Middletown transcript., 1876-06-24
A0ritultnral.

99ritnltnral.
Written for the TRANSCRIPT by one of th,
most experienced farmers, gardeners ant
fruit growers in the United States.
IMPROVED BREEDS OF SHEER.
The Merino sheep are chiefly valu
able for the wool. and greatly improve
our common native sheep BY crossing
with them. This breed fatten slowly
consequently they are not much sough
by butchers. Any breed whose WOO
is desired to be improved can be profit
ably crossed with the Merinos. Tht
Leicester sheep are noted for their long
wool, not very fine. averaging seven Of
eight pounds to fleece. These sheel
have no horns, male or female they
are good mutton, but they are not par
ticularly popular. A cross With Meri'
nos makes valuable sheep. In ar
experiment made to test the fattenine
qualities of the Leicester, in compari'
son with Meriaos, go sheep Of each
breed we're fed 46 days on the same
quantity and quality Of food /; the Lei.
cesters gained 1.008 lbs, and the
Merinos only 4S0 lbs. This shows the
superiority of Leicesters for mutton.
The Lincolnshire sheep are large and
bony. having a rather thin fleece
They need crossing to be profitable.
The Southdown is popular breed both
10 England and in the United States
By crossing this breed have been pro-
duced the '.Hampshiredowns." Strop.
shiredowns" and "Oxforddowns," all
being good mutton and wool sheep.
The Cotswold is q very popular and
valuable breed. They are very docile,
and take flesh easily and rapidly, and
all things considered, they are the most
profitable sheep that can be kept in
most States of the Union, especially in
Kentucky, Virginia. Tennessee and the
Middle States generally, if not in more
northern latitudes.
PRUNING GRAPE VINES.
The summer pruning Of grape vines
consists in removing the small shoots
which show by their size and lack Of
vigor that they will not make strong
canes, such as supply the buds for the
. wood that is to produce the next years
crop. But in no case will the fruit be
benefited by pruning away large por-
tion Of the vigorous new canes. If you
think your vines are overloaded, clip
out portion Of The punches now while
they are small. Nor will removing the
leaves later in the season, "to let in the
sun" do anything but mischief, as
grapes exposed to the burning rays Of
the sun are not hastened to maturity at
all, and are much injured in quality.
If one believes all about grapes that is
published in the papers, from men who
know very little on this subject. he will
be apt to destroy his vines in few
years. The general rule has been laid
down by good writer's to pinch of the
ends Of canes to within two leaves of
the fruit. If this be done to every cane
there would be no wood left for the
next seasons fruit. You must leave
some of the longest canes untouched
for this purpose then you may cut
back the smaller canes to within two or
three leaves Of the grapes, if you think
best; but I consider close summer prun-
ing good deal like taking quart or
two Of meas blood to "invigorate
him." Prune sparingly.
GRADE AYRsHIREs.
I notice accounts Of grade Ayrshire
COWS making two pounds Of butter
day, even in the winter season, on hay
and few pounds of meal daily. A
grade Ayrshire hsifer is reported to have
made eighteen pounds Of butter week
on grass. Two full bloods made as
follows: One, fourteen pounds and
ten ounces, and the other fourteen
pounds and twelve ounces of butter in
seven days, on grass. These are extra
cases but the Ayrshires are good but
ter-making cows undoubtedly.
HONEY BEES.
There are many persons in the
United States who make business of
keeping bees, and support their families
by it. The late Moses Quinly, of St.
townsville, N. Y. had several large
apiaries few miles apart, about one
hundred hives in each. Some seasons
he sent $4,000 pounds of honey in
small glass boxes to New York. But
it requires thorough knowledge Of
this insect. and its general manage
ment, to make money on extensive
apiaries.
SOAK YOUR BUTTER TUBS.
Some careless dairymen pack their
butter in new tubs and frkins without
being soaked. That is wrong, as they
impart the favor Of the wood to the
butter. and depreciate the value from
two to five cents per pound. Soak
your tubs and irkins twenty-four hours,
then change the water, and soak twenty
four hours longer; and be careful to
have no decaying vegetables nor any
thing that throws out an unpleasant
smellin your cellar, as your butter will
be affected by such things. no matter
how closely it is covered.
BUCKwHEAT.
Buckwheat is a profitable crop. and
no good farmer should fail to SOW a few
acres from July 1st to the 10th. Half
q bushel of seed is sufficient for an acre
It is excellent feed for fowls. to say
nothing Of the indispensable "hot
cakes" that every family must have
in the winter season
WHEAT SCREENINGS FOR P0wLs.
Where wheat screenings can be
obtained at fair price, no feed is bet
ter for fowls as change. They are
also very good for chickens as soon as
old enough to be fed on them. A fowl
breeder says: Il have kept for the past
ten years from $50 to 800 fowls, and
have fed wheat screenings with other