;Ijcq) ©oslmntrrg. 
n. S. HAND ALL, LL. D., EDITOR, 
Of Cortland Village, Cortland County, New York. 
A GOOD CONSTITUTION. 
A good constitution, as the term is applied 
to domestic animals, means, first, that they 
possess that physical integrity and proper 
form of all the structures, which conduce to 
sound health; and, second, that their powers, 
whether of action or endurance, have been 
suitably developed by natural and artificial 
circumstances. 
The general form which indicates vigor of 
constitution, has no fixed standard. Nature 
never unnecessarily establishes Procrustean 
beds. She prefers to sanction variations 
which adapt themselves to different objects 
and surroundings. There are certain land¬ 
marks, it is true, which she will not depart 
from. For example, the physical structure 
cannot be complete without the organs of 
respiration are complete ; t'. e., without the 
lungs are of ample size, and have ample 
room for expansion within the chest. But 
this does not depend upon the external form, 
or the form of the thoracic cavity. A deep, 
narrow chest may have the same capacity 
with a broader ami shallower one. A circle 
contains nr surrounds no more space than an 
ellipse or ovoid of the same circumference. 
The deep, narrow chest appears to be better 
adapted to rapid and prolonged powers of 
locomotion. The blood horse has vastly 
more speed and bottom than any variety of 
romul-chested horses. The deer, with its 
light, lithe form, out-travels most of the 
stronger denizens of the forest The old 
Spanish Merino took annual journeys, with¬ 
out much loss of condition, which would 
have worn the, great English mutton sheep 
to the bone—nay, would have wholly exter¬ 
minated it 
The thick round form also has its advan¬ 
tages. In those domestic animals which arc 
consumed for human food, it is accompanied 
with that comparative slowness of movement 
and sluggishness of disposition which con¬ 
duce to the acquisition of flesh and fat; and 
we are not sure but this form itself con¬ 
tributes to that end. 
Good constitution is then, to some extent, 
a relative term. It should mean, practically, 
soundness and fitness for special objects and 
special circumstances. And it also neces¬ 
sarily means only a sufficient constitution 
for such objects and circumstances. Leav¬ 
ing form out of view, t he large mut ton sheep 
cannot, treated as a mutton sheep, acquire 
any approach to the hardiness of Lhc moun¬ 
tain breeds of Scotland, the roving flocks of 
Tartary, or the migratory Merinos of Spain. 
Hardiness is a matter of habit and training 
through a course of generations. The habits 
and training which fitted the migratory 
Merino to make two four hundred mile 
journeys every year, sweeping along, where 
the exigency required, from fifteen to twenty 
miles a day—the Iambs at four months 
old keeping up with the.spring journey—con¬ 
stituted a Spartan education, which weeded 
out the weak and toughened the muscles of 
the strong to whip-cords. But lean, tough 
muscles are not very good eating! Sheep 
must be kept, at rest, fed high, and protected 
from exposures to produce the greatest 
amount of flesh and fat. Tills mode of life 
is inconsistent with hardiness. The mutton 
sheep requires no extra amount of hardiness. 
But in lowering the stamina and vigor of 
the animal, better to attain certain objects, 
we must beware of jumping off the bridge 
on the other side. If carried too far, the 
risk of loss by disease more than counter¬ 
balances the additional gain. There is no 
more precarious property than a flock of 
sheep of weak, debilitated constitution. 
Every slight casualty destroys them. Every 
epizootic visits them with desolating se¬ 
verity. They are a tinder bed of diseuse 
and death, ready to ignite at any spark. 
The forcing system—stuffing them con¬ 
tinually to repletion with rich, nutritious 
food from their first ability to eat, and very 
carefully protecting them from exercise and 
exposure—is undoubtedly the readiest and 
rapidest mode of destroying the stamina and 
vigor, and therefore the constitution of sheep. 
It is even worse than the opposite extreme. 
This system, however, must be pursued, to 
the utmost safe extent, to produce good 
mutton most cheaply for both the grower 
and consumer. It enables a large propor¬ 
tion of the improved mutton sheep of Eng¬ 
land to be turned off well grown to the 
butcher at twelve to fifteen months old, and 
the remainder at two years old ; and this, 
compared with the old non-forcing system 
in this country, (grass in summer and hay in 
win,ter, and their quality not always the 
best,) saves at least two years’ keep. 
\ This forcing, of course, gradually pro- 
^ duces the effect we have described, but the 
sheep are killed so young that it has not 
L usually time, under judicious management 
k ^ respects, fatally to undermine the 
constitution. If they had to be kept thus 
pampered until four or five years old, the 
danger would be ten-fold—perhaps fifty-fold 
increased. Under “good management in 
other respects,” we would place first in the 
order of importance the rules that, the ewes 
kept for breeding should uot be subjected to 
the forcing system—that they should be put 
on pastures which require them to take a 
moderate degree of exercise to obtain their 
feed—that they should be exposed to the 
ordinary variations of the weather without 
artificial shelter except ill winter—and that 
even in winter they should not be confined 
to stables or to other shelters. In short, we 
believe that they should only be kept in 
good fair condition summer and whiter, and 
treated as good farmers treat other breeds of 
sheep. This course will preserve all the 
constitution which they lutve, and enable 
them to transmit it to their progeny, so that 
the flock will not suffer any deterioration in 
strength and stamina. A contrary course— 
a course which deteriorates these qualities in 
the dam—poisons the stream at its source; 
and the evil consequences will increase with 
every succeeding generation. 
The American Merino under the treat 
merit it has ordinarily received during the 
last half century, is a very hardy sheep. It 
doubtless has lost, in a measure, by disuse, 
its extraordinary capacity for travel, and 
perhaps some oLlier special qualities which 
the Spanish mode of management tended 
strongly to develop. It has somewhat 
changed its form, and is rounder, shorter 
legged and more compact than formerly. 
This, too, may diminish its traveling quali¬ 
ties, but it is believed to increase its fatten¬ 
ing properties and its thriftiness under con¬ 
finement,, It produces more wool. It re¬ 
tains its aucieut herding properties and 
longevity. 
AVe speak of the Merino under ordinary 
treatment. Within the last few years a con¬ 
siderable number of breeders have resorted 
to a new course, which has proved most 
destructive to the constitution of the sheep 
bred by them. They have applied the forc¬ 
ing system used in fattening the mutton 
sheep, to the Merino. They have stuffed 
equally and sheltered even more carefully. 
They have done this to procure great fleeces, 
(to advertise their flocks,) showy appear¬ 
ance, and the dark external color which has 
recently been so fashionable. It was not on 
their part a legitimate effort to meet a public 
want, unless the public wanted to lie cheated. 
It was not a change to secure improvement, 
hut a desire to procure purchasers at “ fabu¬ 
lous” prices. The sheep itself was not bene¬ 
fited but injured. Put back on common 
treatment, it generally either died or became 
worthless. If llu: pampering was kept up it 
was almost sure to die prematurely. 
This “ fitting up ” system spread rapidly 
under the stimulus of the extraordinary prices 
recently paid for " fancy ” Merino sheep. It 
is now as swiftly disappearing. We cer¬ 
tainly do not rejoice in the present depres¬ 
sion of prices; but do rejoice that among the 
effects of that depression will be the termi¬ 
nation of the war on the constitution and 
usefulness of an invaluable breed of sheep. 
■-- 
WASHING SHEEP BY SWIMMING. 
It is a question upon which all do not 
agree, whether it is best to wash wool or put 
it into market unwashed. We believe in the 
West and Northwest the predominating 
opinion is in favor of washing The strong¬ 
est argument in support of this conclusion is 
the cost of t ransporting the additional weight 
to market—for whether the farmer ships his 
dip to a commission house, or sells it at 
home, the cost of freight is counted against 
him. The best remedy for this will be found 
in encouraging the manufacturers to erect 
their factories in wool growing localities. 
Then freights upon both wool and cloth will 
be saved. Another help tu the conclusion to 
wash wool has been found in the arbitrary 
rule or practice of the majority of buyers. 
They will pay more for washed wool, even 
though it has run long enough after washing 
to become nearly as heavy as before. With 
those who feel it is their interest to wash, 
the question is, how can we do it best, all 
things considered? 
Where the necessary facilities can be had, 
we recommend swimming, as saving much 
labor to both men and sheep, and doing the 
work quicker and better than by any other 
method. A running stream should he se¬ 
lected, and a point found where the bottom 
and banks are not, muddy. Sheep should he 
put; across as many as three times, with an 
interval of about half an hour of sunshine 
between crossings. If in clean water and 
deep enough to keep clear, sheep can be 
washed no more thoroughly in any of the 
modes common among flock masters. AVc 
have known three men to wash a thousand 
sheep in this manner in two hours after get¬ 
ting to the water—and do it well, too. Verv 
little preparatory work Is necessary, as most 
well trained flocks can be put across a stream 
without trouble, at almost any point.— A. M. 
Garland in, Western Mural. 
CL be dlatunilxst. 
THE MOCKING BIRD. 
Undoubtedly this is one of the most 
wonderful of feathered songsters. Many a 
household is made bright and happy with its 
vocal powers. Its melodious notes far out¬ 
strip those of the much praised nightingale. J 
The Mexican name for this beautiful singer 
is “ the bird Of a hundred tongues.” AVilson 
says the mocking bird stands unrivaled by 
the whole feathered songsters of this or per¬ 
haps any other country. Its plumage, 
though none of the homeliest, has nothing 
gaudy or brilliant in it; but his figure is 
well proportioned, and even handsome. 
The ease, elegance, and rapidity of his 
movements, the animation of his eye, and 
the intelligence he displays in listening to 
and laying up his lessons from almost every 
species of the feathered and animate creation 
wfthiu his hearing is really surprising, and 
mark the peculiarity ol his genius. In 
measure and accent he faithfully follows his 
originals; in force and sweetness of expres¬ 
sion he greatly improves upon them. We 
herewith give a spirited engraving of the 
mocking bird in its natural state. 
Nothing comes fllnlss to tlu: mocking 
bird; the hark of a dog, the tremulous quav¬ 
ering of the canary, the creak of a wheel¬ 
barrow, or the soft cooing of the wood 
pigeon. Southey thus well describes the 
marvelous bird: 
“ That cheerful one who knowelh all 
Tht) soiikm of ill) the winged choristers, 
And In one sequence of melodious sounds 
Pours all its music.” 
In a domesticated condition, this bird’s 
chief characteristic renders it, impossible that 
he should he regarded as a sober chamber 
musician. For while be seems content with 
his own natural notes, which consists oi' 
from two to six short notes,—the least noise 
is sufficient to disturb the fiow of his natural 
melody, and one suggestion giving rise to 
another, you presently hear a Babef of bird- 
music almost Impossible to bear. “ His imi¬ 
tations of tliebrown Inrush," Hays Audubon, 
“ arc frequently interrupted by the Growings 
of cocks; the exquisite warhlings of the 
blue-bird are by no means improved by the 
screaming of swallows or the cackling of 
hens; the shrill reiterations of the whip- 
poor-will are introduced into the simple 
melody of the robin. The uninitiated look 
round for the originals, and then find that 
what appeared to be the product of a number 
of performers is really that of the single bird 
before them.” 
It Isa great mistake to think, as many do, 
that the treatment of the mocking bird is 
very peculiar and troublesome. We have 
had them in our family and reared them, 
when quite young, with scarcely any more 
trouble than canaries. They require feeding 
regularly, every morning, and given fresh 
water in their batli dishes as well os for 
drinking. We procure for them in the city 
prepared food, such as can be found at any 
bird store. If you are not so situated that 
tin's food can be procured, give them a feed 
of Indian meal mixed with milk to the con¬ 
sistency of a thin paste. In their season give 
them whortleberries, of which, they are very 
fond, also, cedar, elder, pokeberries and wild 
cherries. These might, he gathered and dried 
for winter use, as this is a desirable food for 
these birds, they thriving best on it. An egg 
boiled hard and grated with a small quan¬ 
tity of carrot is very good to give them once 
or twice a week. A small piece of raw meat, 
minced fine is also of service, and which 
they highly relish. During the summer 
season air is of great benefit to them, but 
they should not he placed in the hot sun. 
The greatest care should be exercised with 
them during the moulting season, which 
generally commences in August and con¬ 
tinues until November. Then the bird 
should be kept in warm, quiet quarters, away 
from all draughts of cold air, which is very’ 
injurious. Supply them at this time with 
plenty of berries, spiders and grasshoppers, 
especially the former, as in their native 
woods they live mainly on this kind of food. 
Regularity in feeding birds is the great de¬ 
sideratum ; therefore do not neglect them 
during the moulting season. Put a nail in 
the drinking water and let it lie until it be¬ 
comes rusty. This is also good when the 
bird shows any signs of sickness. In such 
an event it is absolutely 
necessary to treat them kind¬ 
ly, give abundantly of in¬ 
sects, or meal worms, the lat¬ 
ter can he found in granaries; 
put also fine gravel in the bot¬ 
tom of the cage, and suffer as 
little disturbance as possible; 
the quieter they can be kept 
the belter; warmth is essen¬ 
tial. 
A supply of meal worms can 
he easily obtained by putting 
info a tight box or client 
pieces of old flannel mixed 
with Indian meal, ihe whole 
slightly dump, to which add a 
U few worms from the granary 
or bird stores. Place the 
’ whole in a warm place, and 
V you will soon have a supply. 
■ ' The male mocking bird is 
distinguished from the female, 
by a regular line of white 
feathers in the wing, which, in 
a strong, fine singer, forms al¬ 
most a regular curve from the 
shoulder to the lip of the wing. They are 
very slow in feathering-out; sometimes 4 is 
nearly two years before the young show their 
complete* plumage. In that ease the great¬ 
est care is required in the first moulting sea¬ 
son ; many birds are lost from a little neglect 
at this time. These birds sing frequently all 
night long, and continue their notes general¬ 
ly from January till the end of August,; we 
have one now moulting that sings nearly as 
much as when in full plumage. We attribute 
this to the good care be receives. Our guid 
housewife would rather neglect other house¬ 
hold duties than those which she owes to our 
feathered pels. J. Brace. 
bt fprirsnran. 
ITEMS FOR HERDSMEN. 
Jersey Pedigrees. 
In the British Press and Jersey Times of 
March 17th is a report, of a special meeting 
of the Agricultural Committee of the Royal 
Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural So¬ 
ciety and the Committee of the Jersey Herd 
Book, to receive and consider communica¬ 
tions from the Treasurer of the American 
Jersey Cattle Club, relative to certain ship¬ 
ments of cattle recently introduced into the 
United States, and there offered for sale as 
“pedigree cattle” from Jersey, giving their 
genealogy as found in the Jersey Herd Book. 
The communications referred to ask whether 
these cattle were really, as stated to be, Jer¬ 
sey pedigree stock. After listening to the 
communications, examining the transmitted 
documents, «fce., it, was unanimously 
Rmilved, That Mr. Le fiullats, tlie Honorary 
Secretary, Le requested to reply to tlieTron-iirbr 
nr tlio American Jersey (.’attic Chile that the 
cattle mentioned In the circulars, and intended 
to he Ottered for sale as Jersey pedlwree cattle, 
are ruit registered in the “Jersey Hard hook," 
and aro consequently unknown Jn this Island as 
pedigree stock. 
That the pedigree irivon in the circulars Is 
without the slightest authority, no oilier au¬ 
thority lielmr reeiiKiii/ed by the Itovill Jersey 
Agricultural and Iloriienltnml Society than the 
entries duly made and registered In the “Jersey 
Herd Book," duplicates of which nan only be 
obtained from the Honorary Secretary, 
That t Ilia m cetinir considers the advertisement; 
referred to as gross impositions, alike dishonora¬ 
ble to the perpetrator as they are injurious to 
the breeders and to the puronaseraof the pedi¬ 
gree cattle of this Island. 
We copy tiie foregoing from a New Eng¬ 
land paper. No names are given, and we 
do not know to whose circulars this action 
refers, 
Foot-Rot In Cuttle. 
AVe find the following recommended as 
treatment for this trouble “ Put them in a 
place where you can handle their feet, and 
then take half a pint of common tar and as 
much soft soap, put them into any vessel, 
and heat them together until they get thor¬ 
oughly mixed ; then let it cool down some, 
but not too much ; put it on the parts affect¬ 
ed quite hot, and in seven cases out, often it 
will effect a cure, but if it does not, repeat 
the soap and tar, which will be sufficient to 
cure any case that I ever saw, in a few days.” 
To Prevent. Abortion in Cows. 
We were once troubled with abortive 
cows. We gave them two quarts of wheat 
at a time, twice a week for a month ; t hen 
one quart twice a week for another month, 
and we soon got clear of the trouble. I 
think it is a good plan to give a little wheat 
to cows in such times, A close observer-will 
see the cow will he a little bloated occa¬ 
sionally before she aborts.—R ichard Dale. 
A Work on fpnyln*.—J ohn CrOMBIk asks if 
there is a complete work on spaying. We know 
of none. It is a very difficult process to describe. 
It can only bo rightly lourued by demonstration. 
oxstmm. 
HAAY, OR “HOOKS,” IN HORSES. 
An Old Subscriber, Waterford, Va., in¬ 
quires the cause of the disease commonly 
known us hooks, or haw, in horses, the 
character of the disease, whether the horse 
is liable to lose its sight; also, the best 
remedy for its cure. The membrina nicitans 
or haw, is a cartilage, lying just within the 
inner corner of the eye, but capable of being 
thrust outwards so as to partially cover it 
when the muscles retract the eye, and for 
want, of space drive it, forward. Thus, when 
dust, hay seed or oilier foreign substances 
get into the eye, the contraction, bringing 
the haw forward, acta to wipe out the ob¬ 
struction. For this reason, in all irritations 
ol Ihe eye the luiw is prominent, and it 
often occurs that the membrane becomes in¬ 
flamed, and ils removal or cutting out, in¬ 
stead oi diminishing increases the inflam¬ 
mation, and is not only a useless operation, 
but permanently injurious. 
Proper remedies should lie applied to re¬ 
move the inflammation, such as a frequent 
application of cold water with a soft sponge. 
Dr. Dadd recommends an eye-wash of one 
ounce tincture ol arnica in a pint of water, 
with which the eve should lie bathed. The 
eye is very sensiiive, and requires careful 
handling, or the inllammalinn may be in¬ 
creased, giving I he hoist! great pain. Mild 
cathartics tire recommended, us also keeping 
the animal quiet, without exposure to too 
much light. With proper caution, there is 
no danger of the horse losing its sight, as 
rest and carts will soon restore the haw to 
its healthy stale. There is little, if any, dif¬ 
ference between horses and cattle in respect 
to the haw. Its treatment on cattle was 
noticed at length in the Rural of February 
19, 1870, to which our correspondent is re¬ 
ferred. 
-- 
NOTES FOR HORSEMEN. 
Keiiu-ilieN for lllinil Stunner* in Horses. 
Four correspondents of the Southern Cul¬ 
tivator give as many remedies for the blind 
staggers, which we copy: 
1. Free and protracted application of -wa¬ 
ter—fluid or solid- to the head. Reduce a 
lump of ice, place it in bladders or in a bag 
prepared for the purpose, and cover the top 
of the head and the forehead well with ^at¬ 
taching the hag to the mane and headstall, 
and allowing it to pass under the browband. 
Where the horse is furious, the cold water 
may he conjoined with the ice, in the form 
of the descending bath, letting it fall at first 
hul a lew incites, gradually raising the vessel 
until the descent, is three or four feet. The 
stream should be pretty bold. Where ice 
cannot he hud, of course cold water is to he 
persevcrlngly poured upon the head, confi¬ 
dently' expecting good results. At the same 
time give the horse brandy—a half pint or 
more with the same quantity of water, as a 
drench, every hour. Rub the extremities 
with something stimulating—say spirits tur¬ 
pentine, red pepper tea and brandy, hot. 
Add to equal quantities of these three, a pint 
of soap suds, a good enema, which it may lie 
necessary to use, as the bowels should not lie 
allowed to become constipated. The above 
liniment should, with strong friction, be ap¬ 
plied along tlio course of Lite spine, as well 
as to the legs. 
2. Whittle a tough stick down to the size 
of a broom straw, and insert it about three 
or four inches into the duets that run from 
inside the nostrils to the brain. This will 
remove the impediment, or dust that causes 
the water to stand on the brain, and thus lets 
it off, which will cure the animal. 
3. Bled a mare immediately in tlio neck, 
and poured a continuous stream of cold 
water upon the head for three hours, vvlten 
site seemed in a dying condition; then gave 
half a pint of spirits of turpentine; in three 
minutes she rose to her feet, staggered and 
fell; lying a few minutes,she rose again, and 
in less than one hour she ceased to stagger, 
Was led :i mile, fed on slops for a week, and 
a permanent cure was thus effected. 
4. (Jive one quart of strong spearmint 
tea—if not better in ten or twelve hours, re¬ 
peat the dose. 
Sure Cure For Ringbone. 
If n. 8. Reynolds will rub the oil of 
amber well upon the ringbone on his eolt it 
will cure him,—J, Cassel, Crawford Co., 0. 
IS rcciliug from u Two-Year-Old Stallion. 
Joseph Wood asks if a two-year-old stal¬ 
lion can he used safely for breeding pur¬ 
poses without, injuring his future usefulness. 
Allow me to inform him that his colt will 
do better without any mares; but two or 
three will not injure him. 
Scratches on Horses. 
One of our correspondents advises treat,in 
scratches just as one would treat an aggra 
vated case of itch among children. Keep 
clean by washing with soap and water; use 
sulphur and precipitate ointment to anoint 
them; take care the animal does not catch, 
cold, and a cure is sure and speedy. 
