j^bpy ijusbanbm 
DRIVING LAMBS LONG JOURNEYS. 
D. -I. P. writes us from Leavenworth. 
Kansas“ I shall he ready to start the sheep 
on tlicir long journey ns soon as I cun com¬ 
plete some business here and at one or two 
other points. The lambs will then average 
about three months old. Some say it will 
stunt or injure them to drive them so fur at 
that age. Is thteso V They tire a line,strong 
lot, got by the ruins i had of-and 
are consequently a decided improvement <»n 
their dams; indeed, 1 consider them worth 
more, head for head. 1 had rather put oil 
driving until fall, if necessary, though then 
I could not attend to it myself. What would 
you recommend V ’’ 
The lambs in the old Spanish migratory 
struct pens 
for the ni'dit. The migratory I ed pastures, uone of the domestic animals give it a downward shake, and most of the I shriukngc when it is kept a lit tic time. The 
* 1. 11. . ..if jt _ ill i* 11 . rri. nHA MaiMAiitm/v mou l\o iWfitiH' llOfl fl 11 fi ll f I t.V Aft TP fl 11 I If monsi,... 1 
that they will advance or stop at command. 
When they come to a stream they wait until 
directed, and then plunge promptly into the 
water and are followed by the sheep. 
We have seen a German dog so well trained 
that when his master led the flock in a one- 
horse wagon, he would follow in the rear of 
the sheep, driving them us deliberately and 
discreetly as the most prudent shepherd, but 
gathering them closer, at the order of his 
master, when circumstances required it. 
- -*■■*-+ - 
SHEEP AND MUTTON. 
Since the introduction of pleuro-pneumo- 
nia and the foot-and-mouth disease among 
our domestic cattle, there lias been an unu- 
suai demand for good mutton. When the 
latter disease was announced as existing 
Merino Hooks started from Estremadura for among us, even though only in a few loca- 
tbe mountains—a distance of four hundred 
miles—at not far from the age above-men¬ 
tioned, and returned again before they were a 
year old. We do not remember to have seen 
it mentioned by any writer that they did not 
bear the journey us well as their dams. The 
lions, we were informed that the sales of 
beef fell off by a very large per coinage, 
and that the demand for mutton rose in 
about tbe same ratio. This change has 
made many people acquainted with the 
qualities of mutton, who have heretofore 
afford a profit. As articles for home con- beyond the possibility of a doubt, will pro- scarcely be tied, they were so full. At the 
sumption and exportation, as fertilizers of duce pure Italian drones, even though sbe end of three months there was apjxwcntly 
exhausted soils, reclaimers of run-out pus- jg fertilized by a black drone. We know plenty of room for more. For curiosity 
turns, anti in other points of view, sheep bus- that many apiarians will not agree with us some of it was re-measured, and it was 
ban dry deserves to be esteemed as a chief here. But we should prefer to have all found Unit two quarts per bushel had iullcn 
branch of rural economy.— N. E. Farmer. queens fertilized by drones, reared from a away. Ibis is a loss of about seven per 
1M _ "m ' . ■— i queen which lms mated with an Italian cent. The place where the send was kept 
drone. The theory that the drone progeny was very unfavorable to waste. I here was 
mL a T.tlj’t'f TITtt of a queen is affected by the drone with no heat or wind to dry it up, and it may be 
h,- C: r U< V1WI * which she copulates, does not hold good in taken as the very lowest percentage of loss. 
____practice. . We have neither the lime or Wc have no doubt that, under other cir- 
space to give our reasons for the above cumstanccs, the loss by saving six months 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. assertion now; blit if any of the readers of may often reach as high as twenty per cent. 
„^Ti. c..i.n...11,0 Rmui.NKW-YoRKttR cteiresurcriiouM, TI.rao Hung, should he comMund by those 
T ,„c ,uet Hint could 1« ((U tilized we will do no nt mime future period, life cud who are inclined to liold on lor lire cl,am* 
In confinement who first discovered, rve lie- lienllU jicrniiliitig. ° ,l I,sti - 
lieve by Mrs. ELDKN K. TUPPER of Iowa. CnHivniltur Bee PaBtiivaitc. French Method of Rnisiuu Potatoes. 
Although other methods have since been We would not advise the cultivating of As soon as a cluster of flowers is visible, 
.i... : . T ..... i,,.. ... tkn nmol nnv nlfiiit for bee nastimure nlone. The the stem is tonned down to the cluster, so 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Fertilizing Queens in Confliieiiieitl. 
The fact that, queens could he fertilized 
in confinement was first discovered, we be¬ 
lieve, by Mrs. Et.i.en S. Tupper of Iowa. 
Although other methods have since been 
who are incliued to bold on for tbe chance 
of a rise. 
great flocks were driven in divisions of two entertained a strong dislike for it 
or three thousand, ami when passing through The benefits derived from the culture of 
enclosed lands were sometimes greatly sheep are certainly co-equal 1 
straightened for feed—so much so that they which we gain from the use of ; 
had to travel eighteen or twenty miles a day domestic animals—the ox, the 
to obtain it. They had some advantages, or the horse. Great as are tl 
but, taking everything into account, they spring from the cow, that is son 
fared milch worse than droves of sheep are principal support of the family, ( 
slice,, me ecu,inly no-iupin] will, those may expect to make even more rapnl pni- 
whlch ive fiiiin from the tise of any of our h !, * s D*ail thchieclu ol mipioved sh<*p, 
(lnmcsiin nnimiiL—the. ox. the now. swine swine, cattle, poultry, Ac. 
which we gain from the use ol any ol our 
domestic animals—the ox, the now, swine 
or the horse. Great as are those which 
spring from the cow, that is sometimes the 
principal support of the family, quite as jni- 
lieve by Mrs. Et.I.EN K. TUPPBR Of Iowa. CnlUvnilng Bee Pasturage. French Method ot Raising 1’ointocs. 
Although other methods have since been We would not advise the cultivating of As soon as a cluster of flowers is visible, 
devised, we consider hers to be tine most any plant for bee pasturage Alone. The the stem is topped down to the cluster, so 
simple and practicable for the common bee best way, in our opinion, is to keep bees that the flowers terminate the stem. The 
keeper There are other methods which enough to collect the thousands ami tens of effect is that the sap is immediately impelled 
promise to give equally as good, if not bet- thousands of pounds of honey which an- into the two buds next below the cluster, 
ter, success; hut, us yet, they have not been nually go to waste. Wc think it pays to which soon push strongly and produce am 
fully tested! When a method shall have raise certain crops, which, in addition to other cluster of flowers each. When these 
been devised that will prove successful alike their good honey qualities, also produce arc visible, the branch to which they belong 
under all circumstances and conditions, we pasturage for cattle, seed, Ac. Among these jg also topped down to then level, and tins 
may expect to make even more rapid pro- are Altfke clover, buckwheat and mustard. j s done successively.* By this means the 
gress than tbe breeder of improved sheep, Alsike clover secretes large quantities of ex- plants become stout dwarf bushes, not above 
swine cattle poultry Ac cellcnl honey, while for bay or pasture for eighteen inches high. In order to prevent 
Now for the process;—Procure some fine cattle it has perhaps no superior. Discs- their falling over sticks or strings are 
wire cloth, of not less than sixteen meshes peciully adapted to low, wet and clay so, s, stretched horizontally along the rows, so as 
keeper. There are other methods which 
promise to give equally as good, if not bet¬ 
ter, success; hut, us yet, they have not been 
fully tested. When a method shall have 
been devised that will prove successful alike 
under all circumstances and conditions, wc 
compelled to lure driven through our West- portaul may be obtained from the sheep, by 
era Suites. So far as our information and its flesh, its wool, and iIs prolific powers, 
experience go, lambs three months old will j.' or the^-wonderful advancement of New 
endure long journeys well, if properly man- England, which, in a little more than two 
aged. We have repeatedly sent them at four hundred years, has sprung from the wilder- 
monlhs old, and sometimes at three, mixed „ (>ss to one of the most wealthy and intelli- 
up with flocks numbering from twenty five gon | districts in the world, we are greatly 
to six hundred- to as remote regions as 
Georgia, Alabama, Western Texas, Ac.,— 
sometimes on railroad and ship board—some¬ 
times driven from three to live bundled 
miles, and in some cases more of the way on 
foot—and we remember no instance where 
the lambs were special sufferers. It is true, 
that we never have thus scat all the. lambs 
belonging to a Considerable flock—genera lly 
only a limited portion. We have not con¬ 
sidered it as safe to send them such long land 
and water journeys as grown sheep. But 
every experiment we have made has shown 
them capable of enduring more changes and 
hardships than would mtlurully be expected. 
We should regard some of the tests above 
alluded to, as fur more trying to lambs, limn 
would be a continuous six or eight hundred 
mile journey over our well-grassed Western 
States. 
Good management in driving a large flock 
including a large number of valuable lambs, 
would, in our judgment, embrace the follow¬ 
ing conditions. They should not ho driven 
over ten miles a day. In hot weather they 
should be driven half or more of this distance 
in the cool of the morning, and the remain¬ 
ing distance towards the close of lhe day. 
They should rest in a shady spot if practica¬ 
ble in t he heat of the day. They should not 
be driven fast at any time, hut suffered to 
feed as they go quietly and seal leringiy along 
on the grassy roadsides, avoiding the dusty 
or muddy wagon track. Further to avoid 
the latter, they should travel by grassy rural 
roads, instead of much-traveled thorough¬ 
fares. 
They should also avoid cities and villages, 
not only on the above accounts, but to pre¬ 
vent their being worried, frightened or en¬ 
dangered by dogs, teams, Ac. Much lias 
been said about the aid of a sheep dog in 
driving. A quiet, steady old dog, who will 
not overdo, may be useful. But thero is not 
a more unmitigated nuisance among sheep 
on long jimmies than nil impatient, yelping, 
snapping, Scotch eolloy constantly hurrying 
Indebted to the sheep. Tint element of pros¬ 
perity which they have afforded lias been 
mainly their wool for the manufacture!?—not 
their flesh for the family. The use of mut¬ 
ton, however, lms been steadily increasing, 
as our people learn that it is not only a most 
healthful and nutritive article of diet, but is 
acceptable to the taste. 
According to the census returns for 1K70, 
tiiere are upwards of thirty millions of sheep 
in the United States, Vermont having 997,- 
000; New Hampshire 020,000; Maine 501,- 
000; Massachusetts 119,000; Connecticut 
11S,000, and Rhode Island 84,000. The pop¬ 
ulation of the United States, in round num¬ 
bers, is 38,000,000, so that, we have a little 
less than one sheep to each inhabitant. 
From.these facts it would seem that sheep 
husbandry is inviting for the use of flesh 
l„ me inch, mu] cut out a piece twelve by wlticli do not produce flood crop, of tin 
iweifiv indies; double tin enda together, com,.,on ted clover. Buckwheat, ns is well 
and r,»l»„ will, fine wire. This gives „cage f '»lidi'cy-produemgplant, »1- 
twelve inches long by nl* in diameter, though tin honey ,« not of the DM qnnllly. 
Kaaten ,, piece of wire doth over each end, «■» «•■*»> •>». “>“»'» *"!»» «•»< '■«"*- 
SO , 1 , 1,1 it may In removed at will, and your »""> «» P”*'”** 
cage is completed. When wanted for use, 'M* n.ay he no; yet « never saw n field hut 
a piece of drone comb in the cage near wlat eagerly visited by Hie bees w hen 
one end which should he partly filled will, «• «* in »““•, ,v ««'« k « co ’" 
diluted honey, using cam not to gel it upon “'deralion it. value for Its seed alone, wo 
tin wire cloth, lest tin, queen and drones «imk tint it will pay well to rinse buck- 
should get daubed, and year designs he wheat for bee pasturage Mustard is also n 
lb vanctl favorite with the “busy liee,” and as it is a 
, , . , remunerative crop for its seed alone, pre- 
To 1m successful ,t ,8 absolutely necessary ip.h.cemenls I. cultivate lias 
that we know the dayupon which the queen , There arc, even in (he best 
emerges from the cell, bhe should not ho ■ ](K , uliUo5 UlBal firing most seasons 
taken Iron, the love nutd about the tl me > , snm;itv h„„„ y f„,,n 
when she would naturally leave to meet Urn freest and if we can manage to 
drones, which, m warm wmlher, » when arli „,, w IJas i ur „ e e „t „„el, seasons, it 
she ,s about Jt.e daysold. At Hus lime she nm> ^ j„ !tw „ rocl , clear guin.- 
should he caught an, placed the cage. ], tl{I(ER .,. A Bnfictf, Fnthmia. N. Y 
Now go lo some stock whtcli you wish to _^__ 
breed 1mm, and catch four or live (hones as B(|(|h on t'ulmrc. -Wc advise out corres- 
they are about to leave the hive to meet the pondeut, e. M. wmortT, to purchase either 
young queens- Care should be taken to se¬ 
lect drones that arc of good size and, if Ital¬ 
ians, well marked. Pul the drones in the 
without much regard to the value of the cage, and lay it upon the top bars of some 
wool. full hive, to insure necessary warmth. Re- 
It is desirable, however, that a breed place tlie cap of the hive, which should 
should be selected which would produce have an opening on one side, covered with 
both wool and mutton. A gentleman who glass for the admission of light. Examine 
lms lmd large experience both in the pro- your cage in twenty-four hours, and if a dead 
duciion and manufacture of wool, states drone is found, the queen is probably ferlil- 
timt. in Massachusetts the long wooled Eng- i/.ed. Examine her and if she shows signs 
listi ‘mutton sheep will he found the most of copulation she may he introduced to any 
profitable. He adds, the Colswolds produce stock, observing the proper precautions of 
good combing wool, good mutton and good introducing queens; or she may be given to 
lambs, and are a profitable breed. It Ox- a nucleus for safe keeping until wauled, 
ford Downs are preferred, take good care of We are aware that many have failed with 
them and tlR-y will make a faithful return, this nvetlunl, but if all the conditions are 
The Leicestors are splendid sheep—none complied with, success is reasonably certain 
belter for wool—lew surpass them for mut- in a majority of cases, 
ton. The South Downs are famous mutton 
sheep. Mr. Column, .Massachusetts Agri¬ 
cultural Commissioner to England, said, " in 
point of symmetry, weight, quality of wool, 
hardiness of constitution, and general profit¬ 
ableness to the fanner, lie had seen no sheep 
which equalled Mr. Webb's South Downs.” 
The Leicester and Merino—South Down 
and Merino—and the Oolswold and Merino, 
produce a wool which is in great demand 
for worsteds and medium cassimercs. The 
stock from these crosses will fatten at two 
LangSTRoth'S work on theTIiveand Honey Bee 
(price $2) or QUINRY'S Mysteries ot Bee Keeping 
(price $ 1 . 50 ) both of which arc excellent and can 
be had at this oflice by remitting the price named. 
■Rib jfrops. 
FIELD NOTES AND QUERIES. 
Irish Potatoes iu North Carolina. 
I wn.T. propose the best plan to cultivate 
Irish potatoes, viz: —Throw up in the fall 
heavy gray sod; after the winter freezes are 
over, plow deep and subsoil lo sixteen inches, 
and barrow until fine; then lay oft* your 
to keep the plants erect. In addition to this, 
all the laterals that have no flowers, aud 
after the fifth topping, all laterals whatsoever 
are nipped off. In this way the ripe sap is 
directed into -the fruit, which acquires a 
beauty, size and excellence unattnined by 
other means. 
||arttt (bronomm 
ECONOMICAL NOTES. 
Phosphntc* for Corn. 
In reply to L). L. Hitchcock’s inquiries, 
I would say that for years 1 have planted 
corn with a hand planter, and then dropped 
the phosphate, above the corn, and with my 
foot poke a little dirt over the phosphate. 
Last season I planted one row, dropping the 
phosphate first, and covering to the depth 
of throe or four inches with a hoe and then 
planting with the planter, which 1 can do 
at the rale of one acre per hour. This row 
was considerably above the rest of the field 
all the season. I have not used superphos¬ 
phate on other crops sufficiently to judge of 
its merits; but for corn it lias proved very 
satisfactory, never failing me. I have tried 
flour of hone to considerable extent, but 
not with so satisfactory a result. It may he 
that the hone will benefit future crops enough 
to make up what it comes short the first sea¬ 
son. I have used Bkadi.ey’s phosphate, and 
know nothing of the comparative merits of 
other brands— Ciias. A. Wakkkiki.d, 
Sail tor I lie Corn Grub. 
The Germantown Telegraph says:—“One 
of the best and most convenient remedies— 
up lhggnrds aud keeping the flock dumped years of age, and produce a carcass weigh- 
together. At any suitable drinking place 
the driver should halt and give abundance of 
time for the flock to drink. The sheep 
should be put into good, well watered pas¬ 
ture every night, and it is a safe plan to 
count them out every morning. AVe have 
always enjoined our sheep drivers not to 
lengthen or shorten their daily drive, in order 
to stop at taverns, but to put up at farm¬ 
ing about one hundred pounds, better adapt¬ 
ed to the American appetite than the pure 
Merino or either of the purely mutton va¬ 
rieties. The lambs, if not quite so largo as 
those produced by the mutton varieties, arc 
sufficiently large to give agood profit, while 
the wool is quite valuable. 
We are glad that the use of mutton has 
Itei'B in Houses. 
We would not advise the putting of bees 
in rooms in houses under any circumstances 
whatever, if any profit from them is lo he 
expected. Bees should always he kept iu 
plain, movable comb hives of the proper size, 
viz., holding about 2,200 cubic inches inside 
of the frames. All the prelection that a-hive 
needs during Lhe summer season, if it he well 
painted, as it should be, is the shade of some 
l roc, to ward off t he intense heat of the noon¬ 
day sun. 
Fiiicliiis llie Queen. 
If bees are in movable comb hives, the 
best way, in our opinion, is to carefully open 
the hive and remove the frames, one at a 
time, beginning with those at or near the 
center, and examine them as they are re¬ 
moved. She may be more readily found by 
having an assistant look for her on one side 
of the comb, w hile you are examining the 
other. If in h box hive, make an opening 
vows three feet apart, three inches deep; perhaps the very best ever suggested—is the 
cross-plow twenty-two inches, and at each application of salt as soon as the plant makes 
intersection drop a handful of well rotted its appearance above ground, prepared ami 
cotton seed, one leuspoonful of salt, half used in Ibis way: Take one part coniines 
pint leached ashes, mm tabiespooiiful fine salt and three parts plaster or gypsum, and 
flour of hone, mixed; then drop a whole apply about a tublcspoQnful around each 
potato (Early Rose best), the largest you can hill. It will be found to he a sure protection, 
obtain ; cover four inches deep, and culti- The mixture should not come in contact 
vate level with cultivator, hilling very little with the young plants, as it may destroy 
if any. Hog hair (a handful) placed on the them. This method has been tried over 
potato at time of planting would be an ad- and over again by some of I he best farmers 
vatage. Iu seventy days you will have fine of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Jersey, ami 
potatoes. In cooking, never jilaee the po- when properly applied lias never failed to 
tatoes in the water until it is boiling hot; he pcrtectly successful. I hc editm ^ 
cook quickly; and when about half done not tell us what larva he means by 1 10 
add a tabiespooiiful of salt lo ball a gallon corn grub,” but we give the foregoing t'i 
of water, and as soon as done remove from the benefit of such ot our rondos as mo 
the water and steam dry, and you will have troubled with a grub of any sorL in ihoii com 
a dish fit to set before a king.— John D. fields. 
Thorne, Littleton , N- C. 
~w - ’ 
“Temi llie Corn Late.” 
A correspondent of the Iowa Home- 
to stop at taverns, but to put up at farm- considerably increased among .us. This has other. If in u box hive, make an opening 
houses when necessary. In traveling over been greatly owing to the unprooentent iatto three or four inches iu diameter in the top of 
extensive and uninhabited regions, it is well mutton, itself, England succeeds well in her the hive, and place a box, with at least two 
to have a wagon and horses, and arrange- sheep husbandry, because all fl'OitudS of glass sides, over it. The box should have 
meuts for camping out, as well us moans to the sheep are iu quick demand. Her people an opening in tho bottom to correspond with 
fold the sheep at night. This is sometimes consume more mutton tlmu beef. Ex peri- the one in hive. Close all other openings in 
done by stretching wide sacking or other meats show that mutton is not only more the hive, that the bees may not escape, and 
cloth round an enclosure of stakes. nutritious, but digests and assimilates with . with a couple of light sticks commence rap- 
Driring over uninclosed country, good dogs the system more easily than any other meat, ping on the sides of the hive. Waleli the 
are a great convenience, By tho old Snan- A carefully drawn report on this subject box closely, and generally among the first 
bees that enter it you will see tbe queen. 
Queens by IHnil. 
The two past years has demonstrated to 
Thorne, Littleton , N . C. civillzimr n Muck M tu sh. 
** A. B. Hubbard: —The marsh you speak 
“Temi the Corn Late.” of if drained and thoroughly exposed, by 
A correspondent of the Iowa Home- plowjng( l0 SUtt nm l air this summer, mid to 
stead says sensible words, as follows:— f rost n ext winter, should be planted to corn 
tc rr> -i __ _ “ . i d -...lilt 
arc a great convenience. By the old Span¬ 
ish mode, the mayoral or chief shepherd trav¬ 
eled at tho head of the flock, leading it by 
means of some wethers taught to feed from 
liis hand, and in all cases to conic at his call. 
Other shepherds with dogs flank mul follow 
says: 
When our runners tinfi lhe for srond 
muil' ii iiicrca.-ing nccorUiiig to llidr exci uoiib 
to make it goo*I — Mint they can raise it cheaper 
up. This is all bosh ; the biades will open 
as the sun recedes behind the tree tops, and 
your corn will grow apace. If you abandon 
your corn early, that inevitable late crop of 
weeds and grass will come upon your land 
like a cloud, and in jdace of corn you will 
reap nubbins. Therefore, wc say, temi your 
land late, and crowd it with a few tons of 
turnips, by having the late weeds and grass 
exterminated, your ground in a mellow con- 
,Ilium {mil fiou’imr t.lmrcoil ft few DOUIHIs of 
the flock to guard it from wolves. This last ^ andlSidth o™oivboiJ U,at docs 1101 re( * mre more U,an «’ x or sev<m turnip seed about the 20th of August.” 
is the vocation of the dogs. They have community ns well as themselves. days to perform t he journey. Many, how- 
nothing to do with driving. Asses or mules One other consideration which we would ever, prefer to have them sent by express. Shrinkage «i Gram. 
carry a few necessaries for the shepherds, urge upon New England fanners is, that ltemovins Bern from Combs. Forney’s Press says : A\ e li.u e lccrnt- 
and stakes and ropes made of rushes to con- wherever lauds are not too cosily for extend- Hold each end of the frame iu the hand ; ly had an instance of a great loss oi giain iy 
A shea on (irks* 
Wour.n yon recommend applying whes to 
grass lauds by sowing broadcast m tuo >• j 
after the crop is nff? Soil, clayey foam ami 
the meadows are old. bo asks a, t • 
spondee!.. We certainly do recommend - ■ 
application; and the umount per acre m.j 
be twenty-five to two hundred bushels. 
Wliul !» Mack. 
A CORRESPONDENT of the IUjRAB DEW 
Yorker asks ns what, wc mean by 1 
it is used in this department of <>iu l’ ,l l , „ 
we mean “black mud from swamp ‘ 
We do. We mean lhe decayed W e tu 
matter which is found in swamps ami 
marshes. 
