The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1891-07-04
AGRICULTURE.

HE Barclay County
Agricultural society
having seriously in.
vited the author of
- this volume to address
them ON the occasion of their next an
nuMl fair, he wrote the president Of that
society a. follows:
NEW YoRK, June IL, 1855.
DEAR SRI have tho honor to &C.
knowledge the receipt Of your letter of
the 9Th inst, in which you invite me to
deliver an address before your excellent
agricultural society.
feel dattercd, and think will come.
Perhaps, meanwhile, q brief history of
my experience as IN agriculturist will
be acceptable. and rs that history no
doubt contains suggestions of value to
the entire agricultural community.
have concluded to write You through
the press.
Ihave been IN honest old farmer for
some years.
My farm is in the interior Of Maine.
Unfortunately my lands are eleven miles
from the railroad. Eleven miles is quite
distance to haul immense quantities
ct wheat, corn, rye and oats; but az I
hav'n't any to haul, I do not, after all,
suffer much on that account.
Ny farm il moro especially grass
farm.
My neighbors told me 10 ut first. and
rs nm evidence that they We're sincere in
that opinion, they turned their cows on
to it the moment went off ''lectur.
These cows arc now quit, fat. take
pride in these COWS, in fact. and am glad
own grass farm.
Two years ago tried sheep raising.
bought fifty lambs and turned them
loose on my broad and beautiful acres.
1t was pleasant on bright mornings to
stroll leisurely out on to the farm in my
dressing gown, with cigar in my
mouth, and watch those innocent little
lambs as they danced gayly DER the hill
side. Watching their saucy capers re-
minded me of caper sauce, and it &C.
Cured to me I should have some very
fine eating when they grew mp to be
'.muttons."
My gentle shepherd. Mr.. Eli Perkins,
ssid. I'VE must have some shepherd
G0gs."
had no very precise idea IA to what
shepherd dogs We're, but I assumed
rather profound look. and said:
1--WE must. Eli. Ispoke to YOU about
this some time ago.
Iwrote to my old friend. Mr.. Dexter
Fl. Follett. Of Boston. fur two shepherd
dogs. Mr.. F. il not an honest old farmer
himself, bnt though: :s knew about
shepherd dogs. He kindly forsook far
more important business to acconlmo.
date. and the dogs came forthwith.
They were splendid creatures--snuR COL
orcd. hazel eyed, long tailed aud shapely
jnwetl.
We lei them proudly to the fields.
Turn them in. Eli," said.
Eli turned them in.
They went in ut once and killed TWEEN.
ty Ut my best lambs in about four min.
utes and half.
Ny friend had made u trifling mistake
in the breed Of these dogs.
These dogs were not partial to sheep.
Eli Perkins was astonishel and oh.
served:
"SChls llU you ever.
certainly never had.
There were pools Of blood ON the
greensward, aud fragments Of wool and
raw lamb chops lay round in confused
heaps.
Tho dogs would have been sent to Bos.
ton that night. had they not suddenly
died that afternoon Of throat distcm.
per. 1t wasn't swelling Of the throat.
1t wasn't diphtheria. 1t was u violent
opening of the throat, extending from
ear to ear.
Thus close their life stories. Thus
ended their interesting tails.
I failed rs raiser Of lambs. As o
sheepist. was not . success.
Last summer Mr.. Perkins said, II
think We better cut some grass this sea.
ron. sir"
We cut some grass.
To me the new Mown hay is very
sweet and nice. The brilliant George
Arnold sings about it, in beautiful verse,
down in Jersey every summer: 90 does