26 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Jan. 



beautiful of our flowering shrubs. Like some 

 other fair things, howtver, it has nothing but its 

 beauty to recommend it, — and that is enough in 

 this case. We have, never heard of any use being 

 made of its fruit, nor can we find any such refer- 

 ence in the books. 



BULLS AND STALLIONS AS W0EKEE8. 



In an English edition of a work "On Force," by 

 Charles Bray, it is asserted that "geldings and 

 oxen have much more working power, that is, 

 enduring muscular force, than stallions and bulls." 

 This is not in accordance with my opinion on the 

 subject, formed from observation of quite a num- 

 ber of experiments with animals in both condi-' 

 tions, in continuous labor and in exhibitions of 

 strength and endurance. 



The same writer says, "the sexual feeling is 

 generally the strongest in the system and absorbs 

 the largest amount of force;" but may not this 

 force be expended in the labor performed by the 

 bull or stallion which is kept at continuous work ? 



Qaife a number of instances have come under 

 my observation where an entire horse in a team, 

 has, as the saying is, worked horse after horse to 

 death, and the owner has offered almost double 

 price for one which could do as much work as the 

 stallion; but, I have never known the reverse of 

 this, to he true. As a class, do geldings do better 

 on the course than stallions ? Some very fine and 

 fast geldings, of course, are to be found, but, had 

 they been lett entire, and had the same care and 

 training, what would they have been capable to 

 accomplish, is the question. 



Time and again have I seen the bull worked 

 with the ox, of equal age and^girt, and in a yoke 

 with one to six inches the shortest end, and other 

 things being equal, prove more than a match for 

 any ox which could be obtained ; but, there has 

 not come to my knowledge a case where it has been 

 the reverse. Several instances have been observed 

 where the owner afiirmed that his bull would do 

 as mvch work upon the harrow or stone-boat, in a 

 short yoke, as a pair of oxen of equal size would 

 do ; aod, at some of our shows and fairs the single 

 bull has competed with a pair of oxen in a test 

 of btrangth, and made a good s-how at that. 



One conclu'^ion, though not entirely satisfactory, 

 has rather been forced upon me, and it is this : 

 that bulls and stallions do not endure exposure to 

 heat or cold, as well as oxen, geldings, cows and 

 marcs ; but why, is the query, if the fact is ad- 

 mitted. In testing their endurance of muscular 

 exertion of a continuous nature, they should not 

 be put to any other use during the trial. 



The facts— truth — are wanted, — that is all. And 

 if any who have made fair trials have come to a 

 different conclusion from that I have expressed, I 

 shall be very happy to hear from them. 



There are well known advantages in emascula- 

 tion, such as greater do( ility, &c., but are strength 

 and endurance promoted or increased thereby ? 



Farmington, Me., Nov., 1870. O. W. True. 



GRASS-FED STOCK. — CORN RAISING IN NEW HAMP- 

 SHIRE. 



When I read the article in the New England 

 Fakmer on grass-fed beef,— comparing some from 

 Vermont that had no grain in it, with that from 

 the best Western steers,— I should, had I a voice 

 loud enough, have given three cheers that would 

 have echoed from one hill to another throughout 

 New Ens; land. 



Lij.t winter the farmers of New Hampshire 



'vcre urged to "plant another acre oi cuiu" to 



.'.^ake up the amount we corsumed. Grass was 



ynorcd. The use of corn was not discussed, but 



it was declared by some of your correspondents 

 that we must have corn to have beef. 



The importance of keeping animals constantly 

 growing is fully appreciated by few farmers in 

 New Hampshire. "Spring poor" is a significant, 

 but very common phrase here. 



This summer we fed two calves with skimmed 

 milk, and hay or grass, until they were about 

 twenty weeks old, when they were worth S2.5 each, 

 to kill or to keep, as that amount was offered by 

 the butcher, and paid by a man to keep. They 

 ate no grain. Many heifers and steers two years 

 old are sold for less money ; but they are animals 

 that have been subjected to the starving process 

 twice at least during their growth. There is no 

 foundation in truth for the statement that New 

 England farmers must keep their cattle in that 

 way. Nearly all of our pastures are good at some 

 time in the year ; but very few remain so during 

 the twenty weeks that are generally consielered 

 the pasturing season. All of our farms may pro- 

 duce something to furnish food for stock in the 

 summer, when the grass becomes dry and innu- 

 tritions. Cattle that are thriving, will fatten as 

 quickly as others that are growing poor will re- 

 cover their thrifty condition. 



What is to be the subject discussed this winter ? 

 If the same subject was discussed throughout the 

 State, and the aiscussions reported, we could have 

 the experience of our friends in other parts of the 

 State to meet our opponents at home. Better ar- 

 guments than have ever yet been offered, must be 

 advanced to induce us to hoe another acre of corn 

 more than we have done. * 



New Hampshire, Nov. 1870. 



AN EXPERIMENT WITH ITALIAN BEES. 



Five years ago last spring I had an Italian queen 

 put into a swarm of black bees. The next season 

 they swarmed four times. The two first swarms 

 sent out two colonies apiece ; the third swarm one, 

 which flew off, and the fourth one, which was also 

 lost. The others I saved; making nine swarms 

 from one in one season. Since then they have not 

 swarmed more than the black bees ordinarily do; 

 and have barely gathered honey enough to live on 

 through the winter, although the first year every 

 swarm had abundance of honey, even the third 

 and fourth, as the fourth was stopped a mile from 

 home. Now, why is it ? I have kept bees over 

 thirty years, and never heard of the instance of 

 such an increase of bees in one season as I have 

 mentioned, nor should I believe it if I had not had 

 the sole care of them, and know it to be so. This 

 season I have but two young swarms that have 

 honey enough to winter. Orson Towne. 



North Dana, Mass., Nov. 11, 1870. 



PREPARING TUBS FOR BUTTER. 



In reply to the request of "Learner," I will give 

 the method I have practiced for over twenty y^sars, 

 and have never had any occasion for complaint; 

 that the butter tasted of the tub. 



After soaking a new tub in -cold water to ascer- 

 tain that it does not leak, I fill it with skimmed 

 milk ; much preferring that newly soured. Let it 

 stand from thirty-six to forty eight hours, then 

 pour it out, wash and scald the tub thoroughly 

 and fill with strong brine, letting it stand a week 

 or more before packing the butter. The brine 

 should be so strong that salt will remain undis- 

 solved at the bottom of the tub. I use no salt- 

 petre ; preferring pure salt to rub on the inside of 

 ihe tub before putting in the butter. I tre^t tubs 

 from which the butler lias been used in Jiie same 

 manner; washing them thoroughly before filling 

 with the sour milk. m. m. b. 



Putney, Vt., Nov. 7, 1870. 



