No. 85.] 353 



Where stock is concerned, we have an advantage over any north 

 ern country. But mind you, we have winter, such as it is, for 

 some two or three months, often not cold enough to " save our ba- 

 con " well — we can have green food any day in the year without a 

 plow, the erroneous statements of English journalists to the contrary 

 notwithstanding. Admit we could have nothing but Bermuda grass 

 and ry6, — the first everybody knows grows in a drier clime than this, 

 — and we can have grass from March till frost, and by sowing rye 

 in corn and cotton fields, it will be fit for grazing before Bermuda is 

 killed down. We can raise turneps, which grew within the sound 

 of my voice, to measure thirty inches in circumference ; cabbage that 

 measured thirty-six inches clear of the green blades, a white head only 

 measure'!. Egyptian oats make an excellent winter food ; clover, if 

 sown in September, will make excellent grazing by 1st of March. 

 The cow pert sown in our corn fields, not injuring product of corn, 

 will fatten our hogs and horses, and a limited number of cattle — ex- 

 tent of field considered. But I need not expatiate ; to the true Ame- 

 rican enough has been said to induce him to inquire, to examine, and 

 not like the South the less because its resources are ample for every 

 emergency. I may add — though the fact that some of us have one 

 to two hundred head of cattle, with only ten to twenty hands would 

 induce a thinking man to know it without mentioning it — we do not 

 feed our cattle or sheep, and seldom jfeerf hogs. 



It may probably be agreeable to some of my readers to know what 

 I have that could eat provender, and then show the hands that I em- 

 ploy. I have 13 head of mares, colts and mules here, 4 elsewhere ; 

 some 75 head of cattle ; (lost a number by high waters last winter ;) 

 100 head of sheep ; 125 head of hogs, nearly all improved Berkshire. 

 Can ten hands feed the half of this number as you are forced to do, 

 and then raise my average crop of seven bales, (for the last five years)] 

 Then you will see what our climate and wild grass does. 



The diseases of our farm animals have of course received much of 

 my attention, and this again is in our favor, for the diseases can gene- 

 rally be prevented by good management, or are easy of cure. As a 

 rule, I have had far more success in this department of my doctoring, 

 than when I practiced on the animal man. I provide for my ar.v- 

 mals an abundance of water, which I am compelled to do by digging 

 out for a pool, and throwing up embankments, to catch and hold rain 

 water ; I keep them well supplied with salt, salt and ashes ; sometimes 

 sulphur and air-slacked lime. I have a long trough in an open shed 

 50 by 18 feet, and unless I have food in the trough, I keep salt there 

 the year round. This prevents bots and cholic in horses, as also 

 other diseases. That hot story I am inclined to be a disbeliever in. 

 When I meet with the symptoms of " hots''' or cholic^ I give about an 

 ounce of laudanum in a pint of water, and if not relieved in a half or 

 three-quarters of an hour, I repeat half the quantity, and so on, sel- 

 dom repeating, and never the third dose given. I give salts after, or 



[Senate, No. 85.] X 



