Exmoor ewes will lamb earlier than the 
time mentioned by Mr. Kino if required eo 
to do. Mr. Stranger says “ The lambing 
season begins in January, and continues 
through February and March ; early lambs 
arc generally the best for rearing.” Some 
other points of management are particular 
ised in ” Dixon’s Prize Essay on Mountain 
Sheep,” published In 1860. He says :—” The 
original Exmoors milk better than the ‘Im¬ 
proved,’ and old ewe* especially. There are 
instances of ew es rearing three lambs well 
after the first fortnight. The ewes are always 
brought down to the lower ground to lamb, 
and get a few turnips und oats; and then 
come in again from the hills in November to 
the poorest inclosed lands. They are put to 
the tup at two years old, and are generally 
drafted after three crops of lambs, though 
some old favorites go on far longer.” There 
Is a demand ful‘ the draft ewes of the Exmoor 
just as for those of the Dorset breed, to bear 
lambs for fattening in other purls of the 
country, to answer which purpose more ef¬ 
fectually they are tupped with Leicester 
rams. The same cross is also freely resorted 
to for rearing purposes, as, whenever the 
land is a little better, the west country cross¬ 
breds are kept, generally obtained from Ex¬ 
moor ewes and Leicester rams ; and a great 
many small farmers even of the hill districts, 
not having a large run of common, find it 
more profitable to keep this kind instead of 
the pure Exmoor. Divert, alluding to this 
matter observes “ They (the Exmoors) hold 
their own on the purely lull districts • but 
since the Commons Inclosure Act many 
farmers have crossed theni with the Leicester. 
A larger sheep has been secured, but at the 
expense of stamina and number*. These 
‘knolls,’ as they are styled, are generally 
without horns. Ewes of the sort liuve been 
kansas Rivers, which in time will add largely grown, and makes a fence impe 
to the productive power of our farms and anything larger than a rabbit, and c 
aid materially in keeping up their fertility, or nothing for care or repairs when 
The climate is temperate and healthful, tablished. 
while being such as to incite and permit the Of minerals the principal are con. 
greatest activity. The springs arc of mod- gypsum, which are each found in ij 
erate length, March and April being much able quantities. Coal mining is bei 
less subject to storms than the samo months cuted very successfully in many cou 
east of the Mississippi we are enabled to do salt is being manufactured quite ex 
more farm work in a given number of weeks, in Saline county. As yet no one ha 
May ordinarily gives us more rain than our upon the conversion of gypsum jnt 
eastern neighbors have, rapidly advancing of commerce. A beautiful variega 
vegetation. June, July and August also ble has been found in Bourbon coun 
give us more rain (as is shown by the meteor- Manufactures of woolen goo< 
ologioal reports of the Agricultural Depart- wagons, carriages, stove, quartz n 
ment covering a period of ten years) than chinory, agricultural implements, 
have any of the States lying north of the 
37th parrallel of latitude. As these urc the 
months when nearly all crops grow and 
practically mature, the presence or absence of 
the requisite moisture is of vital importance, 
while an excess in other months may readily 
be dispensed with. The meteorological re¬ 
ports named above show that the four 
months of May, June, July anrl August give 
a (agregate) yearly average of 19.19 inches 
for Kansas and 17.21 inches for New Jersey, 
which is the next lughest amount for a State 
lying as far north as Kansas. Some of the 
States bordering on the Gulf of Mexico show 
a higher average. 
Here are a few facts which ut once destroy 
the theory of those who say that the clim¬ 
ate of Kansas is too arid for a mixed hus¬ 
bandly. The simple truth is that Kansas 
when but in her infancy suirered (as all sec¬ 
tions do at times) from a severe and protract¬ 
ed drouth, and her people being poor, suffer¬ 
ing resulted. This visitation has given the 
State a bad name, and, us 1 have shown, 
moat undeservedly. I am prepared to show 
tick and its eggs. The decoction is poured 
into a narrow, deep box, which has an in¬ 
clined shelf on ono side, covered with a 
grate, as shown in the cut. One man holds 
the lamb by the fore-legs with one hand, and 
i with the other elnsjm the nose so as to pre¬ 
vent any of the fluid from entering the nos¬ 
trils or mouth ; another holds the lamb by 
the hind-legs, and they then entirely immerse 
it. in the fluid. It is immediately taken out, 
placed on the grate, and every part of its 
wool carefully squeezed. The grated shelf 
conducts the liquor back into the box. In 
default of a dipping box, two tubs may be 
used. After dipping the lamb in one it is set 
on its feet in the empty ono, its wool squeezed 
out, and the liquor returned to the dipping 
tub as often as is necessary. 
Mr. Thorne informs me that he mixes 
whale oil with the tobacco water, until the 
latter is considerably thickened by it; and 
lie thinks this renders the wash beneficial to 
the fleece. 
A LETTER FROM TEXAS 
CONCERNING KANSAS 
ners. I do not find any bad feeling hereto 
us, but everybody seems glad to have people 
come in and settle up the country, more so 
than in any place I have yet been since I left 
New York! What will pay in Texas is what 
I want to state. First, there is not such a 
stock country in the world—I mean all kinds 
of stock, horses; cows, sheep and hogs. A 
little money so invested will soon grow out a 
fortune. Blooded stock Is what Texas just 
now needs, and what will pay best. 1 hoard 
before I came that Texas was no fruit coun¬ 
try. It is a mistake. 
1 have seen as fine fruit grown here as I 
ever tasted, viz.: peaches, plums cherries, 
summer apples, pears, figs, pomegranates,etc. 
I It is a great vegetable country. Fruit cul- 
| lure just now would bo a splendid business. 
A few are at it and making it pay. First 
class mechanics can get rich here. Texas is 
greatly needing them. Dairying will pay, 
and alio bee culture. 
There are certain diseases which I think 
Texas climate will cure. I judge so because 1 
see little or none of it here—viz.: rheuma¬ 
tism, liver complaint and lung diseases. I 
have hoard a great many say they have got 
well of these after they liuve been here two 
or three years • also, asthma, Texas iB filling 
Up fast. I think hundreds of thousands 
would come if they knew matters were as 
they are here. It is a good country, lands 
rich, cheap ; climate healthy and pleasant, 
and people very civil and hospitable. I find 
nothing wrong. Railroads are hieing built all 
over the State. If this will do any good you 
can publish it. I am no writer, but I have a 
good heart and may do somebody some good. 
Hallettavilte, Tex. I. Rhoukb. 
SHEEP-DIP FOR TICKS, 
In your last 1 see something pertaining to 
sheep-dip its dangerous effects, &e., when 
made of arsenic and other poisons. When I 
saw the heading I was in hopes to find some 
means by which to rid sheep of ticks, but in¬ 
stead only found a caution not to use such 
nostrums, which is all very well, but many 
sheep farmers would like to know just how 
safely to rid sheep of those pasts. There is 
an agricultural paper of pretty high standing, 
advertises that they will supply us with, 
sheep-dip by which they will lie able to ac¬ 
quire a little means for a nostrum. Now, 
I think all nostrums and uuknown medica¬ 
tion of all kinds, sliould be Scrupulously 
avoided by every intelligent person whether 
for man or beast. Can you tell us what will 
do the work safely ? iv, e. 
Yes, in answer to the last question. By 
the way, in our issue of April 26, last, we did 
give directions for dipping sheep to get rid of 
ticks. Wo give herewith directions in full as 
given in the Practical Shepherd (for sale ut 
the office for $2), 
. , _ ’ seaboard States. Our winters are ordinarily 
i ^ I * ’ a . ,n< USU , re , Un short, mild and dry, favorable to health, and 
rnti’'!' ' S 'ri- Ul ! iUS " eutl bling us to winter our live stock of all 
“ U1, a f a\ is Jdodg with a comparatively small expendi- 
] aS "r- \ inar ’ ni . < ’ turc of forage and labor. It is an extraor- 
10,1 ^ vl iI,,Ui = dinarily severe winter when store cattle re- 
j fi ll ung of artesian q U j w m0 re than one hundred days’ feeding, 
va t r neoessaiy oi and they are often wintered in the Southern 
>y wind-mills—wind half „ f thc gfcato with lesB th:m * halr thig 
ion t c p ains. amount of feeding. The entire absence of 
ding from the. 98th swamps and marshy lands is conducive of 
’ountains, and from health. Pulmonary diseases arc but little 
latitude to the con- known and but rarely originate in the State, 
lapted only to graz- Tho region now embraced within the limits 
already arrived at of the State of Kansas was first thrown open 
this so-called desert to settlement in 1854 by the passage of the 
.1 section of the Re- Kansaa-Nebraska act. 
or t hat portion of The experience of these eighteen years has 
Sth meridian, is un- been such as to demonstrate that the soil and 
al country; and it is climate are such as to produce in all their 
racing an area of perfection the crops usually grown in the 
s, which is usually temperate latitudes on this continent. One 
at portion of the hazards nothing in saying that there is no 
bed even here is area of equal extent better adapted to the 
And in reading the production of Indian corn, or that there is 
Kansas please bear no country east of the Rocky Mountains that 
aly to so much of produces greater yields of wheat, barley, rye 
e 98th meridian. or oats per acre. The State is too young to 
is that of a some- have extensive orchards or vineyards, but 
ng between valleys whenever planted sufficiently long all vario- 
of the uplands is ties of fruits have yielded as abundantly as 
mough so to effect in nny other portion of our country. 
r in rare instances Blue grass (Poa pratensis) succeeds quite 
i the soil to wash as well on our fertile, calcareous soil as it does 
ration. The soil of in Kentucky, and wherever introduced 
It. is by Mr. Randall and 
is the practice of our best shepherds:—A 
very ticky flock of lambs cannot he kept in 
good order, and when they become poor and 
weak, toward spring, these destructive par¬ 
asites rapidly reduce them lower and render 
it extremely difficult to save their lives. 
FROM MANISTEE, MICHIGAN, 
There are some very remarkable features 
in this country. The soil, on the average, is 
Ax* vmo ijuuuw j » xuu avu, uji unc avci ac. 
a sandy loam ; and what seems so remark¬ 
able is, that a climate so far north, should bo 
so much like New Jersey. I saw a cherry 
tree in the garden of Mr. Eaton, in Grand 
Traverse Co., in September lust, from which 
the early fruit had been picked, but there 
were on the tree ripe fruit, half developed 
fruit, and blossoms. Gardens are frequently 
made in the fall, where people wish to get 
potatoes, peas, onions, &c., very early. 
Fruit is indigenous. All the smaller fruits 
are found in lavish quantities in this garden 
of nature’s own planting. The Grand Trav¬ 
erse Horticultural Society holds exhibitions; 
beside our own fruits, pears have been ex¬ 
hibited from Canandaigua, N. Y. There 
wus no perceptible difference in size or flavor, 
but the pears of this region had a more rich 
and beautiful appearance. In grapes, the 
only difference was. New York grapes were 
earlier than ours., Peaches grown here have 
as rich a flavor—and perhaps a richer—than 
those grown in New York ; and a more deli¬ 
cate appearance. The peach crop has not 
failed here ns vet. 
All the little towns along the shore are 
doubling in population yearly. The country 
is fast settling. The people who are taking 
the homesteads, as a rule, are people of small 
means, and need encouragement. 
The timber along the water courses is pins 
and hemlock ;—back is maple, beech, elm, 
basswood, iron wood, birch, ash, cherry, &<■■ 
No cases of fever and ague are to be found 
in the Grand Traverse region except when 
people come in with it in tlieir system. The 
water of the numerous interior little lake> is 
so clear that the pebbles may be seen on the 
bottom 80 feet below the surface. The snows 
are deep, but the winters are mild. The 
meterological tables show a warmer climate 
for the Grand Traverse region, than for 
Monroe Co., New York. 
soon 
kills out the native grasses, which are most 
luxuriant in their growth and very nutritious. 
I hazard the prediction that the census of 
1880 will place the State of Kansas first as a 
wool and beef producing State. 
Kansas is well watered, having many large 
streams which, with their numerous afflu¬ 
ents, penetrate every county and township. 
Springs abound, and wells affording ample 
supplies of pure water are everywhere at¬ 
tainable by digging from twenty to fifty 
feet. 
Timber, which is quite abundant along the 
Missouri, Lower Kansas and some of the 
other rivers, is scarce in many sections; al¬ 
though all the streams are skirted by belts of 
oak, ash, walnut, cottonwood, etc. This 
scarcity of timber is, in a very great measure, 
compensated for by the exigence of coal, 
which imderlies a very large portion of the 
State, as also by ledges of limestone and 
sandstone, which, cropping out in every 
township in the State, afford an abundance 
of the best material for building and fencing. 
Stone, lumber, rails, wire and Osage Orange 
are all used for enclosures, the last being by 
far the cheapest and best. It is most easily 
Ticks are found on all sheep in neglected 
flocks, but the heat and cold, and the rubbing 
and biting to which they are exposed on new 
shorn sheep, drive them to take shelter in the 
long wool of the lambs. Here they are so 
readily exterminated, that it is as much of a 
disgrace as a loss to the flock-master to suffer 
them to remain in a breeding flock. About 
a fortnight after shearing, every lamb should 
be dipped in a decoction of tobacco strong 
enough to kill the ticks. The last point can 
be readily settled by an experiment on a few 
of these insects. The rule used to be to boil 
5 lbs. of plug tobacco (after chopping it flue) 
or 10 lbs. of stems for a hundred late Saxon 
lambs. The larger, earlier and longer fleeced 
lambs of the present day require more —say 
6)4 lbs. or 7 lbs, The decoction is used cold 
