1874.1 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
2-47 
** Sony's of Grace and Calory," is the 
title of a new music and hymn-book for Sunday-schools, 
published by Horace Waters & Son, New York. Price 
33 cents. We rarely sec Bach good mechanical execution 
in so cheap a work, while the hymns and music are of a 
better class than arc found in many of the music-books 
for Sunday-schools. 
Farmers* Conventions. — The Farmers' 
Reform Convention of Indiana met at Indianapolis, and 
the State Farmers' Convention of Illinois was held at 
Springfield, both on the same date, June 10th. Both 
bodies set forth a "platform," and nominated a ticket 
for State officers. In neither State is the governor to be 
elected this year, and the contest will be over the oilier 
officers. As these are the first general elections in which 
a distinctly farmers' party has taken part, the results 
will be watched with interest by both the friends and the 
enemies of the movement. The platform or enunciation 
of principles is in each State such as much commend 
itself to all who oro not professional politicians. For 
ourselves, we rejoice at anything which awakens formers 
to the fact that it is their duty to take a part in public 
affairs, and that it is a neglect of this duty which has 
allowed State matters to be mismanaged. 
Holding: On.— California farmers are now 
shipping their wheat direct to Liverpool, rather than sell 
at the current rate in San Francisco, which is about $1.85 
per 100 lbs. Some time ago, the same wheat could have 
been sold at $2.35 per 100 lbs. An offer of 1,200 tons of 
choice wheat, to be delivered in July, at $1.C5 per 100 
lbs., was recently made and refused. 
Buckwheat for Cows.-"W. L. C.," 
Montgomery Co., Ohio. Our own experience with buck- 
wheat for dairy cows is unfavorable, at least so far as re- 
gards the quality of the butter. It is true that it increases 
the flow of milk, but the butter yielded is white, and of 
poor, greasy flavor. As tothc increased quantity, that has 
probably been shown as well, by some experiments 
made at the farm of the Eastern Pennsylvania Agricul- 
tural Society, in January last. In a week's feeding,whcn 
wheat bran was added to the feed, sixteen cows produced 
1.858 lbs. of milk, yielding 117 lbs. of cream, and 57?a 
lbs. of butter. The next week an equal quantity of buck- 
wheat bran was substituted for the wheut bmn, an a tut, 
cows produced 1,262*4 lbs. of milk, yielding 121 lbs. of 
cream and 59^ lbs. of butter. During the last week the 
cold was much greater than the previous one, which 
would show a still greater value lor the buckwheat. 
Nothing is said, however, as to the quality of the product. 
Crop for Green Manure.— "A. W. H," 
Clinton Co., Pa. It is too late now to sow any crop for 
green manures, except buckwheat. This may be sown 
up to the latter part of this month. We would sow at 
least a bushel of seed per acre. 
Time to Market IK og-s.— « M.," Warren 
Co., Iowa. The best time to market a hog is when he 
has made the largest growth upon the least feed. For 
early spring pigs this is generally in the next winter. 
At eight or nine months a good hog well kept from its 
birth, might weigh from 200 to 400 pounds, according to 
circumstances. If such a hog is kept over the winter, 
and well fed all the time for another year, its extra 
growth will hardly pay for the feed, and it will be too 
heavy for packers' use. In winter-time there is less 
growth for the same amount of feed than at any other 
Beason, therefore the objects should be to have the pigs 
come early, feed them well, and kill as soon as desirable 
in the early winter. 
Poultry for Effys.- H. B. Lashor, Ulster 
Co, N. Y., writes that he is now managing a hennery 
fur the production of eggs and fowls for market. lie 
has 300 layers. We shall be glad to hear how our corre- 
spondent succeeds. 
Corn Shelled or in the Har, — "F.," 
Madora, Iowa. There is always more or less waste in 
feeding dry corn either in the ear or shelled. We have 
fed corn in the cob with the least waste, when it has been 
put into a barrel the day before it was to be fed, and 
scalded With boiling water, leaving it to soak until fed. 
This plan has been about as cheap as grinding the corn 
and feeding raw meal. 
Sow-Bujis-Wood-Liee.-A gentleman 
from Westchester County, N. Y., came to us with speci- 
mens of a depredator, which makes serious trouble in 
his garden by attacking Asters, Amaranths, and other 
annuals, it being especially fond of Mignonette. The 
culprit proved to be what is. in tbia country, popularly 
known as ' L sow-bug." It is not an insect, hut a crusta- 
cean, and more nearly related to the crab and lobster 
than to a " bug" of any kind. It is a species of Oniscus, 
usually found under boards and stones, in damp places, 
and though we have heard of its being troublesome in 
greenhouses, we never knew it to be annoying in the 
open border. Oniscus Melius, the wood-louse of England, 
is a pest in greenhouses there, especially to orchids. 
Tho gardeners in that country rely mainly upon trap- 
ping: the animals have a desire to secrete themselves in 
crevices, and traps are made by stuffing flower-pots full 
of hay, placing two boards together with a small stick, 
to separate them, so as to leave a hiding-place, or by 
cutting a potato in half, scraping out a portion of the 
interior, and placing it cut-tide down upon places they 
frequent. If any of our readers have had any experience 
with this crustacean, we hope they will give it for the 
general good. 
° • 
Sal-Soda for Manure.— "J. M. A.," 
Huntingdon Co., Pa. Sal-soda, or crude carbonate of 
soda of the shops, is of no value as a fertilizer. Common 
salt, which is chloride of sodium (sodium in the metal, 
the oxide of which is soda), is a far better means of sup- 
plying soda to the soil, and is frequently of great value. 
We have greatly added to the yield of clover and wheat 
by the use of a bushel of salt per acre, but never knew or 
beard of any benefit accruing from the use of sal-soda. 
Poland China Hogs.- "A. G. F.," 
Warren Co., Iowa. The Poland China, or Magie hogs, 
can hardly be called thoroughbred yet, but, notwith- 
standing this, they are an excellent race of hogs where 
large size is wanted, and probably as good as any for 
general use where corn is cheap and heavy pork is sale- 
able. They can be procured of any of the breeders 
whose names are found in our advertising columns. 
"Split Hoofs.'*— "A. G. F.," Warren Co., 
Iowa. Sand crack or u a split hoof" is very difficult of 
cure, without entire rest until new horn grows from the 
coronet or upper part of the hoof. But light work may 
be done if any blacksmith can be got who can put a bar- 
shoe upon the foot. When this shoe is put on, the crack 
should be cleaned of all dirt or sand, and the edges pared 
evenly. At the upper end of the crack a hot iron should 
be drawn across the horn in the shape of a V, or a cut 
should be made with a sharp knife partly through the 
lion, in il.nt cliapo, ao ai) to Boparata til© entire llOm 
from that which is cracked. The nail upon each side 
of the crack at the bottom of the foot should not be 
clenched until some strong, fine wire is wound in figure 
S form around them. They should then be clenched so 
as to retain the wire in place. When a new shoe is put 
on, the same should be repeated, bar-shoe as well, until 
the crack grows out altogether. 
Sheep Wets.— "W. Y.," Wytheville, W. Va. 
The nets used in hurdling sheep are made in England. 
We have not the facilities here for making them cheaply 
enough. Mr. William Adamson, Gainesville, Pr. William 
Co., Ya., writes us that be has imported some for his 
own use, and will furnish them to those who want them. 
Manure for Clay Soil.— "E. W. C." 
After barn-yard manure, the best fertilizer for a clay soil 
is probably lime, with clover plowed under after it. 
Ifeaitter from Sweet Cream. — "H. B. 
O.," Whitinsvillc, Mass. The butter referred to in the 
extract sent, and also at page 238 of " Flint's Dairy Farm- 
ing," would not be marketable butter by any means, nor 
will it retain its flavor long. It is in fact a sort of sweet 
cream cheese, white, of delicate but not true butter 
flavor, and is not really butter. When we speak of but- 
ter, we refer to the article known and sold as butter in 
the markets and in daily use, and we know of no method 
of making this wi invert tome mechanical process of agi- 
tation as in churning. 
Thorough-Pin.— "J. B. D.," Union Co., 
Ohio. The weak points in the largo, heavy Norman 
horses are the feet and legs. They arc specially subject 
to thorough-pin and other like troubles, and if they arc 
cured, the difficulty generally returns as soon as they go 
to work again. The proper treatment, however, is lo let 
the horse rest, take off the shoes, and let the feet rest 
upon soft, level ground, if possible. Use no shoes with 
high heel-corks, which, throwing the leg out of line, 
strain the sinews and cause wind-galls, thorough-pin and 
spavins. Use a Goodenongh shoe when the shoes are 
replaced, and bandage the part of the leg with a long 
narmw strip of cotton-cloth, and keep it wetted with 
cohl water, with tincture of arnica added in the propor- 
tion of one ounce to each pint. 
"Alfalfa," or Lnccrn.- " M. A. C," 
North T.opeka. It is in vain to try to raise lnccrn (or 
the so-called alfalfa), unless the ground is free from 
weeds. Then it should be sown early in spring, in drills 
9 inches apart, which might be cultivated with a walking 
sulky cultivator, by changing the teeth to suit the rows. 
In this way it would make a very rapid growth and soon 
cover the ground. It should be cultivated every spring 
iu the same manner, if the ground is at all weedy. 
Sowing Clover and Timothy. — 
11 V. W. K.," Union Co., 111. Clover and timothy may be 
sown in July. We once had an excellent stand, when 
they were sown with a crop of buckwheat on the 13th of 
July. On that occasion, 150 lbs. of Peruvian guano, sown 
with the seed, no doubt helped the grass and clover. 
Feed for Early Spring;.— "C. H.," 
Reno Co., Kan. The best feed for early spring is rye 
sown early in the fall. The ground may be prepared 
now or next month, and if low, it should be ridged in 
narrow lands, not over five paces wide. This will keep 
it dry during winter and spring. It may be pastured, and 
the ground afterwards plowed for corn. 
Horn Ail.—" O. E. S.," Bath, Me. The dis- 
ease known as horn ail, is not a disease of the horn at 
all, but a general constitutional disturbance, resulting 
from various causes, which shows itself by inflammation 
of and suppurratiou from the bronchial tubes, and the 
nasal lining and sinuses. It is very similar in effect to 
what is known as the epizootic in horses. It is probably 
better characterized as influenza, or cataarhal fever. 
There is much fever, dullness, and heaviness of the 
head, with heat around the base of the horns, and gen- 
eral distress and suffering. The best treatment is to give 
a purge, if the bowels arc constipated, but if there is 
considerable looseness, an ounce of aromatic spirits of 
ammonia might be given, in a pint of water. The feet 
should be bathed copiously in hot water, and the body 
should be rubbed briskly with a coarse woolen cloth, 
and afterwards clothed with a blanket. If perspiration 
and discbarge from the nostrils can be induced, a cure is 
begun. To effect this, a bag of scalded chaff should be 
hung around the muzzle, and wetted occasionally with 
hot water and vinegar. After the bowels are regulated, 
two ounces of sulphate of potash may be given night 
and morning, until the fever is removed. Good nursing, 
plenty of cold wulor, nml soft brim mashes, will finally 
bring the animal round again. If the disease is neg- 
lected, pneumonia may follow it, and is generally fatal. 
It usually follows a hard winter and poor keep. 
Soiling- Crops.—" Subscriber," Kendall- 
ville, Ind. Without knowing the exact condition of the 
soil, it would be difficult to say what would be the best 
grasses for a permanent pasture. On a strong, clay loam, 
however, it would be safe to sow in August, or early in 
September, G quarts of timothy, l>j" bushels (21 lbs.) of 
orchard grass, and 1 bushel (14 lbs.) of Kentucky blue 
grass. The ground should be made very fine, and should 
be rolled after seeding, instead of being harrowed, which 
would cover the seed too deeply. In the spring, 6 quarts 
of red clover maybe sown upon the list snow. These 
grasses may be sown with rye, which may be pastured in 
the fall, if sown early, and then be cut for fodder in the 
spring. The blue grass will not appear until the third 
year, when, if the soil and locality are congenial, it may 
in time occupy the ground. Tares or rape may be sown 
now for late fall cutting for fodder, or cabbage plants be 
set out; these can be purchased very cheaply by the 
thousand, or white, yellow or Cow-horn turnips may be 
sown, all of which will make valuable fodder crops. 
White Leghorn Pullets. — Miss "M. 
A. C," Chatanqua Co., N. Y., writes, that her 12 white 
Leghorn pullets have laid, in 5 months and 10 days, since 
December last, 103 dozen of eggs. 
Underground Milk Cellars.— "W. 
J. II.," Brady's Bend, Pa. In the Agriculturist of Oc- 
tober, 1S73, we gave descriptions, and engravings, of 
buildings suitable for milk cellars, to be built in a bank. 
Double- Vol ked EgrgfS.— " A. D., "Louis- 
ville, Ky. The large eggs which contain double yolks 
are rarely batched. If properly fertilized and success- 
fully hatched, they would doubtless produce twin chick- 
ens, or by reason of a mechanical annexation of the 
yolks or growing bodies, they could produce malformed 
or monstrous chicks. A recent case of this occurred in 
Illinois, and is reported in a trustworthy paper. A chicken 
was hatched which bad but one head, one neck, one 
breast-bone, and then the chicken separated into two 
bodies with four legs and four wiugs. The curiously 
malformed bird, or birds, was accidentally killed, and 
was found to have one heart, liver, and gizzard, but the 
intestines split into two about one inch from the gizzard, 
and there were two sets of them, one for each body. 
This was probably produced from a double-yolked egg. 
