8 



THE FARM AND GARDEN. 



LilYB SliOGI^. 



By Eben E. lUxford, Shiocton. Wis, 



I calleil at the house of the neighbor, the other 

 day, :i]iil louiid liim a conteuted man. But his 

 contentment was not of the kind I lilie to see. 

 They say that a "eontented mind is a continual 

 feast;" but 1 am more and more convinced tliat 

 if very many men had less of this man's kind of 

 contentment, they could afford a much better 

 feast than they partake of at present. This 

 neighbor is content to jog along through life pre- 

 cisely as his father did. But liis wife is not; she 

 believes in improvement, and sees that the old 

 ways are not always tlie best ones to follow. She 

 is ambitious to get along in the world. She does 

 not believe in merely " holding your own," — a 

 principle governing too many men to-day; but 

 rather in getting ahead. Not because she is 

 mercenary, but because she wants to be able to 

 help her children to get a start in the world, and 

 because she sees that it costs as much to liye in a 

 "well-enough" fashion, as it does to live in a 

 progressive one, — in sliort, that shiftless, careless 

 management requires the outlay of quite as mncii 

 labor and money, as is needed in a go-ahead way 

 of doing business, and brings in little beyond a 

 living, while the* energetic, progressive farmer 

 lives better, and lavs up a little for a coming 

 "rainy day." She believi'S it pays to get a good 

 article when you buy ; that it jiays to get rid of 

 anything you have >. lispose of if you can get 

 something better to take its place. This she con- 

 sitlers good economy. So do I. They keep si.\ 

 or eight cows. As country cows go, they are 

 probably as good as the average. They give 

 eight or ten quarts of milk per day, for some 

 months in the year, and this milk gives an aver- 

 age of three pounds of butter per week. The 

 cows have the run of one of the best pastures in 

 the neighborhood. They have all that is neces- 

 sary for cows to have, and d(» well, and I suppose 

 they do as well as you can e.\j»eet them to, but 

 that does not satisfy my friends enterprising wife. 

 " I want .John to get a Jersey or an Ayrshire," 

 she said to me. " If / were a man, I wouldn't be 

 satisfied with 'scrubs.' But he says we can't 

 afford it. / know he can, and that he is working 

 against his own interests in keeping the cows we 

 have, when it would cost no more to keep a kind 

 which would bring us in an much again." She is 

 "level-headed." She sees that money used in 

 purchasing good stock, is well invested. The 

 nrst cost may be considerable, hut the returns 

 would be so much more, that before the farmer 

 realized it, the extra first cost would be m.adc up 

 to him. If he could be convinced tliat it costs no 

 more to keep a good cow than a " scrub," and 

 see how much greater the profits are, he might 

 beinducedtopurcha.se. But he gets frightened 

 at the cost, and resolutely refuses to be convinced. 

 Such farmers are short-siglited, ,inil rob them- 

 selves by their non-progressive ideas. They have 

 only to read the papers to find out liow much 

 better it pays to keep good stock. But the trouble 

 is, you cannot get them to ri'ad, and if they do 

 read, they are skeptical. Let them find out by 

 going into a neighborhood where "scrubs" are 

 things of the past. 



THE HOLSTEINS AND AYRSHIRES. 

 _nesc two breeds are the only true dairy cattle. 

 Not that cows of other breeds may not prove e.\- 

 cellent for the dairy, for there are exceptions in 

 many cases, but the Holsteins and Ayrshires will 

 always increase the yield of milk when used for 

 improving the native cows. The Ayrshires are 

 earlier in maturing, as they are smaller than the 

 Holsteins, and are able to subsist on )ioorer pas- 

 turage, but if the best results are to be expected, 

 both breeds of cows should be allowed upon the 

 most favorable pastures only. It is a mistake in 

 dairying to select stock for the reason that it is 

 adapted to inferior pasturage, as no breed of cat- 

 tle will give satisfaction where the conditions 

 are not favorable for large yields. The Holsteins 

 have the advantage of making gooil animals for 

 the butcher when no longer required at the dairy, 

 owing to their large frames, upon wliich heavy 

 weights of flesh may be jilaced, but they are not 

 equal in quality in "that respect to the Herefords 

 or Sliorthorns. The Holsteins are best suited 

 on level pastures, but the active habits of the 

 Ayrshires enable them to utilize rich hillside 

 pastures, and in that respect they have no supe- 

 rior. For dairy purposes botti breeds yield 

 largely in milk, ami though often good butter 

 cows are found among them, the milk is not 

 equal in richness to that of the Jerseys or 

 Guernseys. 



THE BABNTAED D) 'WTNTEB. 



How often do we witness the cattle standing in 

 the barnyard with manure up to their kness, and 

 no signs of comfort or warmth in any form. This 

 may be easily prevented if the yard is provided 

 with plenty of absorbent material. It is wasteful 

 to allow the straw and fodder to be picked over 

 and trampled for the sake of using it in the man- 

 ure heap. Nothing is gained by the process, for 

 if such material can be piissed through a cutter it 

 will not only serve as food, but the manure in 

 the yard will be in a finer cipndition. To obviate 

 the difficulty of muddy yards, plenty of saw-dnst 

 should be added to the yard, and as soon in the 

 spring as possible, the manure should be hauled 

 out, and the yard again covered liberally with 

 saw-dust. Instead of compelling the stock to 

 remain in the stalls on wet cold days, they should 

 have a large dry open shed outside, with a floor 

 higher than the yard, and lacing the south. 

 They can then exercise them.selves a little, and 

 will keep in better health. An occasional clean- 

 ing of the floor of the shed, and literal use of 

 sawdust, will keep the standing places clean. 

 Saw-dust also makes excellent beddings in the 

 stalls. 



HOQ EILLINO. 



One of the notable days in the good old-fash- 

 ioned farmers life, was the annual hog killing. 

 The cozy farmer who had the killing was happy. 

 His pen, which was the pride of the neighbor- 

 hood, was full of larire well /ed jiorkers, that 

 were too fat and lazy to walk ; but were always 

 ready at the trough to the accustomed feed, and 

 then as ready to pass away the day in sleepy 

 enjoyment. 



\Ve well remember those days, and the busy 

 womi-n f dks too, w'ho with bustling activity pre- 

 pared the day before, ]>crhaps long continued 

 into the night too, the pies, cakes and doughnuts 

 that were to add the staple luxuries of tfie farm- 

 er's hog killing dinner. 



The long anticipated day arrived, and with it 

 the neighbors who were to a.ssist in the hog kil- 

 ling, with their wives and children. There was 

 one ilav we ehildVeu could have to do just as we 



id eased, as everybody on hog killing day was too 

 >usy to j)ay any attention to us. What romps 

 we used to have, and what fun in those old- 

 fashioned hog killings. But the fashion is 

 changed. A professional does the killing, a few 

 do the work, ami one of the great days of theold- 

 fashionid farmer is pa.ssing away. Those good 

 old customs ot the country farmer are passing, 

 and c(nintry life is becoming city life, and the 

 old country gatherings and country hog killings 

 will soon be no more. 



STOCK NOTES. 



.Motto for stockmen: — Feed well, water well, 

 and sell well. 



Warm the water for your animals to drink in 

 cold weather. Cold ice water is a poor drink for 

 a cold, exposed, shivering animal. X little labor 

 is required to do it. A merciful man will be 

 merciful to his bea-st. Please see to it. 



Quarters For Sheep.— An open shed, facing 

 the south, with a close roof, is better than a closed 

 building for sheep. The floor should be of 

 boards, and kept clean. Damp sleeping places 

 conduce to distemper, while muddy yards pro- 

 mote foot-rot. 



Stable well all stock, in good, dry, warm, well 

 ventilated stables. Water regularly, and if the 

 weather be cold, draw fresh water, and do not 

 use ice cold water, as it chills animals too much. 

 Let them out each day for e-xercise, and you will 

 find your animals better for it. 



The Holsteins are coming into prominence as 

 a butter and dairy cow. The breed are remark- 

 abe for large size, coupled with great milking 

 qualities. They are "the cattle" of Holland for 

 dairy purposes. The milk, while not as rich in 

 cream as the Jersey, is more in quantity, and 

 makes a fine gilt-edged butter. 



Cleveland Bays, an English breed of coach 

 horses, are attracting a great deal of attention 

 among stockmen. They are of a. beautiful bay 

 color, and all the colts bred from them are all so 

 neur the same style and action that they will 

 nearly all easily mate. They make fine road 

 and carriage "horses, and are excellent for the 

 farm. 



A dry pen is, to a pig, of more consequence 

 than many .suppose. It pays to keep the pig dry 

 and warm. The sleeping part of the pen should 

 be raised a foot or so above ground, and allow 

 the air to freely circulate under the jien, to dry 

 the bed. The cold does not hurt a pig if the bei 

 is good and dry ; but wet pens are one of the 

 greatest nuisances of a farm. 



Turnips, Ruta Bagas, and the like are good 

 feed for cows and horses. Cut them into thin 

 strips, (if cut thick, animals choke with them), 

 spread a little meal over them, and give milch 

 cows their feed after milking. The flavor is not 

 so strong in the milk if fed while, or after, milk- 

 ing. Carrots are better to feed, and make, when 

 fed, a beautiful yellow colored butter, even in 

 winter. 



The Pig Pex in 'Winter.— The pigs are ex- 

 pected to keep the pen dirty, owing to the amount 

 of sloppy food they receive, auil « ilhont a jilenti- 

 ful supply of absorbent litter, mud and damjiness 

 cannot be avoided. The sleeping quarters, how- 

 ever, may be kept dry. By scraping the floor 

 clean with a hoe every morning, and .scattering 

 saw-dust or chaff over it, the pigs will have a 

 comfortable place in damp weather. On cold 

 days, a bed of straw should be provided, which 

 can be changed whenever it becomes damp. 



Changing the Cows to Hay.— The sudden 

 change from green to dry food is not favorable, 

 In the spring the change to green food is done 

 gradually, and in winter the loss of green food 

 is seriously felt at first. .\s the eows must now 

 breed upon hay, a warm mess of cooked roots in 

 the morning will greatly promote the flow of 

 milk, which Is gnidually falling ott ; while a few 

 turnips, carrots, or beets, at night, will be highly 

 relished. Dry hay should be varied with other 

 food as much as possible. 



BOSS PRIZE-BRED WftlVIMOIH BRflW^E HJUKEyS 



irum Miif oia |\|\(; (;<)Itlt LI:K^. vii^lnhi; liom 

 forty to forty-Nix poiiiHt- • a. ii, lui.l mn .i.i <H KEN 

 HENS. u. 1^111111; from t \vi-iit> -out* to twenty-six 

 pounds each. CIAIIJD BROS., Keonett Squaw. Peana. 



JLKSEV UEU, POLAND.CHISA, 

 <hp-.t«T Whitf. Rf-rksblrr ft York- 

 ohirv I'i^. Snuthdono, lu(-wol.r 

 nnd Osfunl n.n?n Shrppand Lanilio 

 8rotrli Colli'j Sbfphcril l>nes and 

 Fanr; I'ouJtrj. Hnod foriataluf^oe 

 W.^TLFF.BnirEF A f O.Phil*. P» 



COUNTRY PRODUGEi es^! chicken tl 



sfU? Write to us for prices at this ilarket. C'oiisign- 

 niPTiis sdlicitc'd and |iroiiiut returns made. Uefer, 

 by permission, to the publishers uf this paper. 

 SEKDS A- FEnrJI'SON, ron.uii>4>4inii .llerrlinnts, 



Tweinh Street Markt'i, iMiiladelphia. 



Headquarters for all articles used t» 

 horsemen, works on the Horse, horse pic- 

 tures, road, track, and racing pictures; 

 celebrated horses, 200eubjects; Veterinary 

 medicines and horse ponds of every de- 

 scription. Price list of 5('0 articles needed 

 bv horsemen mailed free. 



LIGHT RR AHMAS. PUftE-BRCD and NICELY markeil. 

 Extra Birds $.3.00 each. WIIITK f'OCHINS, 



SiJ ea<-h, or g5 trio. J, A. ROBEIITS. MALVERN. PA. 



^Chester White. Berk- pTn.C 

 shireand Poland-China •■• ■"■"^i 

 Fliu-SitUr l>oe-. xutch <«Ilk«. 

 Fnxlloiindts und IfieiicU-*. bred 



IT; .iiid forsaleby W. GIBBONS & CO.. 



1# West Clies:er, Chester Co., I'a, 

 Send Slamp for Circular and Price List. 



True pi 

 loirue. 



'2806Lbs.Wg'tB 



of two OHIO IMPROVED 

 ^CHESTER HOGS 



, ' Send for desoriptinn of tlii.s 

 I famous breed. AL-^o Fuwi?;. 

 l.B, SILVER,Cleveland,Q, 



REGISTEREDSWINE 



Ti.orninrti-u.-l <'heHter Whiten, Po- 

 riind.Chlnafi. ^ Impr.rul BerkAhlrefl 

 -■olifiiH' i;i" 'I "I'h i\(T>' atiiiiial sold. Strong, lieftlthy 

 y- Purity guaranteed. Seinlstamp for new Cata* 

 C. 11. Warrinston, Box GH.Weal C]ie«t«r, Pa. 



DO YOU WANT A DOG? 



If so, send for DOr, BUYERS" 

 GUIDE, ctiiitaining colored plates. 

 loo engravings of different breeds, 

 prices they are worth, and where to 

 ('uythem. Also, cuts of Dog Fur- 

 nishing Gnods of all kinds. Direc- 

 tions for Training Dogs and Breed- 

 ing Ferrets. Mailed for lo cts. 



PEILASELPHU ZEmTELS, 

 :37S. SthSt. Phllid'i. 



I Cbester 'White, York- 

 I shire, Berkshire, and 

 Poland-China in their 

 parity, Lincoln, Hamp- 

 shire Dcw^n, South 

 Scotch Collie Shepherds 

 Specialty. " .Send for f'ireulnr nnd Prires. 



T. Walter & Sons, West Chester, Pa. 



Cy"i 



slock ftnd seli'ct for rouraolves. 



ICDCCVI FRITITVALE FAR."*!. 



JLrlOCI I Kravn A' WhttpLeicharna. 



IV (s I 



JERSEY 



Jfrr'l i!'.'iA' I a PlymouthRockFowrsaCgoi. I " (rill Edpf" 

 SKM> for <ATAI.O(;rr,. I 



REDSi I faVmikks' i'uiV'i:s" I CATTLE 



Mortimer Whitehead, Mlddlebuah, New Jemi. 



