224 



THE GEKESEE FAEMER. 



OoR Feiends at post-ofBces where we have but one or 

 two subscribers, would greatly oblige us by acting as 

 agents for the Genesee Farmer. Now is the time to intro- 

 duce the paper. The present number commences the 

 half-volume for 1860. We will send five copies for one 

 dollar (20 cents each), and a Rural Annual to the person 

 getting up the club. Other inducements for larger clubs 

 will be found in our columns. Our friends residing in 

 places where we have now but few subscribers, could eas- 

 ily take one of the largest of our Cash Prizes. Again we 

 ask you, kind reader, to aid us in thV' matter. 



Inquiries and Answers. 



Cattle Disease. — I would like to know your opinion in 

 regard to the cattle disease called the Pleuro-pnewnonia, 

 which is now prevailing in the north part of Worcester 

 county. The State Committee has caused to be killed 

 about one thousand head already. It seems to me to be a 

 great waste of property to kill all cattle that have been 

 exposed to the disease. Is there no other remedy? — Asa 

 H. Pope, North Oxford, Mass., Jane 5, 1860. 



We can give no opinion on this subject. If the disease 

 can be arrested by the slaughter of all the affected cattle, 

 it will be a great blessing — although it may appear a great 

 waste of property. We were in England when the dis- 

 ease raged there some years ago. We have known several 

 head of cattle to be badly affected in a herd ; some of 

 which recovered, and many others in the same herd were 

 not attacked at all. We were on the farm of a large dairy- 

 man at Moreton Corbet, Shropshire, when the disease ap- 

 peared in the neighborhood. He immediately drenched 

 all his cows with half a pound of Epsom salts, and a quarter 

 of a pound of sulphur, and two ounces of spermaceti, 

 dissolved in a quart or three pints fwe are not sure which,) 

 of warm water. His entire herd escaped,*although the 

 cattle on an adjoining farm were attacked and two or 

 three died. We can n9t say that the medicine he used 

 was the cause of his escape, or that experience has shown 

 it to be generally useful. 



Wha^t is the Largest Pig on Eecord. — (R. T.) The 

 largest pig we recollect ever to have heard of, was one of 

 the old Cheshire breed. Mr. Cdllet, in his work entitled 

 ObservatioTis on Livestock, published in 1807, makes the 

 following statement in regard to it : 



" On Monday, the 24th of January, 1774, a pig (fed by 

 Mr. Joseph Lawton, of Cheshire) was killed, which meas- 

 ured from the nose to the end of the tail, three yaids eight 

 inches, and in height four feet five inches and a half; 

 when alive it weighed 12 cwt. 2 qrs. 10 lbs. ; when killed 

 and dressed, it weighed 10 cwt. 3 qrs. 11 lbs. avoirdupois. 

 This pig was killed by James Washington, butcher, Con- 

 gleton, m Cheshire." 



If any of our readers know of a more gigantic speci- 

 men, we should be glad to hear from them. 



Measuring Hat. — (E., Cochville.) As you say, the rules 

 given for ascertaining the weight of hay by admeasure- 

 ment vary considerably. We have given all the informa- 

 tion we possess on this subject. We should be glad of 

 reliable data in regard to this matter. 



The Ox-ete Daisy.— {Lewis Co.) The best way to get 

 rid of this weed is to out it before the seed is formed. In 

 thig way you will check its propagation, and the mown 

 weeds, when as thick as you mention, will afford very fair 

 hay. 



Carrots vs. Parsneps. — I would like to know which al 

 the most nutritious and profitable for feeding stock, esp 

 cially horses, carrots or parsneps? — R. W. McC, W: 

 lougUy, 0. W. 



Neither is perhaps most profitable under all circui 

 stances. Carrots are of all roots the best for horses ; f 

 cattle, the parsnep is preferred. Their ultimate compo; 

 tiou is very similar to the carrot, but they contain abo 

 4 per cent, less water, and are consequently more nut) 

 tious. Unlike the carrot, there is no soluble albumi 

 (white of egg) in parsneps, but in its place we have case 

 (cheese). The starch, which we find in considerable qua 

 tity in the parsnep, (3.^ per cent, in the fresh root and 1 

 in the dry,) is replaced by sugar in the carrot. Fro 

 their ability to sustain severe frost without injury, pai 

 neps are especially worthy of cultivation as a root crop 1 

 the Canadian farmer. They may be left in the ground i 

 winter, and are then considered better for feeding sto 

 in spring than any other root ; and when fed to catt 

 cause them to yield milk of a richer quality. They m; 

 be grown on almost any soil, if deeply plowed and cul 

 vated ; will bear heavy manuring, and yield 600 bush( 

 or more per acre. Care must be taken that the seed sov 

 is not more than one year old, otherwise it is not certa 

 to grow. Parsneps should be sown as early in the sprii 

 as the ground is in good working .order. Carrots can 

 sown with advantage considerably later than parsnej 

 and prefer a rather light soO. If properly cultivated th 

 will yield from 500 to 1000 bushels per acre, and must n 

 be allowed to freeze. 



Soaking Seed Corn in Chemical Solutions. — (S. I 

 Green Bay, \Yis.) We did not say (see " Notes for t 

 Month" in the May number) that soaking seed corn d 

 no good, but, on the contrary, that it " facilitated t 

 softening of the husk and rendered germination easiei 

 What we said was, that the small quantity of any ingi 

 dient, such as ammonia, chlorine, etc., which seed cou 

 absorb from a solution, could have any material effect 

 the after growth of plants, was inconsistent with all o 

 ideas of the nourishment and growth of plants. We 

 not think that the seed necessary to plant an acre of co 

 could absorb from a solution of ammonia, more than o 

 ounce of ammonia. Now, the crop of corn obtains frc 

 the soil during its growth say 50 lbs. of ammonia, and 

 does not seem probable that the extra ounce absorbed i 

 the seed could have any effect, unless it be, as we hai 

 said, in softening the husk, etc. So of chlorine, potas» 

 etc. We have applied over 100 lbs. of ammonia per ao> 

 to corn this spring, and expect a large crop as the resufc 

 but we should expect little increase from the applicatifl 

 of one ounce per acre. 



Bells. — (M. P. S.) The best and cheapest bells for 

 dinary purposes are the "Iron Amalgam Bells," mani 

 factured by Messrs. Hedges, Free & Co., of Cincinaal 

 Ohio. There is one of these bells in the nursery groun* 

 of C. W. Seelte, of this city. It is sonorous and durabl 

 and cost far less than brass or steel bells. You will ol 

 tain full particulars by writing to the manufacturers. Yc 

 will also find their advertisement in another column, 



Agricultural Chemistry.— (C. H., ^nc^fs, TV; Y.) Ndl| 

 ton's Elements of Agricultural Chemistry is the best woD 

 for you to commence with. We will send it to you prtj 

 paid by mail for 75 cents. 



