tiyii** 
iii'/i’'" '-/M 
scarcely have brought it up to its condition 
in 1860 V I come to the inquiry, Can sheep- 
lnisbaiidry be made profitable in the fu¬ 
ture? I answer, Yes. Then how? by 
“ 1 have tried the permanganate ot potasu m 
‘ foul hoof,’ in cases, and seen it tried in 
thrush in horses beneficially. The way 1 
have used it is, first wash the hoof clean, ap¬ 
ply enough of the saturated solution to cover 
feed and care, besides a supply ot valuable 
manure. Here are quick returns and good 
profits. The breed is the common grade 
Merino stock of the country, selected with 
keep out dirt,&c.; iu about forty-eight hours 
remove the rope or cloth and apply, aceord- 
and of the aptitude of cross-breeds for fat¬ 
tening readily; both sheep and lambs are 
djttp fntsbanimi. 
WOOL AND MUTTON IN AMERICA. 
Paper Bead Before the N. Y. Agricultural Society, 
Winter Session, AVmny, Fs.h. 8, 1871, hy the. Hon. 
J. R. Dodge, Department of Agriculture. 
It may not be easy to glean anything val¬ 
uable from a field so closely fed that scarcely 
a bite has been obtained since the days when 
so many were bitten by the Inlimtado ma¬ 
nia; yet, from some standpoint of elevation, 
savage wastes, avoids all tribute to civiliza- zootics are avoided. This is the predomi- 
tion and government. There should be no nant feature in New Jersey sheep farming; 
premium paid to alien industry. With the 
exception of the very finest for cloths, a 
little lustrous combing woof for a class of 
worsteds, and some of the coarsest for car¬ 
pets, we already produce all the wool re¬ 
quired tor consumption, so that every pound 
it yields a present profit and insures future 
fertility. 
Some counties in Southern New York 
and Eastern Pennsylvania pursue a similar 
course, to some extent, with similar results 
—some flocks yielding a gross increase of 
introduced for other purposes displaces a two hundred per cent, upon original cost. 
-» 1 .1 1 ♦ . • . .. _Sat *_ * ... 1_ _A V*4' n! ut,. 
pound of our own ; and one would imagine, 
that, with a continent before us, nine-tenths 
of which is unutilized by agriculture, con¬ 
taining 100,000,000 acres of herbage, yearly 
wasted, sufficient, at least, for 100,000,000 
sheep, capable of producing more wool than 
within twelve months. A flock of sixty- 
eight ewes, bought in the autumn of 1808, 
was turned upon Virginia wheat stubble, 
Q CF> Oj) 
(U>c ]JouItrn-D;iri}. 
WESTERN N, Y. POULTRY SHOW. 
Tina new Society, organized within the 
last few months, with Lewis F. Allen as 
its President, inaugurated its first, show Feb. 
14th. The display of poultry in almost 
affording a bird’s-eyc view of its inequalities, Great Britain herself is able to consume, the 
its points of verdure and succulence, its 
green valleys and still waters, l may proper¬ 
ly, ami, I hope, profitably, gather a few 
home com petition, foreigners being exclud¬ 
ed, would reduce prices to a reasonable 
level, but one remove above that resulting 
facts and present some suggestions which, if from the competition of the world. 
not altogether new, may be true and timely, 2. Another essential is the utilization of 
and suggestive of “a dollar or two” of the vast plains beyond tlm Missouri, the vnl- 
protit yet to be made upon wool. 
At the outset I shall oppose the assump¬ 
tion that sheep husbandry cannot be made 
to pay. There is neither sense nor reason in 
paying $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 for a mas¬ 
culine Infsntado at one time, and inconti¬ 
nently “taking his pelt” at a not her. An 
animal that is the main reliance for the food, 
clothing and even companionship of the 
nomadic man, and that is equally indispensa¬ 
ble to improved husbandry in its highest 
estate, cannot safely he discarded from the 
leys and slopes of the Rocky Mountain sys¬ 
tem, the savannahs of Texas, and the moun¬ 
tains of the South, in the production of 
merino wool, where uncropped herbage an¬ 
nually decays in sufficient amount, to clothe 
in comfort and elegance every human being 
on tlm Continent of North America. While 
the merino can be profitably kept, under 
more varied conditions of rural husbandry 
than other sheep, it is especially the breed 
for the border, the arid plain, the mountain 
fast ness, and I he wilderness ; ii. is the nomadic 
rural economy of any portion of this eonl,i- member ol the ovine family, a great traveler. 
nent, whether it be a section of those pecu¬ 
liar and wonderful “ desert wastes," where 
countless herds of buffaloes and illimitable 
areas of antelopes fatten, summer and win¬ 
ter, or the rich and costly acres of the Val¬ 
ley of the Mohawk. 
I propose, therotbre, to ask, and to answer 
ns well as I may, the questions—Why are 
wool prices depressed ? flow can sheep 
husbandry be made profitable in the future? 
What breeds should wc grow ? And where 
shall each be produced ? 
yet social and gregarious, frugal and thrifty— 
delighting in the depth of I lie solitudes, yet. 
never a solitaire. 
8. Almost equally essential Is the intro¬ 
duction of the clement of nnittou-with-wool 
into the improved husbandry of the older 
Slates, as a link in the chain of a wise rota¬ 
tion, and as an inseparable adjuuct of high 
farming—mutton as the product of large 
yields of the roots and grasses, obtained in 
tlm shortest period of time and in the largest 
measure of quantity, with wool as a valuable 
The reasons for the present depression of incidental, and manure as a third result, of 
wool industry are obvious, ami yet they do present intrinsic value and still greater eco¬ 
no t appear to be well understood by the importance as a productive invest- d „, 1MTT tm wttttp rRircgnr 
mass of wool growers. I wonder not that menfc Few owners of long wool flocks m PREMIUM WHITE-CRES1E 
prices arc no higher; the wonder naturally ibis country appear to understand, practical- [from the advance sheets of “ th 
should bo that our flocks are not altogether ly, the difference between fine wool and long 
banished from the pastures, and the hum of wool husbandry, forgetting that it is thedes- seeded with clover, and without other feed 
our woolen mills altogether silenced. Among tiny of the merino to be kept for wool, of the or care, over one hundred lambs were sold 
these reasons arc *—lT The excessive increase Leicester to be killed for mutton, and hold- in May of 1869 at $5 per head, realizing 
offlocks throughout the world during the ing the mutton sheep, upon barely thriving nearly" $300 above the cost, of the ewes, in 
war both on account of our own unusual rations, for the purpose of shearing once in addition to the original stock and wool on 
» i rr\i /• i i e * • IM • i 
demands and in the expectation of the pros- each year. The folly ol such a course is like 
trat ion of cotton production for an indefinite 
period. 2. The selling for a song of millions 
of Government garments, at. the dawning of 
peace, from military storehouses—200,000 
tliaL of a beef producer who should let his 
overcoats being advertised at a few dollars are simply machines for converting farm 
animals run in the stock range and expect that lie keeps 100 common owes, breeds to 
the results of stall-feeding, South-Downs, sells an average of 80 lambs an- 
The mutton breeds, like Short-Horn cattle mially at $4 each, and obtains enough for 
PREMIUM WHITE-CRESTED BLACK POLAND FOWLS. 
[from the advance sheets of “the people’s practical poultry book.] 
sded with clover, and without other feed every department was very fine, and the at- 
care, over one hundred lambs were sold tendance larger than was anticipated. It 
May of I860 at $5 per head, realizing mw financially, a decided success. This 
arly $:!()<) above the cost, ©f t,lie ewes, in g oc j et y j g perhaps, a good Illustration of 
dition to the original stock and wool on . J ’ 1 ' 
b the interest, now taken in improved poultry 
A gentleman in York Co., Va., writes me —making a bettor show at its start than 
at he keeps 100 common ewes, breeds to could have been made in the State a few 
South-Downs, sc I Is sin average ot'80 lambs an- y eara ftffo Tb< 4 breeders of poultry have 
m.ally at. $4 each, and obtains enough for most indefatigable in their efforts at 
<......1 (i, ».*.«. ..11 .A.iLano bn/onmr lit 1 i I 1 1 < till* mww** *' 
each by a single clothing firm—the quantity 
so large and the price ao low that I have 
never been able to get the official figures, 
products into meats and fertilizers, the pro¬ 
duction depending upon the regularity and 
freedom from friction with which the nm 
the recent reply being: — “ The Secretary ehiuery runs—irregular feeding,an occasional 
wool to pay all expenses of keeping, while the 
benefit received by bis land is equal to the 
interest on its value, leaving the receipts for 
lambs as interest, and profits on investment.. 
Another, in Clarke Go., Vft., tried Merinos 
of War deems it inexpedient to comply scanty supply, undue exposure to cold, or a and Oolswolds; both branches did well; 1ml 
. . .. _ ‘ . . * J . . ... . i 1 .. ..... i I.. •. ! _1.... * i m , • % r * i i . n . i . An . I it. .. 
with your request.” 3. The immense im- temperature uncomfortably high, reducing 
* . . , . _T1 .. I . I_.1.... P ii_I. __ ...-v I . . . 
portations, both of wools and woolens, iu s , , - - 
anticipation of Hie tariff, amounting in 1866 neutralizing the nutritive power of a certain w f the Cotswolds was far grentei. 
to about 70,000,000 pounds, and woolens to quantity of feed. To make mutton with the The profit of lamb raising for the butcher, 
the value of $57,115,901—little less than Uie highest, profit every pound of hay, roots, or illustrates pointedly, what might be called a 
total imports of lour preceding years of the grain fed must yield a fair result, in flesh central troth in mutton sheep management, 
-war, which Were $87,7(52,918. 4. The flocks gained. Thus, while wool growing may he to wit :—the quicker the return the greater 
of this couutrv, as of all other wool jiroduc- successful in the midst of primitive, almost the profit—or time gained is money saved.— 
ing regions, were constantly increasing up barbaric practices in culture, mutton prodtic- [To lie continued. 
inevitably the amount, of flesh produced by 
while the Merino lambs brought $2 each, the 
Oolswold were worth $4, and the prolificacy 
ing regions, were constantly increasing up 
to 1867, when cotton prospects began to re¬ 
vive, and the hopes of Australian and Bra¬ 
zilian wool growers to decline, the rate of in¬ 
crease of tlieir flocks - to full away, followed 
by despondency, the knife, the tallow, and 
flic pelt, and a quitting of the business iu 
disgust. 
The general despondency here is still far¬ 
ther increased in consequence of the instabil¬ 
ity so characteristic of agricultural enter¬ 
prise in this country. When wool was $1 
per pound, flue imported rams $5,000 each, 
and the popular enthusiasm for wool growing 
tiou Involves ait- of husbandry the most 
advanced, and a knowledge of animal physi¬ 
ology the most enlightened. But the full 
value of mutton-making, as a parL of a sys¬ 
tem of farm rotation, cannot ho determined 
with reference to its immediate returns. It 
has often happened in England, in the early 
figuring of the farmer, that turnip feeding 
lias an apparent loss, while the net product 
of four years’ rotation has resulted in a de¬ 
cided profit, which could not be enjoyed in 
the absence of the fertilizers offiahied in the 
production of meat from grass and roots. It 
[To be continued. 
i erft smart. 
NOTES P0R HERDSMEN, 
To Prevent Cows suckles* Themselves. 
J. Croker writes:— “I see in Rural 
New-Yorker, Fob. 18th, an instrument to 
improvement, and have made more progress 
iu the last ten years than the breeders of 
cattle and horses. Philander Williams, 
Taunton, Mass., carried off the honors for 
Light Brahmas and Iloudaus. J. A. Mil- 
leu, St. Catharines, Out., took many pre¬ 
miums, among which were:—First pre¬ 
mium, Silver-Spangled Jlatnburgs, a pair of 
Bronzed Turkeys, and several upon pigeons. 
J Y. Bicknkll, Westmoreland, N. Y., first, 
premium on Wild Geese, Rouen, Aylesbury, 
Muscovy, and Black Cayuga Ducks. E. P. 
Howlett, Syracuse, N. Y., first premium 
on Buff Cochins, Duck-Wing Game Ban¬ 
tams, and second on White Polands. Wm. 
Simpson, Jr., West, Farms, N. Y., first pre¬ 
mium on Blue Polish Chickens, Black-Red 
Game Bantams, Toulouse and White China 
Geese. 8. Curtiss, Buffalo, took the prin¬ 
cipal premiums on Game Chickens. Hib¬ 
bard & Ongley, Auburn, N. Y., took pre¬ 
miums on Gold-Laced Sebright Bantams, 
Jan. 1st they laid 192 eggs, and have con¬ 
tinued to lay regularly since then. One of 
them laid fitly-five eggs before wanting to 
set, and another forty-three. I have a few 
Houdaus which have also given satisfactory 
results, and they are certainly a superior 
fowl, but when closely confined do not pro¬ 
duce as many eggs as the Brahma. I keep 
about eighteen hens which supply from four 
to ten eggs per day, during the winter sea¬ 
son.” _ 
J. S. M., West Granville, N. Y., thus gives 
us his poultry experience for 1870. He says: 
“ I commenced with sixteen hens (Spanish) 
and ended with seven. I bought most of 
my feed at the mill, and paid for it. what I 
considered a high price. Number of eggs 
laid, 10814 dozen ; eggs sold, $20.36 ; chick¬ 
ens sold, $10; total receipts, $30.36. Paid 
for feed, $14,35. Profit, $16.01. Some of 
the liens were set on turkeys’ eggs, so that 
I lost the use of five for three months. My 
pullets commenced laying at, five months of 
age.” _ 
Philip Moore, Coblcskill, N. Y., writes: 
14 1 commenced 1870 with twelve liens and 
one cock, and the following is the product : 
Or. 
During tin' your, mi y lion* l»ld 2,IN!8 orkh, which, 
when sold, broilglit me Jurl , .$11.IS 
1 sold 74 lbs. ot elilokuin* ill 12'.C, 18 It, . '.1.25 
The enllro nr.K'utulH..... 1'50.10 
Whole cost. 20.58 
Making a protit. ot. 
Dr. 
11 bushels bui kwhcnt, nt. Stic. bush.$9.4(1 
H bushel uorn at. $1 V bush... 8 
2\' bushels wheat at $1,80 If* bush . 1.13 
2 bushels of wheat screeuings at $118 bush.2 
Whole cost . $23.50 
My fowls are a mixture of the Dominique 
and the more common breeds, \ always 
feed them all they will cat, and have come 
to the conclusion, after strictly keeping ac¬ 
count both of the amount of grain fed and 
the number of eggs received, that it pays to 
keep fowls and to keep them well.” 
Your correspondent, W., Jersey City, 
asks what, is the matter with his fowls, hut 
does not state when they were sick. Think¬ 
ing, perhaps, they were sick during the warm 
weather, I will tell howl cured mine,which 
were affected in pretty much the same man¬ 
ner as his. My remedy is a mixture of tinc¬ 
ture of iron and castor oil, in the proportion 
of one-quarter ounce iron to four ounces of 
castor oil, giving a teftspoonful two or three 
times, until well physicked. A friend of mine 
’ used the same mixture, and did not lose a 
chicken. 
I tried a cross of Brahma and game fowl, 
but did not like the offspring, the chickens 
, being very ugly, and as they were hatched 
late, I thought they would not, pay to keep. 
They had the markings of the Dark Brahma 
'' stock, and as I had “ fired up,” using a 
’ Brahma cock and Game hen, they were very 
' large when I killed them, being about, nine 
1 weeks old. I shall try the experiment, in the 
spring, ns the chickens grow fast, and will 
make good early spring chickens, but tlie 
cross being very roughly feathered, I do not. 
' like it for my yard.—G. F. W., Allegheny 
a City, Pa. 
wrought up to a line frenzy, the conviction should he remembered that the selling prices 
was strong within me that the nextsweepof of farmers express very inadequately, especi- 
the pendulum would usher in the era of hide ally in tins country, the difference between 
and tallow, and an inexpressible disgust lor the productive capacity ot poor and rich 
the business. The enthusiasm was as un- soils, as shown by the accumulation of a life 
warranted as the the despondency is base- time of industry uml economy, 
less. 'Hie result of this despondent feeling A French statesman (Thiers) realizing the 
is neglect of (locks, scanty supplies of feed, a influence of sheep husbandry upon agricul- 
frozen bite beneath the snow, or shelter and ture, declares, in full view of the serious 
subsistence together in the lee of a straw- competition of Australia and South America, 
stack, followed by foot-rot, scab, and all tlie that France cannot afford to dispense with 
_i_ a i. * . i . * . i * -- — . - - 
prevent cows sucking themselves. Now, if Black . Svettatetl liCl , Games, Buff Cochins, 
f \ and Houdans, D. D. F. Coon, Marcellos, 
S \ V N. Y., first, premium on one trio La Fleclio; 
/ jjT \ second on Houdans, George R. Tuttle, 
/ \ Cleveland, Ohio, first premium on Crovc- 
1 f \ \ Occurs. 
[ J \ \ These are hut few of those who took prn- 
* I 1 initials,, aud the awards seemed to give good 
DISEASES OF POULTRY, &c. 
W. C. Davis, Chicago, Ill., writes us un¬ 
der date of February 14:—“ I notice in the 
Rural New-Yorker of Saturday last., that 
you arc about to publish a work called ‘ The 
People’s Practical Poultry Book.” The 
great difficulty in poultry raising is the 
i heavy losses by contagious diseases. Does 
your book advise on these points, and can 
it be relied on? You will oblige by inform- 
diseases to which sheep flesh is heir. Is it sheep. Neither can the United States. An¬ 
si range that such sheep-masters should re¬ 
port their business unprofitable, as thousands 
have done during the past three years? And 
yet I could give instances of success, during 
all this Lime, sufficient to till a smal 1 volume, 
not only covering small numbers, but flocks 
numbering thousands, boLh iu the States and 
other means by which sheep husbandry may 
flourish is found in the market for fat and 
lino early lambs, which, at three to four 
months old, command a far higher price 
than the present average for all the sheep of 
the country. The average price of sheep, 
as estimated iu February, 1870, was $2.28 
satisfaction, and all the arrangements were big me ol the merits ot the book, and when 
orderly. These poultry shows, which are It will he ready for sale.’ 
generally so well attended, lead to the query In answer to the above queries, we will 
whether Fairs would not he more profitable state that, the author of 41 The People’s Prac- 
_^ _ ( Mr. Asti will take a thin board or shingle 
Territories. In these instances, the proprie- each, while the average for really good and make a ring like the sketch herewith 
tors were men of sense aud grit, who had lambs in all city markets was, in 1870, fully sent, and slip it on his cow’s nose, he can 
faith in tlieir business, gave their personal double that sum. hang his halter up.” 
attention to it, cured for their sheep, kept New Jersey, lying betwecni the two largest ~ ~~ ~ 
disease and discomfort and starvation far markets in the COlmtry, which feed a popu- Remedy for tani-uud-Mouc i IMscaxe, 
from them, and were rewarded for theirper- lation of 2.000,000, is famed for high prices J. F. Gigxoux, M. L)., in the Turf, Field 
sistem e ami pluck only Less liberally than in of all feeding material; and yet this branch and Farm, recommends, in the treatment ot 
the flush times ol 1864. of sheep husbandry flourishes there as iu no this disease, the use ot permanganate of pot- 
No man in his senses, and with ordinary other State in the country. Her flocks, con- ash, and claims that it has tlie tollowing ad- 
intelligence, can tail to see that the tariff of sisling mainly of cues,are yearly changing, vantages over other remedies: " 1 hough 
1867 has been the salvation of our sheep Selected in August, for tlieir thrifl.iness and applied in the form of a saturated solution, it 
husbandry—salvation from a more complete adaptation to breeding, from flocks driven onuses little or no pain; it produces as coin- 
and remediless overthrow Lhau awaited the from Pennsylvania or Ohio, and costing plete a slough as muriatic acid over the ul- 
Imsmess at the close of our war with Great from $3 to $6 per head, they are pastured in cerated part, but.docs not attack the healthy 
Britain a half century ago, when manufac- early autumn, usually served by South* portion of the hoof, an advantage which I 
luring was at so low an. ebb that in 1820 it Down rams, fed well during winter, their consider should recommend it to every one 
only amounted to the value of $4,413,068, clips sold early in spring, their lambs turned who may have occasion to use any powerful 
and in 1830 produced little more than half off in May and June at $4 to $8 each, and caustic application. Itisacompletedeodor- 
its value in 1810, and even in 1840 yielded the mothers in the meantime fattened to izer, and its action in that respect is instan- 
but $20,696,999, while the product thirty follow their offspring early in summer. tanrous. For these reasons 1 would recom- 
yenrs previously was $25,008,788. Would Thus within twelve months, fleece, lamb, mend Us use, not only in the hoof-mui-mouth 
it have been wise to have so overthrown our and mutton are converted into cash, and disease, but as well iu diseases ul a similar 
woolen industry that the year 1900 might from six to ten dollars per head received lor character in the horse and sheep*” He adds: 
if devoted to a specialty than when general. 
Few care to exhibit, poultry at State Fairs, 
because so little accommodation is given and 
so little attention is paid to them. When a 
tical Poultry Book” has endeavored to make 
his work a standard authority, not only on 
Poultry, but also a perfect Encyclopedia on 
diseases, giving, as it does, the symptoms, 
Pair is devoted to a specialty, that can he care, treatment, remedies and preventives, 
well represented, and more learned in that for all diseases of the poultry-yard known 
department than when many are represent¬ 
ed and little attention paid to either. A 
special exhibition would call out those who 
had made this ft special study, and there 
having lime tor thorough discussion, decided 
progress would be made. Our State Fairs 
need a thorough reorganization, with each 
In this country or England. Especial atten¬ 
tion and care has been paid to this depart¬ 
ment. of the book, the treatise on diseases 
occupying some seven or eight large octavo 
pages. As to the merits of the book, we 
have nothing to say, leaving that matter to 
the discrimination of the public, with the 
department placed under a competent head, simple remark that, it has been our aim and 
or committee, who should sec that every desire to make it a reliable guide on all sub- 
article belonging to that department is given jeers desired by the breeder of poultry, both 
a proper position and all grouped together, old and young, male or female. We arc in 
consider should recommend ii to every one so as to be easy of examination, instead of 
who may have occasion to use any powerful that helter-skelter disorder which has been 
caustic application. It is a complete deodor- too prominent of late years. e. w. s. 
caustic application. It is a complete deodor¬ 
izer, and its action in that respect is instan¬ 
taneous. For these reasons l would recom¬ 
mend its use, not only in the hoof-and-mouth 
disease, but as well iu diseases of a similar 
character in the horse and sheep” He adds: 
E. w. s. 
POULTRY EXPERIENCE. 
S. M. J., Clinton, Iowa, writes under date 
of Jan. 27th.:—“Lust year I experimented 
on a small scale with the Light Brahmas, 
old and young, male or female. We aru in 
hopes to have the work out by the middle 
or latter part of March at the furthest. The 
work will be fully illustrated with over one 
hundred superb and beautiful engravings, 
and the typographj' will be in the best style 
of the art. In fact, it will be, concededly, 
the cheapest and most valuable book ever 
issued in this country upon the subjects 
which it. treats, and sent by mail to any part 
with very satisfactory results. 1 procured a of the country for $1.50 per copy. We have 
The first requisite is, not thal wool grow- tlm lambs are cross-bred, partaking largely the ulcer thoroughly, put in a piece of cloth 
l-H cl.nil l.» ... 1 i /■ , , . n .. n .. _• _ . Tt;. . . 1 ..At. ..... .1 .- I I...S_ l.. 
setting of eggs and put them under the hen 
in latter part ot February. On the 18th of 
already received a large number of orders 
from all sections of the country, accompa- 
Mareli sho came off with sixcbicks. ritibse- nied with the cash, and which will be filled 
quently one was killed by rats. I had left 
three pullets and two cocks. One of the 
immediately after the work is out. A little 
patience only is required ou the part of our 
. * s '‘DWJI VIJV Il'AJXHv 'IOUUUU UIO /USVU 1 kllVIMFtty I i-I'* * 1ST All * ,J rj '*■* 4 v mwcuhmi I t ..It , 1 . I , il £ i. r n. 4 • 1 $ Ml i >11 
shall be laid at least with equal weight upon I merely keeping the vital machinery in work- I lntion or a milder one, and so on till the hoof j pullets began to lay about the first of Septem- friends, and we will guarantee they will 
the foreigner who, in the solitudes of almost ing order, and losses from old age and epi- is well.” her, the other two a month later. Up to receive more than their money’s worth. 
