1862.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
11 
boards and plank to fence-posts, and have be¬ 
come satisfied that where service and not show 
is required, the best manner is as follows: 
The above is a vertical view—looking down 
at the top of the fence. r, m. HasbUouck. 
Saratoga Co., N. Y. 
Horses Injured by Hungarian Grass. 
As has been previously stated in the Agricul¬ 
turist, from all the evidence received, there ap¬ 
pears to be no peculiar property in millet or 
Hungarian grass which makes it hurtful to 
horses, or other stock; but injudicious feeding of 
the ripened seed with the stalk may be injuri¬ 
ous. The following item from the Prairie Farm¬ 
er refers to this matter. A gentleman having 
grown and fed considerable of this grass to his 
stock last season, several of his horses became 
stiffened and almost useless. One, a fine mare, 
died. To ascertain what ailed her, he opened 
and examined her thoroughly, and found in her 
stomach a ball of Hungarian grass seed, weigh¬ 
ing from seven to eight pounds, so hard as to be 
broken with difficulty. Acting on this discov¬ 
ery, he gave his other horses a dose of castor 
oil, and very soon, masses of seed were passed 
from them, apparently parts of the balls des¬ 
cribed, some pieces as large as hens’ eggs. 
If this be the difficulty, it may be prevent¬ 
ed by steaming the grass and seed before feed¬ 
ing. As is well known, grain of any kind 
reaching the stomach unbroken by the teeth, is 
not easily digested, and whole kernels of corn 
or oats may often be found in the excrements of 
animals, as the poultry testify by assiduous¬ 
ly scratching over the manure heap. Millet 
seed of every variety is so small as to be masti¬ 
cated with difficulty, and most of it will enter 
the stomach unbroken. Thorough cooking by 
steam will swell and soften the kernels, and pre¬ 
pare the grain to be readily acted upon by the 
gastric juice in the stomach of the animal. * 
Diseases from Ammonia in Stables. 
Nothing is more common than diseases among 
cattle, especially horses, arising from foul sta¬ 
bles. Horses are more troubled with it than 
cows, probably from the fact that their dmig is 
generally richer and undergoes a more rapid 
fermentation, throwing out ammonia in large 
quantities. In a close stable the gas is so strong 
that the eyes are painfully affected with it. This 
is an alkali, and is classed among the most pow¬ 
erful stimulants, the constant respiration of 
which, predisposes to affections of the lungs. 
The strength of the gas may be judged from the 
odor that arises from a common hartshorn 
smelling bottle. In many stables no provision 
whatever is made to guard the animals against 
this subtle poison. The floor is always satur¬ 
ated with urine, and the pungent odor of this gas 
is always present. 
There are many cheap experiments within 
the reach of most farmers to prevent this nuis¬ 
ance, and to save the ammonia for the manure 
heap. As all the animals are now coining to 
the stables, particular attention should be paid 
to this item of economy. Common ground plas¬ 
ter is a good absorbent, and a few quarts sprink¬ 
led daily in the manure gutters, will keep them 
sweet and clean. Sawdust from the shingle 
and saw mill will make good bedding, and if 
renewed often enough, will retain all the ammo¬ 
nia. In most mills in the country, this article 
accumulates, and has to be thrown into the 
stream, to get rid of it. It may be turned to 
profitable account for bedding. 
Some farmers living near tan works, use the 
spent tan bark for this purpose. If kept under¬ 
cover and used in the dry state, it makes a very 
valuable manure. Shore farmers have an un¬ 
failing resource in sea weed, particularly the eel 
grass. If this is spread and dried upon the shore 
it makes a good bed, and has great power of 
absorbing gas. Better still is dry muck and 
peat kept housed for the purpose. A half cord 
of this under a horse with a little changing 
where the water falls, will keep a stable sweet 
for two weeks. This is within reach of most 
farmers, and is, perhaps, the cheapest and best 
method of enlarging the compost heap. Leaves 
gathered from the forest, or straw, make a suit¬ 
able covering for the muck at night, and keep 
the animals clean. As ammonia is the most val¬ 
uable constituent of the manui-e heap, it ought 
to be a point of honor with every cultivator not 
to have an ounce wasted. It is the very life of 
his business—good for tlie eyes of potatoes, beans 
and other plants, but very bad for the eyes of 
horses and cattle. 
For the American Agriculturist. 
Saddle Horses. 
The present war times have given new value 
to saddle horses. They are wanted for military 
service, and then the prevailing martial spirit 
has caused our young men and maidens at home 
to learn and practice the noble and robust ac¬ 
complishment of riding on horseback. Luxuri¬ 
ously cushioned and closely curtained carriages 
may do for the feeble and the effeminate: but 
to the young and strong, give the saddle and the 
bounding steed. 
Aye, and more than that: the saddle is just 
the place for the feeble who wish to become 
strong, and who have the courage and perse¬ 
verance to take this daily regimen. We speak 
what we have tried and do know, that for a 
pulmonary complaint, nothing is better than 
daily exercise on horseback. If the weather is 
cold, put on more clothes; if wet, then throw 
on a rubber overcoat; but sally forth once a 
day, and Dobbin will bring you home in better 
health and spirits than when you went away. 
There is a great difference in horses. Some 
were born for the saddle, and are easily trained 
to it. Some are naturally awkward, long-paced, 
high stepping, making it a penance to ride them. 
Others again can be broken to the saddle only 
by careful training. With the latter, the work 
should be begun early. Care should be taken 
that a young horse get no fright by throwing 
on the saddle rudely, or by the rider’s mode of 
mounting and dismounting. Yex him not by 
unnecessary roughness in putting the 'bits into 
his mouth. Let him not get the habit of start¬ 
ing suddenly at pokerish objects by the roadside; 
for a saddle horse, this is one of the worst of 
faults. And when he does get frightened, do 
not try to whip him out of his alarm; he will be 
all the more terrified next time. 
Some horses have a good deal of style and 
carriage by nature; with others, it must come 
chiefly from training. Keep your horse from 
throwing his head very high, or dropping it 
very low. A little curve of the neck is very 
graceful. An ordinary snaffle-bit with a martin- 
gal enables one to manage the head successful¬ 
ly. In certain cases, it will not; and then the 
curb bridle must be resorted to. An occasional 
use of this will bring down a lofty head and an 
outstretching nose. And then, contradictory as 
it may seem, the same bridle skillfully used, 
will bring up a doggishly low head. But such 
a bit should not be used constantly, or it will 
lose its value. 
The gait of a saddle horse is somewhat a 
question of taste, but a slow, easy gallop is, on 
the whole, the most popular. The natural gait 
of a horse (trot, pace, or gallop,) will be the 
easiest for him and his rider. A little manage¬ 
ment, such as tightening or loosening the rein, 
a motion of the legs or of the person, a slight 
whistle or chirrup, will soon be understood by 
the horse, and cause him to take the gait or 
speed desired. Equestrian. 
A Harnessing Arrangement. 
A correspondent of the Country Gentleman 
describes the following method of harnessing 
and unharnessing a horse to a single wagon : 
“ In the first place, my harness is made with 
the collar open at the bottom, and no buckle, 
but the hames are fastened to the collar, 
and there is one buckle to fasten them both. 
The tugs and hold-back straps are not unhitch¬ 
ed; the lines lie over the dash, where they will 
not get under the horse’s feet; they may be un¬ 
buckled from the headstall, or remain with it, 
and all hang up together. I have a wooden 
hook, like an ox-bow, with half the length of 
one side cut off, so as to hook under the back 
saddle, collar, and headstall. A cord is attached 
to the long end of the hook, and put up over a 
pulley, and through another pulley, and down 
to about three feet from one side of the horse. 
Unbuckle the belly-bands and the hame-straps, 
put under the hook, pull all up, and make the 
cord fast to a small hook at the side of the car¬ 
riage. house. A horse will soon learn to place 
himself back into the breeching, when the har¬ 
ness and shafts are let down, three or four buck¬ 
les are fastened, and he is harnessed.” 
Breaking Heifers for Milking. 
This is often made quite a serious affair, in 
which kicks and bruises are freely interchanged 
between the frightened brute and the irritated 
master. Many an otherwise excellent milker is 
spoiled for life by harsh treatment. A heifer, 
if well broken to the milk pail, is thereby made 
worth at least twenty per cent more—an increase 
which will pay for much painstaking. Rarey’s 
reasoning respecting horses applies equally to 
other animals. They only resist when injury is 
apprehended, and their natural instinct suggests 
danger whenever any unusual treatment occurs. 
Every one has noticed how shy a creature is in 
entering strange enclosures, or at sight of new 
objects. The handling of a heifer’s bag is to her 
a very unusual proceeding, and, in addition, the 
teats are often tender, and the bag caked and in¬ 
flamed so as to be painful under even a. gentle 
touch. Training for milking should commence 
long before calving. First teach the animal to 
welcome your coming by little presents of an 
apple, a handful of corn, or salt, or other deli 
cacy. She will soon readily permit the hand 
to be laid upon her back and enjoy the gentle 
rubbing and scratching which may be given. 
Extend the handling to different parts of the 
body, until she will not flinch from grasping her 
teats, and the work may be soon accomplished 
without even a harsh word. This will be a 
good lesson for the boys to practice the present 
month, and teach them patience and kindness, in 
addition to the good effects upon the animals. 
