196 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



For the NeiB England Farmer. 

 CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. 



Mr. Editor : Could the dumb beast speak or make 

 known its feelings to its master, how often would 

 that master have his feelings hurt for the manner in 

 •which he has treated his horse, his ox, or some ani- 

 mal over which he has control ! The noble horse 

 ■was given for the use of man, and to be by him 

 treated kindly. There is perhaps no animal in the 

 service of man of more actual profit, and one de- 

 serving of kinder treatment. But how often is he 

 abused ! Often is he loaded beyond his strength, 

 and, if unable to move his load, is goaded and lathed 

 by an unmerciful driver, until, with distended nos- 

 trils, he stares his master in the face, as if imploring 

 mercy. How many horses are spoiled by being com- 

 pelled to draw too heavy loads ! When a horse is 

 willing to draw all his strength will allow, how care- 

 ful ought his owner to be not to go beyond this ! 

 The lash ought never to be applied to an animal that 

 refuses to draw because his load is too heavy for him 

 to move. The fiirmer who is always plying the lash 

 to his team, seldom has a team that is well disci- 

 plined. I have always noticed that the best teams 

 are those used by drivers who "bawl" and whip 

 the least. 



" A merciful man is merciful to his beast;" and 

 he who is not merciful to his beast, generally shows 

 but little mercy to his fellow-creatures. The man 

 "who will goad and abuse the dumb beast is very 

 liable to abuse his own family. A horse that is 

 treated kindly by his master, will treat him kindly 

 in return. So with other animals in the service of 

 man. For instance, take the cow that is rather cross 

 about being milked. Few cows are made gentle 

 by incessant beating. There is no more ready way 

 to siJoil a cow, when you sit down to draw the milk 

 from her, than to give her a blow with the milking 

 stool, or a kick with the foot, if she should happen 

 to feel a little uneasy about standing. A person may 

 be obliged to chase a cow around the yard several 

 times before being able to get near her, after such 

 unmerited treatment. 



I well remember the way I managed with a kick- 

 ing cow, when I was a youngster. Like other boys, 

 I was fretful and hasty. Soon after I commenced 

 milking, the cow would begin to step, and sometimes 

 raise her foot as if about to kick. The first thing, 

 with me, perhaps, would be to speak out sharply, and 

 if that did not have the desired effect, the milking 

 stool would come next. After this mode of manage- 

 ment, the cow grcw?jo better very fast. I soon had to 

 tie her legs ; and even then, she would contrive to 

 kick over my pail of milk ; and if she happened to 

 get loose or break her rope, which was oftentimes 

 the case, it was no easy matter to confine her again. 

 As it fell to my lot always to milk the "kicker," as 

 she was called, I resolved to resort to another method. 

 I accordingly commenced by being mild, (although 

 it was a pretty hard matter ;) but the result was, I 

 brought the cow back to bo quite a gentle milker; 

 thus proving to a demonstration that kindness to 

 animals will succeed when other means Avould fail ; 

 and I have ever aimed, since then, to be kind to 

 dumb beasts, believing it the only and sure way of 

 retaining the good v.ill and mastery over them. 



Smithfield, R. I., May, 1849. A. TODD. 



For the New Enyland Farmer. 



PROFITS OF KEEPING HENS. 



Mr. Editor : I have lately had related to me an 

 account of an experiment in the business of keeping 

 hens, which seems worthy of record, and which helps 

 to sustain the position taken by some of our shrewd- 



est farmers, that hens are the most profitable animals 

 which are kept. Colonel Joel Briggs, now of this 

 town, in the year 18-14 lived in Dcdham, at the Low 

 Plain Station, on the Providence Kailroad. As 

 stock in the business of poultry-keeping, he possessed 

 twelve hens and one protector. 



These fowls he fed bountifully, giving them all 

 they would cat ; and a good return did they make 

 for the expense of board. The items are from an ac- 

 count carefully kept at the time. The hens began 

 laying at the opening of the year ; and the number of 

 eggs laid in the respective months was as follows : Li 

 January, thirty ; February, forty-seven ; March, two 

 hundred and hfteen ; Ajjril, two hundred and eighty- 

 one ; May, two hundred and thirteen ; June, one hun- 

 dred and four ; July, one hundred and fifteen ; August, 

 one hundred and sixty ; September, one hundred and 

 ninety-six; October, one hundred and nine; Novem- 

 ber, seventy-one ; Duccmbcr, none. Total, fifteen 

 hundred and forty-one. 



In the course of tlie season, nine of the hens were 

 set on one hundred and forty-four eggs. Of the 

 chickens hatched, fifty-six were raised to maturity. 

 A fau- proportion, both of the eggs produced and of 

 the chickens raised, wore consumed in the family ; 

 but for those, of course, the hens should be credited, 

 just as if they had been sold. The chickens sold 

 were taken at an average of twenty-eight and two 

 sevenths apiece ; the eggs, at eighteen cents a dozen. 

 Almost the sole expense of keeping was for sixteen 

 and two third bushels of corn and other grain, at an 

 estimated average cost of sixty cents a bushel. The 

 account with the gallinacoan family stands as fol- 

 lows : — 



Eggs produced, 1541 ; deduct 144 for set- 

 ting — 1397, sold and salable, at eighteen 

 cents per dozen ^20 9G 



Fifty-six chickens raised, worth twenty- 

 eight and two seventh cents, .... 15 84 



36 80 

 Deduct expense of keeping, sixteen and two 



third bushels of grain, at sixty cents, . . 10 00 



Leaving a net profit of $26 80 



This shows a profit of two dollars and twenty- 

 five cents nearly, to each hen ; and as one of the 

 number " took sick and died " in the course of the 

 season, the ^wo rata profit on the rest is in fact greater 

 than that stated. Th.e place of keeping was nowise 

 particularly favorable, being at the " switch," or turn- 

 out on the railroad ; and an unfortunate chicken, big 

 enough for the table, was killed under the wheels of 

 the ponderous steam Juggernaut. 



SILAS LIVERMORE. 



New Bedeoxd, May 11, 1849. 



Editorial Remarks. — "We have many accounts 

 of the profits in keeping poultry ; but it is uncommon 

 to find so large profit as here represented, which 

 shows excellent success. There is not the least 

 doubt that, with judicious management, poultry 

 affords more profit on the capital invested, and the 

 food expended, than any other stock kept on the 

 farm. Much time is necessary in taking proper care 

 of poultry ; and in some cases this is a mere pastime 

 for children and others, who have little else to do, 

 and they amuse and instruct themselves in the care 

 of beautiful birds, that serve to enliven the scene. 



If a person has much to do, and must take time 

 that is needed in other pursuits to attend to poultry, 

 then the time of attendance will be an important 

 item, that will considerably reduce the profit. 



As we have numerous accounts of a great profit in 



