402 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Sept. 



perficial way of washing ; but I know from experi- 

 ence, that my clothes not only wash easier, but 

 look better, and last fully as longj as when I 

 washed in the old way. 



This fluid is very good for cleaning paint. A very 

 little put in the water will remove grease or fly- 

 stains, much better than soap. Too much of it will 

 remove the paint also. — S. S. Socwell, in Coun- 

 ti-y Gentleman. 



For the New England Farmer. 



HAY-HOW SHALL IT BE USED? 



Mr. Editor : — "Book Farming" has not taught 

 me at what season it is best to feed the different 

 kinds of hay to horses, oxen and cows — also sheep. 

 I have no old hay, but have already housed some 

 10 or 12 tons of new hay — choice clover, best Eng- 

 lish hay and some that is about two- thirds white- 

 weed (or daisy) and one-third of good grasses 

 this last was cut when the daisy was in the height of 

 its bloom and of course the grasses were not quite 

 ready for cutting. Now, the question is, which is 

 best to feed now to horses and oxen ? and, general 

 ly, which kind is best for each kind of stock above 

 mentioned at the different seasons of the year? 

 My neighbors differ in their opinions ; I do not 

 know, being a new farmer. I hope that some of 

 your correspondents can give (and defend) the 

 right opmion by their own well-tried experience. 



Dedham, June 30, 1856. Chesterholme. 



Remarks. — The common practice among far- 

 mers is to feed the poor hay during the coldest 

 weather ; and we think all who have had experi- 

 ence in feeding cattle, have noticed that stock eat 

 meadow hay more freely during the cold weather 

 of early, or mid-winter, than they do at other times. 

 We can see no reason why the same kind of hay is 

 not equally good for oxen as cows, — or cows as ox- 

 en. It is not customary to feed much clover to 

 horses, and yet we should do it freely if the clover 

 were cured well. Sheep are more fond of clover 

 than any other hay, — but it must be cured without 

 the loss of the leaves, and so that the stems retain 

 their juices. The question is practical and interes- 

 ting — who will shed light upon it ? 



To Correspondents. — Most of the communi 

 cations sent us for publication, are of such a char- 

 acter as to make them interesting and instructive 

 to readers generally. But there are occasionally 

 those having more the character of an advertise- 

 ment than anything else, and those we must insert 

 in their proper department, or not use them. The 

 correspondent Avho sent us an account of a favorite 

 apple, with a long list of certificates of its excel- 

 lence, must, we think, upon reflection, see that it 

 appeared to us more like recommending an article 

 for sale, than giving any valuable information to 

 the public. The twenty-five thousand six hundred 

 and eighty-four subscribers to the Farmer, or the 

 Publisher, will not be seriously affected by the dis' 

 continuance of his subscription. 



For the New England Fanner. 



CARE OF STOCK. 



"Ah, that same old tune, heard it these ten years 

 or more." Have, eh ? if you have heeded it, ridicule 

 is but a poor return for the benefits which it has 

 brought you ; if 7iot, you judge unadvisedly and con- 

 demn prematurely. "Care well for your stock," 

 is a precept which has long been taught, (too fre- 

 quently in vain,) but which will bear teaching for 

 many a long year, yet future. He who keeps stock, 

 does it for pleasure and profit ; neglect and expo- 

 sure conduce to neither, attention and shelter se- 

 cure both. Tliere are for too many cattle and sheep 

 kept in New York, whose best protection from the 

 chill blasts of vigorous winter is but the warm side 

 of a barn, or perchance a rail-fence, and if a clump 

 of bushes occupy a corner of the latter it is a won- 

 drous blessing to the poor brutes. Such manner of 

 keep keeps the flesh from the farmers' cattle, and 

 the money from his pockets. Were the wild myth 

 of the transmigration of souls as truthful as it is 

 fabulous and absurd, some such owners and keepers 

 might chance to get their just deserts, and shiver 

 over night, under the lee of an alder bush. 



Cattle should be stabled; warm, commodious and 

 ventilated stables should be an appendage to every 

 farm in Christendom. The advantages of stabling 

 are many and important. Increased health, flesh, 

 and comfort to the animals, economy of time, labor, 

 and patience in feeding, and saving of food con- 

 sumed ; these are a few of the benefits of stabling. 

 Stables for stock should be constructed with an eye 

 to convenience and comfort. Stanchions (or stanch- 

 ells) are the best means of fastening. Behind the 

 stanchell frame there should be a liberal allowance 

 of space, say 10 feet. In order to secure the full 

 benefits of stabling, which appertain to economy iu 

 feeding, there should be a manger in front, with a 

 separate division in front of each animal. This is 

 easily done by erecting a front for the manger 

 some 2 feet, or thereabouts, from the stanchell 

 frame, and about 30 inches high, then nail strips 

 from the top of this front wall to the upper beam 

 of the stanchell frame, place the partition board be- 

 tween these strips, and secure at the bottom by 

 elects nailed down upon each side of the partition 

 boards. 



By this arrangement each animal has its own 

 allowance of food, and is prevented from infringing 

 upon the rights of its mates, either by appropriat- 

 ing their hay or by striking them with its horns. 

 Cattle thus sheltered should be regularly fed and 

 supplied with water — should be tui'ned into the 

 yard to amuse themselves during pleasant days, 

 and should be carded as often as semi-occasionally. 

 Thus attended will they prosper, and so, likewise, 

 will their owner. J. G. K. 



Small Farms. — We desire to impress on the 

 common- sense reasoning of every man, the para- 

 mount importance of having no more land in culti- 

 vation than can be well cultivated. By no means 

 attempt to manage more than you can manage 

 well. Be a Farmer, not a mere earth scraper, la- 

 zily scratching up sufficient earth to destroy the 

 face of the soil, and throw seed away, or you will al- 

 ways have to scratch hard for a living. But make 

 your farm a source of pride, and it will surely be- 

 come a source of profit. Make the object to be not 

 to have many, but rich acres. 



