1853 . 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
95 
And the sows, also varied from the end of the 3d, 
to the end of the 5th month. 
The sheep were more uniform in regard to the 
time they carried their young, than either of the 
above; as but few exceeded, while more fell short 
of the usual period of five months. The greatest 
difference amounted to but eleven days'. The. 
dogs varied but four days, and their period was 
found to be two -months y while the rabbits, who 
carry their young hut one month, were found to 
vary eight days. - C. H. Cleayjsland. Water- 
bur y, Vt. 
L. F. Allen, of Black Rock, N. Y.. has kept 
(according to the Agricultor) an accurate state¬ 
ment of forty cows, the past season, consisting of 
Short-horns, Devons and IIereforels, and grade 
Short-horns and Devons., No average difference 
of time was found to occur between cows of either 
breed or its grades. He found im difference be¬ 
tween bull and heifer calves—contrary to common 
opinion—and no difference between old and young 
cows. The shortest period .was 274 days; the 
next shortest, were two cows at 279 days; .the 
longest was 291 days; the next longest, two at 
290 days. Botli the longest and shortest period 
were with bull calves. The average time for the 
whole forty cows, was 283§ days, or 9 months 
and 13 clays. | 
The most protracted period that ever came un¬ 
der our observation, was 319' days, or 10 months 
and 19 days, only two days less than Tessier’s 
longest, and exceeding by 28 days the longest pe¬ 
riod mentioned by L. F. Allen. The calf was 
quite as large as an ordinary four-weeks calf, and 
required the assistance of four men in its birth, 
destroying the calf without injury to the cow 7 . 
This cow usually, hut not always, extended her pe¬ 
riod beyond the usual time. 
Breaking Steers. 
The intelligence (If the term maybe used,) and 
instinct of animals, especially of young animals, 
are so closely combined, that the latter needs only 
to be studied, to enable the farmer to know how 
to manage his cattle and horses, so far at least as 
breaking and general use Is concerned. 
Young animals are at first instinctively afraid of 
restraint. They are unwilling to have their free¬ 
dom of motion impaired, or impeded In any way. 
Their instinct leads them to resist any restraint' 
put upon their- iS natural rights,” and to resist un¬ 
til they find resistance useless. 
This is the great thing to teach them—that re¬ 
sistance is useless, and getting away an impossibi¬ 
lity. 
Turn your .steers intended Pot mates, into a barn 
floor well littered, and close the doors. Be sure 
that they cannot get off from the floor by jump¬ 
ing into the bay,'or find any means of egress, until 
►you are ready to turn them out. Have your yoke, 
a chain, and if at hand, a pole or cart, or sled 
tongue. 
Then quietly, without loud words, go patiently 
to work. The steers will soon find they cannot 
get away, and without any lengthened resistance, 
will suffer themselves to*be*approached, handled, 
and yoked. Then teach them th%meaning of the 
words and phrases tobe used—to haw, to gee, &c.. 
at the word Hook and unhook the chain, and 
teach them to turn with the tongue or pole be¬ 
tween them. It is strange how much can be ac¬ 
complished in a few hours, by a man who will 
! work in this way' patiently, without scaring the 
| steers, or getting angry at them, or abusing them. 
A long whip should be used, made of a withe 
some eight feet long, and a short, light lash, from 
1 one to two feet in length. 
Never turn steers into a yard or pasture, with 
| the yoke on. Give them to understand that when 
j the yoke is on. they are to be subject to a master 
j until it is taken off. Never feed them in the yoke, 
! unless it he a, nubbin of corn from the hand, or 
j something of the kind. 
Any man who is fit- to break steers, will get a 
! woke handy in two lessons as above, of half a day 
! each. 
Btifc they most learn to lav out their strength 
by degrees; and the best wav to do this is to 
work them with other cat Ile—in the noddle, or 
behind. 
This, is a very good course to pursue, perhaps as 
good as any. Those who have tried it fairly and 
faithfully, always break their steers in this way.. 
Two years old is young enough to commence the 
process; and when commenced, let it be carried 
out, by yoking,- driving, and working every day, 
if possible, for some succeeding weeks. 
But after all, few rules, can be given which will 
be of an} 7 use, unless a man has the will to study 
the instincts of his animals; the' wik% t-o find out 
the instincts, and the common sense to treat them as 
animals governed by instinct. J. Stowe, Vt, 
Jan . 24, 1853. —e— 
Oxfordshire Sheep. 
l am convinced that a good agricultural paper 
pays the farmer a hundred fold its cost, simply as. 
a matter of pecuniary 'profit. I have just had 
this truth illustrated in my own experience. Like 
many other farmers, I had been for several, years 
dissatisfied with the profits on raising fine wooled 
sheep. The income has for years, been little more 
than the cost of food and attendance; I was satis- 
tied that wool merely, without mutton and mar¬ 
ket lambs, would not pay. But there was noth¬ 
ing better about me than the French Merinos, 
and these at extravagant prices, and superior, if 
at all, for wool only. 
In this state of mind, I became acquainted 
through the Cultivator, with one of your corres¬ 
pondents, John T. Andrew, of West Cornwall, 
(Ct.) a successful breeder of fine animals. In the 
course of some correspondence, relating to the 
purchase of some of his Chittagong fowls, I learn- 
ed that he had just such sheep as I wanted. 
I have just received four specimens, a pair, and 
two lambs. They are New Oxfordshire, of the 
largest size, and most beautiful in form and fleece. 
The pair, when in good condition, will weigh 500 
lbs. They come early to maturity, fatten well, 
and will bring ''from fifteen to twenty dollars 
each, for mutton. They fully satisfy my highest 
expectations, and T shall be proud to exhibit them 
to the lovers of beautiful sheep and fine mutton. 
The French Merinos are selling from $100 and 
upwards. These are, for my use, better and more 
profitable sbeep, and yet the four cost me, with 
all expenses included, not more than $100. For 
the other, $800,. I am much obliged to the Cul¬ 
tivator, and it seems to me a very small tribute of 
gratitude, to send you the enclosed two dollars 
as the first year's subscription to the Country 
Gentleman. Yours, fed., O. N. Bullis. 
Nov. 28th, 1852. 
