54 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
sheep and calves I would rather that mine should do without salt than 
without clay. 
And do we not frequently hear farmers observe, “ this is a hard win¬ 
ter for sheepask the question why, and they answer, because, they 
cannot come to the ground, or that sheep want to come to the ground*; 
they all seem to have observed that it is necessary that sheep should 
come to the ground; but it does appear not to have occurred to them, 
that when they cannot, then it were their duty to bring giound to their 
sheep. 
The severity of the past winter, and the destruction of almost entire 
flocks of sheep, and numberless calves, even among those who had a 
plentiful supply of fodder, may possibly induce some, during another 
winter, to provide their cattle, horses and sheep with what the ani¬ 
mal’s almost unerring instinct points out to him their nature and con¬ 
stitution require. For the general management of my sheep in other 
respects, I refer you to the first volume of the American Farmer, pages 
332 and 342, under the head of Five Minutes Reflection on Sheep, which 
it might be well to republish in the Cultivator. 
I have endeavored for years, by persuasion and entreaty, to prevail 
upon most of, if not all, the farmers of my acquaintance; to make use of 
clay in winter for their cattle and sheep ; but alas, such is the invetera¬ 
cy of habit, that I found my advice almost invariably unheeded; and 
was it not, perhaps, because daddy never give any clay to his cattle, 
and as he was a perfect master of the art of agriculture, consequently 
there could not possibly be any benefit resulting from the use of it? 
Yours truly, G. YANDERLYN. 
Albany* April, 1836. 
Dear Sir— It is well known that considerable quantities of apples 
are shipped every year for Europe, from various ports in the United 
States, but chiefly from New-York,—and that probably not one-fourth 
part arrives in good condition. Indeed, the chance of their being 
worth any thing at all on their arrival is so small, that the freight is al¬ 
ways demanded in New-York on the shipment of them. The inces¬ 
sant motion of a vessel at sea soon bruises them, a bruised or decayed 
apple gives way continually, and the remainder are tumbled up and 
down in the barrel, with more or less violence, for three weeks or a 
month. Various ways have been devised for packing them so as to 
keep safely. I sent in December last two barrels to London, which 
arrived in perfect order, at least my frieiyl writes me word that not 
three in a barrel were injured. I procured a sufficient quantity of that 
black spongy earth called peat, such as is to be found in any swamp. It 
is merely dead vegetable matter, is soft and not liable to fermentation. 
After it was tolerably dry, I rubbed it fine by hand, and covered the 
bottom of the barrel with it two or three inches thick, then laid the ap¬ 
ples carefully upon it, so as not to touch each other, covered them with 
peat, and shook the cask till it settled well down, and so' on, till the 
cask was as full as it could be headed up. Perhaps this mode may be 
thought too much trouble by many; but as peat is cheap, abundant and 
light, it may be better to ship a less quantity more securely, than a 
large one in the common rough way, as many more would get to their 
destination, which after all is the main thing. I make no doubt that 
five hundred barrels might be sent without losing five barrels, if sound 
apples were carefully packed. Peat too is an excellent substance in 
which to pack plants, roots, cuttings, &c. for sending to any distance. 
Yours truly, S. HAWES. 
Mr. Buel —Sir— I have read the Cultivator the year past, and have 
commenced for the year to come. As I farm it for a living I have 
been in the practice of raising some sheep. I purchased a pair of me¬ 
rinos of Colonel Humphrey, of Connecticut, and brought them into Mil- 
ten—the first that was in.lhe county of Saratoga. I have kept merino 
sheep ever since, and I find they are subjected to diseases more than 
our old sort of sheep. I have read of the foot-ail, and how to cure it, 
but not the first cause of the complaint. I will give my opinion. All 
sheep have an issue in the foot, between the hoofs, and when I see one 
of my sheep limp, I catch it, part the hoofs, and on the top of the foot, 
between the daws, there is some course hairs in the hole of the issue; 
pull them out, and put one finger under the foot, one on the top, and 
press them down gently, and there will come out a thick gummy, mat- 
ter, which stops the issue from discharging ; this done the sheep is well 
in a few days. 
If you think this worthy putting in your paper, it is at your service. 
Please to put in better form, for I am better at the plough than with 
the pen. With respect, yours, SILAS ADAMS. 
Milton, April 20, 1836. 
Judge Buel —In the last number of the Cultivator, your correspon¬ 
dents, Mr. F. is out again, upon “ old fashioned merinos.” A word in 
reply shall suffice. The term, I dare say, was first used to designate 
a race of sheep, formerly well known to all our farmers, but who knew 
or cared little about the original flocks from which they came, or the 
names which they bore. 
It is true, the Merinos were at first badly received in this country, 
but it did not arise from a want of constitution in the animals, for it is 
well known, that they had in point of hardiness and endurance of cold, 
greatly the advantage of our native sheep. The prejudices doubtless 
arose from their diminutive, and ill-formed proportions, as well as the 
very sickly condition in which they came to us, in consequence of large 
numbers being crowded into a vessel, and destitute of ordinary care and 
conveniences. Hundreds died on the voyage, and many more soon af¬ 
ter they landed. Not so with the Saxons, for they arrived in capital 
condition, except they were affected with the toot rot, which is always 
attendant on long journeys and close confinement. It is bad authority 
and worse taste to quote the opinion of the “ butchers,” as adverse to 
the Spanish Merinos, for that part of the subject is already well under¬ 
stood by all wool growers. The early importations of Spanish sheep 
were sufficiently “distinctive” for my present purpose, which has been 
to prove that they were infinitely better suited to our climate, and their 
wool to the wants of our country, than any sheep ever imported. 
I care little about a long list of Spanish names, of no sort of conse¬ 
quence to the farmers of this country. We want the animal, and the 
most profitable animal, and leave to Spaniards and others their preju¬ 
dices, whims and fancies, with the names with which they may choose 
to dignify them. I have been pleased to read the remarks of Mr. F. He 
adopts the ideas of Livingston, and other early writers on sheep'. They 
were very well in their day, and in many respects are correct even now. 
The same remark will apply to the extracts from the “ Library of Use¬ 
ful Knowledge,” whose numbers furnish much valuable information in 
relation to sheep. The “Farmer’s Series” is now being published in 
numbers. It is a cheap and valuable publication, and should be in the 
possession of every wool grower. 
Mr. F. is doubtless aware that the Rambouilet flock of France, to 
which he refers, is still a Merino flock, and retains all its Merino cha¬ 
racteristics. He is also well pleased that one individual in this coun¬ 
try “ has kept Saxony, Escurial, Pauluar, fyc.” separate and distinct. 
It will doubtless be a great convenience to buyers to find on the same 
farm the different breeds of fine wool sheep, and there too “ all entire¬ 
ly distinct.” However, in such a case, I should prefer to look and 
judge for myself, for bucks sometimes leap the fences, or the gates 
get open. In making a purchase, I shall always choose to examine 
into the health of the sheep, to see them free from foot rot and scab, 
for I would make him liable, who would sell me a sheep that would 
bring contagion into my flock. 
An attempt has been made to prove that the defects of the Saxons 
did not attach to the “ Electoral ” Saxons, and that they were a race of 
sheep different in constitution and quantity of wool. Why, sir, let me 
tell you that there should be no magic in the name “Electoral,” for in 
Saxony there are many private flocks quite as good as the Electoral. 
It is true, that the “ Electoral” sheep are generally better bred, but 
that they have better constitutions is absurd, and is a pretence which 
I never heard set up in any other country but our own. The climate 
of corresponding latitudes of Europe and America is widely different, 
and it is not surprising that animals suited to their climate, should be 
totally unable to withstand ours. I admire very much the beautiful 
appearance of Saxony wool, and I do not deny, that they can be kept 
alive in this country, by proper care and nursing. Fora gentleman 
farmer, or for a man retiring from a professional life to a farm, and 
not depending on its profit for an income, the Saxony sheep are very 
well suited. But to a working-man, dependant on the products and 
profits of a farm for support, I say let him in the first place, be sure 
that he selects such breeds of animals as will endure the climate. 
Closely connected with this subject, let me remark, that ninety per 
cent of the wool manufactured in the United States is of a middle 
quality, and why should we aim to produce an article which is above 
the market, or at most but little wanted ? At this very time, when the 
medium quality of wool is nearly all manufactured, and manufactur¬ 
ers have been found to use the inferior foreign wool, yet, through the 
whole year, Saxony wool has had a dull sale, and the supply greater 
than the demand. This is a fact beyond dispute. 
But why do 1 trouble you? farmers will soon learn what is for their 
interest. Indeed, their own experience for the last winter, will tell 
them plainly, whether the Saxons can endure our climate as well as 
the Spanish Merinos. As a large majority of your subscribers are in- 
terested in wool growing, I hope you will not discourage any remarks 
on the subject. 
In my last letter a few mistakes were made, but not of such conse¬ 
quence as now to require to be corrected. 
Very respectfully yours, A. B. 
May 9th, 1836. 
Nothing flies so swift as calumny—nothing is so easily propagated— 
nothing is so readily received—nothing is more widely disseminated.— 
Cicero. Take care, then, that you do not originate, or give currency, to 
that which may do unjust and irreparable injury to your neighbor. 
