i( 172 



California Agriculturist and Live Stock Journal. 



the amount of produce to the acre suita- 

 ble for stock feed. Once well fixed for 

 stock farmini,', the farmer is not only in- 

 dependent but in a way to become wealthy 

 without working himself to death. When 

 gi'ain-gi'owing runs farmers in debt it is 

 time to Hank about making such a change 

 as will prove benetieial. 



A New and Limitless Outlet fok 

 AMEKIC.4X Beef. — In our Monthly Re- 

 port for June, page 203, under the head 

 of "Fresh beef in London from the 

 United States, " is a paragraph describ- 

 ing the conditions under which fresh 

 beef, in quarters, has been safely trans- 

 ported across the Atlantic in the winter 

 months. Subsequent advices rejjorts 

 that the newlj' discovered and patented 

 process of preserving without any 

 chemical appliances, and transporting 

 unimpaired, fresh beef by simply sus- 

 pending it in th atmosphere from which 

 moisture is expelled and kept at a un- 

 iformly cool temperature, proves equal- 

 ly successful in the hottest weather. 

 The Agricultural Gazette, speaking with 

 reference to the London market, states; 

 As we are now in receipt of an average 

 weekly supply of some 400 tons of 

 American beef, which, after being killed 

 and packed about fourteen days in ex- 

 treme hot weather, arrives quite sound, 

 we may reasonably expect in the winter 

 a very much largea supply. The herd 

 and tiock master ot England will perceive 

 that it is always possible that the impos- 

 sible niay happen. An unexpected 

 revolution in their industry suddenly 

 competitions, is in a moment dispersed, 

 and the market thown open to the pro- 

 ductions of the wibe, interminable pas- 

 tures of the New World. 



A correspondent of the Gazette in- 

 dorses its frequent commendations of 

 American beef, and states that in spite 

 of the extreme temperature of the week 

 ending August the 1!), meat from the 

 Western prrt of the United States in the 

 shamblest at Newgate was in as perfect 

 condition as that sent up during the 

 fourteen days since it was slaughtered. 

 The development of this trade astonish- 

 ed the English people. The first trial 

 cargo arived at Liverpool last Christmas, 

 audits reception by the British meat 

 consumers caused a rapid enlargement 

 of the trade -which has failed to meet the 

 increasing demand on account of the 

 necessary delay in fitting up the holds 

 of vessels for its transportation. This 

 American meat compares favorably with 

 that of English production, much of 

 which, according to the aforesaid coi'- 

 respondent, is of inferior quality. A 

 great deal is artificially fed, producing 

 an under proportion of fat and lean 

 from the use of oleaginous foods. Such 

 meat will not be able to compete with 

 the American grass fed bullock. — Agri- 

 cultural TiepoHfoi cptemher. 



Washincston Territoet Cattle in 

 Chicago. — The Chicago Drovers' Journal 

 says that large numbers of cattle are an- 

 nually driven to the Union Pacific Rail- 

 road, some six hundred miles, and 

 shipped to that point. It notes the arri- 

 val of some three thousand head 

 "heavy, coarse cattle, but certainly 

 showed well as to flesh, considering the 

 hard usage they had to undergo in walk- 

 ing the long journey." 



The Most PnoFiTAnLB Stock. — The 

 Jo\irnal of the Royal Agi-icultural So- 

 ciety of England gives the results of in- 

 quiries put to seventy farmers as to the 

 relative profits of raising horses, cattle 

 and sheiqi. The preponderance of testi- 

 mony is that raising horses, except for 

 arm use, does not pay, and that farm 



horses can be raised cheaper than pur- 

 chasea. That when grass land is adapted 

 to it cattle raising is advisable, feeding 

 so as to turn them off for beef at two 

 years old or a little more. That sheep 

 are the easiest turned of any stock, more 

 easily managed, and with far less labor. 



Heifees Suckling Theik Calves. — 

 The agricultural editor of the Connec- 

 ticut Couruiil, having been criticised for 

 recommending that heifers should always 

 be allowed to suckle calves, gives the fol- 

 lowing reasons for this recommendation : 



Our position in regard to suckling 

 calves upon young heifers — their first 

 one or two calves say — is that this nat- 

 ural action encourages the mothers in 

 giving milk. The idea may seem novel 

 to some, and then there is a difference in 

 heifers. Some are more "foolish" and 

 sentimental concerning their offspring 

 than others. In breaking a heifer to milk 

 I am apt to mix in with her calf a good 

 deal, endeavoring to associate myself in 

 the minds of both as a familiar object, 

 so that my little stripping passes as a 

 matter of course among the new and be- 

 wildering circumstances. Bamng the 

 opinions that may entertain among the 

 selfish and short-sighted against the 

 policy of developing the lacteal secretions 

 in this natural manner — by allowing a 

 heifer to "fuss around with a young 

 calf" — the plan must look quite reasona- 

 ble. It is certainly a time-honored prac- 

 tice among careful farmers, and a good 

 deal of observation and some experience 

 will warrant me in asserting that early 

 indulgence in the cares of maternity is 

 no detriment to the future productive- 

 ness of the grown-up cow. After three 

 or four years of age, when the milking 

 habit is formed, calves may be "dea- 

 coned" with less feeling on the part of 

 the mother She is used to the hand of 

 man, and becomes by habit reconciled 

 to her lot. 



The opinion prevails with many per- 

 sons that steers are more profitable than 

 cows. The IJve Hlock Journal takes issue 

 with them and says: "If cheese is made, 

 the ordinary cow will produce 1,600 

 pounds in four years, which at \'i cents 

 per pound, will amount to $192. If 

 butter is made, COO pounds will be the 

 product of four years, which, at 30 cents, 

 will amount to $180; and 800 pounds of 

 pork to $()1: more — making the income 

 from an ordinary cow for four years, in 

 butter and pork, $240. Now, if we esti- 

 mate that it costs $10 more in labor to 

 milk the cow and work up the product 

 than to take care of the steer, we must 

 deduct from the product of the cow $40 

 — reducing the butter product to $200. 

 Now, the steer dressing 800 pounds will 

 weigh 1,400 pounds on foot, and sell say 

 at (i cents, or $84; thus giving a cash 

 product of less than half of the butter 

 product of the cow." 



The Kentucky Farmers' Home Journal 

 says: AVhen the Sovith takes to stock- 

 raising, and the important relation- 

 which stock bears to a higher and more 

 profitable agricultare than that thus far 

 practiced, becomes properly understood 

 and appreciated by the Southern farmer, 

 then, indeed, the North will be nowhere 

 by the side of the South. 



For the removal of a savage bull, says a 

 correspondent of the London Agricultu- 

 ral Gazette, have a girth around behind 

 the shoulders, but in place of the rope 

 being fastened to the ring, fasten it secure- 

 ly to one of the forelegs, just above the 

 foot; then, when the bull attempts to 

 run at the men that are leading him, the 

 man behind pulls the rope, and down 



comes the bull on his knees. I have 

 seen one of the savagest bulls tamed by 

 bringing him a few times to his knees; 

 and another advantage is, the pressure 

 is not all on the ring. 



|}0M^ebol(l|lciu1in9. 



The Old Homestead. 



When home the woodsman plods with ax 



Upon his shoulder swung, 

 And in the knotted apple tree 



.\re scythe ane sickle hvmg ; 

 "When low ahout her clay-built nest 



The mother swallow trills, 

 And decorously slow, the cows 



Are wending down the hills ; 

 What a blessed picture of comfort 



In the evening shadows red 



Is the good, old-fashioned homestead 

 With its bounteous table spread. 



And when the winds moan wildly. 



When the woods are bare and brown, 

 And when the swallow's clay-built nest 



From the rafter crumbles down. 

 When all the untrod garden paths 



Are heaped with frozen leaves. 

 And icicles, like silver spikes 



Are set along the caves; 

 Then when the book from the shelf is brought 



And tlie fire lights shine and play — 

 la the good, old-fashioned homestead 



Is the farmer's holiday. 



■—[Alice Gary. 



UP-COUNTRY LETTERS--NO. 9. 



BY EACHEL A. ELY. 



■^I^ITTING under a tree, with the 

 «^ cool breezes fanning my cheek and 

 (F?))) lifting my short hair playfully, my 

 (Q^J book drops into my lap and I gaze 

 <@) into the far away landscape of broad 

 valley and dim, distant mountain be- 

 yond, reaching miles away into melting 

 space. Far back of my mountain home 

 rises a hill that I longingly wondered 

 when I came if I should ever climb its 

 rugged sides. Now behold me its daily 

 visitor, for I iind renewed strength 

 coming to me by using, and not abusing, 

 what I gain. Sometimes I come alone, 

 and often the children accompany me. 

 But pieace seems to reign supreme here, 

 and my very breath is deepened and 

 voice strengthened on its bight. 



Finding a shady spot, I spread my 

 "comfort" (a blessing to invalids, and 

 made of two thicknesses of calico with 

 wool between, tucked, and only wide and 

 long enough to lie upon, very light to 

 carry and easily made) and am at rest. 

 How different from the "rest" the tired 

 city folk usually take when they go to 

 the mountains or the coast. I tried the 

 coast one year, and never had a more 

 tedious trip in my life, while others 

 worked twice as hard as I to enjoy them- 

 selves, with no better success. One is 

 either a slave to dress or feels shabby 

 beside others, neither of which condi- 

 tions is agreeable. My wonder is, how 

 a woman can develop any great degree 

 of intellect, fettered and bound as slie is 

 by fashion and dress. Even as school 

 girls their thoughts and minds are 

 dwarfed, in a measure, by the constant 

 drain their dress has upon them. 



My hostess feels sure the question of 

 dress is one of vital importance in the 

 future elevation of woman — explaining 

 how the physical and mental strain is 

 liable to produce moral weakness, and 

 tends to make our girls weak and vain, 

 as well as invalids to a certain extent. 

 Oh, for the voice of an orator to 

 speak to woman on this subject, of all 

 others most thought about and h'ast 

 understood! 



I see in your columns, Mr. Editor, an 

 advertisement for the " combination un- 

 derclothing" for women. They are, in- 

 deed, invaluable, and I can speak from 



experience. My hostess having got pat- 

 terns, we are all wearing them, little 'i, 

 children as well as the father, who says 

 they are quite the thing for men to wear; 

 and I would suggest to Government that 

 soldiers adopt them, in place of the sep- 

 arate drawers and shirt they now wear, 

 as the combination suit is more comfort- 

 able, cheaper, and more easily put on. 



Turning mj' gaze in the direction of 

 our sick woman's home and seeing the 

 blue smoke rising from the chimney, re- 

 minds me that I have not mentioned her 

 complete recovery. While the farm 

 which they would give to make her well 

 is still theirs, the overflowing gratitude 

 of both husband and wife is bestowed 

 upon my kind hostess for her great care 

 and untiring attention for so many 

 weeks. And when hope again began to 

 light the calm face of the husband as he 

 saw the gaining strength of the mother 

 of his children and felt that her life was 

 saved, his praise was loud and earnest, 

 not to God alone, but to his little quiet 

 little neighbor whose short hair, short 

 dress and M. D. attached to her name 

 he had so often before smiled at as strong- 

 minded and not womanly enough for him. 

 Nolo he is converted (as am I also) to 

 the Divine help, through men or women, 

 to do His will in any way they best can. 

 Silently, quietly, and without pay, did 

 this good woman go to work to save the 

 suffering woman, and succeeded in spite 

 of obstacles and the shrugging of the 

 shoulders of the drug doctor who gave 

 her up to die. And, verily, she hath 

 her reward, but not in money. The hus- 

 band is "put about," he says, to pay the 

 drug bills and the doctor (who did not 

 cure), and my hostess is glad to be char- 

 itable if they are willing to change their 

 mode of life and learn how to keep well 

 in future. 



MORAL OF DANCING. 

 Prevents Suiride and Inganit}'. 



BY A. G. S. 



The Terpsichorean art is a reaction 

 and an accomplishment of grace and 

 gentility, cheap and easy to indulge, and 

 needful in farmers', mechanics' and 

 workingmcn's homes to remove the 

 cheerless monotony and prevent the 

 nervous depression, discouragement, de- 

 spondency, suicide and insanity some- 

 times resulting from dreary and drudging 

 isolation. Such genteel and orderly 

 exercise is altogether delightful, exhiler- 

 ating and healthful. Nothing is more 

 pleasant, inspiring and attractive in so- 

 cial gatherings, or tends more to unite 

 and harmonize the hearts and hands of 

 the people and to develop the finer ele- 

 ments of human nature. There is no 

 sin in it: but its moral advantage re- 

 cjuires proper management and supervi- 

 sion. 



Avoid the excesses of cost, and late 

 hours; abstain from liquors, and from 

 chewing and smoking tobacco, and ob- 

 serve modest and quiet manners. Small 

 companies and family circles are always 

 preferable to large crowds and noisy and 

 rushing hotel balls, which incline to be 

 fast and boisterous. To 



" Dance nl! night, till broad daylight, 

 And go home with tho girls in the morning," 



Is often quite coarse, wild and extrava- 

 gant, and lacks the refining and civilizing 

 influence of smaller groups of acquain- 

 tances and friends. But to call neigh- 

 bors together at their own retired homes 

 for three or four hours, nt little or no 

 expense, for the varied pleasant exer 

 of the dance, tho waltz, the 

 good songs, conversations and i 

 tions, perhaps, and the playing of inuo 



it exercises | 

 ' singing of I 

 d dcclama- ' 



