THE CULTIVATOR. 113 
ottered our fleece annually, without a murmur, to be appropriated to oth¬ 
er impiovements? Is it unreasonable that in turn we should require a 
small portion of our own to be applied to our peculiar benefit? A small 
portion of the interest paid annually to the University, would in a few 
years put our scheme completely in operation, and I verily believe after 
that it would be able to support itself. However, ail these things might 
be discussed in convention, and digested in a form that would be most ac¬ 
ceptable. And I may be permitted to add, that for once we should have 
a convention whose sole object would be the good of the country—a spec¬ 
tacle so singular in these times, that it could not fail to be as consolatory 
as the oasis to the weaiy traveller of the desert. 
If you agree with me on this point, you can greatly promote the object 
by inviting the meeting in your journal. If I thought my name would be 
of any service, you would be at liberty to use it with my remarks. But 
I fear not. However do as you please. I have it much at heart to do 
something. Better heads than mine may suggest better plans, to which 
I will most cordially submit. 
Accept assurances of my high consideration, 
JAMES BARBOUR. 
We concur entirely with the foregoing views and recommendations, and 
shall be pleased lo aid them, as has heretofore been attempted, through this 
journal. We are also clearly of the opinion that nothing in aid of agricultural 
interests, or agricultural.science, is to be expected from our legislature, unless 
prompted and urged by the expressed wishes of their constituents: and there¬ 
fore the more ready admission of the necessity, and probable advantages, of 
consultation among the zealous and intelligent friends of agriculture—eilher in 
the mode proposed above, or in some oilier. There is no individual whose 
voice is entitled to be heard with more respect on this matter, than our corre¬ 
spondent ; but it is desirable that others should also present their views, both 
as to the objects to be sought, and the mode of seeking them. Though wil¬ 
ling to support, and lend our efforts to further any other plan of combining our 
force that may be found more pleasing to the great number of the agricultural 
community, we see no reason now to object to the particular plan proposed 
above, viz : a meeting and free conference of all the members of the agricul¬ 
tural interest in Virginia, who may have enough zeal to join in the effort, for 
the purpose of determining on what aid of government agriculture most needs, 
and of asking it respectfully of the legislature. In the mean time the expres¬ 
sion of different views on this subject, and discussing the comparative merits 
of the different ultimate objects in view, will greatly facilitate the operations 
of such an agricultural conference —and we invite to our pages, the expression 
of opinion of any of those who feel an interest in this important subject. 
It is hoped that the several societies will take the proposal into considera¬ 
tion, and give it their support. In whatever manner ihe meeting may be con¬ 
stituted, there can be no sound objection to the qualifications of any individu¬ 
al as a member. The agricultural interest in Virginia, however overlooked 
and neglected by the government, is still the national interest —and nothing 
can be derived for its benefit, by the whole or by any portion of those belong¬ 
ing to it, which would not be as beneficial to the commonwealth, as to agri¬ 
culture. Such a meeting could not do otherwise than honestly labor for the 
good of the country—because that would be most effectually done by support¬ 
ing their own. All bodies of men may be trusted implicitly when their pri¬ 
vate interest is to be promoted by the same measure, that will support that of 
their country—and none ought lo be trusted when these interests are separate 
and opposed.— Ed. Reg. 
From the Genesee Farmer. 
MANAGEMENT OF THE VINE. 
My management of the vine is. 
First —to get the most ripe wood: and, 
Second —to perfect the ripening of the grape. 
1. In order to get the most ripe wood, I, in my summer training, take 
out all the wood which shows no fruit, and also pinch off all the laterals, 
taking care to give about one foot space between each shoot, to the top of 
my trellises, which are about feet high. I train my vines, (i. e. the 
Catawba, Fox, Munier, Sweet Water, and White Frontenac and White 
Chasselas,) fan shaped; and as soon as I find my grapes out of blow, I 
head down my vines to the top of the trellises, leaving about two buds 
from the lruit upon each shoot. By this means I get light and air through 
my vines, which 2d, ripens the fruit much sooner. As Ihe foliage is thin¬ 
ned out, the sap flows more readily to the fruit, and does not evaporate 
upon the leaves, but is retained in the fruit, which is ceitainly a benefit. 
I keep my vines as free as possible from grass and weeds, and loosen the 
earth around them once or twice a week with a garden hoe, thereby giving 
the roots all the advantage of a loose soil. 
During the dry weather in the latter part of May, I found that the ants 
had taken possession of several of the roots of my vines, and nearly, be¬ 
fore I was aware of it, laid the roots near the surface bare of earth. I 
soon removed these trespassers by applying a shovel or two full of ashes 
on the spot infested, and in a few hours they removed, and I have not 
been troubled with them since. 
I am training this year an Isabella vine upon a little different plan. I 
lead out upon each side of the vine four or five arms, and tie them fast to 
the trellises, to the length of eighteen or twenty feet, which gives me 
eight arms fiom thirty-six to forty long. I thin them as the shoots grow, 
lead them up to the trellis above, and tie fast. In that way I fill up all the 
space, say of seven feet high by forty feet long, say 280 square feet, each 
Vol, II. 15 
shoot averaging thre^ clusters of grapes. My vine thus trained, this year 
will yield me Morn four to five bushels of ripe fruit. 
Rochester, June 27, 1835. A. M. CLARK. 
From the New England Farmer. 
MERINO SHEEP. 
Mn. Fessenden —Having for many years been a breeder of fine wool 
sheep, I beg leave to offer you the result of my experience, and if it shauld 
not correspond w ith the observation of other breeders, I can assure them, 
my flock has never suffered, from want of care and expense in their first 
purchase, for unwearied attention to their management or for the good 
condition in which they have uniformly been kept. The sheep were pro¬ 
vided with good pasture in summer, and extensive airy sheds in winter, and 
fed on English hay, with a few potatoes towards spring. The merino 
sheep imported into this country, from 1803 to 1811, were chiefly of the 
Spanish Escurial, the Poular, Gaudaloupe, Infantado, Montano, and Ni- 
gretti. 
The Escurial were beautiful fine wooled sheep, free from grease, not 
carrying a very heavy fleece, or a very strong constitution. The Nigretti 
were the largest sheep of any imported. The other three flocks were of 
good size, short legs, round chest and sheared very large and heavy fleeces. 
My flock was from the Paular and Gaudaloupe, and particularly distinguish¬ 
ed for the quantity and quality of their wool, and differs from the others in 
a looseness of skin on the neck, with a more evident degree of throatiness. 
Their lambs were generally produced with a coarse, hairy appearance, 
which was succeeded by a coat of unusual closeness and of excellent qua¬ 
lity. Among the great numbers of sheep imported into this country, in¬ 
dividuals belonging to the same flocks differ greatly in the size of the car¬ 
cass, as well as the weight and fineness of the fleece. The great object, 
at that time in forming my flock, was quantity and quality, lor, with the 
first requisite, I always found the hardiest, strongest constitutions. I en¬ 
deavored to obtain a fleece that would produce the greatest profit, and so 
well had I succeeded, that to the time when Saxony sheep were introduc¬ 
ed, the entire flock averaged four and a quarter to four and a half pounds 
of washed wool, and sold at seventy to seventy-five cents per pound. 
There were no wethers in the flock. Ewes would shear from three and 
three quarters to four and a quarter pounds. Bucks from six to nine 
pounds. Yearlings from four to four and a half. 
On the importation of Saxony sheep 1 bought largely, confident I should 
soon realize in fineness, more than I lost in the diminished quantity of the 
merino fleeces. But I was sadly disappointed, for I lost not only in the 
value of the fleece, but still more by feebleness of constitution. My me¬ 
rino lambs used to drop in March, and their close hairy coats afforded a 
protection at once. But I found March was too cold for mv delicate, half 
naked little Saxons. I was obliged to have them drop in May. This was 
a bad arrangement, for when the lambs were weaned, it was so late in 
the season, that the mothers would not get fat, as formerly. The merino 
lambs were so hardy that the loss of one, could almost always be traced to 
some accident or neglect, hut the Saxons would die in spite of all my care 
and attention, full fifteen and twenty per cent. The average weight of 
my fleeces became very much reduced, and I never sold my clip for over 
eight cents per pound. Two years ago I became satisfied of my mistake 
and loss, occasioned by the Saxons, and sold out the whole, reserving to 
myself such of my old merinos as I could select, that had escaped the ge¬ 
neral slaughter, and by repurchasing some, I had previously sold, I have 
now a small flock of merinos with which I shall be satisfied, without fur¬ 
ther experiments. The ewes, with two exceptions, have lamb3 by their 
sides and their fleeces in June averaged four pounds one ounce. Some 
of the oldest shearing less, and others more, and one reaching five pounds 
fourteen ounces. One of the bucks sheared eight pounds and one quarter. 
This wool, washed on the sheep, sold at sixty-seven cents per pound cash. 
It is a peculiarity of the merinos, of which I am speaking, that they 
abound witll a greasy secretion, from the skin,—(not stiff hard gum) but 
an oily substance, which spreads itself through the whole fleece so that 
the surface assumes a blackish or dark brown appearance and retaining 
the dust and soil, forms with it a coat that contribules largely to defend 
the animals from the ill effects of cold and wet. It improves rather than 
injures the quality of the fleece beneath, and it is easily removed by or¬ 
dinary brook washing. 
The wool is of very uniform fineness, close and compact, and extends 
quite down to the hoofs and over the face. 
In this part of the country there is a general disposition to get rid of the 
light fleeced and light coristitutioned sheep and replace them by the Spa¬ 
nish merinos, as we formerly had them. Before the return of another sea¬ 
son I intend to import from Spain, for the use of my own little flock, (for 
the benefit of a cross of blood) two merino bucks, that shall possess as far 
as possible, the great requisite of quantity and quality. T. 
Hartford, Ct. August, 1835. 
From the N. Y. Mechanics' Magazine. 
MR. BURDEN’S SPIKES. 
The public has already had the means of knowing that the above named 
enterprising individual invented some years since, a machine for mak- 
