35G 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
[ April 30, 1891; 
The lambing is wisely timed late, in view of having some fresh 
■grass for the lambs, and apparently in view of the vague chance of 
a spell of mild weather. This may answer in some seasons, but it 
has certainly not done so this year, for the pastures are still 
very bare of feed, and the bitter weather during the lambing 
"killed the lambs by scores. It did more, it caused the death of 
many ewes also. The poor animals had fallen off in condition so 
much during the long hard winter that many of them could not 
bear the severe strain of the cold weather and low diet which they 
had to endure as lambing time approached, and they died. Well 
would it be if this were the worst of it, if there were any pro¬ 
bability of this lesson of adversity being really understood, and 
due precaution taken in the future. But we have reason to fear 
it is not so, and that another winter will witness no improvement 
in practice, no intelligent effort to do better. Yet surely a little 
thought should convince anyone of the severity of the strain 
which hard weather makes upon the vitality of all animals. 
Certainly in our own practice we cannot afford to run any risk of 
loss from such causes, and, what is more to the purpose, we are 
.able to avoid such losses by using the simple means that are open 
to all farmers. 
Again, among calves and yearling beasts, losses mount up here 
so fast that we are convinced there would be a terrible list of 
casualties if all could be recorded. Scour and blackleg are the 
two great evils, both arising very much from mismanagement. 
The two great wants are shelter and proper food. Grass and 
hay form the staple dietary, to which there is an addition of cake 
—more frequently decorticated cotton cake than not —“ just to 
plump the beasts a bit for market.” But there is nothing of a 
■system worthy of the name — no intelligent inquiry into the 
cause of the losses, no effort so to alter and improve the treat¬ 
ment of young stock as to prevent the ailments which destroy so 
many every year. Yet it is well known that this is possible, 
and the means necessary to so desirable an end are well within 
the reach of every farmer. To show what these are, we cannot do 
better than to give the pith of Professor Sheldon’s practice as set 
forth in his great work on dairy farming, for we have found his 
teaching sound, and entirely suitable for the ordinary routine of 
farm management. 
He strongly recommends giving the cows 2 quarts of cold 
water immediately after calving, as it revives them and does no 
harm whatever. Afterwards, for a few days, linseed and flour 
gruel strengthens the cow and promotes a free flow of milk . 
Much stress is laid upon the importance of giving calves a good 
start. Caution must be exercised in feeding, as the calf is at once 
withdrawn from the cow, and has from 2 to 3 quarts of its 
milk daily, at first the quantity being regulated according to the 
■size of the calf, increasing by the end of the first week to 4 or 
b quarts, to 6 or 8 quarts by the end of the second week, and to 
9 or 10 quarts at the end of the first month. After the first month 
discontinue the new milk, and use skim milk thickened with 
ground bnseed and oatmeal, boiled or steamed to assist digestion. 
Give this food to the calf at a temperature of 95° to 98°, which is 
■the temperature of the milk in the cow’s udder. If the milk or 
gruel is of a higher or lower temperature it is a deviation from 
INature’s rule, and is proportionately improper. 
With very young calves the great thing is to avoid scour. This 
is dene by making little and often the rule of feeding, by giving 
the food at a proper temperature, and by keeping them clean, dry, 
and warm, but not too warm. So fed the risk of an accumulation 
of coagulated milk in the stomach, which so often proves fatal, is 
avoided. Use also a pinch of condimental food from the first in 
the calves’ food, increasing the quantity with advancing size and 
age. It imparts tone, and helps to keep off scour. We are con¬ 
vinced also that feeding pails are health promoters, as the calf has 
to suck the milk through the indiarubber tube, and thus secretes 
silivatory juice to aid digestion. ‘ ^ 
At two or three weeks old the calf . begins to nibble hay, and 
should be taught to eat early. Shelter thoroughly, but as the 
weather becomes warm enough a run out on fresh grass is good for 
a few hours daily. Teach calves of six or eight weeks old to eat 
linseed cake broken small and put into the gruel. When the 
gruel is discontinued for grass continue using the cake, and give 
a pinch of salt twice weekly, but never use decorticated cotton 
cake for such young stock. So fed and well sheltered there should 
be no losses from blackleg. Professor Sheldon claims that he has 
only lost one calf since he adopted this method, and that loss was 
owing to the use of decorticated cotton cake. 
"WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
April wet and gloomy was certainly true of the first week of the 
month, but it has changed to bright skies and cold nor’easters in the 
third week of the month, enabling the laggards to get in their Mangolds ; 
but if this drying wind and hot sun continue much of the moisture wiil 
soon be out of the seed beds. We certainly have ample reason for 
satisfaction with sowing Mangolds and the first crop of Swedes early in 
the month. The advice not to sow Mangolds early because a few of the 
plants from early sown seed bolt into stems is unworthy of attention. 
Sow early while the soil is moist, and ensure speedy seed germination 
and a full crop, and do not mind a few running to seed. 
Grass in our small paddocks is now becoming plentiful, and it is very 
useful for young stock. Our plan of having a cow or two to calve at 
short intervals throughout winter gives us a certain number of forward 
calves. The very best quarters for them just now is a snug lodge or 
hovel, with its yard and paddock on a sunny southern slope. We 
continue feeding these calves very much according to the method given 
in our farm article this week. The gruel, or as some term it porridge, 
continues to be taken greedily. Linseed cake, well crushed, is given 
with it regularly, and the condition of the calves is entirely satisfactory. 
Our aim always is the maintenance of a healthy thriving condition, and 
yet to avoid overfeeding, which so often proves fatal to young beasts. 
The paddocks are well sheltered by belts of Austrian Pines, -svhich we 
strongly recommend for the purpose as soon forming a dense thick belt, 
admirably calculated to break the force of cold winds. With the lodges 
and yards opening into the paddocks the calves arc always certain to be 
well sheltered, and all risk of harm from exposure to cold and wet ia 
avoided. 
Younger calves are still kept in altogether, and will follow the early 
ones in the paddocks in the course of another month. They will not be 
turned out altogether, but will be either shut in or let run out according 
to the weather. They are never exposed to cold and wet, and are kept in 
by day when the -weather becomes very hot and flies are troublesome. 
It is by constant supervision and very close attention to detail that the 
live stock of the farm is kept healthy and thriving. But there must 
also be a thorough knowledge of its requirements and intelligent 
aptitude to gather up and apply every crumb of information, every 
sound practical hint about it. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Xamb Food (^Constant Beader ).—At the first use half a pint daily 
for the lamb, and a pint or pint and a half for the ewe. Watch the 
consumption of it closely, see that it is always cleared up soon after 
each time of feeding. Let the rate of consumption and the condition of 
the animals be your guide as to any subsequent increase of quantity, 
which must also be influenced by your intention to fatten early for 
market or otherwise. ■ 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
CAMDBX SQUARE, LONDON. 
Lat. 51° 32' 49" N.; Long. 0° 8' 0" W.; Allituae, 111 feet. 
DATE. 
9 AM. 
IN THE DAY. 
' 
1 
at 
1891. 
April. 
Barome¬ 
ter at 82? 
and Sea 
Level. 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
Direction 
of Wind., 
Temp, of 
sou at 
1 loot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Tetnperature. 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
sun* 
On 
grass 
Inches. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
la. 
Duiitliiy •••••• 19 
.30.223 
43.4 
39.4 
N.E. 
44.3 
50.1 
36.2 
68.8 
27.4 
_ 
Monday. 
. 29 
30.303 
44.2 
40.9 
N.E. 
44.0 
52.4 
33.8 
99.8 
28.6 
Tuesday .. 
. 21 
30.259 
49.3 
44.8 
E. 
44.1 
67.3 
37.2 
lOO.'S 
2‘).4 
_ 
Wednesday., 22 
SO.132 
43.1 
42.2 
K.E. 
45.0 
64.3 
96.8 
.34.0 
_ 
Thursday.,.. 23 
30.088 
51.2 
44.8 
N.E 
45.0 
69.7 
37.8 
109.7 
30.7 
_ 
JTriday .... 
30.183 
40.3 
40.3 
N. 
45.9 
68.4 
34.'4 
108.8 
28.6 
_ 
Saturday ... 
. 25 
30.104 
44.4 
41..-i 
•N. : 
48.9 
61.1 
33.1 
80.0 
29.7 
0.010 
30.194 
43.4 
41.9 
‘ 
45.0 
54.8 
86.6 
94.9 
29.8 
0.010 
' REMARKS. ‘ ^ 
19lh.—Bright early ; generally cloudy after 10 A.M. L‘ " 
20tli.—Fine, but without much strong sunshine. ..j 
21st.—Occasionally cloudy in morning, bright afternoon and evening; lunar halo at 
night. . 
22nd.—Fine and pleasant, but freauently cloudy, and at times threatening. 
2.';rd.—Almost cJoudless throughout. . , . 
24th.—Bright and mild; spots of rain at night.' i ' ' • 
25th.—Overcast, with frequent sprinkles of rain in morning; fair afternoon. 
Another dry week, with rather low temperature and high barometer.—U. J. SvifONS. 
