The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-06-07 00:00:00

agrlCUltltre

UNTII.IOkIDI7/.IIT SALE lII* Devoe KAM/I.—Thean
coal sale of rage, bred by Mr. Bird, of Viii' Fenn,
Kingston, near Taunton, took place at the Taunton
Great Market on Saturday week. The sale was by
auction, by Menus. Maynard and Sons, when the 12
rams were mid, realizing a total of £l5l. One ram
fetched 1.1.1, others k 2, £lB, Clfi, and the lowest V.
Great credit is due to Mr. }gird for his spirit, attention,
and energy, in bringing forward such an approved clam
of sheep In this neighbonrhood ; and we trust he will
nut abate his ardour to become the first breeder in the
country, and which, from the stock he has brought be-
fore the public on the &boys occasion, he bids fair to do,
The sale of "Fowler's " Alderney and Guernsey heifers,
which were very choice, vu entrusted to the same
auctioneers at the same time and place and met with a
ready sale, being much admired.
TICA GROWING IN ANERlCA.—Letters from Washing'
ton mention the formation of a garden and greenhouses
there for the express purpose of owning and propagat
ing the numerous tea plants and other rideable Chinese
vegetable productions received (ruin Mr. Fortune.
The estabhsliment is placed under a Scotch gardener,
and it is to be hoped that he will accomplish in a satis-
factory manner the important dirty entrusted to him.

DIPPING SHENP.-Mr. Mein introduced the subject of
" Sheep Dipping," at Oxford, lately. Sheep dipping he
said had beau practised for the last 30 years; the pre-
vious plan was to run the mixture along the shoep's
back, tail, and bead, and this was used with success for
the prevention and cure of scab, lice. and other cutane-
ous diseases to which sheep were liable, but for the cure
of scab he had found nothing so efficacious as spirits of
tar and tobacco juice. The principal aim in sheep dip-
ping was to kill the tick and prevent the striking of the
fly, without injury to the constitution of the animal, but
great care was necessary in the manufacture of the
dipping prepiiration, as well as in the applying it. Is
making the mixture strong, to kill the tick, they had no
doubt succeeded. but it oftentimes affected some sheep
considerably. while others of a strong constitution
walked off with impunity. He disapproved of many of
the sheep-dipping compositions. and, as he did not in-
tend to puff any, he would, without inentioning names,
state that he bad used two which he found answer very
well, and from which lie had had no deaths. He had,
however, seen cases where the little sheep, and thce.e
with a weak constitution, had been completely para-
lysed after beingdipped, and • great deal depended on
whether it was done in good or bad weather ; if alone in
had weather, it was injurious to the wool, as well as to
the constitution of the annual. He had seen some sheep
in good condition that were completely salivated ; and it
was worthy of notice that rain breeders did not dip their
rams stall. because they believed that it injured their
breeding powers; and without • great deal of care was
usel, he believed that it affected the ewes in the same
way, and caused them to be barren. Even in the pre-
sent system of dipping, they got the oil neutralised, and,
for want of that oil, the wool was dry, and the sheep
Differed by the rain ivenetrating to the skin. They
ought always to dip ip very dry weather, for if they did
it in wet or storniy weather they would not dry. The
best time for dipping was in June, July, or August,
when the wool had grown. Shepherds did what they
could to prevent the fly striking, but it was necessary
that every one should study his Bock, and dip in the
best way, and at the best time. Chemists could not be
too careful in mixing the preparations, and if that rule
was not attended to, it might cause a great deal of injury
and death to the stock, and give rise to litigation. In
many moistures, fish-oil and soft soap were used to
assist and promote the growth of the wool, adding to it
what they took away, but generally speaking, the dipping
preparation were not what they ought to be. Mr. Mein
concluded by moving the following resolution : "That
this club wishes to draw the attehtion of chemists to the
sheerlipping compositions at present in use, and to
solicit them to devise one that would be equally effica-
cious, but not so injurious to the animal, which passed."

FARMERS' MEMORANDA rolac NlL—Attention to cows
at this season is important. It is in this mouth snitch
cows will derive great benefit from the use of Thorley's
Food; it will increase and improve the quantity and
quality of the milk. Take care they are not overheated,
as they are much injured by hot weather. Cut *lover
and niedow glass for hay. Plant out cabbages, and
weed wheat, beans, and peas. Watch sheep—the fly is
on the wing. —Thoth y's Farmers' Alssusurk.