1871] 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



341 



the incidental one of the present value of straw, 

 which it appears to me ought to have mnch weight 

 with practical farmers, who lind their flour money 

 a severe tax, though they may not be worthy of 

 coiisidcratidu by K. O., or other men of straw. 

 From all directions evidence seems to be accumu- 

 lating that tlic impression is deepening among fiir- 

 mers and agricultural journals that "we can raise 

 our own bread." Probably K. O. is yet faithless. 

 The universal rye field may be his admiration. 

 AVe do not object to this crop, but it is too late to 

 clog or choke down the enterprise of wheat grow- 

 ing at the East. With the rye field we hope to see 

 its fellow icrop, the wheat field, on every farm. 

 Why not ? 



With no view to controversy, or desire to pro- 

 claim an idea beyond my own experience and full 

 knowledge, I feel that cavilling expressions are not 

 of "much weight," and will be appreciated only at 

 their true value by your many readers. 



Henry Poor. 



Brooklyn, L. I., May 11, 1871. 



MANAGEMENT OF HEN MANURE. 



In reply to Mr. J. Fernald's inquiries in regard 

 to the treatment of hen manure, I would say that 

 in 1868 I took four bushels of dry hen manure, 

 turned it on the barn floor, took a common flail 

 and threshed it to a powder; then took twenty- 

 five liushcls of muck that had been dug eighteen 

 months, spread it on the barn floor and thoroughly 

 mixed it with the hen manure. A single handful 

 of tills compost was put in the hill, and the com 

 dropped upon it. I had a splendid field of com. 

 Planted one row without the compost. That row 

 could be distinguished all through the season, be- 

 ing about two weeks behind the rest of the field, 

 and finally it never did catch up with the rest. 



I believe if farmers that keep from twenty to 

 thirty hens would save all the droppings and com- 

 post it in the way as above, or in some better way, 

 instead of buying fertilizers as many at the present 

 day do, it would be very much more to their ad- 

 vantage. JosiAH Puffer. 



Harvard, JTass., May 13, 1871. 



Remakks. — We wish to unite with Mr. Fernald 

 in an expression of thanks to Mr. Puffer for the 

 foregoing prompt, concise and explicit reply. 



CAUSE OF WHITE SPECKS IN BUTTER. 



I have ascertained that specks or curds in butter 

 are nothing more nor less than particles of dried 

 cream. I have tested it for five years in the follow- 

 ing manner. In turning off the buttermilk from 

 the butter, I drain through a sieve; then place 

 those particles which remain in the sieve in a dash 

 churn, or jar which I have for that purpose, and 

 churn them into butter. It requires more churning 

 than common cream. From a Farmer's Wife. 



SouthvUle,N. Y.,1871. 



they are one-fourth of a mile from where there are 

 any sown that grew in 1871. Keeping them one 

 summer and two winters, or eighteen months, kills 

 the bugs. I wish your readers to try this .ind re- 

 port the result. Farmer. 

 Wallingford, Vt., May 12, 1871. 



FATTENING A HORSE. 



A horse is a great favorite with me, and I like to 

 see one look well and used well. I will give you 

 my idea of fattening a horse. Before cutting the 

 hay put it in a tight box, wet with warm water and 

 then put on your meal. I think this the quickest 

 way to fatten a horse. Would like to have the 

 opinion and experience of others. I think a mix- 

 ture of com, rye and oats is good for a horse. 



Keene, aV. E., 1871. H. v. w. 



BUGGY PEAS. 



You are correct as to the cause of buggy peas. 

 Now for the remedy. The peas that grew in 1870 

 may be sown in 1872 without any trouble, provided 



DEGENERACY OF HORSES. 



Horse racing was introduced at the South by 

 some of the old Colonial Governors about one 

 hundred and forty years ago, but for a long time 

 horses were not run for the pecuniary value of the 

 prize offered, but solely for the honor which the 

 planter would secure by the reputation of breeding 

 and training the victorious animal. A saddle and 

 bridle, or a piece of plate, .and not a purse or "pre- 

 mium," were the prizes then contended for. 



But at the North, horse racing has never been 

 popular. Our leading citizens have not encouraged 

 or patronized the sports of the turf. The judges 

 of our courts have not officiated as judges at the 

 horse race ; the men who make the laws for the 

 government of the people do not make the laws 

 which govern the running of horses. 



We admit that within a few years past, under 

 the plea of recognizing the importance of the horse 

 to farmers, and of encouraging improvement in 

 breeding, training and developing the powers of 

 this noble animal, something like the horse race 

 has been introduced into the programme of some 

 of our agricultural fairs. We admit also that the 

 influence of this innovation is already wide spread. 

 It has excited a general ambition among farmers 

 to breed for speed ; and among the boys to run a 

 skeleton wagon, to wear a jockey cap, and to use 

 the language of the professional trainer. 



It is some twentj'-five years or more since "the 

 track" and "trials of speed" were introduced on 

 the grounds of our agricultural fairs, for the im- 

 provement of horses. What has been the result ? 

 A correspondent of the Monthly Report of the De- 

 partment of Agriculture, in Muscatine County, 

 Iowa, says : — 



The raising of horses has been overdone here. 

 We, as a farming class, have been crazy on the 

 subject of speed, and are now reaping the fruits of 

 our folly. Had we a number of years ago entered 

 into the" raising of horses for the farm instead of 

 the turf, we would not have the comparatively 

 worthless animals now on our hands— not fast 

 enough to win, nor large enough to work. The 

 majority of farmers are, however, again raismg 

 such horses as will always find ready sale. The 

 Percheron is meeting with much favor. 



Mr. W. A. Brodie, in an article written for the ^ 

 Rochester, N. Y., Jiural Eome, in speaking of a 

 Percheron horse bought in June, 1870, of the 

 Massachusetts Society for the Promotion of Agri- 

 culture, by William A. Wadsworth, remarks :— 



"He is a noble animal, and just what is needed 

 here, as working horses have greatly degenerated 

 in this immediate vicinity." 



In England it seems that the result of modem 

 racing has been the same. The London Army and 

 Navy Gazette, in speaking of horses with reference 

 to the army, says ; — 



