366 
ShippUmnt to ihe ^' Tropical AgrieuUwrist.'* 
[Nov. 1, 1901. 
lower jaw-bone. On the inner side of the artery 
may be readily felt and pressed against bone, the 
number of beats in a minute, the regularity, and 
the strength are to be noticed as indicating the 
condition and action of the heart. In the cow 
the same artery should be felt, the precise location 
being at the lower edge of the flat muscle on the 
side of the cheek. When the cow is lying down 
the metacarpal artery on the back part of the fore 
fet-lock may be felt conveniently. For both horse 
and cow the temperature is taken by inserting 
a clinical thermometer in ihe rectumeu. Care 
should be taken thnt mercury is below the normal 
temperature of the animal, and the thermometer 
should remain in the gut for three or four minutes. 
The following table give the normal temperatures 
etc. of the principal domestic animal. The 
frequency of the pulse and of respiration even in 
repose depends somewhat upon the temperature 
of the air stable, or house, and upon whether the 
obserfation is made before or after feeding. 
Periods of incubation or liiency of dise-t?e ; 
anthrax ^ to 1 day ; canine distemper 7 to 21 
day; cattle plague o to 8 days ; contagious foot 
rot 3 to 6 days ; foot and mouth disease 2 to 4 
days ; glanders or facey 7 to 42 days ; pleuro- 
pneumonia 21 to 100 days or more ; rabies 10 days 
to months ; tuberculosis 14 to 60 days or more ; 
Variola (cow) 6 to 9 days ; Variola (horse) 6 to 8 
days ; Variola (sheep) 8 to 12 days. 
Tliere are many wlio depend blindly on rainfall 
for supplying moisture to plantt without making 
any effort to preserve the moisture already in the 
soil. The following are some useful figures 
regarding the breeding of cows and horses : Age 
to begin breeding — horse 4 year.*, cow 3 years ; 
period of gestation -horse 317, 342, or 419 days, 
cow 226, 280 or 3t6 days ; duration of aestrum — 
horse 5 to 7 days, co v 2 to 4 days ; return for 
breeding after parturition — horse 7 to 10 days, cow 
21 to 28 days ; return to ascertain pregnancy— horse 
14 to 21 days, cow 21 to 28 days ; age of weaning 
— horse 5 to 8 months, cow 4 to 6 months; females 
to each male — mares 20 to 30, co-ws 20 to 40; 
period of usefulness for breeding purposes — horse 
or cow 10 to 12 years. 
Here in Ceylon where Guniea grass and Mauri- 
tius grass are so largely cultivated (they are indeed 
the only cultivated fodder crops) we never hear 
of either being grown /or pasture- In the Nom 
South Wales' Agricultural Gazette we find a 
correspondent recommending tliat 5 to 6 lbs. of 
the seed should be sown broadcast for grazing. 
Mr, Albert Gale, writing in the New South 
Wales' Gazette, draws attention to the mis- 
apprehension that wax is got from flowers, and 
that bees gather it there from and carrj' it on their 
hinder legs. What is seen on the hinder legs is 
pollen, and bees' wax is really a ewretion from 
the body of th« insect. 
Mr. J. Stephens, writing with reference to his 
farm and orchard work says: — "I have followed 
the advice of the Agricultural Gazette (of New 
South Tfnles) in respect to thorough cultivation of 
crops and in pruning and working among fruit 
trees, and 1 have often raised good crops in both 
farm and orchard in Tery dry seasons. 1 consider 
good cultivation amongst growing crops nearlj' 
equal to rainfall." This report of a practical test 
should induce all cultivators to follow the 
example of Mr. Stephens in keeping the soil in 
good tilth 80 that the stores of moisture within so 
far from being dissipated by evaporation, may be 
taken advantage of by the roots of growing plants. 
