V 
i 
ROCHESTER, N. Y.-EOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31,1863 
the West, or a business reputation they cannot 
afford to lose. 
2. It is hardly probable that any one, however 
superficial, wHl soon denounce the culture of 
Indian com in the West. And I have yet to 
learn that any one hits denounced the planiitig 
of the White Willow, for timber or for a fence, 
where “shelter, timber, and a fence combined, is 
desired,'’ There seems to Ue abundant testimony 
that a wooded screen may be quickly realized by 
planting the White Willow. The Illinois State 
Horlicultural Society so recommended it. But 
it was not recommended for a fence unless this 
combination was desired. The Osage Orange 
was rejected because it was supposed it would 
not stand in our climate — not because there was 
anything in its character that rendered it unfit 
for hedges. It was believed impracticable for 
the same reasons that orchards were supposed 
Impossible in Illinois. But there is no such 
objection urged against the White Willow. Its 
character us a tree is not suited to hedging unless 
it is desired as a shelter, and there Is tioobjection 
to its shading a large area. And that it will 
grow closely planted, and make a reliable, per¬ 
manent fence, is doubted, analogically, by some 
of the best horticulturists in the West. But on 
this point there is no experience either way. It 
is significant, however, that those who have 
known it best aud longest distrust It most. 
o. Mr. Edwards does not. doubt that it will 
become an imposing feature in prairie land¬ 
scapes. Neither do I, it r.re-t-mth of the cuttings 
planted grow. Gut time t Vr.'i be a fence feature 
I doubt. That, it will bo \\>\ most derivable fea¬ 
ture, I. honestly doubt. ho Lombardy 
Poplar as extensively as the White Willow was 
planted last year, and it will become in ten 
years “a much greater feature in prairie land¬ 
scapes” than the White Willow or Osage. But 
it does not follow that it would be either so useful 
or beautiful a feature as the Osage, or Norway 
Spruce, or White Pine, Ash-leaved Maple, Silver 
Maple, or a dozen other trees that might he 
named. A “groat feature” is not always a har¬ 
monious one. There an few men of taste who 
want the eye to rest against willows as the only 
relief to Our “monotonous” prairies. Groves of 
elm, map tea, birch, the different evergreens, and 
fruit trees, are certainly more desirable. And it 
does not follow, by any means, that because “ the 
people” are wUling to “swallow” the White 
Willow as a panacea for all diseases, that it is 
best to cratn it down their throats as au article 
of diet. 
4. Now one word about peddlers. Where al¬ 
most all nurserymen distribute their woi ob through 
the agency oftho much abused “peddlers,” other¬ 
wise called “agents.” it Is little less than folly to 
denounce them. But it is probably true that these 
peddlers, or “agents,” many of them, lie vigor¬ 
ously “on their own hook” and without the 
countenance or sanction of their epiployers. 
That a heap of this professional story-telling has 
been done the past year, there is abundant evi¬ 
dence. And here at the close I wish to make 
some negative assertions which will aid those 
who have been visited by White Willow ped¬ 
dlers’ in determining their reliability: 
1. The White Willow is not a hedge plant. 
2. It does not grow as well on high, dry 
ground, as on low, moist, rich soils. 
3. It is not true that stock will not eat or 
browse it. 
4. The large samples exhibited as specimens of 
growth are not samples of its average growth in 
closely planted hedges. 
5. It is not superior to all other willows as a 
timber tree. 
C. It does not make wood faster than the Lom¬ 
bardy Poplar, Golden Willow, Silver Leaf Pop¬ 
lar, Weeping Willow. Cottonwood and Peach, 
planted on dry soils. And there are sundry 
other negatives which may be given to the affirm¬ 
ations of these “itinerants.” , 
It is not my object to prevent the planting of 
this willow for timber for high screens where 
desired, but it is my aim to prevent disappoint¬ 
ment—to let the Rural public know precisely 
how far it is desirable. I will not lend my pen 
nor influence to men who are seeking to fleece 
farmers by glorifying and magnifying this willow 
far beyond its merits and value, and by false 
representations lay a permanent foundation for 
disappointment and distrust And it is proper 
to say here ihat this effort is not confined to 
misrepresentations. J hate seen plantations of 
willow, in rows for hedges, in which I seriously 
doubt if there was a White WillowSputtlng; but 
the man bought them for White Wi!t6ws. 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
AX ORIGINAL WEEKLY 
RURAL, LITERARY AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
BARNS, SHEDS, &c, FOR SHEEP, 
hedges on the west and north, oven a small 
clump of such trees would form a far better stell 
than many of those which are uHed on the bleak 
aud storm-swept highlands of Scotland,—which 
consist of walls alone. Larger clumps would 
answer without tho walls; but they should be 
sufficient to protect sheep from the fury of tho 
wind, which renders cold vastly less endurable 
by them— particularly when it, follows a rain 
which has penetrated to their skins. For this 
object, and indeed for all objects, naked stells 
[This following extracts are from one of the 
chapters on Winter Management in “Randall's 
Practical Shepherd: ”] 
W intuit Shelter. —It has already been as¬ 
sumed that a degree of winter shelter is requi¬ 
site for the most profitable management of sheep 
in all parts of the United States. The Merino 
can withstand far greater exposures to extremes 
and to rapid fluctuations of weather, than any 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
With a Corps of Able Awflstnnt* ami Contributor*. 
CHAS. O. BBAQDON. Western Corresponding Editor, 
The Rural Xw Yorker ia designed to be unsurpassed 
in Value. Purity and Variety of Contents, aud unique 
and beautiful in Appearance. It* Conductor devotes his 
personal attention to Ui« rnperrision of its various 
departments, and earnestly labors to render the Rural an 
eminently Reliable Guide on all the important Practical. 
Scientitlc and other Subjects intimately connected with the 
business of those whose Interests it zealously advocates. 
As a Family Journal it is eminently Instructive and 
Entertaining -being so conducted that it can be safely 
taken hi the Homes of people of intelligence, taste and 
discrimination. It embraces more Agricultural. Horticul¬ 
tural, Scientific. Educational, Literary and News Matter, 
interspersed with appropriate Engravings, than any other 
journal,—rendering it tho most complete Agricultural, 
Literary and Family Newhuarkr la America 
Cy For Terras and other particulars, see last page, 
SIIEEP BARN, 
composed merely of high stone walls, board 
fences, or double lines of poles with straw, sods 
or earth filled in between them, are far better 
than no protection. 
Hay Barns with Open Sheds.—I n all the 
States lying south of 40 deg., open sheds are 
sufficient winter protection for Merino sheep, and 
probably so for the English mutton varieties. - 
though perhaps the high-bred New Leicester 
would, in many situations, find more protection 
profitable at some periods of tho year. 
Ilay barns and sheep sheds like the above, 
or of some analagous construction, were much 
other improved or really valuable breed. In 
Spain it was unsheltered. In Western Texas— 
in that magnificent sheep-growing region which 
lies immediately north of Sun Antonio—it has 
been claimed that it requires no shelter; but 
facts which I shall allude to hereafter incontesta¬ 
bly prove the contrary. 
Temporary Sheds. — Adequate shelter in 
warm regions like Western Texas demands no 
arrangements which would be at all expensive 
in a well-wooded region, or where sawed timber 
could be obtained at moderate prices—for the 
cheapest form of open shed (i. e., open on one 
THE 3EAS0N.-PREPARE FOR WINTER, 
That season of the year has arrived when 
poets and other sentimental people talk of “ the 
«mi or l /.‘L— 1 — -*7’ am* rir.K lir-itum b;iru 
and express alternate hopes and fears concerning 
“ the ides of November.” Leaving these classes 
to their poetry and politics, let us take a more 
practical view of the season, its labors and duties 
—talking of matters and things of Immediate 
interest and importance to every intelligent and 
industrious Ruralist on the Continent. 
The season upon which we have entered is a 
busy one with most farmers in all parts of the 
country. In many and widely separated sections 
the amount of fall work yet to be done is great, 
while those who must do it are few in numbers 
and often feeble in strength. This is particularly 
the case in regard to tho States from which large 
numbers of the “ bone and sinew” have nobly 
and gallantly volunteered to serve their Country 
in defence of the Uuion and to preserve our 
National existence, and in those border States 
which have been overrun by the vandal hordes 
of Secessia. But the hearts of the people re¬ 
maining at home are bravo and true. The old 
men, and those too young or feeble to fight in 
the army, are manfully winning battles and reap¬ 
ing plenteous harvests in other than gory fields— 
while the women and children are nobly assisting 
in out-door avocations. There is work to do on 
every hand, and it is being performed with a 
cheerfulness aud alacrity which proves that the 
productiveness and prosperity of the country 
will be maintained while so many are struggling 
to perpetuate the Republic. With bravery in the 
field of strife, on the farm and at the fireside, 
there can be no failure of the cause iu behalf of 
which so many are lighting, working and praying. 
But how is it at home —on the farms? The 
earth has yielded abundantly, and the products 
of the field, orchard and garden ure advancing in 
price. It behooves every producer to gather aud 
save all that is possible. We have often urged 
the great advantage and economy of the use of 
labor saving implements aud machinery, and 
this is especially important (and in many sec¬ 
tions indispensable,) while laborers are so scarce 
as at present. Use every real improvement in 
securing crops and preparing them for market. 
Better pay a large price for a good potato digger 
or corn cutter than to lose portions of those val¬ 
uable crops lor want of sufficient help and time 
to secure them in proper condition. And so of 
other crops, and in regard lo preparing feed fur 
stock don't forget the hay, stalk and vegetable 
cutters, nor proper apparatus for cooking and 
steaming feed for fattening animals. They are 
important and economical at this season, and 
their adoption will in many cases prove both 
convenient and profitable. 
And how about your stock? Your main crops 
being secured, the care and thrift of domestic 
animals, and their protection and feeding during 
winter, should be amply provided for. Have 
you barns, sheds, racks, troughs, etc., and are 
they in order for the inclement season now 
rapidly approaching? If not, the matter should 
receive early attention. It is folly to neglect an 
item so essential to your own interest and the 
comfort of animals which afford you both plea¬ 
sure and profit when well cared for. Need we 
In this week’s Kural 1 notice some remarks preju- 
diuial to tho White Willoiv. Tho season has been one of 
the dryest known in the twenty-two which have passed 
since I first came to the Prairie State. My success Iran 
ol ways been good in getting cuttings to grow. 1 last year 
set several acres for timber, which stands well. In sixty 
rods set for hedge, not a single cutting failed to grow. A 
neighbor set ouu this year and lost one eight.!, only, tho’ 
many planters have not saved that proportion. 
“Probably a superficial observer, from present inspection 
of Willow cuttings let aud corn planted last 9 pring, in 
this region ol‘country, would pronounce statements made 
by the advocates for planting and growing either of them 
extensively and cheaply here, erroneous. 
“Some ten years since, the Osage Orage was generrlly 
decided as a ‘humbug » on the prairies; whilst, if all the 
seed in Texas could be planted in Illinois next spring, a 
ready market would be found for the plants. 
“There is no doubt in my mind but that in ten years 
from this time the White Willow will form a much great¬ 
er feature in prairie landscapes than does tho Osage Or¬ 
ange at present; nor that the advocates of their being ex¬ 
tensively planted, or of the superior advantages of prai 
riedom for growing cheap corn will be at all delicate 
* when those subjects are broached.’ 
“As to the mi*. 4 representations of peddlers,’ they are all 
necessary to learn people to use the same discretion in 
buying such articles as they do In buying goods far the 
household. Who thinks of purchasing his supplies for 
the family of itinerants? Yet It is far better to do this 
than to buy trees and plants; for where one person is 
found incompetent to purchase, judiciously, miscellaneous 
goods, there aro several who know very little in regard to 
trees and plants.” 
The foregoing, from a man lor whose judgment 
and inlegriiy I have the greatest respect, de¬ 
serves attention. 
1. There is no doubt at all that the season ba 3 
been extremely unfavorable in many parts of the 
West, and that a large per centum of cuttings 
planted have failed from this cause alone. It is 
true, too, that the cuttings of almost any willow, 
or other soft-wooded tree, if in the right condition 
when plauted, and if planted at the right season, 
In a favorable position, will grow with small loss. 
But it is equally probable that a large per centum 
ol cuttings sold and planted were worthless 
when delivered. Of this I have evidence. And 
il is important that those who purchase should 
be careful to buy only of men of reliability, )ike 
Mr. Edwards, who have permanent interests in 
PLAN OF SHEEP BARN AND YARDS. 
d, d. U, d, Sheep yardu, 30 feet wide; the two outside 
ones CO feet long; the two insido cues 52 feet long; thus 
arranged to allow tho four flocks of sheep to drink from 
the troughs of one pump house at t. 
c, l’uinp-houses and troughs for four yards, if water is 
not carried into tiie barn at b, b. 
f t f, Pump-houses and troughs,'each accommodating 
two yards, provided Deither of preceding plaus of watering 
are available or desirable. 
in vogue in the Northern and Eastern States, a 
few years since. 
But there were many difficulties about them 
in the climates of those States. Snow often blew 
under the sheds when the wind was in front; 
and in severe gales, even when the wind was in 
their rear, it drifted over from behind—piling up 
large banka immediately in front, which grad¬ 
ually encroached on the sheltered space, and 
filled its bottom with water whenever there was 
a thaw. 
If a cold storm, or a very freezing temperature 
occurred at lambing time, these open sheds did 
not sufficiently exclude the cold; and they did 
a, a, a, a. Apartments or stables in sheep barn, 20 by <0 
feet. The central partition a close one, with single racks 
on each side. The other two partitions composed of don bln 
racks. Single racks round ail tho outside walls except at 
floors. 
b, 6, Watering tubs, when water is brought into barn In 
pipes. 
c, c, e, A door in central partition aud gates in the other 
two partitions. 
side,) would answer the purpose. Or, excellent 
sheds might be constructed with logs or poles. 
The pole shed is made as shown below. 
This ia covered with straw, reed9, sods, brush, 
clay, or anything else which will prevent the 
wind and rain from driving through it. It ia 
decidedly improved by raising the lower ends of 
the poles two feet by means of a log, stone-wall, 
or a bank oi' earth or Bods. 
Clumps ok Trees and Stells.— if one gen¬ 
eration would be persuaded to make arrange¬ 
ments for another generation, good Bheep shel¬ 
ters con hi lie cheaply formed, and on the most 
comprehensive scale, by planting elumpB or 
SHED OF POLES. 
belts of woodland, for that purpose, on the vast not prevent the ewes going out of them to lamb, 
timberless plains of the Southwest Evergreen or from leading their new-born lambs out at very 
trees would be far preferable, if they could be unseasonable times, to follow the movements of 
obtained, and would flourish in the situations the flock- No female animal is more attached to 
where they are required. With stone walls or her young than the ewe, but none exhibits less 
I 
