The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-03-09
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.

ouEEf HELM A<OhSC-
sters are usually placed at the head of the
long wool breeds, as being the finest in
form and feeces, and also because 1t has
been largely used in crossing, for the i'm
provement of the other varieties.
The head il hornless, and rather long
and narrow; ears thin, with spots OF
blush tinge., The long, we'll cut ear of
the pure Leicester, with its sprightly
backward inclination, is distinguishing
characteristic of the breed, as is also the
full, prominent eye, with quiet and
lively expression. The face and forehead
must he bare of wool, though covered
with fine coat of hair-white, with a
little inclination to blush tint.
The body is straight; with ribs we'll
sprung and barrel shaped; the pelt in
clined to be thin; the wool exceedingly
soft, fine and lustrous, and should be uni
form over the carcass.
The extremitics--muz and legs-are
exceedingly fine, but the quarters are full
and wide, with back broad and level.
Indeed, the carcass Of the true Leicester
sheep is as near perfection in form as can
be conceived possible.
The Cotswold, though of late years
modified by the crosses of the Leicester
blood, and therefore, strongly resembling
that breed, is somewhat cOarser and
longer in carcass; with heavy fleece,
which should be as lustrous, though not
SO fine, as the Leicester. The head
is larger, and must have tuft of wool
on the forehead, which the Leicester
never has.
The Lincoln is as large as the Cotswold,
though in other respects, as now bred,
very strongly resembling the Leicester.
The head is long, the face narrow and
bare Of wool, with white, fine hair and
light blush tint as in the Leicester.
They stand rather higher on the leg than
the two varieties before mentioned, and
the carcass is apt to be less symmetrical |;
but the fleece is longer and heavier, and,
though not quite so fine as the Leicester,
is unsurpassed in luster, and therefore
commands the best price in the mar
kets.
1t is difficult to describe animals so as
to enable person to determine the pure
bred from the mOngrel; indeed the best
Judges are not always able to detect the
presence of slight dash OF inferior
blood.
One thing the producer may rely
upon-that long-woOl sheep peddled
the country at low prices are never pure
bred. Indeed, blooded stock of all sorts
should be purchased of parties that are
known as reputable breeders-this is the
only reliable security the purchaser can
have that the animal purchased will turn
out what it is represented to be.
The SOuthdown sheep has a broad,
rather short, theush exceedingly neat
head, forehead covered with wool, and
the face and legs with gray or brown
hair. The fleece is rather short, of good
telling quality, equal to haif-blood
Merino, but superior for flannel, ETC.,
and should be solid and compact, with
out projecting hairs.
The carcass should be straight, with
we'll sprung ribs and broad, level back
having wide quarters, deep flank and
well-packed twist. This being held in
higher esteem than any other breed fol
the production of superior mutton, the
full and perfect development of carcass is
deemed of the highest Importance.
The Hampshire Downs are cOarser In
form and fleece, with black faces and
legs.
The Shropshire Downs are cross be.
tween the Southdowns and Long wools-
a large breed, with long, coarse wool. in
form resembling the Cotswold, with
black faces and legs.
In regard to this matter of the color OF
the faces and the legs, it is remarkable
that while the Sou.hdowns, which stand
at the head of all these varieties, have,
as before observed, brown or gray colors
in these parts, their crosses on other
breeds will frequently show black faces
and legs.
When the object is to keep small
flock for mutton, rams of this variety are
found exceedingly profitable to cross on
ewes, of almost any other breed. But
the nearer they 60 to the pure blood the
better the mutton.
THE ACTION OF LIME.-Ashes and
lime do not react upon each other to
form an insOluble compound, when ap.
plied to the land, nor is any injurious
compound of any kind liable to be pro-
duced. Lime applied to soil consisting
mostly of oyster shells could not do go
much good, unless the soil contained also
considerable proportion of organic mat
ter for it to act upon to decompose. A
certain proportion of organic matter is
essential to the constitution Of good
healthy soil, and if there is already in the
beginning less than this proportion, the
addition of lime will reduce it and dc
harm; lining without manuring will
impoverish any soil, sooner or later; the
sooner, the smaller the quantity of plant
food that there is in it to start with. On
a very sandy soil lime is said to be liable
to form sort of a mortar with the sand
in one or both of these considerations il
seems possible to find good reason why
you should think that lime is working
unfavorably on your very sandy soil.
SHAKING BEES FROM CoMBs.-J. M
Marven, in the american Bee Journal
gives the following way to prevent irri
tatiDg bees, in brushing from the combs
in sub-dividipg: Use more care in sub
DUNG bees, in long, deep, or large hives
1t is generally best to manage the hives
extracting honey, making swarms, etc.
during yield of honey, and before it j.
sealed with wax, that all the bees may
| fill their sacs with honey, which they
will do if there is enough uncapped, and
they are distributed properly. If the
honey is not in fit condition, or of suf
ficient quantity, food may be given t.
subdue the most vicious stock. The
brush is one or more grape or plantair
leaves rolled loosely, and sometimes the
end trimmed.
Weeds, grass, broom, feathers, Of
brushes may be used; but If the articles
are scarce, or only one at hand, dip oc
casionally in water to wash of the odor
which enrages badly managed bees. Ust
the old.fashioned native or black bees
with your deep frames, that drop off the
comb like shot off a single, at leas
touch.
Household Helps.
To DRESS SILK.-Take an old kit
glove the color of the dress as near al
possible; put 1t in saucepan with ,
quart of water, boil down to pint, ant
sponge the dress on the right side will