The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-09
Farm, Garden and nOusenOId.


California. He says you may go over
the plains and hills there for miles, and
see thousands Of sheep, but not man
10 watch them. Around each flock or
band Of say a thousand sheep are half
dozen dogs of a peculiar breed-dogs
whose progenitors were imported from
the sheep pastures Of the old world.
These dogs take the entire care OF the
sheep, drive them ont TO pasture in the
morning, keep them from straying dur
ing the day, and bring them home at
night. These dogs have inherited
talent for keeping sheep, but the shep.
herds do not depend wholly on that.
They cultivate 1t in this way-so at least
the old shepherd says;
"Whon lamb is born 1t is taken
away from the mother sheep before she
has seen il, and puppy put in its
place. The sheep sucixies the puppy
and learns TO love II. When puppy
grows old enough TO eat meat il Is fed
in the morning and sent out with the
sheep. 1t stays with them because 1t
is accustomed TO be with its mother, but
it cannot feed with them. AS they get
full the dog gets hungry. At length
impatient TO return where 1t can get
another piece OF meat, 1t begins 10 tease
and worry its mother, and finally starts
her home the other sheep follow, and
thus the whole flock is brought in. II
the dog brings the sheep in too soon,
or comes without them, he gets no sup.
per, or is punished in some way. Hence
he soon learns when 10 come, and 10 see
TO II that none Of his charge are left be-
hind. These animals are trained by.
taking advantage OF their instinct and
appetites."
Alderman Mechi estimates that l, 800
sheep folded on an acre OF land for "a
hours, or 100 ior15 days, would manure
the soil sufficiently to carry It through
afour years rotation.
A man died recently in England from
the bite Of mt, which he encountered
while removing some hay from NOV.
Jonathan Talcott, the well.lnown
potato grower OF Rome, N. Y, tells the
Boston 0ultivator that repeated expert.
ments have taught him "that carly
sorts require richer land 10 give their
best yield, rs they grow in less time,
and consequently must be better fed, or
they are oil course small, and the crop
will not be remunerating."
Apply lard, or any soft grease, TO the
parts where the hair is thin on cattle.
or on any part where the lice are found
One thorough application cures with.
out fail. Never apply mercurial oint.
ments to any animal or person without
keeping them from the wet.
Orchard Grass
OF late years the many articles in the
agricultural papers on the merits OF
orchard grass have brought II into such
general notice that enormous quantities
OF seed hive been sold, and the bust.
ness in 1t has assumed large proportions.
For our part we have never regarded it
as grass OF frst-rate quality. In
orchards IL is good in the first place,
because It does better in partial shade
than any other grass; and in the next
place, because the plant growing in
tufts, and not creeping, does not form
such hard, tough sod as green grass
or others Of that character.
II also pushes up very early into
growth, and thus affords pasture be.
fore other kinds get green, all OF which
are advantages. Cattle, OF course, 20
for anything green in early spring, and
hence, when this Is the only green
thing, they seem TO be heartily fond Of
IL but so far rs our experience Of IL
goes, they care very little for It when
they can get anything else.
PROFITS of sheep IInsbandry.
It certainly is profitable to keep sheep
on q farm II rightly managsd-even
though the price Of wool is low. They
are scayepgers on farm-death TO ali
weeds and shrubs that are an ANNOYANCE
TO the tidy farmer. Besides, the spring
lambs, IL q careful selection Of breeds il
made, will be found profitable to sell,
especially the males, in the market.
Americans are eating more and more
mutton yearly. The object Of the shop.
herd should be. to adapt his sheep hus-
bandry to the wants OF the market near.
est him-grow the kind OF wool that
sells the best or II the carcass is more
in demand, grow the sheep which make
the most and best meat in the shortest
time, always taking into account hardi.
ness and easiness Of keep.
Fiaiy MIX. t
Flewwellin, Hallock's Mills, N. Y.
says: l"I would like to learn the cause
that produces white flakes or scales q
+ do not know what else TO term them) In
some Cummings Of butter, and how to
prevent the formation Of the same.
\ These flakes appear in both warm and
: cool weather.
n RErnY.- The white flakes are frae.
inents OF curd, and are probably the re.
{. Hult OF the milk standing too long, or OF
I fls becoming cnrdled by some means.
y Perhaps there are some remnants Of
sour milk left upon the milk pals or
pans by reason Of their being washed in
ncalding water. This "sets" any sour
milk that may be in crevices or angles
the pans OF, pals, and cold water will
remove 1t atterward.
fPotatos, for seed.
writer in the NJ y. Tribune, in
Reference to selecting potatoes for seed,
recommends that tho seed be selected
y the fall, while selection Is possible,
sid that the tubera coming the nearest
the type desired in potato be
sosen. That's he would reject long,
ther slender, medium sized potato.
booth, with eyes not deeply sunken,
then IL preserved in the cellar, he
ldcoyer with sods topreyent sprout.