280 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
[July, 
Cultivating Wlieat. —“T. E. B.,” Hutchinson, 
Kans. Wheat may be drilled in, in rows 12 to 16 inches 
apart, hy stopping up every alternate spoilt. This will 
leave it in condition to be worked with the Travis wheat 
cultivator. The advantages of cultivating wheat, are cer¬ 
tain and sufficient to induce wheat growers to practice it. 
Bloody milk. —“L. N. Z.,” Lansing, III. When 
a cow gives blood in the milk, it is a symptom of inflamed 
or congested udder. The usual remedy is, to give a dose 
of cooling medicine, 8 to 12 oz. of Epsom salts, for in¬ 
stance, and afterwards half an ounce of saltpeter daily, 
for a few days. The udder may be bathed in cold water, 
and the food should be light. Heavy milkers are fre¬ 
quently troubled in this way. 
Raising Water. —“ J. K. C.,” St Louis. To work 
a pump with compressed air, some motive force must be 
used to compress the air. It is a principle of mechanics, 
that indirect or secondary action, requires more force, 
than direct acting, other things being equal, because there 
is more machinery to move, and more friction and inertia 
to overcome. The simplest motive power is a windmill, 
and if a “Universal” pump were attached to it, water 
could be raised to a tank with little trouble. It would 
work night and day, without close attention. The 
method of raising water up an incline by means of one 
of these pumps is described elsewhere. 
Breeding an old Mare.—“L. M.,” Washington 
Co., Pa. There is nothing to fear in breeding a mare at 
the age of 13 years. Many older mares, Goldsmith Maid 
the famous trotter mare, for example, have reared colts. 
Veterinary Journal.— “J. II. J.,” Polo,Ill. An 
excellent veterinary journal is published monthly, by the 
faculty of the American Veterinary College, of which Hr. 
A. Liautard is President. The address is 141 West 54th St. 
“Quarter or Tliird Pitch.”— “n. A. S.,” 
Whatcom Co., W. T. The terms quarter, third, or half 
pitch, mean that the hight of the peak of the roof is as 
far above the level of the plate as a quarter, third, or half 
the width of the building. Thus, if a building is 24 feet 
wide, a rise of 8 feet perpendicular in the roof will he 
one-third pitch, and the length of the rafter is easily 
found by the well known rule of mathematics, viz., the 
length of the diagonal is equal to the square root of the 
sum of the squares of the two sides. 
Barley or Oats.— “ C. B. II.,” Perry, N.Y. Barley 
weighs 48 or more lbs. to the bushel, oats, 32 or less ; 
the husk of oats is 15 to 20 per cent of the weight, and it 
is poor in nutritious quality. Consequently barley should 
be worth at least 50 cents for feed, when oats are worth 30. 
When. to use tlie Roller.— “ II.” The roller is 
used for compacting the soil about the seed, and for break¬ 
ing the lumps. The ground should therefore be rolled, 
either before the seed is sown, or immediately after it. 
Generally it is used after the seed is sown, as a last finish 
to the surface. To roll a field after the seed has grown, 
and the crop is above the surface, would not be beneficial. 
To Protect Animals from Flies.— The 
plague of flies has come down from historic times, and 
re-appears annually. These pests are nearly everywhere. 
They worry the horses in the fields, deprive them of rest 
at night, and keep them stamping so violently in the sta¬ 
ble, that to sleep with an open window if the house is 
not far oft', is nearly impossible ; they trouble the cows, 
and render the milking laborious, and in the house they 
are intolerable. They most abound in filthy places, and 
where the scent of decaying matter invites them. Atten¬ 
tion to cleanliness would mitigate their attacks upon 
horses in the field and stable. Washing the sweat from 
the animals, plentiful use of water and plaster in the sta¬ 
bles, or diluted carbolic acid scattered about, and dark¬ 
ened windows, will drive them out of stables. A linen 
or cotton covering for the horse when at work, will save 
him and the ijriver from annoyance. A clean darkened 
stable for the cows, will have but few flies. 
How to Keep a Cow.— 1 “ C. R. M.,” Seneca Co., 
Ohio. There is no book which is precisely suitable as a 
hand hook for the owner of one cow, although there are 
several which treat of the management of cows and cattle, 
but they are too discursive for your purpose. 
Increase III Immigration.— The unsatisfactory 
state of affairs abroad, and various circumstances,indicate 
that a very large number of European farmers are coming 
to this country,—well-to-do men with considerable, if not 
large capital. “ The States,” is known everywhere as the 
“promised land, flowing with milk and honey.” Even 
those Icelanders who escaped to America from their un¬ 
stable land, heaved and shaken by volcanic eruptions and 
earth-quakes,and by virtue of old associations with ice and 
snow, chose their home in northern Canada, have learned 
that there is a sunny land in the south, known as “ The 
States.” Many of these are pulling up their freshly 
planted, stakes, for a migration across our borders. And 
this attraction hitherwards, exists in spite of frequently 
published statements of the “oppressive labor;” “the 
hard fare;” the “ hugger-mugger life,” “and the wretched 
diet of American farmers and laborers.” This sounds 
amusing to us, who see “ the rest of th’e world,” pouring 
its dissatisfied millions upon our continent, anxious to 
share our comforts, our land, and our varied wealth. 
“Doctoring Horses.” —“G. W. M.,” Gibson 
Co., Ind. Horses or other animals, if well taken care 
of, need very little or no physicing or doctoring. The less 
of this, the better, if care is taken to prevent trouble, by 
good regular feed, and attention, and no over driving. 
“ Tellor’s Hiseases of Live Stock ” gives ample directions 
for preparing aud administering medicines, in which 
Law’s “Veterinary Adviser ” is deficient. By washing the 
horses with carbolic soap suds, and letting this dry on 
the skin, the attacks of the Buffalo Gnat will be prevented. 
There is nothing else better for giving a horse an injec¬ 
tion, than a pig’s bladder, with an elder wood tube, one 
inch in diameter; this should be made smooth and well 
oiled, before it is used. 
To Prevent Horses Gnawing Feed 
Troughs. —“E. II.,” Springfield, Ohio, writes; “Try 
painting the troughs and adjacent woodwork with tar; 
it seems a perfect remedy.”—We have covered the edges 
of the troughs and of the exposed parts of the stall with 
sheet zinc; this is a perfect remedy; the horses let it 
severely alone, after having completely destroyed a set 
of white oak troughs thoroughly soaked with tar. It is 
rather costly, but is cheap in the end. Sheet iron 
would be cheaper and probably equally effective. 
Orchard-Grass.— “J.H. C.,” Ashtabula Co., Ohio. 
Orchard-Grass is very valuable; for some uses it surpasses 
Timothy. It is earlier, grows better in the shade, makes 
a fuller and quicker growth after cutting, and is leafy 
and makes good aud nutritious hay, if cut when young. 
It should be sown thick ; 40 lbs. of seed in the chaff, is 
sufficient for an acre with 10 lbs. of Ked Clover. It will 
grow well in an orchard and in open woods. 
Jersey Herd Books.— “ Texas.” There are two 
Jersey herd books; one is the Jersey Cattle Club Herd 
Kecord, and the other is, we believe, an older record 
than that. The prevailing colors among Jersey cattle is 
fawn and white; steel gray or mouse-color, with black 
points, is a recent fashion, and there are animals with 
some black on them. A good Jersey may be of any color. 
Self-Binding Harvesters. —“D. J.,” Perqui- 
mons Co., N. C. A self-binding harvester is made by the 
Champion Reaper and Mower Co., whose business notice 
was conspicuously set forth in our advertising columns 
in June. This binder uses twine instead of wire, as 
do some others, which are objected to on that account. 
Information about Seeds and Crops.— 
“W. T. B.,” and others. In the Hints about work given 
every month, we try to meet most of the questions that 
are constantly arising as to quantities of seed, time for 
sowing, aud general management of crops. These hints 
are timely, and being drawn from actual experience on 
the farm, and in the orchard and garden, will bo found 
useful. In the Hints for this month, will be found re¬ 
marks about sowing millet, buckwheat, and turnips, all 
seasonable information. 
Steel Bits. —“ L. A. N.,” Cleveland, Ohio. The 
steel bits are made by Crane & Co., Newark, N. J. These 
are really solid steel bits, being manufactured with great 
care to prevent any weakness or flaws in them, and are 
perfectly safe for any horse. 
Tbe Plague of Goplicrs. — “ J. S. S. P.,” Ben¬ 
ton Co., Oregon, writes, that his crop of wheat last year 
promised him a handsome return, but just as the grain 
was in the milk, the gophers came, and, by the time for 
cutting, it was a total loss—the few spots left not paying 
for the labor of harvesting. After passing through his 
field, the gophers made their winter quarters near by, 
and in March last began their work upon the young crop, 
taking all before them. Consequently Mr. P. was obliged 
to be after them every day, and up to May 20th he had 
killed 225. The pelts he tans with the fur on, and the 
carcasses are used to fertilize his garden. Mr. P. fails to 
say how he killed them; others may wish to know. 
We hope his industry may be rewarded by a good crop. 
Itivc-for-ever as a Weed.— In old gardens 
there is sometimes found the Garden Orpine, (Sedum 
Telephium), more frequently called “Live-for-ever,” and 
sometimes “Aaron’s Rod.” If a stem be hung up against 
the window, or in a light place, it will go on and grow 
and bloom, its thick succulent leaves and stems contain¬ 
ing a sufficient store of food to continue the growth. Un- 
fortuuately this garden curiosity has, in many places, es¬ 
caped and become a weed, and a weed that has come to 
stay. No ordinary treatment will kill it. A friend, whose 
grounds are sadly infested, called a few days ago for sug¬ 
gestions; he had tried grubbing only to increase the 
trouble, every bit of root becoming a plant. We advised 
him to cut the plants oft’ even with the ground, and to put 
every bit upon the brush heap and burn it. Then to lay 
over the roots a heavy mulch of whatever was at hand, 
bog-hay, straw, tan-bark, saw-dust, whatever would so 
cover the roots that new shoots, should they start, could 
not reach the light. We feel sure that this thoroughly 
done must succeed. If any of our readers have had ex¬ 
perience in exterminating this rapidly increasing weed, 
we hope they will give others the benefit of it. 
Building Boats.— “G. S. V.,” Oswego, Kansas. 
Pull directions for building a lap-streak boat with ribs 
were given in the American Agriculturist for October, 
1872. This and any other number can be had for 15 cts. 
Profit in Slieep.—“J. F. H.,” Macon Co., Mo. 
There is probably more profit in sheep just now than in 
any other farm stock. Wool is low, but in proportion to 
oilier farm produce the price is good,—30 to 35 cents a 
pound for wool now, is far better than the same price 10 
or 12 years ago, when other things were more than double 
the present rates. Live sheep are higher now tiian 
they have been for years. A well kept flock will pay. 
Disease of the Giver in Poultry.— Hr. J. B. 
Moore, Washington, writes that he has found 2 grain 
doses of “ Blue Pill ” (“ Blue Mass ”) given every 24 hours 
for several days in succession, to cure the so-called 
chicken cholera, and the similar disease in turkeys. This 
disease does not, as generally supposed, exist in the 
bowels, but is a blood disorder originating in the liver, 
and is akin to the hog cholera; it doubtless springs from 
similar causes. Hr. Moore states that he has had favora¬ 
ble reports from persons who have used this remedy. 
The Millers’ National Association.—As¬ 
sociation, as a means of self protection, is adopted by 
almost every staple industry (curiously excepting agri¬ 
culture), as providing means for self protection and as¬ 
sistance. The Millers have State Associations, and a 
National one was recently held at Chicago. The pro¬ 
ceedings of the Association were marked by an evident 
community of interests between it and the farmers. 
This was shown, in one way, by the liberal ideas ex¬ 
pressed in regard to seed wheat. The feeling expressed 
by the Association was, that millers should assist farm¬ 
ers in every possible way to procure the best seed wheat, 
and furnish it to them at cost. An Indiana miller stated 
that he had given out 300 bushels of Mediterranean seed 
wheat the present season at 5 cents a bushel over cost, to 
pay for handling. This is an important matter to con¬ 
sider before the next seed time arrives. It is certainly as 
much to the farmer’s advantage to procure seed of va¬ 
rieties that are the most salable, as it is to the benefit of 
the millers to procure the best flouring wheat. A mu¬ 
tual understanding would be beneficial to both parties. 
Poultry-Keeping; for Profit.— “A Reader,” 
New York. It would not be wise for an inexperienced 
person to begin poultry-keeping for profit with several 
hundred fowls at the outset. The probability is, that he 
would have too much on his hands and would fail. This 
has been the common experience, and every success¬ 
ful case within our knowledge has grown up from small 
beginning. Learn to succeed with a few, and then en¬ 
large the business as experience is gained. 
How to Fertilize a Poor Spot.— If there is a 
poor spot in a pasture field, it may be fertilized by plac¬ 
ing a lump of rock salt there, under a shelter, and turning 
■heep into the field and feeding them a few ounces each 
of cotton-seed meal daily. The sheep will gather about 
the salt and leave a large share of manure there. 
Garget or Caked Udder.—“B. W.,” Vernon, 
Conn. Garget may be very easily prevented. A week or 
more before the time for calving, the condition of the 
udder should be closely watched. If it becomes full of 
milk, and is inclined to be hard, draw the milk and 
relieve the udder. Feed the cow sparingly, and if in 
good flesh, give only dry hay. If there is any fever, aud 
the udder is hard and hot, one ounce of saltpeter may be 
given. When the calf is dropped the cow should be 
milked, and the milking should be frequent; the calf may 
be permitted to suck on the off side while the milk is 
drawn by hand on the near side. This will prevent the 
cow from keeping up her milk. The feed should be light 
for a week, and until danger is past, when it may be in¬ 
creased gradually. The remedy consists in reducing the 
feed, giving a dose of salts (12 oz.) and 1 ounce of salt¬ 
peter afterwards, bathing the udder in warm water, and 
drawing the milk with a tube, or injecting a little soda 
dissolved in water if the milk is hardened in the udder. 
