18.59. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



89 



be, on the whole, the best and most economical, 

 and subject to fewer objections than most other 

 materials. 'Jlazed earthen ware is often used, 

 the chief objection to it being its liability to 

 ureak, and its weight. It is easily kept clean, 

 however, and is next in value to tin, if not, in- 

 deed, equal to it. A tin skimmer is commonly 

 used, somewhat in the form of the bowl of a 

 spoon, and pierced with holes, to remove the 

 cream. In some sections of the country, a large 

 white clam-shell is very commonly used instead! 

 of a skimmer made for the purpose, the chief ob-j 

 jection to it being that the cream is not quite so] 

 carefully separated from the milk. I 



-BcTi^E Worker 



The butter-worker with a marble top, is an im- 

 portant addition to the implements of the dairy. 

 It effects the complete removal of the butter- 

 milk, without the necessity of bringing the hands 

 in contact with it. 



Applf. Grove Family School, Sandwich, 

 Mass. — We feel quite confident that parents who 

 place their children under the charge of Mrs. E. 

 Gould Wing, the Principal of this School, will 

 find every advantage for them in the way of ac- 

 quiring an education for them that they desire. 



EXTRACTS AND HEPLIES. 



BAKNS — CLAPBOARDS OR BATTENS — TIE-UPS. 



I am about building a barn, and am puzzled 

 to know whether to clapboard it, to have my 

 boards matched or baitened with strips some three 

 or four inches wide. Those who have buildings 

 covered with matched boards complain that the 

 tongues shrink from the grooves. I am inclined 

 to try the battens, but am assured that, being ap- 

 plii-d to the sappy edges of the boards, they pre- 

 vent them from drying when wet, and thus cause 

 them to rot. What advice have you, or any of 

 your corresjjondents, for me ? 



Furthermore, shall I locate my cattle tie-up 

 upon the north side of my barn, from whence the 

 manure will fall into the back part of the cellar, 

 or shall I place it in the south side, where the an- 

 imals it would seem might l)e more comfortable, 

 but the manure more exposed to the weather ? 



Upon examining several barns in a part of the 



country where greater care is manifested in the 

 selection of good models than in this vicinity, I 

 find that a great diversity of opinion prevails up- 

 on these points. 



I notice, however, that when any pnrticular 

 plan is adopted, it having cost the projector no 

 little head work, he is very reluctant to admit 

 that the child of his adoption is not pretty near 

 perfection, at least as good as any of his neigh- 

 bors. A Subscriber. 



JDanvers, Bee. 28, 1858. 



Remarks. — We should use the battens, but 

 not upon "wany-edged" boards. We have never 

 known the edges of boards to decay under the 



batten to make such a course objectionable. 

 Tie the cattle on the north side, by all means ; 



otherwise you so obstruct the barn cellar as 



to make it almost valueless for any purpose 



but that of keeping the manure. 



There is no settled opinion yet, as to what 



the best arrangement for a barn is. 



INJURED HORSES. 



Will you or any of your subscribers Inform 

 me whether a horse receiving a cut by a dull 

 instrument, like the step of a wagon, one of 

 the cords being cut oft', will recover so as to 

 be fit for future use ; and also, whether a horse, 

 with sprung forward ankles, will recover and 

 if any of you know of any thing to assist na- 

 ture in the recovery of each. 

 Taunton, 1859. 



R,EMARKS. — We do not think a horse so in- 

 jured will recover so as to be of any service. A 

 horse with "sprung ankles" or knees, is able to 

 perform a good deal of slow work. 



SULPHUR FOR CATTLE. 



I was gratified to see an article in your paper 

 of Nov. 13th, on the use of stdpliur for stock, ta- 

 ken from the Ohio Valley Farmer, which I con- 

 sider worth to a common farmer what he pays 

 for the paper, (if properly used.) There are many 

 things rendered valueless by misapplication. I 

 use quite a quantity of sulphur every season 

 among my stock. My way of using sulphur 

 among my cattle is as follows : I melt lard with 

 a little sulphur, double a piece of candle wicking 

 a few times, draw it through the melted lard and 

 tie it round my calves' necks, and let them wear it. 

 I give my cattle sulphur once a day for three 

 days, then omit three days, so continue to do un- 

 til I give it nine days, then omit two weeks. One 

 teaspoonful a dose for a calf, a large spoonful for 

 a full-grown animal. I give it at night on their 

 provender, and keep my stock housed, that it 

 may better operate on the surface of the animal. 

 I find by giving it a little more freely for a few 

 weeks, before turning to pasture, it supersedes 

 the necessity of bleeding, and makes the ca'tle 

 more healthy during the season. 



Deerfield, Mass., 1858. Apollos Clary. 



Remarks. — The reference which our corres- 

 pondent makes to the old practice of bleeding 

 cattle in the spring, and of cidting offtlieir tails, 



