138 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



KOV. 3, 1*4 1. 



THE COW. 



Of nil domestic creature? we esteem the cow 

 the mo3i. val'iahle. The horse will carry our bur- 

 lifiH, and pull the carl and plow ; iho hog will 

 gi»e lis flesh lor food, if well fed; but the cow 

 will furnish us uiilk, butter, cheeaa and n^eat, car- 

 ry burdens, pull the plow, and almost clothe us. 

 It is not the least surprising that the peasantry in 

 many parts of Eiirnpo esteem the cow so highly. 

 They take her into their friendly cottages, and 

 give her a warm bed in one corner, while plie is 

 feeding the family. We hare often wondered 

 how it could be possible for ihe poorer classes of 

 that country to live without the faithful cow. In- 

 deed, we have often asked ourselves if the produce 

 of the cow is not the most important part of our 

 living. S.I far as wo are concerned, we would 

 greatly prefer all the quadruped tribes being anni- 

 hilated, belore we would give up the cow — the 

 best friend of the brute race to man. 



There is nothing strange in the fact, that the 

 English have done so much to improve their breeds 

 of cattle, and that good aniuials bring so high a 

 price, when we reilect upon their use to families, 

 and to every individual. We have greater de- 

 sires to see the co'W still improved in this country, 

 than any other stock — as sicinlsh 03 we have seem- 

 ed to be. In improvement of cattle, however, the 

 people of the United Stoces have done but Utile. 

 We have imported .some nobie creatures, and some 

 fair ones have been produced here; but wc ask 

 where the people are; in this country, that have 

 studied properly the science of breeding and rear- 

 ing fine cattle .' 



If wc ever rightly appreciate the cow, wc will 

 understand the secret <S breeding cattle of one 

 shape for milk, another for beef, and still a third 

 for oxon. We will learn the milk cow niust have 

 light fore quarters and brisket, thin neck, delicate 

 head, soft, silky coat, wide hips, and tliin thighs; 

 while the best animal for beef, has a short thick 

 head and neck, heavy quarters, round barrel and 

 short legs ; but the ox is longer in the limb, body, 

 and indeed in all his proportions. When breeding 

 domestic animals is reduced to a science, the dif- 

 ferent breeds for the milker, beef and ox, will be 

 discussed with the greatest gravity, and the par- 

 ticular structure of each will be considered indis- 

 pensable. Not only so, but the proper manage- 

 ment of cattle in each stage of their growth will 

 bo looked upon ns a matter of more importance 

 than the attention now given to the racer in each 

 year of its growth. When we esteem the cow as 

 we should, we will have her winter quarters, in 

 point of comfort, next to the family dwelling ; and 

 we will learn that even currying is ut least as ser- 

 viceable to the cow as the horse. The proof that 

 wo do not put a proper estimate upon the cow, re- 

 quires no other argument than the fact, that not 

 one farmer perhaps in fifty has even a comfortable 

 slielter or wholesome winter food for cattle. In 

 Tennessee, we have enough of the improved breeds^ 

 and wo trust a sufficiency of knowledge to com- 

 mence improvinfr. If we, ns farmers, study our 

 own cdiiilort and interest, we will produce breeds 

 of caitio more valuable than any yet in f.vistence, 

 nnd the prices heretofore given for the best short- 

 horned Durham, will he no more than a "starting 

 bid" for them. There is no doubt in the world, a 

 race of cows may be made which will give a bush- 

 ci of good milk each per day, and could we imag- 

 ine an ade(iuate price for an animal of this descrip- 

 tion ? — J^Tashville (Tettn.) Agriculturist. 



SECRET FOR TAMING VICIOUS HORSES' 

 A correspondent of the New York Spirit of the 

 Times says : 



" My method for taming vicious horses, is gen- 

 tleness and patience, which removes fear and gives 

 the animal confidence in man. Rubbing a horse 

 in the face will cause liini to present his head to 

 you, and talking kindly to him will attract his at- 

 tention. After having cleared the stable or pad- 

 dock of every thing (dugs, chickens, &c.) that will 

 tend in any way to frighten tlie liorse, drive him as 

 gently as possible into a corner and approacli him 

 by degrees, that he may see that there is no cause 

 lor alarm. Vou must now rub his face gently 

 downwards (not across or "against the grain" of 

 the hair,) and when be becomes reconciled to that, 

 as you will perceive by his eye and countenance, 

 rub his neck and back, till he will permit you to 

 handle his tail freely. You may now lead him out, 

 and call upon him constantly, in a steady tone, to 

 "come along," (whispering the words, to some 

 horses, is better than to speak loud.) and in about 

 ten minutes or less he will follow you about quite 

 tame and gentle. 



In breaking a horse to harness or saddle, you 

 must be very gentle with him. For the former, 

 you may commence by throwing a rope over the 

 back, and letting it hang loose on both sides, then 

 lead him about, caressing him ns above, until he 

 becomes satisfied that they will not hurt him ; then 

 put on the harness, and pull gently on the traces : 

 in a short time by this kind treatment, he will be 

 prepared for work. 



In breaking for the saddle, you may begin by 

 showing him the hlnnkot, robbing !iim with it, and 

 throwing it on his back ; in a short time you may 

 lay the saddle on, and after fondling him for n. few 

 minutes, you may fasten it and ride him with per- 

 fect safety. It is better for one person to stand 

 by his head nt first and keep him quiet; and then 

 to lead him along until all danger is over. If he 

 is dangerous, you may e.vercise him for some time, 

 by leading him, and leaving him, ns he becomes 

 more gentle in working. You can then manage 

 him with more safety. It is better to, work a horse 

 to make him very gentle; but if this cannot well 

 be done, I would recommend the use of bit and 

 harness, that he may learn to be governed by the 

 bridle : be careful not to get his mouth sore. Put 

 on at first a loose harness, and let it remain on for 

 some time: if the harness is tight, it will make an 

 unbroken horse sweat and faint. You may in the 

 case of a very vicious horse, side-line him. In a 

 little time he will pass a carriage without shying, 

 and will mit caper in gear or under the saddle. 



If n horse lie down and will not get up, drive a 

 stake in the ground and fasten him down for ten 

 or twelve hours, tlicn loosen him, work him lor 

 about an hour, water and feed him, and he will 

 " know better ne.xt time." 



I'o make a Horse follow you. Vou may make 

 any man's horse follow you in ten minutes, or some- 

 times less ; go tn the horse, rub his face, jaw and 

 chin : leading him about, still saying to him, come 

 along: R constant tone is njcessnry : by taking 

 him away from persons and horses, repeat rubbing, 

 leading and stopping. Sometimes turn him round 

 nil ways, and keep his attention by saying, come 

 nlniig. I suppose in some horses it is imporliint 

 to whisper to them, ns it hides the secret, nnd gen. 

 ties the horse : you may use any word yen please, 

 but be constant in vour tone of voice. The same 



will cause all horses to follow. If a horse has ar 

 injury in the face, you bad better put off tamini; 

 him until it is well. 



To prevent a Horse foom breaking his Halter. — 

 First, strong-halter him with one that will not draw 

 as that often makes his jaw sore, then fasten bin 

 to somi~thing which he cannot pull loose, and let 

 him pull; indeed, make him pull until he is unwil. 

 ling to pull any more. You then get on and ride 

 him a mile or two, and tie him so again, and lei 

 him stand quiet. By repeating this for a while, it 

 regular use, you may turn him loose any wher» 

 and he will be safe. 



To teach a Horse to lay down. First, with some 

 soft haiidkeichief or cloth, tie up one fore \eg 

 then with a stick tap him on the other, and saj 

 "kneel;" sometimes by nibbing him on the head 

 and patting him on the leg, you will induce him ta 

 lie down. It appears all horses are inclined ti 

 obey you, and will do so when you teach theiD 

 that you will not hurt them. You will have to 

 employ some time and attention : you had better- 

 take him by himself. Repeat the trial three oi» 

 four times and you will be successful. 



To accustom a Horse lo the use of a Gun, fm- 

 bri-lla, etc. Commence by showing your friend- 

 ship, by rubbing the horse's face with your hand: 

 then snap and explode percussion caps with a pis- 

 tol ; let the horse frequently smell the powder and! 

 smoke : then you will fire small reports, until yoi 

 shall see fear removed ; then overhead and behinfl 

 the horse, until all is free. If you have a vor^ 

 wild horse, place him in a stall orsmall pen, so as to 

 have him safe; then firo a gun all around him, anc 

 go oftrn up to him, speak to hint, and rub hiin in 

 the face, and then fire the gun again, until he is 

 free from starling. To make a horse used to an 

 umbrella, walk before him, raising it up and shut 

 ling it again ; let him smell it, nnd rub it over hi^ 

 head ; then get on him, gently raise it, and ndi 

 him along until the fear is over. It is in nil • 

 better to take the horse to some new plucr .i.u 

 j from home ; for if you go to the place where lit 

 has been spoiled, you will find he is apt to prove 

 unkindqr there than elsewhere. Sometimes horses 

 will remember fi)r five years places nnd hubits boti 

 good and bad. You must rub your horse on botli 

 sides, for he may be gentle on one side and no: on 

 the other. 



How to manage a Kicking Horse. First, make 

 a stiill or pen for your horse, in which he cannot' 

 turn round, nnd with slats, through which you call 

 . put your bond to rub him in the face, and nil overi 

 ' two or three times, raising his tail gently three ot 

 four times ; then touch one of his fore legs, and' 

 say to him " foot," " I'ool," until he shows willing* 

 I ness to raise his foot: raise his foot up, and putH 

 ^ down some three or four times ; then go nil round^^ 

 until fear is removed. All you wish a horse to d% 

 ought to be done three or four times, repeated t«fi' 

 , or three d.iys in succession. '' 



How lo manage a Cow. Tie her to some plad 

 80 that you can rub her all over; then salt her 

 I from your hand ; feed her from your hand, on half 

 feed, nnd in three days you may do as you pleaae 

 with her. Rub her near tho root of the tail, ai 

 thnt has a good effect. 



/n breaking a shy or skittish horse, never strike 

 ; him for swerving, but if he is frightened, be gon- 

 j tie ; get down, rub him in the face, and lead him 

 to ilie cause of alarm, then back to where you got 

 off, and then ride him back again to to the object 



