8 



THE FARM AND GARDEN. 



IllYB SiPOGI^. 



While grain is cheap and meal dear, feed the. 

 ffrain and sell meat, Wlirn t/rain is dear sell grain. 

 Talk as little of hard titiirs as possible. Bttsitiess 

 will be dull, and grain low, as long as people stop 

 work, and lament hard times. Come, let us cheer up, 

 and push ahead. 



LEAKS IN THE STABLE. 



-B.v W. D. Boynfoit. AppMon, Wis. 



No man who caUs himself a farmer, or who 

 makes any pretensions to thrift and trood man- 

 agement, would long endure a leaky roof over his 

 Btables. He could not rest easy at niy:hts think- 

 ing that his stock was exposed, and that he was 

 suffering a loss in consequence. His economical 

 mind would be burdened with self-reproaches 

 until those leaks were stopped, and his stock 

 a^ain put into thriving condition. For his 

 humane and economical action In this respect all 

 honor is due. 



Now how many so called thrifty, economical 

 farmers who would not, on any account, suffer a 

 leaky roof to al)ide on their premises, take steps 

 toward stopping those other leaks about the 

 stable that are no less important than those of 

 the roof? A^ far as my observation goes, not one 

 farmer in a thousand worries about the leaks, 

 without number, tluit are in his stable .//o</r. Cer- 

 tainly not one farmer in a thousand attempts to 

 stop such leaks. Tons and tons of valuable 

 liquid fertilizers are annually allowed to go to 

 waste through thest^ leaks alone. Not only is the 

 urine, which contains a large proportion of that 

 valuable ingredient of plant-food— ammonia- 

 suffered to flow off unhindered, but in its course 

 it washes along much of the solid excrement. 

 Probably there is no one element that is so gener- 

 ally lacking in our soils as nitrogen. And why? 

 Simply because wo allow it to go to waste. It 

 cannot be held as other ingredients, such as 

 potash, and the acids are lield in the solid p<)r- 

 tions of the manure. These" solid excrements 

 will hold a certain portion of this valuable ele- 

 ment, but they cannot ^hold their own, to say 

 nothing of that coming from the liquid excre- 

 ments. 



Absorbents ! Absorbents ! That is what we 

 must have In this emergency. Nothing will 

 take the place of the absorbent. We may run 

 the liquid manure through gutt*'rs into tanks, 

 but even then we lose a large portion of the 

 ammonia, unless absorbents are immediately 

 supplied, which is not often done. 



It has been estimated, and f think truly, that a 

 ton of liquid manure, with its washings from the 

 solid, is worth more than a t<tnof the solid excre- 

 ments. It will certainly pay the farmer to go to 

 considerable trouble to catch and hold this, and 

 thus double the value of his manure product, 

 and upon wl^ieh all other i)roducts depend. 



To do this thoroughly, the absorbents must be 

 applied daily in the stable, and daily removed to 

 be replaced l)y fresh. This will take some extra 

 work, but what does not? The lalutr of gather- 

 ing or preparing the material for such absorbents 

 will be considerable, and it will take <juite a few 

 minutes every day to scatter it over the flor»r, 

 and to remove the same. Dry muck or earth is 

 no doubt the best materia! for the purpose, as it 

 absorbs freely, and retains tenaciously. But if a 

 supply of this has not been provided in the fall, 

 chopped straw, chaff, or any such material will 

 go far toward stopping the leaks. A lean-to shed 

 should open off every stable; and this should be 

 well rilled with material for absorbents each fall. 



One of our subscribers sat/s in his letter '^hc dois 

 not see how we can publish so good a paper for so 

 little mo net/.' ^ lie sat/s " /*<; can stand it if ire 

 can." TI'V can sttind it, let them come. 



QUALITY DEPENDS UPON THE FEED. 



The quality of the eareas-^ depends upon the 

 kind of feed given to animals which are fatted 

 for the market: wliieli fact has been determined 

 by repeated experiments for that purpose. Sonu- 

 substances used for feeding will fatten more 

 readily than others, while certain foods will give 

 a qualitji/ of fat and lean that cannot be derived 

 through any other method.' The custom of feed- 

 ing j)ea meal and oil cake is a growing one, and 

 gives excellent results in enabling the animals to 

 take on fat, but the carcasses of tliose fi'd in that 

 manner liave not compared favorably with steers 

 and hogs fed upon corn and corn meal as an 

 additional ration. AVe lately inspected thirty 

 carcasses of the iH-st steers in the country, they 

 hanging side by side, and it required no expert to 

 easily sele<'t the corn-fed animals from the others, 

 as the hard, solid fat was in striking contrast 

 with the soft blubber of those of the animals 

 which had been deprived of corn. If, however, 



stockmen are to rely solely upon corn, it deprives 



them of the valuable assistance of other foods, 

 but we think such difficulty may be avoided by 

 first feeding ttiem up to the proper condition 

 desired, using corn alone during the latter por- 

 tion of the time of fattening. This rule is well 

 known to those who feed hogs, the corn being 

 reserved for the final i>rocess. 



THE HORSE IN WINTER. 



That a horse which is idle should not be suiv 

 supplied with a full allowance of grain is an 

 impression that has prevailed for a long time, 

 but on cold, stormy days the necessity for keep- 

 ing up the animal heat is very great. A blanket 

 does not create warmth, but retains it. Tlie 

 heat must come from the food, and unless it 

 be rich and concentrated the horse will shiver 

 with cold, even under a iieavy blanket. While 

 it is, perhaps, not necessary to feed grain three 

 times a day while hay is given plentifully, yet a 

 mess of corn meal and ground oats morning and 

 night will prevent many disorders and diseases 

 peculiar to winter, as the strength and vigor 

 being retained the system can warm oft" the 

 attacks of colds and lung aflections. Grain is 

 cheaper than medicine and tonics, and the horse 

 that passes through the winter in good condition 

 will be better^ prepared for work when spring 

 opens. Every opportunity that opens for work- 

 ing lliem witli sleiglis, or in drawing wood, or 

 other ni'cessary work, should be used to advan- 

 tage, and such labor should be shared among 

 them all. A good box stall, warm, and well 

 littered, will enable the horses to exercise some- 

 what while in the stables, and mares with colt« 

 at their sides should never be confined in close 

 stalls, if bo.x stalls can be provided. 



FEED FROSTED CORN TO THE PIGS. 



Tho frost has done hut little damage the past 

 season.to corn, but there were some fields over- i 

 taken by it that had been delayed in growth by i 

 drought, and, although such corn possesses but ! 

 little commercial vaUie, yet, It can be rendered ' 

 serviceable for hogs. .Much frosted corn is wasted 

 by turning the hoi^s into tin- liehl. In the winter | 

 season it will be more econoniical to separate the 

 ears from the stalks and throw It where the hogs 

 can have free access to It, leaving the fields of 

 stalks to be picked over by the cows. Frosted 

 corn is not very good feeding for anything, but, 

 like other damaged food, can be put to service, 

 provided something better is fed with it. Corn 

 fodder that has been frosted, may be placed in 

 the barnyard, if prelV-rred, to be trampled into 

 manure, but sheep and cattle will always find a 

 little to eolle<a from it, while the corn, if placed 

 where the pigs can W4irk at it without dittieulty, 

 will assist partially in saving more valuable 

 material. It pays to gather the crops from fields 

 that have been damaged, if for no other purpose 

 than throwing it in the barnyard, and as the 

 work can be done during the cold season, it saves 

 the labor of cleaning the field In the spring. 



entirely different. When dry hay and other 



provender is used, linseed meal assists in regula- 

 ting the bowels as a partial cathartic, and should 

 therefore be used sparingly at first, beginning 

 with one gill a day the first week, and gradually 

 increasing to a pint, which is sufficient if grain is 

 allowed ; cottonseed meal is nourishing also, but 



fives better effect when fed in connection with 

 inseed meal. If either operates too freely as a 

 medicine, reduce the quantity used. It should 

 not be fed to young stock of any kind. 



STOCK NOTES. 



YOUNG LAMBS. 



Voung lambs will come in this month, but if 

 tiny are dropped in the field, the chances are 

 that one out of three will be lost. Every ewe 

 should be cimfined, if expected to come in, with 

 a few others, so as n<it to crowd them, and the 

 food should be ground oats and hay. No corn is 

 iKeessary, as milk fever may occur, but warm 

 quarters and plenty of fine t)edding are absolute 

 indispensibles. The first hour ofa lamb's exis- 

 tence is the time \tt give it the most attention. 

 If kept warm and not allowed to chill it will soon 

 be able to take good cure of itself without assis- 

 tance from its owners. 



LINSEED MEAL FOR STOCK. 



Nothing is so ^»iin.l fur a rough coat as the use 

 of linseed meal, or oil-cake, at this season. It 

 cannot be sui)plied by cottonseed meal, as the 

 effects on the bowels of the two substances are 



CurKNiXG. —About 62 degrees is the proper 

 tenip'-rature, but as the milk may cool some- 

 what during the operation, commence at a 

 temperature of (If. If this is not done the churn- 

 ing will require several hours, whereas, by the 

 use of a thermometer, and keeping the milk at 

 the proper temperature, tiie work may be done 

 in a quarter of an hour. ' , qv 



The Block Test.— At the Chicago fat stock 

 show, the carcass that produced the largest pro- 

 portion of tallow was awarded the prize, but 

 those who witnessed the display of beef are not 

 favorable to such methods of making awards. 

 The qufi/ifi/ shouUI be considered, while the steer 

 tiiat dressed tlie largest percentage of marketable 

 beef should have been the victor, as it is in that 

 din-ctir)n the production of beef is tending. 



Twelve new Hub^cribers are vranted from you. 

 Write their names on blank eDclosed and send 

 llieiii ti» us. 



Pn;s IN i'oLn Storms.— The supposition that a 

 pig can endure a-s much cold as a horse or cow is 

 an error. It may be noticed that on very cold 

 days th» pigs will remain huddled together very 

 close, and will often refuse food rather than 

 leave their beds. When such is the case, it is an 

 indication that their quarters are not as comfor- 

 table as they should be. ana too much soft bed- 

 ding cannot be allowed them. In the morning 

 they should have a warm mess, antl a liberal 

 sprinkling of ashes or dirt over the floors will be 

 found of assistance in absorbing moisture. 



Knsit.age. —Whatever objections may be urged 

 against ensilage by some, a visit to those farms 

 ujion which it is fed during the cold weather, 

 when nothing but the dry provender can be had, 

 will convince any one that even if the ensilage 

 was not all ttiat is <lnimed for it, the change from 

 dry to succulent matter is gratefully accepted by 

 the stock. It is admitted that ensilage is a valu- 

 able actiuisition. but, like everything else, its 

 (quality depends upon its preparation, and the 

 manner in which it has been preserved. Inferior 

 ensihige, like inferior hay, will not give satisfac- 

 tion. 



Weight of Sheei'.— At several western fairs^ 

 Oxforddown rams were exhibited weighing :iOO 

 pounds for yearliuKs and 420 pounds for two year 

 olds. Admitting that they attain only one-lialf 

 those weights with farmers, it requires but a 

 short calculation to deinor)strate that if ourfarm- 

 ers will give as much attention to the production 

 of mutton as they do to the growing of wool, 

 usiTit; the proper breeds for that purpose, siieep 

 will pny a naiuisoine profit. We know of a fiock 

 of <)xfords that have never received an ounce of 

 grain, and yet, are fat enough for market, the 

 weights ranging from 150 to 2-iO pounds, and they 

 also produce a fair proportion of medium wool, 

 which more than pays for their keep. 



T'siNt; iMiMtovEii BxTLi>4.— Can steers be pro- 

 duced from native cows, by the use of improved 

 bulls, that will etiual the weights of pure bred 

 steers, from the first cross? Tills question was 

 an open one, but at the late fat stock show the 

 heaviest and largest animal on exhibition was a 

 cross of a Shorthorn bull with a native cow. In 

 ever.v case the grades from Hereford bulls and 

 native cows possessed the characteristics ctf the 

 sires, not excepting the white face. The grades 

 eomi)eted successfully in every case with the 

 tht>roughbreds, receiving many of the most valu- 

 able premiums. If our stockmen here in the 

 East, wlio fatten stock for market, would use 

 improved bulls, and keep their calves instead of 

 selling them at an early age, the raising of all 

 calves dropped would pay well. 



HV would thank our readers to n<i7ii€ to us in 

 t'teir section some one who would act as agent or 

 canvass for the Fakm AND GARDEN. We intend 

 to get the largest circulation of any farm paper 

 pui)Hshed. XVill ipin help us? We shall make a 

 .tjtecial ejf'ort to increase our already large circu- 

 lation, and our friends are doing nobly for us. 

 Continue the ge/od work you are doing, and send 

 us all the new nti/ncs you can. 



In wrltlnfEudt cHiMerH. mention Farm nnd Oarden. 



H»F.^°. GUERNSEYS AND JERSEYS. 



Ai... T iinicoi (iiiiuc I'.ns and (jkades. 



Yoiine Stock I'-n" salt-. s<iiii stamp Jmi Ciitiiloeue. 

 T. WAl.TKll ifc SONS, WKST CHKSTKR, Pa. 



REGISTERED SWiNE 



Thon.ut;!! l.r.,i <he»tor Whiten, Po- 

 land>ChinaK, -V Iinpurierl Itt.-rLMlilre« 



>tami^> Ht ul-w Cata> 



■'est Chester. Pa. 



True pedljcrvf irivii "itli eivry Huiinnl s. 

 Btwk only. Purity snaranteed. Souilsl 

 lofrne. O. U. U arrlnirton. iiox 6H.W 



JCnOLI I lErown.V \Vhlt.-1.ei;h«rTiH. I jLlfotl 



Jfrrri Bn<-/c I & Plymouth Rock Fowls & taqt. I " ffif/ Erinr- 



ntUOi I FARMERS' PRICES. I LATTLL 



.>lortiuier Whitehead, Mlddlebush. New Jersey. 



J END to KING & CO.. Oweeo, N.Y,. for Catalogue 

 and Price-List of CUSTOM HANO-MAOC HARNtSl. 



Address, BUCKEYE CHURN CO., Dundee. Mich. 



^Chesler White. Berk- jyjClQ 

 shire and Poland China X^ A UTO, 



Flnt- Sitter I>w8:m. Soot^'h Collleis 

 Ko.\ llotindMiiiid Beuick't*, Sheep 

 ana Puiiltrv. iTnl lUiiI !ur sale by 



, W. GIBBON^ « CO.. Westchester. 



___ ' ( hesiHiConnly. Pennsylranlft. 



Send Stamp for Circular and Price List. 



Headquarters for all articles used by 

 horsemen, works on the Horse, horse pio- 

 turew. road, tracJi. and racing pictures; 

 celebrated hor.-*es, 2tX)8ubjects; Veterinary 

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 jf . H. TlTTTI-E.tS Nassan Bt-.N. Y 



