46 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
[Febbxtary, 
Value of* Corn Fodder, —The estimates 
of the feeding qualities of corn stalks vary more perhaps 
than almost any other article of fodder. These different 
estimations are based much more upon the ways it is 
used, than upon any just notions of its nutritious value. 
On the prairies and on a large portion of the West it is 
seldom gathered at all, but the cattle are left to browse it 
in the fields. On a great part of the South the leaves 
and tender tops are gathered, bound in bundles, and 
constitute the chief dry fodder in winter. In the Middle 
and Eastern States it is usually hauled in after the corn is 
harvested, and fed around the stacks, thrown upon grass 
ground or in the barn-yards. Some farmers take great 
pains to cure it well, house it w ell if possible, and feed it 
after chaffing it fine and soaking it twelve hours, or 
steaming it till well cooked, usually adding bran, corn or 
oil meal in moderate quantities. These estimate corn 
fodder as nearly or quite equal to good upland hay, for 
all kinds of neat cattle and sheep—but best for cows. 
Xlie ni.o<i>t Prolific Cow on Record, 
—We have not, so far as we remember, the personal ac¬ 
quaintance of Mr. Henry Neff, of West Burre, Hunting¬ 
don Co., Pa., who is responsible for the following very 
remarkable statement; but he is an old subscriber of the 
Agriculturist, and his letter carries with it such assurance 
of honesty, that he has our entire credence. Ho writes ; 
*• A short time since I read in the N. Y. Times an ac¬ 
count of a very prolific cow in England, having/our calves 
atone time, which all died soon after. Porter Town¬ 
ship, Huntingdon Co., Pa., can beat that “all hollow.” 
When I was a boy, about thirty years since, my father 
had a cow that had eighteen (18) calves at scwen (7) 
births. The first time she liad one, the next time three, 
the next time four; three times succeeding this she had 
three each time, and the last time she had two. They all 
lived and grew up fine and large, with the exception of 
one, which was one of the four. When the cow was 
found in the field with the four calves, one w.as dead, 
although it was ns large as the living ones, and seemed 
as perfect in every respect. I can give any amount of 
testimony to prove the correctness of the above, if any 
one thinks it incredible or wants more evidence.” 
rTIaslied Tiirnips fbi* Stock, — Peter 
Gale, Westchester Co., N. Y., says: “I have a stone 
weighing 61) or 80 pounds, placed inside of half of a large 
molasses cask, set at one side and 6 inches from the top, 
putting one turnip on this stone at a time, with a mallet 
weighing 4 or 5 pounds, I mash a bushel in from three to 
five minutes.” Would it not be belter to place the stone 
over the half-hogshead tub and surround it (the stone) by 
a bottomless half of a flour barrel to catch spatterings ? 
Farming ia Minnesota, —We do not 
wish to invite our readers to see who will tell the biggest’ 
(true) story about the profits of western farming, for we 
cannot publish the statements if they send them ; but the 
following is given as a remarkable example of success in 
legitimate farming in very favorable seasons, and in a 
location where the rise in the value of land was very 
rapid. It is given on the authority of F. M. Crosby, of 
Dakotah Co., Min. 
“ In the year 1863, J. W. Treager purchased thirteen 
hundred acres of unimproved land in Washington Co., 
Minnesota, for which he paid $10,000. In the summer of 
1863 he broke seventy-five acres, upon which he raised 
a crop in 1864. That crop was sold for sufficient to pay 
for the land upon which it was raised, for breaking and 
fencing it, and all the expense of raising, harvesting and 
marketing tlie crop, and $1,100 besides. 
“ In the season of 1865 he cultivated 860 acres of the 
land and raised ; 
16,000 bushels of wheat, worth...$16,000 
7,000 “ “ oats, “ 2.800 
3,000 “ “ barley, “ 2,100 
2,000 “ “ potatoes “ 500 
4,000 “ “ corn, “ 2,600 
Total value of crops raised in 1865..$24,000 
The cost of seed, raising, harvesting and market¬ 
ing the same was. 8,000 
Leaving profit, after paying all expenses..$16,000 
Add the profit received from the crop of 1864. 1,100 
Makes the profit of the two crops..$17,100 
It cost him to break and fence the land he has 
under cultivation (ileducting tlie expenses of 
breaking and fencing the lanil, cultivated in 
1664), which was paid with the crop of that 
ye»f. 2.200 
To which add the cost of the land (deducting the 
cost of the 75 acres cultivated in 1864). 9.500 
Deduct that s\im from $17,000, the total profit of ’ 
1864 and 1865 leaves. $5,400 
After paying for the land and all expenses of breaking 
and fencing it, and the expense of seed and raising and 
marketing his crops. 
“Mr. Treagei has realized from two crops, the first being 
only seventy five acres, after paying all expenses, suf 
ficient to pay foi 1300 acres of Ian I, to pay the expense 
of breaking and fencing 860 acres of it, and $5400 in cash. 
“ The buildings upon his land cost him $3000, and his 
farm is now worth $35,000, making a total profit of 
$37,400.—Farmers who h.ave operated upon a smaller 
scale, have realized profit in proportion. 
“ This is a simple statement of facts. From it the world 
can judge whether farming in Minnesota is profitable.” 
Ice lionises and Filling:. —Our plan for 
an ice-house described on page 350 (November) was not 
intended for the cheapest one that would keep Ice well, 
but for a good one in which the theory of the best way 
to keep ice is well carried out, and which would keep 
ice well on any soil and in any climate or exposure. The 
fact is that some of the cheapest, most carelessly knock¬ 
ed together houses, if the ice is Only w ell packed, keep 
it excellently, while some built at great expense, which 
lack good drainage or ventilation, or something else, keep 
itbut two or three months. Ice houses ought to be filled, 
if possible, in very cold weather, after the interior 
of the house has become thoroughly cold, and when the 
ice itself is not only perfectly dry. but very cold. It re¬ 
tains this cold a long lime, and besides, if the cakes are 
well cut and closely packed, with the interstices chinked 
full of ice dust or snow’ a few pailfuls of water may be 
dashed on, which will immediately freeze and make the 
whole nearly a solid mass. Cakes thus frozen together, 
will nevertheless crack apart easily when the ice is needed 
in summer. The ice cakes should be cut with right 
angles, and of uniform sizes, so that the layers may fit 
the size of the house as nearly as possible, leaving 
about 6 Inches all around, to be filled with straw or saw¬ 
dust closely packed. It is usually best to lay a bed of 
tanbark or straw, some three inches thick upon a level 
floor of boards, such as was described in the November 
number, but if the floor be of rails or of hoards laid un¬ 
evenly upon the ground, the bed sho\ild be 6 or 8 inches 
thick. The floor should never be of matched boards, for 
it must allow water to pass through freely. In large ice 
houses the practice of setting the cakes of ice on Ihe 
edges, is frequently advocated. We see no reason to 
prefer it in small house.s, for if the ice be carefully 
packed, all the thawing will take place at the exterior of 
the mass. When filled, the ice should be covered with 
a tliick layer of straw. 
Making a Solid Mass of Ice.— Where 
a supply of water can be had, with a little fall, and where 
there is sufficient cold weather, an ice house can be 
readily filled with a solid mass of ice at trifling expense. 
Arrange a pipe so that the water can be thrown out 
over the floor of the ice house in the form of fine spray, 
as from tlie rose nr a watering pot. This will freeze as 
it falls, quite rapidiy in cold weather, and in a brief time 
a whole house can be thus filled w’ith a solid mass. 
Mules and Horse Teams. — “ Bob.” 
There are a good many good things about mule teams, 
but you can’t trust them. With steady work, if not 
abused, and with enough to eat they wiil do more work 
than most horses. No teams we ever saw will do more 
work than those little Kanuck stallions, which twenty 
years ago were much more common than they are now. 
They would weigh about 800 to 1000 pounds apiece when 
fat, were as spry as cats, tough as knots, afraid of noth¬ 
ing, and reliable. As a general thing, too, they knew 
more than their drivers, about many things. All the 
horses we use for farm work are mares or geldings, and 
they are therefore more liable to disease, need more 
care, will not stand so hard work, have less pluck, are 
more apt to shy, etc. In all these particulars a horse is 
hurt by gelding-but it does a mule good. Mules will 
bear a certain kind of abuse better than hor.ses. They 
are very knowing, and teachable if they must learn, not 
naturally docile like a good horse. They make good 
farm teams, but are better adapted to tlie climate of the 
Southern states than to ours. 
Windmills.— In reply to several inquiries 
for windmill powers, we will state tliat such are now 
employed all over the country, for pumping water, 
churning, driving saws for cutting fire wood, and they 
may be made to run thrashing machine.-!, or grain mills. 
Such a mill can be erected over or near a barn, lo drive 
several kinds of machinery .and any skillful mechanic can 
put one up. If the wings are not self-regulating, a 
brake can be applied to some journal to stop them, or to 
make them run slowly during a gale. 
A Warm Poultry House for Maine. 
—X would-be poultry fancier in Androscoggin Co. asks 
how he can build warm enough for Black Spanish Fow Is. 
In December, 1864, we gave a plan of a poultry house, 
which wax lathed and plastered, ceiling and all, and had 
conveniences for fire in very severe weather. This Is'an 
expensive plan, but good. The best thing for our Midne 
friend to do is, to dig out a pit 3 feet deep, about 8 feet 
wide, and as long as he pleases; lay up a back-wall 8 
feet high, and a front wall towards the east and south 5 
feet high, with a 4x6 inch plate on eiich, laid in raoriat 
or cement. Between tlie end-walls, 2)^ feet from the 
back plate, lay a strip of scantling, supported in the mid¬ 
dle, if necessary, by braces to the back wall; roof over 
between this and the back, and set 6 foot green-house 
sashes to cover at least two-thirds of the pit, to rest on 
the front wall, and this scantling—rafters being set cor¬ 
responding to the width of the s.ashes. Make holes for 
ventilation in the back wall, set the roosts very low—not 
over 3 feet high, and all on one level—provide other 
conveniences and necessities as frequently directed. 
Miike the door in one end, anri the entrance boarded off 
from the fowls’ quarters. Finally bank up tlie earth on 
the outside, making very thick earth walls, well sodded. 
Sucli a liouse will be w-arm both summer and winter. 
Thorough drainage is very necessary, .and in winter It 
will probably be best to have thick straw mats, made to 
roil, to lay over the glass on very cold nights. 
Cheap Stump Pullers.— Reuben Seip, 
Steuben Co., N. Y., inquires for a cheap stump puller. 
He will find illustrations of three different stump pullers 
in the Agriculturist for 1865, one on p. 77, March ; p. 114, 
April, and p. 371, December. For pulling sound slumps, 
a very strong machine is required, having a large screw 
to lift a slump vertically, or a system of pulleys with a 
long chain and iron rods attached to another stump, draw¬ 
ing over the top of a frame set near the stump to be lifted. 
White Clover. — “ Will Swedish White 
Clover give a large yield of good hay?” Not equal to 
red clover. It can be obtained at most seed stores. 
Ciarden Notes.—Rev. W. K. Dare)’, Middle- 
essex Co.. Mass., sends us what we consider a model 
letter, for it gives as well as asks information. The fol¬ 
lowing bits of garden experience will interest many. 
Some of Mr. D.’s queries are answered in the present 
number, and others will be attended to in time. 
“A few Garden Notes for 1865. The Cooks’ Favorite 
Tomato has proved, with me, to be nothing belter than 
the Early Apple, long grown. The Early York is. how¬ 
ever, a decided improvement ; being fully a week earlier 
than the Apple, smooth and good-flavored, and an abun- 
diint bear.ci. Of course, the Fejee still maintains its 
rank as a late Tomato.—Of Beans, the Fejee (from 
Gregory, of Marblehead) proves with me. to be not only 
the earliest, but decidedly the best of the hush sorts. It 
resembles the Cranbeiry Bean in tenderness and flavor; 
but is much e;irlier.—The Esirly Wakefield Cabbage has, 
this year, given great satis'action, proving early, tender 
and of excellent flavor. It is nearly as early as Early 
York, but has none of its flabbine.<!s or toughness. It 
also grows larger with me than the Winnigstadt.” 
Cauliflowers. —“W. K. D.” Cauliflowers 
will sometimes run up to flower in dry weather. They 
must be kept growing when once stiii ted, by watering if 
need be. We have found both Early and Half-early 
Paris to do on sandy soil, but we used a good dressing of 
muck and ashes. 
Onions. — J. M. Shaver, Westmoreland Co., 
Pa. The whole story of Onion culture is given in our 
pamphlet on that subject. Price by mail 20 cents. At 
the season for sowing we give directions in the Monthly 
Notes, but of course ciinnot go so fully into the matter. 
I.imc in tSic Orrliartl.—Levi Lebo, Dau¬ 
phin Co., Pa., wishes lo plow his orchard for a crop and 
tise lime, and says “ most of our farmers here think lime 
destructive to fruit trees.” Most of our farmers find lime 
a beneficial manure. If other crops on your land are 
benefitted by lime, there will be no danger of hurting the 
trees. In many parts of New England it is regarded 
almost as a specific for old orchards beginning to fail. 
Mulcliin^ Trees. —One of our Westchester 
friends, when lie plants a tree in spring, sows a circle of 
buckwheat all around it quite thickly. When the buck¬ 
wheat is in blossom, he pulls it up and lays it around the 
tree for a mulch. In this way, whatever nourishment 
has been abstracted from the soil, is returned to it by the 
decay of the buckwheat. 
Are Butternut Trees In|urioiis?— 
J. B. Howe, Worcester Co., Mass. Young fniit trees 
may be injured by butternut and other forest trees, if the 
roots of the latter are so near as to rob the fruit trees of 
nourisliment or to unduly shade them. 
Flant Humljugrs.— Letters and circulars 
are received whioh show that the venders of wonderful 
plants are still abroad. Some chap is about In Ohio, sel¬ 
ling plums which tlie Curcnllo will not touch, berause 
they are on stocks of the wild plum, and “quinces ns 
