290 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Jtjne 



us pain. While we think our correspondent has 

 mistaken us in the matter, we sincerely thank him 

 for the vigilance he exerts for the protection of 

 the farmer. 



We have plenty of evidence that the barometer 

 is a valuable help to the farmer, and we believe 

 valuable to the extent of several times its cost. 

 Wliile looking over our exchanges, we came across 

 the following : 



Use of a Barometer in Farming. — John Un- 

 derwood, Esq., of Aurelius, says the Auburn Ad- 

 •vcYiiser, secured his entire crop of hay last summer 

 by consulting the harometer. The morning on 

 which he began cutting his hay, looked cloudy and 

 felt like rain, still the barometer pointed unerring- 

 ly to dry weatlier, and on the strength of that he 

 sent in his Kirby. The hay was cut, cured and se- 

 cured, before any rain made its appearance. But 

 for the barometer, the hay would have been entire- 

 ly ruined. Who doubts that the instrument paid 

 for it itself by that one item of information ? 



An elderly gentleman, a progressive farmer, has 

 just left us, who remarked, voluntarily, on seeing 

 a barometer hanging in our room, "I use one of 

 these, but I can't always rely upon it. But it pays 

 for itself every year, and I should not think of 

 parting with it." We consider this a fair judg- 

 ment. The instrument is not infallible, at least, 

 not in our present knowledge of it, and yet, may 

 be such an indicator as to save the farmer many 

 times its cost. 



EXTRACTS AND BEPLIES. 

 LICE ON CATTLE — CATTLE CHEWING BONES, &C. 



I wish to inquire through your columns if any 

 of your numerous readers can inform me of a safe 

 and certain way of killing lice on cattle. I have 

 fifteen head, all of which are more or less afflicted 

 with them. 



I have tried several remedies, none of which 

 have proved satisfactory. Some are not effectual 

 in killing all the lice ; others it is nearly impos- 

 sible to apply extensively enough to accomplish 

 the object desired, and still others would kill both 

 animal and louse. 



What we want is, a remedy that is safe, certain 

 and practicable. 



My cattle, also, have a habit of gnawing sticks, 

 boards, chips, and, in particular, bones, and pieces 

 of leather, when they can find them. What is the 

 cause .'' and cure ? Yeo>l\n. 



Laconia, N. H., 1862. 



Remaiiks. — A judicious use of the mercurial 

 ointment, called unguentum, will certainly destroy 

 the lice, and will not endanger the health of the 

 animals. It must be used sparingly, and patiently 

 rubbed down to the skin. For some days after 

 its application the cattle should not be exposed to 

 storms, or become chilled. Farmers do not ex- 

 amine their stock sufficiently often. If they did, 

 and would apply a little oil or grease when ver- 

 min first make their appearance, they would sel- 

 dom find cause of complaint. 



We have said about all we can, in former num- 

 bers of the Farmer, about cattle gnawing bones. 

 It is because they feel the need of something they 

 do not get. Give them a little bone-dust. If you 

 cannot get that ground in a mill, dry a few bones 

 and reduce them as fine as you can with sledge 

 or hammer, and feed to them. Give them access 

 to wood ashes, to the bare ground, to salt, and to 

 as much good hay, water and grain as they need, 

 and they will be quite likely to cease chewing 

 bones and old leather. 



TANNING SKINS. 



While on a visit to my friends at Lempsler, N. 

 H., your interesting and valuable sheet of May 3 

 was carefully perused by me. I candidly confess 

 I was much gratified that a paper could be so ar- 

 ranged as to convey to all classes reading matter 

 of the first importance, not only to the farmer, 

 but mechanic, merchant, men of leisure and of 

 study, questions on various topics, calculated to 

 interest the mind of its readers in morals, and 

 science of every kind. 



A receipt is asked for by one of its readers for 

 a tanning for skins, and retain the fur. 



Iteceipt No. 1 . — Take 1 lb. sal soda, 1 oz. cop- 

 peras, 4 oz. sulphuric acid, dissolve in 2 quai'ts of 

 warm soft water. 



No. 2. — 1 gallon lye, 1 oz. sugar of lead, 1 oz. 

 copperas, 1 oz. prussiate of potash, dissolve in 2 

 gallons soft warm water. 



Apply to the flesh side. No. 1, from 5 to 10 

 minutes ; No. 2, twice as long, according to the 

 thickness of the skin or pelt. 



to cuke scratches on horses. 



Take 1 lb. mutton tallow, 2 oz. beeswax, 1 oz. 

 calomel, simmer them together, then wash the an- 

 imal on the affected part with castile soap, after 

 api^lying a little weak lye ; this has proved almost 

 a universal remedy. 



The above receipts may prove of some benefit 

 to your many readers. One of my relatives, Gor- 

 ham Pollard, Esq., of East Lempster, has been a 

 subscriber to your paper, for some seven years ; 

 he says he finds as correct, early, and late reading 

 news as in any publication extant. H. 



Lempster, N. H., 1862. 



BARREN GRAPE VINES. 



I have two grape vines that blossom imperfect 

 blossoms. How are they to be treated ? D. 



Remarks. — Dig them up and replace them with 

 fruitful plants. They are lacking the pistil, or fe- 

 male organ of the blossom, and can never be made 

 productive. 



Training Colts. — Lambert Maynard, owner 

 of "Trotting Childers," who has had much experi- 

 ence in raising and training colts, states that "his 

 colts are all broken to the harness before they are 

 a year old, or as he more properly expressed it, 

 educated. He rai-ely, if ever, uses a whip. As 

 to its injuring tliem to use them so young, he re- 

 marks that he never exercises them so hard as 

 they exercise themselves when alone." 



