im.] 
AMEIilCAK' AaillCULTURIST. 
289 
IHtcliin^ I»lo\r.— "W. C," Lockport, DL 
Ditchiu;; plows which cut the channel and ihiow out the 
earth apon one side, are the cheapest in the end, as they 
finish the work. Kandolpli's ditcher, recently described 
and illustrated in the JjTierican AgricuUurist, is perhaps 
the most complete and effective iicplemeut of this kind. 
R. H. Allen & Co., of New York, have a ditching plow 
which makes a finishL-d ditch. The New York Plow Co.. 
and Ames Plow Co., whose addresses are given in ihe 
advertising colnrans, have cheap plows, which loosen the 
earth so that it can be thrown out with a shovel. 
IVIann^einent of SIo-w Breeders.— 
*'C. A. S.." Washington Ter. There is no way of hasten- 
ing the breeding of cows which are slow in this respect. 
The best method is to keep them in company with the 
bull constantly; it is often the case that the period of . 
heat passes without being noticed. This will not hap- 
pen when the herd is made complete by keeping a bull 
on the premises. It is best to get rid of slow breeders. 
Tlinmp.s in Ho^s-— "W. B.," Colurattis, 
Ga. For this disease, which is inflammation of the 
lanffs, or of the lining membrane of the cavity of the 
chest and lungs, nothing an he done but to give good 
nureing. Keep the patient warm, give drinks of luke- 
■wann gruel and rub a paste of mnstard and water npoa 
the brisket and sides of the chest. 
Itniiain:; Cisterns.— ''A. R. TV.,'^ Sal- 
mon Falls, N. H. We have given frequent descriptions 
and illustrations of cisterns in the American Agricultur- 
ist, for instance in. Nov. 1875. May and October 1874, and 
August. 187C. Any one of these wonid answer to keep 
water for household porposes. 
Xo ;^Ialce a Pasture of Alfsilfa in 
Colorado.— Las Animas. Col. To get a good stand of 
alfalfa upon dry soil, the ground should be deeply plow- 
ed and subsoiled, as this is a very deep-rooted crop, at 
such a season as will give the largest supply of moisture. 
The ground may also be thoroughly irrigated in the fall. 
and early in spring may be plowed, harrowed and E0\vn 
in drillfl 9 inches apart : and then rolled with a corrugat- 
ed roller so as to make water farrows between the drills. 
The crop may then be irrigated without danger of bak- 
ing the ground, or if necessary, the ground may easily 
be cultivated between the drills. The Thomas Smooth- 
ing Ha.Tow would serve a very good purpose, in mellow- 
ing irrigated land that has become baked, without in- 
Jury to the yoang crop. 
rall-rallowin^. — "P.," Franklin Co., 
Mass. Fall-fallowing is useful where the soil is fhH ot 
weeds and is inclined to clay, on light soils it is of no 
special benefit, except to clean the land, and as a timely 
prepar<ili<in for spring work. Fall plowing may be done 
for oats and early potatoes with benefit, if the furrows arc 
left high and rough. 
All A1»ont Irrigation.— "W. A. C," 
'Wilmington, Del. Tlie metliodsand effects of irrigation 
are fnlly de!-cribed and explained in Stewart's ""Irriga- 
tion for the Farm, Garden, and Orchard," published by 
the Orange Judd Co., price $1.50. 
Xo Coolc Egrs: D*lant. — Every summer 
there arc inquiries about cooking this vegetable, which 
appears to be new to many. Slice the fniit crosswise, 
about half an inch lliick. peel and stack up with a 
sprinkling of salt between the slices, put a plate with a 
weight (a flat-iron will answer) on top, or lay the ^lice^ 
in strong salt and water. The object in cither case is to 
remove a slight bitterness. At the end of two hours, dry 
the slices on a clotli, and dip in a thin batter of q^^ and 
flour, and fry to a light brown. Instead of (he batter, dip 
first in beaten egg and then in cracker powder. Serve hot. 
Fried CiionniT>ors5. — Cncnmbers that hare 
grown too lar'^e to use in the onlinaiy way, cvi-n when 
they begin totum yellow, nmy be sliced, and treated in the 
Bame way as egg-plant, bnt it isnot nece!*sarytosaU them 
flrsL Many are very fond of them cooked in this manner. 
Cirrocn Com I*H«l«Iin«f,— Grate the com 
from fonr good-sized ears; afid oiii- pint of milk, two 
well beaten eggs, and a piece of butter the size of nn ecrg, 
ealt and pepper to taste. Stir 3 tablespoon fuls of flonr In 
a little cold water, add it to the rest, beat all well to- 
gether, and bake an hour. 
"Plenrisy in l»is«i-— "L. B.M.."Elmwood, 
m. Pleurisy is dlstin;rulsh''<l mi>st consplcuon-^ly hy a 
labored breathing, witli excessive nrtir»i of the muscles 
of the abdomen— otherwise henvlni; of Ilie flanks - n In<s 
of appetite, unsteady gait, and frequent hlng down and 
rising. It may often be relieved by careful nursing, shar- 
ing the hair from the chest, and rubbing mustard plaster, 
or a large linseed poultice over it; and if medicine is 
given, it should be first one ounce of castor oil, followed 
by half an ounce of sweet spirits of niter, daily, until a 
change occurs. A tablespoonful of powdered gentian 
may be given alternately with the niter. The food should 
be thin oatmeal gruel, given cold. 
Talne of MncU.— " C. W. P.," Bernards- 
town, Mass. Muck is of much more value than sand as 
an absorbent iu stables, in proportion to the amount of 
vegetable matter contained in it, which adds to its value 
as a fertilizer. Mannre, made by using muck as an ab- 
sorbent, may be Iharrowedinto the surface, which is the 
best manner of using it. 
01eo»!Slarg-arine.— " G. B.," Broome Co., 
N. T. A constant reader of the Atnet^ican Agriculturist 
should not have missed our very frequent notices for 
some years past regarding oleo-margariue. The Amei'icari 
Agricultitrisi was the first journal to call attention to the 
manufacture, as an objectionable and injurions competi- 
tor with dairy products, and in spite of much adverse 
criticism, has continued to oppose its sale as butter, or as 
cream in cheese. Many respectable agricultural journals 
have aided us in this steady opposition, and it is due to 
these efforts that an act of the Legislature of New York 
w;is passed, to forbid the sale of the article as a dairy 
product in the State of New York. The process of manu- 
facture has been so frequently described, that we can not 
now repeat it. 
Beardless Barley.— ''W. J. T.," Dade 
Co., Mo. Wehavj had no experience witli the beardless 
bailey. Like the hulless oats, we consider it; a variety 
that is not worth cultivation. The sis-rowed barley is 
considered themost profitable forsale, and the two-rowed 
for use ns feed. Barley is too much neglected as a feed- 
ing crop, considering its value, and its ease of cultivation. 
Basket Items continued 
on page 313- 
Lost in One Year $20,000,000, by the 
Farmers of tlie United States, 
statistics show that the losses of swine of all sizes 
amounted in only 12 months to 4.000.000 animals, 
which, at a moderate estimate, were worth $-20. 000.000. 
This money was not lost thrungh any fall in values, but 
an actual destruction of property. The loss fell solely 
upon that portion of the community, which, as a general 
thing, are less able than any others to bear it— the farm- 
ers. The most unsatisfactory feature about it is, that 
it is a loss that might have been, in a great measure, 
avoided, had the farmers been well informed as to its 
nature and means of prevention. The death of these 
millions of swine is ascribed to '■'Hog Cholera," a term 
given to diseases, or various mauifestations of one dis- 
ease, which, however the symptoms may differ, all agree 
in being rapidly fatal. In Cohnm's " Swine Husbandry,'' 
now just published, will be found the most complete 
account of " Hog Cholera,"' anywhere obtainable; this 
includes the investigations of able veterinary surgeons, 
and the experience and views of distinguished breeders. 
The disease is of more frequent occurrence in the valley 
of the Mississippi than elsewhere, probably for the 
reason that there are more swine there. While the dis- 
ease runs its conrsr- very npi'dly. nnd 1= not roadily cura- 
ble, all agrc in regarding it as preventible, as it is due to 
causes which may be avoided. What is Icnown as *' Hog 
Cholera" is attributed, and with good reason, to two 
chief canses: improper feeding and want <'f care. The 
life of the hog consists of two periods : the growing and 
the fattening stages. While it is admitted on aU hands 
that there is no grain so valuable, in this country for 
fattening, as Indian Com. and that this crop can not he 
so jirofltablydisposed of in any other form a-* in th:it of 
pork, it is not well calculat'^d for buildin? up the frame 
upon which to lay th'^ flesh and fat, as other foods, and 
the chief predisposing cause of disease is the constant 
and unvaried fecdinsr with corn from the time the pigs 
arc weaned, all tliroush their period of growth. The 
food is not favorable to a honlthy growth, and one of the 
Important steps in the prf'v«Mition of "Hog Cholera "' is 
to give th'' animals a variety of fond, while making their 
growth, especially pasture and preen fond In othi'r forms, 
with other grains, artichokes, and other less concentrated 
food than com. Feeding In this manner produce? a 
more healthy and vigorous animal, and one better able 
to resist disease than one fed exclusively on corn» which 
both practice and science trach to be inadequate to sap- 
pi v all the want-? of the growing .animal. The second 
cause of disease is crowding and want of a proper sani- 
tary condition of the herd. We have not space here to 
numerate all the conditions that should be, and can te 
avoided; improper sleeping and feeding arrangements, 
impure water, and filth generally, may be regarded as the 
chief of these. There is but little wonder that animals 
iniproperly fed from the start and exposed to every pre- 
disposing condition that the ingenuity of carelessness 
can contrive, should be subject to epidemics of the most 
fatal character. The disease, ha^-ing been prepared for 
through many months, when it comes is so rapid in its 
course, and so fatal in its results, that very little help 
can be hoped from remedies. Mr. Coburn's " Swine 
Husbandry" discusses these points in full, and shows 
plainly that these losses to farmers, which sum np in 
such a fearful aggregate, are due to diseases which may 
be avoided by proper and inexpensive care, and were it 
only for the teaching of this important point, and show- 
ing how it may be reached, the book would be of great 
value. We are convinced that were this work in the 
hands of faroiers generally, and they would heed its 
teachings, the number of millions of dollars would 
be speedily reduced, and that "Hog Cholera *' would 
soon ceaae to be the frightful scourge that it now is. 
Catalogues Eeceivei 
rMPL'EME:^S, FERTILIZERS, Etc. 
A.B. Paequhab, York, Pa . Pennsylvania Agricultural 
Works, issues a finely illustrated and comprehensive 
catalogue, including everyrhiDg in the shape of a tool, 
nteusiJ, or implement, needed on a farm. 
A. J. Nelis & Co.. Pittsburg, Pa., wrought iron fences 
and gates, in addition to their well known horse hay 
fork, grapple, and other useful matters, make a specialty 
of ornamental wrought iron and steel gates and fences, 
of a variety of plain and finished patterns, costing actu- 
ally less than some wooden ones. 
Ales. Speer & Soss. Pittsburg,_Pa. Plows and har- 
rows of various kinds. 
Blake. Beebe & Co., Racine, Wis., makers of the 
Champion Fanning Mill, claim to have thelargi-st manu- 
factory of these machines in the world. This mill cleans 
all kinds of grains, seeds, and castor beans, and is there- 
fore lound \v idely useful. 
Speakman-, Mixes & Co.. Westchester. Chester Co., 
Pa., manufacturers of Etubree's Roiary Bntter-worker. 
and folding butter molds with pressfor makiugaid 
prin*^ing square cakes. Also a revolving duster for 
sprinkling Paris Green upon potatoes. 
EDwn^ Batxiss, Massillon, Ohio. TheMassiHon-har- 
vester, Riding-wheelbarrow. 
CtTRTis GoDDARD, Alliance Ohio ; the little spefdy 
corn sheller which weighs only 6 pounds, and is said to 
shell 10 bushels of ears per hour. 
Mohawk and Hcdsox MAVrFArmrrvG Co.. Water- 
ford, N, Y., makers of the Dodge Excelsior Hay and 
Cotlon Press with which 10 tons of hay cau be made 10 
go into an ordinary grain car. 
James Leffel & Co.. Springfield, O.. makers of 
James Leffel's Double Turbine Water Whei-l, is.-ue a 
lar^e citalo^ie of over 100 pages, abundantly illustrated, 
and,contaimng much interesting matter relating to the 
use of water as a motive powtr. 
1.1VE STOCK— POULTRY, ETC. 
Benson- & BrnPEE, ?-ii Church st.. Philad'^lphia. iseuo 
a finely illustrated catalogae of all kinds of livestock, 
cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry." 
J. C. Long, Jr.. 89 Ninth st.. Phfladelphi.i. Catalogue 
and price list of pure-bred fowls and pigeons. 
W. n. Cc^MiNGS, Milldale, Conu. Pure-bred Plymouth 
Rocks. 
THE DAn?Y. 
TseVbrkont Farm MAcnisE Co.. Bellows FaUs. Vt.. 
issuea tr«atise upon the manufacture of "gilt-edged" 
butter, which is descriptivi' of a system of deep cau set- 
ting in coolers, by which the cre^ is kept ewect and 
raised very quickly. 
Mrs, D. Smith. 327 Arch st. Philadelphia, a little 
pamphlit descriptive of her butter coloring, which is 
prepared with oil, and also containing many useful dairy 
recipes. 
Bee Notes for August. 
HY L. C. ROOT, MOHAWK, N. T, 
One of the principal Interests of the pro.<;rnt month la 
the care of surplus honey. It should be kept in a cool 
dry place. Bo.t honoy should be examined occasionally, 
and If moth-worras are found, they should be picked off 
and destroyed. Extracted honey may be stored in tin or 
wooden vats, or casks ; if wood is need, it should be first 
coated wlih wax. Flives that have cast swjirms should 
be examined to ascerlnin if they have laying queens, as 
the young queen will at times be lost when the hive con- 
tains no brood fmm which the bees may rear another. If 
a hive ahonld be fonnd without a qaeen, one should bo 
supplied, or brood be given them, from which they mnr 
rear A qnoen. A hive that has been queenless will often 
contain so ranch honey that the quc*'n will find but little 
empty comb for brood rearmg. In this case the honey 
should be removed with the 'extractor. Hives that aro 
