394, 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[October, 
Ground Feed for Cows.-" T. N. S.” In prac¬ 
tice, we find a good ground feed for cows to be the fol¬ 
lowing: 1 bushel each of corn and oats, and 100 lbs. of 
wheat middlings ground together. Although it costs 
something to grind the middlings with the grain, yet the 
better quality of the feed and its finer condition, when 
thus prepared, repay the expense. If otherwise con¬ 
sidered, the middlings may be mixed with the meal, by 
shovelling them together on the barn-floor. 
Some Poultry Matters.— “A. G. O. M.” The 
common mixed or mongrel race of fowls known as barn¬ 
yard or dunghill fowls, are susceptible of improvement 
either by careful breeding and high feeding, or by cross¬ 
ing with pure bred cocks. An average half-bred B. Leg 
horn is better than an average common hen; the cross 
of pure Leghorn blood is an improvement; the Light 
Brahma cross gives size of body as well as prolificness of 
eggs. Light Brahmas are probably the heaviest irds, 
cocks of 16 lbs., and hens of 12 lbs. being not uncom¬ 
mon. The Dark Brahmas are a fine race, but for some 
good reasons are not so popular as the Light Brahmas. 
Onogood reason is, they are not so hardy or productive. 
Salt in a Compost. — Let “ C. G. C.” try i‘, 
and he will learn a good lesson in chemistry. 'What 
do we use salt on fresh meat for? Simply to prevent de¬ 
composition, and it will have the same effect if put into a 
compost, which is just the opposite to what is desired. 
If a good compost is wanted, do not put salt into it, “for 
the sake of saving the ammonia,” as, in fact, it will pre¬ 
vent it from being formed; but spread an inch or so of 
fresh loam over the heap, which will not prevent decom¬ 
position, yet will catch and save the escaping ammonia. 
44 Tile National Agricultural Congress” 
met at New Haven, Conn., on Aug. 27th last, for a three 
days’ session. Whether the death of the President, the 
Hon. W. C. Flagg, bad a disheartening effect, or the 
meeting was not properly advertised, the attendance 
was altogether too small to be called “national,” or even 
a “ congress,” though the few’ that were present were 
from widely separated parts of the country. The Secre¬ 
tary, always the most important officer on such occa¬ 
sions, failed to appear, or to say that he could not come. 
The President was Hr. T. P. Janes, Commissioner of 
Agriculture of Georgia, and Dr. E. L. Sturtevant served 
as Secretary. The meeting brought together gentlemen 
from widely separated points, and, as often happens in 
Buch cases, its most useful work was done outside of the 
meetings in the informal conversations and discussions 
among the members. We could not see that in the pa¬ 
pers presented, or the discussions which followed, the 
proceedings rose above the level of the average farmers’ 
club. There was the same putting of irrelevant ques¬ 
tions, and while the private axe was not conspicuous, 
a glimpse could be now and then had of the end of the 
handle. The local committee, while they deserve much 
credit for making matte:s pleasant to those who were 
there, might, it seems to us, have secured a larger at¬ 
tendance by the farmers of New England, and especially 
of Connecticut. If those present did not increase their 
knowledge of agricultural affairs, they saw one of the 
most beautiful of New England cities in its best dress. 
Apples from North Carolina.— S. T. Kelsey, 
Highlands, Macon Co.. N. C., sent us a basket of “ Caro¬ 
lina Red June ” apples, picked from his orchard, Aug. 
29th, at which date they had been highly colored for four 
weeks. These specimens were of the darkest, most in 
tens: red, and being of much finer flavor than we have 
ever known in those raised at the North, gave us an idea 
of what this excellent early apple can be, when grown in 
perfection among the mountains of North Carolina. 
A Sizable Plum.— Messrs. G. H. and J. W. Hall, 
So. Glastonbury, Conn., sent us a plum “ of the average 
size,” borne by the tree. This plum averages 3 by Cl¬ 
inches—not in circumference, but in diameter. The 
Messrs. H. bought the tree several years ago ns a “ Pond's 
Seedling,” but the fruit is very different from that, and, 
as it has not been recognized as a known variety by any 
of our experts, they propose to call it the “ Glaston¬ 
bury.” We suggested to Messrs. H. that this might be 
a possible instance of bud variation ; a single bud upon 
a Pond's Seedling having sported, a view they are dis¬ 
posed to adopt. It is no more strange that a single bud 
upon a tree should sport in the way of bearing enormous 
fruit, than it is that a peach bud should sport to produce 
a nectarine, or the reverse, both having occurred. 
Salt of bio Value (?) to Animals.— “C. B.,” 
of Hightstown, N. J., writes that his experience teaches 
that cattle and horses do quite as well without salt as 
with it. The experience of thousands of others furnish¬ 
es evidence to the contrary. And even if it were of no 
special value, it would seem to be a liberal policy to al¬ 
low animals a taste of salt, now and then, as they relish 
It so much, and it costs so little. That the desire for 
salt is not acquired by domestication is shown by the 
fact that wild animals frequent “ salt-licks” in great num¬ 
bers, and make long journeys to reach them, indicating 
that it is a necessity; and it is doubtless a preventive of 
disease and promotive of digestion. 
’» _ 
Salt on Land. —“C. B. M.,” Madison, N. J. It is 
unnecessary to apply salt as plant-food, enough being 
present in the land, generally, to supply all the demands 
of the plant. The chief action of salt is to render avail¬ 
able the plant-food already in the soil, which was before 
inaccessible, and it may be beneficial on a soil rich in 
such constituents, as, for example, a strong clay loam. 
On the poorer ciass of soils it may, in the end, be posi¬ 
tively detrimental. 
A Cow In Bad Condition.— “J. F. G.,” Bing¬ 
hamton, N.Y. Afier having had the teats cut to ease 
the milking, or after a case of garget, cow-pock, or in¬ 
jury by careless use of milking tubes, a cow would have 
poor chance of escaping trouble with her next calf. We 
suggest careful watching when her time approaches; 
and on the first appearance of heat or hardness in the 
udder, to draw the milk, and to foment and rub it with 
a mixture of 7 parts of glycerine and one of iodine, to 
avoid the use of rich food, and to give an ounce of salt¬ 
petre, repeated, if necessary, to reduce fever. 
Blood Spavin and Thoroiiglipln.-- “R.,” 
Benton Harbor, Mich. A thoroughpin is a bog spavin 
which, when the swelling is pressed upon, passes to the 
other side of the leg. Rest is necessary for a cure, which 
a high-heeled shoe will help forward. The inflammation 
should be removed by cold water dressings, and when 
the heat has disappeared, iodine oinrment may be used, to 
produce absorption. The disease is obstinate, and when 
it occurs from rheumatism, a permanent cure is rare. 
Oil to Prevent Decay.- “W. H. H.,” Marlboro, 
Mass. Pine or other wood painted with boiled linseed- 
oil will last much longer. If exposed wood is well oiled 
once a year, it will resist decay about as well as if paint¬ 
ed. Crude petroleum will preserve wood, and is much 
cheaper than linseed oil. 
Silver CIiaiF Wheat.— “G. E.,” St. Joseph, 
Mich. We can not recommend the wheat called “Silver 
Chaff,” for light soils. In a trial with other kinds upon a 
light soil, this variety was worth nothing. How it may 
succeed upon a heavy soil is a question for investigation. 
It is safe never to risk a whole crop with a new variety, 
however well it may be spoken of elsewhere ; the safe 
way is to sow a small quantity for trial at first. Wheat 
will not mix in the field. 
Niagara Falls—Immense Water Power. 
—Dr. Siemens says 150.000,000 tons of water descend 150 
feet every hour, which represent an aggregate of 16,800,000 
horse power. He calculates that 4 lbs. of coal burned 
per hour, in producing steam, gives a power equal to 
that of a horse working an hour; that to pump back the 
water falling over Niagara in a year, would require 
266,000,000 tons of coal, which is more than all the coal 
used for steam purposes in the world.—As we figure it, 
then, the water-power of Niagara Falls, if all used, 
would be about the same as that of 34,000,000 horses, 
each working constantly for 12 hours a day. As a barrel 
of water weighs about 263 lbs., the fall of 150 million 
tons per hour, is equivalent to over 21 million barrels- 
every minute, or 355,000 barrels of water every second 1 
Turner and. Ross’ Guns.— An advertisement of 
this firm appeared last year, after considerable investiga¬ 
tion on our part. But because throe or four of our read¬ 
ers complained of disappointment, we followed our 
usual custom, and omitted the advertisement, at consid¬ 
erable pecuniary loss, simply to be sure of being on the 
right side. The complaints received were looked into, and 
we believe were all made satisfactory. Messrs. T. & R. 
assure us that they themselves were deceived in a few of 
the thousands of guns sold by them, without knowing it 
at the time, and that they have been, and are anxious to 
do justly, and give entire satisfaction to every customer. 
If any others of our readers were disappointed, let them 
address Messrs. Turner & Ross, at Boston, and we shall 
be much mistaken if their complaints are not rectified. 
Viilue of Salt-liay.—“ L. D. B.,” Palisades, N. 
Y. The feeding value of salt hay was given in an article 
by Professor Atwater, in the American Agriculturist for 
January, 1876, together with a table of values of many 
kinds of fodder, and a list of rations of these with va¬ 
rious grains, by which comparatively poor fodder might 
be made equal to the best of hay. These tables are val¬ 
uable, and should be kept for study and reference. 
Stive the Eyes—Reading' and Writing.— 
Never read or write with the light shining into the 
eyes. It contracts the pupil and strains the eyes by the 
effort to gather rays of light enough from the printed page 
to make it legible. Always have the light from the win¬ 
dow or a lamp, come over the shoulder upon the reading 
matter, so that the eye itself can not see the direct light. 
This will greatly aid the sight and save the eyes. Never 
lean forward in reading or writing; it compresses the 
chest and lungs and injures the health. Let the shoulders 
be thrown back, and have the chest or breast stand well 
out and free. These simple rules followed, will not only 
aid the sight., but save one’s health and vigor many years, 
and enable him to read and write much longer at a time 
without weariness. We always write our letters, as well 
as all cony for the American Agriculturist, upon a tablet 
held in front as nearly perpendicular as possible and 
have the ink flow from the pen ; while the head is sup¬ 
ported against a high-back chair, and the elbows by the 
chair-arras, so that the mind has no care of their support, 
but is left free to think. In this position, we can read 
and write six, and even ten hours or more when neces¬ 
sary, without great fatigue. 
Too Much Ventilation. —“E. II.,’’ Lebanon, 
Del. It is veyy easy to ventilate a cool cellar too much 
in the summer time. The warm air which enters, de¬ 
posits moisture on the cold floor and walls as dew, and 
the cellar becomes damp and mouldy. It should be ven¬ 
tilated sparingly, and if damp, may be dried by putting in 
it a bushel of fresh burned lime in a box. This will ab¬ 
sorb the moisture and make the air dry. When the lime 
is slaked down, spread it on the field and use a fresh lot. 
Ashes for Wheat. —“ Boy Farmer.” Woodashes 
contain more of the essential elements of plant-food 
than do the ashes of wheat straw, a large portion of the 
latter being silica ; therefore the wood ashes are a 
more valuable fertilizer for any crop, wheat included. 
Any amount, from 10 to 50 bushels per acre, will be 
found beneficial; on an average soil, probably ubout 25 
bushels would be most profitable for wheat. 
Fnleached Ashes.— “J. H. K.” These, being 
adapted to any crop needing potash, are useful to nearly 
all. They give the best results on light, dry soils. The 
amount to apply per acre depends on the soil and the 
crop ; any quantity, from 10 bushels upward, will result 
in substantial benefit. 
Feather-eating? Fowls.— “D. W. S.,” Scranton, 
Pa. The habit of pulling and eating feathers is common 
among fowls confined. It, is impossible to cure the fault 
when once acquired, and it is best to kill the fowls for 
table use at first sight, as they quickly teach others to do 
the same. The cause is doubtless a need or appetite for 
something contained in the feathers. A mixture of dried 
flesh and bone, specially prepared for poultry, with a 
small quantity of sulphur, will act as a preventive. Bits 
of fresh lean meat, or scraps, or finely powdered fresh 
bones, will answer. Our fowls, which are regularly sup¬ 
plied witli the “Imperial Egg Food,” show no such de¬ 
pravity, though very closely confined at this season. 
Thatching Roofs. —“ N. C. M.,” and others. 
For full descriptions of thatching roofs with straw see 
American Agriculturist for July 1874, and May 1868. 
The Angora Goat and its Uses.— “G. A.," 
Fort Davis, Texas. An article fully descriptive of the 
Angora Goat was given in the Anierican Agriculturist of 
October, 1876. The market for the wool (called molmir), 
is quite restricted; one mill that we know of, is in 
Jamestown, N. Y. There is nothing in the goat or the 
fleece to make it preferable to sheep, excepting under 
circumstances in which sheep can not be kept profitably. 
Eggs May he Carried Safely, we would say to 
“ T. G. R.,” Benton Co., Oregon, a long distance by water, 
as there is little jar or disturbance. Eggs have been 
known to hatch after having been brought from Europe 
to this country. The jar and constant vibration of rail¬ 
road carriage is injurious to eggs used for incubation. 
Peach-Stone Meats Poisonous.— Children, 
and some grown people, are fond of cracking peach-pits 
and eating the kernel or meat. The “London Globe ” 
decribes the painful death of a boy from eating them, and 
says one ounce of the kernels contain about one grain of 
hydrocyanic or prussic acid. We do not know as to the 
quantity, but this is one of the most virulent poisons 
known. One grain will kill an adult, person, while X to 
X of a grain will generally prove fatal to a child. In case 
of accidental poisoning, inhaling ammonia (spirits of 
hartshorn), and applying ice-cold water to the head, and 
pouring italong the spine, are helpful. The bestantidote, 
when it can be quickly obtained, is to swallow 20 grains 
of carbonate of potassa, diluted in one or two ounces of 
water, and immediately after, 10 grains of sulphate of 
iron (copperas), and a drachm of tincture of chloride of 
iron, mixed in an ounce of water. The above amounts 
will neutralize nearly 2 grains of the hydrocyanic acid. 
