•beep Iptsbatibrij. 
H. 8. HAND ALL, LL. D., EDITOR, 
Of CoRTi.ANn Village, Cortland Cootv, New York. 
WOOL GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION. 
Why Hie Calls for the Meetinas are De¬ 
layed— The Tnriff and Congress. 
The official call for a meeting of the 
National Wool Growers’ Association is de¬ 
layed for the following reasons. The only 
important questions specially affecting the 
wool interest which are yet publicly known 
to be before Congress or the Executive, arc 
the questions of sustaining the wool tariff, 
and of renewing the Reciprocity Treaty 
with Canada- On both these subjects the 
National Wool Growers* Association stands 
committed by repeated official resolutions; 
and last winter the President of that Asso¬ 
ciation caused copies of these resolutions. 
tions to Congress, which wc promised some 
weeks since to issue. We were not then ap¬ 
prised of those facts, and of some other im¬ 
portant facts w hich will in due time he placed 
before the public. The petition cannot be 
framed precisely to meet the case, until our 
friends and enemies in Congress to some ex¬ 
tent disclose their programmes—so that we 
shall know what measures to petition for and 
what ones to remonstrate against. It is not 
now, in our judgment, expedient or safe to 
continue to oppose all changes in the tariff, 
until wc learn definitely what the proposed 
changes are, and the grounds on which they 
are proposed. Were we compelled now to 
give the form of a petition, we should so word 
it, substantially, as to ask that the present 
rate of duties and all the other essential fea¬ 
tures of the law he retained, and no changes 
made in it except such as would manifestly 
tend better to carry out its original intent 
and objects. Such a petition would lack 
definiteness. Investigations are now being 
pushed on which, together with the move- 
together with copies of the resolutions o! . _ „ , . . ... 
l & . 1 , , , , ments m Congress alluded to, will soon, we 
the same import passed by the National As- . ,, a 
. - e\xr , ,, ; . , , ,• trust, allow the wool growers to speak defi- 
soc ation of Wool Manufacturers, to be for- » b 1 
warded to the President of the United States 
and every member of both branches of Con¬ 
gress. The .-imilar resolutions of the dif- 
erent. State Associations have also been 
given the fullest notoriety. There is not a 
member of the United States Senate or 
House of Representatives who does not 
know that the wool growing interest of the 
country stands a united phalanx on these 
questions. Therefore there would be no 
particular use in the National Wool Grow¬ 
ers’ Association meeting now merely to re¬ 
affirm its positions on these subjects. And 
a later meeting would not, only serve as 
well for the transaction of all routine busi¬ 
ness, but would enable the Association to 
take action on some new questions of im¬ 
portance to the wool interest, which arc 
likely to come before Congress. 
It is known to all our readers that the 
(House) Committee of Ways and Means is 
charged with the duty of revising the gen¬ 
eral tariff. We learn that it is expected to 
report not far from the fifteenth of January. 
The Committee is understood to be about 
equally divided on the subject of protection, 
and it is believed that in some cases the 
question will turn on a single vote. We do 
not understand that the wool duties are in 
more danger than others; and if the Chair¬ 
man of the Committee (Gen. Schknck of 
Ohio,) gives those duties his support, there 
‘is probably no danger that they will ho 
reported on unfavorably. We know nothing 
of Gen. Sceenck’s present views on the 
subject except, so far as they are indicated 
by his past action. Judging from this, and 
from the fact that he is one of the repre¬ 
sentatives of the great wool producing State 
of Ohio, we cannot for a moment believe 
that he will assist, by assisting in lowering 
the rate of duties, to give an annihilating 
blow to this already depressed industry. 
With a favorable report on the present scale 
of wool duties, we must take our chances 
amongst the stormy currents of Congress. 
On the whole, we consider these chances 
favorable, if we (the growers,) do our whole 
duty. 
But we chance to know that strong efforts 
have already been made to induce the Com¬ 
mittee of Ways and Means to recommend 
certain amendments to the law, designed, it 
is claimed, the better to carry out its original 
intent and objects. And we think that some 
of the friends of the law in the Committee— 
i. e. friends of its scale of duties and other 
essential features—are disposed to favor at 
least one such amendment. If they do so, 
it will doubtless pass the Committee and be 
recommended to Congress. Is it not the 
duty then of the wool growers also to seek 
for any such amendments as are necessary 
to carry out the original objects of the law 
on their side? Wo think it is. 
The friends of t he wool tariff will have a 
much better view of the situation, and of 
what course generally and in detail It is 
most expedient for them to adopt, after the 
report of the Committee of Ways and Means 
is made to Congress and after the issues of 
the campaign begin to open up. A meeting 
of the National Wool Growers’ Association, 
assembled before that period, would be corn- 
trust, allow the wool growers to speak defi¬ 
nitely. 
Again we say we fear nothing, if the wool 
growers of the United States will do their 
duty. What is that, duty? It. is to make 
themselves heard and felt in Congress. It is 
to show to Congress and the country the 
justice of them cause, and their deep and de¬ 
termined earnestness in sustaining it. It is 
to show all that a great and leading Ameri¬ 
can industry—the production of one of the 
most important staples and an absolutely in¬ 
dispensable staple of life—now hangs on the 
verge of destruction, because we have a class 
among us who are unwilling to tax foreign 
producers as much as our own people are 
taxed for the use of our markets. The farm- 
ers of our country are not asked to con¬ 
tribute great sums of money, like the free¬ 
traders, to support editors and papers, and 
fill the country with lecturers and tract dis¬ 
tributors. 
But they are asked, when the proper period 
arrives, to be ready to act promptly and to 
spend time enough to accomplish the above 
objects. Every one of them can afford time 
to attend ft wool growers’ meeting with his 
neighbors, and a day or two, if need be, in 
circulating petitions. If we are so sluggish, 
stupid, lifeless, and contemptibly indifferent 
to our own interests as to he unwilling to do 
thus much, wc shall probably be beaten, and 
we shall deserve to he beaten. Those who 
will do nothing to help or protect themselves 
must not, however just their cause, expect 
the help, or respect, or sympathy of others. 
And Congress is the last, place for such tame 
and spiritless sluggards to look to for assist¬ 
ance. 
But, though we feel hound to state clearly 
the result of such inactivity, we by no means 
anticipate an exhibition of it pending the 
coining contest in Congress. We expect to 
see the farmers of the principal wool grow¬ 
ing States moving firmly shoulder to 
shoulder, as they moved in 1866-67; and wo 
accordingly expect they will not be defeated. 
-♦ »» 
The English Shepherd. There Is not one farm 
In England of any magnitude but has a shep¬ 
herd ; he ts a set part of the establishment. The 
Bhopherdand his dog are as certain to be met 
with as the carter and his plow-boys; and tf tho 
former wfte dismissed and the flock sold off any 
amble farm, there would booh t>c no occasion 
for the services of the, carter and his teams. It. 
is the flock which keeps up the fertility of I ho 
soil, as on amble farms the fat sheep are sold In 
the spring or early part of the summer, generally 
In spring, the animals arc most, numerous in 1 he 
winter, and It Is the cut ing of tho root crops on 
the land which stimulates and enriches all tho 
light soils in tho Kingdom. Any farmer who 
should attempt, to farm plowed land without 
the shepherd and t he flock, would be certain to 
bring his land into an impoverished state. It 
behooves smartinvetiUve men in America to set 
about, making sheep pons which would give 
shade in summer and shelter in winter, devising 
means to follow the renovating system of sheep 
husbandry as conducted in Great Britain.— 
O. G., in Country Gentleman.. 
- +++ - 
Hair Growing into the Eyes.—P. C., Bath.— 
The ease you mention of “a sheep's eyelids be¬ 
ing so formed as to turn the eyelashes in upon 
the ball of the eye,” is not “unprecedented.” 
Wo have seen a number of Merino sheep in that, 
predicament. The result is painful Irritation 
and ultimate blindness. If the eyelashes are cut 
off, their short, stiff stuhs ns they grow out again 
-fhtrir. 
% 
POULTRY TALK. 
first Breeds, Feeding, Cleanliness and Care 
of Houses. 
In a recent conversation with a few friends, 
the question was asked, “ What breed of 
fowls are now taking the preference?" This 
broadskled question is often asked—broad- 
sided, because we may as consistently ask 
what breed of horses are the best, without 
specifying whether we want draft horses or 
old trotters. We, Yankee fashion, under¬ 
took to reply to the inquiry by asking, For 
what particular purpose? For laying, sit¬ 
ting, for market, winter layers, summer lay¬ 
ers, or do you want a fowl possessing all the 
good qualities, without any bad ones? 
“ Yes, all combined,” was Hie reply. 
Now, no one individual possesses all of the 
graces. Each one is blessed with more or 
less, but no one with all of them. Variety 
characterizes all of God’s works, both ani¬ 
mal and vegetable—all of the works of na¬ 
ture and mankind. 
When Noait of old entered the ark he 
took with him of “every kind”—and this 
implies a great variety. Then why may we 
not conclude that, this variety -was expressly 
designed to accommodate the various cli¬ 
mates on the face of the earth. That the 
“kind” intended for the South will not 
thrive so well at tho North, and rice versa. 
“E.” expressed Ids opinion, based on ex¬ 
perience, that poultry would not thrive if 
confined in a limited space with free access 
to food. This is an established fact, 'i he 
greater the range the better. And it is just 
as impracticable to keep feed before them as 
it, is to keep ourselves, our horses, cows, 
pigs, &e., in the same way. It is a golden 
rule I hat over-feeding is a much more fruitful 
source of disease and failure in poultry 
keeping than all other causes combined. 
Over-feeding produces barrenness, stupidity, 
apoplexy, causes fowls to eat feathers and 
eggs, and induces mischief generally, just, as 
an idle, over-fed horse will take to cribbing, 
and thus injure himself more than by over¬ 
work. 
Farmer “ A ” passed by with his team 
very much the worse for lice, which was the 
stepping stone to a brief discussion. The 
general impression seemed to be that hens 
are always lousy, and there is no need of 
using any precaution. The trouble with 
lice may he dispensed with if the fowls are 
kept clean. “ An ounce of prevention is 
worth a pound of cure,” and cleanliness is 
the ounce of prevention. """ 
C. said that lie cleaned his hen house but 
once a year, and this is the sad experience 
of many. Instead of an annual cleaning, 
all drippings and dirt should be removed, 
certainly once a week, and twice is better. 
The best inside finish for a poultry bouse, 
however humble, is lath and plaster. This 
admits of its being easily and thoroughly 
cleansed and lime-washed very much better 
than ceiling, which affords the best harbor 
for vermin. Geo. K. Hawley. 
GIon’s Falls, N. Y. 
- ♦+-* - 
BIRMINGHAM POULTRY SHOW. 
performed for humanity’s sake alone, if for 
no other reason. 
The old-fashioned way of plucking the 
living geese is a torture; and if there can be 
a more humane way devised, which will 
accomplish the same end, wc see no good 
reason why it should not be put into prac¬ 
tice. In reading a late English magazine 
we observed the following reasons given 
why geese should he sheared in preference 
to being plucked,— the proper time for per¬ 
forming the operation, Ac., which struck us 
as being sensible advice to breeders. The 
article referred to says: 
“ Feathers are but a year’s growth, and 
in the moulting season they spontaneously 
fall off, ami are supplied by a fresh tleece. 
When, t herefore, the geese are in full feather, 
let the plumage be removed, very dose to 
the skin, by sharp scissors, clipping them off 
as sheep are shorn; they will he renewed at 
moulting in the usual course of nature. 
The produce would not he much reduced in 
quantity, while the quality would be very 
much improved, and an indemnification he 
experienced in the consciousness of not 
having tortured the poor bird, in the unin¬ 
jured health of the fowl, and I Lie benefit 
obtained in the succeeding crop. After this 
operation shall lntve been performed the 
down from the breast may be removed by 
the same means.” R. O. Chester. 
Monroe Co., N. Y„ 1870. 
-- 
FOWLS vs. WORMS. 
M. Giot, the French entomologist, has 
lately found new employment for fowls. He 
says that French farmers have, during the 
past year, complained bitterly of the preva¬ 
lence of worms which infest corn and other 
crops—the highest cultivated fields being the 
most infested. Fowls are known to bo the 
most indefatigable worm destroyers, pursu¬ 
ing Iheir prey with extraordinary instinct 
and tenacity. But fowls cannot convenient¬ 
ly be kept, upon every field, nor are they 
wanted there at all seasons. Therefore, M. 
Giot has invented a perambulating Ibwl- 
houso which is described as follows: 
“Tic has large omnibuses fitted up with 
perches above, the nests beneath. The fowls 
are shut in at night, and the vehicle is drawn 
to the required spot, and, the. doors beiug 
opened in the morning, the fowls are 1^-t out 
to feed during the day in the fields. Know¬ 
ing their habitation, they enter it at night¬ 
fall without hesitation, and roost and lay 
their eggs as well as in any other house.” 
The plan is said to answer admirably in 
every respect in the old country, and it would 
undoubtedly prove also beneficial in this 
country. Let farmers give it, a trial, and re¬ 
port their experience through the columns of 
the Rural. 
■ - 
Hen Enclosures. One of your correspondents 
incidentally spoke of an enclosure for thirty 
hens. Will you give us the proper dimensions 
for such an enclosure,—one In which thirty fowls 
will thrive. My fowls about one hundred—-do 
me so much damage running: at largo that. 1 must 
reduce the number and yard them. My idea is 
to reduce the number to about twenty or thirty, 
and have an enclosure of sultleient dimensions 
to allow them to bo kept: up for a week or ten 
days or more, at a time at certain seasons; and 
at. Other seasons to keep thetnup until tlienfler- 
noon when they will not have time to wander 
far and yet into mischief, it. C. 0. 
- The larg'd' the enclosure the bettor for tho 
The London Field has a long account of hens. In how small a space thirty hens can bo 
> great poultry show just held at Birming- profitably kept wo cannotsay. Let those having 
IV/im iutitr.1i „rn nvli’-u-t tlm CXpC'l iCMCi I* plj. 
. ..... .-„ produce increased irritation. It seems to bo 
pelled to act m a measure m anticipation of hy a natural malformation of the lids, 
circumstances not then disclosed and per¬ 
haps not then existing. Such action would be 
likely to be very incomplete and unsatisfac¬ 
tory. As to having two meetings, it would 
probably not be very agreeable for the mem¬ 
bers of the Executive Committee to travel 
three, five, or eight hundred miles, more 
than once, without a necessity therefor which 
does not exist. We have consulted with 
some of the members of the Committee in 
each State, aud they generally approve of 
the delay, We should have consulted with 
all, had our time aud engagements permitted. 
For the same reasons given above, we 
deem it expedient to delay calling the meet¬ 
ing of the New York State Wool Growers’ 
Association beyond the usual period. 
The preceding facts also explain why we 
have nut yet issued the avocI growers’ peti- 
and, so far as we are awn re, adtnit.3 of no remedy, 
unless it should be by a nice surgical operation. 
The only profitable operation of this kind would 
be the drawing of a knife across tho throat. 
-- 
Crossing Merino ami Coi.nvold Sheep.—J. CAR- 
SEL, Crestline. Ohio, writes: — “ I see your re¬ 
marks in Rural concerning crossing fine ewes 
with aCotswold mm. 1 am u stock raiser, and 
have tried it. I have had no trouble with the 
ewes at lambing time. My lamb* are large, With 
a nice white fleece of good length and clear of 
nasty Merino gum. I would recommend tho 
cross highly to sheet* breeders.” 
--- 
Sheep In Ohio.— An Ohio correspondent of the 
Ohio Farmer says:—“A good many shoc-p are 
being fed in this neighborhood- Some are feed¬ 
ing wheat to largo wethers and expect to realize 
well out of it. For my part, I am very partial to 
sheep, and can make us much by buying good 
ones of my neighbors, and feeding them, as 1 
made when wool was tho leading object.” 
the great, poultry show just held at Birming¬ 
ham, England, from which we extract the 
following items of interest to poultry breed¬ 
ers ia this country. The Field says:—“ The 
show in many respects was inferior to last 
year. The number of entries was 3,453 
against, 3,747 last year. The Cochins num¬ 
bered three hundred pens; Dorkings, thirty 
pens, of which many were really superb 
hnvis. The show of Dark and Light Brah¬ 
mas was the best ever seen at Birmingham. 
The Polands have made a great step in ad¬ 
vance from last year’s show. Several varie¬ 
ties of Game fowls were shown, among 
which were over a hundred pens of Game 
Bantams. Among the French breeds shown 
the Creve-Cojurs took the lead. The Span¬ 
ish fowls were inferior, and seem to degen¬ 
erate. A good show of Malays was made. 
Rouen ducks were one of the grandest 
classes ever seen, their weight, by pairs, 
ranging from 17 lbs. 0 oz. to 18 lbs. 14 oz.; 
while the Aylesbury weighed from 17 lbs. 
9 oz. to 17 lbs. 13 oz. White geese weighed 
from 53 lbs. to 53 lbs. 3 oz. the pair. Old 
turkey cocks weighed from 33 lbs. 3 oz. to 
34 lbs. 13 oz. each; while lien turkeys 
weighed, per pair, from 33 lbs. 4 oz, to 37 
lbs. 4 oz.” The Field complains that the 
interest manifested on the part of breeders 
is not such as it should be, and seems to he 
on the wane. 
—-- 
SHEARING GEESE. 
This subject has been somewhat venti¬ 
lated of late through the columns of the 
Rural, but there sccuis to be some misun¬ 
derstanding on the part of your correspond¬ 
ents as to the proper time or mode of 
performing the operation. One avers that 
it will prove detrimental to tho feathers, 
while the other would have the operation 
Chicken Cholera and Tomatoes.—O. V. C., Jef¬ 
fersonville, O., writes the Rural that lie tried 
every remedy for chicken cholera bo could get, 
but all failed until ho tried tomatoes, which 
proved the. remedy. Uo gave them rlpo toma¬ 
toes lias not tried green ones. He feeds chick ■ 
ens that a re affected, but have not. refused to oat 
their feed, all they will cat-pens them up and 
feeds scarcely any other food for u few days. To 
those chickens which refuse to eat other food, 
ho elves a tomato the size of an oars;, two or three 
times a day, as the ease demands. He catches 
such chickens and pushes pieces of tho tomato 
down thotr throats, and never fails to get tho 
chickens, to swallow it,, nor does it fail to cure 
them. He thinks canned tomatoes will answer 
as welt as fresh ones. I to asks those who try tho 
remedy to report results to tlm Rural. 
--- 
How to Fntten Chickens.—I have ft box that 
holds a bushel, with holes at the bottom, and I 
put, !m a half bushel of corn. Itlsso constructed 
that a little run* out ftf. a time on to a platform, 
and as fast, as they eat it more runs out, until 
all Is eaten. I keep my bens iu this way the 
year round; they have potato peelings from the 
table and other feed, which they eat readily, and 
wo have eggs through the year, except two or 
three weeks, when they are shedding their feath¬ 
ers. When wo want a chicken for the table they 
are always ready. I let them run in my garden; 
they do but little injury, and pick up a great 
many worms and insects.— A. Wtllson. 
-- 
Poultry Wanted- To Advertisers.—This week's 
mails bring us two inquiries for Dorkings— one 
asking for “a first, beat white Dorking cock;” 
and another for a pair; another wants a pair of 
bronze turkeys, and complains that the Ritual 
advertisonicnls don’t tell where to find them; 
another wants a pair of Houdans, and scolds 
like a trumpeter because poulterers do not 
advertise. 
lorsetuan. 
HORSES FOR BREEDING. 
Advice for the Vt. Breeding Association. 
I notice in the Rural of Dec. 11th, an 
article from Hie New England Farmer stat¬ 
ing that a Horse Stock Company is lobe 
formed in Vermont. 1 am very glad that a 
move of this kind is being made. In most of 
the Northern States horse breeding has 
always received far too little attention. 
Nothing is more important, than that good 
horses should be bred, and nothing which 
the farmer can do is more remunerative than 
breeding good horses. In Vermont and 
Northern New York there is so little good 
blood to be found, and, as it is expensive to 
procure it, I think a Horse Stock Company 
with a capital of from $100,000 to $250,000 
is just “tho one thing needful.” Judging, 
however, from the article refered to, 1 fear 
that our Vermont, friends are in danger of 
starting wrong. T have spent much time, 
not only in the study, but in the practice of 
horse breeding, and have visited some of the 
largest, and most, successfully managed breed¬ 
ing establishments in this country; and if the 
“Green Mountain Boys” will allow me, I 
will give them— what I believe to he—a little 
good advice. 1 am deeply interest'd in their 
scheme, because, if successful, they will be 
benefactors not only to the people of Ver¬ 
mont,, but, to those of other States. 
First, I would advise them to purchase a 
farm of one thousand acres, Instead of three 
hundred; then purchase no horses of ques¬ 
tionable pedigree, no matter how great their 
individual merits may be; for all intelligent 
breeders, both in this country and iu Europe, 
give their testimony to the fact that horses 
of pure blood belonging to fast running or 
trotting families, even if they do not possess 
these family characteristics, are far more 
likely to be progenitors of fast, stock than 
arc very fast horses of inferior blood. I take 
it for granted that it is hot the purpose of 
our Vermont friends to breed stock for run¬ 
ning purposes, but fine looking horses fur 
fast, trotting, for Urn carriage and the plow. 
Now, th© question naturally arises, what 
breed, is best calculated to servo all these pur¬ 
poses? T answer, a combination of different 
breeds. Our friends need not, import stock 
from England, because hh good blood cun lie 
found in the State of Kentucky and in tho 
counties of Orange and Westchester, New 
York, as the Old World can produce, and 
can be bought for much less. On the cele¬ 
brated Woodburn farm in Wood ford C'o., 
Ky., owned by Mr. Alexander, and on 
other farms in the same locality, can be seen 
some of the finest thorough-bred and trot¬ 
ting stock in the world. I would go to Ken¬ 
tucky and purchase tho thorough-bred and 
some of the trotting stock,—the Mainbrino 
Chiefs; to Iowa and purchase other trotters 
—the Bashaws; to Orange or Westchester 
county, N. Y., to find still another breed of 
trotters—the. Hambletonians. These are the 
three great, trotting families of the world, 
and from them have sprung Lacly Thorn, 
American Girl and Dexter. 
The Mambrino Chiefs arc large, sixteen- 
hand horses, rather coarse in the head and 
neck, active and cat-like in their movements, 
limbs clean and blood like, hut. with plenty 
of hone. The Hambletonians are smaller— 
about, fifteen and onc-lialf hand horses—and 
finer boned. Both of these families are de¬ 
scendants of Messenger’s great son Mam¬ 
brino. The Bashaws are about the size of 
the Hambletonians, but coarser and more 
“stocky.” Take stallions from these three 
families and cross them with thorough-bred 
mares, and you have three, kinds of trotting 
| horses, all first-class, which will suit every 
i purchaser. 
1 Now about your thorough-bred mares, as 
’ they put the “finish” on your stock, and 
. give them style and endurance. I would tell 
our friends to select from two breeds, viz.: 
Lexington and Leamington. 1 think the 
t latter a little the better for their purposes, as 
[ they are larger and more elegant in form, 
Leamington being sixteen and one-half hands 
I high. The American Stars arc too small and 
9 too light boned, generally ; and as all horses 
3 bred for trotting do not make trotters, we 
j. must have an eye to the substantial as well. 
. Lastly, let me say let “Vermont, breeding 
V mares” and “Vermont stallions” “severely 
^ alone.” 
If they will purchase three stallions—a 
Mambrino Chief, a Bashaw, and a Harnble- 
s tonian, and, keeping clear of American Stars 
J> and other small, light boned breeds, get thirty 
mares by Leamington and ten by Lexington, 
*r, and give their business the attention it de- 
: mauds, Vermont will at no very distant day 
ls rob Kentucky of her prestige as the greatest 
of horse breeding.States. Veteran. 
Cambridge, N. Y. 
Good Layers.—To make your fowls lay well in 
cohl weather keep them warmly housed. Do 
no let them out in cold rains and sleet. Feed 
them regularly -give them cooked corn meal at 
noon, and always have water within their reach. 
Fresh meat or scraps should be given weekly. 
Thrush in Horses.— A correspondent asks the 
best treatment for thrush iu horses. Let some 
of our readers who have had experience an- 
