1868. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



•527 



gradual approach (o a more northern latitude, 

 and consequent gradual change of diet, they 

 get rid of the disease, if it existed at the time 

 of starting on their journey. 



When they are brought on boats, the tran- 

 sit is completed in a few days, and they bring 

 with them whatever disease existed at the 

 time of starting, aggravated by the crowding, 

 starvation and thirst they undergo on the 

 boats. The haste of the drovers to get them 

 to market has proved injurious to their own 

 interest. 



These cattle evidently require to be sub- 

 jected to a quarantine of several months 

 before other cattle can be sftfely exposed to 

 intercourse with them, and before they are fit 

 for human food Such a quarantine they for- 

 merly underwent to a considerable degree, in 

 the time and mode of driving them to the 

 north ; and hence they seldom introduced 

 the disease, although cases of it were known 

 from time to time. 



The disease appears to be- most rife in May, 

 June and July ; and as the weather becomes 

 cooler, it gradually disappears. Cattle that 

 have been wintered in the north appear to be 

 no longer subject to .the disease, unless ex- 

 posed anew to the infection. 



By the report of the Illinois Cattle Commis- 

 sioners, the 30,000 or 40,000 cattle now un- 

 dergoing quarantine in Kansas, are in a thrifty 

 and healthy condition, and will soon be in a 

 state to pass on to their destination with 

 safety to all concerned. Such facts will teach 

 the capitalists who are concerned in moving 

 cattle, as well as the Legislatures of the States 

 through which they pass, the proper course to 

 be pursued. 



The disease is undoubtedly a Typhoid fever. 

 Its most intense action is found in the duode- 

 num, or upper portion of the small intestines, 

 in which there is inflammation, which causes 

 contraction of the intestines and obstructs the 

 passage of solids, thereby occasioning consti- 

 pation. When the disease is fatal, it is so 

 usually within 48 hours. At the first outbreak 

 of the disease at any place it is more fatal ; 

 most of the first cases terminating in death. 

 As the disease progresses, it becomes milder, 

 many of the cases recovering. This gives 

 rise to the belief that some remedy has been 

 found capable of controling it. Near the 

 close of the disease, or when it is about to 



disappear, most of the cases get well, and the 

 cattle thrive and fatten rapidly. 



Such appear to be facts respecting this dis- 

 ease, as we gather them from those who have 

 been most conversant with it. The alarm is 

 over for this season, and we shall probably 

 hear little more cf it, until next season ; ex- 

 cept in the halls of Legislation, in several of 

 which it will give rise to discussion during 

 the coming winter. 



BUMBLE BEES. 



There are some very pretty stories told 

 about the domestic bee waylaying the honest 

 bumble bee, and robbing him of his hard 

 earned gains. Such tales are evidently the 

 product of a warm imagination. I find (hat 

 several bumble bees have forced themselves 

 into my hives this season, doubtless for the 

 purpose of plundering. Several were killed, 

 and, after a time, nothing was found but the 

 bumble bee, whose hairy covering was in gen- 

 eral entirely removed, either during his fight 

 with the bees, or by subsequent attempts on 

 the part of the bees to remove him. On one 

 occasion I saw a bumble bee ent^r a glass 

 hive, and, being curious to know how he 

 would be received, I uncovered the glass, and 

 had a pretty good view of the fight. He was 

 attacked by dozens, perhaps hundreds, of 

 bees who attempted to bite and to sting, ap- 

 parently with very little effect. The bumble 

 bee, on the other hand, by means of his pow- 

 erful mandibles, succeeded in killing or mutil- 

 ating nearly a teacup of bees before he suc- 

 cumbed. I, of course, felt very strongly in- 

 clined to move to the rescue ; but my desire 

 to see what the result would be overcatne my 

 interest in the bees. After a lime the bumble 

 bee lay exhausted on the bottom of the hive, 

 which was completely strewed with the legs 

 and wings of occupants ofthe'bive. I then 

 covered the glass, and left the hive till next 

 morning. By that time the bees had carried 

 out all their dead, so that if I had not wimessed 

 the fight, I should not have known that any 

 damage had been done. Remedy— never use 

 large holes or wide slits as entrances to your 

 hives. A long slit which just gives space 

 enough for a drone to squeeze . through, will 

 keep out the bumble bees, as well as mice and 

 other large depredators. — P., in Coimirij Gen- 

 tleman. 



Soil for Flowers. — Leaf mould is good 

 for flowers if two or three years old, and very 

 much decayed ; when but half rotten it is an 

 injury. Rotten sod is the best soil for flow- 

 ers ; and cow manure, which has lain two years 

 to rot, the best fertilizer. Where rotten sod 

 is not easily obtained, the edging parings of 

 walks may be preserved in a heap for flower 

 purposes. — Qardener'^s Monthly. 



