136 



NEW ENGLAND FARISIER. 



March 



bearing the imprint of marine shells are first 

 reached. Beneath this deposit is a stratum of 

 stiff blue clay eighteen inches thick, and be- 

 low this again another layer of the same thick- 

 ness of bones and nodules — many of the bones 

 being of enormous size and indicating a period 

 of the world when the Icthyosaurus, the Plesi- 

 osaurus and Megatherium lived and flourished 

 and the sea covered many fathoms deep what 

 has since become, either by gradual upheaval 

 or by some sudden cataclysm, dry land. Be- 

 low the last-mentioned stratum lies a bed of 

 white marl unusually rich in phosphoric acid and 

 which, therefore, also constitutes an excellent 

 fertilizer, although less valuable than the su- 

 perincumbent deposits of phosphates. Practi- 

 cal experience has demonstrated the fact that 

 the phosphatic deposits of South Carolina are 

 of unusual commercial importance. — Ameri- 

 can Farmer, Baltimore. 



STALL-KICKING HORSES. 



No worse habit can be formed by a horse 

 in the stable than that of stall-kicking, and as 

 soon as one is detected in the act, some means 

 should be used to prevent its continuation. 



The kicking is usually done with one foot at 

 a time, and from different causes ; sometimes 

 fright, at others viciousness or disease ; usu- 

 ally the latter. When a horse has stood for a 

 considerable length of time in the stable, or 

 has been driven in the mud, the legs of the 

 animal become fevered, and the skin irritated, 

 unless the groom is very particular in his work. 

 When the legs are thus affected a smarting 

 sensation is created every time the horse urin- 

 ates by the water spattering on to his legs, 

 and so acute is the pain that he bounds around 

 the stable pawing and kicking as if standing in 

 fire. 



A few years ago we kept' a horse which, al- 

 though spirited, was one of the kindest and 

 most obedient animals that we ever drew rein 

 over. This horse would never relieve himself 

 in the stable so long as it was possible for him 

 to contain, if not well bedded, and we have 

 had the weather-boarding entirely knocked off 

 from the barn, next to the stable, when we 

 have neglected to litter the floor well beneath 

 him. If a plenty of bedding was supplied, he 

 always stood perfectly quiet. When a horse 

 kicks in the stable from the cause just men- 

 tioned, the best remedy is to bed well, clean 

 the legs thoroughly every day, and apply to 

 them some soft grease or healing ointment. 

 The legs may be badly affected by some skin 

 disorder, and go unnoticed for weeks, unless 

 a close examination is made. 



We have no doubt but that some horses ac- 

 quire the habit of stall kicking, from being 

 compeUed to stand upon badly constructed 

 stable floors. When forced to stand upon an 

 acclivity, even if very gradual, such stress is 

 brought upon the muscles of the hind legs that 

 they become painful, and for relief the horse 



kicks first with one foot and then another. 

 Before a man chastises his animal for bad haba 

 its, he should detect the cause of the misde- 

 meanor, and ten chances to one if he don't 

 find himself more in fault than the horse. 



When it is positively known that the kicking 

 is done from maliciousness — which is very sel- 

 dom the case — confine the horse in a stall just 

 wide enough to admit of his lying down and 

 getting up, and plank up the sides of the stall 

 so that his heels cannot force the wall away. 

 In such a place the habit will soon be given 

 up, as the animal will notice that nothing is 

 accomplished by its efforts. 



A writer in one of the British journals is of 

 the opinion that stable-kicking is sometimes 

 caused from itching. If this is true, it is, of 

 course, particularly the case whilst the dietary 

 is dry and stimulating, as is apt to be the case 

 with hard worked and grain-fed horses in the 

 winter. 



If such itching is suspected, give the animal 

 a small dose of aloes, allow an ounce of nitre 

 every week or ten days in a mash, supply dail) 

 a few roots or some bran, and in cold frosty 

 weather avoid wetting the horse''s limbs, which 

 can be kept perfectly clean with tlie use of the 

 wisp and dandy brush. — Ohio Farmer. 



RAISING CALVES. 

 At a late meeting of the Franklin, Mass., 

 Farmers' Club, the President, Phineas Sted- 

 man, Esq., after advising farmers and dairy- 

 men to raise their own calves, gave the fol- 

 lowing as his method : — 



The calves may be most economically fed 

 by taking them from the cow during the first 

 week. Having learned to drink new milk 

 readily, skimmed milk, warmed to the temper- 

 ature of new milk may be substituted gradual- 

 ly until, at three weeks old, the new milk may 

 be withheld entirel}'. Oil meal and wheat 

 bran should now be given, commencing with 

 a table spoonful once a day. This should be 

 scalded and allowed to stand a short time to 

 swell. After a few days, the provender may 

 be given at each meal, and the quantity in- 

 created at discretion. It is of the utmost im- 

 portance that calves, and indeed all young 

 stock be kept in a thrifty, growing condition. 

 It is much easier and cheaper to keep a young 

 animal growing, than to bring it again into a 

 flourishing condition after it has, by want of 

 care or proper food, been allowed to stop 

 gi'owing. I prefer to rear calves which are 

 dropped in autumn or early winter. At this 

 season they are likely to receive better care, 

 are better prepared to bear the cold of the 

 succeeding winter, and until they arrive at 

 maturity, hold an advance of several months, 

 in age and size, over those which are dropped 

 the following spring, while always classed of 

 the same a^re. 



