62 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Feb. 



TRAINING STEERS. 

 A correspondent of the American Stock Jour- 

 nal gives his experience in the training of steers. 

 He says they should be — 



1. Accustomed to your presence. 



2. Trained to be yoked — to travel in the yoke, 

 and turn right and left at command. 



3. Trained to Avork. 



The first should be accomplished long before 

 "breaking," as it is termed ; if, however, it is not, 

 it may be very easily done by handling the animal 

 — if it must be by force, handle, always being de- 

 liberate and careful in action, and never be thrown 

 off your guard so much as to strike or kick. The 

 creature will soon learn he has nothing to fear — 

 now let him know he has something to gain, by 

 giving him a nubbin of corn, or scratching his neck, 

 back, etc. Whenever you undertake to handle an 

 animal, accomplish what you undertake ; and if 

 you have any doubts as to the result, do not begin 

 until you have force enough to be sure of success. 

 If you do begin, and fail at first, persevere until 

 you finally conquer — that's the word — conquer. 



Any animal is a long time forgetting a triumph. 

 I would rather teach ten wild steers to handle that 

 have never been tampered with, than one that has 

 once come off "best." The most skilful man we 

 ever saw at handling cattle, did it with the least 

 expense of feeling to them, and yet, when they re- 

 fused to perform, he used the most imperative 

 force to compel obedience. An animal came from 

 his hands tamer and more gentle than from one 

 who resolves not to force. Use then force enough 

 — do what you attempt, but be always mild and 

 gentle — show no temper. 



Training to the Yoke. — This is easiest and best 

 done in the barn-yard. Drive them quietly around 

 for a considerable time — mind, you drive them, if 

 not they scamper where they like, without per- 

 ceiving that you are master. After half a day of 

 such (Lriving, many steers will submit to be yoked, 

 by the cU'iver alone, and M'ild ones will soon be 

 so wearied as to be readily yoked. In this regard 

 you have to judge whether best to yoke by calling 

 in help, or keeping them going until you can yoke 

 them by yourself. When you have them yoked 

 be gentle with them — let them know you are mas- 

 ter — keep them going until weary, but very little 

 after. 



It is easy to learn steers to turn right and left, 

 when you have them in the yard under your con- 

 trol. Touch the near one when you wish them to 

 go the right — the off one when to the left ; or if 

 you wish them to turn about, start one ahead quick 

 by a touch, while you motion the other back at the 

 same time. 



Training Steers to Work. — This is by fi^r the 

 most critical part of "breaking steers," and should 

 be accomplished by gradual approaches, being 

 careful not to worry nor weary them. Suit their 

 tasks to their strength and endurance, and have 

 patience now, that when they are fully grown, 

 they may not be prematurely "old cattle." How 

 many pairs of so-called slow cattle, are really so ? 

 They are old in appearance, and slow, because 

 when young, their spirit Avas destroyed liy over- 

 work. Cattle are more unfitted than any other 

 animal to severe labor before attaining their full 

 growth and constitutional development. 



In breaking steers, bear in mind that you must 



subdue their wUl, but maintain unimpaii-ed their 

 natural animal spirits. 



One year ago we trained two paii's of steers ; 

 one pair was wild, and had to be caught with the 

 lasso. Tliis pair we bad gentle and tractable in 

 one week, and yet one of them possessed an al- 

 most unconquerable will. In getting him home 

 we yoked laim with liis mate and could not drive 

 them. We then liitched a strong pan- of oxen 

 ahead and drew him — he part of the time sliding 

 on the ground, and part of the time pulling back 

 all he Avas able, but firm ; and in one hour he was 

 subdued, and we had no further trouble with him. 



In training steers, use all the force necessary to 

 bring them under your control ; then gentle them 

 by being mild and gentle yourself. No animal 

 thinks less of you for conquering, if you do not 

 abuse your superiority. 



THE S1SOV7 STORM. 



Announced by all the trumi>ets of the sky, 



Arrives the snow, and, driftinj; o'er tlie fields, 



Seems nowhere to alight ; the whited air 



Hides hills and woods, the river and the heavens 



And veils the farm-house at the ganjen's end. 



The sled and traveller stopped, the courier's feet 



Delayed, all friends shut out, the housemates sit 



In a tumultuous privacy of storm. 



Come, see the north-wind's masonry ! 



Out of an unseen qviarry, evermore 



Furnished with tile, the fierce artificer 



Curres his white bastions with jjrojected roof 



Kound every windward stake, or tree, or door ; 



Speeding the myriad handed, his wild work, 



So fanciful, so savage, naught cares he 



For number or proportion. l[ockingIy, 



On coop or kennel he hangs Parian wreaths ; 



A swan-like form invests the hidden thorn ; 



Fills up the farmer's lane from wall to wall, 



Maugi'e the f irmer's sighs ; and, at the gate, 



A tapering turret overtops the work ; 



And when his hours are numljered, and the world 



Is all his own, retiring as he were not. 



Leaves, when tlie sun appears, astonished Art, 



To mimic in slow structures, stone by stone. 



Built in an age, the mad wind's night work, 



The frolic architecture of the snow. Emerson. 



THE ASHES OP VEGETABLES. 



In chemistry, all elementar}^ bodies are divided 

 into tAvo classes, viz. : metals and metalloids, or 

 substances Avhich in their character are non-metal- 

 lic. As yet, only a very fcAV of the elements knoAvn 

 to chemists have been recognized in the ashes of 

 vegetables. Those Avhich have been detected in 

 the residuum Avhich remains after combustion, are, 

 phosphorus, chloride, iodine, silicon, sulphur, bro- 

 mine, potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, 

 iron, manganese and fluorine. Iodine and bro- 

 mine are found only in the ashes of marine plants, 

 — ^Ivclp, scaAveed, (^-c. When found, hoAvevcrj 

 these substances are never in a simple, isolated 

 state, but in combination Avith oxygen, (Avith the 

 exception of iodine, chlorine and bromine,) and 

 from Avliich they are separated Avith much difficulty. 



The distinction between metals and metalloids 

 "depends upon their relation to heat and clectrici- 



