394 



companied by a tube through which the water 

 may escape ; after which the tube also is witti- 

 drawn and a lew drops of the essence ol mjrru 

 applied to the aperture. This operation is 

 sometimes successful, but more olten ttie re- 

 verse. If it succeeds, however,, m on y one 

 cure out of five, it seems worth the trial smce 

 without some relief the sheep mast certainly 

 perish. 



Swelled Paunch. 

 When sbeep or other ruminating animals eat 

 more than they can digest the foo.l fermepla in 

 the stomach, emitting great quantities ol gas 

 which stretch this organ so as to draw together 

 its apertures, the paunch becomes excessively 

 distended, the lungs oppressed, the breath and 



pulse obstructed, and the death is very sudden ly t 

 This etfect may be produced by fodder of j ten 

 any kind, but most readily by such as the sheep of s 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



plement is used not only to collect hay into I desire to see it in general use. But this like 

 windrows, but it answers to collect the wind- other changes in husbandry, will be encountet 

 rows into heaps for loading. It will require ed with prejudices, which will yield slnwly 

 some practice, to render the management of it am! not until our most popular agriculturist! 

 easy and expeditious. But when once acquaint- 'shall countenance their use. The present slnt( 

 ed with it, no farmer would ever be without it. of agriculture in relation to its products, re 

 This rake operates best on smooth surfaces, but , quires all its operations, ^o be eondncttd wHi 

 may be used by an experienced hand, on stony \economij and the least possible expense. The prici 

 and uneven grounds and on low meadows. And |af labor continues too high and disproportions 

 it may be used to collect cradled oats and barley to the price of produce. This will remain 1( 

 for binding. It does not usually answer so well press the farmer so long as our country furnish 

 for cradled wheat and rye, as the motion of the es so many objects of enlerprize in roads am 

 rake is apt to stir up dust, that injures the grain canals. It is therefore important, and necessar; 



for bread stuff. 



Description of a good Horse Rake. 

 The head frame is a slick, of slit-work usua- 



ly of white ash, maple, bass wood or white oali, 

 1 feet long and three and half inches square, 

 seasoned timber and of as light wood as pos 



substances are in themselves injurious, since I 

 have known sheep accustomed to them e.it 

 theirfill day after day for months together without 

 suffering any ill consequence. Any young green 

 feed is more likely to be hurtful in tkis way 

 than dry fodder — but only when eaten in ex- 

 cess after long abstinence. If the approach of 

 the swelling is observed by the shepherd in sea- 

 son, it may be prevented by violent friction of 

 Ihe back and belly and driving the sheep rapid- 

 ly. These remedies are assisted by a previous 

 dose of lime water, which should be repealed 

 half an hour afterwards, taking care that the 

 lime is good and not previously air-slacked. 



If the attack is so violent as to leave no time 

 for these remedies, an opening must be made in 

 the paunch with the trocar and sheath — an ope- 

 ration which cannot easily be described but 

 may be exhibited without any difficulty to any 

 person unacquainted with it. j 



1 omit to notice a great variety of other dis- 

 eases of sheep which I have had no opportunity 

 of attending to personally, — and also the whole 

 series of external injuries to which sheep are li- 

 able, — and in the treatment of which each man's 

 experience is his best guide, 



Bruoktine, 182-t. 



CCorrcsflonticnrc. 



HORSK RAKE. 

 To the Editor of the .Veu; England Farmer, 



Sir, — The letter of yours on the subject of 

 the ' Horse Rake,' ought long since to have been 

 answered. Various avocations have occasioned 

 the delay, but the present is a fit time for the 

 subject to attract proper attention. I have had 

 a horse rake in use for three years. The utili- 

 ty of it, is decided beyond all question. The 

 utility consists in this. The hay can be collect- 

 ed for carting, with more ease and expedition 

 than can be done usually by six men with com- 

 mon rakes. 1 use it constantly in hay time, and 

 so habituated to its use and convenience are my 

 men, that they have no idea of being without it 

 a single day. The operation is performed by 

 one man to manage the rake, one boy to ride 

 the horse, and a boy to follow the rake and col- 

 "^"^•^^et the scattered hay that sometimes is left. 

 The horse must be steady and quiet. This im- 



on the under side a little, resembling a sm?ll 

 sled, the points to turn up a little to avoid en- 

 tering the ground or hitting stones. The tenin 

 in the head to be a square in a square morti;e 

 with a shoulder under side to brace them and ^o 

 be wedged into the head. The teeth to te 

 placed at equal distances making about t»» 

 inches and half apart and points uniform ard 

 even. On the upper side of the head affix se- 

 ven standards two feet long at equal distances o 

 secure the hay from falling over. They miy 

 be put in with an inch auger of the same lin- 

 ber as the teeth. On Ihe middle of ihe head Ix 

 two curved handles, like those of a plough o 

 ffuide its operations. These handles must be fin- 

 ed firm and braced with iron at the head to secure 

 them and the handles a little wider than on a 

 plough. On each end of the head should be fix- 

 ed a'ferule of iron to prevent its spilling ; just 

 inside the ferule on a line with the teeth, fix a 

 small sized staple and ring at each end. To 

 these rings, ropes of the size of a cart rope are 

 to be fastened about 19 feet in length, to con- 

 nect with the collar on the horse to move i'. 

 The length of the rope always to be so long ;is 

 to allow sufficient space for the hay to be ga- 

 thered betwixt the rake and the horse, which 

 space will depend on the quantity of the hay or 

 crop and the ropes m.iy be taken up or let ont 

 as occasion requires. The above handles may 

 be three and a half feet long and formed as en 

 a plough so as to manage the rake easily. In 

 managing this rake, care must be used to see 

 it is always under the hay, and if it slips over it, 

 stop the horse and draw back and start anew. 

 Practice will soon render it easy. Ifthelxnil 

 mowed has trees, stumps or rocks scattered 

 over it, the head of the rake may be reduced 

 to 8 or 9 feet or so long as to be useful. This 

 implement is exceedingly useful in collecting 

 clover and large crops of hay. — I ha\e been 

 thus particular, that no error in the stiucture 

 or use should intervene by which the farmer 

 may be discouraged and perplexed, and throw 

 it aside as impracticable or unprofitable. This 

 implement is simple in its form and structuie 

 and easily repaired. The expense of such a 

 rake will not exceed 5 or gC, and usually much 

 less as this implement is among the labor saving 

 inventions, and in fact is so; I have a strong 



to success, that every agriculturist should cal 

 ciilate carefully every expense attending hi 

 operations, that he may not labor in vain or a 

 a loss. The implements of linsbandry are directi 

 connected with this consideration, and too mue 

 care cannot be hestoised, iti selecting and using sue 

 implements only as shall abridge labor andexpeni 

 and ensure the greatest degree of productivenes 



You will, sir, make such use of this letters 

 your discretion shall dictate. I shall always b 

 happy to communicate useful improvement 

 such as experience has tested, and no othei 

 shall I feel at liberty to offer. 



1 am, sir,' with cordial esteem 

 and regard, your humble servant. 



THOMAS GOLD. 



PittsJicld,June 28, 1824. 



BOTTLING CIDER. 

 To Ihe Editor of the JVew England Farmer, 



Sir, — As the time approaches, when those wl 

 bottle cider, must be taking some precaution 

 preserve their bottles from bursting, I tal 

 the liberty to suggest to your country readers 

 method, new, cheap and effectual, for preset 

 \ng both cider and bottles through the heat 

 stumer. In swamps, springy and cold, grc 

 quintities of moss are found, which may be i 

 sil} gathered. With this cover your bottli 

 set in the ground in the northerly part of t 

 cellir, and with a water-pot drench the mi 

 with cold water once a week, or once perha 

 in a fortnight will be sufficient. This I ha 

 found from several jears experience, a perfi 

 security for the bottles, and much less Iroub 

 than any other method I have tried or heard 

 It answers all the purposes of burying them 

 sand ; is less work, and leaves the bottles mo 

 cleaner. Moss is easily obtained in the cot 

 try from low, cold lands, and when wet retai 

 moisture long. One covering will answer li i 

 or three years. Yours respectfully, 



WILKES ALLEN, 

 Chelmsford, June 1, 1824. 



T» Ihe Eiitor of Ihe J^ew England Farmer, 



Sir, — In August last, I inoculated some Pe 

 trees with'ouds of a large winter pear, obtain 

 from the Williams farm in Chelsea; and m 

 I observe frnit of good size, on several oft 

 shoots, which are ■whollij the gro-<M.'th of t 

 season. 1 should like to be informed how SO 

 slips of dame Nature are accounted for. 



A BROOKLINE FARMERJ 



To keep off or drive away Bed Bngs. — Mill 

 strong decoction of red pepper, when I 

 and apply it with a common paint brush to 

 joints of the bedstead, wainscotting, &.c. wta|) 

 these odious insects usually resort, and it 9 

 speedily kill, or expel them. — im. Farmer. 



