178 . 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
top of the ear or head. I sow 1£ bushels 
of Fife, and from 1£ to H bushels of the 
China, per acre. L. Kieffer. 
Stone Mills, Jefferson Co., ) 
Nevv-York, April 7, 1856.$ 
———- —"■M taBi Kiftww— 
MILK FEVER IN COWS. 
Stamford, C. W., April, 9, 1856. 
Editor of American Agriculturist: 
In four years I have lost three valuable 
cows by what here is usually termed—Milk 
Fever. In England called less genteely but 
quite as expressive, “ down calving.” In 
one case, the cow was turned into the field 
well at night, was not seen again until after 
breakfast, and was dead by ten o’clock P. 
M. A second lived eight days, and the last 
five days, from the time of being noticed as 
sick. All three were in the first or second 
day from calving. The symptoms were a 
total prostration of strength, with a high 
fever. This were first treated by bleeding, 
and then linseed tea, and oat or corn meal 
pottage for a cooling drink, given in small 
quantities every two or three hours. All 
have been great losers from their extra milk¬ 
ing qualities, and to such I learn the disease 
is confined or commonly so. 
If any among the readers of the Agricul¬ 
turist can point out a remedy or cure for so 
serious a complaint he will confer a favor 
probably on many by making it public. 
The books, so far as I have consulted them, 
recommend bleeding first, then a soft open¬ 
ing drink, and if the animal live four or five 
days nourishing or spicy drinks, as the wind 
is often troublesome. My last cow a few days 
since suffered much from this cause, and on 
opening her the gall-bladder, and stomach, or 
runnet, were all distended beyond their usual 
capacity ; while the manifold or third stom¬ 
ach, was packed close, and tight with food 
in a good state, except being rather dry so as 
to obstruct the regular passage. The lungs 
highly inflamed—all other parts exhibiting a 
healthful tone. 
Bleeding I have lost faith in. One of my 
neighbors gives two or more doses of salts 
at proper intervals with success. Serious 
disorders sometimes require desperate rem¬ 
edies. This complaint is more common in 
England and less fatal. An ounce of pre¬ 
vention is worth a pound of cure. Can 
bleeding or milking be safe if resorted too 
before calving? 
Any one giving a practical answer to the 
above queries, will oblige at least one regu¬ 
lar reader of your paper. E. Jones. 
[We forwarded a proof of the above, to 
Mr. Lewis F. Allen of Black Rock, and 
received the following reply in time to go 
with the letter itself.— Ed.] 
Of my own experience I know little or noth¬ 
ing of the above disease. I have, in several 
instances, both heifers with their first calf, 
and cows, had them secrete milk in great 
quantity in their udders for many days be¬ 
fore calving. In such cases I had their bags 
and teats carefully bathed with salt and wa¬ 
ter, cream, or other softening applications, 
and milked once or twice a day, which gave 
them great relief, and facilitated their efforts 
in calving. I have drawn twenty quarts a 
day each, from more or less cows for a week 
or ten days before calving, and in every in¬ 
stance thus treated, both cow and calf did 
well. Had not this method been resorted to, 
both cow and calf might have been lost. Suf¬ 
ficient of good, and easily digested food should 
be given at meal times, and the cow kept 
quiet. I have never bled cows in such cases, 
and would not recommend it unless in ex¬ 
treme cases of inflammation where all other 
relieving applications fail. 
PREMIUMS FOR IMPORTANT EXPERIMENTS 
WITH VARIOUS FERTILIZERS UPON 
CORN. a 
Previous to the last Annual Meeting of the 
New-York State Agricultural Society, we 
offered some suggestions in reference to giv¬ 
ing a more practical turn to the operations 
of the Society, and recommended an exten¬ 
sive series of experiments, with the various 
fertilizers in market, upon a variety of crops 
and upon different classes of soils. The idea 
suggested was that, while a great Annual 
Show might awaken an interest for the time 
being, as well as increase the funds of the 
Society, we needed some plan by which de¬ 
finite information could be gathered, and 
something tangible and reliable added to our 
limited knowledge of the actual value of the 
present modes of«sultivation, and of the fer¬ 
tilizers recommended by various individuals. 
We proposed, among other things, that tho¬ 
rough experiments should be made under the 
direct supervision of an intelligent Commit¬ 
tee, whose expenses should be borne while 
in the performance of their duties. 
We are happy to learn that these sugges¬ 
tions are to be at least partially carried out, 
with reference to one important crop 
We are indebted to Col. B. P. Johnson, the 
Corresponding Secretary, for an advance 
proof copy of the regulations in regard to the 
experiments proposed to be made, which we 
give below, adding, that we hope there will 
be a large list of competitors, and that the 
Executive Committee will personally visit 
and supervise as many of the experiments as 
possible. 
Extract from the Premium List of the New- York State Agri¬ 
cultural Society for 1856: 
FERTILIZERS FOR INDIAN CORN. 
The Executive Committee deeming it of 
great importance to ascertain the manure 
best adapted to Indian corn, one of the most 
important crops of this country, propose to 
award premiums for the best conducted and 
most satisfactory experiments with the man¬ 
ures hereinafter named. 
It is desired that the field upon which the 
experiment is made should have been under 
cultivation for a considerable length of time, 
and if it has not been manured, and has been 
impoverished by continued cultivation of 
cereal crops, it will be the more acceptable. 
It is very important to ascertain the amount 
of phosphoric acid, sulphuric acid, potash, 
soda, lime, &c., required in the soil for the 
proper growth of Indian corn. 
The mechanical condition of the field must 
be carefully attended to—and all parts of the 
field to be as much alike as possible. One- 
fourth of an acre for each plot, and two of 
these to be without manure of any kind It 
is believed that this is as small a quantity of 
land as will secure reliable results, and it is 
of the utmost importance that the field ex¬ 
periments should be satisfactory. 
PLATE OR MONEY PREMIUM, §75. 
No. I. The following preparations to be tried—each of 
the Nos. representing one-fourth of an acre. 
Nos. 
1. Without manure. 
2. 4 tons well decomposed barn-yard manure. 
3. 4 tons green manure from barn-yard. 
4. 100 lbs. sulphate of lime. 
5.100 lbs. sulphate of ammonia. 
G. 100 lbs. superphosphate of lime. 
7. 75 lbs. ofpearlash. 
8. 50 lbs. of soda ash. 
9. 25 lbs. sulphate of ipagneaia. 
10. 50 tbs. sulphate of lime. 
11.75 lbs. of pearlash, 50 lbs. soda ash, 25 lbs. sulphate of 
lime, and 25 lbs. sulphate of magnesia. 
12. As No. 11, with 100 lbs. sulphate of ammonia. 
13. As No. 11, with 100 lbs. superphospate of lime. 
14. As No. 11, with 100 ibs. sulphate of ammonia, and 100 
lbs. superphosphate of lime. 
15. As No. 11, with 50 lbs. sulphate of ammonia. 
16. 50 lbs. sulphate of ammonia. 
17. 50 lbs. superphosphate of lime. 
18. 4 tons barn-yard manure, 50 lbs. each of sulphate of 
ammonia, superphosphate of lime, pearlash, soda ash, 
sulphate of magnesia, and sulphate of lime. 
19. Without manure. 
If potash, soda ash and magnesia cannot 
be readily obtained, unleached hardwood 
ashes may be substituted for them. 
The superphosphate of lime should be made 
from calcined bones, and should be placed in 
direct contact with the seed. The sulphate 
of ammonia should be applied in the hill, 
with a little soil intervening between it and 
the seed. The pearlash or soda ash, must 
not be mixed with superphosphate or sul¬ 
phate of ammonia before sowing. The 
other substances can be applied as conven¬ 
ience or custom dictates. 
Superphosphate of lime from calcined 
bones, ground quite fine before admixture 
with acid, may be made as follows : Grind 
the calcined bones very fine ; then, to 100 
lbs. of bone dust add 75 ibs. of water, and 
mix thoroughly ; then add 100 lbs. “ brown 
or chamber” sulphuric acid, and mix com¬ 
pletely, and repeat the process until the 
quantity required is made—(such a super¬ 
phosphate can be sown with the smallest 
seeds, without fear of injuring the germinat¬ 
ing principals.) 
PREMIUM, PLATE OR MONEY, §50. 
No. 2. ( Indian Cora) —Each plot to consist of one quar¬ 
ter of an acre. 
Nos. 
1. Without manure. 
2. Peruvian guano, 100 lbs.* 
3. Mexican guano, 100 tbs. 5 * 
4. Commercial superphosphate of lime, 100 lbs. 
5. Poudrette, 1 bbl. 
6. Taleu, 100 lbs. 
7. Gypsum, 100 lbs. 
8. Unleached ashes, 100 lbs. 
9. 4 tons bam-yard manure. 
10. 100 lbs. Peruvian guano, 100 lbs. superphosphate of 
lime, 100 lbs. unleached ashes, 50 lbs. gypsum.f 
11. Without manure. 
* Guano.—I n the application of Guano, it should be sown 
broadcast, and plowed or harrowed in. If applied to corn in the 
hill, it will certainly injure the seed. 
t The ashes and gypsum are to be mixed together and sown 
broadcast before planting, or on top of the hill when the corn is 
a few inches high. The superphosphate and guano to be mixed 
together and applied in the hill, with sufficient soil intervening 
to prevent injury to the seed, or it may be sown broadcast, and 
plowed or harrowed in, as ir. Nos. 1 and 2. 
To Make a Balky Horse Draw. —The 
London Times gives a remedy which proved 
successful. After all sorts of means had 
been tried and failed, it was suggested that 
