THI J     WISCONSIN FARiIEX R.                                    9f



        White Willetw-ter I Plat
  As many of the readers of the FARn t are
investing in this really valuable -novelty,"
and notwithstanding it is one of the easiest of
all shrubs or trees to grow from the cutting,
not a few may fail in growing the desired uni-
form hedge, from not beginning right. We,
therefore, offer a few brief
                DIRECTIONS.
  Prepare the ground, whether in hedgerow



or grove planUng, Dy ao00iptoeM, agt"VFW or
subsoiliny, to the depth of twelve inches, so
that it will be thoroughly pulverized and mel-
low; an even and thorough preparation of the
ground will tend to secure what is very desira-
ble--uniform growth of the hedge. Set the
cuttings by line, shoving them in at an angle
of about forty-five degrees from the perpendic-
ular, deep enough to show but the tip out of
ground, but still the base of cutting will be in
mellow, warm soil. If found projecting from
the surface, they can be lightly ridged with
the hoe or plow to nearly cover them.
  Set early! Let the earth be sairred deop enough
to have two incites of good soil below the base of
the cutting.
  A light mulch of sawdust or rotten straw
from the stack bottom, will do much to ensure
their growth.  A weekly stirring of the soil
for two feet or more on each side of them dur-
ing the first season, will be all the care they
will ordinarily require.   J. C. PLUMB.

  STOCK REGISTER.

              The Up Feser.
  Some of our friends who remember the zeal
and persistency with which in. times past we
urged upon the farmers of this State the im-
portance of wool-growing, and that we espe-
cially advocated it at the opening of the pres-
ent unhappy war, wonder that we say so little
on the subject at the present time when the
excitement runs so high.
  In explanation of this coolness on our part,
we have only to say:
  1. We thought we li 14 said enough, in view



of the low prices of wheat and other agricultua
ral produce of that sort and Oe high price of
wool-oircutmstaaoes in thewalves a fulfilmesa
of our prediction and a stronger argumen t
than we could possibly present.
  2. We saw the fever rising in the body a
ricultural and deemed it wiser to refrain fromk
the administration of any stimulant. Men, in
general, are prone to extremes, and farmers
are no exception to the rule.
  Now, therefore, while our views as to the ad-



vantage of sheep-husbandry as a branch of
farming are unchanged anl while we still ad-
vise all who are in l position to do so c-its m
ically and an such basis as to illilre isil, e,
to engage tu the business, we cannot , irue
to our conaiietions of duty as a jouiritulist for
the agriculture of the Northwest. unless at this
juncture we caution modert ion
  Wool-growing is decidedly the best business
in which any farmer in any of (he northwest-
ern States could have engaged two years, or
even one year, ago, and we are glad to know
that a few of the keener ones were able to see
it and prompt to secure large flocks of sheep
when the prices were low. But now the case
is somewhat altered, and it is by no means
certain that it would be economy for every
farmer to purchase a large flock at the current
high rates.
  On this subject one of our cotemporaries
who has had much experience, very properly
says:
  -It is also well for farmers to commence
with a small flock of ewes, say good, strong,
common sheep, and then secure a good fine-wool-
ed ram, two or three years old, and one that
has not been abused, or suffered to serve ewes
while young. The get of such sheep would be
an improvement on the quality of the wool of
the old ewes; and the lambs with proper care,
would take a higher grade. By keeping the
same ewes and buck another seaon, quite a
nice flock might be raised. Next, cull out all
the old ewes, and fatten, with such ram lambs
of the first year as may be desirable. Now
change your breeding ram and get one of a
finer grade, if possible, and keep breeding up,
not suffering an inferior ram to serve your
ewes at any time.
  ' Sheep are healthier in small flocks than in
large oneq. But sCould any ailment befall any
o. theta, they ought to be separated from the