AM E LUCAN AURIC IJLT U REST. 
381 
1879 .] 
altogether, or almost entirely, of this one species 
of grass. This is on y an assumption. I could not 
see any other abundant species, but it was no time 
to examine it—half burned up, and, though some¬ 
what green at the root, quite browu above. 
Throughout this part of the country we call it 
June glass—and that name is certainly appropriate, 
for it blossoms in June, and at that time is most 
conspicuous, being soon, in most of our fields, 
overtopped by other grasses. The appropriateness 
of the name it bears in Kentucky was never clear 
to me, perhaps because I have never seen it in the 
early spring, or when starting fresh, and when it 
was the prevailing vegetation over considerable 
areas. At that season it may look very blue. 
The “Alphea” Family of Jerseys. 
The cows that I went West to purchase were de¬ 
scendants of the famous old cow “Alphea,” bred 
by Ool. R. M. Hoe. There is some evidence to 
believe that as a butter cow Alphea never had an 
equal in this country, or perhaps in any other. 
While she was giving 22 quarts of milk a day, 18 
quarts of this milk mixed yielded 3 pounds of 
butter time after time. During the summer she 
fell off gradually to 30 quarts, and the 18 quarts 
yielded still the same amount. The reason why 
only 18 quarts of her milk were churned was that 
the churn in use would hold no more. The 
churning and measurement were done by Mr. 
Geo. W. Harris, Superintendent of Brightside Farm, 
who was my informant. I think this yield has 
never before been equalled, but, for the reason that 
it was hard to believe, and as former trials gave 
some 15 or 16 lbs. of butter a week, the cow has had 
only that much credit, while the fame of yielding 
22 to 24 lbs., per week, was certainly her due. Now 
that one of her grand-daughters has been yielding 22 
lbs., and 20 lbs. months after calving, it should cer¬ 
tainly be told to the credit of the family. 
Stanchions for Cows. 
An allusion which I made to stanchions in the 
Fabruary number, followed as it was by a descrip- 
ti@n of Mr. S. J. Sharpless’ new stables in the May 
number, has brought the American Agriculturist 
Editors considerable correspondence. One writer 
asks, 1st—How high the sill should be, in which 
the stanchions are set.—It can hardly be too low, 4 
to 6 inches is about right. 2d—How far apart the 
stauehions should be when closed.—Just so that 
the cow’s neck will not be squeezed, and that her 
head can not slip out; 8 inches is the usual width, 
but it is well to be able to set the permanent stanch¬ 
ion closer, or farther from the working one, accord¬ 
ing to circumstances. To accomplish this, a very 
convenient way is to have the sill made of two one- 
inch boards, the 2x4 stanchions or heavier ones if 
necessary, being held in place by oak pins. Thus 
several holes being bored in the sill and top piece, 
or in these and the stanchion also, the adjustment 
may be made to the necks of different cows. 
Other inquiries will be answered by careful perusal 
of the article referred to, May number, page 180. 
't'lie Secret of Success in Hard Times.— 
An English Agricultural Journal makes a pertinent 
remark to the effect that, “ if a careful inquiry 
were made, it would be found that the farmers who 
are most successfully weathering the storm of ad¬ 
versity in that country, are those who have kept 
their farms up to a high state of fertility, and those 
who are sinking, are chiefly the poor farmers.” It 
is so in every industry, and in all circumstances 
“ the best man wins.” The farmer whose fields are 
well cultivated, whose cattle are weU selected and 
well kept, whose costly machines are carefully used 
and protected, whose tools are always in good 
working order, whose system is one of order, and 
regularity, and whose habits are economical and 
frugal, is the one who suffers least from unfavor¬ 
able weather, from insect pests, and from unfavor¬ 
able markets. Having produce of good quality, 
and being in the market in good season, he sells at 
the best prices, or being forehanded, he is able to 
hold his produce or stock until he is willing to sell. 
Moreover he is not in the hands of the usurer, and 
has not to pay 10 or 12 per cent per annum upon 
borrowed moneys. 
How to Build a Small Pier or River Wall. 
A location on a river, shore, or lake front is very 
desirable. Boating is a most healthful and de 
Fig. 1. -POSTS IN POSITION. 
lightful exercise, and bathing, in the warm season, 
is one of the many attractions of a water front. 
Where boats are kept, there should be facilities for 
getting to the water with ease and comfort, and a 
pier or river wall, with landing, offers the greatest 
convenience. A light pier may be built very cheaply 
and easily, and without working in the water, in the 
following manner : A sufficient number of stout 
cedar or oak posts are procured, of the length ne¬ 
cessary to reach a solid founda¬ 
tion, and at least a foot above 
high water mark ; generally, 5 to 
10 feet will be found sufficient. 
Two posts opposite to, and 6 feet 
distant from each other, are driven 
a few T feet from the dry bank, at 
low water, and other posts are 
driven in the same manner down 
to low water-mark( fig. 1). Side- 
strips of 2 by 6 are spiked with 
half-inch spikes to the posts, flush 
with the top, which should be 
sawed off square. Cross-pieces of 
the same size are spiked inside of 
these to the posts, and to the side- 
pieces where needed. These sup¬ 
port the flooring plank, which 
should be 2 inches thick. If necessary, a temporary 
prop of plank may be used to support the end of the 
plank,as shown. When low water is reached, the pier 
should be run out 10 or 30 feet to deep water. This 
is done by pushing out two or three planks placed 
upon each other 6 feet from the end of the pier 
already built, and weighting the other ends by roll¬ 
ing a barrel of sand upon them. A working- 
stage may be thus made, upon which the men 
may stand while driving the posts and fitting the 
side and cross timbers. When working at the part 
Fig. 3.— POSTS AND SIDE-PIECES. 
above low water, planks are laid upon the mud, and 
tressels are used for a stage to stand upon while 
driving the posts. Or a contrivance made, as shown 
at figure 3, of strong iron bar, may be used to clasp 
the posts, and hold a block, which may be struck 
with a maul, to drive the posts until they are low 
enough to reach the top conveniently. The ring is 
made somewhat oval, so that it will easily slip over 
the post when level, but will bind when inclined; 
the ring is furnished with one or two stout points 
at the back part, by which its holding power is 
greatly increased. As the post is driven down, the 
ring may be slipped up and fastened again for use. 
The posts need not be driven down further than 
will give a solid footing: two feet will generally be 
sufficient to find a good bearing for the small weight 
to be carried. They need not be sharpened at the 
Fig. 4.— SLOPING LANDING STAGE. 
lower end. Being placed in double rows and well 
connected together by side and cross timbers, there 
is no side thrust to provide against, and only the 
sinking weight to sustain. The cost of a pier of 
this kind, with lumber at 3 cents a foot, board 
measure, will be about one dollar the running foot. 
As the work progresses, the posts and side-pieces 
appear as shown at figure 3. When the pier is built 
out far enough, a landing-stage is fixed to the end, 
sloping to the bottom, as shown at figure 4. Safe 
footing upon this stage is secured by spiking cross¬ 
cleats across the planks, as shown in the engraving. 
A river wall for the protection of a bank, and a 
landing as well, may be made by driving posts 
sharpened at the end,and the large end downwards, 
so as to take a firm hold of the earth, leaving only 
one foot above the surface. Cross-pieces are spiked 
to the posts, and the spaces between them are filled 
with fine brush, to arrest the current of water and 
cause a deposit of sand or mud. Planks are spiked 
over the cross pieces, for a floor, and to give secure 
footing on these sloping planks, laths one inch 
thick and 2 inches wide, are nailed every 18 inches. 
The floor should be carried a few feet below low 
Fig. 5.— SECTION OF WALL PROTECTION. 
water, and a short landing pier be made to deep 
water in the manner above described. The method 
of laying the wall is shown at the above figure. 
Rolling Planks for Machines. 
Agricultural machines should be stored in a dry 
clean place. The.barn floor is a very poor place for 
them, so is an open shed where fowls roost. A 
roomy floor over a bay in the barn, or a second sto¬ 
ry over a stable, or over an open shed, is an excel¬ 
lent place of stowage for valuable implements and 
tools. There they may be kept clean, dry, and in 
good order. But means must be provided to get 
the machines to such an upper floor. This may be 
done by pro¬ 
curing t. w o 
strong planks, 
a foot wide, 
furnished at 
one end with 
iron claws, as 
shown in the 
e n graving. 
These planks 
are laid from 
the door - way 
on the floor, 
where they are 
secured by the K0LLIN<J PLANK m position. 
claws, to the ground, and furnish a track upon 
which drills, mowers, reapers, sulky plows, cultiva¬ 
tors, and other wheel machines may be easily drawn 
up with blocks and tackle, or a rope and pulley, by 
two men. Implements without wheels, such as 
plows, may be hoisted, or drawn upon these planks 
upon a plow sled, such as is described elsewhere. 
The planks should be planed smooth, and when not 
in use should be stowed away with the machines. 
These planks will be found useful for many other 
purposes, especially in loadingand unloading heavy 
articles on, or off of, wagons and other vehicles. 
Late Sown Crops.—Some farmers have prac¬ 
tised sowing rye for green soiling in spring as late in 
the fall as the ground remains unfrozen. This we 
believe to be a mistake, and have abandoned it after 
a trial of a few years. These late sown crops make 
a poor growth, have weak roots and weaker tops, 
and are greatly damaged by the frosts of winter 
and the alternate freezings, and thawings of 
spring. Consequently there is a very weak growth 
although the seeding may have been heavy, and 
there is an unprofitable yield of fodder. The 
past spring three acres of rye, sown in the previous 
August, supplied fourteen cows with ample fodder 
for four weeks, while three acres sown in October, 
with a double allowance of seed, yielded only one 
week’s feeding. It was the same with oats sown in 
the spring, the early sowing on fall plowed ground 
yielded three times as much fodder as the late sow¬ 
ings upon spring plowed land. There was some¬ 
thing in the season, and the late dry weather had 
some effect, but the principle involved, inthatearly 
spring sowing is the best, cannot be denied or 
—t'" : 
Fig. 2.—THE 
BLOCK CATCH. 
