1863 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
11 
vinegar. Cork up tightly a few days before 
using. It is easily applied from a vial having a 
quill inserted through the cork. By dropping 
this mixture into the affected parts three times, 
once in ten days, a cure will he effected.” 
One of the ingredients of the above mixture, 
viz.: sulphate of copper, in strong solution, has 
long been used by successful sheep owners, as 
a specific for the cure of foot rot. Randall, in 
his work on Sheep, details numerous cases 
cured by himself with this treatment. Wheth¬ 
er the addition of the other articles is beneficial, 
we are in doubt, and should recommend to try 
it only after the sulphate of copper had failed. 
In applying either remedy it is essential to 
pare away the hoof from the affected parts to 
get at the diseased tissues, and thoroughly sat¬ 
urate them with the liquid. The solution of 
blue vitriol should be used as hot as can be 
borne by' the hand. Extended directions for the 
treatment of this disease were published in the 
Agriculturist, Vol. 20, page 111 (May 1861). 
For the American Agriculturist. 
Raising and Training Colts. 
The earlier in life the education of any ani¬ 
mal commences, the easier will be its train¬ 
ing and the more certainly will its habits be 
fixed. Horses learn most of their vices before 
they are three years old, and in a large number 
of instances the work of “breaking” them does 
not commence before the second or third year. 
Begin when the colt is one month old. Put on 
him a leather or web halter, without the hitch¬ 
ing strap. Let it remain there and you will have 
control over him when you wish to handle him. 
Have a leather hitching strap with a buckle or 
clasp on one end, to fasten into the halter ring 
when you wish to lead or tie the colt. Never 
tie a rope or a rope halter around the neck. Al¬ 
low the colt to nibble at his dam's feed while she 
is eating. After he has become accustomed to 
the halter and to being led about and handled, 
you can tie him alongside of his dam at feeding 
time, watching him the first time to prevent his 
pulling back, and afterward if he shows a dispo¬ 
sition to pull. Never speak harshly to, or abuse 
either dam or colt. You'can do more by kind, 
firm treatment than by abuse of any kind. 
Wean the colt at his seventh month, keeping 
him out of sight and hearing of his dam for several 
weeks. Give him a pint of good oats with 
plenty of sweet hay morning and evening, also 
fresh pure water. As he grows larger, increase 
his feed, always giving the best. Remember the 
colt is now forming the bones and muscles upon 
which his future usefulness depends, and he 
can not form strong, solid ones without good 
strong feed and good shelter. Give a feed of 
chopped stuff and cut straw several times during 
the week, to keep his system cool, and to pre¬ 
vent the “ lampas.” If he should take them, 
put him on soft feed, occasionally giving him a 
bran mash, until the lampas disappear. Keep 
the colt under shelter during the Winter nights, 
and on stormy days and nights at any season of 
the year. A loose box or stable in which he can 
be placed without tying, is best; next, a stall six 
feet wide in a stable well lighted, drained and 
ventilated. Have a ring and staple driven into 
the manger bar, to tie to. The best plan for ty¬ 
ing, is to pass the halter strap through the ring 
and tie it to a small weight, heavy enough to keep 
the strap always drawn tight. Have the strap 
long enough for the colt to lie down with his 
head flat on the floor; the weight will always 
keep the strap stretched so that he can not get 
his feet over it. Keep the stall well littered at 
night and perfectly clean during the day. Do 
not put the litter under the manger when clean¬ 
ing out the stall in the morning, but throw it 
under a shed outside of the stable, to dry before 
using at night. The ammonia arising from the 
urine decomposing in the litter is very injurious 
to both eyes and lungs. Frequently sprinkle 
some good deodorizer on the floor to absorb and 
.destroy all noxious gases. Accustom your colt 
to harness, and to saddle and bridle, by putting 
them on frequently, and letting them remain on 
for a half hour. Train the colt without blind¬ 
ers on the bridle. Never draw the check rein 
tight. For fast driving, it is better to dispense 
with it entirely. I would not advise an inex¬ 
perienced person to use the bitting bridle, but 
if used, let the reins be loose. If possible, it is 
best to let the colt run until three and a half 
years old, and if very valuable, until five years 
of age before putting to regular service. You 
can teach the colt the use of the lines before he 
is fit for service, by putting on a surcingle with 
rings fastened to it, two thirds down each side 
of the colt. Put the reins through the rings and 
buckle to the bridle. Walk behind the colt and 
teach him the use of the lines. The rings on 
the surcingle will prevent the reins from slip¬ 
ping up over his back if he should try to turn; 
by holding your hands low, it is impossible for 
him to turn. If he backs, touch him lightly with 
a stiff whip. By the above training the colt 
at three years of age will be ready to put to light 
work, though I would advise waiting a few 
months longer. The subsequent training will 
depend on what use the horse is intended for. 
Alleghany Co., Pa. II. S. W. 
Colvin’s American Milking- Machine. 
Our recent files of English papers have much 
to say of this apparatus. The Agricultural Ga¬ 
zette sent out a special reporter to witness re¬ 
cent trials in the dairying districts of England, 
and a single number of that journal has some 
ten columns upon the performance of the ma¬ 
chine. The inventor appears to have met much 
better pecuniary success abroad than at home. 
Two or three years since, the machine was 
brought to our office with a request for a favor¬ 
able notice in the Agriculturist. It did not seem 
to us to meet the high claims made by the in¬ 
ventor, and before deciding as to its merits, we 
asked permission to try it upon our own place. 
This was not acceded to, and the exhibitor left, 
remarking that it was all right, and that it 
would be sure to go with the people whether 
we endorsed it or not. 
At the recent International Exhibition in Lon¬ 
don, one of the proprietors was on hand with 
the apparatus, where its novelty immediately at¬ 
tracted great attention, and we were informed 
that large sales were made. We tried to wit¬ 
ness it in operation, but were unable to be pres¬ 
ent at the exhibition at the right hour. After a 
very careful examination of the apparatus itself, 
our previous impressions of its value were not 
changed. The machine is arranged with India- 
rubber sockets to receive the cow’s teats, and 
the milk is drawn out by an ingeniously con¬ 
structed pump attached to the pail. If such an 
apparatus can do the work well, it is a most de¬ 
sirable invention, but we feel strong doubts as 
to its practical success. The operation of hand¬ 
milking most nearly resembles the sucking of 
the calf, and is therefore likely to be most effec¬ 
tive. In the Agricultural Gazette reports, it is ad¬ 
mitted that the cows were not all milked clean, 
that some of them proved refractory, and others 
held up their milk. These objections were 
met with the excuse that November is not the 
time to begin with the machine, after the cows 
have been hand-milked all Summer; that in 
Spring they will yield more readily. If this ex¬ 
cuse be admitted, the sales will probably go on 
in England during the Winter, and an opportu¬ 
nity Avill be given for the American public to 
learn the final results. We are quite willing 
that English farmers shall be at the expense of 
the doubtful experiments, and that the manu¬ 
facturers there shall make the first investments 
in the patent. We are quite ready to say a 
good word for the machine, if the patentees can 
show by fair practical experiments that cows 
can be milked clean with it, at saving of labor. 
Feeding Turkeys in Winter. 
Where corn is cheap, and the bins are full, 
nothing better is needed. But unfortunately 
many who like roast turkey, have their bins near¬ 
ly empty, where corn is nearly a dollar a bush¬ 
el. These birds will eat longer of corn than of 
any other food. They seem never to get enough 
of it. But they are by no means dainty in their 
diet, and will eat any thing coming from the 
kitchen that a pig will devour, if it be pvoperly 
prepared. They will work up the refuse mate¬ 
rial from the farm and garden, about as well as 
pigs.-Boiled potatoes, fed warm, are high¬ 
ly relished by them. In this way potatoes, 
that are too small for marketing and for seed, 
may be turned into roast turkey on very short 
notice. If the parings and slops from the kitch¬ 
en are boiled and mashed with them, it is all 
the better. But they need a variety of food, 
green as well as cooked, in order to thrive most 
rapidly. They are very fond of cabbage, and 
will feed upon the refuse plants that have not 
headed, until the stumps are picked bare. If 
these are not on hand, raw turnips chopped up 
fine will be readily eaten. They need also some 
animal food to promote growth in Winter. Beef 
scraps from the tallow chandlers or butchers are 
as highly relished as by hens. Nothing in the 
way of animal food comes amiss. It is of more 
importance that the food should be abundant 
and various, than that it should be select. 
In fattening, some shut them up in a room 
partially darkened, and feed with scalded 
meal and pounded charcoal; but we object 
to the confinement of the turkeys. It is almost 
impossible to keep the food clean and to prevent 
waste, and they are quite as restless as when 
they have their liberty. With regular full feed¬ 
ing at night and morning, they will not wander 
far from the yard, and will take no more exer¬ 
cise than will be for their health, and the best 
flavor of the flesh. By this process of feeding, 
a late brood of turkeys may be brought up and 
fattened in Winter* without any serious en¬ 
croachment upon the com bin. With turkey 
at fourteen cents a pound, it is a very conveni¬ 
ent article of barter, at the village store, and not 
hard to dispose of in the home market. The re¬ 
lief from salt junk by the winter feeding of 
turkeys is immense. 
Questions for Quack Doctors. —Will eat¬ 
ing roast duck give a man a fowl stomach ? And, 
if so, will the flesh of neat cattle be a good 
cleansing agent? Doeseating green corn pro¬ 
duce huskiness of voice ? What kind of hose 
should be used for corns , particularly where 
there are several achers under cultivation ? 
