AND GARDENER'S JOURNAL. 



19 



the barn, till it beconiee n nuisance. Hut if it 



Ij' scattered in the j'ard for the cattle to pick upon 



gh llie day, and need for bedding in the stables, 



tbiis become impregnated with the liquids of 



ird and slables, and mixed with the animal ma- 



hereof, and thereby the qunniity of manure for 



use will bo greatly increased. By such a course 



II stock, say of fifteen head of cattle, scventy- 



eep, and three horses, will supply three hundred 



f good manure for the corn and potatoe crop the 



g season. The straw, thus spread frequently in 



d, to some extent, is eaten by the stock, the 



.' absorbs the juices of the yard, becomes eatu- 



iierewitb, and its value thus rendered four fold 



than if it were applied in its dry state. 



Yours &.C. W, PARSONS. 



•It Hilt, near Lockport, Dec. 1840. 



Hoof Ail~Its Cause and Cure* 



SRs. Editors— I observed in one of your pa. 

 1 inquiry respecting the cause of the disease 

 rioof Ail, in cattle ; and having paid some at. 

 to tlio subject, I will cheerfully give you 

 ult of my observations and lite prevailing 

 s here, which you are at liberty to publish, if 

 nk they will be of service to any of your rea. 



e tvinter of 1836-7, this disease made great 

 among the cattle in this vicinity. Freezing 

 eet was at first assigned as the cause ; but 

 oofs to the contrary soon led to the abandon, 

 this opinion, and ergot was sabstilulcd as 

 diievious agent. 



•ve it is an opinion well established, that er- 

 ■ye, or Secale cornutum, has given rise to 

 e in the human species. This circumstance 

 similarity which exists between it and the 

 inder consideration, afford good reason for 

 f that the causes may be similar, 

 may sometimes be found in large quantities 

 or spear grass — whether it differs in its 

 properties from ergot of rye, I am not able 

 ■ut presume it does not materially. Tliis 

 is well known, is apt to run out Timothy 

 :r, consequently it grows in excess in old 

 , and to Iho ergot growing on it, the disease 

 liable. I have made many inquiries, but 

 md a case occuriing where the animal had 

 fed on hay containing it. 

 nention a few facts in confirmation of this 

 —Mr. W. had 50 head of cattle fed upon 

 n from old nicadows — the greater part of 

 1(1* IB June grass. 0:ily one of the 50 escaped 

 A tenant upon the same farm, kept 

 within 20 or 30 rods of the preceding, but 

 upon hay of marsh grass, and they escaped 

 Mr. C, on the adjoining farm, had 

 e grass among his hay, but not so much as 

 Y two or three of his cattle were aflected, 

 Iter part of April, when, being out of hay, 

 ed some of W. ; and in a few days five of 

 tbe disease. Another neighbor, Mr. B., 

 red his cows well, but in spring, being out 

 palso procured some of Mr. W.; and be. 

 all that had eaten it became affctcd with 

 Mr. K., on an adjoining farm, fed bis cat. 

 aw, and none of the disease appeared 

 hem. Dr. Stimson says ho fed his cattle 

 itaining a large proportion of June grass. 

 :ntion was given them, but many became 

 ith the disease ; and it continued to in- 

 til he stopped feeding the hav, and gave 

 , jjiji ipsand other food, after which no more 

 appeared. 



mention numerous other cases, affording 

 ? evidence that this disnase is caused by er. 



1,115*11 

 II ike 

 leysni- 



Kjilie 

 intioi" 



ajin'l' 



liilill»' 



got on June grass, but I fear it will make this com. 

 municalion loo long to cimnieratc them. I will re. 

 mark that in this section of country, this grass had 

 an abundance of (?Vgot Rowing upon it last season ; 

 and consequently we may expect to sec cattle af- 

 tccted with Hoof Ail again this winter. Indeed it 

 has already made its appearance amongst my fathci's 

 stock. He commenced fcciling a let of hay found to 

 contain eigot, to some calves, on the 2d or3J of 

 December ; and on tbe 12ili, 9 of them bad the dis. 

 case. We immediately changed their food, and cut 

 off the points of their hoofs, so that they bled freely. 

 They arc now doing well. 



This treatment generally effects a cure, unless the 

 disease has been of long standing. The disease 

 rarely affects the lore feet. I have never seen an in. 

 stance, but have heard it asserted that it will some, 

 times occur. Respectfully yours, N. 



St. George, U. C, Juvij. 1811. 



From the Cultivator, 



Cnrefoi Hoof Ail. 



Messrs. Editors — Perc'ivingin your Inst number, 

 an inquiry respecting the Hor.f Ail in entile, lam hap- 

 py to have it in my power to communicate one which 

 never fails in ntf^^cting a cure in two or three dnj's. — 

 Blue vitriol, finely pulverized, and applied to the dis- 

 eased part oi the hoof, once a day for two or three 

 days, is all that is necessary. In the ease of a cow of 

 mine, one application was sufficient, and 1 preRume 

 would generally ausver the pmpose. The disease 

 here is called by some of our farmers, *^ fouls," and 

 by others, hoof nil. If the case alluded to by yonr 

 correspondent, is the same disease, you can depend on 

 my remedy. Yours very respectfully, 



H. E. HUBBARD. 



Middtctoicn, Ct. 1840. 



Peiioil of Gestation in Cows. 



One of the most satisfactory experiments relating to 

 tiie subjeel. on record, is the one made by EnrI Spen- 

 cer, and the particulars of which are given in the se- 

 cond number of the English Agricultural Society's 

 Journal. 



The table given, contains the results in the case of 

 seven hundred and sixty-tour cows, and the following 

 statements abriilged from the irnper, will e.vhibit some 

 of the most important of the detaila. 



First. It appears that the period of gestation varied 

 from 220 days to 313 days; or no less than 90 days. — 

 Lord Spencer was, however, unable to rear any 

 calves produced under 242 days. All under 260 da3'&, 

 and over 300, be thinks are decidedly premature, or 

 irregular. 



Second. As 314 cows calved before the 983d day, 

 and 310 after the 285ih day, the average period if ges- 

 tation must be considered as between 284 and 285 

 days : although the time stated in the work on cattle 

 by the London Society, states it at 270 days. 



Third. It appears, that omitting those considered 

 as premature or irregular, the cows whose period of 

 gestation did not exceed 2815 days, produced 223 cow 

 calves, and of bull calves 234; while from those 

 whose period exceeded 286 days, the cow calves were 

 only 90, and the number of bull calves was 152. This 

 certainly gives some support to the opinion prevalent 

 among fanners, that when a cow exceeds her usual 

 lime, the produce will be a bull calf. 



Fourth. There were 7 eases of twin cow calves; 5 

 eases of l\vin bull calves; and 11 cases of twin cow 

 and bull calves. Earl Spencer has never had rwcase 

 in which the sexes were diderent, in which the heifer 

 was a breding one; they have uniformly been what 

 are termedyVce nmrtins. The cattle of which the a- 

 bove record has been kept, are the (lure improved short 

 born breed, and of the finest herds in Great Britain. 

 — American Farmer. 



From tliC American Citizen. 

 Our Wheat Interests-A Public Meetinj;. 



We have rend, witii attention, tbe proceedings of 

 the Convention of Tobacco Planters of the United 

 States held last month, in the city of Washington. — 

 We published an outline of the views expressed, and 

 the measures adopted, by that convention, in our last 

 number; and we nek all our readers to examine them 

 carefully. It seems to us that they ought to produce 

 a strong effect upon the public mind, in ail tbe wheal 

 growing States-thai they ought to awaken us to n sense 

 of our stupid neglect of ihe greatest outward interest 

 which the Creator has bestowed upon ub/ oijd that we 



should feel excited to con'er together henceforth often 

 and extensive, to promote this interest. 



We belevo the grain growing interest in the United 

 Slates, is now, under all the cinljarrBfinnenls beset- 

 ting it, six or eight limes greater ihan the Tobacco in- 

 terest, niid can be soon extended three.fold by jirst and 

 prudent menna. This interest connecls itself with 

 the great tide of life in all countries, more vitally and 

 much more beneficially ihan the Tobacco inlereet 

 can. Shall we not then lobnr to cherish it by nil the 

 fair nienn.s in our power 7 li is not enough to sow, 

 nnd reap, and grind, the finest wheat known to earth's 

 biooil bosom, with labor nnd skill, in all the requisite 

 proiresses of ullage and machinery and manufacture, 

 exciting the admiration of the world — and to muliiply 

 railroads and canals, and vehicles oi' trnnsportaiion 

 upon them, wilh n rapidity trantcending the creations 

 of fairy Innd; but we must actively apply our common 

 sense, and that extensive knowledge of facts which we 

 now possess, or enn easily obtain, to the task of ex- 

 tending the markets for this most essential of the ne- 

 cessaries of life. 



Solomon says, " As goods are increased, they are 

 incienscd that consume them." This trnth is demon- 

 strated by the experience of all ages. And the facili- 

 ty wiib which wheat is raised in this nnd the neigh- 

 boring latitudes, in a wide bell across the Union, is iho 

 chief cause of the rapidly augmenting jiopulnlion, eve- 

 ry where working ihe si^il in these regions. But we 

 should not be content wilh this source of our increas- 

 ing numbers, wealth and strength. There are fre- 

 quent communications between all civilized nations, 

 and these have, within a few years, been extended be- 

 yond all former precedent. The United Slates are 

 coming inlo close eonlaet with all the world. And in 

 the trade of the world, suiely ihe nations ^■hich fur- 

 nish the greatest supply of ihe thinos most essential 

 to the subsistence and comfort of human beings, may, 

 wilh no extraordinary displays oi practical wisdom, 

 enjoy a fair share of the benefits of the w'orld's trade. 

 We do noi now, ond never have enjoyed such a share. 

 Let us strive to obtain it. 



Wc import nn immense amount of various articles 

 from Great Britain annually, — of which tbe value has 

 been chiefly derived liom the industry of her subjects. 

 In this way her industry supercedes oure to a vast ex- 

 lent. And these importations are chiefly consumed in 

 the wheal growing Stales. Yel she will take none of 

 our flour, the article on which our industry is chiefly 

 laid out. Shall this stale of things be perpetuated t 

 We have her interests as much in our country as she 

 has ours in hers, and perhaps more; for the high price 

 ofher breiid slulls, always artificially exorbitant to fe- 

 ver the landed interest, will give us all her hungry la- 

 borers ami arti'/nns, nmouniing to many millions. 

 Oh that they could vote 1 as advocotes for the admis- 

 sion of our flour inlo her ports, upon reasonable terms. 

 We think her attention, nnd the atienfon of several of 

 the continental nations of Europe should be called to 

 ibis inleresiing subjrct, in a new lone, to be hocked 

 up by suitable legislation in Congress. But the inte- 

 rests of the people are rarely attended to without the 

 interference of tbe people. The people must meet nnd 

 discuss this concern in all its various bearings. They 

 must gather facts nnd publish them; they must inves- 

 tigate principles and comprehend them; they must pe- 

 tition the nalionnl goveinnient for its interposition, 

 and show how that interposition may be effectual. 



In this most necessary movement we ought to feel 

 no restraint, and Congress should feel none, from the 

 tnritf comiiromise entered into a few years ago. The 

 Tobneco planters and the Cotton Planters suffer no re- 

 straints on ibis ground, to delor them from pursuing 

 such measures as their peculiar interest may seem to 

 demond. Why should we ? we would not resist the 

 law, butwc would modify it. 



Nothing is needed, ns we fully believe, to place the 

 vast whcot growing inleres-t of our country on ils just 

 fbundntion, bui true light and concerted action among 

 the men of the wheat growing Slates. We ask our 

 intelligent farniere, our well informed and sagacious 

 millers, our observing flour merchants, our enterpri- 

 sing and exact owners of wore. houses, nnd lines of 

 transportation, and oil others interested in the pros- 

 perity of the country, nnd instructed on this subject, 

 to collect the tacts wiihm their means of knowledge, 

 nnd lay them before the public, wilh such suggestions 

 of policy as they think wise nnd prudent, for the peo- 

 ple nnd the government to adopt. Wc shall be happy 

 always to publish, and give, as for we can iri our pa- 

 per, currency to their statements and reasonable views. 

 And we would earnest advise, that n meeting should 

 be speedily called, in this city, to consider and discuss 

 ihis subjeel; nnd to recommend a convention of dele- 

 gates from each of the wheat growing States, to b» 



