Year: 1870

IMPROVE OUR SHEEP.-MOSt Hlcn "iio
breed sheep are accustomed to isolate the
rams about the first of August, and return
Their, to the flock again about the first OF
November, or later, as the latitude may
determine. sq.f..r.


Through the middle tier of States, the
first April is probably the best time for spring
lambs The mothers need green food as soon
as may be after their young are dropped,
and that is generally ready from the 20tll OF
the month to the first of May. Further
north, the middle of the month is early enough.
as the weather is colder and the starting of
the grass much more backward ~. ref.Y.


To keep the flock constantly improving,
the first necessity is to s.


CHANGE BUCKS FgEQuENTLY.


We would suggest every year, iii is possi-
BILE, to make a selection from foreign flock
that shall equal your own. ,.s-,


Anotherr way is to hire a thoroughbred
ram at any reasonable cost, and thereby in
troduce into your flock blood that will improve
it, always keeping in mind, when the selec-
ton of sireis made what you propose to do
with the progeny that shall come from this
animal One whose aim it is to get early
and GOOD lambs for market would not intro
duce mcrino blood; or, if he wanted fine wool,
neither Cotswold nor Southdown.


Not less in importance IS


BREEDING FROM THE BEST EWES.


ANY flock of sheep will deteriorate unless
the best are saved for breeders. Seven sea-
sons are enough for even the best of sheep to
be used for mothers After nine years old,
they lose so much of their vitality and their
milk producing qualities, that the lambs are
generally below the average. AS soon as
the lambs are weaned-which should be by
the middle of September, if they We're born
the middle of April-all the eve sheep in
the flock that are not of suitable age, of FORM
and of suitable health for mothers, should be
taken out, and in some way be disposed Of.
They can generally be fattcned in the fall or
early winter, and either sold to the butchers,
or, if the number is motto large, can be con
sumed in the family, in lieu of more salable
but not more nutritious meats.


The place Of these thus discarded should
be always filed from the best of the lambs,
fit is desirable to keep the flock about the
same size. Hundreds of farmers who sell
early lambs are guilty of the great
folly of selling the very best, and allow
ing those that will not sell to go through the
winter and eventually become mothers. This
would seem to be a saving, but it is, instead,
suicide. When the best are saved for breed
ers, the flock is constantly improving; when
the poorest are permitted to become such
there is a gradual deterioration, and an nlti-
mate Ito rlse an expressive plrase) running
out.


No farmer is worthy the name and age
who is not always on the alert to make both
his farm and the stock upon it better. 1t
does not require capital to do this so much
as it does care, and in the end the best farm
ing and the best stocl-raising pay the best;
and to the bottom line all eventually comes.
-Heo,h & Home.


CAIIFoRN1A A1MoNDs.-T Stockton Re
3rsbjcm of August 25th has this local in
telligence Ia.t .a.aagnf


D. G. Deadly, Of the 'Kentuck" ranch
located twelve miles north of this city, has
handed to us specimens of almonds which
for size and flavor, we'do not think can be
equaed in few thousand miles of travel
Ia length the specimens measure two and a
quarter inches, and one and three-fourth inches
across the shell. He has three trees on
which he has grown about fourteen bushels
of almonds, of which those in our possession
are pronounced an average sample. The
old gentleman informs us that he intends to
plant the whole. fourteen bushels in a nursery
and present his friends. who wish to engage
in the almond culture with the young trees.
.How TO MAKE ToM.To isIas Pour boil
ing water over the,foinatoes, in order to re-
move the skins; then weigh them and place
them in stone jar, with as much sugar as
you have tomatoes, and then let them stand
odays; then pour off the syrup and boil
and skim it until no skuln rises; then pour 1t
over the tomatoes and let them stand two
days, as before, then boil and skim again.
After the third time they are fit to dry, if
the weather is good; if not, let them stand
in the syrup until drying weather. Then
aplace on large plates or dishes and put them
in the sun to dry, which will take about a
week, after which pack them down in small
wooden boxes, with fine sugar between each
layer. Tomatoes prepared, in this manner
viii keep for years.


WASHING G-FLU1p-Take five pounds of sa
soda, one : of borax, and one of unslacbed
nme. DSSOlNe the SOla @lllu DoraN IN Ont
gallon of water slack the lime in the same
quantity of boiling water, then pour them
both into eight gallons of cold water; stir it
ra,lttle and let it stand all night In the morn
ing pour off the clear fluid for use


For two pals of water use half a pint of the
compound Soak your clothes over night,
rubbing soap on the solid parts. Wiring
them out, and put them over to boil in water
containing soapand fluid. After boiling fif
teen minutes, take them out into cold water
and suds, and rinse them.


HEAD LETTUCE. 1T is said that heads Of
lettuce can be produced in winter in from
twenty-four to fYty-eght hours by taking a
box filed with rich earth, in which one-third
part of Stacked lime has been mixed, water
ing the earth with lukewarm water; then
oI;,,<. coaJ ,vI;ob bco hon,