3 4r4 
AMERICAN AGRICULT U BIST. 
[September, 
Fig. 4 .—the same closed. 
34 in. long and 8 in wide ; near one end is an open¬ 
ing which admits the end of the lever, B, which is 
fastened by a bolt, upon which it moves; this is 
40 in. long 
and 3 in. wide, 
and has sever¬ 
al stout wood¬ 
en or iron 
pins, upon 
which the 
axle of the 
wagon rests. 
At the oppo¬ 
site end of the 
base is the 
lever, C, fast¬ 
ened below by 
a bolt; this is 28 in. long, and 3 in. wide ; between 
.Band 0 is another lever, D, 28 in. long, and 2i in. 
wide; this plays in slots in B and C, as shown in 
the engraving; it has several holes near each end, 
to allow it to be adjusted as desired by means of 
strong iron pins pass¬ 
ing through B and 
C. The Jack being 
placed so that one of 
the pins on B catches 
the axle, the lever, C, 
is thrown over so 
that its upper end 
rests against B, as 
seen in figure 2 ; this 
raises B, and conse¬ 
quently the axle, and the Jack is so locked that 
the greater the weight the firmer it is. Throwing 
C back again lowers the axle and releases the Jack. 
Hints and Helps for Farmers and 
Mechanics. 
A Calf Muzzle.— Dr. W. A. Neville, sends a 
model of a muzzle, to prevent a calf from sucking 
the cow while being weaned. It is made of a piece 
of board 4 inches wide, and 12 inches long, to reach 
from the top of the head to the nose ; a cross piece 
of the same size, is fastened as shown at figure 1. 
Holes are made in the latter piece, to admit of a 
small rope or a strap, to fasten it to the head of the 
calf. At the lower end of the muzzle, a few screws 
or nails are put through, projecting outwards, and 
are filed to points. When the calf attempts to feed 
at the teat, these points are disagreeable to the 
cow, and she will not stand to be sucked. In a 
very little time, the calf ceases its attempts. 
A Feeding Rack for Sheep.— “ A. J. H.,” 
Lemont, Ill, sends a method of building a feeding 
trough, and rack for sheep. This trough is 1G inches 
wide, and 4 inches deep, with cleats nailed across, 
near the ends to which the feet or supports are fas¬ 
tened. The rack is held by an upright piece at 
each end, in which holes are bored; pins are in¬ 
serted in these holes, to hold the rack in place 
above the box when grain is feed to the sheep. 
The sheep can feed on both sides of the rack, if it 
is placed in a yard, or the middle of a shed ; or on 
one side only, if it is built against the inside of a 
shed. The end of the trough is shown at figure 2, 
and a side view of the same is given at figure. 3. 
Ax End Board for Wagons.— “A. W.,” Te- 
cumseh, Mich., sends drawings of an end board for 
a wagon ; by which corn ears, or any other similar 
material, may be easily unloaded. The engravings, 
figures 4 and 5, tell the whole story. The board is 
Fig. 4.— END BOARD CLOSED. 
attached to the wagon box by two strong hinges, 
and the ends should go outside of the box. 
A Roofing Stage, by “ R. T.,” Evergreen, La., 
is made of a piece of 2-inch strap iron, or old tire, 
bent as shown at figure 9. The iron is twisted in 
the middle, so that the edge is turned perpendicu¬ 
larly. The hook at one end holds to the roof strips, 
and the other is bolted loosely to a piece of 2 x 6 
timber as long as may be desired ; the whole length 
of the roof, if thought proper, but not too long. 
Several holes may be punched in the lower end of 
the strap, so as to lengthen or shorten the stage. 
The 2x6 strip serves as a guide to lay the shingles, 
shakes, or boards, on the roof, and a stage to sup¬ 
port the workman. As the bolts are loose, one end 
may be raised at a time when it is to be moved for 
another row of shingles. 
Success with Sheep. 
Many successful ventures have been made in 
sheep-herding in the West, but more have resulted 
in loss. To prevent risk, there should be no ven¬ 
tures. A venture is of necessity a risk, and sheep- 
herding is a staple' 
business, that, if 
entered judiciously, 
should have no ele¬ 
ment of a venture 
about it. Otherwise 
the risks are so great, 
that failure is almost 
certain. If a man 
understands the man¬ 
agement of sheep,and 
is possessed of busi¬ 
ness habits, he may 
go to keeping sheep, 
with every probabili¬ 
ty of overcoming every adverse obstacle that may 
confront him. If he has had no experience, every 
probability is against success. It is not enough that 
one has the means to purchase a flock, and provide 
every requirement for their care ; there are numer¬ 
ous exigences, which will arise, when damage will 
be sustained if proper precautions or remedies are 
not used. If a man desires to invest money in the 
Fig. 8.—BOLT ON DOOR. 
A Spring, and Hinged Latch, for gates and 
doors, is shown at figures 6, 7 and 8. This latch is 
the invention of P. H. Hough, of Sussex Co., N. J., 
but is not patented, and is free to be used by all, 
who have the ingenuity to make it, or may em¬ 
ploy a blacksmith to do it for them. The bolt 
is shown at figure6; the box for the bolt at figure 7, 
Fig. 5.— END BOARD OPEN. 
and the bolt as attached to a gate or door,at figure 8. 
The bolt is hinged in the middle, so that it opens 
backwards only, and is returned to its place after 
opening, by the spring fixed to the back. When 
the door is opened, a strong push is given, sufficient 
to move the spring, and permit the hinge to work. 
When the 
door is 
closed, the 
edge of this Jj| 
striking the „ 
bevel of the Fl S' C '- THE B0LT ' 
bolt, the latter is pushed back into the box, sliding 
upon the pin in the box, and which moves in the 
slot of the bolt; and pressing upon the spring fitted 
in the rear end of the bolt. The spring causes the 
bolt to shoot back again, as far as the pin in the 
slot permits it, which enables it to hold the door 
shut, until it is forcibly pushed open again. It is 
obvious that this bolt is not intended as a per¬ 
manent fastening, but will be found useful upon 
gates, and in¬ 
ner doors, or 
where sepa¬ 
rate locks are 
used, to se¬ 
cure outer 
doors. The 
principal convenience seems to be, that no handles 
are required for the doors, when this bolt is used. 
Fig. 7.— BOX FOR BOLT. 
Fig. 9.— ROOFING STAGE IIOOK. 
business, and can procure an experienced partner, 
in whose integrity he can place confidence, he may 
do well with his venture, for it is a venture; but 
there must be economical purchase at the outset; 
a good range with water, timber shelter, and grass 
for hay; intelligent breeding, careful supervision, 
judicious feeding, a well defined plan, and if 
there is a partnership, a clear and simple written 
contract should be made out, so that no dispute 
can arise as to division on profits, risks, or losses. 
lixport of Provisions and. Brcadstuffs.- 
The export of all kinds of agricultural products to 
foreign countries continues to increase, and the 
promise for the coming year is even more encour¬ 
aging than that of last season. Another unsatis¬ 
factory harvest is impending in England and in 
France, and the supply by which the deficiency in 
both countries is to be made up is expected from 
America. Both good and evil grow out of this. 
The people generally are assured of an abundant 
supply of food of all kinds without any inconveni¬ 
ent rise in prices; so far, good results. But the 
farmers are in an unhappy predicament. As some 
rise in the values of food is inevitable, the wages 
of the laborers advance in proportion, and the rents 
of farms must be paid, for the land-owner has a 
first lien on the crops for his demands. With short 
crops for some years, the English and French farm¬ 
ers have been brought near, if not quite to, financial 
ruin. Hundreds of English farmers have become 
bankrupt, and great distress has come upon the 
agricultural class. While we can not but sympa¬ 
thize with the sufferers, yet it is impossible to be 
otherwise than gratified that we are able to supply 
the needs of the general population, and to avert, 
by meaus of our abundant crops, the danger of 
famine and starvation to thousands of poor people 
who never know what it is to have more than a 
single day’s supply of food ahead of their wants. 
'JTSje tPlague of allies.- Some mitigation of the 
plague of flics, which torments the cattle and 
