1879.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
87 
Bat-Froof Corn-Crib. —“ J. A. M.,” Humboldt, 
Neb., favors our readers with a suggestion for a rat-proof 
corn crib. As shown in the engraving, it consists of a 
•sort of wheel around each post, about two feet from the 
ground. The wheels may be of wood, sheet-iron, or tin, 
■either round or square, and must be large enough to pre¬ 
sent a rat reaching the outside edge by jumping from 
the post, and high enough (at least two feeti to prevent 
his jumping upon it from the ground. Mr. M. has a crib 
thus protected which he uses for storing seeds, etc. 
Interfering Horses.- “G. M. G.,” Port Royal, 
Pa., writes in regard to interfering horses as follows: 
“The moving foot causes the injury upon the leg sup¬ 
porting the weight of the horse, and the pastern of the 
injured limb is struck by the moving foot because it is 
in an unnatural position, being bent inward. To obviate 
•this, have the inside of the foot raised, either by a calk, 
or by “upsetting” the shoe so that the inside will be 
from } to J of an inch higher than t he outside. This will 
-throw the pastern joint outward when the weight of the 
horse is supported by that limb, from half an inch to an 
inch, and thus enable the opposite and moving foot to 
pass without touching a hair.” [It is dangerous to throw 
the pastern joint out of its proper balance by changing 
the level of the shoe, and if done unadvisedly, it may 
■work serious injury to the horse. This is a point to be 
-guarded against with great care. Horses differ considera¬ 
bly in the form of the foot and joint.and their peculiarities 
should be studied before applying such a remedy.— Ed.] 
Treatment of a Fistula. —“ W. M„” Washing¬ 
ton Co., Pa. The chief difficulty in treating a fistula upon 
the withers is, that the pus being unable to escape re¬ 
mains at the bottom of the opening, causing irritation 
and preventing healing. The proper treatment, therefore, 
is to open the fistula very freely with the knife and to 
apply caustics or corrosives—such as a solution of Nitrate 
of Silver or Muriatic Acid—to destroy and break up the 
pipes, or to remove them bodily by cutting. The bottom 
-can then be reached, which should be done with a swab 
of soft sponge fastened to a whalebone splint. The 
wound is washed and thoroughly cleaned with a solution 
•of 4 grains of Chloride of Zinc in an ounce of water. A 
plug of lint dipped in Tincture of Myrrh is then inserted 
and kept in the opening until it requires washing and 
•cleaning again. By persevering in this way, and by keep¬ 
ing the parts clean and covered with a plaster to exclude 
air, etc., and dressing it twice daily, the fistula will soon 
begin to heal from the bottom, and in time will close up 
-entirely to the surface. But on no account should it be 
permitted to close at the top while the bottom is unhealed. 
Tobacco for Texas.— “N. P.,” Ellis Co., Texas. 
Tob icco-growers are succeeding very well now with 
Havana seed. But before you select your variety it 
would be well to learn in the vicinity what other growers 
are doing, what they find best, and not change blindly. 
“A Pleasing: Lamp Sliadc” was described 
on page 24. in. Jan. last. “E. C ,” West Berne, N. Y., 
dikes the shade, but does not know how to fasten it to 
the lamp. At all the stores—at least in large towns— 
where lamps and gas-fit¬ 
tings are sold, are to be 
•found shades of various 
kinds, from those of plain 
paper, up to those elabo¬ 
rately ornamented; they 
are to be supported upon 
the lamp or gas burner, 
by means of simple and 
very cheap wire frames. These have small rings or 
clamps, to fit gas fixtures, or larger ones to fit the burners 
of lamps, and are sold without as well as with the shades. 
The engraving shows one of these frames. “E. C.,” 
or any one else, having the idea, can easily make from 
wire a frame or support that will answer the purpose. 
Books for a Farmer and Wheat-Grower. 
—“E. C.” If wheat-growing alone is followed, books 
will be less necessary, because the first thing taught by 
books is, that continuous wheat growing is ruinous farm¬ 
ing. Allen’s "Nero Farm Book” is useful for general 
purposes, and as manuring is the basis of real farming, 
(Harris’ “ Talks on Manures ” is very valuable. On the 
whole, a few back volumes of the American Agricul¬ 
turist might be more useful than many books, for taken 
together they are more comprehensive and complete. 
and experience which may be made useful to their 
readers. Those who wish to buy stock of any kind, 
should refer to the advertising columns, in which the 
names of trustworthy breeders will doubtless be found. 
Steaming liny Fee ding lTIeal.— “R. S.," 
Cleveland, Ohio. After considerable experimenting, the 
writer concludes that steaming any but coarse fodder for 
cattle does not pay for the trouble. Many farmers of our 
acquaintance came to the same decision, and gave up 
steaming. In feeding meal, we find that it is beneficial 
and economical to grind the grain as finely as practicable, 
and to feed the meal with moistened cut hay. It is di¬ 
gested more thoroughly, and none is then found to pass 
off with the dung. But we have found that a dry feed of 
3 quarts of meal at noon increases the milk. Our prac¬ 
tice with milch cows in winter, is to feed 3 quarts of 
mixed meal and bran twice a day, with wet cut hay 
or other fodder, and give 3 quarts of dry meal at noon. 
Three Horses Abreast.— Oursketch in the Jan¬ 
uary number, showing an arrangement of lines for driv¬ 
ing three horses abreast, has called out several letters from 
subscribers, giving other methods. •* J. G. V. S.,” Os¬ 
wego, Kans., and “ Young Farmer,” Milford, Kans., send 
sketches of nearly the same method ; it is illustrated in 
fig. 1. The same lines are used as for two horses, except 
short lines from bit to bit, to hold the horses' heads to¬ 
gether. A modification of this arrangement consists in 
having a line connecting the heads of the two outside 
horses passing over the reins under the neck of the mid¬ 
dle one, but not attached to him_“ Wm. J. M.,” Belle¬ 
ville, Ill., gives a diagram of his plan, and we have had it 
engraved, as shown in fig. 2. In this the two-horse lines 
are fastened to the bits, as represented, and two short 
straps are run from the hame-ringsof ihe middle horse to 
the bits of the others, as in the engraving. Three horses 
Fig. 2. —two-horse reins and hame lines. 
abreast is a common thing in the West, and it is claimed 
to be no more inconvenient to hitch up and unhitch than 
a two-horse team, while it adds greatly to the draft-power 
of the team, with no increase in the weight of the wagon. 
Abortion in Cow*.— “H. C. W.,” La Porte, Ind. 
It is dangerous to take a cow in a wagon for a distance 
of 10 miles when in her eighth month. The nervous ex¬ 
citement is sufficient to cause mischief, and there is great 
danger of actual bodily injury to the animal. The proba¬ 
bility is, that having lost that calf and the one after it, 
this cow will never produce a live calf. To avoid this 
probability so far as possible, the cow may be kept loose, 
alone, and very quiet, in a roomy darkened stall. If there 
is any indication of trouble, give her 4 drams of Bromide 
of Potassium, daily, for five successive days. If she loses 
her calf again, the case may be considered hopeless. 
Soda-Ash as a Fertilizer.— “ G. R ,” Glen’s 
Falls. N. Y. Soda is not considered as a fertilizer; so 
little of it is required that an occasional dressing of salt, 
or the salt that is contained in barn-yard manure, is suf¬ 
ficient. Soda-ash is a crude carbonate of soda, and its 
effect upon the soil might be simply through its alkaline 
reactions, after the mannerof lime or potash. But lime is 
cheaper, and potash more useful, though costing more, so 
that soda-ash is notgiven in the list of valuable fertilizers. 
About Sheep raising;, etc.— “C. A.F.,” Toledo, 
Ohio. The Hon. Henry S. Randall is no longer living, 
nor is Geo. Wilkins of Texas. There is no journal de¬ 
voted especially to sheep raising. All the information 
you need, may probably be had from the new edition 
of Stewart’s “ Shepherds’ Manual,” recently issued.— 
We have not seen the Texas Almanac for a year or two. 
Chester Pigs Wanted.— “J. B. L.” No per¬ 
sons connected with the American Agriculturist , or with 
the Orange Judd Co., have any pigs for sale. Their 
work on their farms is devoted to gathering information 
An Easy Wagon Seat. —“Old Subscriber," 
Fairfield Co., O., sends a sketch of a good double-spring 
wagon-seat of his own invention, and not 'patented. It 
can be made by any one handy with tools. Take two 
boards, 12 inches wide, and long enough to project one 
inch over each side of the wagon body; place one above 
the other, with a block, A. 3J inches square by 12 inches 
long, between them, and fasten the whole together by 
several bolts passed through the block, as shown in the 
engraving. Screw cleats upon the lower board, at each 
end, to hold it in place, and also upon the upper board 
to serve as guards, to prevent the driver slipping off 
of the seat. “ All that have tried this seat, like it.” 
“ Witcb Grass.”— “J. R. C.,” Oregon. We sup¬ 
pose that by “ Witch Grass.” you refer to Triticum re¬ 
pens. the most frequent common names for which are, 
“Couch” and “Quack-grass,” but it is also called 
“ Quitch ” and “ Twitch-grass.” Both in the fresh state 
and made into hay it is readily eaten by cattle, and is re¬ 
garded as very nutritious. Its culture is not to be com¬ 
mended, as it would be an almost hopeless task to era¬ 
dicate it when once in possession of the land. Tf it is es¬ 
tablished in a field, it would be better to utilize it, than to 
attempt to eradicate it, unless the land is very valuable. 
Animal Fastenings. —“ S.” Stanchions are the 
safest, most cleanly, and doubtless the best fastenings 
for cattle. There is no reason to suppose that cows are 
uncomfortable in them, unless it be that they are de¬ 
prived of the pleasure of tormenting their neighbors. 
Angora Goats. —“S. W.” Angora goats are raised 
somewhat largely by Richard Peters, Atlanta, Ga. Few 
persons out of California keep these animals except for 
breeding purposes, as there is little demand for the wool, 
and unless the goats are kept in large flocks they are a 
nuisance. The selling price varies from $10 to $100 each. 
Bonnncr’s Method of mailing manure. 
—“ A. J. W.,” Lakefield, Ont. multitudes of farmers 
are making manure upon the principle described in Bom- 
mer’s book. It is simply an excellent method of com¬ 
posting. The cistern and pump are only needed when 
necessary to keep the liquid and solid manure togeth¬ 
er; the method may be modified in almost any conveni¬ 
ent way so that this necessary part of it is carried out. 
Prize Butter at the International Dairy 
Fair. —The premium of $250 offered by the Higgin’s 
Salt Co., for the best sample of butter, was gained by 
Hiram Smith, of Sheboygan, Wis., and the prize for the 
best butter made in New York State was awarded to J. 
S. Murray, of Delhi. The Cooley creamery and process of 
setting the milk were used by both winners of the prizes. 
A Cheap Water Dish.— “E. O. R ,” Norfolk, 
Mass., sends a sketch of a water dish for poultry coops 
that is inexpensive and 
HIM. conven i en t. It is made 
if by cutting away the top 
* L and part of one side of a 
fruit can. as represented 
in the engraving. A stiff 
wire is soldered to the 
long side of the cut can, 
and each end bent to form 
a hook, as shown. By 
these hooks the can is 
hung inside the bars of the 
coop, and for use in ex¬ 
hibition coops, or wheu 
confining a hen to break 
her of setting, it is found convenient and efficient. E. O. 
R. says he thought of patenting (?) this device, but has 
concluded to devote it to all who need such a contrivance. 
Artificial Fertilizer for Grass and Clo¬ 
ver. —“A. W.,” Northcote, Ont. A good mixture for 
dressing newly seeded grass in the spring is as f Hows : 
100 lbs. Peruvian guano, 50 lbs. muriate of potash (80 per 
cent), and 50 lbs. superphosphate of lime per acre. Twen¬ 
ty bushels of unleached wood ashes may be used in place 
of the potash salts. The mixture should be made imme¬ 
diately before it is used; otherwise the potash will 
cause decomposition and consequent waste in the guano. 
