1878. 



THE LANCASTER FARMER' 



d75 



LIVE STOCK. 



Horses With and Without Shoes. 



The Europeun \y.\piTS arc discussiinff the ciucstion 

 of shoes or no shoes lor liorses, with the iirj^unieiit 

 apparently in favor of tliose who ailvoeate hare feet. 

 Tlic laet is eilcd that wilil liorses, neeessarily un- 

 shod, always have fine feet, as also do the horses of 

 most sava};e ami harharous peoi)le8, even in the 

 roeky anif nionulainous countries. .\{;ainst the as- 

 eerlion that the hard, inaeadamized and paved 

 roads of eilies ami towns demand a metallie slioe, is 

 opposed the fael that in I'orto Kieo, ut least up to 

 1.S40, no shoes whatever were used, yet the streets 

 are paved and niaeadaniized. The races of St. John 

 even, where Ijorses fjo a ndle in less than four minutes, 

 are run on the stone i>aved streets of the town of 

 San Juan ; and a writer in the Lii'e Slock Jounuil, 

 (Eng.) who spent numy years in that insland, says 

 that he almost never saw a sore-footed horse there. 

 Hut the eelehrated veterinarian, .Mr. FleminL', comes 

 oat stronsrly in the Vclii-iuanj .li'itrnal against hare 

 feet, claiming that their moist climate and hard 

 roads demand a metallic protection to tlie hoof, as 

 proved hy experience. At any rate the new-old idea 

 is attracting attention, and sume licn-se owners have 

 adopted it iu practice. After removing the shoes the 

 horse is driven only a short distance daily on a hard 

 road, increasing gradually to from four to six miles 

 in tlie course of a week. Water is not avoided, but 

 grease is, as then nature is imitated the closest. 

 Until the nail has disappeared, i. c, grown <nU, the 

 hoof will look rough and crack off more easily than 

 afterwards. The results of the trials reported seem 

 favorable to the shoeless practice. At first the hoof 

 chips otr badly, but soon becomes hard, and the 

 horse seems to like it as much as the urchin likes his 

 barefootedness. But the ex)ierience of generations 

 of shod horses, and the facts and arguments iu favor 

 of no shoes suggests a middle ground, viz.: For 

 paved or stony streets and roads a metallie shoe, and 

 no shoes for even hard roads, for country roads free 

 from stones, and for field work, especially on prairie 

 and other farms where there are no stones, or very 

 few. We are not familiar with any instance iu 

 America where the use of horses without shoes has 

 been thoroughly tried, but consiilering the great 

 saving and possible benefits that might ensue, we 

 suggest that the question is worthy of careful con- 

 sideration, as it is certain that at no time is the 

 horse's foot in so healthy a condition as when un- 

 shod. A near approach to nature, whiuli allows of 

 the foot resting squarely on the ground, yet at the 

 same time protects the hoof from injury, is the 

 Charlier system of shoeing, which now finds con- 

 siderable favor in Europe. The method is fully 

 described in the excellent work on "Ilorse-shocing," 

 by Mr. Fleming, who says : " Leave the hoof in a 

 natural condition, so far as frog, sole and wall are 

 concerned, and imbed a narrow rim of iron, no 

 thicker than the wall, around the lower circumfer- 

 ence of the foot — that exposed to wear like the heel 

 of a man's hoot, and we obtain an idea of the 

 method." 



The crust or wall is beveled off with the rasp, and 

 by means of a knife, with a movable guide, a gioove 

 is made to receive the shoe. The groove is a little 

 shallower than the thickness of the sole, and some- 

 what narrower than the thickness of the wall, " not 

 extending beyond the white line separating the sole 

 from the wall." The shoe is a narrow but deep band 

 of iron, narrower at top than at the bottom, and so 

 forged that its front surface follows the slojje of the 

 hoof. Its upper inner edL'e is rounded by the file, 

 and a little of tlie horn is removed from the angle of 

 the groove in the hoof, which i)rcvents undue pres- 

 sure of the shoe against the soft horn at that place. 

 In strong hoofs the shoe is almost buried in the 

 groove ; but with flat soles and low hfiels it is not 

 safe to imbed it so deeply. Four to six light nails are 

 used ; with light driving horses four are sullicicnt, 

 placed wide apart at the tee, and close to the heel-. 

 It cannot lie used on all feet, and to make the groove 

 and shoe lit well rc(iuires some care ; but when onee 

 understood by the farrier tho shoeing is said to be 

 very simple. The advantages are : Leaving the foot 

 iu its natural condition as to froir and sole, "the 

 small nutnber and size of nails reipured, lightness of 

 the shoe, and security to the horse in progression," 

 as it places the foot fairly upon the uround. It is 

 used on horses at all kinds of work, and it is said 

 that the combinati(m of horn and metal stand an as- 

 tonishing amount of wear for so light a rim of iron. 

 These shoes are usually applied to only tlie forefeet, 

 as the hind feet are thought to be not so well adapted 

 to them. — Aiiicrioin Af/riciillKrixt. 



Judging Draft Horses. 



We deem this a good time to enter a protest 

 against the prevailing custom of judging draft horses 

 in the show ring, namely, with a reference to weight, 

 as one would judge a groupe of fat oxen prepared for 

 'the butcher's block. In the latter case, the quantity 

 and quality of the meat are the primary considera- 

 tions; but we fail to see why such a test should be 

 applied to the former. Wedon'teat horseflesh in this 

 country, consequently mere weight of carcasi is of no 



value except as it gives greater ability to draw a 

 heavy load ; and if this weight be made up simply of 

 an accumulation of adipose tissue (fat; it is a posi- 

 tive incumbrance rather than a help, and should be 

 judircd accordingly. 



There can be no question that size Is an Important 

 feature in a draft hor.se ; but to be of value the de- 

 sired weight must be made up of other tissues than 

 fat. Hone and muscle must form an important part 

 in making up this weight ; and even here we can not 

 depend upon the tape-line or the scales to make an 

 award. The quality of each is a vital consideration. 

 If the indications arc that the bony tissue is of a 

 soft, spongy, porous nature ; if the joints aie gum- 

 my and defective, or the muscles flabby and ill 

 placed ; the hoofs flat and brittle or too much con- 

 Irac cd ; or if the disposition be sluirgish and dull, 

 like that of an ox, no amount of mere weight should 

 be permitted to atone for snch serious defects. 



A good draft horse must possess strong vital organs, 

 which fact is usually indicated by the form and 

 relative size of the trunk. His joints and legs must 

 be strong and perfect, free from curbs and spavins, 

 the skin lying close and firm to hard and elastic 

 cords, with an absence of "beef" upon those iiarts ; 

 the feet should be larsro, neither flat nor mule-shaped, 

 the liorii hard and elastic but not brittle. The bot- 

 tom of the foot should he examined to see that it 

 possesses the desired concave appearance, and that 

 the frog does its work perfectly because it is in the 

 feet that our heavy draft liorses are most notoriously 

 defective. As we have said in a former number of 

 the. journal, the principal requisite of a good draft 

 horse is, good size, made up without a superabundance 

 of fat ; but to this must be added docility, soundness 

 and endurance. Given all the valuable qualities 

 aljove described in perfection, and then the more 

 of action aud ityle he possesses the better. He may 

 be nearly perfect in all respects, and yet too small to 

 be classed as a first-class draft horse. On the other 

 hand he may weigh a ton, but if the weight be made 

 up mainly of fat, or if he be ill-tempered, unsound, 

 or lacking in endurance, his value is materially les- 

 sened. He may possess all the points enumerated 

 and yet be so deficient in energy, and so heavy and 

 sluggish in his movements, as to come far short of a 

 perfect draft horse. 



When called upon to act as a judge in this class, 

 the intelligent horseman will give due prominence to 

 all these points, and will not be deceived by mere 

 measurement or weight ; the true test being the 

 comparative adaptation of the animal to perform the 

 work which pertains to the class in which it is 

 shown. — Line Stock Journal. 



POULTRY. 



A Study of Sheep. 



Mr. J. F. Andrews, of New Jersey, wants to know 

 whether it would pay best to feed hay to sheep or sell it 

 for $1.5 a ton after hauling it five miles; also how many 

 Southdowns a ton would winter. A ton of suitable 

 h.ay, clover, or fine meadow, will keep four South- 

 downs through a winter of five and a half months 

 These four sheep ought to have four lambs, witli the 

 chances of si.\ or more, and they ought to shear i;4 

 pounds of wool at the least calculation. The wool 

 this year is worth in the best market SO cents. This 

 will make ST. 20 for the wool. The lambs in New 

 Jersey ought to bring $.5 each, but to put them at 

 S3,.50 the price obtained 17»; miles from New York 

 for a larse flock inclusive, and we have, at the low- 

 est estimate in number, §14 for the lambs. This 

 gives a total of ?-'4.'.'0 income for 6hee|). The ma- 

 nure from a ton of hay fed on the farm to sheep is 

 worth §."), and if the sheep are bedded with plenty of 

 leaves or straw, the manure they will make can lie 

 incrcaseil to a larger value, lint the ton of hay will 

 make alone ?5 worth of manure. Sheep manure is 

 exceedingly rich, and there ought to be planty of dry 

 bedding under sheep to catch and absorb the urine, 

 which is thestronirest in chemical properties of that 

 ofiany farm animals. At these figures, keeping sheep 

 is better than hauling hay five miles for §1.') a ton; 

 ?2r(.20 is more than §15, and enough more to pay for 

 all the trouble. More sheep will lessen the ratio of 

 trouble, and not diminish the [iroportion of income 

 on the basis we made. — JVeic York Tribune. 



Dishorning Cattle. 



In reference to articles on this subject, in the 

 columns of the London .iij. (tazcltc, a writer says 

 that the quietness in demeanor of dishorne i cattle 

 arises from fear of injury to the weakened defenses 

 of the head. The gouge or the saw are the usual 

 implements employed in this process — the former for 

 youngsters, aud the latter for adult cattle. The root 

 of the horn is a most sensitive part, and any violent 

 interference with it is a cause of intense pain, as is 

 evident on witnessing the accidental wrenching off of 

 a horn. If the operation of dislioruing is carelessly or 

 unskiilfully jjcrformed, the blood oozes and drips for 

 several days, and not unfrequently the wound becomes 

 fly-blown, and, unless attended to, the animal is lost. 



The man who saws off or gouges out animal's horn 

 deserves a somewhat similar experimental applica- 

 tion to his own scalp, 



Making Poultry Pay. 



A writer in the liural New Yorker gives the sub- 

 joined suggestions on the subject of making poultry 

 pay, especially as bearing upon their winter treat- 

 ment ; 



For hens lo lay in wintiT, it is necessary that they 

 should be supplied with all the requirements of food, 

 cEg-shell matter, cleanliness and care, to keep them 

 in a hiirh state of health and condition, (lood feed- 

 ing is all that is rcipiired by nature for egg-produc- 

 Ini;. This substance is better su|iplled by giving 

 them sound, sweet food liberally, than by an arti- 

 ficial condiment or prnparation sold for the purpose. 

 The high price of such preparations, however good 

 they may In', puts tlicin beyond reach of the farmer 

 to ttet a profit able return for the outlay. A trifle In- 

 vested in a lew simple thing's, such us pepper, pul- 

 verized charcoal, sulphur, and cayenne, answi rs all 

 the puriioscs of keeping the birds in health. Even 

 these should be used s [laringly once or twice a week. 

 When a fowl is found to he ailing it must be sepa- 

 rated from the others and treated with proper medi- 

 cines, for in most cases the spread of disease is easi- 

 ly prevented, if taken in time. After removing the 

 diseased ones, a little sulphur and cayi nne mixed in 

 their soft food, a teaspoonful of sulphur and half as 

 much of cayenne to four quarts of food given for 

 two or three days, will irenerally arrest an ordinary 

 trouble. The sulphur should be stopiJed, but the 

 cayenne may be continued to he given as the birds 

 r H-over. 



Indeed, it may be given to advantage once or twice 

 a week all through the winter. Iron Is a great tonic 

 for ailing fowls, when first noticed to be out of con- 

 dition. It is generally used in a simple preparation 

 known as "Douglas' Mixture." 



The food sliould consist more of other grains than 

 of corn. Although all kinds of poultry seem to pre- 

 fer corn to other grain yet corn has been proved by 

 a great many poultry men to be inlerior as an egg 

 producer to wheat, barley, etc., and occasionally to 

 buckwheat and oats. Corn may be given sparingly 

 with advantage, but corn alone makes hens too fat 

 and lazv. So fed they lack animation and vigor, es- 

 pecially the Asiatic breeds, which are more prone 

 than other strains to Ihis fatness that seems to 

 border on disease. Their intestines become encased 

 in one mass of fat, anil to stint fowls to any given 

 quantity of food, especially when eonlineil, is quite 

 impracticable. Soft food given once a daj in winter 

 is very beneficial, particularly during spells of severe 

 weather. It promotes laying. It should consist of 

 ground irraiu, as corn, buckwheat, liarlcy, wheat or 

 oatmeal, varied at times, with some vegetable and 

 animal food. I make up mine by boiling a lot of pota- 

 toes or turnips, pouring the hot water (iu which they 

 were boiled) upon some meal in another vessid, with 

 ground lieef scraps adiled twice a week aud a little 

 cayenne. Make this into a stiff paste. .Mash the 

 vegetaljles and aild meal enough to make this also 

 into a stiir mass. IMix them together and feed when 

 just warm. Most breeders recommend this to be 

 done for their morning meal, but tlii.s will often keep 

 the stock waiting hun-ry too long. Have light grain 

 for them always, early every morning, and Iced with 

 the soft food by noon, if not sooner, and all the 

 grain they will eat for evening meal. 



Game Fowls. 



While iiiaiiy may deprecate liirhting the (lame birds 

 on aceuunl oi' its cruelty, they caniiol help Ijut ad- 

 miring Ihe pluck, perseverance and imloniitahle 

 courage of these birds, wlio neither give or seek for 

 quarter and struk'gle until the death. In tlieirproud 

 carriage, their haughty bearing, and self-important 

 ways they show 1 heir good blood and choice breed- 

 ing, and they have many admirers on account of 

 their graeelu'l bearing— for there are noollier breeds 

 whicir apiiroaeh them in these particulars. There 

 are several varieties of Ihe Games, all of which have 

 special admirers and advocates ; and all cd' them are 

 handsome in plumage— especially the Uliick Ifreasted 

 Ked, which, in many localities, is the favorite breed. 

 Aside from their courage and their handsome mark- 

 ings. Games have other qualities which eoinmeiid 

 them to the at tent itni of fanciers and bri'cders— for 

 Ihey are hardy, arrive at an early maturity, furnish- 

 ing most excellent flesh for the table, while they arc 

 noted for being very good layers of fine sized eggs. 

 They cross well with the Asiatics and with the com- 

 mon dung hill fowls, |iroducing a cross which can be 

 relied upon as extra w inter layers. 



The Guinea Fowl. 

 Guinea fowls associate readily with the common 

 fowls ill a poult rv yard ; but they have this peculi- 

 arity, that the cocks and hens arc so nearly alike that 

 it is dlllicult to distinguish thcni, exc'cpt by the 

 voice— the hens only nllcring the cry of " (io back ! 

 go back !" The head Is covered with a kind of 

 casque, with wattles under the bill, and the whole 

 plumage is either black or dark grey, sprinkled with 

 regular and unitbim white spots. The Guinea is a 

 native of Africa ; they lay plenty of eggs, rather 

 smaller than thoee of the common hen, and speckled. 



