28 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
tages of feeding sheep in winter under cover, in barns or sheds, I will 
add, that in the winter of 1825-6, I fed fifty-seven sheep (ray entire 
flock,) in the open air, in yards, from racks, and in June following, 
sheared from the same 1631 pounds of wool, averaging 2 pounds 14 
ounces per head. In 1826-7 I fed 84 in the same manner, and in June 
following, sheared 225 pounds 10 ounces of wool from the same, averag¬ 
ing only 2 pounds 11 ounces per head. The next winter my flock (101) 
Were fed in the same manner, and in June I sheared 279J pounds of 
wool from them, averaging 2 pounds 12 ounces per head. But from 
three years’ experience, and close observation, I was led to doubt the utili¬ 
ty of feeding sheep on the ground, or in racks in the open air, in winter, 
and in the summer of 1828, I built me a barn for their particular ac¬ 
commodation, and have since fed my entire flock under cover, to my 
entire satisfaction. 
In June, 1829, from 105, I sheared 3131b. averaging a trifle less than3 lb. prhd. 
1830, 
“ 92, 
“ 29311b. averaging 31b. 2Joz. per head. 
1831, 
" 114 
“ 425 
do. 
3 113 
do. 
1832, 
“ 125, 
‘ ‘ 396 
do. 
3 21 
do. 
1833, 
“ 103, 
“ 348 
do. 
3 6 
do. 
1834, 
“ 130, 
“ 462 
do. 
3 8 
do. 
1835, 
“ 166, 
“ 521 
do. 
3 21 
do. 
From the above it will readily appear at a glance, that at every shear¬ 
ing since I have fed under cover, my flock have produced, upon an 
average, from two ounces to one pound more wool per head, than when 
fed in the open air ; and I verily believe that I have saved, at least, 25 
per cent in fodder, besides a great number of sheep and Iambs. Every 
farmer knows, that by foddering sheep on the ground, or in racks,, es¬ 
pecially in the fall and spring, and in rainy weather, much of the hay 
is wet, trampled under their feet and wasted. But here, in a barn, or 
under a shed, it is perfectly dry; and if not eaten, is not destroyed. 
By carrying it into the yard, other stock will readily eat what is left by 
the sheep. Here, also, they are exempt from the cold and wet storms 
in the spring that are so deleterious to their health—especially to old 
and very poor sheep, and to ewes with lamb. I have, I believe, three 
or four seasons, within seven year, reared from forty-five to fifty lambs 
in a season, without losing one. My actual sales of wool and sheep 
for eight years past, amount to $1,703.13, and the increase of my flock 
is now worth three hundred dollars more. In conclusion, I would say 
to my brother farmers, “go thou and do likewise.” I must desist from 
giving a plan and description of my barn, for the want of room. 
And now, sir, if you think any of the foregoing is worth publishing, 
you are at liberty to do it, after making the necessary corrections, &c. 
Respectfully yours, ROBERT MILLARD. 
P. S. The wheat crop in this section of the state, has been more or 
less injured, I believe, for twelve years past, by what is here called 
“insects in the head.” “These insects or maggots prey upon the ker¬ 
nel while growing in the field, and before the grain has become hard.” 
In 1824 I had a field, containing five or six acres, about half destroyed, 
and subsequently, for four or five years, my entire crop was destroyed. 
In 1830 I abandoned the idea of trying to raise wheat here, and have 
not since sown any. A neighbor of mine wishes me to say, however, 
that for two years past he has raised fine crops of spring wheat, by 
sowing his seed the 1st of June. Not an insect or maggot was to be 
found in either crop. R. M 
Hampton, Washington Co. N\ Y. Fob. 27, 1836. 
MERINO SHEEP. 
Mr. Buel. —I observed, in your last Cultivator, some remarks upon 
the emigrant merino, particularly the Rambouillet, imported by Robert 
R. Livingston, Esq. in 1802. Perhaps it would be interesting to some 
of your numerous readers to know that that breed of sheep is still pre¬ 
served by the family of that gentleman. Understanding this to be the 
fact, I visited, last summer, the estate of Robert L. Liyingston, Esq. 
who resides up.on the old domain of the late Chancellor Livingston, in 
the town of Clermont, Columbia county, and there found a beautiful 
flock of merinos, bearing the characteristic marks of that sheep ; and 
although Mr. Livingston, at present wishes to increase his flock, he, 
with the liberality for which he is so justly esteemed, generously per¬ 
mitted me to select a few to commence another pure flock ; he informed 
me, that since the chancellor’s death he has continued to breed in-and- 
in. The Hon. Edward P. Livingston, who also inherited a part of the 
chancellor’s flock, has likewise done the same, I am informed. 
Since I am upon the subject of sheep, I will observe, that the vines 
of the field bean, with the pods apd husks, after the beans are threshed, 
are excellent feed for sheep. I make this remark because I have seen 
in some paper, bean vines condemned as useless; and, likewise, upon 
travelling this fall, a little below the city of Hudson, a large quantity 
carted into the road and left but to rot upon the ground. Facts are stub¬ 
born things. Some years ago I raised two or three acres of the com¬ 
mon field or white bean; the straw, or vines, after threshing, I laid 
away for my sheep, and confined a small flock of them to that kind of 
fodder entirely, having enough to feed them the most of the winter, 
and although, after my vines were gone, I fed them with the best of 
hay, they lost flesh. They will eat all the vines except the woody part. 
Yours respectfully, NATHAN BECKWITH. 
Red-Hook, January 29, 1836. 
CURE FOR THE FOOT ROT IN SHEEP. 
The foot rot is an ulceration proceeding from inoculation only, which 
tends to destroy the hoof; it is most prevalent in low, wet pastures. 
The rot is so powerful in warm, moist weather, that the ulcerous mat¬ 
ter may be discovered within three days after the exposure. The great 
and first point of cure is, to pare off all the infected part of the hoof, 
so as to expose the least particle of infection, which must be removed: 
then apply a strong decoction of pulverized blue vitriol, dissolved in 
water, adding, as used, spirits of turpentine ; let them remain in a dry 
yard a few hours. In all cases, it is of great importance to separate 
the diseased animals from the flock, and range in dry pastures. When 
the disease has not been long seated, nor, in a manner confirmed, after 
cleaning the foot, and paring away the infected parts, the application 
of spirits of turpentine, or a mixture of oil of vitriol, one part with 
two of water, then dipping it in boiling tar, is an effectual remedy. In 
the winter, the animal may be infected, and yet you cannot discover 
any lameness; it is, in this season, too often neglected; if so, when 
warm weather approaches, it rages again. The best time to cure the 
foot rot, is cold weather ; freezing destroys the ulcerous matter, simi¬ 
lar to the infection of small-pox—after freezing, it will not take effect. 
It is highly necessary to examine them every week until cured, which 
will require three or four thorough examinations, when the ulceration 
is confirmed. S. W. JEWETT. 
Waybride, Vt. Feb. 29, 1836. 
ON THE MANAGEMENT OF PASTURE GROUNDS. 
J. Buel, Esq.—Sir—You will confer a favor upon one of your sub¬ 
scribers, and probably gratify many of the patrons of the Cultivator, 
by some information relating to the fodder or forage for the stock of 
the wool grower and the dairyman. These two branches of farming 
are yearly becoming of more importance, and the most expensive part 
of which is the wintering of cows and sheep. Your views, sir, with 
regard to the application of our common barnyard manure to meadows, 
and such land as is not suitable for ploughing—whether in a coarse un¬ 
fermented state, and applied in the spring or to remain in the yard, and 
be allowed to ferment through the summer, and applied in the fall, 
would probably be read with interest. I am aware, sir, that your ge¬ 
neral mode of manuring land with unfermented manure, is by plough¬ 
ing it in; but, sir, there are instances where it would be attended with 
great loss to the farmer, to dispose of his stock, or even a part of it, 
for the purpose of manuring his meadows in this manner, and it would 
also require a number of years to accomplish it. I also claim that there 
is much land in our country, which for various reasons, is totally unfit 
for the plough, after a smooth surface has been obtained. I should 
likewise be pleased to read your views relating to the various species 
of grass, suitable for hay and pasture ; but very few of our farmers 
use but two kinds for seeding their lands, viz : herdsgrass and clover. 
I have seen the following advertised, and I presume many of our far¬ 
mers are unacquainted with their value, and the proper soils to which 
they are adapted, &c. viz : white Dutch clover, common white clover, 
crimson clover, lucerne, Italian rye grass, Pacy grass, perennial grass, 
prairie grass, orchard grass, red top, Rhode Island bent. To such wool 
growers and dairymen whose lands are not suitable for ploughing, the 
introduction of- a species of grass of a more durable nature, than herds 
grass and common clover, would be important. 
If you are disposed, sir, to give your views relating to the above, 
they will undoubtedly be read with interest in the Cultivator. 
Very truly yours, &c. 
February, 1836. A DAIRYMAM. 
REMARKS. 
Our correspondent’s queries relate principally to old grass grounds. We 
confess we have had so little experience in this matter, that our answers must 
be drawn altogether from theory. The deterioration of grasses arises from one 
or two causes—1. the diminution of the more nutritious herbage, in conse¬ 
quence of the exhaustion of their specific food, and the introduction, in its 
place, of mosses, and coarse herbage ; or, 2. the existence of too much water 
in the soih or reposing upon a tenacious subsoil, which causes the sole of the 
sod to be poached by cattles’ hoofs, and which encourages the grow th of semi- 
aquatic and innutritious plants. The means of remedying the latter evil is 
drainage, which may be as advantageous to pasture, as it is to arable or mea¬ 
dow land. The other evil can only be remedied by a change of grasses, or an 
artificial supply of the specific manure required by those which ought to occu¬ 
py the ground. New grasses can be introduced by sowing seeds in spring or 
fall, and scarifying the sod well with the harrow or scarifier; and if short or 
compost manure can be spared, it should be done before the scarifying takes 
place. In this way the mosses will be in a manner extirpated, the surface 
mellowed, and the seeds covered. An application of lime to the surface, at 
the rate of ten or a dozen bushels the acre, annually, or once in tw'o pr three 
years, would prabably be highly beneficial, by assisting to decompose the dry 
vegetable matter upon the surface, destroying mosses, and rendering the sur- 
