1858 
THE CULTIVATOR 
83 
The New Pears— (Continued.) 
Comte de Flandre. —Rather large, pyriform, ob¬ 
lique ; skin greenish yellow, becoming yeliow at matu¬ 
rity, with numerous small dots, and marked with thin 
russet; stem an inch long, set under a lip, with little 
or no depression ; calyx in a shallow basin ; flesh very 
juicy and melting, with an agreeable, refreshing flavor ; 
quality “ very good.” Tree vigorous and productive. 
Season, late in autumn. Although this pear is hardly 
so high flavored as some of our finest varieties, yet 
when well ripened, its juiciness and agreeable aroma, 
render it one of the most delicious sorts. 
- • a - 
The Tartar or Chinese Sheep. 
Having received an inquiry in regard to these sheep, 
we addressed a note to a gentleman in Saratoga coun¬ 
ty, who we knew had some of them. His reply is as 
follows: 
Gentlemen —Your note of Jan. 20th, has been re¬ 
ceived, and in answer to your inquiries, I briefly give 
you the result of my experience with the Tartar sheep, 
In the spring of 1856, I received three ewes and one 
buck lamb. Since that time they have produced twen¬ 
ty-three lambs—a number died at the birth. I think 
one cause of their dying was breeding too fast. The 
ewes did not recover strength enough for the second 
crop of lambs I shall let them have lambs but once 
this year, in order to see whether they will do better 
by breeding once or twice in the year. 
From-my experience thus far, it is my opinion they 
will be a very profitable mutton sheep. They come 
very early to maturity, and I have tested as far as I was 
able, the quality of the mutton. It is very fine flavor¬ 
ed, juicy, and entirely free from the strong taste of 
many other varieties. 
They are different in some respects from all other 
sheep that I am acquainted with, in their quiet, peace¬ 
able habits. When put into a field they don’t wish to 
leave it, and I doubt whether they could be driven over 
a three rail fence. 
They are very hardy, and appear to stand this cli¬ 
mate as well as any other sheep in the country. 
The wool will not be very valuable. I think it only 
fitted for tho coarser fabrics, such as carpets, horse 
blankets, &o. 
It is my opinion, when we take into consideration 
their rapid breeding and mutton qualities, that they 
will prove a valuable acquisition to the country. 
•-»«-<*- 
Buckwheat for Swine. 
The Country Gentleman, Vol. xi, No. 3, mentions 
two cases of buckwheat bran proving injurious to young 
pigs, by being fed to sows suckling them—and inquires 
whether any cases of the kind have fallen under the 
notice of the readers of that sheet. We would say that 
a case precisely similar to those mentioned, occurred in 
a litter of fine pigs, belonging to one of our neighbors. 
His sow dropped seven thrifty pigs, of much promise. 
A few days after birth, without any apparent cause, 
one after another of the pigs became weak, lame, and 
puny in all respects, and nearly half of them died. 
Only three remained unaffected. 
The sow was attacked with piles, soon after, and at 
this juncture their owner applied to us for information. 
We recommended to discontinue feeding buckwheat. 
He accordingly did so ; the pigs grew thriftily, and the 
sow recovered from her piles almost immediately. A 
thrifty sow, belonging to another neighbor, fed upon 
buckwheat, mixed with other grain and slops, was a 
few weeks since attacked with piles. An impression 
exists in this vicinity, handed down by our good Dutch 
ancestors, that swine fed upon buckwheat are liable to 
attacks of piles; also, that swine bedded with buck¬ 
wheat straw are subject to scurvey. What is the ex¬ 
perience of your correspondents 7 Dunham & Wood. 
Etna , Tompkins Co., N. Y. 
In November last I lost a very fine litter of six Suf¬ 
folk pigs, and I know of no other cause than feeding 
the sow buckwheat bran. They died at intervals of 
about a week; but they were affected very differently 
from those spoken of by Mr. Reynolds in the Prairie 
Farmer. Mine were very fat; one of them that died 
when four weeks old, weighed 25 pounds. They ap¬ 
peared to choke or smother on account of being so fat. 
E. M. McC. Walnut Rill , near Newcastle , Pa. 
—--e* «- 
Albany County Ag. Society. —At the annual 
meeting of this Society, held in this city on the 13th 
inst., the following officers were elected : 
President—W m. Hurst of Albany. 
Vice Presidents—J. Winne of Bethlehem ; D. V. S. 
Raynsford, New Scotland ; Wm. Bullock, Bethlehem ; 
Henry I. Devoe, Bern • Dr. P. B. Noxon. Watervliet; 
Gordon Gallup, Knox ; .Joshua'Aley, Rensselaerville ; D. 
Eredenburgh, Coeymans ; Dr. R. S. Lay, Wester!o ; Peter 
Vedder, Guilderland. 
Directors—Wm. Little, Coeymans ; John Waggoner, 
Goilderiand. 
Secretary—A. L. Chatfield, Albany 
Treasurer—H. L. Emery, Albany. 
-- 
Feeding. —If all farmers should feed all their cattle 
food so as to save all the nutriment, it would nearly 
double the value of their products.— Prof. Nash. 
