-mTgRICUlTURF 
ROCHESTER N. Y.-FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, DECEM BER 9. 1865 
MOOKE'S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
AX ORIGINAL, WEEKLY 
RURAL, LITERARY AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
See tliat your stables are dry—have a thorough 
drainage—and so arranged that no water can 
flow into them from the ontside. Dampness is 
likewise a source of much mischief to the health 
and thrift of stock. Basement stables are most 
liable to excessive dampness, though when prop¬ 
erly constructed they are healthy as any. 
Light your stables well. They are thus more 
cheerful for both man and beast. A small win¬ 
dow costs but little, and saves yourself mneh 
discomfort, to say nothine of the good effect 
plenty of light has on the stock. A little time 
and labor spent in the outset of winter In making 
stock comfortable will be abundantly repaid. 
Don't forget, in the meantime, to give cattle 
and sheep that are to be wintered at stacks in 
open fields, suitable shelter. Rail sheds roofed 
with straw are better than snow banks. 
weather hogs should have a plentiful supply of 
clean straw in their beds. They will use a good 
deal, and it should be renewed often. If they 
are allowed to run in a yard, or outside pen, a 
very liberal and frequent supply of straw, 
leaves, potato vines, weeds,—something that 
will absorb the moisture, mix with and increase 
the manure, and keep the hogs dry and clean,— 
should be thrown in. It is by neglecting this 
point, we ihlnk, that our correspondent has 
reason to complain of a lack of manure from the 
hog pen. This outside pen for fattening hogs is 
an admirable place for composting. The ex¬ 
treme richness of the pure hog manure will ad¬ 
mit of large admixture of straw, <xc., before the 
mass will be reduced to tue average of barn 
yard manure. The cleanings of the feeding pen 
are thrown into it, and the whole mass is tram¬ 
pled on and turned up by the hogs, and formed 
into a rich heap of compost. It is an admirable 
plan to scatter a half bushel of plaster occa- 
CONDUCTED BY D. D, T. MOORE, 
HENRY S. RANDALL, LL, D., 
Editor of the Department of Sheep Husbandry, 
SPECIAL CONTRUICTOHSs 
P. BARRY, c. DEWET, LL, D., 
H. T. BROOKS, L. B. LANG WORTHY, 
T, C. PETERS, EDWARD WEBSTER. 
Te* Rural Nxw-Ycirkxr is dealsrneJ to be ur.aur- 
pawed in Value, Purity, and Variety of Content*, and 
unique and beautiful la Appearance. It* Conductor 
devote* m* personal attention to tb« supervision of It* 
various departments, and ranxvily lahors to render tlio 
Rural an eminently Rellnblo Guide on all the Important 
Practical, Scientific and other Subjects Intimately con- 
nected with the bueinef* of those whoso interest* It 
zealously advocates. As a Family Journal It la emi¬ 
nently Instructive and Entertaining—belnjt so conducted 
that it can be safely taien to the Homes of people of 
inteUleence, taste and discrimination. It embraces more 
Horucuft.nrAt, Scientific, Educational, Literary and News 
Matter, interspersed wltb appropriate Engravings, than 
any other Journal,— rendering it far the most complete 
A<1 RICU1.VUKAL, LfTKKAUY AND FAMILY NltWgPAPKR 
in America. 
SCARCITY OF COWS, 
A pew days since we were conversing with an 
experienced and extensive cattle feeder and 
drover, and he remarked incidentally, that it 
seemed to him the most profitable stock to 
handle at present, and through the coming win¬ 
ter, would be that class which men of his stamp 
had hitherto neglected, namely, cows. Let a 
man take good milch cows to the New York 
market, and he has but to name his price and 
they are sold. A fair, average animal is worth 
one hundred dollars. They are sold as high as 
one hundred and seventy-five dollars. For the 
week ending Nov. 17th, they are quoted from 
ninety to one-hundred and thirty dollars each. 
Several causes combine to produce these high 
prices. Keeping cows for butter and cheese is 
profitable beyond most other farming opera¬ 
tions, and likely to continue so for years to 
come. Farmers, too, should be loth to part 
with this kind of stock, for it cripples their 
means of increasing the herds with the rapidity, 
and to the extent, that will be desirable. The 
high price of beef has caused many cows to be 
fattened and sent to the butcher, that should 
have been kept years longer for breeders and 
for milk. There has been a feverish apprehen¬ 
sion, during the past two years, that prices were 
liable to drop suddenly to the old standard, and 
if a farmer could spare a cow or two from his 
dairy herd, the butchers would tempt him to 
do it. Especially has this been the case In grain 
districts, where the production of butter and 
cheese is an incidental and not a leading branch 
of farming. At all events there is a diminished 
stock of cows, and as it cannot be increased to 
a full supply in a year, like grain, we may look 
for these high prices to continue for some time 
to come. 
A writer in the New York Tribune from the 
West says:—“Butter sells at an average of 45 
cents, in many places 00 cents, 
IJNTFVYNJ’TLADO K-A-IU “(3-OLD MINT FI," 
Bred by E. Hammond, Middlebury, Vt., and got by his ram “Sweepstakes.” “< 
is now the property of D. W. Percy and Loan J. Burgess of Rensselaer Co., N. Y. 
the first prize on grown rams at the Fair of the New York State Sheep Breeeder 
Growers’ Association in 1SW5. 
Gold Mine” 
He received 
•s’ and Wool 
HAVE YOU A PLANT 
We mean for the next year’s operations on the 
farm. If not you have the long winter, with its 
many hours ot leisure, to study and mature one. 
Take an honest view of the last ten years of 
your farming, and answer fairly to yourself, at 
least, if the result thereof would not have been 
more profitable, had yon chosen a different 
course. Have you any more system now than 
ten years ago ; or do you grow crops hap-haz- 
ard, such as you think will best hit the market? 
Is your land richer; the average product great¬ 
er; is it less weedy; smoother on the surface; 
better fenced, and supplied with more ample 
and convenient buildings ? If not, your system 
ol farming is unprofitable. 
Perhaps you have made a great deal of money, 
and have it invested in bank stock, oil stock, or 
United States bonds; and you think thi6 accu¬ 
mulation an evidence of prosperity. But deduct 
a fair compensation for your labor, and has not 
the remainder been taken from the intrinsic 
value of your land? If you sell the products of 
the farm now for the same prices they brought 
ten years ago, and incur the same expenses you 
did then, will your Income he as large ? If the 
conclusion is forced upon you that the farm will 
not produce as abundantly as in former times, 
then you must own that the land has been rob¬ 
bed of this surplus money, and that it is not 
legitimate profit. 
Suppose that each year for the past ten, you 
had built fifty rods of durable fence—such as 
will last a lifetime; and each vear had con- 
jP'&Mj) IfwsJiMtlrg 
red to. It shows, indeed, what great advant¬ 
ages a farmer will derive from the care he takes 
of his skefcp, as -he cleansed wool is by one-third 
more at least thjn tile usual average. 
Let ns now ascertain the approximate differ¬ 
ence between unwashed wool and that washed 
on sheep’s hacks, as we know it to have been 
for years. First, we will take the selected sheep 
and we find five rams average (unwashed) 15.20 
lbs., and clean, 5.20 lbs.; or 15.20 lbs., 5.29 lbs. 
or 100—34 4 5. Nine ewes average (unwashed) 
11.07 lbs., and cleaD, 4.23 lbs., or 11.07 lbs., 
4.23 lbs., or 100-S8X- 
It can thus be seen that the difference of 
shrinkage between ram and ewe fleeces is 
not great enough, and indicates the particular 
care taken. But suppose we consider it correct 
and call fleece wool of entire flocks in an un¬ 
washed state, equal to a shrinkage of 62}£ per 
cent, or 100 lbs. unwashed wool even to 37>£ 
pounds of scoured, and place against it washed 
fleeces of Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and 
Michigan, average shrinkage per cent., or 
100 lbs. render 54,^ lbs. clean, we find 1443*( lbs. 
of unwashed wool would render 54$^ lbs. clean, 
and we would also find that 100 lbs. of our 
washed fleece are equal in value to 144;^ lbs. 
unwashed, which proportions may also serve in 
the way of freight, etc. 
But wc have also to look into the advantages 
and disadvantages, as far as manufacturers are 
concerned, about the wool in either an unwashed 
state or washed on the sheep’s back. NVe will 
uot even allude to the importance of washing 
sheep in pure soft water, free of substances in¬ 
jurious to the cleansing or drying of the wool, 
hut will take it washed in the best water, and 
then we can plainly discover the changes that 
will take place by beeping the wool. The older 
it becomes the harder it will be in the fiber, 
and losing more and more of its elasticity—it 
will not work as well, and lose always more in 
working by flyiDg. it is also more subject to 
damage by moths than unwashed wool. 
We know of an experiment made in Europe 
by large manufacturers with unwashed wool, 
which was kept for 2, 3 aud 5 years, and found 
so uniform in scouring, carding and spinning, 
and with less dying, dec., than old washed wool 
of the same kind, that they expressed the wish 
that all wool should be shorn in an unwashed 
state, it being in every respect preferable and 
more profitable, referring to the better cleans¬ 
ing, the better spinning, carding and working, 
aud also that it took better or livelier colors, 
saving, of course, labor aud dye stuffs, too. 
The advantage is decidedly on the side of the 
unwashed wool, as well tor producers as for con¬ 
sumers. Should, however, the present system 
be considered proper to be continued for a num¬ 
ber of years, the time will come when the dis¬ 
honest farmer who has taken illicit advantages, 
as alluded to before, will have to wash his sheep 
well, shear them when dry, clean them of impu¬ 
rities aud pack the unwashed and dead wool by 
itself, tie the fleeces with very smooth, thin 
thread, and then compete with all the honest 
wool growers—else the buyers will all be in¬ 
structed not to buy any wool dishonestly got 
up, or with an allowance fully proportioned to 
its deficiencies. This time will come surely, 
To Correspondents. —Mr. Randall’s address is 
Cortland Village, Cortland Co., N. Y. All communi¬ 
cations intended for this Department, and all inqniriee 
relating to sheep, should be addressed to him as above. 
HOPS IN ENGLAND AND AMERICA.-II. 
In England they have had for thirty years the 
same enemies to the hop crop to contend with 
that we have had the last three years, and others 
that have not yet visited our crop, to wit., the 
vermin or aphis loose, the mould, and the 
blight. Hop growers in this country have be¬ 
come familiar with vermin, or hop louse, pretty 
generally for three years past. Mould, as it ap¬ 
pears in the English yards, I have not seen in 
this country. It is a fungus that grows in the 
branches and stems of the fruit, and even on the 
hop, or thickening of the parts 
WASHED OR UNWASHED WOOL.” 
ARTICLE TWO. 
There is some greasy, unwashed Georgia, 
North Carolina and Tennessee medium wool 
which will lose only 40 per cent., and we would 
here call especial attention to the investigation 
by a Committee on cleansing the fleeces of five 
rams and nine ewes of the Merino breed; also 
one fat ewe oi the Cotswold breed. The result of 
the Investigation (a very lull and able one) was 
first published in the Rural New-Yorker, and 
re-published in the Ohio Farmer of Aug. 12, 
1805, at Cleveland. From it we quote the 
following: 
Three rams about one year old, rendered 
Vh washed. Scoured, 
Three fleeces.IS 12-100 15 -11-100 lbs. 
Unwashed. Scoured. 
One ram two years old 10 SI-100 i 47-100 lbs. 
One ram four years old. .20 09-100 0 50-100 “ 
Rendered two fleeces. 30 90-100 11 03-100 “ 
Unleashed. Scouted. 
Recapitulation—Ag. five fleeces. .76 02 20.4-1 
Average each., . 15 20-100 5 29-100 lbs. 
Unwashed. Scoured. 
Five ewes about two years old rendered 
Five fleeces.00 08-100 22 10-100 lbs. 
Fnnr ewes about one year old rendered 
Four fleeces.38 03-100 18 02-100 “ 
Nine ewes Ac. nine fleeces 99 61-100 38 12100 “ 
Average each. 1107100 1 23jtf-l00 *- 
The Cotswold fleece was ot a fat ewe and 
eauuot 1)6 of much iuterest, as it is well known 
that wool on fattened sheep will grow long aud 
he lighter iu the grease than commonly well- 
kept sheep. There is but little wool of tat sheep 
in the regular trade. However, it may be well 
to Btnte that the fleece weighed as shorn S 90-100 
pounds, and cleansed 7 31-100 lbs., when Cots¬ 
wold sheep) will average only about 5 lbs. washed 
on the sheeps’ back, generally. But considering 
that the sheep sent to the Syracuse Woolen 
Mills to compete for a premium offered by the 
Hon. D. D. T. Moore, had been carefully se¬ 
lected and fed for that one year’s growth of their 
fleeces for this oceasiou, we cannot look upon it 
as a test for an average quantity, which would be 
considerably less. Nevertheless, it may be well 
to state in round figures that the fleece of a ram 
four years old weighed (unwashed) 20 pounds— 
clean, lbs.; and the fleeces of three rams one 
year old weighed (unwashed) 45 pounds—clean, 
15 pounds, or an average each of 15 pounds un¬ 
washed, aud 5 pounds clean. The fleeces of live 
ewes three years old averaged (unwashed) 12.13 
lbs.; clean, 4.4 lbs. each. The fleeces of four 
one year old averaged (unwashed) 9.73 pounds; 
clean, 4 pounds each. 
Ab every wool grower, manufacturer aud wool 
dealer Is perfectly aware of the weight ot un¬ 
washed wool as they are in trade, they can 
plainly perceive the great care that must have 
been taken with those brought to the test refer- 
thc germ of 
hop or burs becomes hard aud does not develop 
into hops. This disease In England is treated 
with an application of the flour of sulphur, 
thrown on to the vines and leaves by means of a 
machine called a sulphurator; the fine flour of 
sulphur is blown by a fanning mill among the 
leaves of the plant while damp, so as to come in 
contact with every part of it. This machine is 
drawn on wheels through the alleys of every part 
of the garden, and large quantities of sulphur 
are used in doiug it; but it is said that the louse 
flourishes the better under this treatment for 
the mould, as the sulphur destroys the enemies 
of the louse as well us checks the mould, but 
does not hurt the louse, which increases rapidly 
after an application of sulphur. 
There are other expedients resorted to to de¬ 
stroy the louse. Large tanks of soap suds, a 
little salt iu it, with other ingredients, is prepar¬ 
ed and applied by means of, a force pump, with 
hose fixed so as to throw the liquor in a spray, 
or fine jets, over every part of the hops. This 
application is successful in England. The ma¬ 
chine used Is costly—more than 8100 each. In 
this country the application has been made with 
a syringe or squirt-gun in a very few eases, but 
in some yards where the hops have been careful¬ 
ly tralued ou tarred twine, supported by stakes 
dipped in coal tar, or gas tar, the horizontal pro¬ 
cess, no lice have appeared; the vlues are so 
exposed to the sun and the air, especially when 
they are kept on the cords and not allowed to 
get into masses. A free exposure to sun, and a 
circulation of uir, is what is needed to make fine 
hops. If allowed to become lousy ami in large 
masses, the fruit will not be solid, plump, and 
ripe. The lower the vine Is trained the better 
will be the quality aud color of the hop and the 
earlier it will ripen, as the sir is warmer near the 
earth. The experience of Mr. A. C. Wetmore, 
Of this city, the past two years, will convince 
any one of the value of this discovery. He says 
he could sell the bops from his twined yard for 
ten cents per pound more than those from any 
of his poles, and he gets more pounds per acre 
at less expense in labor, end the roots are pre¬ 
served, by not cutting and bleeding at picking, 
as is necessary always while long poles are used 
and the vines cut. F. W. Collins. 
In the great 
stock region of Illinois it is from forty to fifty 
cents, and deficient in supply. In Kansas it 
has been forty to sixty cents all summer, while 
there was grass enough to cover out of sight all 
the cows in the country.” 
Farmers keep your cows; they are a source 
of great fertility to the land, and their products 
will unquestionably be profitable. 
INCREASING HOG FEN MANURE 
A correspondent observes that the manure 
of the hog pen always seems to him 6mall iu pro¬ 
portion to the amount of rich food consumed, 
and that in a munurial point ol view it is more 
profitable to feed cattle and sheep than hogs. 
We agree with our correspondent that, in the 
main, these statements are correct. Not neces¬ 
sarily so, however. More manure is wasted lu 
the hog pen than iu the barn-yard or stable. In 
these latter places the droppings of the animals 
are composted with straw, litter —the refuse of 
the fodder—and all saved. Much of the urine is 
also absorbed by these substances, and saved, 
and the whole mass is turned into rleh manure. 
lu the hog pen the urine is mostly wasted — 
there being no absorbents. Generally it flows 
u !>• :he floor au.i durates the earth beneath, 
ru unhealthy for thu hogs. 
Ii'tm n 11 . cn it is too often floored 
w thuotuhi ; but him ii, and has perhaps a ditch 
to lead off the tL.it settles ln.it. 
Ji“ ' c ai i.g hogs comes from the 
finch ness and , of their pens. The 
floor e v, 1 'Ogs eat and sleep 
should id In water proof 
cement. 1 .1 : ge underneath should 
be proviu or laid. Thus the 
earth cant t : ,>.i •ate 1 with manwe 
water and 1 ■ ■ noth'"- v >rs. lu cold 
LOOK TO YOUR STABLES. 
It is time now to look to your stables. Are 
they sufficiently warm ? Is there a chance lor 
the uir to draw under the floors, or through 
cracks and holes in the siding ? If so, bank up 
with earth on the outside and nail hoards over 
the air passages. Also make up your mind to 
construct more permanent ones another seasoti. 
Stock confined in stalls, where they have no 
chance to exercise, often sutler intensely from 
cold draughts of air. Many diseases are likewise 
contracted. Still, cold air is far less injurious, 
andj likewise less uncomfortable, than that of 
a warmer temperature when the latter is put in 
motion. 
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