1917. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
285 
Ide’s Wheel Cultivator and Wire-Grass Plow. 
—The above cut represents the implement advertised 
by Nathan Ide in the August number of the Cultiva¬ 
tor. Its advantages are enumerated as follows:— 
e: 1. By means of the wheels, the machine runs easy, 
and the teeth go to a uniform depth. 2. The teeth 
are so long that the machine never chokes. 3. The 
tongue guides the implement with accuracy and pre¬ 
cision. And 4. At seed time, by going the last time 
across the lands, small channels or ducts are formed 
leading into the main furrows, which effectually take 
off the surplus moisture, and thus render the wheat 
less liable to be winter killed.” For further particu¬ 
lars see Mr. Ide’s advertisement. 
Influence of the Male in Sheep-Breeding. 
I am aware that many do not fully realize how highly 
essential it is that we breed from none but the most 
perfect of male animals. It is truly astonishing to 
look about among wool-growers, and see how much 
indifference, how little discrimination is generally 
manifested on this point. Many have not that exten¬ 
sive experience, combined with scrutinizing observa¬ 
tion, to enable them to make the best selections, pro¬ 
vided they have the means, disposition, and an oppor¬ 
tunity; others are so destitute of the spirit of improve¬ 
ment, think so much of present labor and expense, that 
they will not pursue a course that would in the end be 
productive of the highest benefit. Much of this re¬ 
sults from the want of knowledge as to the true com¬ 
parative value of breeding animals. This value is not 
to be computed by the present difference in the value 
of the fleece and carcass; but by the difference in the 
value of the offspring. 
Suppose, for instance, we have a flock of. 100 breed¬ 
ing ewes, and are to select bucks from one or two 
classes, both of which, for constitution, size, and form, 
are equally good; the one with an ordinary fleece can 
be obtained for three dollars; the other, with a prime 
fleece, both alike as it respects quantity and quality, for 
ton. Which shall we choose?’ From a knowledge of 
the properties that constitute the intrinsic value*" of a 
sheep, and a knowledge of the male influence upon the 
offspring, I am satisfied that the progeny of the last 
named class, will give four ounces of wool more per 
head, that shall be worth three cents more per pound. 
Admitting that they shear three pounds and one-fourth 
of wool, worth forty cents per pound, here would be an 
improvement of ten cents in the quantity, and about 
ten in the quality; making twenty cents in the value 
of each fleece; to this we may safely add twenty cents 
for the increased value of the sheep for the future 
production of wool, and one-half of thi* sum for their in¬ 
creased value for breeding; making an aggregate of 50 
c mts on each individual offspring, whiclTon 100 would 
amount to $50, quite a handsome little sum to add to 
one s annual profits. The statement may seem extra¬ 
vagant to some, but ex¬ 
perienced breeders will 
tell you it is only a mod¬ 
erate estimate, and that 
too, when the ewes are 
not above a medium cha¬ 
racter. I know of flocks 
where five hundred dol¬ 
lars would be no induce¬ 
ment to the owner to use 
such bucks as are fre¬ 
quently used by nine- 
tenths of wool-growers. 
And notwithstanding all 
this, I fear there are not 
a few, who, sooner than 
pay $5 difference between 
two bucks, under the above circumstances, would ig¬ 
norantly sacrifice ten times this amount, honestly be¬ 
lieving it the best and most profitable course. 
From what I have said, I would not have one infer 
that I always think the highest priced animals the best 
or the most profitable. A man’s asking or paying a 
high price, adds nothing to the value. What I have 
aimed to illustrate, is, that we had much better pay a 
reasonable price for a good animal, than to use an or¬ 
dinary one as a gift. 
There is, in this vicinity, a brisk demand for wool, 
at the present time, with an advance in the prices from 6 
to 8 cts. from what it was last year at this time. Our 
wool is in better Condition than it has been in former 
years; people are getting into the practice of wetting 
their sheep previous to washing, which is found to be 
a great improvement. Wool, as a general thing, is 
lighter than usual, which is probably owing in part to 
its better preparation, and in part to disease, brought 
on by the maggot-fly, and the long severe winter. I 
have not as yet weighed any fleeces but yearlings, 
(May lambs,) which are as follows: 
20 yearling ewes, total, 105 lbs. 8 oz., av’g 5 lbs. 4 oz. 
100 yearlings, total,... 464 “ 5 “ “ 4 11 10 “ 
We are beginning to open our eyes to the impor¬ 
tance of establishing wool depots. I understand there 
is much wool sold in this manner in the state of New- 
York. E. Bridge. Promfret , Windsor Co., Vt., 
July 27, 1847. . 
Protracted Gestation in Cows— Inquiry. —A 
very fine cow has been subject to difficulty in calving 
—a chief cause appears to be the long period of her 
going with calf. At the last time an accurate account 
was kept, and the time was found to be 319 days, or 
ten months and a half. The longest period I find on 
record, was reported by Tessier in his Memoir read to 
thn Academy of Sciences at Paris, in which he states 
that out of 1131 cows, one extended her time to 321 
days, or only two days longer than the case I have just 
mentioned. The calf was so large that all pronounced 
it equal in size to a common six weeks calf, and the 
united strength of four men drawing at ropes, was 
needed to extract it. The cow is doing well; but will 
some one who has had experience in such matters, in¬ 
form me if there is no remedy for this evil for the fu¬ 
ture, as the cow is one of extraordinary excellence. 
B. H. . 
Seeding to Grass in August. —A new practice 
has obtained among some farmers in this section, deri¬ 
ved first from Mr’. Buckminster of the Massachusetts 
Plowman, of seeding down to grass upon the green 
sward furrow, in the latter part of August or first of 
September. When apiece of land becomes “ bound 
out,” as the phrase is, or ceases to yield a good 
swath, it is very carefully and nicely turned over by 
the plow at this season, and rolled down. Fifteen to 
twenty loads of fine compost are then spread to the 
