MEDICINAL SPRINGS AND CLIMATE OF FLORIDA.-THE CHECK OR BEARING REIN. 193 
MEDICINAL SPRINGS AND CLIMATE OF 
FLORIDA. 
A highly respectable and intelligent correspond¬ 
ent from Soutli Carolina, commenting on that part 
of Mr. Parsons’ article on the “ Agriculture of 
Florida,” page 118 of our April No., where he 
.speaks of the country around Lake Monroe, says : 
This is the one spot , where every invalid in the 
United States, seeking a delightful winter resort, 
will come, if suitable accommodations can be pro¬ 
vided for him. The balmiest air ; a lovely lake; 
abundant game; orange groves; sulphur, chaly¬ 
beate, and iodine springs—all in one neighborhood, 
.and of the highest virtues. I prefer the waters to 
the Saratoga, Virginia, or any European springs I 
Rave visited. If you know a thorough Boniface 
who can command $25,000 capital, send him out 
there, and I will guarantee him a large fortune in a 
few years. If I knew the right sort of man to put 
there, I would not hesitate a moment to purchase 
the spot myself.” 
On showing the above to Mr. Parsons, who has 
recently returned from Lake Munroe, with improv¬ 
ed health, he corroborates all that our correspond¬ 
ent says—speaks very favorably of the mild and 
equable temperature of the climate, and is of the opi¬ 
nion that the medicinal springs are of the highest 
value. Living there would be cheap, and of the 
best kind. Fish, deer, turkeys, and ducks equal 
to the best canvass-back, are in such abundance, 
that a single man with his rod and gun, would 
■easily keep a large family at all times liberally 
supplied with fresh meat of the most delicious 
kinds. The pastures are green all winter, and 
cattle cost little to be kept. IVfutton, beef, milk, 
vegetables, eggs, and indeed all farm and garden 
products are easily attainable. Besides these com¬ 
forts, oranges, and several other tropical fruits are 
plenty. 
Lake Munroe is only one week’s travel from 
New York, and the whole distance is easily accom¬ 
plished by railroad and steamboat. The agricultu¬ 
ral advantages of the country are considerable. 
Any one wishing further details on these matters, 
would obtain them by addressing Mr. S. B. Parsons, 
Flushing, Long Island. 
THE CHECK OR BEARING REIN. 
I am anxious, in this place, to add my anathema 
against that inhuman instrument of torture, the 
bearing-rein. It is no less detrimental to the utility 
of the animal than it is replete with agony to him. 
It must have been invented by a savage, and can 
only be employed by the insensate. Whence the 
benefit of unbearing a draught-horse when going 
up hill? Because the head can then be thrown 
into its natural position, and materially assist by its 
weight in drawing the load. If it is beneficial to 
loose the head at that time, it must also be so on 
other occasions. Look at the elongated mouths of 
the unfortunate animals thus so wantonly abused— 
torn by the bit in their unavailing efforts to over¬ 
come this truly barbarous instrument! What pro¬ 
duces that dreadful disease, poll-evil, but the action 
of this cruel strap ; constraining the head during 
the violent exertions of the animal, producing in¬ 
flammation and ulceration of the point upon which 
it articulates with the spine ? Poll-evil, so gene¬ 
rally supposed to originate from blows inflicted on 
the part, is attributable alone to the gagging-rein. I 
never saw a horse used entirely for the saddle 
attacked with this affection. In order to obtain 
momentary relief from the torment inflicted by the 
bearing-rein on the poll and mouth, the poor 
creature is compelled incessantly to toss up his 
head. By thus strapping down the head you say, 
practically, “ I expect you to draw a certain 
weight, but I will take away part of your power of 
doing so.” Some have urged that the bearing-rein 
contributes to the safety of the animal, who, with¬ 
out it, would be more liable to come down. How¬ 
ever applicable such an argument may be to those 
employed in quick draught—though even with 
them the utility of this instrument is not only ex¬ 
ceedingly doubtful, but fast giving way to a more 
rational method of treatment—it assuredly does not 
apply to cart-horses, for little fear is ever entertain¬ 
ed of their falling; and broken knees, so common 
among the faster breeds, are rare amongst them.— 
The Horse in Health and Disease. 
How to make a Horse carry a Good Tail. —The 
peculiar manner in which an Arab horse carries his 
tail has for a long time excited admiration. It re¬ 
sults from the form of the croup, which may itself 
be an effect of art continued for a long series of 
ages. It is possible that this deviation in the posi¬ 
tion and carriage of the tail may have been first in¬ 
duced by the invariable Eastern custom of keeping 
the tail shorn of its hair during the period of 
growth. The colt is docked early in life, and from 
that time the dock is kept constantly trimmed until 
the fourth or fifth year, or even later. This prac¬ 
tice, by removing the weight of hair which tended 
to press down the tail during the colt’s growth, has 
the effect of improving its permanent position, and 
giving rise, in the course of many generations, to a 
slight deviation from the usual construction of this 
part of the frame.— Ibid. 
Bone Mills. —Scarce a week passes that we do 
not receive various letters upon the subject of the 
cost of bone mills and their construction. Bone is an 
exceedingly hard substance, and very difficult to 
grind. It requires a mill of great strength, and a 
steady power of at least fifteen horses. Water or 
steam is the best powder to be applied, that of ani¬ 
mals or wind is too unsteady. A good mill could 
not be constructed for less than $1,500 so far as we 
know. We have examined all the cheap concerns 
costing from $50 to $300 each, and candidly say, 
they are not worth a penny for grinding bones. 
They are not strong enough, nor can they be made 
so without costing a high price. After the castings 
are obtained it requires a mill-wright to set them 
up and construct the machinery for their operation. 
Jerusalem Artichokes. —Last year 1 planted 
one peck, and raised nearly 25 bushels. This en¬ 
couraged me to plant 15 bushels the past month, 
and if the result prove equal to that of last year, I 
shall get 1,500 bushels. I planted them in rows 
30 inches apart, dropping the cuttings one foot 
apart in each row. The after culture will be the 
same as with potatoes. R. L. C. 
