74 



NEW ENGLAXD FARMER. 



March 



March, rough as it is, could no more be spared 

 from the circle of months, than fervent July or 

 glorious October. It has its duties to discharge 

 to the plants and the soil, as well as any of its 

 sister months, and so we must bear its winds, and 

 wets, and colds gratefully, and during its bluster- 

 ing days perfect our plans for the active labors of 

 seedtime and harvest. 



During this month, the stock in the barn re- 

 quires particular care. There often occur quite 

 •warm days, with south winds, and the cattle be- 

 come a little dainty after the sharp cold days 

 which they have just passed through. At such 

 times they greatly relish a few fodderings of the 

 best hay, a "nubbin" of corn, or half a bushel 

 each of roots, sliced for them. They enjoy the 

 sun highly, and if turned out to bask in it a few 

 hours, daily, they remain more quiet and better 

 contented when in their stalls. If they are kept 

 free from dirt of every kind — and especially their 

 own droppings — they will thrive the better for it, 

 and give a more profitable return in milk or flesh, 

 than if covered with a plaster that has been in- 

 creasing in bulk through the winter. All ani- 

 mals, we believe, are naturally neat. The pig 

 wallows in the mire, to be sure, but he makes 

 himself all the cleaner for it, when he comes to 

 "the rubbing post," and removes it again, carrying 

 with it other objectionable matter nearer the skin. 



Preparation for all the spring work should now 

 be made. Plowing and planting time is too busy 

 and important a period in which to pause to mend 

 or make. See, then, that the plows, harrows, 

 *eed sowers, caits, chains, forks and shovels are 

 all in order. Also, that the yokes and harnesses 

 are strong and fit for active service. 



The oats, barley, wheat, peas, beans, and all 

 other seeds needed for sowing, ought to be on 

 hand, free from all foul seed, and ready for use. 



^F" Our friend, Farmer C, must remember 

 that he forgot to sovf clover seed on the land which 

 he laid down the preceding summer, so that his 

 sheep foiled to get their fodderings of sweet clo- 

 ver hay through the winter. Sow on the last 

 snow in the last days of March or first days in 

 April, and you can see just where the seed falls. 

 The freezing and thawing of the ground make 

 the surface uneven, so that the seeds fall into the 

 holes and get sufficiently covered. 



If muck was thrown out last summer or fall, 

 haul home a plentiful summer's supply, — for the 

 warm season, after all, is a most favorable time to 

 make large quantities of manure — and good muck 

 should be the basis of the manure heap. 



Get out all the manure you can by sled, attend 

 ■to the wood pile, get seed potatoes ready, and do 

 many other things that will facilitate the spring 

 work, and help you to preserve an even and amia- 

 ble temper ! 



PliEURO-PNEUMONIA. 



We copy the following from the Boston Jaumal : 



This insidious and fatal disease continues to 

 prevail among our herds. From the report of 

 Messrs. James Ritchie, E. F. Thayer and Henry 

 L. Sabin, commissioners on contagious diseases 

 of cattle, it appears that they have found seventy- 

 three cattle having the pleuro-pneumonia in a 

 very decided form the past year, and caused them 

 to be killed. They were found in the towns ot 

 Dorchester, Milton, Quincy and Grafton, and at 

 East Boston. Thirty-three were also killed on 

 suspicion of being contaminated, but proved per- 

 fectly healthy ; while forty-four that were perfect- 

 ly healthy, were slaughtered because stock owners 

 protested against their being removed from Long 

 Island, in Boston Harbor, where they were placed 

 in consequence of having been exposed to the dis- 

 ease. It was believed they would endanger the 

 whole cattle of the State. The Commissioners 

 have made investigations in New York and New 

 Jersey, where they found the disease prevailing, 

 and as the result of their experience in this and 

 the above-named States, they conclude : 



1. That this disease has never been generated in 

 this country from local causes. 



2. That it is altogether an imported disease. 



3. Tliat in general it is communicated by contact 

 of breath. 



4. That it cannot be eradicated by treatment. 



5. That those cattle which apparently recover, 

 are the most dangerous, as they are liable at any 

 time to come down with the disease a second time. 



6. That by care it may be prevented from ex- 

 tending from one herd to another. 



Exemption from the disease in this State can 

 only be purchased by constant vigilance. The 

 chief danger of its approach from abroad is by way 

 of Albany. The Commissioners recommend as a 

 matter of common prudence that some commission 

 be kept in existence ready to meet the malady at 

 its first approach. 



The appropriation for the expense of the com- 

 mission was .$5000. There have been already au- 

 dited and paid bills to the amount of about 84,800. 

 The estimated amount of bills not yet audited, is 

 $900, making in all an expenditure of 85,700, and 

 leaving a deficiency of $700. This amount is in 

 additipn to that paid by the several towns where 

 the disease has existed. 



Army Horses. — A Washington dispatch states 

 that the subject of army horses has assumed a de- 

 gree of importance not much understood as yet by 

 the public. The daily loss to government through 

 the mismanagement of animals is enormous. There 

 is no doubt that the employment of veterinary 

 surgeons and skillful farriers would have prevent- 

 ed much of the great waste from this cause. The 

 horse hospital receives over one hundred horses 

 daily. The daily average of those that die, or are 

 shot, is twenty-six, and thirty per day are sold for 

 almost nothing, so that the average daily loss is 

 three thousand dollars or more, in the Quarter- 

 master's department at Washington alone. The 

 losses in the field service are also enormous. 



I^" The cultivation of the sugar beet, as well as 

 sorghum, is attracting attention at the West, and 

 the prospect is, that large amounts of beet sugar 

 will soon be made. 



