the flock can be driven when it-storms; unfortu¬ 
nately, sheep don’t always know enough to come 
in when U rains. 
Having been recently called a considerable 
distance to testify in a “court of justice,” so called, 
as to the nature of the “foot-rot,” and the possi¬ 
bility of a remedy, and finding that very crude 
ideas exist on that subject, iu spile of “ the in¬ 
telligence of the age,” and the general “progress 
of knowledge,” I will give my ideas briefly, for 
the general good. 
1st. Foot-rot can be cured. Whoever doubts 
it is grossly ignorant, and if his doubts are of 
long standing, probably hopelessly so. 
2d. The cure does not depend so much upon 
the efficacy of some particular medicine, as upon 
the general management. 
3d. The first thing to do is to yard the flock, 
and select all that appear unaffected and put 
them by themselves. With a swab wash their 
feet between the hoofs with a strong solution of 
blue vitriol, or diluted nitric acid, or corrosive 
sublimate dissolved iu alcohol, or something that 
will destroy any infection that may attach to the 
foot Put them in a pasture where no diseased 
sheep have been, and carefully watch the “first 
appearance of evil.” If a sheep appears at all 
lame remove it at once, and it may be best to re¬ 
examine and swab them all after about a fort¬ 
night. Watch them close for a few weeks, and 
don’t let any sheep stay in the flock after it shows 
any signs of being affected. 
4th. Carefully examine all the lame sheep; re¬ 
move with a sharp knife the diseased flesh and 
loosened horn or hoof, carefully avoiding to cut 
the live flesh, and then apply blue vitriol, or some 
ABOUT FLAX.-NO. Ill, 
breaks a great proportion of the fibers, which 
draw out in the coarse hatcheling, aud what we 
call dressing, by which twenty-five per cent, 
of waste occurs more than in pieparing such 
flax as I saw at Mr. Crosstuw ait's factory. 
This flax was simply broken as I describe, the 
shives or woody part shaken out as clean as may 
be when it is done up for market, no knife or 
tmtcbel used, as with us, to make the flax fine, 
and the more flat and plated the fiber lies the 
bettor they like iL 
After the flax is taken from the bale, as im¬ 
ported, the dressing commences.. What was 
termed dressing at this establishment, was what 
we 3 aukees would call hatcheling. When the 
handful is taken from the bale, it has the recep¬ 
tacles of ti<* capsules on the upper end, the same 
as ours when it comes from the brake, and also 
some coarse pieces, not entirely free ft om shives, 
at the lower end. The ends only are passed 
prevent the frost on tho hills. Should this last 
not prove to lie fact, the flowers on the hills will 
be destroyed at. a later day, when those of the 
valley have passed the danger. 
There may be local causes which operate to 
prevent the evils of frost. Thus, along the 
south shore of Lake Ontario there is a fine 
fruit-bearing country for ten or twelve miles 
trom the lake. Very rarely are the blossoms 
of the peach killed by frost iu this district, as the 
vapor rising from the lake is converted into hazy 
clouds, and no frost is formed. A few more 
miles at the south the sky remains clear, and the 
blossoms are frozen.—c. n. 
IDE season 13 BAOKWAKi>_for “ Winter lingers in the 
lap of Spring," and so tenaciously that earth, sky and at- 
niosphore appear very DooemberUh. March wa- unusu¬ 
ally cold, ivitli frequent and heavy snow etorms-more 
unpleasant- than cither of the winter months—and April 
has thus far been frigid and unpropitious. On Sunday 
!a=t nearly six inches of mow fell, and the sleighs were in 
motion—the temperature and snow indicating mid winter 
rather than April. And as we write (A. 11 of 7th,) a 
snow stonn prevails, and the almanac most be cou-ulted 
to prove that it is really Spring Some city people say it 
is very healthy weather, etc., but we opme that soil culti¬ 
vators would prefer that which we trust will soon be 
vouchsafed—warm and pleasant weather, suitable for 
ETJBAL EXPEBIENCES. — No, IX. 
PROFITS OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF STOCK. 
Calves are probably the most unprofitable 
stock that farmers keep; for this reason, they are 
not particular as to what they breed from, forget¬ 
ting that “like produces like.” 
Farmers who raise calves would find it to be a 
good investment to pay one dollar, or even five 
dollars, for the use of an animal whose stock 
when four years old, will be worth double that of 
some cheap, inferior animal. 
It will pay to raise good calves; and the way to 
raise such is to have a good one to start with; 
feed him regularly, and not too much at a time, 
teach him to eat bran, slops, cabbage leaves, &c., I 
and keep the feeding up till he goes into winter 
quarters, which should be warm, but not too 
confined, give good bay with a mess of some¬ 
thing every day, and occasionally a handful of 
oil-cake meal, which will keep tho lice from de¬ 
stroying his comjort and growth—the main object 
is to keep them growing, and you will have 
calves that will make cows and oxen that you 
will not be ashamed of. 
Sheep,—who will deny that they are not profit¬ 
able,—with this as with all other kinds of stock, it 
A.-» I_ Jt 1 . . . 
.new work o.v Flax Culturr.— In order to meet the 
wants of thousands of farmers who propose to try flax 
growing the ensuing season, and ore seeking information 
thereupon, we have made Arrangement* to issue in a week 
or two-as early as the 35th or 20th of ApriJ-a small 
manual containing all necessary information on the sub¬ 
ject of Flax Culture The work will contain an able Es¬ 
say, comprising full and practical directions, so that any 
intelligent reader can readily comprehend and practice the 
proper mode or culture, etc. The author of the Essay- 
NtcwpOMii, Esq , of Rensselaer Ctaunty— has had over 
thirty years experience as a flax grower, tlmronghly un- 
derstand- t * l '‘ whole subject, and can properly impart the 
knowledge he possesses. The work will also contain the 
series of able articles dii the- Culture aud Manufacture of 
Flax in the United States, recently commenced in the Ru¬ 
ral, from the pen of N. Goodsklt., Esq. [These articles 
will thus lie given iu the. book before they are issued in 
the paper ] In addition to these valuable papers the work 
will comprise much other useful and timely information 
on the subject of Flax Culture and Manufacture, and in¬ 
clude several illustrations, See advertisement. 
A Nf.w Lxvkstio.v tor Horsemk.x-Is entitled Dodos’s 
Pateut opparntus for holding a horse s tail in position, af¬ 
ter being pricked or nicked, We have received from the 
inventor, a cieular giving illustrations, and describing the 
modus operandi of this invention, and from the examina¬ 
tion we have given it, arc very favorably impressed with 
its humanity and usefulness. If me,, will insist upon 
“ setting up •’ the tails of their horses, it is important that 
it should bo done with as little suffering to tho animals 
as possible, and no one who has seen a horse, on a hot day 
confined to a stall with his tall tied np by means of a pully 
and a load Of brick, can fail to have wished some more hu¬ 
mane method of accomplishing the cud might be devised. 
Hy Mr Do do a 8 planet lie tail, instead of being pulled up 
by the few hairs at its end, is lifted by a rod, around wtiich 
all thp hair of the tail is fastened, and as tills rod is kept at 
the dc«. red angle by straps attached to a sort of saddle, the 
horse is at liberty to astumo any position he may choose, 
without, having the wound pulled upon. The invention 
seem* also well adapted to secure a ttraigM tail, which is 
a dedderalum, we believe. We commend it to the atten¬ 
tion of all interested, and have no doubt that the inventor, 
Mr. Hampton Dodos, (of the Arm of Chekskmam & 
Dodge, Liverymen,) Buffalo, N. Y., will furnish any 
needed information rcgaidiug it. 
FBOST AND SNOW UPON HILLS AND IN 
VALLEYS. 
Why are highlands in a hilly country more 
subject to snow than the valleys? and in spring 
and fall less exposed to frost? Thus asks a 
Pennsylvania correspondent. 
Snow occurs earlier in the fall, and continues 
taler in the spring, on high mountains, (ban on 
lower hills and in the valleys. In New England 
we ever hear of the early snow on the summit of 
•he White Mountains, and on the higher tops of 
the Green Mountains; or, on the summits of the 
high (teaks in the northern part of the State of 
New York, or the like places in the Allegany 
range, than on the low grounds contiguous to 
ihese mountains. This takes place earlier in the 
tall, the furtl^r north and higher the mountain 
summit. The atmosphere is thus proved to be 
colder as the place is higher. For about each 
live hundred feet of elevation, in tho same cir¬ 
cumstances, the temperature is one degree lower. 
This is true, also, as we ascend in a balloon into 
•he upper regions. Tims, too, we often see snow 
falling from clouds, rvhich is melted before it 
reaches the earth. In hilly countries tho snow is 
Wool Growers’ Convention.— The Wool Growers of 
Western New York met in Convention at the Court House, 
Rochester, on the 2d hist. Though tho weather was bad, 
there was a respectable attendance from Monroe, Gomy.ee, 
Livingston. Steuben, Wyoming, Ontario, Way tie and Or¬ 
leans counties. Hon. Kt.miCA Hakmon, or Monroe, was 
appointed I'resldent; and A. F. WujtAKKK of Yates, A«m. 
Wilcox of Genoese, aduam Stocking of Livingston, F. 
!’• Root of Monroe, and A. G. Ve.ncr of Wayne, were 
chosen Vice Fres’ts. A McPjikhsox, ,i r ., of Genesee, 
and D D. T Mount: were chosen Secretaries. Maj. H. T. 
Brooks, of Wyoming, stated the objects of the call—the 
chief one being to discus* the propriety of discontinuing 
the practice of washing sheep. At the conclusion of Maj. 
B. a remark* the following gentlemen were appointed a 
committee to draft resolutions; A. McPherson. Jr. of 
WASHING SHEEP, 
Eds. Ritual Nrw-1 ohkkr:—A s I receive much 
valuable Information from your columns, and de¬ 
siring to return an equivalent therefor, I wish to 
say a word, with your permission. 
I see that the subject of washing sheep is 
being discussed pro and con, and that a conven¬ 
tion of wool-growers has been called to consider 
the question. This is a matter in which I feel 
considerable interest, and I would say that, in 
my opinion, the time for the proposed change is 
not well chosen, ns wool, if prepared as custo¬ 
mary. is certain to rule very high, and if put up 
unwashed, buyers will most certainly take ad¬ 
vantage o! that lact to depreciate the price of 
wool below its intrinsic value, and in the end 
buy the wool for far less money than though 
farmers had kept on in their usual way. I, for 
one. will wash my sheep. 
And now, allow me to tell you how I do It 
easily and cheaply, and to advise other sheep- 
raisers to do likewise. Select a small stream of 
cleat, pure water, and build a dam about, four 
feet, high, so as to secure about that, much fall. 
Make a spout three and one-half or four feet 
broad, for the water to pass through over the 
breast of your darn. M akc a platform of boards 
to lay your sheep on and go to work. I always 
®«8«iri« JUKI ailSUTiS 
y days of Bona- their eummils. Tho tropical sun of summer 
have been entitled does not prevent this line of perpetual congela- 
ffered by him to any tion from remaining, though the lino is higher on 
competent machine the Himalayas, lower on the Andes, and lower 
is, his name should still on the Alps, and on the Rocky Mountains. 
I HiTNKY and Ark- The second question is easily answered, also. 
iunkind. _ I have known Indian corn killed by frost in Scp- 
; . ln com ! )an y wU1 > tember in a valley, while on the hills, a few 
Ins manufactory at hundred feet above, no frost was formed. I 
to fake me through once saw the common flowers of many gardens 
to me the different killed by the first frost of autumn, while in a gar- 
jmem they dressed, don, perhaps three hundred feet higher and fully 
finished the doth exposed, flowers of the same kind were not 
, " fJ 5 mac | jin f r y touched by frost, as particular examination of 
Ilian for spinning them proved none had been formed there. 
\hh h (he flax was Dew and frost are formed only in clear and 
ousand times per still nights. Then, plants, water, earth, having 
nch surrounded it, been more heated by day, and hav ing imparted 
hty of them, which of their heat to the atmosphere in contact, throw 
one hundred and off their caloric by radiating it into and through 
QSbth wait showed the air, become colder, and cool the air in con- 
of flax, a part of tact with them, until dew is formed, or even 
t Irish. The Riga frost, if the process is carried sufficiently far. At 
t from titty to sixty the same time the warmer air of the valley 
from tlie wool. 
6th. As some lots of wool are more cross amt gummy 
than others, the buyer should not decide on any uniform 
rate of deduction for shrinkage, but each lot should be sold 
on its own merits, according to its quality and condition. 
Lastly. As generally practiced washing i* little or no 
improvement to the fleece in cleanliness or condition. 
The report was discussed at some length by the Presi¬ 
dent, Messrs. Brooks and Bristol of Wyoming, McPher¬ 
son and Townsend of Genesee, Whitney, MeVean, Ross 
and McBean of Monroe, McMillen and Sheldon of Liv¬ 
ingston, Percy of Wayne, Whitaker of Yates, and several 
others. The discussion was quite animated and interest¬ 
ing, and we regret that we are unable to give even a synop¬ 
sis. Stroug arguments were advanced both for and against 
washing sheep, and considerable information elicited. 
Several wool buyers participated in the discussion. Ou 
taking the question on the adoption of the report but few 
delegatus seemed prepared to vote, and no decision was 
announced by tho chair. The following resolution, offered 
by D. D. T. Moore, was unanimously adopted 
Resolved , That the practice of wool buyers in paying 
nearly or quite us much for poorly put up wool of inferior 
quality, with dirt and tegs included,as they do for a clean, 
well-prepared, fine staple, is a premium tor slovenliness 
if not dishonesty; and that, whether wo wash our sheep or 
not, one of the greatest wants of fair and honorable w ool- 
growers is a just discrimination on the pint of purchasers 
and manufacturers. 
Ttic following re-solution wa* adopted: 
Resolved, That a committee of one in each county in 
Western New York be appointed to ascertain (through the 
uid of a sub-committee of one iu each town) how many 
wool-growers are willing to dispense w ith washing their 
sheep—obtaining the names of those who wash and those 
who do not—and report the result through its Chairman, 
I to he located in Rochester or some other central point,) 
tor publication. 
On motion, a committee consisting of Elisha Hannon, 
D. D. T. Moore, and A. MrFherson. Jr., was appointed to 
consult with manufacturers, and ascertain what they 
would pay for unwashed wool, and the difference between 
that and washed. The Convention then adjourned, seve¬ 
ral members expressing themselves highly pleased with the 
information obtained. 
How Mean Milk vok a lb. or Cheese.—M. II,, No. 
Jura, inquires “how much milk by measure (also by 
weight,) is required to make a pound of cheese ”_By 
records kept at some of the cheese factories iu Oueida Co., 
it appears that a pound of cured cheese has beeu made 
from a beer gallon of milk. We understand au effort is 
being made to get at the weight of milk as accurately as 
possible by the Imperial beer and wine gallon. In small 
dairies it ha* taken five quarts, wine measure, to make a 
lb. ol cured cheese. The point is not yet definitely set- 
eighteen cents per pound, while American dew- 
rotted flax, in New York, was only worth from 
eight to ten cents per pound. There was such u 
difference in the appearance of the flax here 
seen and any of Our dew-rotted flax which I had 
ever seen in market, that I will attempt to 
describe iL First the flax wa 9 all water-rotted; 
next broken by passing between small fluted 
rollers which only bent in one place at the same 
time, leaving both ends of the fiber free, conse¬ 
quently the libel's were not broken as when ope¬ 
rated upon by our brakes, which are generally 
formed having two slats on tho upper part, 
which press down between three in the lower 
part, by which a tension is produced which 
Skedj.ng with Clover.—“A Reader of the Rural at 
Momsonville,' 1 has a piece of light, sandy land which he 
wishes to seed with clover. He “wishes to know if it 
would be more likely to live through tiie drouth of sum¬ 
mer if no grain is sown with it ”-We think not. We 
should sow spring rve. and seed with that cron, rollim? 
Correction.— In Rural of March 28th, in article on 
“Lamb epizootic," 1st page, 2d column, in describing 
the condition of the ewe when diseased the term “ Maw 
sickness or Bot ” is used I need not tell old s hepherds 
that “Maw sickness or Ret ’’ was inUnidcd, and, I think, 
written.— c. D. b. 
