78 



NEW ENGLAOT) FAKMER. 



Feb. 



make beef of her. In his book on American Cat- 

 tle, Mr. Allen says, that lie has milked valuable 

 cows addicted to kicking by taking the iron forceps, 

 used for holding cattle by the no:?trils, and tying 

 them by a rope or strap to a beam over head, and 

 drawing up their noses at an elevation and there 

 securing them while they are milked. Some milk- 

 ers are in the habit of pressing sharp finger nails 

 against the sensitive teats, and then abuse the cows 

 because they kick. 



A COUGH IN A IIORSE. 



I have a vaUialjle mare that has a bad cough. 

 She had the horse-ail when I bought her last 

 spring, and bus not eot rid of her cough yet. 

 She coughs but very little on the road, but runs at 

 the nose when at work. Whether she has recov- 

 ered from the horse-ail or not 1 do not know, but 

 think she ought to have done so before this. She 

 eats as well as any horse, and appears well, ex- 

 cept the cough, whieh keeps her thin of tlesh. 

 Can you or any of your subscribers give me any 

 intor'mation about it, or suggest a good remedy ? 



A SUBSCKIBEE. 



Marshfield, Mass., Dec. 16, 1868. 



Remarks. — Notwithstanding the skill of our 

 best physicians, they arc often unable to cure 

 coughs in their human patients. A cough is rather 

 a symptom than a disease. It is often caused by 

 the irritability of the air passages, occasioned by 

 previous disease. A chronic cough in horses is 

 often occasioned, says Dr. Dadd,by indiscretion in 

 the treatuient of influenza, distemper, and disease 

 of the respiratory apparatus. It is also one of the 

 effects of liver disease, and sometimes of worms. 

 Too much dry fodder, especially chaff, often ag- 

 gravates a cough. Carrots and other roots and 

 green feed may be advantageously used. Give 

 your horse a warm stall, with bedding a foot deep, 

 with moist cut feed, a little laxative medicine and 

 not much hard work. If others have a sure cough 

 remedy we hope they ^vill prescribe. 



GIRLS ON THE FARM. 



If it is necessary to the interest of the farm that 

 the boys remain at home, it is no less important 

 that the girls remain there also. Perhaps keeping 

 the girls at hon e would be the most successful 

 means of keeping the boys there, as youth is always 

 attracted liy l)eauty and grace. The great call for 

 help in cities and manufacturing districts induce 

 great numbers (jf our middling cla^s of farmers' 

 girls to leave liome or situations in farmers' fami- 

 lies and seek employment in shops or lactorics. 

 Although they may earn nominally great pay in 

 these places, their fancied wants require the expen- 

 diture of nearly all their wages ; and in numerous 

 instances their health becomes sadly impaired, and 

 many of them return home with pale faces and im- 

 paired constitutions, instead of the rosy checks 

 with which they left home, and with a growing 

 dislike for the plain and substantial things of the 

 country and I'arm. It would be much l)ctter for far- 

 mers' girls to stay at home and help their mothers, 

 and their fathers, too, if he has not boys enough. 

 Although they may not have so many fine clothes, 

 costly jewels, and city fashions, they will possess 

 that which is far more desirable — common sense 

 and robust health. 



We have Agiicultural Colleges for our boys, and 

 by and by these educated and practical young far- 



mers will want healthy and qualified wives. 

 Therefore our girls must wake up, and consider 

 the prospects before them, and embrace every op- 

 portunity for fitting themselves for healthy and 

 honorable positions. 



It is not unlady-like to be able to superintend the 

 entire domestic concerns of Mieir own households. 

 The servants, if such arc employed, are far more 

 likely to lie faiihiul and economical if the mistress 

 knows whether the bread and l)utter are made 

 right or wrong. The ignorance of the mistress of 

 the house in the details of housekeeping is the 

 great cause of the trouble with the Bridgets, of 

 which wc hear so much. When I hear ladies com- 

 plaining of the ignorance and awkwardness of their 

 help, I am ufttn glad that they do not know what 

 I think is the main cause of all these domestic diffi- 

 culties. "(Jood workmen never complain of tools." 

 Good generals are always supported by efficient 

 and relial)le officers, and by brave and succeesful 

 soldiers. Good housekeepers are usually fortu- 

 nate in securing good help, becnu-e they (an direct 

 and educate their servants. Housekeeping is an 

 art and science that can be acquired only by much 

 practice. There is no royal road to this, any more 

 than to any other branch of our education. It is 

 not acquired at high schools, nor in shops and fac- 

 tories. In factory and shop work girls expect to 

 serve a more or less extended term "of apprentice- 

 ship, but as to housekeeping very many young 

 ladies seem to think that no apprenticeship or ex- 

 perience is needed. Is it strange that domestic in- 

 felicities and even divorces should be fearfully on 

 the increase ? Mrs. Tkask. 



Reading, Mass., Nov. 27, 1868. 



SIICHIGAN AND KENTUCKY CORN. 



By a late number of the Farmer I see that my 

 Kentucky friends are bragging on large ears of 

 corn. On rending the account of thtir big ears, 

 my man said "We can beat them," and on going 

 to the crib brought in an ear \\% inches long, with 

 22 rows and 55 kernels in a row and nicely tipped 

 out, making 1210 grains in all. The variety is 

 known in this neighborhood as the "Bloody Butch- 

 er," of whi'.h I send you a few kernels, as a speci- 

 men. If this car is beaten we wiil dig deeper into 

 the bin. Hudson is in the Southern part of the 

 State, near the line which separates Ohio from 

 Michigan. I came from Vermont two years ago, 

 and am much pleased with my location. 



Hudson, Mich., Dec. 9, 1868. D. M. Briggs, 



Remarks. — The kernels received are beautifully 

 striped with deep red ; the ground being fiiint yel- 

 low and white. In shape the kernels are oblong 

 and about half an inch in length. 



SCRATCHES AGAIN. 



For the cure of scratches I would suggest that 

 milder remedies be used than most of those named 

 by "Sul)scribir," in the Farmer for Dec. 12. 



The last one, however, mentioned by him, that 

 of white lead and linseed oil, 1 regard as the best 

 I ever tried. Wash the horse's legs clean with 

 castile soap and soft water, rub dry, according to 

 direction of "Subscriber," then apply the paint. 

 I3ut external remedies will generally give only 

 tcmpoi'ary relief. Remove the cause, and the 

 trouble will cease. I believe it is conceded that 

 the cause is impurity of blood. Keep the horses 

 blood in good condition and he will never have the 

 scratches. To do this give common epsom salts. 

 I have cured severe cases with no external appli- 

 cation. I make a practice of giving my horses 

 salts every fall. Consequently they are never 

 troubled with this disease. For a dose, I use a 

 table spoonful once a day for three days in succes- 



