1881.] 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



15 



the first things that strikes the fancy of a suburban 

 fanner. 



But we have been readies lately an account of one 

 who, near one of our larfe eastern towns, has paid so 

 much attention to the little details which go to make 

 up success, that he has made his slieepthe most 

 profitable portion of the whole farm. He first 

 cleared a piece of woodland, and after leaving it lie 

 for a few months, till the herbage appeared, he 

 turned in the sheep, and there they have been with- 

 out any diaufie of pasture for many years. Noth- 

 ing wliatcver has been done to the ground. The 

 natural grass and nature's own vegetation spring up, 

 and the manure which the sheep themsslves make 

 fertilize the whole. 



The great enemy of the sheep-raiser— the prowling 

 dog— has no fears for him, as every night the llock 

 Is gathered together into a stockade made in the 

 centre of the lot, and in which they also get some 

 feed in the severest of winter weather. This must 

 take some labor, which those who raise sheep in the 

 far West are no doubt free from. The proximity to 

 market probably makes up for this extra care and 

 labor, at any rate he seems to make tlie sheep tract 

 pay so well that it is said he would sooner dispense 

 with all other parts of the farm and all other branches 

 than this. 



This Is a very dilTercnt mode of procedure that 

 many adopt uuder sheep-killing difJiimltics, and to 

 which we referred some time ago. Instead of aban- 

 doning the care of sheep because dogs will kill some, 

 or leaving the whole farm to run after some maker 

 of dog laws for one's protection, which never protect 

 after all, this man falls to and protects himself, and 

 evidently deserves the great profit that energy, self- 

 reliance and good sense always bring. 



It is well worth considering by those who have 

 farms near other of our large cities whether there is 

 not more in sheep culture then is generally supposed. 

 — Oermanlowii Telegraph. 



Value of Water for Cows. 



Cows should have access to water at all times, es- 

 peciall] cows that give milk. They waut to drink 

 often and return to their feed. The best stable, and 

 one In which stock do the best, is one where water is 

 always running in through troughs before the cattle. 

 Thus managed cows may bo kept up to a full flow of 

 milk, either winter or summer, and for this reason, 

 if the pasture fails from drought, it may be supple- 

 mented with other feed, but a failure of water cau 

 not be remedied. So in winter, cows that are only 

 watered once a day, as many do who consider them- 

 selves good farmers, shrink in their milk and it can 

 never be regained. The same rule will hold good in 

 the stable; abundant feed may be supplied, but if 

 the water supply fails the profit will be nil. 



The necessity of plenty of pure water for stock is 

 one of the first importance to breeders and feeders. 

 It must not only be in abumiance, but it should be in 

 such supply that stock may either take it at will, or 

 If supplied at stated times it should be offered at 

 least twice a day. and three times will be better. No 

 animal can thrive properly that has access to water 

 but once a day. Every good feeder knows this, and 

 hence in all large feeding establishments the greatest 

 care is taken to keep the supply ample and constant. 

 Many farmers neglect this, and always to their cost. 

 If W!.ter cannot be had near in any other way, wells 

 should be dug and the water raised by wind or otiicr 

 power, as the case may be. Having plenty of water 

 see that the stock get it as regularly as they feed. It 

 will pay. Kemember that animals should De treated 

 well in order to thrive properly. VVe are familiar 

 with the troubles incident to the neglect of regularity 

 In food and drink with the human body, and the 

 consequences are somewhat analogous for our cat- 

 tle. — Nebraska Sural. 



Bran for Milch Cows. 



We don't suppose that there is a dairyman in the 

 country but who knows the value of "bran" as a 

 food for milch cows. As long as we can remember 

 anything of cattle-feeding it is connected with tlie 

 use of bran, and the scalded messes given to cows 

 for some time after calving ; also, its sprinkling over 

 chopped pumpkins, turnips, potatoes, <toe. Bran was, 

 indeed, always regarded as excellent and profitable 

 food for cows in milk. Still there is force in the 

 recommendation of bran, which we find in an Eng- 

 lish journal, that if one fesires "rich milk give your 

 cows, every day, water slightly salted, in which bran 

 has been stirred at the rate of one quart to two gal- 

 lons of water. You will find that your cows will 

 give twenty-five per cent, more milk immediately 

 under the effects of it, and will become so accus- 

 tomed to the diet as to refuse to dnuk clear water, 

 unless very thirsty." 



If our English contemporary was to see the im- 

 mense amount of bran used by the farmers of a 

 single county in Eastern Pennsylvania, it would be 

 surprised, judging from its quoted remarks, not so 

 much at the extent of consumption as to the general 

 knowledge on the subject, which must long since 

 have had a widespread influence as cattle-food in the 

 production of milk. 



Diseases of Cows. 



The falling of the withers is not an uncommon oc- 

 currence when a cow i^ in i-all', :iiiJ though not at all 

 pleasant it Is not daiiLiii.Mi!- il (irop.ily attended to. 

 It Is no dlBBcult matl.r l.. lui ih. m huek, our course 

 having been to wash (In- lunl with ti'pld water, then 

 with the clinched fist pusli ihein back, having a man 

 grasp *he hide of the cow in the mid<lle of the back 

 to prevent her from rounding it up ; if she does this 

 she crowds against the hand and prevents the parts 

 from settling back into their proper place. The 

 platform on which the animal stands should be so 

 raised under her hind feet that when she lies down 

 her hind quarters will be higher than her fore qnar 

 ters. Do not give her tniich hiilkv li>" t : rflii'-'' Imv 

 hay rations conslileraMv, an I ■ ' i- - ii ' 



shorts. Obtain a pniiy In i i 



and a sharp awl or pa.Mii- i, > !. , 



stitch or two, taking IujUI will lj.ii k uii;. i!:i l.i !.: .,u 

 that the holes will not break out. We have luunJ a 

 belt lace the best for this purpose, which may be ob- 

 tained at any factory where they have belting. 

 There need be no fear that this will Interfere witli 

 calving. You will have ample time when tliat oc- 

 curs to cut the string. After calving we should re- 

 commend fattening the cow and make no more at- 

 tempts to breed from her. This difliculty is uo 

 doubt caused by a physical weakness, wliicli is not 

 uufrequently transmitted to progeny. 



A Principle in Feeding. 

 All food beyond such amount as is properly 

 digested and assimilated by the animal is a source of 

 loss to the owner, and that in two ways : First, the 

 food is lost ; and second, the animal is not kept in 

 the best condition for getting the most of its feed — 

 its stomach is overloaded, and its digestive apparatus 

 more or less disarranged. Just inside the limits of 

 assimilation is the point to have in view In feeding ; 

 in this way the animal will have a good appetite, 

 and other things being equal, is sure to give the best 

 returns for food consumed. There is a golden mean 

 in feeding farm stock, which the farmer should 

 find . — American Agriculturist . 



Are Our Improved Swine Too Fat .' 



With reference to various articles that have 



appeared of late, asserting that the present style of 



improved pig run chiefly to grease, the American 



Stockman has the following sensible remarks : 



At certain seasons the demand in the market is 

 chiefly for light hogs, trim and not fat — ^just such a 

 lean, tender animal as can he easily made from a 

 good Berkshire or Poland-China, and plenty of good 

 grass, supplemented with a little grain toward the 

 finish. For such higher prices will be paid than can 

 be then obtained for any but extra fine heavy hogs. 

 But the number of animals wanted of that descrip- 

 tion forms but an insignilicaut part of the vast supply 

 required, and the farmer who has none other to offer 

 just now is not to be envied, for the thin light 

 weights so highly lauded some months ago are a 

 drug in the market now, at prices from 25 to 35 

 cents below those readily paid for those heavy, fat 

 hogs in which there is an abundance of good lard. 

 We would advise farmers to keep right on in the 

 work of breeding hogs which have a strong tendency 

 to take on fat, for a lean hog can be made of a well- 

 bred pig, but a fat hog cannot be profitably made of 

 a scrub. 



Entomological. 



Black Ants and Insect Destroyers. 

 The Geneva Continent says : "Many of the lead- 

 ing orchard proprietors in Northern Italy and South- 

 ern Germany are enthusiastic cultivators of the 

 black ant, which industrious insect they hold in high 

 esteem as the fruit grower's best friend. They 

 establish ant-hills in their orchards, and leave the 

 police service of the fruit trees entirely to the tiny 

 sable colonists, which pass all their time in climbing 

 up the stems of the fruit trees, cleansing their 

 boughs and leaves of malelactors, mature as well as 

 embryotic, and descending, laden with spoils, to 

 mother earth, where they comfortably consume or 

 prudently store away their booty. They capture 

 the eggs of caterpillars, grubs aad canki'r-worms ; 

 they " requisition " all tlie countless varieties of 

 leaf-lice that strip trees of their young foliage ; they 

 break up the chrysalides awaiting transformation, 

 and carry them off in minute morsels; they never 

 meddle with sound fruit, but only Invade such apples, 

 pears and plums as have already been penetrated 

 by the canker, which they remorselessly pursue to 

 its fastnesses within the very heart of the fruit. 

 Nowhere are apple and pear trees so free from blight 

 and destructive insects as In the immediate neigh- 

 borhood of an ant-hill five or six years old. The 

 favorite food of ants would appear "to be the larv:e 

 and pupae of those creatures which spend the whole 

 of tiieir brief existences in devouring the tender 

 shoots and juvenile leaves of fruit trees. But noth- 

 ing In the way of creeping or stationary preyersupon 



vegetations comes amies to the Indefatigable and 

 insatiable ant, whose animosity airalnst the minuter 

 insect trlbi-s is so inveterate that " his great revenge 

 hath stomach for them all." 



The Silk Worm in Nevada. 

 The Agrleiiliural Bureau at Washington has re- 

 ccivcMl iiiforniutloii tliat a new varietv of silk worm 

 hastjeen diseovered ueciilentally in Nevada. Natural- 

 ists pronounce the worms Bomhyx guerclcux. It is a 

 silk worm that feeds on oak leaves, and Is largely 

 used 111 China. It makes several broods In a year, 

 and its silk has peculiar qualities. The fibre te 

 ^ircpiiger. All other silk worms. In emerging from 

 Il .m, cut a hole for exit, which, by breaking 



iiiiiity of the thread in unwinding, renders It 

 I \alue. The Bombj/x guerciCHK pushes aside 

 I M 1 1 M i.l.s Instead of cutting them, and the cocoon 

 IS :iB valuable as others reserved In ordinary kinds 

 lor spinning by killing the contained worm. This 

 new silk worm is hardier tlian the old. It Is raised 

 in the open air, needing neither care nor shelter. 



The Honey Ant. 



The honey an* makes its store-vessels from the 

 bodies of l^he workers. First, it bites the end of the 

 abdomen, thereby setting up an Inflammation, which 

 closes the apertures of the body. Then It feeds the 

 maimed creature with honey, pouring it into the 

 mouth of the living honey.pot, just as the bee pours 

 honey into i's crop. This process Is continually re- 

 peated until the body of the store-ant is distended to 

 an astonishing size with honey, the skin being 

 stretched to such an extcut that It is sufllcienlly 

 transparent to show the honey within. It cannot 

 escajje, for its body is so heavy that the limbs are 

 insuflieient to carry it, and so it remains In the nest 

 until the honey is wanted. In .Mexico these ants arc 

 so plentiful that they form regular articles of com- 

 merce, being sold by measure in the markets, and 

 used for the purpose of making mead. Specimens 

 may be seen in the British Museum. — Rev. J. O. 

 Wood, in Good Words. 



A Huge Spider 

 In the sands of Central Asia a huge spider exists 

 which Is known popularly as the Grandfather Gray- 

 beard, which has long hair, "and, when walking, 

 seems as large as one's two fists." This formidable 

 beast is given to biting when irritated, and with its 

 jaws makes four little holes in the flesh. This bite 

 is poisonous, though not deadly. Its victims feel at 

 first no more discomfort than from the sting of a 

 gnat ; but after a time the pain spieads over the 

 whole body, and is accompanied with fever and 

 great exhaustion. A traveler has stated that the 

 body of this loathsome creature is the size of a but- 

 ternut. 



Foreign Slugs. 

 Persons who receive plants of any sort from other 

 countries would do well to destroy any insects or 

 eggs that may be attached to them. A box of bulbs 

 from Germany was received in Rochester, New York, 

 four or Ave years ago, in which were a number of 

 large slugs. They were foolishly set free In one of 

 the city parks, and are said to have thrived to an 

 alarming degree, spreading over the city In a way lo 

 make them a serious nuisance. They are much 

 larger than any native slugs, measuring from four to 

 six inches in length, and are likely to become very 

 injurious to vegetation. 



Poultry. 



The Best Food for Egg Producers. 

 It has again and again been demonstrated that 

 wheat is the best of all cereals for the production of 

 eggs. But next to that is milk, and especially sour 

 milk, and if we add to these a third substance, 

 namely, gravel produced from broken granite of 

 suitable size and quantity, we have as nearly a per- 

 fect food as can be furnished for egg-producing fowls. 

 But there arc some details which ought to be at- 

 tended to in order to attain the best resulU. Thus, 

 in hot weather and In all weather but that which Is 

 very cold, the grain should be previously soaked 

 twenty-four hours and the water salted, but only 

 moderately so. But shrunken wheat, or mill scJeen- 

 Ings, when they are not musty ami when they do 

 pot contain rotten or unsound grain, are quite 

 as good as clear wheat, and some say Ihey 

 are better, because shrunken wheat kernels con- 

 tain more of the egg and llesli-making principles 

 than sound ones. But we cannot always procure 

 wheat or wheat screenings, and then we must find 

 the best substitute. The I'ollowing arc good In the 

 order in which they are nameii: Barley, oats, cracked 

 corn and whole corn, and each and all should have 

 the preliminary twenty four hours' snaking. Buck 

 wheat and rye will do very well as complements 

 to other grains, but when fed alone they 

 are unsafe ; the former because It Is too 



