THE CULTIVATOR. 
35 
marl, about 12 to 15 bushels of corn per acre, as near as be could 
judge. The field was planted and tilled in the same way as the 
one first described. In order to test the advantage of the cultiva¬ 
tor over the plough, for tilling corn, he had 5 rows in this field 
that he lapped the furrow to, with a plough, previous to going over 
it the last time with the cultivator. He soon discovered that the 
growth of these 5 rows fell short, in height, of those adjacent, and 
yielded one-fifth less corn. 
There is no doubt but the true mode of tilling corn, especially 
where sod ground is used, is, to plough deep, and to use nothing 
but the fallow and fluke harrow for its cultivation. By not dis¬ 
turbing the sod ploughed down, it remains there as a reservoir of 
moisture, and an exhilarating principle throughout the season, to 
the growth of the corn. 
Ttie third field of 27 acres was covered with about SO loads of 
manure to the acre, in the spring of 1834, and 6 or 7 years ago, 
60 bushels of stone lime, per acre, was put upon it. The planting 
and mode of cultivation was the same. I might here remark, that 
all the second, and a part of the third field, were in corn, the year 
before last. JAMES N. SUTTON. 
St. Georges, Delaware, March 5, 1836. 
Note .—The management which led to the extraordinary product of corn, 
should be deeply impressed upon the mind of every corn grower. 1 ,The ground 
was well dunged with long manure; 2, it was planted on a grass ley, with one 
deep ploughing; 3, it was well pulverized with the harrow; 4, the plough was 
not used in the after culture, nor the corn hilled, but the cultivator only used; 
5, the sod was not disturbed, nor the manure turned to the surface; and 6, 
the corn was cut at the ground when it was fit to top. These are the points 
which we have repeatedly urged in treating of the culture of this crop; and 
their correctness is put beyond question by this notable result. The value of 
lime and marl are well illustrated in the second experiment.— Conductor. 
SHEEP HUSBANDRY.—No. IV. 
HINTS ON THE MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP. 
I had prepared two numbers, one on wool, and one on the habits 
and management of sheep. Having observed the notice of the edi¬ 
tor, that the subject of wool was anticipated, I am disposed to with¬ 
hold the first, and offer the second. My object in the preceding 
numbers, has been to give the history of the Merino, and from 
“ quotations” of high authority, to establish the fact, that he is a 
distinctive sheep, and ought to be so preserved. The further illus¬ 
tration of which, is marked by its longevity; the merino ewe ori¬ 
ginally sold for $1000, died in my possession at the age of 16 years, 
having reared a lamb the preceding summer, which was preserved. 
In my purchase of the flock, she was not estimated; and cost me 
nothing. They do not breed at so early a period as other sheep, 
and arc less likely to produce twins. The exuberant growth of 
their hoofs, protruding and curving, and in some instances to the 
extent of 5 or 6 inches ; requiring frequent paring, evidently show¬ 
ing that they were originally designed for domestication, or long 
subjected to it. I have not observed this in any other kind of sheep. 
Sheep are much like birds, requiring a clear air for respiration, 
much exercise, frequent change of place, dry clean lodging, and 
nutritious aromatic feed. The (Transhumanta) or migrating 
Spanish flocks, changing situation so as always to enjoy a conge¬ 
nial climate, moving and grazing, must, under good shepherds, 
be most eligibly circumstanced. The similarity between birds and 
sheep might be greatly extended. They are both disposed by in¬ 
stinct to associate in flocks. Many kinds of birds migrate from 
north to south. Sheep in Spain are so managed. Perhaps left to 
themselves, they would do the same. Birds, in fine weather, as¬ 
cend the most lofty branches for nocturnal repose; but in severe 
storms, they seek the humble lodging of the lower boughs, and 
the dense covert of the compact hedge. Sheep in good weather 
uniformly select the dryest and most elevated bed for nightly re- 
po-e; severe winds greaily annoy them, and drive them into the 
placid valley. Birds shut up in a cage soon die ; sheep shut up in 
a pen soon die. 
Some years ago I committed a great error, and perhaps on ex¬ 
amination, it would not be left solitary. Having assumed the opi¬ 
nion of the similarity of sheep and deer, I proceeded confidently on 
the operation. Put sheep, said I, where deer range, and they must 
do well—passing over the practical consideration, that fences pre¬ 
sent no impediment to a deer ; he roves and selects at pleasure.— 
Fences are an insurmountable barrier to a sheep. From 28 to 80 
sheep of almost any description, having an extensive range, will do 
well. It is the sheep best suited for domestication, and the best 
domestic management, that interests the practical farmer. I have 
seen the exemplification of associating common or native sheep, in 
large flocks, in yard accommodations; and they did not endure con¬ 
finement so well as the merino, who has for generations and cen¬ 
turies been subjected to restrictive management. That sheep are 
profitable farm stock, on suitable land, and under good manage¬ 
ment, is acceded,—but that sheep ill managed, or on unsuitable 
soil, are profitable, is an absurdity. “ What the man is worth, the 
land is worth.” What the shepherd is worth, the sheep are worth. 
The pasture for sheep should be high, dry, warm land, the more 
disposed to the production of aromatic plants, the better. Altitude, 
alone, is not enough. Some high lands are springy and wet, w hich 
is deadly and ruinous to sheep. Sheep, when confined in common 
pastures, are continually roving and traversing it, which soon ren¬ 
ders the unconsume i grass foul, and impedes its growth. From 
their social habits, having selected their lodging, they are exceed¬ 
ing tenacious of their resting place, which soon becomes offensive 
and unhealthy. They should therefore always be changed from 
one enclosure to another, as often as once a week, or at most, once 
a fortnight, that the grass may be washed by rains and dews, 
and the sheep be furnished with clean lodging. In the interim, the 
grass can grow undisturbed, and is fresh. In this way I have been 
able to sustain in good health a greater number than to give them 
the whole range at once. No more than a hundred sheep should 
be kept in one flock. Sheep should have access to clean running 
water, through the whole year, for health, the secretion of milk, 
and growth of wool. In winter, they should be daily watered, 
which prevents their drinking too much at once, and is absolutely 
requisite when fed on dry hay. I think the autumnal change from 
the succulent grass of the fields, to dry hay, adverse to the health 
of sheep, the growth of lambs, and the growth of wool. Sheep 
cannot sustain any sudden or great change, without injury. Sheep 
should be fed at regular periods in the winter, and likewise have 
regular gentle exercise, to circulate the blood, invigorate the sys¬ 
tem, so as to enable them to resist the cold. It gives them an ap¬ 
petite, and facilitates the digestion of the food. Being a ruminating 
animal, they should be allowed quiet for this office. 
I make it a daily practice to have my sheep and lambs, during 
winter, driven a considerable distance, and watered, fed in racks, 
both for economy of fodder, and the benefit of the sheep. If fed 
for a short time on the snow, a new place should be every time se¬ 
lected, and the hay distributed over a large extent of surface;— 
sheep fed around a stack or in a yard, the hay thrown out in bunch¬ 
es, to be trampled under foot in mud or dung, the sheep without 
water or exercise, cannot do well. 
My sheep are Saxony and Spanish merinos ; they are divided in¬ 
to flocks of a hundred each. They have been fed on early motvn 
clover hay. I have now, 7th March, the same number with which 
I commenced the winter ; having lost one old ewe and gained one 
lamb. (This has been an unusually severe winter.) 
The two best flocks of fine sheep I ever knew, for health, amount 
of wool, and great increase, were managed as follows, viz:—the 
first, with which I was intimately acquainted for ten years, seeing 
them during this term as often as once a week: this flock was li¬ 
berally fed in the winter on carrots; they were uniformly in high 
flesh and high health, their udders distended with milk, rearing 
nearly all their lambs, and yielding an abundant fleece. If I do 
not mistake, this flock gave of washed wool, ewes 5 lb., lambs 
from 3 to 4 lbs. 
The second flock was one in which the proprietor practised feed¬ 
ing grain. After the injury of the grass, by one or two severe 
frosts, he commenced with feeding, at the rate of half a gill of In¬ 
dian corn, per sheep, daily; this was gradually increased to a gill, 
through the winter. These sheep were fat, and yielded great 
fleeces. 
Beans, corn and peas, are the best grain for sheep, yet they are 
more heating and feverish, and not so well adapted to the secre¬ 
tion of milk, as vegetables, of which carrots are decidedly prefera¬ 
ble. The kind of vegetable to be produced must be adapted to the 
soil, to render it profitable. 
Sheep should be well looked after in summer and autumn ; they 
must come to the barn in good condition, or they will not w’inter 
without more care and cost than they are worth. Most persons, 
who keep sheep, increase their number beyond their means of sub- 
