1873.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
4=39 
Patrons of Husbandry — Tlie 
Farmers' Movement. — The Granges of the 
Patrons of Husbandry multiply at a rapid rate in the 
Western and Southern States. So far as we have ob- 
served the order has kept itself aloof from political 
entanglements, and proposes to confine itself to its 
legitimate work, the elevation of -the social, intellectual, 
and even economical condition of its members. Isola- 
tion has been the great drawback to a rarm life, and has 
driven majiy a son away from the homestead. The 
Grange meetings, in which both men and women partici- 
pate, will do much to enlarge the narrow circle, and by 
merely bringing people in contact will do much good. 
Farmers living by themselves and without any concert 
of action, have been the dupes of swindlers of all kinds. 
Where one knew he was right, he preferred to submit to 
an imposition rather than make a stand against it with- 
out any baoUinpj . Now a farmer who is a. metubcr of the 
order can bring his case before his Grange with the 
confidence that if right he will be sustained in his posi- 
tion by bis fellow members. We feel confident that those 
swindlers who have obtained money by notes suscepti- 
ble of alteration, by false measurements for lightning 
rods, by threats to sue for the use of pretended patents, 
will keep shy of a community where there ia a Grange. 
Before Granges were established we, when written to 
for advice in cases where the farmer was imposed upon 
by some false claimant, could only advise him to bring 
the matter before the fanners' club if there was one, or 
if there was none, to call a meeting of his neighbors. 
We can now advise him to appeal to his Grange. Thia 
feeling of interdependence and confidence is not the least 
of the benefits that we may look for from the Granges. 
In the Eastern states the number of Granges formed 
have been few, and in one case, if reports are correct, 
the establishment of one has led to unpleasant results. 
It seems that a deputy, or some authorized officer, set 
forth the objects of the order in Boston and formed a 
Grdnge. It is claimed that the members of the Boston 
Grange are grain dealers, speculators, and monopolists, 
and the very persons against whom a portion of the 
work of the order is directed. The authorities have 
requested the Boston Grange to turn over its books and 
papers and give up its organization. This they refuse 
to do, but, as reported in the daily papers, maintain an 
attitude of defiance. What effect this will have upon 
the extension of the order in New England reniains-to 
be Been ; and it is hoped that this, which seems likely 
to be an element of discord, may be satisfactorily dis- 
posed of. 
The " Farmers' Movement, " which is professedly polit- 
ical, is, as wp hn\o before stated, distinct from the Patrons 
of Husbandry, and while aimiirg at essentially the same 
reforms proposes to effect them in a different manner. 
The first important election into which this element 
distinctly enters will take place in Iowa before 
thi6 paper reaches our readers. An Anti-monopoly or 
Farmers' Ticket has been nominated, and the votes 
will soon decide the matter. The result will not, how- 
ever, indicate the true strength of the "Farmers' Move- 
ment," as the head ofthc strongest political ticket is him- 
self one of the Patrons, and an active member of a Grange. 
It will be seen that this will complicate matters some- 
what, but it is conceded that the ll Farmers' Movement " 
will have a marked effect npon the character of the Leg- 
islature. We have no hesitation in going so far into poli- 
tics as to advise our readers to vote for the best „mai % no 
matter what they may be called. 
China. Berries. — John D.Taylor, Anaheim, 
6al., writes in reply to a request from " Inquirer," July 
Agriculturist, that his brother used to feed the berries of 
the China-tree (Melia Aztdarach) to his horses once a 
week, and sometimes often er, and*used the bark of both 
tree and root as a vermifuge. lie says he has never seen 
a worm or insect upon these trees, and suggests the use 
of the leaves and bark as a rcpellant for vermin.— It is 
elated in a French work that the seeds of the China-tree 
contain a concrete or solid oil which has been used for 
the manufacture of was candles. 
Xhe Clondy Side.— " A Farmer's Wife," 
who has a valuable furm worth $40,000, and who is in 
delicate health and is without incumbrance, should per- 
suade her husband, who is also in ill health, to sell his 
farm and invest the proceeds in safe mortgages on real 
estate. A farm is a place for robnst people only, and a 
sick woman is altogether out of place there. The income 
from the above amount would be sufficient to enable two 
persons to change their residence whenever agreeable, 
and to take that rest and comfort needed by those in 
delicate health. 
Mansard Roof.— "W. T.," Columbus, O. 
The Mansard roof is the same as that known as the 
French roof. The name Mansard is derived from the in- 
ventor, a French architect who lived over 800 years ago. 
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Ill.Conditioned Horse.-'S. F. S." 
A horse that is out of condition, in spite of abundant 
feed aud good grooming, presents a case which is diffi- 
cult to advise upon without knowing of what his feed 
consists. Grooming can not restore the condition of a 
horse's health; it may act as a partial preservative to his 
health, but that is all. In the present case, we would 
suggest a change of feed. Scalded oats or bran, with a 
pint of linseed meal daily ; cut hay, wetted and fed moist ; 
a daily feed of carrots or cut potatoes ; a few apples, with 
a Bimplc tonic, as a dram of copperas and an ounce of 
ground ginger, daily. 
Grass Seeds. — il Jas. W.," Sanilac Co., 
Mich. Any of our leading seedsmen can, no doubt, pro- 
cure any seeds of grasses that maybe desired, if there are 
any in the market. Holland has low moist soil and a 
damp climate, and grasses that would thrive there would 
fail upon onr uplands and in our dry climate, at least 
without abundant irrigation. 
Texas Cattle Trade.— The cattle tTade 
of Kansas is already enormous. The present season, the 
amount of money required to handle the droves which 
have come in from Texas is $7,500,000, and to this must 
be added the value of the cattle that will come into the 
State from Colorado. 100,000 head will be wintered over 
in Kansas, creating a large demand for corn and pasturage 
from the farmers. The growth of this trade during the 
past few years has been very rapid, and its continued in- 
crease for many years is no longer a^matter of specula- 
tion. 
Feed for Family Cow.— E. W. Smith, 
Boston. The best feed for a family cow is the best of 
clover hay and corn, wheat bran, oats, and peas ground 
together in equal quantities. ThiB should be given 
stirred into a pail of slightly warm water with a handful 
of salt. About three quarts morning and night should be 
given. Occasionally a change should be made by substi- 
tuting cotton seed or linseed cake meal for the peas. 
Getting a Sod.— U W.," Westchester Co., 
N. Y. An upland pasture may be improved by the fol- 
lowing method, which has been entirely successful with 
us. Spread 25 bushels per acre of lime, finely slacked, 
before winter. During winter, spread what manure can 
be gathered as evenly as possible. (If the manure is very 
coarse and strawy, rake it off again iu spring aud take it 
back to the baru-yard to be rotted.) Harrow early in 
spring with a sharp-toothed heavy harrow. Sow six 
quarts of red' clover, eight quarts of timothy, one bushel 
of orchard grass, and one bushel Kentucky blue grass. 
Harrow with a fine light harrow and roll thoroughly. 
The pasture may be fed ofl* late in the season, but only 
lightly, and if another top-dressing of manure cau be 
given to it in the fall or early winter it will be able to 
take care of itself afterwards. Lime or bone-dust should 
be given every five years to a permanent pasture. 
Eating Bones.— U T. A. L.," Manhattan,. 
Kan. There is no remedy needed to prevent a cow eating 
bones. Let her eat all she wants; they will do her no 
harm and may do her good. Salt and chalk are no sub- 
stitutes for the phosphate of lime she gets in the bones, 
and which she needs, or she would not eat them. 
Barn Building.— " J. E. S.," Volga City, 
Iowa. In the Agriculturist of December, 1873, we gave 
plans of a barn which we found very convenient for our- 
selves, aud which has been very much approved by many 
of our readers. For a barn 34 X 30 the posts should be 
at least eight inches square, and as it costs scarcely any 
more to build 18 feet high than 16 feet we would have 
posts IS feet long for such a size. A balloon frame is 
hardly stout enough for a barn ; it should be frames' well 
and solidly. The cornice should at least be wide enough 
to throw off the water-drip, and 18 inches is little enough 
for this purpose ; but the cornice is one of the chief ar- 
chitectural points of a building, and up to a certain ex- 
* tent the wider it is the more sheltered and substantial 
the building appears. If brackets are used, a 34-inch 
cornice would look well ; for a bos cornice 18 inches 
would be wide enough. 
Corn. Oats, and Wheat Cor Pigs* 
— ll J. W.," M»rgan Co., Mo. Corn and wheat bran 
ground together is an excellent food for a sow and pigs, 
along with milk, and plenty of water to drink, which 
must not be forgotten. The oats and wheat might better 
be left out as too costly, and not any better than the corn 
and bran. 
Land tor an Orchard. — "J. H.,"St. 
Clair Co., 111. Laud that has been cleared five years ago," 
and has produced crops siuce then, will be very suitable 
for an apple orchard. It i-j not desirable to plant trees 
on newly cleared or broken soil. It is too rich, and 
causes too Insurious a growth of wood, which is apt to 
winter-kill. Good soil, well drained aud full of mineral 
plant-food, is better for planting fruit trees than soil in 
which there is an excess of vegetable matter. 
Killing Fleas on a Dog.— Mrs. " S. E. 
^. ,1 In treating a dog for fleas, caution must be used lest 
the animal be killed instead of the fleas. Dogs can not be 
safely treated with carbolic acid nor will thoy readily take 
medicine; and the easiest aud most effective remedy we 
know is to confine the animal on to a bed of horse litter 
from which the dung has been shaken out. Tiie strongly 
smelling straw will soon drive every flea away. A French 
writer on the dog (M. Guyot) recommends su'-pbate of 
potash in a weak solution. We have used sulphur in the 
food in small doses (a few pinches), given often for 
a week until the dog smells of it, when the fleas will have- 
left. 
Value of Decomposed Limestone. 
— " A. F. S.," Ontario. On Boils free from lime and pos- 
sessing much vegetable matter, a heavy dressing of de- 
composed limestone rock would be of considerable value. 
The rock is carbonate of lime, and if in fine powder would 
be soluble in water which contains carbonic acid. Soils 
rich in decomposing vegetable matter give up carbonic 
acid to the water percolating through them. Hence the 
value of lime even in the state of the carbonate on such 
soils. On soils containing much limestone already, ad- 
ditional limestone would have no effect unless it were 
changed by burning into caustic lime. 
Grass for Pasture. — " G. W L.," 
Newton Falls, O. There is no more valuable grass for 
pasture on a dairy farm or for cutting furf Boiling than 
orchard grass. If sown thickly and kept well manured 
its tendency to stool will be repressed. It starts early 
in the spring, and may be mown or pastured before any 
other grass is ready. It also recovers very rapidly after 
dose pasturing. If cut early it makes excellent hay, at 
least second only to timothy. It is best to sow 3>4 bush- 
els of seed per acre on well prepared ground early ia. 
spring without any other crop. 
