90 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Fer. 



pards the "extras" at such times. To keep our 

 stock as comfortable as possible when the weather 

 is uiiu.-ually severe, is required of us as much for 

 our own profit as for the comfort and growth of 

 the stock. No considerate antl human stock pro- 

 ducer will allow his animals to sutler from a want 

 of projier circ and attention to these ])articulars. 

 But when all this is done ; when we and ours have 

 been in-opcrly cared for these "hitter cold" days, 

 let me repeat, how can we devote a portion of our 

 time more jnolitably than by wriiin;^ out our 

 thouirlits in rcijard to some matter of interest to 

 ourselves and others for our Faumkr or Ctdtivatorf 



Then, aijain, we have Ions cvenint^s at this sea- 

 son of the j'ear which we can imi)r(ive very pkas- 

 antl}-, and, I think, prolitabl}- in this maimer. In 

 the first place, every man who owns a plot of 

 ground of sntticirnt size for a garden, should take 

 an agricultural journal. If he is not a farmer, he 

 t-hould feel and maniicst an interest, to some ex- 

 tent, in farmini,' and gardening, that he may be 

 able to make the most of whatever land he may 

 possess. Men are few who take no interest in ag- 

 ricultural or horticultural atliiirs, and are willing 

 to 1)0 counted wholly ignorant in matters pertain- 

 ing thereto. There is a charm in rural life which 

 all appreciate; and I know of no better means of 

 information ; no ])urer, more elevating and in- 

 structive reading, for a fatnily of boys and girls, 

 whether they Ijc farmer's sons and daughters, or 

 not, th;in what the columns of our rural journals 

 afford. I consider our agricultural and horticul- 

 tural journals among the best and ablest published, 

 and should receive "aid and comfort" from all in- 

 terested in the sciences of which they treat. 



Lyndon, Vt., Dec. 16, 1867. I. W. Sanborn. 



ARSENIC AND rNGUENTUM. 



Yonr correspondent, David Currier, of Peacham, 

 Vt., cautions your readers against the use of "un- 

 guentum" for'the cure of lice on cattle, and recom- 

 mends as a substitute a solution of arsenic in soap 

 and water. I have r.o don't this will kill the lice, 

 hut as to its beinfj less dangerous, I have much 

 doubt. Indeed, I think it is much like cautioning 

 against the use of a bow and arrow on account of 

 its dangerous character, and recommending the 

 Minie rifle in its stead. He says the soap neutral- 

 izes the poison, and renders it harmless to the 

 cattle. The <■■ nimon white arsenic of commerce is 

 arsenious acid. When added to boilin<T soap and 

 water, it combines with the potash of the soap and 

 becomes arsenate of potash. Of this amnch greater 

 quantity can be dissolved inapallonof water, than 

 of the simple arsenic. Hence the soap so far from 

 neutralizing the poison, causes the water to dis- 

 solve a larger quantity than it would without it. 

 Fowler's solution, which is the most common form 

 in which arsenic is administered medicinally in 

 this country, is a solution of equal parts of arsenic 

 and carbonate of potash, in water, the carbonate pot- 

 ash being added to render the arsenic more soluble, 

 and to enable the water to take up more of the 

 arsenic. His application shows how juuch poison 

 cattle will bear without fatal injury. I have been 

 in the habit of using the unguentum for many 

 years with success, and never with any perceptible 

 injury. '• a. 



Concord, Mass., Dec. 25, 1867. 



WILL NATIVE C0VV8 PAY ? 



Having seen several statements in the New 

 Enotanh Fakmur of the products of different 

 breeds of cows, 1 will give you a report of a small 

 sized native cow I purchased last fall for $i2. 

 She gave a small quantity of milk to March 10, 

 and calved April 20. 1 was obliged to milk her 

 twice a day for a week previous to calving, though 

 told bv several that I should spoil the cow. I was, 



however, satisfied that it was a great relief to her, 

 and did much to keep her udder free from inflam- 

 mation. The calf was sold April 29, ami from 

 May 1, to Dec. 1, she had given 3643 iiiuiris or 

 7741 pounds, at 8^ pounds to the gallon; being an 

 average of seventeen quarts a day, or 10 quai-ts 

 jier day for the year. Dec. 1, she gave 11 quarts; 

 and atone milking 12 quarts; 22.^ quarts largest 

 daily yield. Or, in more detail, from may 1, to 

 15, she averagetl 16 quarts a da}' ; from May 15 

 to 31, 21 quarts; during June she averaged 21 

 quarts; July, 20 quarts; August,*18 quarts ; Sep- 

 tember, 16 quarts ; October, li quarts ; and Novem- 

 ber, ll.J quarts per daj'. 



I think the quality of her milk full an average 

 for Native's. Feed through the summer, grass 

 and four quarts of fine feed. She now gets dry 

 hay with the same amount of fine feed mixed 

 with warm water. Is sujiposed to be with calf to 

 come in May. H. C. FisK. 



Fairmount, Mass., Dec. 20, 1867. 



DOMESTIC TRAINING — NO. 3. 



In reply to "Sarah," I would say, that it is not 

 "modesty," but the consciousness of incui)aeity, 

 that prevents me from "giving my experience in 

 housekeeping." Most gladly would I ilo so, if I 

 were as good a housekeeper as some ladies whom 

 I have known. As it is, the less said, the better 



Yet all the more for that very consciousness, 

 would I urge it upon those having the care of the 

 young, to make instruction in such matters a spe- 

 ciality. When the young lady leaves the parental 

 roof for a home of her own, she should be able to 

 meet her household duties not as an ignorant ap- 

 prentice but as a skilled master. Life has an abun- 

 dance of inevitable cares, without adding thei'eto 

 those which might easily have been avoided. 



The sewing and knitting department should 

 also receive due attention. The latter accomplish- 

 ment has been much neglected of late, and perhaps 

 with some show of reason. Yet on one account, 

 at least, it should be learned, — because it is the 

 most suitable work for the aged. If the young 

 lady will just imagine herself a matron of four- 

 score, in cap and spectacles, she will doubtless 

 think, as a lady once said to me, "I shall certainly 

 learn to knit before I get to be old." 



"Practice makes perfect," in housekeeping as in 

 eveiy thing else; but that practice should be se- 

 cured, and that perfection, as far as muy be at- 

 tained, in the sunny days of youth, while care and 

 weariness are yet far in the future. Mattie. 



Marlboro', Mass., Dec. 17, 1867. 



LAUREL POISONING. 



I wish to inquire whether there is any remedy or 

 cure for sheep that are poisoned with Laurel. If 

 so, what is the remedy, and is it sure cure ? 



E. L. Metcalf. 



Franklin, Mass., Dec. 16, 1867. 



Remarks. — In the early spring, before the grass 

 has sufficiently started to give the lambs a good 

 bite they are most liable to eat the laurel, although 

 thej'are occasionally poisoned bj' it at other sea- 

 sons. In his "American Shepherd," Mr. Morrill 

 says : — 



In the early stages, if the greenish fluid be suf- 

 fered to escape from the stomach, the animal most 

 I generally recovers. To effect his, gag the sheep ; 

 ' which may be dfnie in this manner: Take a stick 

 I of the size of your wrist and six inches long — place 

 ! it in the aninial's mouth — tic astring to one end of 

 ' it, pass it over the head and down to the other end, 

 j and there make it fast. The fluid will tlien run 

 I from the mouth as fast as thrown up from the 



