1877.] 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



79 



LIVE STOCK. 



Ayrshire Cows. 



The report of the Ayrshire Agricultural Associa- 

 tion pivcB the followinu' points of tile stamliiig of su- 

 periority in .Vyrsliireeons : 



Ileiidsliort,' forelieail wiile, nose fine lictween the 

 muzzle anil eyes, muzzle nioJeralely large, eyes full 

 and lively, horns wide set on, inelining upward and 

 curving slightly upward. 



Neck long and straight from the head to the top 

 of I he shonlilcr, free from Ioom- e-kin on the under side, 

 line at its junction with the head, and the muscles 

 syninietrical, enlarging t()ward the shoulders. 



Shoulders thin at the top, brisket light, the whole 

 forequarters thin in front, and gradually increasing 

 in depth and width backward. 



Back short and straight, spine well defined, espe- 

 cially at the shoulder, the short ribs arched, the body 

 deep at the Hanks, and the milk veins well developed. 



I'elvis long, broad and straight, hock bones (ill- 

 inin) wide apart and not much overlaid with fat, 

 thighs deep and broad, tail long and slender, and 

 set on level with the back. 



Milk vessels capacious and extending well forward, 

 hinder part broad an<l firmly attached to the body, 

 the sole or under surface nearly level, the teats from 

 two to two and a-half inches in length, equal in 

 thickness, and hanging perpendicularly; their dis- 

 tance apart at the sides should be equal to about one- 

 third of the length of the vessel, and acro.ssto about 

 one-half of the breadth. 



Legs short, the bones fine and the joints firm. 



Skin soft and clastic, and covered with soft, close, 

 vrooly hair. 



The colors preferred are brown, or brown and 

 ■white, the colors being distinctly defined. 



(ircat value is attached to the above form and 

 points by the dairy farmer, and he quickly takes 

 them iu when effecting a purcliasc, so that a mistake 

 is rarely made. 



Does Buckwheat Poison Sheep? 

 A fanner of Kent county, Englantl, at the close of 

 the dry, hot summer of INTO had UTS lambs on his 

 farm, which, in consequenci^ of the drought and fail- 

 ure of the grass crop, was heavily overstocked. 

 These lambs were at the close of the season in very 

 poor condition, and, to bring Uxgm up again, were 

 placed upon a field of buckwheat. They soon began 

 to show signs of dizzii»ess, and even intoxication, 

 lighting and butting each other in a very unlamblike 

 manner. Soon their faces, heads, and especially their 

 ears, were covereil with ulcers. The eyelids swelled 

 in many eases, causing total blindness, and in <itbers 

 the eyes were totally destroyed by ulceration. A 

 copious discharge of pulveruent mucus from the 

 nose, swollen lips, and cessation of appetite marked 

 the course of the disease. The sun ami the flics began 

 to terrify the alHicted animals, and several deaths 

 occurred. That the disease was not variola was 

 shown by the fact that there was no eruption inside 

 the thighs or no other ha'rless spots. Of .57 lambs not 

 placed in the buckwheat fiehl not one was aflected, 

 all were perfectly healthy. To test the contagious- 

 ness of the disease several alTected rams were turned 

 into the same inclosure with i)erfeclly sound ewes, 

 and though they copulated and landts werethe result, 

 no trace of disease was found upon cither the mothers 

 or the offspring. The farmer is fully convinced that 

 the disease was caused by the poisonous quality of 

 the buckwheat, which had greater power in conse- 

 quence of the low vitality of the animals. The ulcer- 

 ' ations were drcs.'sed with a weak solution of carbolic 

 acid, and small doses of ferri sulpb., gentian, and 

 spirits of terebinith were administered. The buck- 

 wheat was probably nearly i^\k, or at least in full 

 flower, at which ])eriod it is known to contain an ele- 

 ment of an intoxicating character. It is said also to 

 produce erysipelatous eruptions in different kinds 

 of animals, with symptoms of cerebral eongestion. 



Care of Dairy Cows. 

 John B. Tomlinson, of F'onntain Farm, near New- 

 town, Bucks county, writes as follows to the Doyles- 

 town ItitfUifferrry: '*! have seen in your paper a 

 good deal al>out gilt-edged butter and cleanliuess and 

 other things about dairying, but nothing about keep- 

 ing cows clean. My method is to grade the stable 

 tlotir a little sloping l>aek from the manger ; jiut one 

 planklenglhwi.se undtT the himi feet of the cows, one 

 foot wide, and fill with clay up to the manger, having 

 a drop of five inches at the plank. Then plank the 

 n-mainder to the back wall, having the rear a little 

 highest so as to throw all the wet to the drop plank. 

 Then you have a dry walk behind the cows and the 

 stables are easily cleaned. My cattle iu the yard do 

 not look as if they were ever stabled at all. In very 

 cold weather 1 do not let them out at all, but keep 

 them in the stable. In the morniugs as soon as we 

 can see we give all milkers and dry cows, a little 

 meal; a little hay and sheaf of corn-fodder after 

 breakfast ; and at night hay and meal again. The 

 milkers have tbiu' quarts of meal twice a day. When 

 the weather is mild they pick the chaff, straw and 

 fodder in the barn yard and go into the stables as 

 full as ticks. "I stable all my stock and I think it 

 pays." 



Mild Diet for Cattle. 

 Kxperienee, says the Atiwricmi Cultivator^ teaches 

 us that cattle thrive best on a mixed diet ; all hay or 

 all grain will produce less beef than hay and grain. 

 The animal structure of the ox also demands bulk in 

 food as well as richness ; the feeding of concent i*ated 

 fooil being oidy profitable so far as the animal assim- 

 ilates it, beyond that increasing the manure heap at 

 a cost far beyond its value. The ox has approxi- 

 mately eleven pounds of .stomach with only two and 

 one half pounils of intestines to each one hundred 

 jtonnds of live weight ; the sheep has less stomach 

 and more intestines, giving a snuiUer percentage of 

 digestive apparatus ; while the pig, for evi'ry hund- 

 red iioutuls of his live weight, has only one and a 

 third pounds of stomach to six iiounds intestines. A 

 steer would thrive well on a liulk of straw, with a 

 little oil meal, that would shrink a sheep and starve 

 a pig. I'ork can be [iroduced from clear corn meal, 

 while mutton re(|uires greater variety of food, and 

 beef cattle would become cloyed and diseased with 

 its exclusive use. A thoughtful attention to these 

 broad facts will change much injudicious feeding 

 into cheaper meat production. 



Water Your Cattle. 



Mr. Pfeifl'er, of Padonia, who called .Mf)nday, in- 

 forms us that he once lost seven head of cattle in 

 one day, and accounts for the loss in the following 

 way : ile turned his cattle into a fresb-huskcd field 

 of corn, they eat to excess, became toriiid, refused 

 to go and drink, fever ensued ami they die<l. 

 lie says it will not do turn cattle into a field as soon 

 as the corn is husked, even when there is water in it, 

 and expect them to drink of their own accord, espe- 

 cially if it should turn cold, but says cattle must be 

 driven to water ; this will help to circulate the blood 

 and the water will help to digest the food. That if 

 allowed to drink or refuse water they will always 

 refuse if there is a sudden change of weather, as 

 they huddle together and become lifeless. I'feiffer 

 says drive your cattle to water, and allow them but 

 two or three hours in the field each day, and you will 

 lose DO cattle. And we believe he is right. — Jirown 

 County Herald. 



^ 



Safety from Rats and Mice. 



A. J. Willard, of San Mateo county, California, 

 gives a very simple, and, in his experience, a very 

 eflcctive safeguard against rats and mice. He takes 

 two round pieces of tin, like the bottom of a fruit 

 can, punches a hole in the center of each piece, and 

 strings them on a strong wire, one near each end. 

 Then he stretches the wire from side to side of a 

 rotim and fastens each end firmly. Anything w hich 

 is hung upon the wire between the plates of tin is 

 safe from the rats, for if they walk out upon the 

 wire, every time they try to mount the circle of tin 

 it revolves and they cannot pass over it. Mr. Willard 

 has found the simple contrivance very useful in 

 saving meat, grain, &c., and advises all farmers to 

 try it. 



Advice to Drivers. 



When a horse falls w hilst drawing a vehicle — 

 1. .Tump down and hold the animal's head, to 

 prevent his dashing it aliout to his own injury. 



3. Loosen the check-rein (if you are so foolish as 

 to use one) and the parts of the harness which fasten 

 on the vehicle. 



.'i. Steady and support the horse's head, and excite 

 him with hand an<l voice to rise. 



4. Let him stand still a short time and recover 

 himself, and then proceed gently and with greater 

 caution than before. 



.•i. When you get him up, pat and encourage him, 

 and see if he. is wounded or otherwise injureil. 



ti. B.aek the carriage, so as to get the shafts and 

 traces clear. 



Hay Attention to Live Stock. 



Regular attention to all live stock is very impor- 

 tatit. If an animal is only half fed, it is better that 

 it be half fed regularly, as it will suller less injury 

 then if attended to one day and neglected the next. 

 But it is poor economy to stint food. *'Tho liberal 

 soul shall be made fat." To see one's stock eon- 

 tented, comfortable, and happy, is not only a hap- 

 I)iness to a good farmer, l)Ut monc^y iu his pocket. 

 Regular hours of feeding, regular watering, regular 

 rations, and regular rest, ate conducive to comfort. 

 With regularity there is no haste, no waste, nothing 

 is forgotten, and nothing done twice over. Animals 

 then digest what they eat, and thrive. 



Wm. K. Lincoln's herd of SO grade Durham cows 



furnish 47 of the 400 cans of milk daily shipped from 

 Warren to Boston. Mr. Lincoln's farm produces for 

 fodder for his cows 400 bushels of oats and i:00 

 bushels of corn, with which ilO tons f>f shorts arc fed. 

 Warm hot food is given the cows twice daily. Just 

 after drinking cold water. Kach cow in the herd is 

 carded twice daily, and two men constantly care for 

 them. The money product from the herd in Decem- 

 ber was f-Hl. The cows were imported from Canada. 



THE POULTRY YARD. 



Look to the Chicks in Klay. 



Young birds that have been hatched in .March anil 

 April need especial attention in the still chilly month 

 of May. If we can get the early chicks safely 

 thiough this jieriod, the chanees arc greatly in favor 

 of their coming up beautifully ami thriftily du;ing 

 the summer, and making the best average fowls for 

 fall or for the early winter exhibitions. 



I''or marketing purposes such chickens, of any 

 good variety, are the best; for at four to live months 

 old tiny make adndrable broilers, aud command the 

 highest poultry prices in the city markets, If well- 

 kept and tended. 



They should not be exposed to the cold night air 

 now, ni>r should I hey be let out of their ernjps in the 

 morning while the heavy dews are ou the grass. 

 This careless habit destroys many a good early 

 brood. They get chilled, wet, and take cold easily, 

 If perndticd thus to roam about until the sun is well 

 up and the cold night-dew is dried off. Kspecially 

 aftiT a rain in the night shoulil we look out that 

 they be not in this way exposed. 



If they are eight or ten weeks old, and la good 

 condition, you may feed them more heartily than 

 hitherto. Boil or steam two-thirds of their food; 

 vary it also. (Jive them cracked corn and broken 

 wheat, and occasionally shorts, made into a mash 

 with cooked potatoes aud tunnps. They are fond of 

 this diet; and after a few days try a liitle cooked 

 meat chopped fine; and any green stuff you can s|]are 

 or provide easily is very desirable. 



Keep them free from vermin. This is more than 

 half the battle, be it rcmcinbered. Chii'kcns will noi 

 thrive if they are infested with lice. Apply a littfe 

 flour of sulphur, dry, to their necks and through the 

 under part of their little bodies. Serve the mother 

 sindlarly; but do not use too much of this, or iudulgo 

 in it too often. 



Once a week, if powdered sulphur and crushed 

 charcoal is mixed with soft food for young chickens, 

 this serves as an admirable cleanser of the stomach ; 

 it saves them from becoming "crop-bound," it aids 

 the digestion very materially, aud serves to ki:cp 

 away lice ; for the sulphur works outwardly through 

 the skin-pores, and very eflTectually in this respect. 



The most important things to consider during this 

 month, with advanced chickens, is their shelter by 

 night and their regular feeding during the day. 

 They will not bear to be neglected during the period 

 now referred to, if we are desirous to have them do 

 well by and by. A little special care when the 

 vounglings are coming forward from six weeks to 

 three months old, tells amazingly U|ion their future, 

 as all fanciers may satisfy themselves who now de- 

 vote due attention to their little wants as we have 

 herein jiointcd out. 



If you can afford them milk for partial drink, they 

 will improve wondrously ui)on it. No matter 

 whether it be sweet or sour, new or old, they will 

 drink it freely at all times, if i)erndttcd to enjoy this 

 luxury ; upon the ordinary farm, the expense of this 

 indulgence is not felt by the jiroprieior among a 

 common-sized Hock and it is a grand thing for them. 



For laying-hens this is excellent ; but it is far more 

 valuable, proportionably, for your young chickens. 

 The "Imperial Kirg-Food," mamifactured by Allen 

 it Sherwood, of Hartford, is a very good thing to 

 have about the chieken-i)rcmiscs. We have used ft 

 this spring to very good advantage, and find it an 

 excellent appetizer, a valuable tonic and a very 

 desirable coiuliment to mix with the food given to 

 th(! young stock. Up to this season we had jire- 

 viously used this i)re)iaratiou only lor adult laying- 

 fowls ; but we have fouial it an excellent thing to 

 mix with the soft food for younglings, and recom- 

 mend it as really valuable in the rearing of chicks, 

 when properly used. — J'uullnj Wurhl, Hartford, VI. 



To keep a Fowl House. 



1. Clean out every day, and sprinkle dry earth or 

 coal ashes over the floor and under the roosts. 



:;. Change the material the nests are made of once 

 every month, and white-wash the nest-boxes with 

 fntt whitewash. 



'.'.. Taint the roost ing-poles every week with kero- 

 sene, and w hitewash the whole inferior of the hennery 

 every two months during spring and summer. 



4. Provide a dusting-bin, into which throw a [)int 

 or so of Stoddard's Carbolated Powder. Persian 

 Insect Powder is too costly for common use. — Poultry 

 IVorhl. 



Our readers will observe, that if they want good, 

 healthy and tbrilty poultry, they must work as they 

 do in seeming healthy and thrifty horses, cattle, 

 sheep and swine.— /.li. 



Chickens Fit to Eat. 



Don't imagine that it makes no difference howyour 

 chickens have been brought up. — Don't sujiiKise that 

 they will be good anyhow. Chickens have been 

 carefully dressed, deliciously stuffed, assiduously 

 basted, and tenderly roasted, and yet they were not 

 fit to cat. There was a flavor about them that no 

 soda rinsings could cleanse, and no seasonings con- 



