THE CULTIVATOR. 
81 
room to admit a free circulation of air, and a ventilator 
at the top to discharge the impure air, occasioned by the 
effluvia and fermentation of the milk. The ventiduct 
should, pass through the dryest ground possible, and four 
feet below the surface, for the distance of four or five 
rods, of sufficient capacity to admit the air to pass 
through and cool before it enters the milk room; this 
can be done by a small bellows placed at the outer end; 
and (worked by the same machinery that is used to 
churn the butter,) this bellows will force the air through 
the earth, which is said to be, four feet below the sur¬ 
face, about 52 degrees. This ventiduct should open in 
the center of the milk room, over which should be 
placed a cover, say two inches above, to cause the air to 
scatter, or circulate to every part of the room, and out 
through the ventilator at the top, which should be of 
sufficient size to let the air pass off. It, may pass off 
horizontally, or out through the top, according to the 
construction of the milk room. The above hints are 
submitted, with some diffidence; they may not be correct 
in every particular, but in the main they will, I pre¬ 
sume, be found to be something like what is wanted to 
insure general success in the art of making good butter, 
which is so desirable, and not very often to be met with; 
but much depends on the working, salting, &c., to cause 
it to retain all its good qualities. The principle has 
been suggested by an extensive experience in obtaining 
an even temperature for another purpose; and if you 
think it would be of advantage to your inquirer, or the 
readers of the Cultivator, it is at your and their service, 
by a friend to agriculture, and especially to that of good 
Butter and Cheese. 
farm, to recommend his decision, having previously fully 
tested the evils attending the plank floor. 
A Subscriber. 
SALMAGUNDI—No. Y. 
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IMPROVED BOARD FENCE—(Fig. 49.) 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —As the time far farm¬ 
ers to commence building their fences will soon be at 
hand, I here present you with a cheap and good post 
and board fence. I mark out the line of my fence, set¬ 
ting the usual number of posts to the pannel, and then 
plow two furrows on each side, throwing them towards 
each other until they form a true ridge; then nail three 
boards of about ten inches wide, placing the first board 
close on the ridge; the second within four inches of 
the first; the third within six inches of the second. 
This makes a fence that no horse or ox can get over. 
This is not all; it prevents the frost from heaving out 
the posts; and the wind will not lean it over as it would 
the usual board fence when the ground is soft and wet in 
the spring; and forms a good drain on each side of the 
fence, a, side view of fence— b, end of a pannel, and 
ridge and ditch on each side. 
Waterford, N. Y., March 5, 1842. W. G. V. D. B. 
STABLING HORSES. 
Messrs. Editors —In looking over your paper, I find 
a few remarks on stabling horses, going to show that a 
plank or board floor is less injurious to horses’ feet than 
that of ground. As doctors will differ, we farmers cer¬ 
tainly should have the privilege. Our friend appears to 
think, that by having a ground floor or earth to stand on, it 
follows that the horse must be kept in a dirty or filthy way. 
To show his error in that particular, let him examine 
all training stables in which, so iar as my experience 
(although limited) has led me to believe, he will find 
them perfectly clean, and not a plank to be seen or 
found; in place of which, earth or stone. If he will 
further examine the feet of horses thus kept, he will sa¬ 
tisfy himself that boards or plank are not necessary to 
the preservation of a horse’s hoof. On the contrary, if I 
am not much mistaken, he will change his opinion_in 
saying that a ground floor is absolutely necessary to keep 
a horse's feet free from many diseases. To further his 
views on this subject, I would inquire whether a stable 
having a ground floor properly made and kept in order 
by bedding—indispensably necessary to the horse’s com¬ 
fort—whether standing on ground, floor boards or plank 
—this bedding or litter kept under the horse, by shaking 
up and cleansed twice a day, adding thereto as becomes 
necessary by removing the parts not fit to remain_will 
not the horse stand in a stable thus arranged as well, in 
every particular, (I flatter myself much better ,) as he 
would do on a plank or board floor? If so, there are 
many reasons to be given why a farmer would dispense 
with the boards or plank; one of which is, the cost, 
wear, danger of slipping, and falling through; another, 
show me a horse’s fore foot, kept on plank or board 
floor, oiled or not, (the utility of which I much doubt,) 
and my word for it, his hoof is as hard as a brickbat. 
On a ground floor, his feet will be less hard, and will 
have a greater share of moisture and life; beside which, 
a ground floor is all important to the farmer, on account 
of the saving and making manure by its use. As with 
it, everything is saved; and without it, much is lost, ar¬ 
range your plank floor as you can. In short, taking in 
consideration the cost of timber, stone, plank and car¬ 
penter work, add to which the wear and decay, slipping 
of your horses in winter, as also the risk of horses ris¬ 
ing in the stalls, together with the loss of manure, I 
think should be considered as a sufficient reason to one 
of thirty years’ experience, without a plank floor on his 
“ There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, 
leads on to fortune.” 
There is now a tide in the affairs of sheep, which will lead_ 
who knows where? 
There is probably no subject connected with the pur¬ 
suit of agriculture so little understood among the mass, 
as the rules or true principles of breeding domestic ani¬ 
mals. In England, it has attained almost to a science; 
and investigation and the results of experiments made 
by thorough, observing men, with us, have served to 
add to its demonstrations. But the mass, as remarked, 
are lamentably ignorant, especially that part of it em¬ 
bracing the subject of crossing. This being so notori¬ 
ous a fact, it is a matter of no little wonder that editors 
of agricultural papers, who should know something 
about it, are so loth to enlighten their readers. It is 
possible though, that however much may have been 
written on the true theory of breeding, it would have 
been disregarded; because we are not only an enterpris¬ 
ing, but an experimenting people; and it must be added, 
which is probably derived somewhat from our form of 
government, a self-sufficient people. We have a repug¬ 
nance to being influenced by the example, or governed 
by the precepts of our best friends in matters appertain¬ 
ing to our occupation; much less, the results of the expe¬ 
rience of foreigners, and the scribbling of book farmers. 
Hence, from some sudden impulse of ill digested enter¬ 
prise, one is disposed to try what kind of a “ thing ” can 
be made from a cross of the Saxon and South Down; 
another with Saxon and Cotswold! another with Merino 
and South Down; and another with—who knows what? 
but it must be a cross with something—even with a Green¬ 
land bear; so that the produce is supposed will be hardy 
enough to live in snow banks, and without care and atten¬ 
tion! It has often been remarked, that this is the age of 
experiment and humbug ; and the future historian will 
certainly be false to his duty if he records it otherwise. 
We are truly a humbugging people. We love to hum¬ 
bug others, and in turn, like to be humbugged. Indeed, 
it is natural with half of mankind, and has been so since 
the fall of man. Humbug is the chief lever of the cor¬ 
rupt politician; and it is practiced through every grade 
and condition, and age, down to boys who swap knives 
unsight, unseen.” But we Yankees do practice it, 
apparently, more than any other nation; and love it, 
too, better than Col. Murray, the English traveler, does 
“ clam soup.” Farmer B. obtains an English variety to 
cross with his flock of Saxons, and boasts that the pro¬ 
duce is the ne plus ultra of sheep; that the quantity of 
wool and hardiness of constitution have been greatly in¬ 
creased, &c. &c., and demands a corresponding price for 
his “ improved sheep.” Money making being a primary 
motive, he is sure to find a soft one to gull, and his price 
is obtained. His example is infectious; another, and 
yet another, must try it, or something else, and so it 
goes to the end of the chapter. And now, I ask, is there 
not much of ignorance, and not a little of deception at 
the bottom of all this? And if so, whether it is not time 
that it should cease? My opinion is, that it is time; and 
why? Because I conscientiously believe that a cross of 
the Saxon and Merino with any of the English varieties 
of sheep, is palpably wrong; because it will result eventu¬ 
ally in loss, rather than gain, with all who undertake it. 
Now let one and all understand, this is opinion; an opi- 
nion formed though after some reflection and personal 
observation. Am I wrong? Then let me be convinced, 
not by attempts at guessing, or mere speculations, but by 
sturdy, well authenticated knock-down facts, and deduc¬ 
tions drawn from the true theory of breeding. But what 
I have advanced, I repeat, is opinion; and therefore, I 
deprecate any man, “mounting me rough shod,” for as¬ 
suming too much. My object is to get up a discussion 
with an eye single to the interest of the many, rather 
than th efew. I further state, that the conclusion I have 
airived at, takes not its hue from personal interest. On 
the contrary; the disposition among farmers to ruin their 
fine flocks by crossing with English sheep, is the very 
thing to promote my interest; and why? Because, be¬ 
ing a grower of fine wool, with the fixed determination 
to continue so, it is plain, that in proportion as the quan¬ 
tity produced of it is diminished, the price will be en¬ 
hanced accordingly. So I am on honest and fair ground. 
Then, “come one, come all,” and let us fairly discuss 
the question of crossing the Saxon and Merino with any 
of the English varieties. Let us determine whether we 
believe and think as John Bull believes and knows, or 
whether he is an ass, and consequently his knowledge 
“ concatenation accordingly.” 
Hay Box for feeding Sheep—( Fig. 50.) 
With others, on former occasions, I have adverted to 
the slovenly mode of feeding hay to sheep by a large 
majority of farmers, and the waste that follows. The 
open winter we have passed, with those who have fed on 
the ground, must have caused a greater waste than usual* 
therefore, the subject cannot be presented at a better 
time than the present, and a remedy proposed. I here¬ 
with send you a drawing of one of my feeding boxes, 
which I have found from a trial of years superior to 
anything I have used, or that has come within the scope 
of my observation. In its use, there can be no waste of 
hay by being pulled out and trampled on, as is the case 
with ordinary racks. The butts and stems which sheep 
are loth to eat of coarse hay, can be taken out from time 
to time and fed to cattle, which they will readily eat in 
cold weather; and this is a large item of economy. But 
besides this, it demolishes everything like aristocracy, or 
the strong lording it over the weak and humble; every 
sheep standing up to its place, “ on the broad principles 
of republican equality;” each undisturbed by its neigh¬ 
bor. The lower boards should be 15 inches in breadth 
for grown sheep, 12 inches for lambs; and the top 
boards, 12 inches for the former, and 9 inches for the 
latter. The opening through which the sheep feed, 
should be 8 inches for full sized sheep, and about 5 inch¬ 
es for lambs; and the width from 24 to 28 inches in the 
clear, which is sufficient to prevent disturbance when 
on opposite sides. Mine are without bottoms; therefore 
lighter, and easier of removal. I have seen them con¬ 
structed with troughs inside; but I do not like the plan, 
as stems of hay lodge in them, which occasions the 
trouble of removing when grain or roots are fed; aside 
from this, they are clumsy, and more expensive than 
when the boxes and troughs are made separate. One 
man will construct a sufficient number of these boxes for 
100 sheep in a day. The modus operandi is thus: lay 
the upper and lower boards down flat, as far apart as the 
opening is required; then take three slats, three inches 
wide, and one to one and a half inches thick—nailing, 
of course, crosswise the boards, one at each end, and the 
other in the middle. The nails should be tenpenny, and 
heated, so they will clinch. This completes one side. 
The end boards should come inside of the length boards, 
and nailed to the slats. After this, take a jack plane and 
smooth the upper edge of the lower boards, to prevent 
taring the wool from the breast and throat of the sheep. 
Six of these boxes are sufficient, if each 12 feet long, for 
100 sheep, and one less for the same number of lambs. 
Let farmers take the opportunity when the weather is 
inclement, and make for themselves a set of boxes, and 
try them; and l am sure in saying, that ever after they 
will avoid feeding hay to their sheep on the ground. 
They should consider that in the month of March, when 
the weather is wet much of the time, sheep require the 
very best of attention; but if their food is loathed, which 
will be so if fed on the ground, they become enfeebled, 
and death soon brings up the rear. In conclusion, my 
brother farmers, if you wish to keep at least 10 per cent 
more of sheep, and have them come out in the spring in 
10 per cent better condition, on the same quantity of hay, 
abandon your slovenly mode of feeding, and adopt the 
remedy proposed. 
Hay Pens —There is yet another thing of which 
farmers in general are destitute, and of vast consequence 
in promoting economy when foddering sheep; namely, 
a pen for the reception of the hay when thrown out of 
a building or from a stack. All know the waste, in a 
moist time, by sheep piling upon it if thrown on the 
ground, which is remedied most effectually by means of 
a pen. They are of trifling expense, which is reimburs¬ 
ed four fold in a single season. Mine are about 3 feet in 
height, and 4 £ to 5 feet square, constructed of pine or hem¬ 
lock scantling, with board slats nailed to them; the slats 
being about 2^ inches apart only, to prevent the sheep 
getting their heads between them. A pen, too, of this 
size, will prevent the hayseed and chaff from lodging in 
the wool; which, if otherwise, wool buyers will take ad¬ 
vantage of, and with good reason. There is yet another 
advantage; if too much hay is thrown down for a fod- 
dering, it can remain in it, and save the trouble of pitch- 
ing it back. All these things, however small they may 
appear on paper, are nevertheless of great importance in 
the long run, and constitute, whether neglected or at¬ 
tended to, a hekvy item of profit or loss in sheep hus¬ 
bandry. Let these pens be made on rainy days, when 
farmers can do nothing else. 
Feeding Oats in the Sheaf. —In the March num¬ 
ber, under the head of “ Work for the Month,” you sav 
Messrs. Editors—“It will also be an excellent plan to 
allow sheep, once a day, a few oats in the sheaf, instead 
of hay.” Now, gentlemen, I am not a “captain,” nor 
do I train in any captain's company; nevertheless, cap- 
tain 1 ike, I am a great stickler for consistency , and have 
a profound regard for the constitution of sheep husbandry 
consequently, I am constrained, painful as it is to my 
feelings, to “ veto ” your recommendation of feeding to 
sheep “oats in the sheaf.” It is a wasteful practice- 
and such is my abhorrence of it, on this account, that I 
would justify any boy in striking his daddy when caught 
doing it. If fed in the way you recommend, when the 
ground is frozen, in the scramble that takes place, not 
°?V he strong, sheep get the largest portion, but much 
of the grain will be shelled and left, and it is surely 
wrong to feed in this way when the ground is unfrozen 
for the loss will be still greater, by being tainted by 
their feet, as well as shelled and trodden into the ground 
Again; if fed in boxes, which is the only decent way’ 
and 1 have charity to suppose you meant it should be so 
there is an objection; for, before much is distributed a 
rush is made, and a few sheep will seize, each, a lar-e 
mouthful, more than they can manage, back out from 
their stands, and down much of it goes on the ground, to 
be trodden and wasted. All that I have remarked is the 
result of personal observation. The only correct and 
economical way of feeding, is to separate first the grain 
from the straw, and afterwards feed them separately; 
