MOOHE’S RURAL IfEW-YORKER. 
BE€. 12. 
fright and exhaustion, while the trembling flock 
Crowd together dreading the same fate, and the 
churl exults iu thin cowardly victory over a 
weuk and defenceless animaL" 
Mr. John Hare Powell, in the Memoirs of 
the Pennsylvania Agricultural Society, describes 
some Spanish dogs, imported with the early 
Merinos into this country, and then owned by 
himself, as possessing “all the valuable charac¬ 
teristics of the English shepherd’s dog, with 
sagacity, fidelity aud strength peculiar to them¬ 
selves." lie adds: —“Their ferocity, when 
aroused by any intruder, their attachment to 
their own flock, and devotion to their master, 
would, in the uncultivated parts of America, 
make them an acquisition of infinite value, by 
affording a defence againM wolves, which they 
readily kill, and vagrant cur dogs, by which our 
flocks are often destroyed. The force of their 
instinctive attachment to sheep, and their reso 
lution in attacking every dog which passes near 
to their charge, have been forcibly evinced upon 
my farm.’’— Randall's Practical Shepherd. 
BUTTEK AND CHEESE-EAST AND WEST. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker: —In your last I 
noticed an article on Iowa Cheese, which com¬ 
plains of Western dairymen being compelled to 
sell at less rate the same quality of butter and 
cheese. Now, I am willing to admit that they 
can make as good cheese on the prairies of the 
West as anywhere, Hamburg uot excepted. JJut 
when they come to butter, then I must differ 
with them. It is a fact well known that pastures 
of red clover, and new pastures of timothy which 
have not been laid down long enough to get well 
swarded over, are not suitable pastures for 
making butter, especially for shipping. 
’ “ But,” says one, “I have eaten its good butter 
that my wife or mother mado as anybody 
ever ate anywhere, and our pastures were red 
clover." Granted; but how old was the butter? 
New, of course. Well, I will admit that for eat¬ 
ing any time within a few months after it is 
mado^buttcr made from red clover feed is as 
good as any; but let it stand in a tub or firkin for 
twelve or eighteen months, and then try the two 
samples, and 1 think it would not require a very 
close judge to toll which was the best, that made 
from red clover or that made from white clover, 
red top and June grass. 
While we claim to have as good a dairying 
section of country as there is anywhere, we have 
to stand the same “tricks of trade" with the 
West, on our butter, but not on onr cheese; for 
Chautauqua cheese sells readily in New York, 
aud for a good price. Jf you will go Into a but¬ 
ter dealer’s cellar In onr town you may see one, 
two, or perhaps five hundred tubs of butter 
directed to St. Louis, all marked “Choice 
Goshen.” We get a good price generally, but 
Goshen gets the credit. Surely, Hamburg and 
Goshen must keep a great many cows! Butler 
has sold this fall for 2,'i cents to 27 cents, and 
cheese from 10 cents to 14 cents, which is good 
paying business, even if cotton is high. 
Your Western Editor speaks of forming dairy¬ 
ing associations, so that each locality shall have 
the benefits of its own productions. That would 
be very well if butter and cheese were like grain 
or wool, but whore one man keeps a dairy of 
thirty cows, and fills a tub at a single churning, 
that butter is worth more than a tub filled by 
one who keeps only six or eight cows. The real 
dltrerence in quality of cheese made from large 
or small dairies is not as much as in bntter, aud 
still the dealer makes rather more in proportion 
to the vulue of the two articles. I hope your 
Western Editor will continue to complain until 
ho thunders it into tho oars of all butter and 
cheese dealers that “honesty is the best policy.” 
Charlotte, Chant. Co,, N. Y., 1S63. M M. 
•Rural spirit of the 
The Value of Agricultural Statistics. 
The following remarks on the value and 
usefulness of agricultural statistics were marie 
by Mr. Lindsay, M. P., at a meeting of the Chert- 
eey Agricultural Society, England: 
At the Ohertsey Agricultural Society, Mr W. 
S. Lindsay, M. P., said:—Upon another subject 
connected with agriculture, he could speak from 
his knowledge as a commercial man, and that 
was as to the necessity of having agricultural 
Statistics. In 1840 or 1847, he, as a broker, en¬ 
gaged tunnago to bring to this country no less 
than 1,200,000 qrs. of corn. Other brokers, of 
course, did the same; but he then felt it to be 
uncertain whether that quantity of grain was 
actually required. At that time Prance was 
buying corn largely in our markets at from 46ft. 
to 50s,, aud the tenners and holders of corn were 
selling at those prices. Nine months afterward 
the people of this country were paying 102 4 . per 
qr. for corn. France, by reason of the statistics 
taken in that country, knew the quantity of corn 
likely to be required from abroad, while we were 
in utter ignorauce as to the quantity we had 
actually grown. In consequence, France had a 
great advantage over us, and for three or four 
months the people of England were paying 
£1,500,000 per month for grain from abroud. In 
1846 7 we had to send abroad large amounts of 
gold to pay for grain. A panic followed, and a 
fearful crisis occurred; some of the largest 
houses failed, and very many farmers lost large, 
sums of money, because, in our Ignorance of 
our real stock, we had sold to France for 4G«. to 
60 s. the corn we had afterward to replace at 100s. 
to 10'Js. The people suffered and the farmers 
suffered, because no one class could suffer with¬ 
out all other classes in some degree also suffer¬ 
ing. As it was with individuals, so it was with 
nations; when one suffered, so did the other. 
America was now passing through a fearful 
ordeal, and England was suffering, too, to a 
great extent, from the calamities ol the Ameri¬ 
can people. It was the interest certainjy of 
England to see all other nations prosperous and 
happy. Twenty million quarters of corn re¬ 
quired 3,000,000 tuns burden of shipping to im¬ 
port it. They could easily perceive how that 
would affect the ju ice of other articles of import, 
by creating a scarcity of tonnage, and enhancing 
(ho price of cotton and other raw materials, 
upon which our manufacturers and artisans de¬ 
pended. The price of these manufactured arti¬ 
cles advanced, and thus all classes were affected, 
lie would therefore suggest to his agricultural 
friends to consider calmly whether the collection 
of agricultural statistics would not be an advan¬ 
tage to them as well as other classes of the com¬ 
munity. 
judicious application of manures from the muck 
hole, the diicfies, head lands,fence -ides and woods, 
composted during the fall, winter aud spring 
with barnyard maume, their term crops would 
be doubled in amount and value. Let the cart be 
set to wor k during every spare day, and the muck 
be deposited under the stables, where it will be 
enriched by urine, and made more valuable than 
an equal bulk of farm-yard manure for the grain 
and grass crops. If the stable manure is kept in 
heaps, or under sheds in the yard, the muck 
should be thoroughly mixed through it,—first a 
layer of muck, then a layer of manure, in about 
equal quantifies, and the compost will be supe¬ 
rior in value to the stable manure alone. 
Frost has an excellent effect upon muck, 
thrown out in heaps during the winter, and ex¬ 
posed to its action. In the ppring a lime aud 
salt mixture may toy applied to this muck, the 
particles of which have been thoroughly disinte¬ 
grated by the frost, and it will thus be converted 
into a most valuable top-dressing for grass lands, 
aud may also be used to advantage on any field 
crop — Working, Farmer. 
Kurd Notes anb Items, 
CHEESE-MAKING IN HERKIMER COUNTY. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:— Ilerkimer Co. 
has a world-wide reputation for the production 
of cheese; and the season now drawing to a 
close, has been an unusually favorable one for 
our dairymen. Our pastures have afforded a 
luxuriant growth of feed; our bay crop was 
extra heavy, and tho quantity of cheese made 
exceeds that of any former year, while the price, 
ranging from nine to fifteen cents, is nearly or 
quite two cents a pound more than we have 
realized any previous year—which will pay all 
extra prices for labor, store bills, war taxes. Ac., 
and leave a handsome balance in our favor. 
The wide margin in price is partly owing to the 
fluctuations of “King Gold." and partly to the 
quality of the article. But little cheese is now 
contracted through the season, as formerly; but. 
it is sold by the load, there being stated weekly 
market days at Little Falls, IJerkimor, and 
other points on the Central Railroad, where buy¬ 
ers and sellers meet to take their chances. 
The best return from a dairy of cows is 
reported from a neighboring town-the cows 
averaging 600 pounds of cheese, which Hold for 
fifteen cents a pound, being $90 per cow. Has 
this been beaten ? The amount of cheese per cow 
has often been exceeded, but the amount realized 
from sales, we think, has never been equaled. 
The cheese from this dairy was “ made up" in a 
factory. 
ChecBe factories are becoming popular. They 
save labor, relieving the “women folks "of nearly 
all the drudgery of cheese-making, except milk¬ 
ing; besides they increase the quantity and gen¬ 
erally improve the quality, especially of cheese 
designed for shipping. Factory-made cheese 
eells from one to two cents a pound in advance 
of small dairies, and we predict that in less than 
en years the majority of Herkimer 
Cheese will he factory mado. 
The present and prospective price of cheese 
will, we think, make this branch of farming pay 
better than any other, the demand and consump¬ 
tion for good cheese constantly increasing, while 
the area for producing is limited. F. Smith. 
Norway, N. Y., Nov. SO, 1803. 
County 
How to Fatten Poultry. 
A little more attention than is usually 
paid to the fattening of poultry, will certainly 
pay well. The experience of every farmer 
demonstrates this very clearly. Fat poultry 
always commands a better price, pound for 
pound, than lean, the difference in price obtained 
more t han compensating for t he cost of fat tening. 
The following, from the London Poultry Chroni¬ 
cle, should be read attentively by those who have 
poultry which they design sending to market, 
before the holidays. Try the experiment, at all 
events, ami onr word for it, you will find not 
only a more ready sale, but prices that will re¬ 
munerate you for trouble and additional ex¬ 
pense: 
“II must always bo borne in mind that fatten¬ 
ing means only what it implies. It is (in table 
phrase) udding fat. to lean, it is useless to put 
up a skeleton, however healthy, and to fancy 
that good meat will be put on by feeding in con¬ 
finement, As we wish to write familiarly, we 
will say the lean meat must be made while the 
bird is running at liberty. Another error agaiost 
which we must warn our readers Is the idea that 
any amount of feeding will make a hard fowl 
tender. Hardness is the result of age, and the 
distinction between ‘old’ and ‘not very old’ is, 
after n Certain age, nonsense, so far as eating is 
concerned. A fowl is an old one at ten months 
us certainly as at the end of tender years. 
“Premising, then, the birds put up to fatten 
shall be young—say sixteen, or eighteen, or even 
twenty weeks old, aud fleshy, three weeks’ con¬ 
finement ought to make them very good. We 
do not advise cramming under ordinary ciremn 
stances. It is good where fowls are intended for 
market, but it is hardly necessary for home con¬ 
sumption. If a coop be made for twelve or 
eighteen fowls and four tire put into it, they will 
not fatten—there will be too much room. The 
birds must have room to stand up, and to shift 
their position, but not to move about They 
should be fed three times per day; their food 
should be ground oats, or oatmeal mixed with 
milk, of suoh consistence that when laid on a 
board in front of the coop it will not run oil. 
The food should be fresh-mixed each time, and 
no more should be given tlmn will be eaten clean 
at each meal. If the day’s consumption is 
placsd at once before the bird, it eats to reple¬ 
tion, to the destruction of appetllCj tire food 
turns sour, and then it takes a distaste and does 
badly. The fattening fowls must be fed every 
morning at daybreak; they must be covered up 
warm at night, aud protected from cold by day, 
They should fatten in three weeks. It they have 
stale food, if they are fed irregularly, if they are 
kept in draughts and places where they tire nol 
protected from cold, if they are allowed to see 
other fowls running about, they will not fatten.’’ 
Truthful Talk ox a Tjmkly Tone—Our course 
about preminm*, a* recently announced, i» approved by 
at] the Agent Friends of the Rural from whom wo hare 
heard, with a single exception In letter* and convene, 
tion they strongly endorse our programme-to offer no 
large premium*, but to expend all we can afford upon the 
p»per itrrlf. Their approval 1* encouraging; but wit] 
Rural friend* excuse in for rental king that this it oue of 
the care* in which actions are offer more o >nsequ«nc« 
than words? A little timely effort on the p»rt of tboae 
desirous of having the circulation and urefubi*** of tha 
paper fully maintained will accomp'fah the object. Need 
we ask auch to volunteer a* Recruiting Officers for the 
Rural RturjAniff Score* are already »uece»*fully en 
gaged in the bnslnrs*, as tha letters we are daily receiving 
abundantly testify; yet there are hundred* of aectlon* 
aud neighborhood* where the paper i« known and liked, 
In each of which from five to tifry subscribers might ra*ily 
be obtained, wore the matter to receive attention. Will 
not mine friendly subscriber or reader attend to filling the 
Kural'a quota to each Of ttlMe neglected district* ? 
Those responding affirmatively nre reminded that this it 
Pie. very season for action, and that we will cheerfully Air¬ 
mail specimen numbers, etc., or odd paper* to replace 
such a* may bo used iu procuring subscribers. 
Co.vvkntion or Chris* Manukaoturkrs — Upwards 
of forty prominent cheese manufacturer* of Central New 
fork Invite a Convention of the proprietor! and repre- 
nenta'lves of the several Cheese Factories in this State, to 
be held at Rome, Oneida Co,, on the tith Of January, 1864, 
(or the purpose of considering matters connected with 
that important branch of industry. The principal subjects 
to be discussed are—1st. The propriety of forming a Stale 
Association of Cheese Manufacturers for the purpose of 
mutual improvement and protection in their business. 
*' 1 0f curing further legislation for the prevention aud 
punishment ol the adulteration of milk. 3d. Of estab¬ 
lishing an Agency iu the City of New York, for the sale 
or export of the produce of the Cheese Manufacturers of 
this State. 4th. Reports, in detail, by manufacturer*, 0 f 
tlje operations ol the past sea-on and previously. The 
call states that Hie reports should embrace statement* of 
the number of cow* and quantity of milk worked at eaeh 
factory, how worked, amount of cheese made, pounds of 
milk per pound of cheese, shrinkage, cost of labor, coat 
ot boxes, bandage, Ac., per pound, average sale peril)., 
when sold, kind of vats and bolters used, amount and 
kind of fuel, and all items of consequence. The ftupor 
tance of these questions to an Interest which i* fast grow 
lug to be one of the most prominent connected with the 
Agriculture of this .State, it i» hoped, will secure a full 
representation from every manufactory. Every propri* 
tor, and each managing committee of the several Cheese 
Kactorie* in the State, is earnestly requested to attend. 
[SPECIAL NOTICE.] 
WILLOW FENCES AND WIND-BREAKS—RE¬ 
PORT OF PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS 
IN THE FIELD. 
Anotitkr SwindlkR.—A cor. e-pnndent at Muscatine, 
low*, writes, Nov. 23d, as follow*:— “ Mr Ei.niumm, a 
citiaen of this county, wlebes me to inquire if you had an 
authorized agent soliciting subscriptions for the Rural in 
this region about four wevlis ago. He says he paid him 
for the paper; and many of hi* friends also subscribed for 
it, and the paper* wore to be received in one week; but 
none have come yel, and he suspect* the man was not an 
agent hut. a swindler ” 
Mr. El iiiuiick’h latest suspicion is correct. Wc repeat, 
for the thousandth time, more or les», that ice have no 
traveling og<-nts. We depend upon the voluntary edor’s 
of i’s filends to extend the circulation of the Rural, and 
nre glad to say we do not do so in vain. These swindlers 
are sharp enough to know which paper i* popular with 
the people; and their success with it i* evidence of it 
Rut their operation* do not benefit u«, aud defraud our 
friends. Beware of them, everywhere end everybody. 
Don't pay money for the RuRALtoany stranger, no matter 
if ho shows what purports to he authority. No person 
has our certificate to act as a traveling agent. 
Population ok Iowa. —Wc arc under special obliga¬ 
tion* to E M Wen.in, Esq., Deputy Secretary of Stnto, 
for the subjoined statement showing the total number of 
Dwelling House* and total population of the Stale of 
Iowa, n« exhibited by the Assessment of 1863: 
Total number of Dwelling Homes,..120 918 
Total Population,...7U2,102 
The population is classified as follows, to wit: 
Total number of mhles,.. 314.661 
“ “ of females,.... j'346 181 
“ eret'bd to vote,..136 i'68 
" ofintlttia. 01,b38 
“ “ of foreigners mil us'uniHzcd,. 12 618 
“ between the aces of 6 and 21 yeurrs_268 4l7 
“ “ of deaf and dumb,. 830 
“ “ of blind. 295 
“ “ of insane,.... ' [,m 
11 “ of blocks.... 1,320 
Hard for thk Nlwspapkrs. — If the publishers of 
newspapers could change their price* as readily as do 
merchant*, meebanioa, and others, they would be a tr ifle 
happier than they are now a days. For example, sine* 
we announced the terms of the Rural for 1864, and made 
arrangements to incrta.tr. our expenses, Hi* price of print¬ 
ing paper ha* taken a fearful leap upward*, while most 
other essential* are traveling the same (for us) bard road. 
It Isn’t pleasant—the prospect of realizing no profit—but 
(D V ) we are bound to keep the craft in good sailing 
trim and richly freighted, no that the public shall be hen 
•filed if uot the publiahor We propon* to move right 
along, paying all our taxe* ithat on income from the Rural 
included I) without grumbling, and maintaining th* cir 
cnlation of the paper—augmenting it If poesiblo-so that 
when tb* re hellion collapses, and paper manufacture* 
don't “gobble up ” all the proflta, we shall be prepared to 
relume business. 
Cattlk Disease in Egypt-A late letter from Egypt 
states that the cattle disease has broken out in Cairo, 
Oh teh, and in the 8aid. The character of the disease is 
not de-crihed, but we infer (hat it is tire plcuro pneumo- 
nla, which was iatroduced into this country, and canard 
luch alarm two or three years ago. Th* account add*:— 
“ Op to tliie time the authorities admit that the lo*a 
amounts to 31X1,000 head, which cannot tie replaced under 
£80 a piece, or a coat of £9,18)0,000 sterllr g; but it is uot 
probable that (he loss in animals will be much under 
£12,000,000, and the Nile has already destroyed more than 
£1,000,000 worth of property.’’ 
This State l as sent to the defense of our country forty 
regiments of infantry, nine regiments of cavalry, and 
four batteries. 
Humbug AnTKUTiHKMKNTB.—What j/rrrH we do? Our 
aim is to ignore every tiring that is deceptive or humbug- 
rous in tho advertising line, and yet we are frequently 
“ ” by sharper*—those harpies who resort to all sorts 
of dodges to gull the public, and who offt-u bait their 
traps so adroitly that, the mo-t con-clcntirtua publishers 
ilon t “gee the point’' until too laic Hut we won't ptili- 
lt»b (wl’lr address) such advertisements as the folio*lug 
from New .!er*ey, and hence returned the $5 received 
with tho specimen. The frequent roniptof such Orders 
is becoming a nuisance, and if the sharks don’t stop their 
“favor*" we shall he tempted to baud over their remit¬ 
tance* to the Sanitary Corn mission, or other laudable ob 
Jret., instead of returning them: 
Opr Bovo F— Wilt it l‘ay ?—Economy is Wealth. _An 
important aecri-i of chemical compounds, indispensable 
to die suiiO'il room, the counting mom, strop arid store 
'arm and fatuity, of practical aud cimnerciai Value to all 
hu-tiies* inrii No humbug. No Jot'ery Income imme¬ 
diate, perpetual and guaranteed. Sent lor $1. 
Thk Favors ok AnrKRTiskka arc so plentiful (hat we 
are obliged tet defer M-versI advertisement* until next 
week. To give those which could not well be deferred, 
we are obliged to infringe somewhat upon space usually 
allotted to re ail jug matter — vide the ventilation of the 
White Willow iu next column, (about which we presume 
our Western Aid will have his say.) Of course all the ad¬ 
vertisements will be carefully perused and heeded, noi 
excepting that of the Mayor of Rochester calling for vol¬ 
unteers, and enumerating the liberal Bounties offered by 
the Government and Monroe County. 
imjuirifg anti 
Value of Swamp Muck. 
There are many terms which bate invalua¬ 
ble dnpoBite of swamp muck, designed by nature 
to afford an inexhaustible supply of manure fm 
the adjoining upland. But there are muiiy tenn¬ 
ers who have not yet discovered its value, and 
who are content with half crope, when by the 
Tiik Editor to an Ex Editor.— Au ex editor, non¬ 
living iu lb* country, wants to know “ bow iu creation ” 
*V« can afford to publish the lit kal at the old price, and 
increase its expenses, when piper, wages, produce, pro¬ 
visions, etc , are “ higher than Ullderoy’s kite." Well, 
it » pretty difficult to tell how we can afford to do it/ but, 
having promised the piper at old rates, we shall fulfill the 
contract, “regardle-s of cxpeiura.” Kirn if tve can't 
"fiord it, our friend (lucky fellow, who left the peu for the 
plow just in time to “save his bacon,”) need not be 
alarmed, for we will continue to pay lull prices (and they 
are very full) for such of hi* product- as we may pur 
chase I Audnowwe wish to ask our friend a question. 
How in the name of conscience can he join a dub and pay 
only f 1.60 for the Rural a year, when he know* (being 
ported ui to cost of paper, printing, and living in a city,) 
that lie ought to par at least $2 ? Tint'* all •’ 
Acricultckai. DisoctjBlOjfH, fro —The Mass Board of 
Agriculture is to hold a meeting at Springfield this week, 
(Dec 8ih-Uth,) for the purpe-ei of business, and the dis 
cusiion of agricultural subjects. Free lectures are to tie 
delivered during the session by Prof, Aoassiz and Wr- 
max of Cambridge, Prof. Johnson of New Haven, *nd 
others. Among the subjects selected for dlatm- ion are— 
Agricultural Education; Fruit Culture; Maaures and 
their Application; Cattle Uusbnndry; Sheep Husbandry. 
We are indebted for a cordial invitation to attend, aud 
regret our inability to comply. 
Thk Wool Growkk and Stock Rbgistkb.—E xtract of 
a letter from Slaik Co., Ohio, dated Dec. 1, 1663: 
“r was once a subscriber to the Wool Grower and 
Stock Register 1 continued a subscriber until tin- cud ot 
the 1th volume. I do not know, now, whv I discontinued 
taking the paper, b t ! feel sorry that i al l. I do not 
Know mat jr i- published now, and write to you for tin 
purpo.e ot finding out If it t. | would like ro take it 
ugniu. I have Hie first and second volumes bound in 
paper, and beside* I would like to have all Hie ether vol 
times down to the present tune. If it Is still published, or 
II it l* nut eonttom-d, I wnu'd like all the volume* after 
V.,l 2 to the rime it ceased to be published. I menu tire 
several volumes bound in paper. It Is very convenient 
lor n Irrcnce, srnl I would like much to have all the lol 
nine*. Please Jet me know the matter stand* t" 
Yes, the mutter stands about thus:-We discontinued 
the W. G & 6. R. because if was not appreciated and 
‘•that’* what's the matter" with most journals devoted to 
specialties. If you aud other wool grower* had supported 
the paper, it would have been continued anil remained, as 
it was, au honest, Independent and reliable advocate ot 
the stock aud wool growing interest*. But as those for 
whose benefit the paper wan lamed didn’t «*re i( , u ttiat 
light," and as we could not conscientiously sell its influ¬ 
ence to speculators, nor afford to “run It” at our own 
r xpeiue, it was merged in the Rural New Yomcitp, and 
the stemdipe plates of all the volume* void avoid type 
metal. Since then we have had frequent orders fur tire 
work, and lor core of back volume*, which we are of 
course unable to supply. Wc have only a few copies of 
volumes 1, 2, 6, 6 and 8, bound in paper covers, wbnh 
wc furnish punt paid at 60 cent* each. 
— Our correspondent, ami other wool grower* who may 
not have observed the announcement of the fact in the 
Ri UAL of two weeks ago, will please note that, iu order 
to supply an increasing demand for information on the 
subj'Ct, our next volume will comprise a department cie 
voted to SDKKP lit'SllANIIRT, Under the editorial super 
vision of Hon. ID nicy 8. It and au., who is conceded to 
be the. authority in that now very important branch ol | 
American farming. 
Sowing Flax Skkd with Baklkt — Some time ago I 
n "iced an inquiry in I he Rural lor information iu regard 
to sowing flax seed with barley, aud of it* results—I will 
write my own experience, and would be glad to bear that 
of other*. Last spring I wav persuaded by one of my 
uclghbori to try the experiment on a five acre lot which 1 
bad sown with barley, and finished harrowing In. On 
tell I sowed one bu-hel of (lax seed, being a trille more 
than aix quarto per acre, ami harrowed it in except one 
ac re, and on harvesting the crop if there wa* any differ 
ence in the (lax it wa* in favor of that which was har¬ 
row* d. From thl* field I received an excellent crop ot 
barley and fifteen bu-helv of tl*x *eed, and do not think 
the tlax injured the growth of the hurley in the least. 
The aoed 1, easily separated hy any common fanning mill 
w ith a lint screen. Thu ii my experience, and the lesult 
has been profitable. Now I, would he glad to hear from 
other* who have tried it in past years, to know whether it 
is considered advisable to sow it together or not.— Jah, A 
McCollum, Atufane, A. r. 
Fkkoing Hhbip — Noticing an inquiry iu the Rural of 
Nov. 21 “t In reference to feeding sheep, I would answer 
Mr. It LB, of Fa. Being a grower of both coarse and 
fine winded sheep, and having read the new work, I would 
recommend to him RandalL’B “Practical Shepherd." 
Pbe subject of feeding both store aud fat sheep is ably 
treated in that work, a* is also breeding, diseases, &c. I 
think no farmer keeping twenty-five sheep can afford to 
be without this work.—A ID: auk it op thk Rural, Or¬ 
leans Co., a. y. 
From the American Agriculturist 
Dcri.yo two year, past there ha* been no little excite¬ 
ment in ieg»rd to tho praclicability of using the White 
Willow f Saliz alba) for fence*, especially upon the vast 
prairie region* of the West where fence timber is almost 
teareesdble, The Osage Orange is succc-sful south of 
lat tude about 40" in Illinois, hut is not always reliable 
north of this line, and there is great need of a plant to 
fill ini place. While in Illinois last, sea-on wo tried to 
collect sonic itema, but were uot very succea.fnl Having 
gathered -ome rather *trikii'g f«ct* In regard to the willow 
in Ont.oJ Now Jersey, wc deemed the nutter of .uffieient 
importance to send one of our associate, of good judg¬ 
ment ( Mr Weld) to Illinois to make a thorough personal 
examination of the whole subject. Mr We d started 
Out, 20th and was absent nearly three week*, visiting Ogle 
county, where the willorv Iras been most thoroughly tried, 
and extending his journey to *Omc other parts of the 
State, to examine the Osago Orange hedge*, and other 
matters of interest <n our reader*, of which some account 
will be given in future numbers, He risftvd several farms 
where the wUlow* have been tested for femes, and for 
wind breaks, from two to twelve years, and report* as 
follows: 
My visit to Ogle county, Ill., was in company with gen¬ 
tlemen intimately familiar with the agriculture of the 
prairies, with the soils and seasons, the crops and modos 
of culture, We traveled many miles, and examined a 
large number of loo»II|ie* where tha willow fences are in 
use. We found a few hundred yards of fenoa 11 years 
old, tho Ur*t planted in this county, or Slate, *om« also on 
tho same farm, set during the immedis’ety subsequent 
year*-but of fences planted within the past 4 or 6 years 
particularly tbatl, 2, and 3 years old, we saw mile* upon 
mile., throughout this entire region. Thu* the oourie 
tion come* to my own miud, that where it in best known 
the willow is most highly esteem'd. Wo observed poplars 
and cotton wood, and poor powdery loeu-to, and tire yel¬ 
low willow too, all giving way to tho white willow. The 
11 year-old trees were planted *t first merely *„ a wind¬ 
break ; cutting, of finger eizo and a foot or inure in length 
bo'ng stuck in the prairie sod*, a foot apart, *o say, the 
planter. From many cutting* two or more shoot vUrting 
Irum the ground iniuthav* been allowed to grow, forss tiro 
trees now .(and, 10 to 12 treo* occupy shout 8 feet length 
in a row. Lack of time and space prevent* giving in this 
number a picturesque view of the fence, The tree* now 
stand at least 40 feet high. 1 he trunks at a height of 2 or 
3 ft *t are from 6 inches to a foot or more in diameter, and 
ri*' **ilb a uniform taper, and very straight, to the top. 
They incline a little, uniformly, showing the r (f. ct of the 
prevailing winds, but not one, that we noticed, was broken 
or had lost an Important branch, nor had one died. There 
i* one vacant space of a few feet where a pair of bar* had 
been. The land on which this row of willow* stand* is 
g"Od corn ground. On the east side it ha* be. u for several 
year* in cultivation, and now sustains a luxuriant growth 
of clover and timothy. The land on the exposed side of 
the fence ban never bren plowed, and is prairie grass, 
lamed by the grazing of cattle. In this, numerous root* 
exfeud near the surface to a distance of a rod at ba t, as 
I proved by digging, and donbtlevs they go further in 
some caves. There roots, however, were not so strong as 
to prevent plowing within say 16 feet of the fence. On 
the cultivated side, at eight fret, off, uo roots were found 
of largo size. Htill u.arcr, where the plow had been run 
closet to tho trees, matted fibre* abounded, and vorne as 
large »* one’s finger wore stretching out into tho field. 
The grass grew well within C feet. The owner of the land 
estimates that as a wind break, the influence of this screen 
is felt for several hundred paces, making the laud earlier 
and more productive, preventing tire lodging of grain, the 
blowing down of corn, etc. 
In a few places the Dunks spread apart at a height of a 
few feet above the ground, so that a man can easily get 
through, hut no farm stock could do it, and a better stock¬ 
ade would not be needed to confine a herd of elephants. 
To make it dog proof, would require only » little labor 
and a few AtaUcs. 
The appearance of the fence is attractive, the height of 
the tree* being very uniform ; ami evert when the fences 
extend over dry knolls and through “ slues," (-loughs,) 
the result only is to make the lino of the tops a lirtle less 
undulating than the ground tine, showing that ihu willows 
grow fa-ter in wet soil Ilian in dry 
On the tame farm there were some yellow willows, set 
at the same time, as we were iu formed. They had not 
made nearly to good grow th, and there were numerous 
vacant spots where trees had tlied. They were more 
branching aud crocked also. One farm which we visited 
wa* not only fenced externally, but the owner wa- dividing 
up the land into 10 to 15 acre lots, using the willow ex- 
elU'ively. Much was set on this farm lari Spring. Itwas 
well cared for, and the growth, though small wa* healthy. 
Here we raw no dead cutting*. There wa. also about an 
acre tot last Spring for timber, fuel, etc., the cuttings 
being u foot apart iu rows 12 feet spart. The ground lias 
been regu'aily worked all Summer, and the plant* look 
well, having made a growth of two aud a half to three 
feet. Some of the older fences on this (arm w ere o. igin- 
a|ly vet too loose, and the result is that in the four-year old 
hedge* spots are not infrequent where au animal might 
woi U through It hail been attempted to remedy this by 
sitting some large entting* to fill tire gap-, Yhey have 
all frilcrl. The willow ruthug mu-t have light and air • 
it will not grow in the khade of citflej weeds or older wil¬ 
lows. 
From what I have seen, ami from tho views of those 
who know most about the White Willow, I am of opinion: 
J»t ’that It will grow on all good soil, Bid in w.-t soil- 2d. 
That >n four years, it will make a fence that vv-lr turn all 
domestic animal* if it be topped at a height of four feet, 
and the tup- u-cd to strengthen the hedge somewhat , 8d’ 
Hint h f' to grow it will in A yean, or ti at o.o-r ma.oa 
fence without topping -o that 'his fence will be an • tfcct- 
uul windbirak, and after it is 9 or 10 year* (/Id, mid 
periodically the/cafrer, will furnish a large amount of 
good liicw.iod durable f. nee mbs; bill ‘I lmt if the 
plow he run once every year ur two ret h distance of a few 
trot from tlie fence*, tile roots will not iuterf'err mat. r ially 
Witli the culture or products of the soil; fiih 'That the 
roots will not send up sprouts either before or after the 
removal of the tree or stump. 
In regard to planting and fubsequent rarq, 1 consider it 
indispensable to plow several di-.p furrow* each side of 
where the cn’t tigs arc to he .et, to remote all weeds aud 
gras-, to Ir I bill two or chirr stems grow tipmi ear U pleut. 
to k-rp he ground open and will tilled th- first year, and 
to see tr at r ut t e do not hiow.e it. 'I here D no doubt of 
tire taut 'l at animals will eat It, though vvesaw no hedges 
especially p olectod from cattle, nor damage dour by tl ern, 
nor did we hear complaint in tin- re-pfr'i, but this ought 
to trial, e no one lesv careful to prevent damage to I'D young 
fences from such cause. 
M'lii’o l do not say that, of the many quick growing 
trees jin t i, edge plants, win oh arc used for timber-belts, 
shelter-belts, wind-breaks, fences, etc., on the pniiriea, the 
white willow fa cer amly best for each of the purposes of 
fence, wind-break. Jhewnod, ami timber I no.* be ic.ciliat 
it will be found to combine, tin m better than any other yet 
brought before the public Where iho willow i- known, 
and among those w ho have visited tbatpartuf the country 
where the fences n ay hr reen, I have not been able to tiud 
a man who it d not regard ita claim- id the favorable cou- 
sldtra’ion of prairie farm.rs at had well founded. 
There were many mdea of cutengs set ut the We-t last 
Spring ; wesn.v o.inie of these width bad -’nr ed well, but 
had oird during Iho drou'li, ami heard of many inure 
SUCh, In mv own opinion the fnilnre uP mum cuningg 
last rearon militat-i n<‘ ni ne against the u-e of the willow 
on the pra i cM, than the almost total failure of a corn 
crop rioeo nga n-t its continued u-e The drouth iu, ex¬ 
treme ; cm, sorghum, tobacco, and gra*s, Were much 
affected, and the early frost destroyed much of what hud 
withstood the drouth, M. C. WkU). 
