168 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



April 



VEEMIM" OjNT cattle, 



XEN and cows, and especial- 

 ly young cattle, are very li- 

 able to be attacked by ver- 

 min, — and unless care is 

 ^^ taken to prevent their de- 

 predations, they will seri- 

 ously impair the growth and 

 productiveness of the stock. 

 In the spring these exotics 

 usually show themselves the 

 most numerously, and for 

 this reason we call especial 

 attention to the matter now. 

 Applications are annually 

 made to us for some reme- 

 dy to destroy these pests, and among those sug- 

 gested are, — 



Any clean oil, applied to the skin and thorougly 

 rubbed over all the upper portions of the ani- 

 mal, — and particularly along the line of the back 

 bone, between the horns and ears, and on the 

 shoulders and neck. The reason for covering 

 such large portions of the creature is, that lice 

 do not breathe tlirougli the mouth, but through 

 breathing-holes or 2^ ores in the body, and when 

 they come in contact with oily substances, these 

 pores are stopt, and they die. 



Fine sand, or dry loam, carefully sifted over the 

 animal, and frequently repeated, will greatly an- 

 noy vermin, and perhaps drive them from their 

 places. It is probable that cattle paw the fresh 

 earth and throw it upon themselves, for the 

 same reason that fowls burrow in the ruts or 

 the dry garden soil. 



Ashes. — Some persons apply wood ashes, and it is 

 good, but requires to be used with much care. 

 If it is applied plentifully, and the animal is ex- 

 posed to rain soon after, the ashes is leached, 

 trickles down in ley, and takes off the hair as it 

 passes. 



Tohncco-icater is also employed by many, and is 

 frequently effectual. This may bo purchased in 

 a highly concentrated and convenient form. 



Kerosene has been latterly used, and with success. 

 If applied too freely, it seems to set the hair and 

 partially tan the skin. Where it has been ap- 

 plied profusely, we have seen tho old coat of 

 hair remain on nearly through the summer, 

 while the skin under it was hard and dry, and 

 appeared to be inactive. 



Yelloio Snuffis often successfully applied. 



Unguentum is a certain remedy, but is a danger- 

 ous one in unskilful hands. Its active property 

 is probably quicksilver, (mercury,) and has a 

 j)owcrful influence u])on the skin, rendering tho 

 animal liable to take cold upon e.xposure. 



Spirits of Turpentine is another remedy, and is 

 said to be a most effectual one. The mode of 

 using it is to take a common wool card, and pass 

 it over the animals until the teeth are pretty 

 well choked with hair, then pour on a small 

 quantity of spirits of turpentine, but sufficient 

 to moisten the hair in the card, and again pass 

 it over the animal's coat — applying the card first 

 in places Avhere the vermin "most do congre- 

 gate." In this way every insect will be com- 

 pelled, almost immediately, to "vamoose." The 

 operation should be repeated in the course of 

 three or four days, as newly-hatched lice may 

 supply the place of then- progenitors which have 

 been destroyed or driven off by the fii'st. Aa 

 turpentine is of a very diffusive and penetrating 

 nature, one wetting of the hair in the card will 

 be sufficient to dress off an animal of ordinary 

 size. This last remedy we give on the recom- 

 mendation of others, and not as the result of 

 our own experience. 



DIELYTRA SPECTABILIS. 



Probably nothing, among the hardy herbaceous 

 plants, can excel in rare value and beauty the die- 

 lytra. Hardy as a peony — which it resembles in 

 its foliage — as soon as the frost is fairly out of the 

 ground, it commences to push its tender and suc- 

 culent shoots upward to the sunlight. K is a vig- 

 orous and fast grower, and almost as soon as its 

 first delicate leaflets are fairly formed, the first 

 slender blossom-buds appear to give promise of 

 coming beauty. Planted in the border, with a 

 good exposure, and in good company, or by itself 

 on the lawn, (in either case in rich soil,) it will 

 command the admiration of all who see it. 



When properly cultivated, it begins to blossom 

 in iMay, and continues in bloom during the great- 

 er part of summer ; the plant usually attaining a 

 height of about two feet. The flowers, which are 

 of a peculiar and beautiful shape, and of a beauti- 

 ful rose color, appear in long racemes, each floM'er- 

 stalk drooping gracefully under its burden of pen- 

 dulous blossoms — each blossom a perfect curiosity 

 in itself, which will Avell repay a close examination. 



This unique plant is of Chinese origin, and was 

 introduced into England a few years since by For- 

 tune. It has proved itself capable of withstand- 

 ing our severe winters unprotected, but it is best 

 to give it a slight covering in the early part of the 

 winter, to ensure a vigorous start in the spring. — 

 The Homestead. 



Tapes in Poultry. — A writer in the Country 

 Gentleman says he cures tliis disease in chickens 

 by feeding them on food described as follows : 



I take of cracked corn (chicken feed,) four 

 quarts — four quarts coarse wheat bran — scald the 

 meal and bran at the same time — add two table- 

 spoonful of good wood ashes sifted, as also one 

 tablespoonful of best ground black pepper. I feed 

 my turkeys and chickens in the same way. I feed 

 often, say once every three hours. 



