208 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[JUNE^ 
Ilalf-a-Vear, Hfow !— This number closes 
the first half of Volume 30. When desired, subscribers 
■will be taken for the remaining half of the year at half 
the regular rates, single or clubs. In Premium lists, two 
half-year subscribers may, during this month, count the 
same as one full subscriber. {^~ Our friends may 
now invite in their friends for a half year's trial. 
I>oes Farming- Pay ?— We often hear it 
said, there is no longer any money in farming. In the 
course of our experience we have heard similar state- 
ments concerning other occupations. A printer, adher- 
ing in these days to the old-fashioned hand-press, might 
make the same complaint, and with as much justice as 
the present farmer, who carries on operations in the old 
stylo, or a carpenter who makes his moldings by hand 
and planes boards. The improvements in machinery of 
all kinds have so quickened the demand for labor in 
every branch of industry, that the farmer as well as the 
mechanic must abandon hand labor and use machinery, 
or his profits must be eaten up in expenses. Hay may 
be made and put in the barn by machinery now at the ' 
rate of one dollar per acre. By hand the cost would be 
four dollars. The old style of crop is half a ton per 
acre ; now three times that is a fair crop. The difference 
is just that between eight dollars per ton and sixty-six 
cents. The wide-awake farmer has this difference for 
his profit, eight dollars being about the market price for 
hay in many places. The same is true of most other 
crops, grain and roots especially. In feeding 6tock and 
making and using manure, equally large differences re- 
sult. So of breeding stock; the old style rooter, and the 
modern Berkshire, are not more unlike than are their 
several values when made into pork. The same of the 
ill-fed, rough-coated native heifer or steer, and the sleek, 
•well-fed grade Jersey or Ayrshire. The same is true of 
many farming communities in respect to roads, fences, 
and schools. All these must be fitted up with modern 
improvements, or farming as a business must suffer. We 
know whereof we speak, when we emphatically deny 
that fanning is an unprofitable business. The capital in- 
vested will, if rightly used, return in this branch of in- 
dustry as good an interest as in any other, besides hav- 
ing the invaluable merit of indestructibility. A work- 
shop or factory may burn up, but land remains not only 
intact, but from uncontrollable circumstanced is ever ad- 
vancing in value. So the labor of the farmer is sure of 
some remuneration if properly directed. Poor farms and 
poor farmers are the ones whose crops fail through 
drouth or excessive wet. On a properly conducted farm 
these may damage the crop, but will never destroy it. 
The divine promise of seed-time and harvest is for the 
especial benefit of the farmer; but it rests with himself 
in a great measure whether the fulfilment comes to him 
individually, or whether his more enterprising neighbor 
secures it. 
Exhibition at Jersey.— Not New Jersey, 
but one of the Channel Islands, so celebrated as the home 
of the Jersey cattle. We have received a prospectus of 
a show to open on the 28th of the present month, which 
offers liberal prizes for bulls, heifers, and cows of both 
Jersey and Guernsey cattle, as well as for butter from 
both of these breeds. Prizes are also offered for horses, 
pigs, poultry, and dogs, for cage-birds, for plants and cut 
flowers, agricultural and horticultural machinery and 
implements, and for various works of art and industry. 
Improved Stock.— The present high price 
of thorough-bred stock, while it limits the business of 
breeding to men of capital, does not necessarily prevent 
the ordinary farmer from procuring male animals where- 
with to improve his native stock. A stock of grade cows 
for the dairy may be gradually gathered up by the expen- 
diture of from fifty to two hundred dollars. Many breed- 
ers of Jersey cattle will dispose of a young bull calf for 
a very small sum, becausa its color does not suit their 
taste, while in respect to its pedigree or other useful 
qualities, it may be faultless. Such an animal purchased 
young and well cared for, will become useful for raising 
calves, at a year old. A yearling heifer of his get will, 
by the use of another such animal, become profitable at 
two years old, and its calf will be three-quarters bred, 
and it is quite likely to become as valuable for the dairy 
as a pure bred animal that could not be purchased for 
less than $300 or $400. The produce of this cow would 
be seven-eighths bred, and if care is taken in selecting 
the parents, would show little difference from entirely 
pure animals. Co-operation among a few neighbors 
who would each procure and keep a young bull whose 
services they might exchange witii each other to prevent 
close breeding, would soon change the appearance as 
well as the productive qualities of the stock of quite a 
large district. The main point to be guarded againBt is 
not to breed from any but pure stock. All male grade 
animals should be emasculated or go to the butcher, 
while young. The use of a grade bull ought not to be 
permitted. Here is where many a mistake is made. In 
the course of four or five years, quite a herd of three- 
quarter or seven-eighth-bred animals would accumulate, 
and the profit would begin to come in. Ayrshire and 
Jersey cattle should be the breeds aimed at, as these are 
excellently fitted for the dairy, and are profitably fed for 
the butcher on ordinary farms. They are exceedingly 
tractable, quiet and orderly, are large milkers, and yield 
much butter of good color and flavor. The Devon and 
Durham are better fitted for' the grazier, and would be 
more suitable where beef is the object aimed at. Bat 
whatever the breed chosen, care should be taken to avoid 
neglect, or loss will inevitably ensue. We have known 
cases where money has been invested in thorough-bred 
stock which has been treated as though its blood alone 
would be sufficient to protect it from neglect, exposure, 
and starvation. The natural consequence of such a mis- 
take was made a ground of complaint against the breed- 
er, and led to dissatisfaction and disgust. The old adage, 
"blood will tell," true as it may be, is no talisman 
against such an error. The refined nature of an animal 
carefully bred through many generations, will often ena- 
ble it to sustain much ill treatment, hut it will not thrive 
under it. When possessed of a specimen of such stock, 
give it fair treatment— pampering is unnecessary, as it is 
unwise— but care and proper feed and attention will make 
the investment a greatly profitable one. 
Fruit Trees in Gardens are often se- 
riously damaged by cutting their roots with the spade. 
The roots thus severed throw up sprouts which are diffi- 
cult to get rid of. We know of but one cure, which is, 
to remove the earth around the sprouts carefully, and cut 
them off with a sharp knife, leaving the cut with clean 
edges. If the sprouts are from the detached parts of the 
root, each piece of root must be taken out. Prevention 
is the West cure. Don't use a spade in a fruit garden. 
Make use of a digging fork or a tool shaped as above. 
The work will be slower, but with such a tool the roots 
cannot be injured. The handle can be made and fitted 
at home ; a blacksmith will forge the iron out of old tire. 
Brushing Peas.- To prevent the wind 
blowing down the peas, drive stout stakes about six feet 
apart in the row to support the brush, 
Tlte Currant W^rm may be kept in 
check by vigorously destroyii - the young larvae. In the 
early morning they may be di :overed jnst coming into 
active life on the under side o. the leaf. They are then 
about a quarter of an inch in length. By removing the 
leaf with the worms adhering, they may be killed in 
large numbers. By close attention for a short time daily, 
the bushes may be saved ; no surface application can 
prevent their appearance. Unceasing warfare is the 
price we must pay for our currants and gooseberries. 
Buckwheat should be sown as early as pos- 
sible in July. If the ground is not perfectly mellow, give 
one more plowing; this crop will suffer on imperfectly 
prepared ground. It may be true that a comparatively 
fair yield may be gained under poor culture, but the aim 
should be to grasp all that Nature will yield. A farmer 
is a good business man, only when he gets the largest re- 
turn from his land by means ef his labor of hand and 
head. These are his capital, and he can only succeed by 
a wise use of them. Buckwheat is generally hurried into 
the ground as a catch crop, but it can be made sufficiently 
profitable to pay well for all the care and attention that 
may be given to it. Tlie first requisite is mellow ground. 
Plow and harrow until the lumps are reduced. Plow once 
more, and sow and harrow in. A bushel of seed is suffi- 
cient for an acre. We have succeeded better with this 
liberal seeding than with two or three pecks. Grass seed 
and clover will often take well with this crop, especially if 
the soil is in fair condition. The dense shade afforded 
will shield it until the vigorous heats of summer are 
past, when the fall rains will push it ahead sufficiently to 
withstand the frosts of winter. Great caution must be 
observed in harvesting this crop. The quality of the 
flour depends mainly in getting the grain in perfectly 
dry. Never on any account stack it or put it into the 
barn. Cut when the dew is off, and put up in small 
shocks without tying; watch the weather closely, and 
as soon as a dry, breezy day occurs, haul in and thrash 
out. Clean up immediately after thrashing, and spread 
the grain on the barn floor, turning over a few 
times, and allowing the drying winds free access to it. 
The yield of flour will be greatly increased by such 
treatment. Twenty-five pounds of fine flour may be 
taken from a bushel of grain after the miller's toll is de- 
ducted, and new flour brings a high price. The mid- 
dlings should be separated from the bran, which will be 
found an excellent addition to the hot-bed in the spring, 
and is worth preserving for that purpose. The mid- 
dlings are excellent food for young stock-pigs, horses, or 
poultry, but we would not advise them to be fed to cows. 
The butter resulting from such feed will be white and 
tasteless. Treated thus, Buckwheat is safe to yield at 
the rate of a dollar, or even considerably more, for each, 
bushel of grain, besides the feed yielded by the mid- 
dlings. But let it be borne in mind that the early market 
must be secured, or the profit will be considerably reduced. 
"Hybrid" between a Rabbit and 
Cat,— A story comes to us by the way of Sauk Co., Wis., 
about some hybrids between the cat and rabbit born in 
Connecticut. These remarkable animals feed on clover 
and catch mice ! It is not stated whether they give mid- 
night serenades or not. Our correspondent wishes we 
would eay something abont the matter ; so we say— we 
don't believe it. 
Management of Colts. — Colts are very 
apt to be left to shift for themselves after weaning. This 
is wrong. A year's gain in the usefulness of a horse 
may easily be made by care and attention during the first 
few months of its life. The mare, while nursing its 
foal, should not be overworked, and good pasture or 
green feed in the stable will keep her in fair condition, 
and furnish sufficient nourishment for the foal. When 
weaned, and pasture becomes short, neglect is hurtful ; 
then care should be exercised to keep it growing. Dur- 
ing the fall months some of the best early cut hay should 
be given to it; and when the horses are stabled, let it 
have a loose box, or stall adjoining them, where it can see 
and become used to the discipline of the stable. Every- 
thing around it should be well secured, lest in rubbing 
itself it might get something loose. A habit of breaking 
things and getting loose is easily and invariably formed 
at this time, and should be guarded against. During 
winter, feed your colts as you feed your horses. Give 
them a share of what is served out, oats, corn, or ground 
feed as it may. They cannot grow or fare well other- 
wise. " Stinginess" don't pay in rearing young animals. 
An addition of twenty-five or forty dollars to its value 
may result in the winter's feeding and care of one colt. 
Generosity here (of course exercised with judgment) is 
only wise foresight, and will pay good interest on the in- 
vestment. Colts are better kept up than allowed to run 
around. They will become more docile and tractable, 
and will learn fewer tricks. Take them out only for ex- 
ercise, except when at pasture, and then be 6ure to have 
a secure fence, or they will inevitably learn to rub it 
down or jump over it. Train your colt to walk, and 
keep it walking. Farmers don't want fast-trotting 
horses— as yet— we have need so far of fast-walking 
horses, great need, we may say, for they arc far too 
scarce. Therefore, train colts to walk at the rate of four 
miles an hour at least. The time will come when a horse 
that can walk his mile in twelve minutes will take a prize 
at an agricultural fair, equal in value to the best trotter. 
A team of such horses could plow an acre of ground, 
witha furrow six inches wide, in five hours, allowing 
time for turnings round. This is above the quantity 
plowed on the average now, in a day of ten hours. 
Horses of such capacity would be worth a large price, 
and it should be our endeavor to produce them. We have 
a breed that can transmit trotting capacity to its des- 
cendants, why could we not raise up a breed of walking 
horses ? Some one might make a name and fortune in this. 
Barli-Ionse.— "A. B.," West Brom. The 
specimen of apple-tree is infested with Harris' Bark- 
louse (Aspidiottts Harrisii). Scrubbing the limbs with 
lye or very strong soft soap will help. If but one tree 
is infested, cut and burn the limbs upon which they are. 
Composts.- U L. W. G.," Lancaster Co., Pa. 
Sod obtained from the banks of streams is valuable, if 
composted with lime, when the Boil is deficient in organ- 
ic matter, though it would be better to mix it with ani- 
mal manures. Sheep-manure shonld never be mixed 
with ashes. Apply the ashes separately, and mix the 
sheep-manure with soil. 
Feeding- Milch Cows.— Last month we 
pnblishcd a translated article upon "Swedish Dairy 
Farming," in which the singular practice of feeding 
horse manure to milch cows was described, but not 
commended. "Tommy," Ripley Co., Ind., writes: "My 
cows that I have at home are allowed to run in the yard, 
into which the horse manure is thrown, and can eat all 
they choose (which they arc sure to do). They have been 
eating the manure for about three months, with no good 
