16 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[January, 
AMERICAN FARM SCENES-W I N T E R-From an Original Sketch by F. 0. C. Darley. 
{.Engraved for the American Agriculturist .) 
It is with great pleasure that we present, here¬ 
with, one of four original “Farm Scenes,” by 
our distinguished countryman, F. 0. C. Darley, 
who ranks foremost among American Artists. 
The other three designs, representing Spring, 
Summer , and Autumn , will appear in the 
American Agriculturist for April, July, and Octo¬ 
ber.* Our sketches, though necessarily on a re¬ 
duced scale, give a very good idea of the spirit 
of the originals, which certainly excel anything 
of the kind hitherto produced in this country, 
The designs are truthful, as they well may be, 
for Mr. Darley, though devoted to his favorite 
art, is himself a New-Jersey farmer, and a 
close observer of farm life. The picture is wor¬ 
thy of study, and it scarce needs a line to direct 
attention to the natural position of the cows, the 
relish with which they lay hold of the corn¬ 
stalks, with appetite sharpened by cold; the 
eager, expectant look of the horse; the shiver¬ 
ing shrug of the shoulders, by the boy; the “go- 
a-long ” look of the man carrying the stalks; 
the peering of the cat; the fowl, snowbird, etc. 
It is a matter of regret, that the picture is 
a truthful sketch of so many farm yards in 
this country. Winter, at the best, is a trying time 
for animals, cut off as they are from their natur¬ 
al food, and confined to dry hay, straw, stalks, 
or grain. The dictates of humanity alone should 
*N. B. — These copies are reduced for engraving, from 
Hie original sketches, by special permission from the 
owner of the copy-right, Mr. M. ICnoedlcr, 772 Broad¬ 
way, of this City, wlio has published large sized, and very 
beautiful lithographs, 15xlU inches. These will make an 
appropriate ornament for every dwelling in the country. 
The price of the four is only $5. They can be obtained of 
Mr. Kncedler, as above, or we will procure copies and 
forward, when desired. 
be sufficient to impel every owner of stock to 
afford them warm shelter at least. But it is 
not alone for the animals’ sake, that the impor¬ 
tance of their comfort is so often urged in these 
columns. "Who does not know that comfort 
promotes thrift? No man ever grew fat with¬ 
out being at ease, in his physical condition. 
Neither will an animal take on flesh, while he is 
worried by want of what his nature craves. The 
philosophy of the saving of food, by keeping 
animals warm, is fully considered in another ar¬ 
ticle in the present number; but it is apparent 
upon the least reflection, that the feeling of com¬ 
fort, has much to do with promoting an animal’s 
thrift, in addition to the physiological reasons 
previously alluded to. The condition of the 
nervous as well as of the muscular system, 
affects the digestion and assimilation of food; 
and any one who has experienced the thorough 
discomfort of insufficient warmth, knows that 
every organ complains of the neglect. Let 
those who would rejoice in the well rounded 
frames and sleek sides of their cattle, see that 
they live at their ease, as far as is possible in 
this inclement season. If our sketch leads to 
reflection and better practice, it will be not only 
effective as an esthetic work, but point a moral 
as well. 
How to Throw an Ox. 
L. Hendrick, in the Genesee Farmer, thus de¬ 
scribes a simple method practiced by him on 
one occasion when he wished to extract hedge¬ 
hog quills from the animal’s hind foot: The 
ox was first placed on smooth ground, and 
the left, or near side, fore foot tied fast to the leg 
above the knee. Then a rope was tied around 
the ancle of both the off side feet, and two men 
standing on the near side, pulled gently on these 
ropes, at the same time crowding against his 
side. A man was stationed at the off side of 
the animal’s neck, to attend to his head while 
coming down. The ox seeming to fear a fall, 
readily dropped on his knees and down upon 
his side. The ropes were then held securely, 
and the quills easily extracted with a bullet- 
mold for nippers. 
Why do Animals need Salt? 
Prof. Jas. E. Johnston, of Scotland, says: 
“Upwards of half the saline matter of the blood 
(37 per cent,) consists of common salt; and as 
this is partly discharged every day through the 
skin and the kidneys, the necessity of continued 
supplies of it to the healthy body becomes suffi¬ 
ciently obvious. The bile also contains soda 
(one of the ingredients of salt,) as a special and 
indispensable constituent, and so do all the car¬ 
tilages of the body. Stint the supply of salt 
therefore, and neither will the bile be able prop¬ 
erly to assist digestion, nor the cartilages to be 
built up again as fast as they naturally waste.” 
It is better to plarj salt where stock can have 
free access to it, than to give it occasionally in 
large quantities. They will help themselves 
to what they need if allowed to do so at pleas¬ 
ure ; otherwise, when they become “ salt hun¬ 
gry ” they may take more than is wholesome. 
