be fed on scalded skim milk, thickened with meal given warm three times a day. It is better for the calf and cow for him to suck one or two days; then learn him to drink new milk, by holding the hand in the vessel of the milk, and turning up the finger in his mouth.Change gradually to porridge. He will soon learn.

for much water; and if food which contains much is fed to him, it makes him big-bellied, but poor." Hogs, as well as all other animals, should be allowed all the water they will drink, but it should not be mixed with their food in obliged to take more water than he wants in excessive quantity-the hog should not be order to get the food he requires.

Green Soiling Stock.

sideration of every farmer:

DOCILITY OF ANIMALS.

"We have raised calves in this way that The following extracts from an article by were worth as much as others raised on pure D. S. Curtiss, Madison, in the Patent Office Remilk, and all ran together. Pure milk gener-port for 1859, are worthy of the careful conally gives the best growth while sucking, but those that are fed may be weaned more gradually, and are less affected by the change. We had only one cow that calved early, and we bought another calf and two pigs, and fed all four on the skimmed milk, and had milk to use in the family, and made butter enough for a small family and some to sell; all from one cow. They all did well, very well."

Having talked enough of skim milk and calves, permit me to say to the Housekeeper of Danville, that her communication to the FARMER was read with much pleasure, and generally endorsed by housewives of my acquaintance, and that we all should feel glad to hear from her again. Yours truly, ADOLPHUS.

SPARTA, Wis.

As has been previously hinted at, the systematic handling, at regular times, of all the stock-cattle as well as horses, in and out of their stables-so familiarizes them to their keepers that they become pleasantly acquainted with each other, which affords increased become docile and tractable, and the owner confidence in both, and thereby the animals comes soon to understand well their wants, nature, peculiarities, and diseases-if they treat them successfully. Thus, the managehave any, which is very seldom-and how to ment of stock, generally, is reduced to a science, eliciting study, observation, and reflection, and by thus exercising the intellectual faculties, the business becomes far more interesting, as well as profitable.

Knowing and appreciating the animals more highly, the keeper is moved to treat them rationally and with increased kindness, which really constitutes him a better man and them better servants!

REMEDY FOR LICE IN FARM STOCK.-The following remedy I have used and found to be Were such the only advantages to be derived a certain cure, and one which I am satisfied from the soiling process to the humane lover of will not fail, if properly tried:-Take two knowledge, they of themselves would be rich ounces Venice Turpentine, one ounce of Red compensation for all of the additional attention Precipitate, eight ounces Fresh Butter: take required to practice it. Besides, the stock can the turpentine and put it into a smooth vessel, be more judiciously supplied, with more compour water upon it and stir it well, then pour fort to them, the food being readily selected, off all the scum that arises on the top, and as to kind and quality, agreeably to their parcontinue this process until it becomes like ticular wants; and the owner is happily relievcream, or wax, and then add the other ingre-ed from the annoyance of "breechy" depredadients and mix them well before using. One ounce of the above will cure the itch and kill lice of all descriptions on man and beast, and the old sow too.-John Eversole, in Canadian Agriculturist.

tions by "unruly" cattle, which often commit more destruction in a single day or night than their own worth, to say nothing of the damaging effects to his own temper and equanimity, which, oftentimes, considerably abridges both profits and enjoyment. This should lead to those higher reflections and more beneficent impulses which it were well should enter into all of our transactions, with either men or animals who are always to be our companions or servants.

With these reflections, we will proceed to point out the more direct and pecuniary benefits of the practice, as they have been abundantly proved by the varied experience of

enlightened operators on both sides of the At- the animals are quietly secured and amply fed; lantic.

NINE DISTINCT BENEFITS.

We can now sum up, clearly, nine principal advantages that may be surely derived from the faithful practice of this beautiful system of green soiling the stock of the farm, besides the incidental benefits which grow out of it indirectly, namely:

comfort and order reigns; and their being little or no disturbing cause to man or beast, the former seldom maltreats the latter; and all enjoy thrift and progress to the highest reasonable degree.

This to some, with only partial reflection, may be deemed but a trifling consideration; but the more thoughtful and observing operator well knows that no attitude of mind, in the farmer or other person, can be productive of more enjoyment and prosperity than the steady preservation of gentleness and serenity; it is certainly a manly, a noble deportment, and must ultimately be as profitable as it is pleasant.

Saving of land; saving of fences; saving of food; improved condition and comfort of all the animals; freedom from breechy depredations; larger accumulations of manure; and increased order in all the business of the farm. Incidental to these, will be greater cleanliness throughout the premises, there being few foul fence-corners, and no feed or manure scatIn addition to all this, the operator will unitered about under foot; a greater variety of formly find this frame of thought and mind far food can be used, and everything saved; allow-more favorable for reflection and investigation ing the convenience of doing more of the work into the causes of all the various phenomena by one's self, and requiring the paying out of which constantly come before his observation less money; and permitting the sale of a larger portion of all grain and fruit, or other matured products that may be raised on the place, and be desired in the usual market; and the comfort of doing a much larger share of the ordinary business under shelter; and having a much larger amount of value concentrated in a comparatively smaller space, throughout most of the farm property and products; as, for instance, one hundred dollars' worth of stock or grain occupies much less space than the same value in land or fences, and a hundred dollars' worth of wool or butter less space than the same value of grain.

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HIGHER INFLUENCES OF THE SYSTEM.

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in the pursuit of his business, and to enable him to extract therefrom more elevated enjoyments than can be experienced by the person who is constantly confused by disorder and excitement from surrounding circumstances.Order and tranquility are eminently essential to deep and efficient thought and the successful pursuit of knowledge everywhere, but especially so in the study and examinations of living

creatures.

Besides, many of the neighborhood quarrels and individual enmities are engendered by damages and trespasses committed by cattle running at large, and often terminating in lawsuits, that subject both parties to losses, in time and money, greater than the value of the damages and animals combined; all of which would have been comfortably avoided under the general prevalence of "soiling" the ani

GENERAL VIEW OF THE SUBJECT.

and earnest purpose of writing this article.

When thoughtfully considered, it will be seen that the general effect of this practice upon the mind of the operator will be elevating and salutary. This branch of his business abso-mals in secure stalls. lutely requiring constant gentleness and order, his general habits and feelings will naturally become imbued with similar principles and Whatever is conducive to order and thoroughsentiments toward everything with which he ness in its operations must be advantageous to comes in contact, to a much larger degree than the pursuit of agriculture, generally, in all could be under the ordinary mode of imper-regions; and to forward that object, is the sole fectly and carelessly cultivating large farms, and allowing the stock to run at large, often That process which increases the fertility of trampling under foot and destroying as much the soil, while it preserves its productiveness, good feed as they consume, and subjecting the and which secures the highest remuneration to keeper often to harassment in chasing after his the largest amount of labor, with the least dehalf-tamed animals; his own disposition, as preciation of the capital upon which it is emwell as theirs, getting badly "riled-up," inter-ployed; whatever accomplishes these ends, or rupting his tranquility and happiness for hours any of them, in one State, must be good policy or longer; causing him, in some measure, to also in any other, while the like results follow lese his kindly interest in them; and, as though the operation. it were a kind of natural reflex from his own Now, it is well known that land, which is condition upon them, they do not thrive so well liberally enriched by suitable manures, will as they ought, but being frightened and excit- produce much more bulk and value of succulent ed they, too, fret away some portion of their feed if the crop be frequently cut off, before it thrift serenity being as essential to the high-ripens or matures, than if left to attain that est product of milch cows and fattening animals, as to the enjoyment of man. The very opposite from the above is the case where all

complete state before it is cut at all. For instance, if a field, which is mellow and in high tilth, sowed with corn, or oats, or millet, or

other like crop, be mowed two or three times during its growing season, it will yield at least twice as much as if cut but once in that season. So with clover, and the ordinary meadow grasses. This results in obedience to a pervading law in vegetable growth, which continually strives to reproduce or perpetuate itself so long as the season for growing will permit, and winter holds off.

If meadows are sufficiently rich, and kept annually top-dressed with fine manures, they will yield two to three tons of good hay at one mowing in the season; but if cut three times, at periods properly chosen, during the season, they will yield four to six tons of still better hay than that obtained at one cutting. And instances are numerous where even twice that quantity has been obtained to the acre from timothy and red-top, or even blue-grass meadOws. These statements are sustained by testimony, both in this country and Europe, of early as well as recent date.

not pay to keep sheep that sheared such light fleeces at any rate, and that, if it would not pay in the way he was keeping, he had better try grain, as he could be no worse off. Advised him to feed straw and grain until April, then have good, early cut hay, to feed until grass, either with or without a little grain; and, judging from his breed of sheep, I was confident that in a few years, by cutting so much less hay he could afford them far more pasture, and in that way he get his fleeces to average from five to six pounds-that he would raise far more and better lambs, and thus make his sheep profitable. I left him without knowing whether he would take my advice or not, but he did take it, and gave the sheep three-fourths of his meadows for pasture. When winter commenced he began feeding half a pound daily of buckwheat to each sheep, with fresh straw three times a day, (wheat, oat, and barley straw,) until the first of April; then gave good hay, with a very little grain. The first year his fleeces were increased about 11 Hbs. each, or from 2 to 4 lbs.; the next year they averaged 4 9-16 lbs., and this year they averaged plump 5 lbs. But that is not all his gain;

he raises far more lambs and far better ones, and he sells his wethers immediately after shearing for nearly or quite double what he could formerly get in the autumn.

There is a prevalent belief among many cultivators, that for a "stock-farm," or to keep a large number of cattle, it is absolutely necessary to have a large farm, or a vast tract of land; an opinion, it is believed, not well founded, which a fair understanding of the plan and results of "soiling" plainly shows, for it is evident that the cost of additional land and fences demands more capital by far to pasture Now let us look at the cost in keeping sheep large herds and flocks, than is required to cul- in the way I recommend. In the first place tivate sufficient crops from less land to feed there is the saving in the expense of cutting them with in stalls and yards, where no feed is and making four months' hay, which is a conwasted and much manure is saved. The ac-siderable item. Say 75 lbs. of buckwheat per cumulation of acres increases taxes, but their enhanced fertility does not increase the amount

of taxes.

By taking the facts, results, and operations above elicited, and carefully and honestly making estimates, in comparison with ordinary farming anywhere, it is believed that every candid inquirer will arrive at the conclusions

stated above.

High Feeding of Sheep:

FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.

Eds. Rural New Yorker: You know I have for many years advocated the higher feeding of sheep and cattle and keeping them growing in winter as well as summer. No farmer can afford to let his stock stand still, and what is far worse, let them get poorer from the first of December until the first of May or later.

I

Then

day for each sheep, for 150 days, at 40 cents
per 48 s.-making 62 cents. Increase of
sold it for these two years,) is 92 cents.
wool, say only 2 lbs. at 46 cents, (the price he
there is the profit in more and better lambs,
the additional price for the wethers, besides
getting them off in June in place of October,
and the saving of cost of cutting the hay.-
Why, I should think any farmer could at once
see that the profit is immense from keeping on
dried up timothy hay and poor pastures in
summer, and then every farmer can do this
that raises straw and oats, barley, buckwheat
and corn; for either will answer the purpose,
only give half to three-fourths of a pound daily
to each sheep. I assure you there is no way
of making stock of any kind pay unless fully
fed. When once sheep are got up in good con-
dition, a little less than the above quantity
daily will answer a very good purpose, especial-
ly if grain is high; but I have put the buck-
wheat above the average price on the farm;
peas or oil cake meal is better than any grain
for sheep.

Now, I will give you a case that came directly under my own notice. A long-time friend of mine, who lives at a considerable distance, was visited by me a few years ago, when I looked at his wool, just then shorn. handled a few fleeces, and then said to him I Now, Mr. Editor, there are many thousands was surprised that any man of common sense of farmers keeping their sheep equally as badly would raise such light fleeces. He asked how as my friend did a few years ago, who might he could help it; he fed them all the hay they better their circumstances greatly if they would would eat in winter, and it would not pay to only read this and believe me. I write what I feed grain to sheep. I told him that it would [ do know and nothing else. It makes no differ

JOHN JOHNSTON.

[For the Wisconsin Farmer.] Thoughts for Wool Growers.

If

ence whether a farmer keeps 100 or 5,000 sheep; is durable, and at the same time feeling that he ought to keep them all in the same way.he is not imposed upon, but can wear the true When I kept a flock of from 800 to 1,000, I fed half a pound of oil cake meal or corn daily to and genuine article. It is a question with each sheep, even when I fed hay all winter-at many, which breeds of sheep are the most least always after I found out by experience profitable. Permit me to suggest a few thoughts that that was the only true and sure way to make them profitable. I know H. T. B. thinks on breeding sheep for wool. I will confine my it might affect trade and commerce if farmers remarks more directly to localities remote from should feed so much grain to their stock; yet the great mutton markets. In such localities my candid advice to farmers is to try it. they find it ruinous they can discard the prac- as this State the production of wool should be tice. But to begin with lean stock, they must the primary object, we should keep such sheep feed them well for two years before they see the full effect of the change, and it may even as will yield the most wool upon the least keeptake longer than that with poor, starved ani-ing, or the greatest profit at the least expense. mals; but begin and continue one year and The Spanish Merino possess more points of exyou will never give it up, I am confident. cellence than any other breed of sheep for wool, and are generally considered by good breeders to be better adapted to our climate than any other breeds that has been introduced. They are of medium size, compact in form, bearing a fine, lengthy, thick set staple, which is a good shield against storms, and the severe cold weather of winter, rendering them the hardiest and most complete sheep to endure the western climate. It cannot be denied, by those who have had experience, that such sheep are the most profitable for wool growing. They yield a very bulky, heavy fleece; the fiber being very strong, well adapted to the manufacturers' use; while the wool grower is amply paid for his expense in rearing and keeping his flock. Many of our western wool growers are not satisfied with the Spanish Sheep, on account of size, they are not content with the medium, compact form, yielding the greatest profit from the least keeping, but are continually experimenting in order to increase the size of carcass so as to make the sheep profitable, both for wool and mutton. Some are in favor of crossing with the long wool mutton sheep, while others think a cross with the French merino is beneficial. I cannot see any real and permanent improvement made in crossing the Spanish with either of the above breeds, as each breed is naturally adapted to certain points and conditions, and when put together, produce a breed partaking of the bad qualities of each, which will depart wider and wider from the good points of each breed by each remove. Many, by fair trial, have become convinced that they

It has become a settled question that wool growing in the West, has become a very profitable branch of industry. It has been doubted by many that keeping sheep exclusively for wool was a profitable business, but the steady advancement made in sheep and wool the past ten years, seems to remove the strongest doubts. Still there are many at the present time doubting whether it pays to bestow much attention in the improvement of sheep for wool, for the reason that the coarser grades of wool were in quicker demand the past season than the fine. Extremes always seem to rage in the wool market, which are often a great detriment to the breeder, by introducing a very inferior breed, thereby destroying the well adapted qualities of his flock for wool, which has cost him years of labor to improve. Fine wools always have been in better request than the coarse, and always will, because the more durable and fashionable clothes are made of such. The wool grower should consider well his own interest, he should aim to improve his wool and sheep in a way that will yield him the greatest profit, regarding well the fine, white, lengthy, dense staple of wool, which will always invariably suit the manufacturer, and when worked by him into cloths, in a true and honest manner, (keeping it free from combustibles of different kinds that often infest the clothes,) the consumer is well pleased by using an article that