126 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



tribution the decrease in the mortality 

 has been very marked. Our records show 

 about 2,500 deaths from black-leg or a 

 resultant three-fifths of one per cent, of 

 the total amount. That the farmer is 

 benefited by our work there is not a 

 doubt. Of course this is not the only 

 important work which we are doing, but I 

 have called attention to black-leg because 

 it is one of the most serious obstacles 

 with which the agriculturist has to con- 

 tend. The loss from this source is more 

 than from all other causes, disease, 

 accidents, etc." 



When asked about what has been done 

 toward relieving cows from the attack of 

 flies, Dr. Norgard said: "There are 

 many remedies, both from private sources 

 and our own, with which to keep flies off 

 of cows, but none of these are lasting, 

 continued application being necessary. 

 Now the horn fly is very troublesome to 

 many cows and fish oil is extensively 

 used. It is applied to the frontal bone 

 and head of the animal. It is sticky and 

 only has a lasting effect for a short time. 

 Two of the most prominent sheep dips on 

 the market used at a strength of about 2 

 per cent, are known to be beneficial. 

 Then different coal-tar preparations, 

 kerosene, a solution from juniper and 

 cockle-berries and numerous other con- 

 coctions may be of some benefit, but 

 when their strength begins to weaken, 

 the flies continue to annoy the cows and 

 can only be kept away by renewal of 

 the remedy. Trouble from the cause is 

 not so serious, however, for whatever loss 

 in milk or weight is occasioned by the 

 attacks of the flies, the coming winter 

 will see a corresponding gain." 



European dairymen buy large quantities 

 of American feeding stuffs. Experiments 

 are now being made in compressing bran 

 into bricks for more convenient expor- 

 tation. While the success of this line of 

 work might lead to a still greater expor- 

 tation of American raw farm products, 



the failure of the experiment would be 

 America's gain. Bran is one of the most 

 valuable feeds for the dairy. It is 

 recommended by many feeders as especi- 

 ally useful for feeding in conjunction 

 with corn-meal which is concentrated and 

 tends to "pack" in the stomach. Bran is 

 cooling and can be used in almost any 

 reasonable quantity. It is a food rich in 

 protein and contains a large amount of 

 the nitrogenous element of fertility in 

 soils. What is known to be extremely 

 hard on soil and the chemist has found 

 that most of the soil strength goes into 

 the bran. Broadly speaking, therefore, 

 the extreme folly can be seen of exporting 

 bran and letting that much fertility go out 

 of the country to enrich foreign lands, 

 necessitating the purchase, in lieu thereof, 

 of artificial fertilizers of all kinds to keep 

 up our fertility of soil. 



Mr. Herbert J. Webber of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture is now in the South 

 making experiments in the hybridization of 

 cotton. Abont a year ago the Department 

 sent out several thousand pounds of seeds 

 to different parts of the cotton growing 

 States. These seeds were of Egyptian and 

 sea island species and from the reports 

 now being received,, these plants are grow- 

 ing very well and the officials are much 

 encouraged in their work. Mr. Webber is 

 superintending the hybridizing of cotton 

 which will produce a long, firm staple. 



Every year there is about $20,000,000 

 of Egyptian cotton imported into this 

 country. The cotton-growers cannot com- 

 pete with this variety of cotton, but if the 

 experiments prove successful the farmers 

 will be able to raise hybrid cotton which 

 will equal the staple from Egypt. The 

 department is of the opinion that this new 

 variety can be grown in all parts and will 

 prove a boon to the important commodity 

 of the South. 



In many portions of the South there is a 

 peculiar fungi in the soil which attacks the 

 roots of cotton and its work is so complete 



