1853. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



101 



At the time of the first introduction of guano to 

 the world, it was generally supposed to exist only 

 on the coast of Peru and the adjacent islands. 

 But its value stimulated search, and deposits of a 

 similor character were found on the coast of Pata- 

 gonia, and on portions of the coast of Africa. 

 Near the latter the island of Ichaboe was discov- 

 ered to be covered with thi8jvalual)leifertilizcr, from 

 which large quantities were procured. But the 

 island being accessible to the whole world without 

 restriction, there was quite a scramble for the ar- 

 ticle, and the guano Avas soon removed. It has 

 been stated that tlierc were at one time over two 

 hundred vessels loading at Ichaboe. 



The manner of loading guano is usually to haul 

 the vessel under a cliff, if practicable, or if not the 

 ship's boat, and fill up by means of a chute or 

 long canvass bag open at both ends, and leading 

 from the top of tne cliff to the hold of the vessel 

 or into the boat. The work proceeds with great 

 rapidity when operations have fairly commenced. 

 Boston Jou. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 EATING THEIR BODIES UP. 



BY A. G. COMINGS. 



There are many strange things in this world, 

 and among them it is not a little strange that a 

 people having so high claim to the rank of intelli-i 

 gence and wisdom as the people of New England,! 

 should really, in this nineteenth century, raise! 

 and keep any race or kind of pigs, poultry, or 

 other four legged or two legged animals, which 

 can, being permitted, fall to and most unsparing- 

 ly eat up their own bodies, not leaving ought in 

 gratitude or respect to their reputable owners. 

 But every day reminds us that "Truth is stranger 

 than fiction." 



Being mindful of the fact that the kinds of ani- 

 mals have been somewhat popular heretofore, and 

 not wishing to incur the censures of any well dis- 

 posed person through any misunderstanding of 

 the subject matter under consideration, it may be 

 permitted that a representation be made, to whom- 

 soever it may concern, to this end and purport, 

 namely, that certain inconsiderate and unprosper- 

 ous persons who have not the fear of poverty be- 

 fore them, do keep, and propose hereafter to keep, 

 for the occupancy and use of their farms, pigs, 

 poultry, and other living things, which creatures 

 have a most vicious propensity and inclination to 

 eat up their own bodies. And, moreover, as in 

 our judgment the interests of all keepers of stock 

 of every kind common to forms, may, consistently 

 with the public safety, submit to the exclusion of 

 all such vicious animals from the farms of New 

 England, this humble prayer is most respectfully 

 addressed and made to the General Court of Com- 

 mon Sense, now in session, and from hence to con- 

 tinue in session in New England, that the said 

 vicious kinds of animals be expelled from among 

 us for reasons which may follow. 



Wliereas, there has come among us, and to 

 the no small detriment and dishonor of the old 

 yellow hen, which was a faithful friend to those 

 who lived before us, various kinds of ill-looking 

 creatures which claim to be liens, but have none! 

 of the comeliness of the old yellow hen, some of 

 which have their feathers on wrong end foremost, 

 and some do make most unmusical howlings which' 



are not fit to be called crowings, and many of 

 these do in a manner most unworthy of all praise, 

 and without leaving one praiseworthy egg, cat up 

 their own bodies, it is desirable that these be forth- 

 with driven out of the farm-yard and out of the 

 market-place. 



And whereas there are that are called cows, 

 some of which may appear very beautiful without, 

 that have become intruders in many of the barn- 

 yards of New England, which do not give milk 

 enough to pay for their daily bread, and, as a 

 consequence do without any restraint eat up their 

 own bodies, it is desirable that these all be re- 

 quired, in all their tribes and generations, as soon 

 as possible, to offer themselves to the butcher and 

 be ready to lie down in quiet. 



And whereas, also, there are hogs and old 

 horses, dogs and dandies, which all do fixU short 

 of earning for themselves a living, and most of 

 which do eat up their own bodies without modesty 

 or shame, it is desirable that these be delivered to 

 such officers as will duly execute upon each, ac- 

 cording to his circumstances, whatever judgment 

 the public good shall require. 



ABOUT HENS, 



Much has been said about the importance of 

 large hens. It is fast coming to be understood 

 and known that the difference between the large 

 fowls and the common fowls which we have raised 

 heretofore, is about this. The large ones will 

 grow to double the weight of the common hens, 

 and with double the weight of body there is three 

 times the weight of bones. The cost of raising a 

 hundred weight of the large kind is more than of 

 a hundred weight of the small kind, and is less 

 saleable in market and less inviting upon the table. 

 Before the large hens can be brought to full size 

 and well fattened, they will much more then eat 

 up their own bodies, in the cost of keeping, under 

 ordinary circumstances. The more such fowls a 

 man raises for market, the poorer he will be. 



ABOUT cows . 



Among country farmers there are a great num- 

 ber of cows kept which give milk not more than 

 about eight months in the year, and during this 

 time would not make, on an average, more than 

 two pounds of butter each week. Thus a cow 

 would fall short of making 75 pounds of but- 

 ter in a year. The average price of butter, in the 

 country, is not over 16 cents, taking one year 

 with another. This would give for the butter $12. 

 Add to this $2 for the milk after the cream has 

 been taken off and $1 for the calf at three days 

 old, and you have $15 as the proceeds of the cow 

 for one year. Now for her cost. Call the cow 

 worth $15 to turn into beef. The interest of $15 

 is 90 cents. (Omit tax on the cow.) Her keep- 

 ing in summer $5. In winter $12. Time and 

 labor in milking and taking care of milk and but- 

 ter, $8. This would make the sum of $25,90 for 

 the yearly expense of the cow, while her yearly 

 income is only $15. 



Now suppose that the cow would give milk 10 

 months in the year, and for 25 weeks would make 

 8 lbs. of butter per week, and for 17 weeks more 

 would make 4 lbs. per week, making in all 2G8 

 lbs., (which is far below the product of many 

 good cows,) it would amount to $12,88 cents. 

 V7ho will find a difficulty in seeing that one of the 

 cows is a dead loss of nearly $11 in a year, and 



