150 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



promote improvements ; but we must confess, in the 

 scheme proposed, our fears exceed our hopes. 



ESSEX. 



For the Neto England Farmer. 



TO PREVENT BLEEDING IN THE GRAPE 

 VINE. 



Mr. Cole : I MOticcd, in your paper of the 14th 

 instant, a method descriljed to prevent the bleeding 

 of the gi'ape vine. I will mention one far more sim- 

 ple, and I think equally as sure. Cut the stock 

 slanting each way, bringing it nearly to a point ; 

 take a potato, size in proportion to the stock, split it, 

 bore a small place, and press it upon the end of the 

 stock, below the part that is cut. In a week, the 

 potato may be removed : it will be as well, however, 

 to let it remain longer. 



Youi's truly, 



ISAAC SOUTHGATE. 



Leicester, April, 1849. 



Ediiorial Remarks. 

 Some persons contend that they can apply a potato 

 so as to prevent the bleeding of a grape vine, how- 

 ever powerful the expulsion of the sap may be. But 

 many say that, when the flow of sap is verj' strong, a 

 potato is of no use, though applied in the best man- 

 ner. It is evident that the potato cannot resist a 

 great force, and when the sap rises with sufficient 

 power to force its way through pieces of bladder 

 tied over the end of the vine, we should think that 

 the potato would be ineffectual. Yet we have no 

 doubt that our correspondent, and many others, have 

 been successful with this simple application. But 

 they might not have been severe cases. Sheet India 

 rubber, tied tightly over the end of the vine, is sure. 

 We think that some water cement may be prepared 

 that will be as effectual in stopping a leak in a grape 

 vino, even from an injury on the side of a vine, as 

 in stopping water in a cask or other vessel. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 FODDER FOR MILCH COWS. 



Mk. Editor : I have read with much interest what 

 has recently been published in respect to green corn 

 fodder for milch cows. I now give my experience 

 in regard to it; though it will have but little weight, 

 when opposed by the high authority of the commit- 

 tee of the Essex Agricultural Society. It has been 

 my lot to farm where we have a very poor pasture. 

 We have fed our cows in part upon greon fodder, 

 raised for the purpose, from the 10th of May until 

 October. We raise winter rye, oats, barley, millet, 

 and cornstalks. My experience has led me to 

 the belief that one half acre for evcrj' eight cows, 

 well manured and planted with corn for fodder, is 

 the best crop that can be raised for feeding milch 

 cows in the month of August, whether the milk be 

 sold or used for the purpose of making butter. 



I am aware that there are many good farmers who 

 think, from their own experience, that green corn- 

 stalks arc not good for milch cows. Why this differ- 

 ence of ojiinion ? 



We know that some human stomachs are consti- 

 tuted difi'erently fronr others, so that that which is 

 food for one is poison to another ; but facts do not 

 warrant the same conclusion in regard to the cow. 

 The difference must arise, then, cither from the man- 

 ner of feeding or the quantity given. 



Any one that has obscn^ed the habits of a herd of 

 cows, while feeding in the pasture, has noticed that 

 they form many regular habits, and if they are not 

 interrupted in these habits, they will be at the same 

 place nearly at the same time each day. If stalks 

 are given to them in the pasture, it breaks up their 

 regular habits of grazing, and they become uneasy. 



They should be regularly fed from the barn, not 

 in large quantitiijs at first. As the feed in pasture 

 begins to fail, give them a few stalks at night ; then 

 in the morning they v.'ill pursue their regular habit 

 of grazing. But if they are fed too freely at first, they 

 cease to graze, and soon lie down until thoy begin to 

 feel the demand of appetite ; then, instead of feeding, 

 they begin to bellow for stalks. Under such cii-- 

 cumstances, I think cornstalks will cause cows to 

 dry up. But when given in a proper place and in a 

 proper quantity, I think they increase both the 

 quantity and the quality of the milk. 



I intended, when I began, to speak of the compara- 

 tive value of the different crops for j^roducing milk ; 

 but I have already taken up too much space. 



WILLIAM R. PUTNAM. 



North Daxvers, ^;j;v7 13. 



Editorial Remarks. 

 Our correspondent has made valuable suggestions, 

 and introduced a subject for consideration which is 

 often neglected. We hope that he will pursue it, as 

 he intended ; for we still want more light on the 

 comparative value of different kinds of food for ani- 

 mals, particularly for milch cows. Mr. Putnam will 

 excuse us in omitting his preliminary remai'ks on 

 winnowing communications, as his article appeared to 

 be free from chaff. ■ See p. 17. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 THE GADFLY IN CATTLE. 



Mr. Editor : I noticed, in the New England 

 Farmer of March 31st, an inquiry respecting the 

 gadfly, in which the Avriter concludes by saying, 

 "Now what I wish to know is, what is the remedy? 

 Can any thing be applied which will destroy these 

 grubs, and do no injury to the cow r " 



I have for years noticed that these insects are a 

 great inconvenience to cattle, making them poor and 

 in a groat degree weakening to oxen which are 

 troubled with them ; and I have found by experi- 

 ence that carding cattle constantly, once a day, 

 through the winter, will effectually destroy these 

 intruders, and the cattle will do enough better, other- 

 wise, to richly pay for the trouble. After these in- 

 sects get their growth in the backs of cattle, I know 

 of no remedy better than the one you propose ; but 

 years of cxijerience have proved to me that thorough 

 carding on the back will effectually destroy them. 

 HORACE CARPENTER. 



Worcester, Yt., Ajiril, 1849. 



Editorial Remarks. 

 We are pleased to hear of so simple a remedy, and 

 one which besides destroying the grubs tends greatly 

 to the comfort and good condition of animals. As 

 cattle do not bathe, rubbing, brushing, and currying 

 are very necessary to keep the skin clean, and in a 

 healthy condition ; and unless this is attended to by 

 those who have the care of stock, the skin becomes 

 foul, the pores are stojiped, the circulation impeded, 

 and as the insensible perspiration through the skin 

 is checked, the matter is thrown inwardly to the 



