1857. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMEE. 



115 



DEATH OF THE PIGS. 



I have a sow that brought twelve pigs, Dec. 5 ; 

 they did well until about two weeks old, when some 

 of them began to be lame in one hind leg, and it 

 continued to spread until they were completely dis- 

 abled, and died in a few hours. Six have died in 

 the same way, and others are lame. If you can in- 

 form me of the cause or remedy, it will be thankful- 

 ly received. C. C. Grant. 



Andovtr, Dec. 29, 1856. 



Remarks. — It would probably be difficult to 

 tell what ailed these pigs had we seen them. The 

 description does not afford us any clue to the dis- 

 ease. 



WIND-MILLS. 



Mr. Editor : — Can you tell us any thing about 

 wind-mills ? Have any been got up that are port- 

 able, and that can be moved from house to house 

 to saw wood ? I have heard that such are in exis- 

 tence, and that they do good business with a cross 

 cut saw, which requires but a small power to carry 

 it. Has any ingenious Yankee ever yet — to your 

 knowledge — invented and offered such a machine 

 for sale ? if so where, and for what price, and with 

 what success ? Please make some statements in 

 the next number of the Fanner, and oblige a sub- 

 scriber and others, A. s. 



Dixmont, Me, 



Remarks. — We do not know of a portable 

 wind-mill ; if there is one some of our correspond- 

 ents will undoubtedly Inform you of it. 



GOING OUT WEST. 

 "N." asks us what we "think about persons go- 

 ing out West to purchase Government lands and 

 settle there ?" While it is unquestionably best for 

 some persons to go, it is none the less clear that 

 others should remain. The going or staying de- 

 pends so much upon circumstances, that, without 

 defining those circumstances, we can give no opin- 

 ons of value. 



BLACK TOOTH IN PIGS. 



Mr. Editor : — While conversing with a neigh- 

 boring farmer, he said, if you examine a pig's mouth 

 when taken from the sow, and find black teeth, and 

 break them off, it will entirely prevent the disease 

 called the black tooth. Now I have killed pigs 

 from nine to twelve months old and found more or 

 less black teeth, but I do not know as they were 

 diseased. As there has been considerable com- 

 plaint in this section, of pigs not doing well, I 

 thought this might be the cause ; I merely ask for 

 information. A Subscriber. 



}Villiamstown,Januai-y, 1857. 



Remarks. — The disease called "black tooth" is 

 not mentioned in the books, yet it seems to be rec- 

 ognized all around us. We have received several 

 letters recommending knocking out a black tooth 

 iDith a punch and a hammer, but do not intend to 

 advise such a barbarous remedy. The teeth may 

 be affected, but we are inclined to think by some 

 cause remote from them. 



TO melt ice IN PIPES. 



R., of Chester county, Pa.,states that a little mo- 

 lasses turned into a pipe that is frozen up will soon 

 find its way through. Also, that hogs should oc- 

 casionally have a little ashes scattered over them 

 during a rain, which will clear off all scurf, and be 

 fed with lumps of charcoal. 



TANNING skins. 



Is there no better and cheaper way of tanning 

 skins than that mentioned in the Farmer of Janu- 

 ary 3d? 



Remarks. — Yes, adopt the mode given in the 

 Monthly Farmer of October, page 456. 



HORSE DISTEMPER. 



I send you a receipt for this disease which I have 

 received great benefit from. If you think best you 

 may give it a place in your paper : — 6 table spoons- 

 ful soot, 1 table spoonful black pepper, 1 table 

 spoonful ginger, 1 table spooful salt, 3 eggs and In- 

 dian meal enough to make a stiff battel-. Mix all 

 well together, and make it into four balls ; give one 

 morning and evening till gone. The four balls 

 will generally effect a cure. Should it not do so 

 entirely, repeat the dose. I have never known a 

 failure. With respect, E. P. Wilbur. 



Cummington, 1857. 



D. Hatnes, Colchester, Conn. — All the seeds 

 you inquire about may be obtained of Nourse & Co., 

 in this city, and will undoubtedly be good. The 

 Purple Top turnip is an excellent kind, but if sow- 

 ing extensively would it not be well to use several 

 kinds of seed ? 



For the JSew England- Farmer. 



TO PICKLE HAMS AND SMOKE HAMS. 



I have noticed several recipes published in the 

 JV. E. Farmer for preparing bacon. A simpler 

 mode I recommend from more than thirty years' 

 experience. Make a pickle for the hams, of good 

 salt, as strong as the salt will make it, and reduce 

 it one-half, with the addition of a like quantity of 

 water, and use enough to cover the hams. The 

 hams may remain a number of weeks, till it is con- 

 venient to take out, wipe dry, and smoke. This 

 will make good bacon, rightly seasoned for use, 

 without freshening. If other flavor be desired, a 

 pickle may be made, seasoned with such spices as 

 may be desired, in which sugar may be used, and 

 some saleratus and saltpetre, by those who prefer 

 saltpetre on their meat. As I do not find it nec- 

 essary for its preservation, I doubt its healthfulness, 

 and believe it hardens beef, which I always find 

 hard enough without it. After the pickle for spic- 

 ing is prepared, take the hams from their half-salt- 

 ed pickle, and place them in a suitable vessel, and 

 pour on the new pickle, and daily moisten it all 

 over for a week or two more, by dipping the pickle 

 from the bottom of the vessel. I use corn cobs for 

 smoking. They afford a strong smoke, and soon ac- 

 complish the work. Ashes thrown over them after 

 being set on fire, will prevent too rapid combustion 



