288 
AMEEIOAI^ AGEIOULTUEIST. 
[July, 
The Need of the West. 
The West needs moi'e live-stock. Th.it those States 
and Territories which grow an ahiindance of natural pas- 
tiiriige for twice the stock they now have, are in need of 
more animals, is evident. But that those States in which 
the range is restricted are in need of more stock, can l)e 
demonstrated on tlie basis of their over-production of 
corn. While ail tlie States of the West produce more 
corn than is consumed at home, only Kansas and Ne¬ 
braska produce a large surplus for export; and we shall 
consider these only, although the conclusion re.iched will 
apply to other States with a force proportionate to their 
suriilus. In WCI, Kansas produced 172,800,000 bushels of 
corn, of w'hicli amount W,760,105 bushels, or 45 per cent, 
was retained for liome consumption, wliile 95.040,405 
bushels, Co per cent of the entire crop, were exporled. 
In the same year, Nebraska produced 101,272.000 bushels: 
of this, 50,£51,551 bushels, 50 per cent, of the whole crop, 
wore retained for liome consumption, while 41,524,.340 
bushels, 41 per cent, of the crop were exported. Thus, 
of their crops for 188.3, these two States consumed at 
home, 137,514,050 bushels, and exported, 136,564,844 bush¬ 
els, practically half the crop. During this time, the rail¬ 
road charges for corn from Kansas City to Chic.ago, were, 
by the car-load, 20 cents per one hundred pounds. At 
tills rate, the cost of transporting the surplus corn of 
Kansas, from Kansas City to Chicago, would be $10,644,- 
5.35.40. During the same time, the railroad charges for 
transporting corn from Omaha to Chicago, were 25 cents 
per hundred pounds; at this rate, to transport the Ne¬ 
braska surplus from Omaha to Chic.ago, cost $5,81.3.408.86. 
The cost of transporting the surplus of both States to 
Chictigo, was $16,457,044.26. If this surplus had been 
reduced to pork, at the the rate of ten potinds of pork to 
each Inishel of co.rn, the product would have been, 1,365,. 
648.440 pounds—950,404,950 pounds from Kansas, and 
415,243.490 pounds from Nebraska. During the period of 
exportation, the railroad charges for transporting live 
hogs from Kansas City to Chicago, were $42.50 per car¬ 
load of 20,000 pounds. At this rate, it would have cost 
$2 019,600 to transport from Kansas City to Chictigo, the 
Kansas surplus of corn, if it had been in the shape of 
pork. During the same period, the railroad charges for 
transporting live hogs from Omaha to Cliicago, were $70 
per car-load. At this rate, to have transported from 
Omaha to Chicago, the Nebraska corn surplus in the 
shape of live hogs, would have cost $1,453,340. The cost 
for the two States, would have been, $3,472,940, a saving 
on freight alone, by transforming the corn into live hogs, 
of $12,985,004.26,01' almost 400 per cent. But to this, it 
may bo objected that all this surplus did not reach so far 
east ns Chicago. This is true ; but the cost of transport¬ 
ing the corn from the various points iti these two States 
to Kansas City or Omaha, would far more than compen¬ 
sate for this, as the transportation tariffs are heavy for 
short distances on branch roads. 
Some of this corn went east of Cliicago. Let us calcu¬ 
late what would be saved on the transportation from 
Chicago to New York, of one million bushels of corn, by 
changing it into live ho.gs. The railroad cliarges last year 
for transporting grain from Chicago to New York, were 
30 cents per one hitndrod pounds; at this rate, the cost 
of transporting 1,000.000 bushels of corn, would be $168,- 
000. Transformed into pork, the transportation would cost 
35 cents per hundred pounds, or for the million bushels 
in this shape, $35,000; a saving of nearly 400 per cetit. 
These figures show plainly why that portion of the 
West which produces a surplus of corn above home con¬ 
sumption, needs more live-stock. The saving in trans¬ 
portation alone, when the corn is converted into live 
hogs and shipped in such form, .aggregates an enormous 
amount, and if it were jiut into the form of beef or 
mutton, the saving would be substantially the same. 
Cattle are shipped from Omaha or Kansas City to Chi¬ 
cago, at a less rate than hogs, and sheep at the same. 
But every bushel of corn shipped, represents so much 
fertility taken from the soil, leaving nothing to replace 
it. The West needs live-stock to maintain the fertility 
of its land. Without stock, the more intensive the farm¬ 
ing, the larger the crops, and the more rapidly will the 
land be impoverished. So long as the West is without 
live-stock to consume its productions at home, just so 
long will the impoverishing of the soil continue. On the 
other hand, the fertility of the soil may be maintained by 
feeding produce to farm animals, saving and applying 
their manure, liqtiidand solid, and reinforcitig this with 
a little green manuring. The value of this animal ma¬ 
nure, which would represetit just so much gain to the 
farmer, can not be accurately calculated. But as we have 
mtide our former calculations upon the basis of a produc¬ 
tion of ten pounds of live pork from each bushel of corn, 
we would have 46 pounds of manure for each bushel fed, 
estimating a bushel of shelled corn at 56 pounds. This 
would have given Kansas and Nebraska 3,1.39,500 tons of 
animal manure, if the surplus corn of last year's crop had 
been fed to hogs. These States need all the fertilizing 
materials at their comm.and to keep up the land, hence 
they need live-stock to consume surplus production. 
Passing over with only a mention the profitable work 
ofi’ered by stock-raising, at a season when grain 
demands no attention, we wish to notice another particu¬ 
lar wherein more stock would be advantageous to these 
States. One travelling through these States, is struck 
with the lack of cribs and granaries. As a result, the 
farmers are compelled to sell their surplus grain as soon 
as it is harvested. The consequent rush of grain to 
market at certain seasons of the year, brings prices dowm 
to low figures, which the necessities of tlie farmers com¬ 
pel them to accept. If the grain was fed to stock, it, 
so-to-speak, could be held for a higher price. 
Animal Ailments. 
DR. D. D. SLADE. 
Swine Plague.—E. T. Beall, Liberty, Va.—The dis¬ 
ease which killed the three fine hogs that had a range of 
seventy-five acres and plenty of running spring w’ater, 
was undoubtedly, from the description of symptoms, the 
swine plague, although this disease may have its seat in 
almost any organ, its presence in the lungs to a greater 
or less extent, is now considered as characteristic. 
Treatment in our present knowledge of the afifection is 
not to be considered—the disease is highly contagious. 
Warts may be safely destroyed by tying a strong thread 
about their necks, or by cutting them off with scissors, 
and touching the surface with lunar caustic or blue stone. 
Mange in Dog.— Mrs. H. A. Fink, Westerly,E. I.—The 
Gordon setter undoubtedly has skin acari, or animal 
parasites, which burrow in the tissues, and cause great, 
and uncontrollable itching, as well as scabs and sores 
upon the surface. Oil well the surface affected, and then 
with soapsuds (castile soap is preferable) remove the 
hardened crusts. Apply once a day, a small quantity 
of sulphur ointment, well rubbed into all the parts of 
the skin where the eruption has made its appearance. 
Navicular Joint Disease—Ringbone—Thickened 
Sinews — C. L. Liusley, Bellows Falls, Vt.—In the very 
early stages of the Navicular disease, rest at pasture may 
give the parts a chance to recover. A wet pasture free 
from stones is preferable. Remove the shoes—or the 
animal may be kept standing in w’et clay in the stall dur¬ 
ing the day time, and removed to a dry stall at night. If 
the disease has gone on to ulceration, the cure is longer 
and more uncertain. A seton through the frog, which 
must be passed by a competent person, is sometimes of 
service. If the lameness continues after a month from 
the removal of the seton, this treatment at least, is use¬ 
less. The seton should remain in jilace for four or five 
weeks. In the treatment of Ringbone, rest is often es¬ 
sential in the early stages--allay the inflammation by 
soothing measures, such as fomentation of the parts, 
and then blister, when soreness and heat have lessened. 
When this disease is in the fore leg—the heel comes to the 
ground first, and a thin-heeled bar-shoe must be put on. 
If. on the contrary, the animal walks on his toe, as when 
Ringbone occupies the hind limbs, a high-heeled shoe 
will enable him to travel more comfortably'. Thickened 
sinews in the first stages, may be benefited by rest at 
pasture, and by blistering occasionally. The disease is 
due to strains and over exertion, and very rarely do the 
parts assume their original, normal condition, and when 
benefited by treatment, are prone to return to their un¬ 
natural state when the animal is put to work. 
Black Leg in Cattle.— A correspondent from New 
Mexico, advocates the removal of the tail and ears in 
cases of real or supposed Black Leg in cattle. Whereas, 
ill the very early stages, bleeding, properly performed, 
may be advisable, it seems to us a rather heroic, if not 
barbarous treatment to subject every suspected animal 
to the above operation. At any rate, this proceeding 
would not be satisfactory to humane people. 
Swollen Head in Pig.— G, M. Wertz, Johnstown, Pa., 
has a pig six months old, with face and head swollen to 
an extreme extent for at least three weeks. The pig is 
of common stock, has not refused food, but eats indif¬ 
ferently. This condition is evidently due to a scrofulous 
disease of the bones, which become infiltrated with a 
jelly-like substance. In till probability the disease will 
prove fatal, if the diagnosis is correct. No treatment is 
advisable, as the animal thus diseased is unfit for 
breeding or for food. 
Sprung Knees in Horses.- J. H. Levy, Franklins- 
ville, Gloucester Co., New Jersey.—The condition known 
as Sprung Knees, is inditSitive of over exertion, and of an 
undue amount of ivork which has been throw’n upon the 
ligaments of the fore-limbs. It is usually impossible to 
fix upon any one portion as being at fault more than 
another, where the entire limb participates in this ab¬ 
normal state. Undoubtedly there is an hereditary ten¬ 
dency in some horses to take on this peculiar condition. 
No treatment can be of any avail, and beyond the un 
sightly appearance caused by the trouble, the animal is 
not, as a rule, materially injured for moderate work. 
Umbilical Hernia. —W. H. Allen, Calais, Maine, 
The bunch formed on the belly or navel is undoubtedly 
a rupture, a condition not uncommon in this region of 
the body in young animals. A correct diagnosis may be 
obtained by gently kneading the contents and at the 
same time endeavoring to push them up into the ab¬ 
domen. It they return with a gurgling sound, it is a 
rupture. To keep the intestines in place, make a soft 
pad of folded cloth or any similar material, and attach it 
with sufficient pressure to a band passing round the' 
body and fastened to a similar one running round the 
neck. Blistering the parts repeatedly is sometimes 
efl'ectual, when the rupture is not large, and not of long 
standing. The bunch should by no means be punctured. 
Foundered Horse.— “Cincinnatus,” Cincinnati, Ohio. 
The term foundered is used very indefinitely, and con¬ 
veys ideas that are apt to be very confused. The disease 
to which the word should be restricted consists of inflam¬ 
mation of the sensitive portions of the feet—which in¬ 
flammation may be either recent or long standing. In 
the early stages of the afi’ection, every effort possible 
must be made to subdue the inflammation, and to restore 
the parts to their healthy condition. For this purpose 
large poultices are to be applied to the feet, and the an¬ 
imal encouraged to lie down. In order to prevent coii- 
jestion, it is advisable in this early stage to walk the 
horse without shoes, on soft plowed ground. Where ex¬ 
cessive tenderness and inflammation have set in, exer¬ 
cise is out of question. A mild laxative (not purging), 
should be administered—one-half an ounce of Aloes is 
most appropriate, followed by injections of water into 
the rectum if necessary. In very severe cases, bleeding 
from the cornet may be advisaltle. If the inflammation 
persists after two or three weeks, a condition known 
as chronic Laminitis follows, accompanied by various 
changes in the internal structure of the hoof. For this 
long rest at pasture, blistering, and the application of a 
tiiin heeled bar-shoe are the appropriate remedies. In 
tile worse cases complete restoration of the foot to its 
healthy condition cannot be expected. The convexity of 
tiie sole must be counteracted by the use of a thick, 
broad, webbed bar-shoe, and the animal placed in the 
wettest pasture possible. Shorten the toes and lower the 
heels if necessary. The animtil may be used for slow 
farm work oti soft ground a long time before he is fit for 
use at a quick pace upon hard roads. 
'I’d-mor on the Neck op O.x.—E. J. Burr, Royal, Ne¬ 
braska. The tumor may be best removed by extirpation,, 
which should be done by a surgeon. It is undoubtedly 
simple in its nature, and may be removed by the knife 
without difficulty. If this is not possible, on account of 
the want of an experienced hand to perform the opera¬ 
tion, try the effect of some stimulating ointment, such 
as the Iodine, which may be procured of any apothecary. 
Nervous Irritation op Skin op Horse.— Jno. D. 
Pryon, Windfield, Kansas. The animal is sufl'ering from 
Neurosis, or nervous irritation of the skin, which shows 
itself more particularly under the influence of hot 
weather, and is accompanied by pimples or vesicles, 
whicli become broken by rubbing. For treatment a 
complete change of diet is advisable, which, if in the- 
stable, sliotild be restricted; a change to pasture may 
bo advantageous. Give gentle laxatives, with green food, 
wash tlie skin daily with soapsuds moderately strong.. 
If no improvement, after a few weeks of trial, give bi¬ 
carbonate of soda in the drink, lialf an ounce per day. The 
chief objects in the treatnient are to remove any offend¬ 
ing siibstances from the intestines, keeping them some¬ 
what relaxed, and to change the animal’s entire diet.. 
A Bright Spot in a Dingy Street. — Business 
took us, a few days ago, through one of those streets 
in New York City that one never visits unless from 
necessity. It is a crowded thoroughfare where more 
than one half of the shops are beer saloons and giiL 
mills, and tlie others devoted to junk dealing and small 
trades. Tlie upper part of the houses are crowded 
tenements. One of the dingiest of the buildings re¬ 
tained as a relic of former prosperity a narrow iron bal¬ 
cony, running across the whole building, at the windows 
of the second floor. Tliis balcony was occupied by a 
box for its whole length, perhaps twelve feet long and 
about a foot wide and high. The box had been filled, 
with soil, upon which grass seed had been sown, and 
there were three young trees of the Ailanthus, one in 
the middle and one at each end, forming, with the fresh 
green of the grass and the tropical foliage of the Ailan- 
thus, as pretty a piece of “ sub-tropical gardening” as- 
can be imagined. Tliis green spot brightened up the- 
street for along distance, and aft'orded the eye a refresh¬ 
ing rest, after gazing upon the displays of the second¬ 
hand clothing stores. Whoever instituted that window 
box is a public benefactor, and we thank him for the re¬ 
freshing glimpse of balcony-gardening he afforiled us- 
