510 
AMEEIOAK AGEIOIJLTUEIST. 
[Kovember, 
pie growth. The soil is well adapted to market 
gardening, it is early, and the ease with which it 
may be worked, is a point greatly in its favor. 
“ Was your father a farmer?” I asked our host. 
“ My paternal ancestor came from England and 
settled in Massachusetts, purchasing a considerable 
tract of land in the town of Roxbury. He carried 
on a combined business in merchandise and agri¬ 
culture. I was born in Hampshire Co., Massachu¬ 
setts, in 1802. My father afterwards moved to 
New York, where he continued his double oc¬ 
cupation as before, and also educated his sons.” 
“ When did you go to what was then the West ? ” 
“I moved to Buffalo, N. Y., in 1833, where I de¬ 
voted myself to agriculture, especially to the 
breeding and raising of domestic animals of all 
kinds. In 18411 went to England for the purpose 
of studying its agriculture, and also to select and 
import choice domestic animals, with a view to 
improving those already possessed at home.” 
What induced you to become an editor and 
to start the Amencan Agriculturist?" 
” Solely a desire to improve our agriculture. 1 
had recently returned from England where every¬ 
thing relating to agriculture is so different. The 
thoroughness of the cultivation was in marked 
contrast to our own. There was in England a 
great interest felt in the improvement of cattle 
and other domestic animals, while there was very 
little at home. Thinking to serve the interests of 
agriculture, in conjunction with a younger brother, 
Richard L. Allen, the publication of the Amei'ican 
Agriculturist was commenced in the City of New 
York, though we still continued our farming at 
Buffalo. The first number of the paper was issued 
in April, 1842. Finding it inconvenient to attend 
to editorial duties so far from the place of publica¬ 
tion, I moved to New York near the end of the 
year, giving up my farm to my brother. I have 
since lived in the city, or in the country near by. 
At the end of the first year R. L, Allen retired 
from the Amcricafi Agriculturist, and I assumed the 
entire editorship. I conducted the paper alone un¬ 
til 1849, when I was again joined by my brother.” 
“ Why did you cease to edit it ? ” 
“ Wishing to devote ourselves to other business, 
which required our sole attention, we, after pub¬ 
lishing it lor fourte.n years, sold the Amaican Ag¬ 
riculturist to a gentleman who had been with us for 
a few years as an editorial employe. The subse¬ 
quent history of the paper you know better than I.” 
Knowing that Mr. Allen had been a pioneer in 
the manufacture as well as the sale of agricultural 
implements, I remarked: “In your long experi¬ 
ence you must have witnessed great improve¬ 
ments in agricultural implements and machines.” 
“When I commenced dealing in them, no im¬ 
plements of improved kinds were kept in the City 
of New York. Tlie only things of the kind then 
offered were a few coarse cast-iron plows, a com¬ 
mon, rough kind of harrow, and shovels, hoes, etc. 
I visited Worcester, Mass., and other places where 
improved implements were made, and filled my 
Wi’.rehouse with them. My brother vvas associated 
with me soon after I had commenced the business. 
The trade rapidly extended all over the United 
States, to the West India Islands, and to South 
America. Others followed the example, and the 
agricultural implement business of the city is now 
very large and is constantly increasing, especially 
in exports. We erected a large factory in Brook¬ 
lyn, where we made all the ordinary implements, 
and after mowing and reaping machines came into 
general use, these were also largely made by us.” 
“ Did you not make some inventions yourself?” 
“ I took out a number of patents, but these were 
mainly for improvements in reapers and mowers, 
and also some were for improvements in plows.” 
“Was not the importation of high class live 
stock, especially cattle, a part of your busiusss\?” 
“Yes, and besides our own, considerable importa¬ 
tions of improved breeds of domestic animals of all 
kiiids, friends in England frequently consigned to 
me improved stock for sale. Indeed, this has 
taken place down to a very recent date.” 
“ Have you visited Europe since 1841?” “I made 
quite an extended tour of the continent in 1867, 
finishing off with a turn through England and Scot¬ 
land, where I again studied their agriculture.” 
Mr. Allen retired from business a number of 
years ago. He passes the summers on his farm in 
Dover township, N. J., and the winters at Flushing 
on Long Island. His continued good health and a 
vigor quite unusual in an octogenarian, are no 
doubt due to an active participation in the outdoor 
work of his place. He knows, and can give the 
history of, every tree on his grounds. He still con¬ 
tinues to plant trees, knowing that some one will 
gather their fruiis or enjoy their shade. Still more 
remarkable than the activity of body are his unim¬ 
paired mental energy and retentive memory. Few 
young men keep so well abreast of agricultural 
progress, or are so well informed as to new methods 
and appliances. In relinquishing the editorial 
chair, Mr. Allen by no means abandoned writing, 
for he has been, and still is, a contributor to various 
journals, including the one which is proud to ac¬ 
knowledge him as its founder, and for which he 
still has something of parental regard. Though he 
writes upon agriculture proper, and various rural 
topics, his special field is that of domestic animals, 
especially neat cattle. There is probably no other 
person who has so thorough a knowledge of the 
early importations and the history'of their progeny 
as Mr. Allen. In view of the fact that a large 
share of our beef cattle must be drawn from the 
ranges of Texas, where the redundance of horns, 
derived from the Mexican cattle, still prevails, Mr. 
Allen long ago advocated the introduction of males 
of some of the polled breeds, in order to get rid of 
the enormous horns, which greatly increase the 
difficulty and cost of the transportation of the cat¬ 
tle to market. The suggestion was an eminently 
practical one, and the occasional appearance of 
polled grades in the herds, shows that some have 
been wise enough to act upon it. The present 
general excellence among the swine of the country 
is largely due to the writings, and especially to the 
importations, of Mr. Allen, who was among the first 
to introduce the improved Berkshire breed, and to 
point out its value to our farmers. These are in¬ 
stances in which the labors of Mr. Allen have been 
of national importance, but his efforts for their 
improvement have extended to all other kinds of 
domestic animals, and these are still continued. 
Our visit to the founder and first editor of the 
American Agriculturist, though of necessity brief, 
was full of interest, and we left him, feeling that 
at least one man had learned the art of growing 
old, not only gracefully, but usefully.—G, T, 
Animal Ailments. 
DR. D. D. SLADE. 
Heaves in Horses.— S. S. Daubenspeck, Bmler Co., 
Pa., has a horse that is servicetible, but he has the heaves. 
Although the term heaves is used with a good deal of 
latitude, yet in all cases it implies some disturbance of 
the respiration. Whatever may be tlie exact abnormal 
condition of the air cells, all cases are rendered less 
troublesome and more endurable by strict attention to 
the quantity and quality of the food. Tliis should be 
given in small compass, and witli great regularity. 
Provide roots and green food, and limit the su(iply of 
water. Feed diy oalsand very little hay, only at night— 
the object being to prevent distention of the stomach, 
and consequent indirect pressure upon the lungs. Give 
slow and regular exercise, but never until an hour or two 
after eating. The air cells probably will never regain 
their original healthy condition. 
“Hoop-bound.” — Donald Chrisholm, Cape Breton, 
has a nine-year-old horse that is “ hoof-bound,” and has 
hoofs rather inclined to be flat. Tlie walls of the hoof 
above, especially of the fore feet, are hollowing in from 
the heel to the toe. — This condition is dependent upon 
precocious inflammation of the sensitive tissues beneath 
the external wall or horny crust, leading to a separation 
of these tissues from the lioof, and a consequent siiiking 
iti of tlie front of the foot, and generally a bulging out 
or convex form of tlie sole. No treatment can restore 
the hoof to its natural shape and cotidition, but an ani¬ 
mal may continue to be serviceable in slow w'ork. This 
condition of the feet must be considered as an un- 
soundness of the animal. 
LAiirAS.—A. Murray, Fairfield Co., Conn, This con¬ 
gested condition of the hard palate and gums in young 
horses, maybe materially relieved by scarifications with, 
the lancet, as are tlie gums ofyouiig children in teething.. 
The application of Lunar Caustic also has agoodeftect. 
Etirning the parts should never be practiced. In feeding,, 
the animal may continue at pas; tire, or if kept up, fed on 
green food and bran mashes, iiiilil the soreness has- 
passed otf. 'Then the usual grain and hay may be oft'ered.. 
'There can be no objection ' to offering hay at any time. 
In fact, some authorities advise feeding of bard, un¬ 
shelled corn as often exerting a salutary effect upon the- 
abnormal condition of the mouth. Treat tlie animal as 
you would a child suft'eriiig from a similar cause. A. 
mild dose of physic is often beneficial. 
Contagious Disease among Pigs.—E. W. Daft, 
Clayton Co., Iowa, asks us for information about an ob¬ 
scure disease which has existed among ills pigs for the- 
past two years, and which attacks them at from ten days- 
to four weeks old. The disease manifests itself by ul¬ 
cerations about the mouth and nose, on the gums and 
tongue. Does not affect all the pigs sometimes a por¬ 
tion of the litter escapes. Tlie disease first made its 
appearance in a house with a board floor. It does not 
attack the sows orhogs. It iias generally proved fatal.— 
It is difficult to determine from the imperfect data given, 
what may be the precise nature of the disease in ques¬ 
tion, whether it should be classed as anthrax, or aa 
swine plague. However this may be, it is a contagious 
blood disease, manifesting itself particularly among the 
young animals, and will continue to do so ns long as the 
present premises are occupied. Separate the sick im¬ 
mediately, and destroy them ; place the healthy pigs in 
new and comfortable quarters, at a considerable distance 
from those which have been occupied. Burn or bury 
deeply the dead. Entirely disinfect the old quarters, 
destroying all rubbish, hay, straw, wood-work, etc., that 
has come in contact with the disease. In short, stamp- 
out the malady. Attempt no medical treatment. 
Cutting and Interfering.— R. G. Houston, Sussex 
Co., Del., has a young mare that strikes just below tho 
knee, and also interferes behind.—These conditions may 
depend upon weakness or fatigue, but when these be¬ 
come a habit, they are most probably the result of faulty 
construction of limbs. To remedy those defects, re¬ 
move a portion of the inside of the shoe, which should be- 
of equal thickness Ihrougbout, or straiglrten the shoo on 
the inner margin, and after its application, reduce the- 
wall or crust to correspond to the shoe. In this way, 
striking the opposite limb with either hoof or shoe is 
avoided. Of course the nails should bo placed in front 
of or behind the cutting portion.—Tliere will be no diffi¬ 
culty in drying up the milk of a mare ; there being no¬ 
call for the secretion, it will soon disappear. Nature is- 
the best guide in such matters. 
Impeded Respiration. — C. H. Mitcheltroe, Mercer 
Co., Pa., has a mare, eight years old, that puffs and blows 
on exercise, but has no cough. — The animal may have 
some impediment in the nostrils, which may prevent 
free dilation, and the lungs be perfectly healthy, or 
there may be more or less disease of the lungs, causing 
what is known as “thick wind.” In either case, the 
animal should not be used for one or more hours after 
feeding, and the food restricted to good sound oata 
and little hay. Green food in moderate quantities 
may be given, or the animal may be turned out to 
pasture. Very little water at a time should bo allowed, 
except at night. Give regular and gentle exercise daily. 
Wolf Teeth. —J. Boor, Fulton Co., Pa., asks whether 
wolf teeth Injure ahorse, and what is the cause of them. 
—The teeth which have received this name, are small 
supplementary molars or grinders, which appear in front 
of the true ones, having little or no resemblance to these 
last, and are most frequently shed with the first milk 
molar, and are not replaced. Occasionally they are not 
shed until the animal has passed the age of colthood. 
When retained they are perfectly harmless, and the idle- 
stories which connect these teeth with various diseases, 
' are but the result of gross ignorance and superstition. 
Bursal Sacks.— R. Drumm, Columbia Co., N. Y., has 
a mare fourteen years old, that has always had wind- 
galls, but these have never troubled her until lately, 
when site became very lame from them.-The treatment 
in such cases is to subdue the inflammation in the parts- 
by rest, and by lotions of cold or tepid water, restricted 
diet, and, if necessary, by a gentle purgative. When 
the heat and tenderness have gone, give support to the 
limbs by well applied flannel bandages, moderately 
tight at first, but increasing the pressure afterwards, for 
a portion of the day at least. If lameness continues, 
and there is any hardness like bone, cut off the hair, and 
as a counter irritant rub in mercurial ointment for 
several minutes, by means of a bit of cloth or flannel. 
This may be repeated from time to time. Active blister¬ 
ing, and even firing, both of which should be done by 
competent hands, may become necessary. Under all 
circumstances entire rest of the animal must be insisted 
upon, and the return to work should be very gradual. 
