THE GENESEE FARMER. 



245 



vestment than the steer, and in genonil will pny bet- 

 ter; bnt so lon^ as farmers expect to keep sheep in 

 woods and fallows in summer, and pick around straw 

 Ftacks in winter, they will not pay. The true way to 

 ^winter sheep by wheat raisei-s, is to food straw very 

 pleiitit'iilly for tbdder, and jrive a bushel of corn, or 

 its equivalent in other grain, to each sheep during 

 the winter. In this way they will come through win- 

 ter far better than when fed on ripe timothy hay, and 

 •Rt much less expanse. And if he wishes them to 

 pay .<till better, let h n feed each sheep a bushel and 

 a half of corn, or . il -ike meal, and I can guarantee 

 they will pay very well. Oats, peas or buckwheat 

 will answer, but they will require about two bushels 

 of oats to one of corn or oil-cake meal, and about 

 one and a half bushels of buckwheat to one of corn. 

 I know nothing that pays better for what they eat 

 than sheep, and I should like to know what animal 

 will pay for bad feeding. If farmers would only keep 

 ^heep a.s they ought to be kept, there would be no 

 more talk about "sheep not paying on good land." 

 TMtid cannot be too ^»od for sheep ; such is my 

 opinion, and I have kept sheep on both good and 

 poor land, for many years, and I can make more in- 

 terest on my farm by keeping sheep, calling the land 

 worth ^100 per acre, than by keeping them on many 

 of the hill farms that I am acquainted with in this 

 8tate, calling these farms worth ^1.5 an acre, and I 

 question if any of them can be bought under •'^25 or 

 4^0 per acre. Jon.v Johnston. 



J\'ear Geneve^ JV. Y. 



CATTLE DISEASE IN OHIO. 



Mkssrs KrviTORs: — In consequence of the appear- 

 ance of a severe and fatal disease among cattle in 

 some part of Portage county (Ohio) the past win- 

 ter, the Farmers' Association of Edinburgh appoint- 

 ed the undersigned a Committee to investigate the 

 subject, and ascertain, if possible, the nature, cause 

 and cure of this malady. The report of this Com- 

 mittee we herewith forward for publication in the 

 Genesee Fanner, together with a resolution adopted 

 by the Association at the close of an instructive dis- 

 i'ussion upon the adoption of the Report. 



REPORT. 



The di-sease is not caused by freezing, neither is it 

 ■what has been called hoof-ail, foot-rot, or fouls. Its 

 wmptome seem to be a deadae#s of the end of the 

 tail, extending upwards till in some cases tiie flesh 

 €eparate-i from the boue and falls off. About the same 

 time, there is a purple appearance just at the edge of 

 the hair, above the hoof. It then commences swelling, 

 become? feverish, extending upv/ard to the ancle, aud 

 in some instances causing a sefmration of the coffin- 

 bone from the postern joint. The lameuess is confined 

 -entirely to the hind feet. The blood is pale and thin, 

 and in most eases the animal retains a good appetite 

 till near the last. The eau-e we apprehend to be feed- 

 ing ou hay ceutaining ergot (a parasitic fungus grow- 

 iug within the glumes of various grasses) in considera- 

 bl«s quaotitiee. We arrive at this conclusion, from the 

 fact that the hay fed by one individual who had lost 

 a large number of cows contained much of this arti- 

 cle, and also that the farmer from whom he purchased 

 the hay lost cattle from the same disease, and in both 

 instances cattle fed on other hay were not affected. In 

 •every well-marked ea'e of this disease, it has been as- 

 certained that the haj' &n which the animals were fed 

 ■sontajned the ergot The hay in which the ergot was 



found the most, was thi' kind called tlie June, or Spcar- 

 gra=s, growing in old meadows wiiere the soil is rich 

 and the growth lank. 



Tlie severe frost on the 31st of May, 1S.56, is sup- 

 posed by some to Iiava been the cause of this disease 

 in the gra'^s, by destroying the vitality of the seed be- 

 fore it ariivod at perfiotion ; while by others it is at- 

 tributed to tlie extr.me warm growing weather in 

 June causing an overflow of sap. 



AUhough we consider the whole subject involved in 

 much obscurity and uncert(diity, and requiring further 

 investigation, yet we are satisfied the best manner of 

 treating the disease is immediate resort to restoratives, 

 and a change of diet, whereby an increase of animal 

 heat and vitality is obtained, at tlie same time making 

 an application of suitable remedies to the aflTeeted 

 parts, liy cutting oft the toes until they bleed, and blue 

 vitriol moderately applied to the foot has in several 

 instances been found benefieial. A free use of char- 

 coal and salt in various ways is undoubtedly a good pre- 

 ventive ; and a careful examination of the hay or grass 

 on which stock is fed is indispensable — if ergot is found 

 in hay, it may be removed by thrething or tramping. 



Of the specific nature and properties of the ergot 

 in hay, or whether they arc identical with that of rye, 

 we are not well informed. The immediate effects of 

 the latter in large doses is well known, but it has no 

 affinity to the ordinary known effects of vegetable 

 poisons. What efl'ect would be produced by its gradual 

 and continual use, we are not in possest-ion of sufficient 

 information to warrant us in speaking positively; but 

 we do suppose, after a careful examination, that it ope- 

 rates on the blood of the animal, and unless immediate 

 remedies are applied it proves fatal. 



P. Baruon, M. D., 

 R. M. Hart, Esq., j 

 •J. Y. Peaesox, ., 



Jonas Bo.no, 



Committer. 



The following resolution was unanimously adopted: 



Resolved, (inasmuch as the evidence adduced is con- 

 clusive,) That ergot in hay is the cause of this disea=e. 

 The Association cannot decide that it is the real cause 

 of a poison being introduced into the system, owing 

 to our inabihty to analyze this substance ; therefore 

 we desire to ask the editors of our agricultural papers 

 for more information, aud to obtain a chemical analy- 

 sis of ergot 



Edinhirghf Portage Co., Ohio.. 



SOUND COEN. 



Messrs. Editors. — In looking over the last vol- 

 ume of the Farmer, my attention has been called to 

 an article on this subject, from the pen of your cor- 

 respondent, J. C. Adams ; and, as I think he holds 

 some mistaken views, it may not be out of place for 

 me to give some ideas with regard to this subject, 

 which is of importance to every farmer. 



As to planting in rows, east and west, I believe 

 Mr. A.'s reasoning is correct But I think he is mis- 

 taken as to the best manner of securing corn and 

 corn-stalks in autumn. My plan is something like 

 this: Cut it up by the roots, before the heavy frosts 

 set in; tie in small sheaves, vvith a straw band, above 

 the ear; set enough of these together in a shock to 

 stand sufficiently firm; then secure it with two or 

 three bands, near the top. It may stand in this 

 way until sufficiently dry to be husked. My reasons 

 for this mode are, that the corn is without doubt 

 sounder than when left on the hill; aud it has been 



