3J)0 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Dec. 



other indications of having undergone heating or 

 other form of partial decay ; or if any one had 

 ever made a similar experiment with a load or 

 several loadf5 of hay in exactly the same condition, 

 and then have noticed very accurately how the 

 cattle to which it was fed out were affected by it, 

 whether it were -eaten cleaner or more entirely, or 

 with more apparent greediness, when salted, than 

 when unsalted ; whether or not any too much thirst 

 was produced, and whether or not there was any 

 undue action of the bowels and a consequent 

 standing still or falling off in flesh during the use 

 of the salted half. If any such experiment, and 

 any such accurate observations had ever been 

 made, then we would have had one fact or set of 

 facts which might have served as a foundation of 

 positive hwtvledge, and as one step out of the 

 region of guess-work and uncertain opinion. But 

 not even so much as this of a contribution towards 

 certainty and knowledge, in the place of uncer- 

 tainty and mere opinion has ever been made, so 

 far as w« have ever heard, read, or ascertained. 



In the absence of facts and experiments accu- 

 rately conducted — that is, in the absence of abso- 

 lute certainties — farmers build up their opinions, 

 and shape their practices according to whatever 

 may seem to them the highest probabilities, one 

 man regarding this, and another that, as most en- 

 titled to be believed or accepted as a foundation. 

 Accordingly, in the present case, one thinks it 

 highly probable that salt will preserve moist hay 

 from heating, moulding, &c., while another thinks 

 it will only make it wetter, and do no good. One 

 tfiinks that putting salt on hay will be a good way 

 of salting stock, while another is sure that they 

 are thus forced to take more than nature craves, 

 and that they are scoured and lose flesh. One 

 thinks that uale-ss a man or boy is employed as a 

 third hand, to distribute the salt ece/i — a little with 

 every forkful — some of the hay will get too much, 

 and the rest of it none at all, while others believe 

 that when even several quarts are put on the top, 

 after unloading a load, the salt will find its way 

 evenly all through the whole hay. Of course the 

 opinion and practice of these several parties will 

 differ. 



Meanwhile we approve most of the course fol- 

 lowed by Judge Colburn, of Vermont, and others 

 who have abandoned salting their hay, and furnish 

 salt to their stock by keeping it iu boxes always 

 accessible to tliem, so that they get only so mucli 

 as their instinct craves. But we need facts and 

 experiments. Who will give us any ? 



More Anon. 



Elderberries tor Wine. — Elderberry wine 

 is prized by many families for its soothing effect 

 upon invalids inclined to be wakeful, and for its 

 slightly laxative properties. The first account 

 that we have ever seen of the cultivation of the 

 fruit, is given in the proceedings of the American 

 Institute Farmer's Club. Mrs, Noyes, of Iowa, 

 writes: "We cultivate them eight feet apart ; and, 

 by using the shovel plough and cultivator cl«se to 

 the roots, have no trouble in keeping them in good 

 order. The fruit grows as large as red currants. 

 We had stems that weighed \h. lbs. each, last sea- 

 son." 



Pur (lie New EnulaiiJ FunueT, 

 A"WAKDING PREMIUMS AT CATTLE 

 SHOWS. 



Mr. Editor : — As this is the season of the year 

 when farmers are holding their annual Fairs, I 

 suppose a few words upon the above subject will 

 not be considered out of place. 



On what principle, and for what purpose should 

 premiums be awarded ? Ought it not to be done 

 on the principle of justice, and for the purpose of 

 inducing as many farmers as possible not only to 

 become members of our Agricultural Associations, 

 but also to exhibit annually the finest specimens 

 of the various productions of their farms. Per- 

 haps these objects are best accomplislied by the 

 general practice of having first, second and third 

 premiums. It seems to mc, however, there are 

 some rather serious objections to tliis plan, or 

 method. In the first place, so far as the value of 

 the premiums is concerned, a few individuals are 

 benefited at the expense of the many, or, at least, 

 a larger number. And in the )iext place, more or 

 less persons, who really deserve premiums, do not 

 receive any. For instance, suppose a town socie- 

 ty appropriates twelve dollars for the purpose of 

 plougiiing, and six persons compete for the pre- 

 miums. The committee acknowledge that the 

 work is aJl well done, but they are compelled to 

 award the money to three of the ploughmen, 

 while the others receive nothing. Now, is this 

 fair and just? Then, again, it is sometimes ex- 

 ceedingly difficult for committees to decide be- 

 tween two competitors, both being about equally 

 deserving ; but decide they mmt, and one receives 

 the premium and the other nothing. Now would 

 it not be more in accordance with the principle of 

 fairness and justness to divide the money between 

 the two according to their merits ? 



Cases will also occasionally occur when there 

 will be quite a large number of animals of one 

 claims or description, and but few or none of anoth- 

 er. At the exhibition recently held in this town 

 by the Farmer's and Mccliuiiics Association, I 

 chanced to be one of the committee on swine. 

 There were two jn-emiums for boars, but only one 

 in the pens. There were three fine, fat hogs, and 

 we had a premium for each. There were also 

 three premiums for breeding sows, but no animals 

 of that description ; there were, however, six fat 

 pigs, and all weli worthy a premium, but the com- 

 mittee had only two to bestow, and so the other 

 four went home grunting unrewarded, or rather 

 their owners received nothing for the trouble of 

 taking their pigs to the public pens, which is sel- 

 dom a pleasant or profital)le performance, howev- 

 er much fun it may sometimes aft'ord for other 

 persons. 



Hovv often we hear committees express regret 

 in their reports that they had no more premiums 

 to bestow. Then why not allow them to distrib- 

 ute at least a portion of the money at their dis- 

 cretion according to circumstances, to those who 

 really deserve it ? Indeed, the plan of a more 

 general distribution is already practiced, at least 

 to some extent. Since the formation of the soci- 

 ety in this town, twelve years ago, I think the 

 money approjjriated for fiowers, fancy and manu- 

 factured articles, roots and vegetables, has always 

 been at the disposal of the several committees to 

 be awarded as their good jupgment should dic- 

 tate. And if I am not mistaken, this Ijus f ener- 



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