The Mineral argus., 1883-10-18
FIELD AND FARM.
Notes for Farmers.

Notes for
There are now 900 head of imported
| cattle at the Boston quarantine grounds,
land over COG more will come this month.
nj If there is anything that will arouse a
MAN to renewed action, it is the sight Of
Introduction Of a neighbours farm that
~ Aeds in quality that Of his own farm.
HkSwill endeavor 20 find out the secret
ofnis success, and if it is because OF a
better breed of cattle, or better varie-
ties of fruits or vegetables, he will be
very likely TO introduce improved breed
or variety upon his own farm. Thus the
annual fairs become a direct advantage
10 the farmer. In a society where there
is so much that can be learned, no man
can afford to refuse to become a member,
and the more active he becomes the
more practical knowledge will he be
able TO pick up. Every good farmer
will feel that he ought to devote at least
one week in September TO agricultural
fairs, and he will give his boys as much
time as he spends himself.-Massachu-
sets Eloughman.
The Michigan Farmer gently remarks
that "a farmer who has tried the no
road-side-fence plan, declares his pious
soul TO have been greatly vexed because
of the trouble and damage caused by
any transfer of stock from parts of his
own farm, or the passing droves in the
highway, and also that in crop rotation
the want of a fence compelled him 10
omit p~asturing fields when such forage
would have been of great advantage TO
him. He thinks he cannot quite spare
the fences yet"
The New York Times says the roofs of
barns should be steep, and if of wood
the surface either painted or the shin
giles dipped in lime water, to make them
more durable. Straw and dirt collect
under flat-roofed shingles and cause
rapid decay.
Western readers, prepare your wheat
fields better than ever before and see
whether it pays you or not to do so.
That the yields of rich western wheat
fields should be but from l5t to 20 bushels
per acre shows thai the preparation is
neglected. How much extra labor can
you afford to increase the Weld l0O-fold?
When grown mules are selling at $500
to s4O9 a pair and sucking mule colts
bring $50 TO 500, it might be worth
while for those who could just as easily
rear mules as not and who could keep
a few mares as well as many geldings, to
bear these figures in mind.
DowE SHEEP. --Henry Stewart says that
the cups" are now in favor of the
Downs" as that class of sheep with
dark faces and medium wool are called,
of which the South Downs are the pro.
genitors. These sheep are all excellent,
but vary in size, from the smaller South
Down 10 the Shropshire, Oxford and
Hampshire breeds. For mutton these
breeds are unapproachable, and the
wool is of that class known as flannel
and clothing wool, the great staple oil
the manufacturers. But the Merinos
have their place as wool bearers, from
which thew can never be pushed, while
these Down breeds will be the farmers
sheep for wool, mutton and lambs.
The wheat crop in Kansas is threshing
out mush heavier than was expected.
and the state board ofagriculture nov
SAYS that the crop will reach 5000, OO(
bushels. The corn crop in Kansas it il
estimated will reach fully 200, 900 ,0OC
bushels and will be the largest ever pro
duced in the state.
II the farmers who will keep dog.
would get rid Of their worthless ours and
substitute one well-bred shepherd pup
not more, TO each farm, tie wealth OF
every farming community would be
vastly increased in many ways. Farm
ers soon find the colly saving then
many a step. Eager and anxious Il
learn, willing to do anything within hi
power, the young dog needs only a wisC
and patient restraint, and intelligent di
r%ection, to become the most useful hanC
on the place.
We can readily understand why our
neighbor who rises at event in the morn
ing and spends three or four hours o
almost every fair day and all of tn,
rainy days in the town or village, Cos
slipping or talking politics, does not pros
per at farming, and he does not deserve
to succeed.
Sheep prefer upland pastures and
great variety of grasses. 1t has beel
proved that the pasture has a create
influence than climate on the fnenes
Of wool. Fat sheep yield heavier an,
coarser .~ieeces than those that are poo
in flesh. The fine focks east. when ia
ken 10 the western prairies in the same
latitude, will in a few years change their
character. The quantity of fieeces ans
size of the sheep will increase; but the
heeces Of the wool will not be retained
Sweet or upland heritage rs the best foI
fine wool.