DE6.  @ 
THE 
®jrf  '|oHltrg  |arl(. 
“COITSTOCK,”  MR.  HENRY  BELDON’S 
RESIDENCE. 
1  wuoTK  to  you  last  week  of  iny  viait  to  Mr. 
Deluon’h  pretty  country  seat,  near  Bingley, 
yorkHjjiie,  and  uiy  letter  left  Mr.  Bki41>os  and 
niyaolf  eujoyiug  a  glaaa  of  port,  in  Ida  dining 
room,  preparatory  to  viaiting  hia  “peta  in  the 
mill." 
I 'ray  do  not  think  1  have  been  ovei’  Hinco  over 
that  glaHK  of  port,  but  1  feared  at  tiie  time  that 
the  length  of  my  letter  wa»  boring  you,  and  ho  I 
had  mercy  and  left  a  dOHCrijitlon  of  the  fowl 
house  until  another  time.  Now,  if  your  time 
and  patience  i)eruiit,  I  will  button-hole  you 
again  and  give  such  description  as  1  can  of 
“the  old  Mill." 
Here  are  kept  Mr.  Beluon’s  show  birds  that 
are  so  successful  at  the  prize  exhibitions,  and  I 
was  anxious  to  know  how  they  were  housed  and 
cared  for. 
“  Where  you  exhibit  so  largely,  Mr.  Beloon,” 
1  said,  iiB  wo  linished  that  glass  of  port,  “you 
mtist  bo  at  groat  expense  and  trouble  in  i)rovid- 
ing  ‘  runs '  foi’  your  many  birds.  1  presume  you 
must  have  extensive  yards  connected  with  the 
mill." 
“Not  at  all,"  he  rejdied.  “Many  persons 
suppose  that  the  /nodus  opei'andi  of  tending  my 
bu'ds  is  elaborate ;  but,  if  you  will  come  with 
me,  wo  will  go  thivnigh  the  null,  and  you  can  see 
for  yourself  my  way  of  keeping  fowls." 
We  left  tho  house,  and  Kb^ppiug  out  upon  the 
lawn  and  going  through  the  gate  at  tiro  end  of 
the  “  drive,"  entered  the  old  stone  building  be¬ 
fore  us.  It  is  a  solid  stmeture  of  live  stories, 
about  sixty  feet  front,  and  thirty  deoj),  each 
story  being  well  lighted  by  numerous  windows  on 
three  sides  of  tho  building.  The  cutntuc,e  is  on 
tho  extromo  right  of  IJie  building  avi  yon  aj)- 
pjoaeh  it.  The  stairway  loading  above  is  cm  tlie 
extreme  left.  As  wo  eulered  on  tbe  ground 
lloor,  wo  found  ourselves  in  a  broad  ball  way,  at 
tho  end  of  Avhich  is  the  “puekiug  room  "and 
“  hospital." 
“  These  rooms  have  not  been  laid  out  under 
my  directions,”  said  Mr.  Beloox.  “yon  see 
already  that  1  have  no  ‘  fancy '  aiTaiigemeiitH  for 
the  birds ;  no  extonsivo  wired  yards ;  no  special 
buildings  of  any  laud.  I  have  merely  taken  this 
old  mill  and,  only  placing  a  few  partitions  to 
keep  the  birds  separate,  have  left  tilings  pretty 
miiuli  as  1  found  them." 
"An  amateur  would  have  thought  it  necessary 
to  luive  all  the  ‘  latest  improvements,’  ”  1  said. 
“To  bo  sure,  Mr.  Wuite,  and  there  is  whore 
the  tirst  grand  mistteko  is  mode.  When  the  birds 
are  comfortalily  boused,  yon  liavo  done  all  that 
is  best  fur  them,  and  '  latost  im£»roveiuonts '  are 
as  often  tho  cause  of  failure  as  success.  Gleauh- 
ness.  light,  air,  ai'o  what  birds  need,  together 
witli  good  food,  and  an  occasional  run.  No 
‘  fancy  bouses’  ai-o  required." 
“In  other  words,  you  mean,  if  I  imderstaud 
you,  that  witli  a  jtlain,  good  shod  aud  care,  birds 
will  thrive  as  well  as  though  they  wore  reared  in 
a  nickel-plated  house,  and  warmed  by  a  liro  that 
burned  gilt-edged  coal  and  ms-bogany  kindling- 
wood.’’ 
“  \VcU — yes — tliat's  one  way  of  putting  it.  I 
mean  that  clean  housing  and  proper  food  are  what 
the  birds  want,  aud  tliat  your  idea  tliat  yon  would 
see  liero  all  tlie  latest  impTOVcmeiits  will,  I  fear, 
be  disaiipointed.  Here  is  whore  wo  do  tlie  pack¬ 
ing  of  birebe  Uial  are  going  away,  where  we  keep 
the  sick  or  injured  ones,  aud  wlicro  we  keej)  thp 
eggs  for  hatcliiug."  So  saying,  ho  led  tho  way 
into  a  large  room  at  the  end  of  tbe  hallway  aud 
opposite  tbe  culi'aiicc*,  aud  1  saw  that  he  was 
quite  right  in  Buying  there  were  no  “  fancy  ar¬ 
rangements."  One  end  of  tbe  room  was  lathed 
off  to  accomnioilato  liirda  tliat  needed  siiocial 
care,  and  the  partitions  were  merely  such  as  any 
farmer  might  construct  for  his  birds.  It  was 
strongly  and  w'oll  imt  togethei-,  hut  no  attempt 
at  unylliing  beyond  what  was  useful. 
“  I’iveryUiing  is  very  plain,  you  see,  Mr. 
White,"  he  said.  “No  silver  plate  lying  about, 
as  you  say,  but  it  answers  oiu:  purpose  well  as  it 
is.” 
“  Aud  I  notice,  Mr.  Beujoj),  that  everything 
is  fresli,  sweet  aud  clean — no  had  odors  or  foul 
air  ill  Uie  rooms." 
“  That  1  always  guard  against,"  be  replied. 
“Everything  is  kept  clean  hero.  When  a  biid 
is  ill,  or  has  injured  liimself  in  lighting,  he  is  put 
on  tlie  retired  list  liere  aud  carefully  doctored. 
To  this  room  we  bring  tbe  sbow  birds  tlie  day 
before  they  go  to  the  fair,  aud  bei’e  they  are 
washed.  Then  we  turn  them  into  these  largo 
boxes,  which  are  tilled  with  clean  straw’,  aud  in 
Bcratcliing  about  in  the  straw,  they  dry  them¬ 
selves  nicely.  In  this  box,  at  the  end  of  the 
room  we  keep  the  eggs." 
Ho  turned  back  tbe  lid  of  a  long  narrow  box, 
which  was  divided  into  a  number  of  squares 
each  division  bearing  the  name  of  the  fowl  from 
nest  tho  eggs  came. 
“As  we  receive  orders  for  eggs  we  fill  them 
from  this  box,  which  gives  ns  the  name  and  age. 
Now  if  yon  please  we  will  go  up  stairs.  You 
wdll  see  that  I  have  no  small  chicks  here.  I 
have  all  my  birds  hatched  at  various  farms, 
Hambnrgs  at  one  jilace,  Bnahmas  at  another, 
and  HO  on,  and  when  they  are  old  enough  to 
show  tliey  are  sent  in  hero  and  1  make  Hclectlon 
for  my  own  showing  or  to  fill  orders.” 
As  wo  went  up  stairs  wo  jjassed  a  jiilo  of 
wicker  baskets  which  Mr.  Beudo.v  exjilaincii 
were  “shipping  baskets.”  They  were  alioiit 
four  feet  long,  and  two  foot  wide,  by  tliree  feet 
liigb,  made  lightly  but  strongly,  lined  witli 
muslin,  and  covoi-ed  wiitb  utout  bagging.  “  In 
these  baskets  ho  said  ”  1  send  birds  nil  over  the 
world,  and  seldom  if  ever  have  any  faults  found 
with  their  packing,  they  are  light  but  very 
serviceable. 
On  roaebing  tbe  first  floor  above  tbe  “  hosiiital 
and  iiackiiig  room,"  we  were  among  tbe  “  sbow 
trios  "  aud  it  was  almost  a  fair  in  itself.  At 
each  side  of  the  room  were  largo  “pons" 
about  ten  by  eight  feet,  divided  by  a  browl 
passage-way  which  ran  tho  leugtii  of  the  room, 
each  lien  containing  a  trio  of  fowls,  or  a  single 
cock.  They  were  tho  pick  of  Mr.  Beuhon’s 
Tiirds  aud  they  were  indeed  beautiful  speeiuiens 
of  tbeir  kind. 
“  Wbenover  I  win  with  my  birds  1  fasten  upon 
the  rafters  overliead  tlio  card  placed  on  the  coop 
by  the  Judges,”  said  Mr.  BEunoN.  J  looked  up 
and  received  some  idea  of  the  extent  of  his 
“  winnings.”  I  may  give  you  some  idea  of  it 
wlieii  I  «ay  that  every  rafter  aud  beam  in  the  in- 
torior  of  tliat  mill  throughout  the  live  stories  is 
almost  coei^fiU  with  “  winning  cards  !”  It  was 
a  Muceessiou  of  Ist  and  2nd  prize  cards  from  all 
the  mIiows  of  the  kingdom. 
“In  those  pens  wo  keep  tho  bu’ds  and  they 
thrive  well— arc  strong,  liealthy  and  vigorous. 
You  see  they  stand  upon  board  floors,  which  are 
swept  out  every  morniug,  aud  each  iieii  is 
boarded  up  at  the  side  about  tlu'uo  feet  to 
prevent  the  cocks  from  fighting  through  tlie 
lathings.  All  the  hens  on  each  lloor  arc  let  out 
in  turn  ;  on  Monday  the  first  floor  takc»  a  run, 
oil  Tuesday  the  second  tloor,  and  so  on  tlnougli 
tho  week.  The  cocks  are  taken  out  in  tom  and 
put  under  those  boxes  you  see  upon  tiic  lawn, 
aud  luo  left  out  for  two  or  three  days  at  a  time." 
Ho  pouited  out,  tlie  boxes  from  tho  window. 
They  wore  about  tbieo  by  two  feet,  and  Lad  a 
closely  lathed  run  of  about  the  same  size 
attached  to  each.  'J’he  “boxes"  looked  to  be 
small  quarters,  but  Mr.  Beluon  said  they  were 
quite  loj’ge  enough  for  the  purpose. 
“This  is  tho  way  ray  birds  are  boused  Mr. 
Wuite,”  said  my  host  pleasantly  smiling. 
“Everything  is  plain  and  simple.  A  common 
lathed  pen  holds  each  trio ;  a  rougli  stick  in  the 
corner  is  their  roost ;  an  old  basket  is  tbeir 
nest;  an  occasional  nm  in  the  woods  ketqjs 
them  in  health ;  and  cleauliuess,  regular  and 
judicious  feeding,  aud  good  ventilation  of  their 
quarters  are  always  accorded  them.  And  if  yon 
are  asked  by  your  friends  you  may  say  this  is 
the  W’ay  Henkt  Beldos  keeps  his  birds  at 
“  Coitstock.”  Thos.  W.  White. 
Alden  House,  Kensington,  London,  ISTO. 
BERGEN  CO.  POULTRY  SHOW. 
Tue  Bergen  Co.,  N.  J.,  I'onltry  Association 
held  tbeir  first  exhibition  at  Hackensack,  N.  J., 
Nov.  29-30.  The  exhibition  was,  on  every  ro- 
respect,  a  great  success,  tbe  number  and  quality 
of  birds  exhibited  being  a  surprise,  even  to  tJio 
most  sanguino  poultry  fancier  in  tho  country. 
The  exhibition  was  also  well  attended,  and  tlie 
receipts  in  cash  were  sufficient  to  leave  a  balonoo 
in  the  treasury  after  paying  very  liberal  prizes. 
Wo  congratulate  our  Jersey  neighbors  in  tbeir 
great  success,  and  hope  they  will  yet  liavo  a 
chance  of  meeting  birds  from  other  localities,  at 
no  distant  day,  whicli  shnll  t-est  Uio  merits  of  the 
winners  of  prizes  at  llio  late  show, 
PREMIUMS  AWARDED  AT  THE  FIRST  ANNUAt  EXHIDITION 
OF  THE  BERGEN  CO.  POUtTRY  ASSOCIATION. 
LioHT  liKXHMAs.  —  Fowls— Klmt  and  second 
prizes,  John  .1.  limy,  llackeusuck,  N.  J.  Clucks— 
Fli-st  and  second  prizes,  John  Hanta,  Hackensack, 
N.  J. 
Dark  Hraumas.— Fowls-I-'lr.st  prize,  Isaac  It. 
Denman,  Newark,  N..J.;  Hecuiid  prize,  John  Voor- 
lils,  .Maywood,  N.  J.  ClUck-a— Flr.st  prlzu,  Julin 
Voorhls ;  second  prize,  Isaac  It.  Denrnun. 
I‘.4rtrii)ueCociuss.— Chicks— First  prize,  W.  F. 
Muciimorc,  Uaaklug  IHdgc;  Second  prize,  Ed. 
Vreeland,  Ituilicrlord,  N.  .1. 
WuiT*  (k)cais8.— Fowls  aud  chicks— John  J. 
Berry, 
SI1.VKK  GRAY  DoKKiNOB.— Fowls— First  prize, 
Henry  Hales,  KlUgewood.  Clilcks— I'^i’sc  and  sec¬ 
ond  prizes,  Henry  tiales. 
coixiUEn  DoRKiMia.— First  prize,  Henry  Hales. 
White  Dorkings.— First  prize,  Henry  «owun, 
UaekensRck. 
FLTMoi’TU  Rocks. —  Fowls  — First  aud  second 
prizes,  John  J.  Berry.  Ctilck.H— Flnst  prize,  John 
.Niillsbury,  Jr.,  Nyaek,  N.  Y.;  Second  prize,  John 
J.  Berry. 
SiLVKK'SrANoi.Eu  iumbuhus.—  Clilcks—  Secoud 
prize,  D  Beaedlet,  KossvlHe. 
Silver  -  I'encilbo  Hambukgs.  —  Fowls—  First 
prize.  Thus.  W.  White,  Ridgewood,  N.  J.  Chicks 
—First  and  second  prizes,  do. 
Black  llAiiBCKOs.— Fowls— First  prize,  Thos.  W. 
White,  Chicks— First  and  second  prizes,  J.  C.  & 
D.  Pennington,  Paterson, 
WiiiTK  Lkoiiornh.— Fowls— First  prize,  JohnJ. 
Berry;  Necoiid  prize,  .Toll n  .‘Salisbury,  Jr.  Chicks 
—First  prl'/,R.  do.;  Second  prize,  Farr  and  Cobb, 
Rutherford,  N.  J. 
Brown  Lecuorns,— Fowls— First  prize,  Peter 
Van  Buskirk,  New  Milford,  N.  J.  clilcks— First 
prize,  Chas.  R.  B ral we,  Westwood,  N,  J.;  second 
prize,  A.  11.  Walton,  Jr..  Ridgewood,  .N.  J, 
HoL’OANS.— Fowls  and  Chicks— First  and  second 
prizes,  H.  A.  cniiit,  Jr.,  Tarrytown,  N.  Y. 
Silver  Polish— Fowls— First  prize,  Edward 
Yrcehind,  Rutherford,  N.  J. 
s-  White  Polish.— Fowls— First  and  second  prizes, 
Farr  &  Cobb.  chlcliS-Bccoiid  prize,  Farr  A.  Cobb. 
WiiiTK-cuKSTEi)  Black  Polish.— Fowls — First 
prize,  John  .1.  Berry.  ' 
Brack  -  UKBA.wm  Kko  camks.— Fowls— First, 
prize,  Walter  v.  Clark,  llackoiisack.  N.  J.;  second 
prize,  Edward  Vreeland.  Chicks— Flmt  and  sec¬ 
ond  prizes,  Waltor  V,  (Turk. 
Vkliziw  Dcck  -  WING  GAMES.—  Chlcks  —  First 
pri/A’,  Richard  Kirby,  12  Oonlamlt  St.,  N.  Y. 
Bantams.— Bhick-breasted  P.ed  Came,— Fowls— 
First  prize,  Henry  Halos;  si^ond  prize.  A.  H. 
Walton.  .Jr.  f  'hlcks— First  prize,  Joun  W .  Uyer- 
son,  Ulilgewood,  N.  J.;  sceoisl  prize.  Henry  Hales. 
NUver  Duck-wing  Clanie. —  Fowls — First  iirlze,  J. 
E.  Kipp,  Paterson,  N.  J.  Bootcil  White.— Chicks 
—First  and  s«;corid  prizes,  Isaac  K.  Denman. 
Teekbys.— Male  and  fninale-lTrst  prize,  Peter 
Van  Burk  Irk;  second  prl/i*,  John  E.  Kipp. 
DrcKS.— Aylesbury— First  prize,  Henry  Hales; 
second  prize,  N.  R.  Bence.  Rouen— First  prize, 
C.  M.  Oiiuipbcll.  I'eklu— First  prize,  11.  Hales. 
Colored  Muscovy— FI  rat  and  second  prizes,  F. 
K  iddcr. 
PiOKON.s.-  Four  vai1etlo.s,  PouUirs,  tfliorUfaeod 
TiimblerK,  Anlwerps,  and  White  Fantalls— First 
prize,  11.  iiHies. 
Si'KCiAL  I'RRMirMK.— No.  1,  Joliii  Baota,  for  best 
palrof  Light  BraUmachleks;  No.  z.  John  J.  Berry, 
lor  best  pair  of  White  Cochins,  plato  of  fruit;  No. 
3,  Thomas  W.  WlilU-.  for  best  pair  of  Hllver-pon- 
olled  Hiimburgs,  basket  of  Bowers;  No.  i,  t-uas. 
R.  Brume,  for  best  pair  Brown  Leghorns,  one 
year's  subserlpthni  Rural  New-Vorker;  John  J. 
Beiry,  best  pair  of  White  I-eghorns,  siinie  prize; 
H.  A.  Cratii,  Jr.,  best  pair  of  lloudans.  same 
prize;  J.  J,  Berry,  heavlcht  pair  of  i-ighl  Brah¬ 
mas,  same  prize ;  I’cler  Vpii  Buskirk,  lieavlesl 
pair  of  lurke,vs,  saine  prize :  No.  &,  J.  J.  Berry,  for 
best  eolleelloii  of  fowls  and  chicks,  sl.x  bottles  of 
Keeley  wine;  Nos.  t>, T,  s  and  9,  J.  J.  Berry,  best 
cuiioction  of  Light  Brahmas,  1’.  Cochins,  W  lilte 
Cochliujand  Plynioiiili  Rocks,  K' in  ear h  f;a3e;  No. 
to,  II,  Hales,  best  eolleetloh  of  Dorkings,  10 ;  No, 
n.  PetorVnn  Buskirk,  best  eolleci.iou  of  B.  Leg¬ 
horns,  iO ;  Nos,  I'Z  and  Iz,  J.  J.  Berry,  best  pair  of 
W,  Leghorns  and  best  piUroi  W.  c.  B.  Polaud-s 
$5  In  each  case :  No.  H.  11.  A.  Grant,  be.st  pair  of 
iloudaus,  NO.  u>,  W,  v.  Clark,  best  pair  of 
Caines,  No.  10,  John  Bantu,  best  pair  of  Light 
Brahmas,  irc  No.  it,  B.  F.  Robinson,  farmer,  best 
L.  B.ahina  Cockerel,  i  trio  L.  Brahma  Pullets; 
No.  18,  P.  Van  Buskirk,  rainier,  beat  pair  or  \V. 
Leghorns,  two  TV.  Legnorn  Cockerels. 
■  - - ♦♦♦ - 
PROFIT  OF  HENS  IN  LARGE  NUMBERS. 
We  olten  read  articles,  like  tbe  one  in  tbe 
Kukal  of  Nov.  lltb,  proving  tliat  ixmltry  can  be 
profitably  kept  in  large  numbers,  if  tlie  proper 
course  is  pursued.  Writers  very  carefully  give 
us  tho  “Jfodus  opcra/idi,"  so  that  the  whole 
subject  looks  iKirfccUy  clear. 
Now  wliilo  niy  purimse  is  not  to  deny  these 
statements,  yet  bow  strange  it  is  that  wo 
never  meet  with  any  one  who  is,  or  Las  been, 
successful;  at  least  in  tliis  country.  A  few 
years  ago  we  wore  referred  to  Mr.  Lelanu.  for 
positive  proof  that  hens  in  laigc  numbers  could 
be  made  profitable. 
1  remember  that  the  “  FanueiB*  Club  "  in  N. 
Y.,  scut  a  committee  to  intoiwieiv  Mr.  Leland 
aud  got  at  bis  secret.  Tbeir  report  was  quite 
interesting,  as  I  remember  it.  In  the  first  part 
of  that  report,  Mr.  Lelanu  thought  his  hens 
cost  him  about  I>0  cents  each  per  year  for  keeji- 
ing,  and  further  on,  when  asked  as  to  the  value 
of  the  manure  made  answer  that  “  he  considered 
they  turned  out  manure  to  tho  value  of  one  dol¬ 
lar  each.”  On  rending  tliis  I  immediately  wrote 
him  irishing  to  buy  bens  that  could  turn  out  one 
dollar’s  worth  of  manure  from  fifty  cents’  wortli 
of  feed,  blit  received  no  answer,  so  I  presume  be 
bad  none  to  soli.  Home  one  imticiiig  tliis  state¬ 
ment  explained  it  by  supposing  tliat  be  fed  his 
hens  largely  from  tbe  waste  from  his  liotel, 
which  was  of  no  groat  valnc.  But  this  waste 
was  ccrtamly  as  valuable  for  manure  before  being 
fed  to  tho  hens  as  after ;  so  this  explanation  w'as 
just  no  explanation  at  all. 
This  was  worse  than  to  eiqiect  onr  hens  to 
turn  out  eggs  in  just  proportion  to  then’  feedg 
Who  hears  of  “  Lelank  ’’  or  hia  hens  now  ? 
Occasionally  one  roads  of  some  iierson,  some- 
whero,  w'ho  is  having  great  success  but  ho  soon 
sinks  out  of  sight.  Will  some  one  who  can  prove 
on  paper  that  a  large  flock,  (or  flocks),  can  bo 
made  to  pay,  prove  it  by  practice  ? 
.Syracuse,  N.  Y.  Nelson  Ritrer. 
- - 4-*-* - - 
'  SAGACITY  OF  A  FOWL. 
A  oENTLEJiAN  of  Colytou,  Devou,  tells  the 
followKig  story,  as  showing  the  amount  ,of  sa¬ 
gacity  iu  tho  common  fowl. 
For  some  time  pkat  he  has  had  a  tribe  of  fowls, 
which,  instead  of  roosting  in  the  house  iuteuded 
for  them,  have  perai-sted  in  takiug  for  their 
abode  at  uight  a  lino  Portugal  lam-el  situated  in 
hia  grounds.  Diuiiig  tlio  last  few  months  a 
neighbor’s  hen  has  been  iu  the  habit  of  joining 
his  fow’ls,  aud  roosting  with  them.  The  neigh¬ 
bor,  after  various  vain  attempts  to  keep  the  hen 
on  his  own  promises,  at  length  bethought  him¬ 
self  of  tying  the  ben’s  legs  with  a  short  string, 
in  a  similar  manner  to  that  in  which  a  horse  is 
‘  hobbled.’  But  the  bird  soon  overcame  this  im¬ 
pediment,  and  resumed  her  old  haunt. 
Shortly  after  her  return  in  this  ‘  hobbled  ’  con¬ 
dition,  tho  whole  household  was  startled  just 
before  dusk  one  evening  by  a  strange  noise  out¬ 
side  tho  house,  and  on  looking  to  see  the  cause, 
they  found  tlio  CfXik  belonging  to  the  above-men¬ 
tioned  brooil  of  fowls  walkuig  up  ami  down  in  a 
very  excited  manner,  and  givuig  nlteranco  to  a 
shrill  noise,  which  more  rcwmblod  a  rapid  suc¬ 
cession  of  crows  than  anything  else.  At  length 
they  wont  out  to  him,  and  lie  fled,  still  screara- 
iug,  towards  tho  Portugal  laurel,  where,  on  fol¬ 
lowing  liim,  they  found  the  jioor  '  hobbled  ’  hen 
suspended  by  lier  string  from  one  of  the  branches, 
and  they  cut  iior  down  in  time  to  save  her  life. 
Did  not  tills  sliow  sense  in  tho  male  bird  worthy 
of  a  higlier  name  than  instinct  ? 
SHEEP  HUSBANDRY  IN  ILLINOIS. 
Mr.  Geo.  Lawrence,  Jr.,  of  Wisconsin,  in  his 
late  address  before  tho  Illinois  Wool-growers’ 
Assooiation,  gave  a  very  excellent  epitome  of 
tho  present  condition  of  Sheep  Hiisbandi’y  in 
tho  West,  from  which  we  condense  the  fol¬ 
lowing  : 
Competition  is  tho  life  of  biisine.ss.  We  have 
searched  and  looked  Vermont,  New  York  and 
Illinois  over,  examining  aud  comparing  sheep, 
aud  breeders  have  purebased  the  very  best  they 
could  find,  both  rams  and  ewes,  paying  hun¬ 
dreds  of  dollars  for  individual  animals  and 
bringing  them  to  Wisconsin.  Thus  you  see  tbe 
base  of  our  breeding  from  tliree  States.  While 
much  credit  is  justly  duo  to  Vermont,  yet  wo 
assert,  from  experience,  tliat  tlie  second  or  tliird 
geueraliou  from  Vcrmonl,  grown  in  Wisconsin, 
arc  a  superior  sheep  for  general  purposes.  They 
liavo  a  larger  carcass,  are  lieavier  boned,  quan¬ 
tity  aud  (luality  of  flcocie  are  equal,  if  not  supe¬ 
rior.  They  also  witlistaiid  more  hardship  and 
exposure  than  Vermont  stock.  1  know  wliereof 
1  assert,  for  I  have  tried  Vermont  slieep.  They 
were  in  lino  sliapo.  I  put  them  iu  the  same 
identical  care  as  Wisconsin  sheep  in  the  fall,  aud 
when  spring  came  tlie  Vermont  stock  were  ihin 
and  weak,  and  in  many  instances  1  iiavo  lost 
some ;  hut  after  we  got  tiiroiigh  one  year  and 
raised  lambs  in  fair  sliape,  wo  could  finally  make 
a  starting  point  for  a  Hock  ;  but  the  second  and 
third  generation  are,  in  my  mind,  a  more  dura¬ 
ble  and  satisfactory  slieep.  Wo  claim  tliis  espe¬ 
cially  in  our  rams,  bfitli  for  our  own  use  and  the 
flockmaBkrs  of  tlie  West  aud  Sontliwest. 
Another  object  wo  have  liccoiuplishcd  to  a 
certaiii  degree  is  advertising  our  stock  and  call¬ 
ing  ill  foreign  trade.  Our  aimnal  shearings  are 
glowing  iu  luuguitudo  and  are  attracting  cou- 
siderablo  attontion.  We  do  not  claim  that  the 
heaviest  fleece  or  heaviest  shearing  sheep  are 
the  best.  What  we  aim  for  is  size,  robustness 
aud  quality  of  wool,  with  a  fair  Icnglh  of  staple. 
’I’his  we  have  accomplished  quite  satisfactorily, 
but  still  perfection  has  not  bix>ri  attained ;  nei¬ 
ther  do  wo  ex^iect  to  reach  Hie  goal  for  some 
time  to  come.  Still,  our  rams  are  bred  to  con¬ 
tinue  this  typo  of  slieep. 
Wisconsin  rams  are,  as  a  rule,  grown  by  breed¬ 
ers  from  tho  tiiorouglihred  stock.  Wool  grow¬ 
ers  have  not  entered  into  ram  raising  as  in  some 
other  States.  This  is  the  source  of  clieap  rams, 
bought  aud  sold  in  the  West  for  full-blooded  by 
regular  traders.  Homo  States  have  acquired 
such  a  reputation  that  anything  coming  from 
their  borders  is  considered  all  right,  and  flock- 
masters  continue  to  patronize  them.  1  would 
hero  ask.  How  long  will  they  continue  to  pass 
Illinois  and  Missouri  by  and  go  to  Vermont  for 
stock,  wlien  they  can  sell  them  rams  clieaix.r  aud 
better,  fully  as  well-bred,  aud  all  tho  desirable 
lioints  are  gained  that  Vonnout  lias?  The  sav¬ 
ing  iu  transportation  is  an  item,  also,  to  look  to. 
All  those  points  are  in  our  favor.  Now  what  we 
must  do  is  to  let  the  llockmasters  of  the  West 
know  that  we  have  these  desirable  qualitlcations 
in  our  sheep,  and  are  ready  to  fill  any  orders  of 
aliMiist  any  magnitude,  aud  shoeii  piuohasod  of 
regular  established  lireetlers  are  really  of  more 
value  to  the  wool-grower  than  buying  sheep  pro¬ 
miscuously  of  traders.  These  men  work  for  all 
they  can  make.  As  a  matter  of  course,  they  pur¬ 
chase  the  cheapest  rams  tliey  c.an  Dud  aud  sell 
for  the  highest  price  they  can  get,  regardless  of 
breeding  or  giving  satisfaction  to  purchasers. 
The  object  of  the  breeder  is  to  grow  a  No.  1  an¬ 
imal,  and  iu  all  cases  toy  to  give  satbif action,  for 
in  this  his  reputation  aud  success  arc  at  stake. 
If  the  Western  flockmaslera  would  come  directly 
to  breeders  and  purchase  theto  stock,  methluks 
they  would  bo  well  repaid. 
Stock  is  to  ho  tho  main  hraiioh  of  husbandry, 
csiiecially  in  our  State.  If  the  millions  of  people 
populating  the  eutiro  land  must  be  clothed  by 
robbing  the  sheep  of  its  wool,  it  behooves  the 
wool-grower  to  see  to  his  laurels.  The  rearing  tl 
'  CL. 
