Proceedings of the Farriers' Club. 747 



Prof. J. A. Whitney. — A correspondent, Mr. Correy, of McGraw- 

 ville, N. J., asks whether copperas or sulphate of iron would not be 

 a good top-dressing ? I should be careful of it. It is a poison, and 

 should be used, if at all, combined with lime. 



Pjsotection of Bikds. 



The subjoined preamble and resolution was offered by Mr. Fuller, 

 seconded by Mr. Curtis, favorably commented upon by several mem- 

 bers, and passed unanimously : 



Whereas, The opinion of the agricultural community is divided as 

 to birds, and their friendliness to the farmer ; and 



Whereas, The wanton and cruel destruction of these little animals, 

 prohibited in some countries by law, is on the increase in this commu- 

 nity ; therefore be it 



Besolved, That this Club inquire into the facts relating to birds, 

 and elicit replies from ditierent parts of the country, and give the 

 public a carefully digested summary of what farmers and ornitholo- 

 gists know respecting the habits of the crow, the robin, the wood- 

 pecker, the blue jay, and other varieties that are generally persecuted 

 as enemies or shot wantonly. 



The Tkansportation of Beeves. 

 Mr. John W. Street, of Marshalton, Iowa, showed upon the board 

 his plan of a cattle car that will take animals through in comfort with- 

 out suffering. He has a set of gates that swing either way by which 

 the beeves are kept separate, yet not crowded. An iron vessel con- 

 nected by a pipe to a funnel on the top supplies each animal with 

 water. The car runs under the tank, and in a moment every ox is 

 supplied. Tliere is a double roof and compartment slides by which 

 the person in charge can stand over the animal's head and feed him 

 with hay, roots or grain. Such cars are six feet longer than the 

 others, and cost forty per cent more; but the cattle can come through 

 two or three days quicker, and in so good condition as to weigh from 

 fifty to 100 pounds more than when brought in the old way. It is 

 well known at the west that disorders, such as the Texas plague, come 

 of the cruel way in which the animals we eat are brought from the 

 great plains where they grow. In a talk with Mr. Alexander, the 

 largest cattle dealer i^ the world, he had been pleased to see that his 

 views were indorsed, and Mr. Alexander would favor the introduction 

 of this much-needed improvement. He thought the difficulty would bo 

 w^ith the eastern butchers, who would buy as cheap as possible with- 

 out regard to public health, and the railroads who are ready to let 



