286 STATE BOAED OF AGRICULTUEE. 



breed. A quick -jTOlsed hog is a nervous, irritable liog, and is of no value except 

 to hunt a hole in the fence. 



Medicines given horned cattle should be given in solution. If not given in 

 solution, it goes to the first stomach and there remains, to be chewed over with 

 whatever is in the stomach before it can be taken up by the system. But when 

 given in solution it goes directly to the second and third stomach, and is imme- 

 diately taken up by the system. But it is different with the horse. 



I have not half finished my subject, but I have already occupied more thau 

 my allotted time, and must close, subject to your cross-examination. 



Mr. Sidney Green, of Pittsford, read the following paper on 



''ROAD MAKING." 



The personal and real estate of Hillsdale county, as equalized by tlie Ijoard of 

 supervisors at their October session of 187G, was §6,389,578. Allowing one day's 

 work for each $200 of valuation, we have an assessment of 31,948 days' work 

 to be applied to the public highways in the county. An estimate of $700 to the 

 townshii^, by direct tax, Avould make an additional amount of 814,000 for tlie 

 same purjjose. Calling each day's work one dollar, we have the amount of 

 $45,948 for the improvement of our roads in the county annually. Allowing a 

 road equal to each section line, we have 72 miles of road in a township, or at 

 that rate, say for eighteen townships (including city and villages), 1,296 miles 

 of road in the county. Eeducing this to acres, we have 1(,3G8 acres, valued, 

 say, at $35 per acre, making a total of $362,880. This amount we may con- 

 sider as permanently invested in roads for the county, or, in other words, real 

 estate owners surrender that amount to the public for highway purposes. As 

 we are farmers, and have our real estate on our hands, and have our personal 

 property for the improvement of our real estate, it matters not whether it be 

 on our farms or on the highways, the principle is the same. The question arises, 

 how shall we apply our personal resources to our real estate to the best advan- 

 tage? This, I believe, brings me to the subject of road making, upon which 

 this Institute has rather informally asked me to give my views. 



Of course what I have to say will apply more to our partially improved roads 

 than to the opening of new ones. Practically, in my opinion, nearly one-half 

 of our tax, as it is applied, is thrown away, or rather commuted, and noc applied 

 at all. I venture the assertion that there is not a farmer here tliat would be 

 willing to accept fifty per cent, of the time counted on the road, as he would 

 hire and apply to his farm. In making roads the same principle ought to be 

 observed in the use of means as in any other business. The idea and practice 

 of counting the use of a plow or scraper a day on the road and equal with a man 

 or team, is so unequal and unfair it ought to be discontinued at once. I wonld 

 apply all the means that belong to the highway faithfully. Eoads should be 

 made as straight as means and location Avill permit. In preparing a road bed 

 the main object should be j'jerm«we«ce. All moderately level ground can be 

 raised by the plow by striking a furrow exactly in the center of the road, and 

 by continuous back-furrowing a very respectable turnpike can be formed at a 

 very little expense. Water courses should be formed on each side of the road 

 bed, so there shall be no standing water in the ditches. It is important that 

 the surface water be confined in the ditches to the natural ravines or water 

 courses, thus avoiding useless and unnecessary sluices. The grading down the 

 high place to form a continuous water course in the ditches after the plowed 



