1864 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
721 
RURAL PRIZE ESSAY—CLASS VII. 
SHEEP -THE BEST BREEDS, AND HOW TO CARE 
FOR THEM. 
COLLINS B. WARNER. 
Which is the best breed of sheep for any in¬ 
dividual dej>ends somewhat upon his taste and 
situation, and the facilities which are afforded 
for the disposal of their products in the locality 
in which he lives, the number which he keeps, 
and the object he has in keeping them—wheth¬ 
er it be for wool or mutton. If wool is the 
principal object, the Merino is undoubtedly 
the best of all fine-wool breeds. Merinos can 
be kept in larger flocks, are more hardy and 
prolific than any others, and, as heavy shear¬ 
ers, they surpass them all. The lambs, too, 
are more easily raised, and when crossed with 
a coarse-wool ram, have a good weight of 
carcass, and are readily disposed of in mar¬ 
ket. Wlieu wool is the prime object, the 
Merino soems to combine all the good quali¬ 
ties needed, such as good constitution, heavy 
fleece, and thick, oily wool that is not easily 
soaked; they are, too, quiet feeders, and, 
above all, not liable to disease; while the 
ewes are good, gentle mothers. 
Among the coarse-wools, the opinions of 
breeders vary; each has his favorite. The 
Hampshire, the Shropshire and a cross be¬ 
tween the Cotswnld aud South Down, each 
has its advocates, who prefer It to all others. 
Some think the South Downs are unequaled 
as mutton sheep, but a cross with the Cots- 
wold adds nearly otic-fourth to the weight of 
carcass, and at the same time makes no per¬ 
ceptible difference iu excellence of the meat. 
The fleece of the Cots wold is so open that it 
easily wets through, and so long that it dries 
slowly, especially in the cold storms of Spring 
aud Fall—a very injurious thing to the ani¬ 
mal. A cross of the two breeds preserves the 
thick, compact fleece of the one, with the in¬ 
creased size of the other, and makes a breed 
which approaches very nearly to the Shrop¬ 
shire. Indeed, It is claimed by some English 
writers, that the Shropshire originated from 
such a cross; thus the most desirable breeds 
would be reduced to two—the Shropshire aud 
Hampshire. 
[The usual opinion is that the Shropshires 
originated from a cross of the Cotswold on the 
Mofe Common sheep—a horned black or 
brown-faced sheep, very hardy and free from 
disease. Afterwards they were improved by 
dushcs of Leicester and South-Down blood.— 
Edb.] 
There is no secret iu tho^irofitable feeding 
of sheep, except in one respect, and the well¬ 
being of the flock, and tho profits of the own¬ 
er, depend upon that; it is, to so manage, 
that they shuil be in a thriving condition at 
the commencement of Winter. It is all im¬ 
portant, at least, that they should not be 
losing flesh through tho late Fall. With 
other stocks liberal feed through the Winter 
may, iu purt, repair the damage done by 
neglect, or short fall feed; but with sheep 
such a mistake is not easily remedied, it is 
almost Impossible in Winter to recruit a sheep 
that is losing flesh; it is only by feeding grain 
liberally that it can be done at all, aud then, 
it must be fed carefully and with judgment, 
or it will result in disease instead of improve¬ 
ment; and even if successful in putting on 
flesb, it often results in the partial or often 
total loss of the fleece. Thus it is all import¬ 
ant that strict attention be paid to the amount 
and quality of the feed, iu early Winter. A 
little grain or a few roots are desirable, and 
pay well. If these are not given for thelirst 
three weeks, feed a good quality of hay, in 
good racks, at least four times a duy, and iu 
such quantities as the flock will eat clean. Be 
sure to clean the racks every day, and do not 
allow them to get filled with the '‘leavings/’ 
After the sheep get used to Winter, coarser 
hay and straw can be substituted, aud the 
number of feeds be reduced to three per day. 
I always feed most of my swamp bay to sheep, 
when they come to the ham in good order, 
with more satisfactory results than to any 
other stock, taking pains to sort out the poor¬ 
est, and to ewes which are coming in early, 
and to all ewes, six weeks before lambing 
time, 1 have always fed a small amount of 
grain until turned out to grass. 
The proper eare of sheep is of nearly as 
much importance as their feed, although it is 
not generally so considered. They should be 
properly tagged before beiug turned to past¬ 
ure, which should be as soon as grass starts 
in the Spring so they can get a living. The 
earlier the better, as the change will not be 
so great if they are turned out soon as if they 
are kept in till grass is flush. They should be 
fed a little grain for a week or 10 days; and 
once a day. a feed of row on hay, as long as 
they will eat it. On the occurrence of storms 
they should be got up, both in the Spring and 
Fall. Tho severe spring storms are the most 
injurious, as then the sheep have a full fleece, 
which, if thoroughly wet, sometimes requires 
days to dry, and renders them cold aud un¬ 
comfortable. They should bo visited and 
salted at least twice a week during the Sum¬ 
mer, Their pasture should bo dry, but sup¬ 
plied with good water, aud there should be as 
little swale land and wet spots as possible. 
Their winter-quarters should be a roomy 
yard, large enough to afford a good degree of 
exercise, aud a shod open upon one side, to¬ 
ward tho south, if possible, to protect them 
from the storms and wiud, aud largo enough 
not to be crowded. The three great essentials 
to successful sheep keeping in Winter are dry 
yards and sheds, pure air aud enough of it, 
ami pure water. By all means give them a 
good bed, sufficient to make it dry uuder foot. 
As iu the case of all other stock, gentleness 
and kind treatment at all times, with regular¬ 
ity in feeding, caunot he too strongly im¬ 
pressed upon those who care for them. Thoy 
will make more gain if they are tame and 
huve confidence in their keeper, than if wild 
and roughly used. 
There is a great objection to underground 
or barn cellars for sheep, for they are apt to 
be damp aud close, aud of all domestic ani¬ 
mals sheep require the most air, and like a 
dry bed best. Keep a sufficient number of 
feed racks out-of doors to hold hay for the 
whole flock; they can be easily removed under 
cover for use in stormy weather. Let the 
sheds bo so built that the flock can be boused 
in them from storm; but they should be well 
ventilated, and by all means left open in good 
weather. In our latitude wo have no weather 
cold enough to drive sheep iuto warm sheds 
or stables if they can find a dry bed iu the 
open air. 
If the keeper could avoid the necessity of 
washing sheep in tobacco or the various 
other preparations recommended to kill ticks, 
let him give the poultry free access to the 
sheep yard, and see how soou they will clear 
out the ticks, aud bo benefited thereby. I 
huve said nothing with regard to the treat¬ 
ment of these vermin or tho hoof-rot, because 
this subject ought not to be discussed in treat¬ 
ing of the ordiuury care of sheep, aud all dis¬ 
eases are more easily prevented than cured. 
Dry pastures in Bummer, dry yards and 
sheds, with plenty of air and exercise in Win¬ 
ter. a little sulphur occasionally lu their salt, 
will prevent both these troubles. I have a 
flock which, for ton years, has not been treat¬ 
ed for either, and I would us soon dip my 
horses in tobacco water as mypheep. (jive 
either close quarters or impure air and wet 
beds, and in one case lice aud scratches will 
be common plagues, and in the other, ticks and 
hoof-rot. 
Berkshire Co. 
Societies, tic. 
THE NORTH CAROLINA EXPOSITION. 
[RURAL SPECIAL REPORT.] 
On October 1st the North Carolina State 
Exposition of Arts and Industries opened at 
Raleigh, aud will continue open until the 28th 
inst. 
This is, beyond doubt, the most extensive 
display of the State’s resources and attractions 
ever brought together. No previous exhibi¬ 
tion has ever done justice to its products and 
manufactures. Properly this show should he 
called a ter-centenniul exposition, for, iu the 
Summer of 1584, just 800 years ago, the com¬ 
manders, Amidas and Barlow, of Raleigh’s 
Exposition, landed at Roanoke Island, aud 
laid the foundation of the emigration of the 
English-speaking race to America. 
At the Boston, Mass., Exhibition in 1888, 
the display from this State was very credi¬ 
table; and, from that time it was determined 
by the public-spirited, enterprising citizens of 
the Old North State to give as fine or a finer 
exhibition on their own soil at an early date, 
and this is the realization of that resolution. 
The main building contains 125,000 square 
feet, and is the largest ever erected iu the 
State. The chief attraction for capitalists in 
North Carolina lies in her crude products. It 
has long been known that her resources in tar, 
pitch, turpentine, resin and lumber are 
abundant, aud on her coast belt lie valuable 
beds of phosphate. Her mining possibiliiies 
are vast. Her soil and climate are treasures. 
Tobacco is the main source of revenue; but 
corn, sweet potatoes and cotton are usually 
very profitable. This year the corn crop was 
severely damaged by the excessive rains in 
July. Cotton will be three-fourths of a crop. 
The display made by the State Agricultural 
Department is the grandest feature of the Ex¬ 
position. It extends from the eastern main 
entrance (o the south side of the main build¬ 
ing. The exhibits are tastefully arranged on 
terraced tables in the center aisles, aud on the 
walls and floor. The total number of articles 
comprising this exhibit amounts to over 5,000, 
consisting of cereals; phosphates recently dis¬ 
covered and shown in a very extensive way; 
other fertilizers; precious stones, from dia¬ 
monds to rubles; aliout 30 distinct varieties 
of iron ore; gold; mica; granite; cotton and 
woolen goods manufactured in the State; 
fruits, embracing a splendid display of apples 
from six counties; tobacco from over 25 
counties; aquatic birds and animals stuffed; 
woods, rough and polished, showing their 
rare beauty; aud a very exteusive display 
of fish. Nearly every county in tho State is 
represented. 
The exhibition of machinery is very exten¬ 
sive. The attendance has hitherto not been 
very large, but it has increased every day 
since the opening, and now since the rate of 
fare on the railroads lias been lowered to one 
cent per milo it is reasonable to expect that 
henceforth the attendance will be larger. No 
rain has fallen in some places si nee August 
loth, and ou this account many have failed to 
come, for the ground is parched aud the dust 
almost Unbearable. Special days have boon 
assigned visitors from tho North, and the 
colored people also have their special days. 
The State Fair will bold its exhibition here, 
commencing the 2(Jth and will continue one 
week. It will be held in conjunction with the 
Exposition, and from preseut indications will 
lie a grand affair. The live stock show 
promises to be large. There is no doubt that 
this exposition will prove a lasting benefit to 
the State. j. k. s. 
FRUIT NOTES FROM INDIANA. 
This has been one of the most pleasant 
Autumns that the people of Indiana have 
seen for many years. Up to tho present time 
no frost of any account has been seen in this 
locality. Owing to the late mins and warm 
weather, the forest and shade trees still retain 
their green foliage, and meadows have the 
appearance of early Hummer. While walk 
ing in the experiment gardens to-day, I dis¬ 
covered that the gooseberries were putting 
forth a second crop of leaves, and that many 
of the strawberries were in blossom tho sec¬ 
ond time this year, and some were already 
past flowering, so that, with a few more days 
of the warm weather we are now having, we 
shall lie aide to pick ripe specimens of Ores¬ 
cent, Glendale, and Wilson. Iu looking 
among tho raspberries I found that the Mam¬ 
moth Cluster and Amazon (?) both contained 
a fair quantify of nearly ripe berries. The 
little Strawberry Leaf-roller (Auehylopera 
fragarhe. Riley), which has done so much 
damage in some localities, made its appear¬ 
ance here this year, and, as if not content 
with ruining the strawberries, I find it has 
attacked tho raspberries, injuring to some ex¬ 
tent the folinge of the Reliance, Brandywine, 
and Philadelphia. The insect is just iu tho 
larval state now, being ubout two weeks later 
than the usual time, as reported by Professor 
Forbes. The plan of cutting the Infested 
vines and burning them was tried during the 
past Summer, but. did not prove effectual. 
The better remedy, in my opinion, is an ap¬ 
plication of white hellebore and water put on 
with the Woodasnu Atomizer Bellows, which 
forces the liquid poison into the narrow hid¬ 
ing places of the larvae, and thus insures a 
more immediate contact of the poison with 
the insects. j, troop. 
Perdue University, La Fayette, Oct. 8. 
SMALL FRUIT NOTES. 
Of all the new strawberries I tested and 
fruited this dry Summer,uone equaled the Man¬ 
chester. It was my best cropper; clusters 
largest; berries continued large, with no 
white, hard seed, ami after all the others were 
too poor to sell for over six cents a quart, the 
Manchester were worth 10 cents. 
Of grapes I still believe Haleru one of the 
best. Enmeluus were the most prolific of 
any, aud I liked them much better than last 
season, Lady is uot nearly so hardy in stand¬ 
ing Wiuter unprotected as Brighton and Wor¬ 
den by its side. On our clay soil a well ri¬ 
pened Concord gives as good satisfaction to 
most people as any, aud will be preferred to 
the Delaware. But all like a variety, and no 
one wishes for all of one kind. 
Madison Co., N. Y. G. hammond. 
A NOTE FROM PRESIDENT WILDER. 
A correspondent to the Rural from Ohio 
states, in a late issue, that he has canes of the 
Ohio Black-cap, three years planted,\ which 
are 11 feet in length, and inquires (“How is 
that for a cane?’’ Very good, but not extra¬ 
ordinary for a black-cap variety. Now, I 
have a cane of the Marlboro Raspberry, plant¬ 
ed last May, t.but measures exactly nine feet 
in length aud two inches in circumference at 
the base, which I shall cut to-morrow and 
send in to the Massachusetts Horticultural 
Society. marshal p. wilder. 
[We have a cane of the Ohio Black-cap 1(» 
feet long —Eds.] 
(Tl)e 'VinnjariX 
GRAPE NOTES IN TEXAS. 
T. V. MUNSON. 
The followiug table was carefully compiled 
from notes taken chiefly in my experimental 
vineyard, but supplemented in some points 
from notes taken in neighboring vineyards, 
by myself or others, and data as to origin, 
etc., of most varieties, from Bush & Son & 
Meissner’s able manual on the grape. It was 
compiled specially to aid mo iu my work of 
originating new varieties. 
My method of hybridizing—which 1 term 
the "natural method”— requires a knowledge 
of the times of blooming. Along with this I 
wished to know the weak and strong points, 
relatively, of each species aud variety, so as 
to avoid the one aud preserve the other in 
my productions. The tnblo is eminently 
practical, and as scientific as I dare make it 
for popular reading; but tho true viticultur¬ 
ist, or lie who desires to bo such, will uot ob¬ 
ject on that account. 
The artificial method of hybridizing, though 
ever so oarfully practiced, is liable to mar the 
exquisitely tender pollen grains or the stigma, 
or in it the polleu or stigma is uuder or over¬ 
ripe, and thus, at the very starting of the 
variety sought, constitutional weakness is In¬ 
duced, while by my method this is avoided. 
I may have to plant more seed and grow more 
seedlings to fruiting age, to get the hybirds 
desired; yet my method saves In one way 
what Is lost Iu auother; it produces a perfectly 
natural and healthy hybrid or cross, aud a 
great multiplicity of these to select from, so 
nothing weak or indifferent need be taken, as 
is usually done iu the artificial method with 
scissors, brush and magnifier; this process 
being so tedious, comparatively few vines can 
be grown. 
For the benefit of those who wish to kuovv 
my method I give it here: For the female 
parent 1 select a variety which blooms a few 
days later than the one chosen for the male 
parent (the pollen-furnisher), unless I design 
to grow varieties from both, then blooming 
together or a few days apart; either way will 
do, as many fruits ou either will contain 
hybrid seed. I plant these two vigorous, 
young vines, one on each side of the same 
post, and train them up side by side till they 
reach their most vigorous bearing season. A 
day or two before they begin to bloom, I sur¬ 
round both entirely with thin muslin, arms 
ou the post keeping it off the plants; thus no 
insects can pass iu or out. Every day, after 
each plant has commenced to bloom till 
through, about 10 a. m., when most blooms 
are opening. I lift the bottom of the muslin, 
introduce my hand with a fan, aud gently 
fan, so as to create a circulation of air within 
the muslin: thus the air will become filled 
with pollen, and numerous crosses be made, 
wh[le there is no possibility of any mixture 
except that of the two vinos used. 4 The mus¬ 
lin is kept closed until blooming is over. The 
fan is cleaned by brushing, or passing it 
through a flume, to get. rid of any pollen 
grains that may have adhered to it, so as not 
to vitiate other experiments with other vines 
on the sumo plan. [We have found in some 
years that the pollen is ripe before the cap 
falls; in other years (as during the past sea¬ 
son) it was not ripe generally until after. We 
should suppose by Mr. Munson’s method that 
a very large per eeutago of seeds would be the 
result of self-fertilization.—E ds.] 
If it is desired to hybridize kinds which 
have different seasons of blooming, such as 
Rupestrte and Cinerea (the earliest aud latest 
bloomers), I pinch off the first growth of the 
earliest for several days, so that some at 
least of the new growth will be blooming at 
the same time as the later kind. Almost any 
kind can thusbemadeto bloom when wanted. 
To grow seedlings largely this way, one must 
make all due preparations, and attend to the 
work with businesslike care; good results 
may then be reasonably expected, as iu the 
case of any other crop intelligently produced. 
The superstitious idea, so common, that a 
cbunce seedling Is more liable to produce 
something desirable than one intelligently 
produced, is akin to the notion that a lottery 
ticket is the best investment. Lottery tickets 
and chance seedlings sometimes draw prizes, 
but seeking these will never constitute a legit 
imate,or_laudable employment. 
