THE GENESEE FARMER. 



247 



gabject Men thns have a practical demonstration 

 of what can be effected. They see the results of 

 well directed efforts — of labor conducted on scien- 

 tific principles. 



But what has lady equestrianism to do with im- 

 provenikMit in farm managonicnt ? When practiced 

 at our Fairs, it is only a parasite, that destroys the 

 interest designed to be awakened — a ganc^renous ex- 

 crescence, that eats out the vitality of the Fair. The 

 attention is diverted from the real object of the day 

 to one that is foreign, and deleterious to the interests 

 designed to be promoted. Why, then, should it be 

 ftncouraged ? Crowds of people, both old and young, 

 both male and female, will stand for hours around 

 the ring to witness the performance, -while other ex- 

 hibitions, of substantial worth, hardly receive a pas- 

 sing glance. With a large share of the people, this 

 18 the lion of the day — the great object that attracts 

 them there. Even before the day arrives, and during 

 the exhibition, tlie question is often heard, " At what 

 hour are the ladies to ride ? " thus showing that, with 

 many, this is tha all-engrossing thought. The atten- 

 tion is thus diverted from the great object of the 

 day, to one in no measure calculated to benefit the 

 community. Even farmers themselves, instead of 

 seeking for mutual improvement, by an interchange 

 of opinion respecting the best methods of farm 

 management in all its varied features, and in discus- 

 sing the merits of the animals and articles exhibited, 

 will suffer their attention to be engrossed by this ex- 

 citing am'.isement, and thus the benefits to be derived 

 from the Fair are in a measure lost. Hubert. 



Thb oV)ject of our Fairs is to advance the science 

 of the fa'-mer; and to offer premiums for lady eques- 

 trianism, is a direct perversion of their object. Oar 

 oi)iiiions of what a real lady is, differ very much in- 

 deed; but / do think that no true loomnn would thus 

 expose herself to be hooted at and cheered by a 

 crowd of low, sensual men. And besides this, she 

 does no more for the advancement of agriculture 

 than she does for the advancement of astronomy, 

 and has no more right to a premium at suck places, 

 than she would have before a company of scientific 

 men, who had met for the investigation of matters 

 relating to the above-named science. D. S. 



^ Salem, Ohio. 



TEACHING ANIMALS. 



Messrs. Editors: — The farmer is the "school- 

 master" of his herds. They are in the habit of do- 

 ing daily as he allows them to do. They show train- 

 ing, or the want of it. They fly at his approach, or 

 welcome him. They are gentle, or not, as he teaches 

 them to be. They watch his feet, if he is accustomed 

 to kicking them. They kick back, if he allows it. 



Nothing adds to the market value of farm stock 

 more materially, with so little cost, as the habits ac- 

 quired in youth. The cow, the horse, the ox, and 

 Uie dog, are valued much according to their habits 

 or educaiion — so is the man. The horse is, fre- 

 quently, carefully trained — so is the dog; the ox and 

 cow are as frequently " walloped into duty" as any 

 way. I cannot see the propriety in offering premi- 

 ums for well-trained speed horses, and not for plow 

 or draught horses, or oxen and well trained cows. In 

 real importance to the farmer, the latter are far 

 preferable. 



I would wish to urge upon the farmer, and tlie 

 farmer's sons, the importance of careful, thorough 

 training of all farm animals. Use tenderly and gently, 

 at all ages, and you will see them manifest pleasure 

 rather than fear at your presence. In teaching them 

 to work, or to perform any duty, you need to be 

 thorough, not harsh — kind, not cruel — and your for- 

 bearance will gain their labor, and you kindness their 

 love. Jno. Sanfield. 



CLEAN MEADOWS. 



Messrs. Eoitors: — The importance of having a 

 4ean meadow, with a smooth and level bottom, is 

 known to those who have mowed on both rough and 

 smooth bottoms; they can speak from experience. I 

 ask them if it is not better for their boys to pick np 

 stones and roots on the meadow, when they are not 

 at school, than to spend their time in idleness ? If 

 they have no boys of their own, is it not better to 

 hire men or boys in the spring to clean the meadow, 

 at the rate of from four to six shillings per day, than 

 to pay a man ten or twelve shillings, in haying, to 

 mow it, and have him several days longer about it 

 than he would have been had it been smooth ? 



What is there that dampens one in their success, 

 in their first attempt at mowing, more than to have 

 their scythe strike a root, which, rolling over ©r 

 fastening on the edge of the scythe, destroys the 

 motion, when several lighter strokes are necessary to 

 straighten it out before the mower can proceed, and 

 frequently not until he has whetted his scythe anew ? 

 The heel of the scythe should run near the ground — 

 therefore the necessity of having the meadow clean 

 and free from loose stones and roots. Farmers, if 

 you have a boy who is learning to mow, give him a 

 good scythe and good grass to commence with, and 

 then let him go ahead, W. 



TO tCLEAN"COCKLE OUT OF WHEAT. 



Messrs. Editors: — Having written you about 

 chess, I will say a few words about cockle, which 1 

 have found far more trouble in cleaning out of my 

 wheat and land than chess. I sifted the cockle out 

 by hand for some years when I first began farming 

 here; but this I found a slow process, the selves here 

 being so small. Afterwards I went to a fanning- 

 mill maker, and ordered him to get a screen made 

 for my fanning-mill, considerably coarser than those 

 in use. After getting that, and by letting the wheat 

 run slowly through the mill, and turning slowly, all 

 the cockle ran through the screen into the box under 

 the fanning-mill. In that way I got clear of cockle. 

 True, a considerable quantity of small wheat ran 

 through the coarse screen along with the cockle, 

 but it was not lost, and I had made clean seed, fer 

 better to raise wheat, in place of the chess and cockle. 

 I guarantee that the plan for cleaning both chess 

 and cockle will answer. I also guarantee that neither 

 will grow unless sown, either by man or beast. Bo 

 long as my woods were not fenced, I saw lota of 

 cheess, cockle and pigeon weed growing there, from 

 the droppings of my neighbors' cattle. 



JVear Geneva, JV. Y. John Johnston. 



It is as important to take good care of animals, as 

 it is to procure those which are good. 



