1307.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
403 
usual apparatus for working oxen call to mind 
the case of a German neighbor of mine in Kan- 
sas, whose one pair of oxen were trained to 
draw by the forehead. His apparatus was quite 
simple, consisting of a padded stick placed 
across the forehead of each ox just below the 
horns, and kept in place by straps around them, 
the ends of the stick extending a few inches 
each way beyond the head. The draft was by 
means of a rope on each- side of the animal, 
passed through a hole in the end of the stick 
and knotted in front, hitched to the whiffie-trees 
and evener, and kept in place by a strap over the 
back and another under the belly of the animal. 
I do not recall his method of fastening his ani- 
mals together, or of supporting the tongue when 
worked on a wagon ; but I do recollect that his 
animals worked with much more ease and free- 
dom than oxen in the ordinary 3 r oke ; and also 
that their owner was veiy confident that they 
could pull (or as he phrased it) ' push ' a much 
heavier load than if yoked by the neck." 
The Wheat and Chess Question. 
The position taken by iutelligent agriculturists 
IhaLsuch a thing as wheat turning to chess is im- 
possible in the nature of things, hence not a ques- 
tion to be argued (like the assertion that 2 aud 2 
make 5,) is entirely unacceptable to many sensi- 
ble farmers. The} 7 think they have the evidence 
of their senses that it does happen. "We are 
firmly and kindly remonstrated with for taking 
the position that we will not argue the point. 
We know 2 + 2=4; aud so decline to discuss 
the matter. However, one of our German 
leaders, Mr. Geo. Kunz, has worked out this 
problem much more correctly than many Amer- 
ican farmers, who claim to have tried experi- 
ments .which convinced them that the change 
takes place. We invite attention to his reasoning. 
"As the wheat last winter was more or less 
winter-killed, we could only count upon half a 
crop ; but some farmers have from one-quarter to 
one-hal f chess in their wheat, which causes a great 
many to think that wheat is changed into chess. 
After many years of experience, I can say that it 
is an error, and, if held, of injury to the farmer. 
He who asserts that wheat changes to chess, 
is not anxious to have his seed free from chess. 
The superficial observers who assert that wheat 
turns to chess, (three-quarters of the farmers 
belong to that class,) say they do not sow chess ; 
they also say that chess changes into Tim- 
othy, etc. If such is the case, why do wo pay 
$3 and $3 per bushel for Timothy seed ? Why 
not sow chess, for which we only pay 5 cts. per 
bushel for thrashing? If wheat could produce 
chess, it would long since have run out, and we 
would have as many varieties of chess as of 
wheat. "Why we have more chess when wheat 
is winter-killed may easily be shown. Take 
one bushel of wheat and mix with it one quail 
of chess; the latter can hardly be detected. 
Supposing the wheat is sown and produces 20 
bushels, and chess also 20 quarts, it cannot be 
detected any more than before ; but then, sup- 
pose the wheal is winter-killed badly aud yields 
only ."i bushels instead of 20, the chess is not 
affected, gives every year a full crop, and in- 
creases more Hum wheal ; therefore, more chess 
could be seen after gathering the crop in the 5 
bushels of wheal, thai) there could be seen in 
(he 1 bushel before sowing. It' every farmer 
would convince himself that chess docs not 
ome from wheal, all disputes would cease up- 
i m that point. Sow clean seed on clean soil, and 
you will have no more chess; and if everybody 
was to do so, in five or six years very Utile would 
be found in the wheat fields of the country." 
Canada Thistles and Railroads. 
In our recent travels to attend the State Fairs, 
we noticed almost everywhere iu the West, the 
steady advance of this scourge. The West had 
once clean fields ; but now, in many sections, 
the pastures and meadows are as foul as in the 
oldest part of the country. Most of the older rail- 
roads are already well stocked with the Canada 
thistle at their northern extremities, aud every 
year carries them further south. The seed is 
furnished with a tuft of down, which makes it 
float in the air like a feather. Growing iu close 
proximity to the railroad track, these winged 
seeds are drawn into the current of air made 
by the passing trains, aud every year distrib- 
uted more widely over the country. The rail- 
road embankment becomes thickly stocked with 
them, and from this line they are distributed 
overall the adjoining fields. 
This is a great evil, and demands the imme- 
diate attention of all our. State legislatures. If 
it is left unchecked, the thistles will spread over 
a wider territory eveiy 3 7 ear, until they take 
possession of the whole country. The cost of 
every crop cultivated will be increased, pastures 
will be diminished in value, and the quality of 
hay will be depreciated. It is true, there is 
some nutriment in thistles, and asses are said 
to be fond of them, but these are not the wisest 
of beasts ; and if they wore, they are not likely 
to become popular stock in America. It is an 
unmitigated curse iu cultivated fields, increasing 
the cost of farm produce to all consumers. More 
Canada thistles means dearer corn, wheat, 
rye, oats, aud potatoes. They increase the 
cost of living to every man in the country. 
Railroads are a great blessing, but they have 
no right to spread this pestilence over our fields. 
Legislation is needed to compel the railroads 
to keep their tracks clean. The State Commis- 
sions, which have the oversight of these insti- 
tutions, should be instructed to see that this pest 
is kept under. If there were frequent mowings 
to prevent the seeding of the plant, it would 
soon disappear from the tracks. And while the 
legislatures are considering the case of the rail- 
roads, they may as well take in hand those 
slovenly farmers who allow these weeds to over- 
spread their fields without hiuderance. What 
right has a man to make his farm a seed bed of 
Canada thistles ? What right has he to make 
himself a nuisance among his neighbors? The 
harboring of this pest should subject the farmer 
to fines and penalties. We must have legis- 
lation, or Canada thistles will possess the land. 
A National Dog Law. 
Congress is soon to assemble, and (lie great 
interest of the nation will be likely to receive 
just so much attention from our legislators as 
Ihc people compel them to bestow. There is 
no money for Congressmen in this measure un- 
less '..hey happen to be sheep owners, but a good 
deal of money for their constituents. On ihe 
contrary, our honorable Senators and Represen- 
tatives, who affect dogs and sporting circles, 
might find their taxes slightly increased. We 
have shown, iu OUV past issues, the "aval ill i 
sity of this law to the sheep interests of the na- 
tion. England taxes her dog owners three dol- 
lars tor each dog, and raises a revenue of $8,000,- 
000 from this source. In England, mutton is a 
great institution by reason of this very efficient 
protection. If we want like protection, we must 
legislate against dogs. Wool-growers' associa- 
tions should take the lead in this matter ,and make 
their influence felt at "Washington. Agricul- 
tural societies aud farmers' clubs should start 
their petitions, and send them up by the cart- 
load to the Capitol. Sheep owners who have 
political influence should write to then - repre- 
sentatives, urging the measure. By timely effort 
we may secure what we need. "Wool and mut- 
ton can have no secure basis until the relations of 
sheep aud dogs are permanently reconstructed. 
Fattening- Poultry for the Table or 
for Market. 
The difference between the flesh of a well-fat- 
tened fowl and one that has not been cooped is 
so great that we venture to say that no one 
who really enjoys this excellent food, and raises 
his own poultry, will allow those destined for 
the table to run at large for some two or three 
weeks, at least, before killing them. Young 
birds grow finely with a free range and plenty 
to eat, but we have never found rapidly grow- 
ing fowls or turkeys to take on fat readily when 
confined. They grow rapidly, perhaps, for a 
while, but then are very apt to pine, aud often 
even lose flesh. As soon as the rapid growth 
peculiar to the first four or five months of 
chickeuhood has been made, and the young- 
birds begin to have a mature look, they may bo 
put up in airy coops for fattening. The coops 
should be such as can be kept clean easily, and 
in which they will have some chance to move 
about ; while all should be able to get at their 
food, when fed, without crowding. The two 
long sides, at least, should bo of slats, and the 
bottom made of split poles, half round, about 
three inches wide, put on round side up, and 
with two-inch spaces between them. On such 
a floor, the birds will keep cleaner than on any 
other. Turkeys ought to be cooped upon the 
ground, and the coops shifted every few days. 
Geese should be iu close boxes, with plenty of 
litter, which should be frequently changed, and 
the geese allowed a run of half an hour, aud a 
bath every morning. Ducks should be penned, 
but let out daily to run to the pond, and take 
their regular " ducking," aud eat a little grass. 
As to food, it is a mistake to suppose be- 
cause poultry usually prefer whole grain, espe- 
cially corn, that it is best for them. Boiled 
potatoes mashed, with the addition of about one- 
sixth part Indian meal, make excellent feed for 
all kinds of poultry. If the proportion of Indian 
meal is increased, a little suet added, together 
with stale bread or crusts, soaked soft, it will he 
the more relished, and of much higher fattening 
quality. Chickens and turkeys should have 
some grass frequently, and occasionally some 
meat scraps chopped line. Almost any raw 
vegetables may be substituted for grass, like 
cabbage leaves, beets, the inside parts of pump- 
kins, etc., chopped quite fine. Geese ought to 
have grass daily. Ducks do better, also, for sim- 
ilar sreen food, but for the water fowls, meal is 
unnecessary. The food for all may be greatly 
varied,but ground and cooked grain w ill go much 
farther than the same fed whole or raw. Biro 
confined for fattening, should be fed all that, 
they will eat, as often as four times a day, and 
fresh water should be always before them. 
Every two or three days it is well to make one 
meal actually red with Cayenne pepper, sprink- 
led on in powder, and mixed with the food. A 
