can 
only influence two animals, the ram will influence 
the whole of the produce in a greater or less de¬ 
gree.” The mode of going about this he thus 
lays down : Speaking of improving and giving 
uniformity to a flock, be says, “The breeder does 
not select at first that which has the most of these 
qualifications, but which is perhaps the widest 
from and most unlike his own flock; but he takes 
those which show a tendency to pervade in one 
uniform direction — not an individual, but the 
whole of his flock ; and this he takes to mend his 
own. By this means all are a little improved in 
the direction he requires, and all keeping alike in 
their general contour, there is a kind of perma¬ 
nency and uniformity in the main features of the 
improvement.” We consider it no bad sign for a 
breeder to have his flock as near alike as possible. 
Many men may have accidental animals, of re¬ 
markable good qualities; but when all are alike, 
it looks like skill. Milburn says, “No unskillful 
man ever long kept a flock in a state of anything 
like similarity to each other. Uniformity is as 
important to the jobber and butcher as it is to the 
grazier. The merit of being ‘ even ’ is always ap¬ 
preciated in a market, because they ever suit the 
same class of customers.” 
The breeder must try higher and higher; he 
must aim at cultivating a combination of more 
wool. This has been somewhat neglected. Now 
that it pays even better than mutton itself, it is 
deserving of the greatest attention. It is possible 
to carry''more wool and still secure as much fat 
and yield as much mutton. The tendency in the 
animal and plenty of food will do it; and the ef¬ 
fort of the breeder is simply to consider the sheep 
as a vitalized machine for converting food into 
money ; and he will find no animal, which in the 
run of years, will pay better for attention than 
the sheep. 
( 
