370 
AMEETOAlSr AGEIOULTUEIST, 
[September, 
Animal Ailments. 
PROFESSOR D. D. SLADE, HARVARD TINIVERSITY. 
Effects of Green Rte on Mares.—M. S. Griscom, 
San Saba Oo., Texas, asks whether the feeding of green 
rye to mares prevents them from getting in foul, or 
causes them to lose their colts.—As regards the first 
query, we answer unhesitatingly no. To the second we 
say, it would only act indirectly hy causing disturbance 
of the digestive organs, if given in large quantities, and 
thus interfere with the process of gestation. The 
chances of such a result are, however, very small. Er- 
goted or diseased seeds of rye are liable to produce 
abortion in all stock, and at any period of pregnancy, 
and great care should be taken to keep animals from 
feeding upon it. 
Gestation in Mares. —S. H. Puckett, Ouachita Co., 
La.—The gestatory term of mares extends from eleven 
to twelve months, these two terms forming the extremes. 
Careful observations made in Prance upon five hundred 
and eighty-two mares, which received the horse only 
once (a circumstance that prevented all mistakes in the 
matter), showed that the shortest period of pregnancy 
was two hundred and eighty-seven days, and the longest 
period was four hundred and nineteen days, making a 
difference of one hundred and thirty-two days, and 
eighty-nine days beyond the usual period of eleven 
months. 
Startino and Plunging of Horses.— J. L. Pilking- 
ton, Queens Co., N. Y., has a horse that starts violent¬ 
ly, leaping and plunging when put into harness, and 
asks if some kind of bit will keep him under control.— 
As this habit or vice is the result of bad breaking in, to¬ 
gether with perhaps an ugly disposition on the part of 
the animal, nothing but patience, firmness, and kindness 
can correct it. The horse should be harnessed to a 
vehicle, in which he can do no harm to himself or the 
driver, and taught, above all things, that he has nothing 
to fear. Proceed with the utmost patience to teach him 
to stand still first, and then to walk quietly. Make use 
of a simple, strong bit, and one which can afflict no in¬ 
jury to the mouth. Many horses will resist a powerful 
curb, that will go quietly with a plain snaffle. Coolness, 
patience, and kindness will overcome the fractious spirit. 
Contracted Foot.— The same correspondent asks, if 
a shrunken or contracted foot should be considered as 
any detriment to a horse.—It is not unusual for one foot 
to be smaller than the others, either as a result of pre¬ 
vious inflammation, or as a natural condition. A con¬ 
tracted foot is to be regarded with suspicion, as it is 
liable at any time to give rise to serious trouble. A foot 
that is naturally smaller than the others, need not cause 
any apprehension, and could only be considered as a 
blemish. 
Cold Horns. —H, J. Heininger, Washtenaw Co , Mich., 
complains that two of his cows in milk have cold horns 
a greater portion of the time, and yet are otherwise in 
good condition.- The circulation of blood in animals 
may naturally vary as it does in man, and we can not 
conceive that any coldness of the horns, when the ani¬ 
mal is otherwise well, is any evidence of disease, or is 
susceptible of any treatment beyond giving abundant 
and nutritious food, which in turn would be the surest 
way of increasing the flow of milk. Leave the condition 
powders and turpentine for cases which need them. 
Swelling after Castration.— K. H. Kenny, Spokan 
Co., W. T.—“ Well informed people” no longer make 
use of the “ sign ” in the castration of animals. Swelling 
of the neighboring tissues is a frequent sequence to cas¬ 
tration in young animals, owing to imprisoned matter, ot¬ 
to effusion of bloody fluid. In the first case, re-open the 
W'ound with the fingers, or by a blunt instrument, and in 
the second place, trust to the natural absorption of fluid. 
Abortion in Cows. —J, R. Moeller, Hall Co., Ne¬ 
braska.—The causes of abortion, or premature delivery, 
are various and widely diflV-rmit in their nature. Among 
the most frequent are blows, slips, falls, or any violence 
which may destroy the fcelus; improper food,or b.ad water, 
which may produce irritation of the bowels, and longand 
fatiguing journeys. Decomposing animal matter, espe¬ 
cially the abortive discharges of neighboring cows, the use 
of ergoted food and smutty corn, may also cause abortion. 
The best preventive is to avoid all the above causes, not 
to breed at too early an age, and to allow several periods 
of heat to pass before the animat is again served. Any 
animal that once aborts, is liable to a recurrenoe of the 
same accident. Keep the stock in the best possible con¬ 
dition, by attention to diet, and to proper Ventilation of 
the building in which they arc kept. 
Hoove or Bloating in Cattle.- Wilhide Brothers, 
Carroll Co., Md., and C. Hoft'man, Dauphin Co., Pa., ask 
us for information in regard to bloating.—This condition 
is produced by filling the paunch with food to such a de¬ 
gree that the muscular action is interfered with, and di¬ 
gestion prevented. The mass of food consequently icr- 
ments, and gives rise to gases which distend the paunch 
still further, until the organ bursts, the animal suffocates, 
or relief is afforded. Certain kinds of food, such as 
clover wet with dew or rain, nneured grain, vetches, 
heavy growing weeds, etc., when eaten to exeess by 
young animals, are very liable to cause the disease. The 
animal in its greediness eats to satiety, and the act of 
rumination is, as it were, forgotten for the time. The 
preventive treatment is, not to allow access to such food, 
without exercising great care as to the amount eaten. 
In the early stages, when the bloating has just com¬ 
menced, continued exercise, or the dashing of cold water 
upon the body, may afford relief. At the same time give 
a pint of soapsuds of moderate strength, or an equal 
quantity of a solution made as follows: Take half an 
ounce of chloride of lime, and rub it down in a mortar, 
with a little water to a creamy fluid, the remaining water 
beingadded, the dose may be given at once. If no relief 
is obtained, a hollow probang should be passed down the 
gullet into the stomach, which will allow the escape of 
gas. In urgent cases, the paunch must be punctured, 
which is easily done by any sharp pointed instrument, 
and the wound kept open until the fermentation has 
ceased. The most suitable instrument for this purpose is 
the trochar, which should be plunged inward and down¬ 
ward, into the distended paunch, in the left side, half way 
between the hip-bone and the last rib, and at about a 
hand’s breadth below the spinal bones. Withdraw the 
trochar, and allow the canula to remain in the opening, 
until the cure is effected. A dose of salts is often neces¬ 
sary to carry off undigested food. The stomach pump, 
proper probang and a trochar, are necessary articles to 
be kept in every well-conducted stock establishment. 
The Pecan-Nut. 
The Pecan-nut (Carya olivafarmis) is a perfectly 
hardy tree in south-eastern Virginia, and thrives as 
well, apparently, as its near relative, the Hickory. We 
know of several trees, some of them now about fifty or 
sixty years old ; and there are many scattered through 
the adjoining counties. The nuts from these trees are 
in all respects—size, flavor, and thinness of shell—the 
equal of the best Texas pecan. We doubt not the pecan 
-n-ould thrive well anywhere along the coast as far north 
as Maryland, Delaware, and Southern New Jersey. Here 
the tree fruits annually, and is generally very prolific. 
A dozen trees would yield quite a handsome income. 
Every farmer could have that many trees, growing here 
and there in odd nooks and out-of-the-way places, though 
of course it would be better and more convenient to 
have them all growing together in an orchard. The tree 
makes good shade, is ornamental, and would make a 
handsome appearance planted in rows on either side of 
broad avenues, so often seen in country towns and 
villages in the old Colonial States. 
We recommend the culture of this tree very highly, as 
being likely to prove profitable from the Potomac and 
Ohio rivers southw-ard, and in some sections consider¬ 
ably to the north of those rivers. It is not the most 
valuable of the nut-bearing trees. The European wal¬ 
nut and the almond, both of which ivill grow and fruit 
in this section, surpass the pecan in our estimation. 
Our native white walnut, and. especially the chestnut, 
are superior, to say nothing of the high value of the 
timber of both these trees. The pecan is well worthy a 
place in any collection of nut-bearing trees, and certain¬ 
ly every farmer would do well to have his nut-grove, as 
a source of profit. We are taking steps to establish a 
nut-orchard of all varieties. B. W. Jones. 
C>oo«l Woj'iis for llac Karlleot.— 
Mr. W. Fulmer, Allegheny Co., Pa., writes us: ‘‘ In the 
July American Agriculturist, Mr. Theodore Goodrich, 
after giving his experience with a few varieties of pears, 
jumps at the conclusion, that the Bartlett is a “ univer¬ 
sally short-lived ” variety. While the Bartlett may bo 
more subject to blight in his section than most varieties, 
that does not prove it is universally fated. In 1874 we 
planted a small pear orchard of the following varieties: 
Bartlett, Clapp’s Favorite, Flemish Beauty, Sheldon, 
Beurre d’Anjou, Beurre Bose, Seckel, Lawrence, and 
Duchess. Of the Bartlett, Sheldon, Beurre d’Anjou, 
Seckel, and Lawrence, we have not lost a tree from blight. 
Of the other varieties we have lost, from blight, eighty 
per cent of Clapp's Favorite, ten per cent of Flemish 
Beauty, eighty per cent of Beurre Bose, and fifty per 
cent of Duchess. In extensive pear orchards near here, 
there are about four hundred Bartlett trees, and of these 
not more than one per cent have suffered from blight in 
the last three years. Plant for general crop the varieties 
that succeed best in your own neighborhood, and in 
your own kind of soil. 
OUR 
BASKET. 
Itoiie Dust ou a Pasture.—C. H. Dent,, 
Payette Co., Pa.—It makes little or no difference whether' 
bone is applied in fall or in spring; if more convenient 
to sow it in autumn, it may be done without risk of loss. 
Carrying- Egg-s to iVfarlAet.—Mr. W. 
D. Hazer, Lancaster Co., Neh., writes us, that he carries- 
his eggs to market in baskets, which he suspends from 
hooks on the underside of the high spring seat of the 
“lumber” wagon. In this way he has no trouble from 
broken eggs. 
A <Kra<$<$ i'ound in Clovei*. — W. A. 
Cate, Blount Co., Tenn.—The grass that is new to you 
is the Meadow Oat Grass, or Tall Meadow Oat Grass 
(Arrhenatherum avenaceum), a meet valuable species, 
whether for meadow or pasture. Especially adapted to 
the Southern States, and should be better known. 
Killing A nts.— H. Hinck, Plaquemines 
Co., La.—In asking how to kill ants, you fail to say 
whether they are in the house, or have their nests in the 
ground. In the latter case, we should try fresh Pyre- 
thrum powder in and around the holes. One corres¬ 
pondent advises to make a hole in the nest and pour in 
gas tar. Another advocates camphor. 
I.osse.s* Among- ^itlicep. — The annual 
losses among sheep in Colorado over one year old from 
disease, winter and other storms, wild animals, poison¬ 
ous weeds, snake bites, and old age, are eight per cent. 
Scab is one of the most troublesome diseases. 'Wild 
cats, coyotes, and black eagles are annoying on the 
prairie lauds, while larger animals prey upon the flocks 
among the foot-hills. 
Wliat do you tliiiik of Catalpa. ? 
—This question is asked by a number of western subscri¬ 
bers. 'We know of no other tree that will give such dur¬ 
able wood in so short a time. It would be a mistake to 
plant the Catalpa to the exclusion of other trees, but it 
has most valuable qualities, and should be grown wher¬ 
ever the wiiijtsrs are not too severe. The recently recog¬ 
nized C. speciosa, is claimed the hardier of the two species. 
Killing- Eive-for-e-t'O!-.—J. Purdy, Fair- 
field Co., Conn., writes us: “I have a hand cider mill> 
I also have Live-for-ever, and a far worse weed, which 
we call “ Adder’s-tongue.” Some call it “Snap Dragon,” 
and others “ Wench-weed.” My method is this: After 
all the juice is out of the pomace, I cover the clumps of 
the weed with it to the depth of six or seven inches. It 
will surely kill Live-for-ever. 
■•siper Making- from ^Vood.—Very 
few have any idea of the extent to which wood enters into 
the composition of paper. We have a number of mills 
for the conversion of wood into pulp, but Norway ap¬ 
pears to be the important centre of this manufacture. 
According to an official report, the exportation of wood 
paper pulp was in 1875 about eight and a half millions 
of tons. The quantity exported in 188-2 had risen to a 
little over fifty-nine millions of tons! 
Wliat Iiiciibsitor 81iall 1 Buy!— 
There are excellent re.asons for our not recommending 
any particular kind of Incubator. The essentials are an 
equable temperature maintained with little variation; 
aircluarged with a sufficient quantity of moisture ; venti¬ 
lation without drafts of changeable temperature; a con¬ 
venient mode of handling and turning the eggs, and a 
system of heating whereby the products of combustion 
are not discharged into the egg-chamber. The beginner 
should try a one hundred-egg machine, rather than a lar¬ 
ger one, and be willing to look after details. 
Xlie Steam Ble-W' Outdone.—Amer¬ 
ican farmers have been very slow to adopt the steam 
plow. Perhaps this was because they were 'B-aiting for 
something better. An inventor claims to have invented 
a machine to plow by wind power. A sixty-horse-power 
machine will draw ten plows tour miles an hour, and 
plow four acres an hour, with only one man to manage 
it. It is rigged with large windmill sails, and besides 
doing wonders in the field, furnishes stationary power 
for threshing, grinding, and other operations, and can 
carry many passengers on the road. The name of this 
wonderful machine and thatof the inventor are notgiven. 
