“At Home,” Again.— After a prolonged absence 
the Editor hereof returned last week, and gladi v 
greets Rural readers again. During our trip w ' e 
passed through Virginia, the Carolina*, Georgia, Ten 
nessee, Kentucky, &c.; and. though in pursuit of 
health and recreation, neither eyes nor ears were 
closed to the condition of the country and people, and 
we saw and heard much that was novel and interest¬ 
ing-concerning which some notes may he given ere 
long. Meantime we desire to gratefully acknowledge 
the cordiality and courtesy of many whom we had the 
pleasure of visiting, with the 
EDITED BY HENRY S. RANDALL, LL. D 
INFANTADO RAM “GOLD FINDER. 
John L. BcTTOLra, Middlebury, Vt., writes 
us: — My ram teg Gold Fituler was got by Col. 
E. S. STOwelL’s Golden Fleece out of a ewe bred 
by Mr. Hammond and got by his Sweepstakes. 
In 1859 I purchased twelve ewes of J. T. A* V, 
Rich, and in I860 and 1881, fourteen ewes of 
Henry Hammond. I used Mr. Hammond’s 
stock rams until 1863, when 1 commenced using 
Col. Stowell’s. These J have used to this time, 
(Oct., I860,) and am now relying on Gold Finder. 
1 have thus bred my Infantado stock pure, and 
my Paular stock has been crossed with it. My 
present flock of ewes numbers forty-live. 
assurance that their 
hospitality and kindness to a comparative stranger 
will long he appreciatively remembered. We return 
to our northern home with many former prejudices 
removed, opinions modified, and, wc trust, a juster 
appreciation of the people of the South, their con¬ 
dition, prospects and ultimate destiny,—for, though 
our sojourn among them was brief, by meeting if not 
intimately mingling with all classes, we had op por . 
(unities of learning much that Sa little known ot u 8 - 
derstood by the masses at the North. 
As already stated in the Rural the crops through- 
out the South are generally promising, and the peo¬ 
ple of all cleme# seem earnestly endeavoring to recon¬ 
struct and augment the industry and productiveness 
of the country. Indeed, the crop prospects are gen¬ 
erally favorable in all of the fifteen States through 
which wc passed, though in each we saw evidences, 
or heard complaints of the severe winter and back¬ 
ward spring. 
— For the information of personal friends, and 
others interested, we may add that our recent.vaca- 
tion and recreation has proved somewhat henefleial,— 
hut we do not anticipate a speedy restoration from a 
debility caused by years of uninterrupted labor and 
overwork. 
MR. BUTTOLPH 8 INFANTADO RAM “GOLD FINDER, 
Mn. Randall Absent. Mr. Randall lias been 
absent a few (Jays in Boston, discharging hie duty as 
Chairman of the Wool Growers' Committee author¬ 
ized by the Secret ry of the Treasury to examine the 
samples of wool, hair, &<• which under the provis¬ 
ions of the new wool tariff are to be placed as stand¬ 
ards in the Custom Rouses,—and he did not return 
home in time to furnish us editorial matter for his 
department this week. 
emv of Agriculture in Prussia, gives the milk 
yield of nine Dutch cows for the season of 1885, 
showing an average of more than 4,500 quarts— 
or 42,870 quarts for the whole. These cows were 
eta’l-fed, and the manner of feeding as follows: 
In the winter clover bay, &c., with roots,—oc¬ 
casionally potatoes. In the summer they are 
supplied with green clover and the like, oil 
cake, and from eight to ten pounds of rye bran 
daily—the latter )u a dry state. The annual ex¬ 
pense per cow, for feeding, was $30 by this 
mode, and her products about $78. The average 
product of cheese per cow was 800 pounds, or 
one pound of cheese to quarts of milk. 
These were doubtless an exceptional lot of 
cows—the best probably that could be found— 
still the results do not warrant the assumption 
of superiority claimed for them. Quite as good 
returns are frequently made from cows that 
never saw Holland. 
A Milk Suit at Herkimer. —A rather novel case, 
as we learn from the Utica Herald, was recently 
tried before the Circuit Court at Herkimer. The 
suit, was Instituted by the Treasurer of the Frank¬ 
fort Cheese Factory against one of its patrons 
for the penalty attaching to the adulteration of 
milk by the addition of water. The article de¬ 
livered, when tested by the hydrometer and | 
cream gauges, indicated from 12 to 15 per cent, 
less specific gravity than pure milk—hence the 
inference of an infusion of water, on which the 
suit was based. The prosecution relied on the 
tests made by the lactometer: the defense—not 
disputing the accuracy of the testing instru¬ 
ments—on the variance there was in milk, test¬ 
ed in the same way, where no chance of deterio¬ 
ration, by extraneous infusions, was possible. 
The trial excited much interest, and attracted 
a large crowd to witness it, during the two days 
of its continuance. Both sides were represented 
by the beatflcgal talent in that section of the 
State, and ijic examination was of a searching 
character—resulting in a verdict for the defend- 
WHAT WAS THE DISEASE? 
Messrs. Editors:—As almost every one is 
putting their complaints and troubles into your 
paper, I thought I would join in too. In the 
first, place, I am engaged in dairying, and have 
recently lost a valuable cow, find want to sec if 
any of your readers can tell me what ailed her. 
She wintered in very fine order, and previous to 
dropping her calf gave promise of doing great 
things in the milk line. Her bag was so large 
and full of milk that 1 was afraid it would 
cake, and let a calf suck her once a day for a 
week previous to hcr.coming in. She did well, 
and the first time I milked her, (which was im¬ 
mediately after she came in,) 1 found her left 
hind teat pcrefcctly closed—could not get a drop 
of milk from it, ami that quarter of her bag ap¬ 
peared to be very sore. I took a large knitting- 
needle and inserted it into the teat, and found the 
passage entirely obstructed at the roots. I ap¬ 
plied some force to the needle and it went through 
into the udder, and on withdrawing it a little 
blood followed. I then milked the teat, but could 
get only a very small stream. From that time 
that quarter of her bag kepi on swelling until it 
reached clear up to the roots of her tail, and 
completely absorbing all the rest of her bag. 
She appeared to be in great pain, and walked a* 
though lier limbs were stiff and sore. The third 
day after calving she refused to eat, but would 
Her milk almost ceased to 
RECENT LOCAL SHEEP SHEARINGS 
American Dairymen's Association— Retort.— 
We have received from the Secretary, Gardner B. 
Weeks, Esq,, the second Annual Report of the Amer¬ 
ican Dairymen's Association — embracing its doings 
for the year 1806, to which is appended that of the 
Ohio Association for the same time. These reports 
contain a great amount of well digested matter of 
interest to farmers and the public, of which we shall 
avail ourselves as opportunity offere. Full reports 
are furnished from forty-two factories, having an ag- 
gregate of 18.770 cows, from which were produced 
6,356,412 pounds of cheese. The average quantity of 
milk for one pound of cured cheese was 9.86 pounds. 
The average price of cheese sold during the season, 
17.62 cents per pound. 
The “Third Annual Report” of the Ohio Dairy¬ 
men’s Association shows the progress of the Factory 
system in that State, the capital invested in pro¬ 
ducts there, and the increasing interest attaching to 
this department of agricultural industry. 
Farming. 
A writer in the “Farmers’ Advertiser” 
says that those who know little or nothing of 
farming invest it with a kind of halo. They 
think that on a farm— 
“ Everything is lovely. 
And the goose hangs high,” 
but it is only by peering through deceptive 
glasses that such a coloring is imparted to the 
drudgery of farming life. “ A farmer, to thrive,” 
he adds, “ must be up at work early, very early. 
He must work bard and late; not eight hours, 
not tea, but twelve to fifteen except in winter,” 
and even then there is no poetic leisure for him. 
This is all true, but. it is a consolation to know 
that the farmers “goose” is ready when wanted 
for the spit. 
nAT Rake Swindlers.— The Orange County Press 
Issues an extra, headed, “ilav Bake Swindlers Come 
to Grief.” detailing some of their operations In that 
and adjoining counties, and the arrest of a portion of 
the gang of swindlers and their incarceration in jail. 
Before the ganwas broken up they had swindled 
partios in a sin )<• county to the amount of $25,000 to 
$30,000. They show' a model of the bay rake and sell 
a right for £100 cosh—If they can get It—If not, ft note 
for the amount is taken, with the assurance that 
nothing will he required till the party purchasing 
shall have sold rights to the vale of $200. The note 
secured, it is speedily disposed of and other dupes 
sought Out. The swindle lias probably received a 
quietus, for a time at leash 
drink some water, 
flow, and she would groan and moan dreadfully. 
I gave her saltpetre and blood root, poulticed 
her bag with everything I could hear of that 
was cooling, but all to no avail. She kept on 
getting worse, and in seven days after calving 
died. A day or two previous to her death, her 
neck and one fore leg swelled considerably and 
there appeared canker-sores in her nostrils from 
which came a very bad smell. On examination 
after death there was found to be large quanti¬ 
ties of yellow, clear looking water accumulated 
under tiic skin, on ail parts of her body that 
were swelled. Did any one ever lose a cow in 
that way before, and can any one tell how to 
cure another. Wm. H. Macomber. 
Potsdam, May 6,1867. 
Horses —Fast and Farm. 
Commenting on the mania for fast horses, 
the Farmer’s Advertiser counsels its farming 
readers to turn their attention to raising those 
“that are of some use, large enough and strong 
enough to do the work of the farm, and fast 
enough to carry the produce to market or the 
family to church." This is sensible advice, and 
seasonable withal, since the clearing up of the 
country has rendered the use of oxen less com¬ 
mon and necessary than was formerly the ease. 
Serviceable horses should be the main consider¬ 
ation with farmers, unless they breed expressly 
for other than farm purposes, it is not expected 
that fast horses or fast men will become obso¬ 
lete very soon, but it should be the aim of the 
mass of farmers to prevent the strong and useful 
race of horses from becoming so. 
Cattle Raising in Florida.— It is stated, by those 
cognizant of the tacts, lhat a considerable portion of 
the population of Florida Is of an migratory charac¬ 
ter. They are herdsmen, and pay particular attention 
to the raising of cattle. The savannas there afford a 
wide range of rich grass ground, and when one sec¬ 
tion is pretty well fed down the herds arc removed to 
a new' location, and so on till the beasts art- ready for 
market. There is a lingo of the patriarchal about 
this system, find, considering the salubrity of the cli¬ 
mate—a perpetual spring and summer — the life of a 
herdsman must lie dreamy rather than exciting. 
DAIRY ITEMS, 
Rather too Late. — We thauk Mrs. E. L. A., 
Covent,ryville, N. Y., for her communication. 
By reference to the Dairy Department in the 
Rural of May 18th, she will see that others had 
anticipated her with reference to butter making. 
With respect to the other matter spoken of, we 
hope she may prove successful. 
•It would be well for farmers, 
Cast Iron Patent Chimney,—J, T. Bush. East 
Durham, N. Y., writes ns concerning cast iron patent 
chimneys, which parties in his section are vending. 
He says they have proved a great damage where tried 
that the use of them is “very dangerous” to the 
dw elliugs in which they are used, and that insurance 
companies decline to take risks on buildings to which 
they are attached. The writer has tried this patent 
atfair and pronounces it a nuisance. 
PLOWING FOR CORN 
Hogs —Crisping of the Bristle. 
Since the subject of diseased hogs has been 
under discussion, increased attention has been 
paid to their appearance when suffering from 
disease. It has been supposed that when the 
hair or bristles of an ailing hog crisp or curl up 
it is an indication of tlie presence of trichinae in 
the animal. A case of this kind is reported in 
the Wisconsin Farmer where three of a litter of 
shoats were taken sick — grew- still' in the leg? 
and scarcely able to walk. Previous to the 
lameness the hair became crisped over their en¬ 
tire bodies. The ow ner killed one of the lot and 
took portions of muscular fiber from the surloin 
and ham, and submitted them to the scrutiny of 
Dr. Carr of the Madison University, for exam¬ 
ination. No traces of triebinre were discover¬ 
able iu cither. Curling or crisping hair, there¬ 
fore, is no indication of the existence of this 
swine pest 
N orth — South — Wheat. 
J v doe Robinson of Louisiana, having stated 
that the South is a better wheat country thau 
the Northwest, and that the former will yet 
supply the latter with wheat, draws from the 
Wisconsin Farmer rather a sarcastic retort. It 
refers to the destitute situation of the South¬ 
ern population; to the meager yield of wheat in 
the South generally, and the little chance there 
is of improvement in the growing of this cereal 
in that direction. The Farmer closes its com¬ 
ments thus“ Let the South stick to her trade 
of raising cotton, rice and sugar, and we Yan¬ 
kees will have to knock under in spite of sor¬ 
ghum and sugar beets. Louisiana can raise a 
barrel of sugar cheaper than she can a barrel of 
flour, and Wisconsin can raise a barrel of flour a 
good deal cheaper than a barrel of sugar. Let 
each raise that which it can the easiest and in 
the greatest abundance, and then dicker and 
they will do much towards settling each other’s 
stomachs.” This is sensible and timely advice, 
and if followed on both sides there can be no 
doubt that the result will be reciprocally advan¬ 
tageous. 
Salt for flutter 
at the commencement, of the season, to provide 
themselves with salt suited to the preservation 
of butter. A cheap article, such as is produced 
from the saline springs of the country generally, 
is not suited to making butter designed for the 
Atlantic markets. The best Ashton salt, though 
more costly, will more than make up the differ¬ 
ence in price by its superior preservative power, 
and the enhanced value it will give to this dairy 
product. 
A dulteration of Milk. —The Eighth Annual Re¬ 
port of the Boston Milk Inspector has been pub¬ 
lished. The number of samples of milk inspect¬ 
ed during the year was 1,851. Thirty cases were 
analyzed by a chemist, and an average adultera¬ 
tion of 81.40 detected. The largest adulteration 
was by water being 51.17 in 100 parts. The least 
was 6.98. Several convictions, uuder the law's 
against adulteration, have been secured, and 
others are still before the courts. Such swiud- 
liug in so important an article ought to be se¬ 
verely puuishecL 
Cows — Treatment. —A. W. T., Troy, writes eon- 
cemiug the treatment of cows at the season of 
parturition, with special reference to the after¬ 
birth. He says he has kept from fifteen to 
twenty cows for the last fifteen yearn, and never 
lost one, aud adds:—“ 1 would say never, with¬ 
out special reasons, disturb the cow after she has 
selected her place for calving, nor for some three 
hours afterward, except, to see that nothing seri¬ 
ous is happening to her,—avoiding her observa¬ 
tion as far as practicable, If she does not get 
rid of the after-birth in that time, she will usu¬ 
ally go 6ome seven or ten days before all will be 
right. If anything is given to expedite matters, 
try a tablespoonfuP'of saltpetre once a day, in 
her first feeds, three or four times. By all 
means give the value of what you would have 
to pay a 4 farrier,’ for forcing it away, in extra 
feed, not of course immediately after calving.” 
Dairy Stock—Holland. —It is recommended to 
farmers, iu some quarters, to try the Dutch 
breed of cows for dairying purposes, in conse¬ 
quence of their imputed superiority as milkers. 
A statement, emanating from the Royal Acad- 
Eds. Rup.Al :—In yonr issue of May 4tli were 
some very interesting remarks about the corn 
crop, which induced me to give you a descrip¬ 
tion of the way that the formers here plow their 
land for corn. Take for example a field twenty 
rods wide ilud forty rods long. Pace off ten 
rods from 4aeh end in the center of the field 
lengthwise,jand set a stake at each place. Then 
commence fit each corner and turn a double fur¬ 
row to the nearest stake; then turn a double 
iurrow between the stakes, and continue to 
back-furroir until your field is plowed. 
The adv; ntagea are that there are no dead 
furrows or corner furrow's in the field, aud the 
horses do hot step on the plowed ground. 
Cayuga G’i., N, Y. D. M. Bacon. 
N, Y. State Ag, Society. — We are in receipt of a 
pamphlet, copy of the "List of Premiums and Regu¬ 
lations for the 27th Annual Fair, to he held at the 
City of Buffalo, Get., 1, 2, 3, 4,1807.” So far as ob¬ 
served from a cursory examination, the Premiums 
aud Regulations arc about the same as those of pre¬ 
ceding years. Copies of the pamphlet can be obtained 
by addressing the Secretary, Col. B. P. Johnson, 
Albany, N. Y. 
Willis’ Stump Machine.—I n last week’s Rural 
there was an advertisement of this machine, to which 
w e intended to direct the attention of the public, but 
inadvertently omitted to do so. We will say now 
that the machine is probably the most effective 
of its class, and admirably adapted to the work of re¬ 
moving stumps, trees, rocks aud buildings. 
RECLAIMING WORN OUT LAND.” 
Eds. Rural.—A writer in the Country Gent., 
No. 737, asks:— “ Am I correct in saying 1 w r orn 
out [laud] ’? ” I answer in the affirmative. He 
says: — “A thing is worn out wheu it is past re¬ 
pair.” To this I demur. It may be true of fur¬ 
niture, clothes or implements, but not of laud. 
Land may be entirely worn out by continued 
tillage, and washed into gullies by the action of 
rains, and yet net past repair. On the subject 
of repairing land sec Am. F. Euey., pp. 454 and 
S24. The writer says that he “ has seen some 
[land] that was pretty poor." This grade of pov¬ 
erty in the soil Is defined as —“the soil was 
merely exhausted of a portion of the elements 
necessary to the support of vegetation.’ ‘ “ Pret¬ 
ty poor ” soil is trurdy deficient of a portion of 
the inorganic food cf plants. It may be a slight 
matter to our friend, but a serious one to those 
that have such lain to do with. The profit of 
crops depends on the fertility of the soil on 
which they are grown. When that soil declines 
in fertility it is a very serious matter. Reflect 
upon Egypt as it w;.s in contrast to what it is. 
See Rel. Ency., p. 491, According to the ratio 
of impoverishment o:‘ the soil, so is the annihi¬ 
lation of the community hastened. 
He says:—“ That tie re is a considerable quan¬ 
tity of land that has become exhausted of plant 
food because adequate returns have not been 
Massachusetts Ag’l College.— At a recent annual 
meeting ol the Trustees of this College the following 
officers were chosen: Pits't — Alexander fl. Bul¬ 
lock. Flee Piet'l — Paul A. Chadbourne. Sec'y— 
Charles L. Flint. Treas .—Nathan Dnrfee. Auditor— 
D. Waldo Lincoln. Executive Com.— Messrs, Chad- 
bourne, Durfee, Lincoln, Hills and 'Washburn. 
Tuscarawas Co. (O.) Sheep Shearing — At the 
barn of W. C. Deardorff, Canal Dover, Tuscarawas 
Co., Ohio, May 11th, 1S67: 
Wt. of Wt. of Age of 
. T _ Age. Carcass. Fleece. Fleece. Per 
Names. Sex. yrs. lb. oz. lb. oz. days. Cent. 
W. C. Deardorff, E 4 82 10 11 36S 7« 
, E 2 62 10 10 368 5 4-5 
I | 3 02 11 8 86H 5K 
* ' E 2 55 S 8 865 6« 
7, „ t 1 47 9 8 7 410 5 3-5 
G.j. Deardorff | f J?10 H* 25 | 
J.B. Deardorff E 3 73 8 10' " ~m rls 
:: i J » »!• rn OH- 
Your Committee, to whom wag referred the weigh¬ 
ing of the above named Shea, imd Wool, would re¬ 
port that the weather having U on cool before the 
shearing, but little oil was up in ,he Uecccs, and the 
wool was of a very superior quality 
N. Hayden, 
B, D, Downey, 
J. M. Worcester, 
Committee. 
Illinois Industrial University.— The Trustees 
of this Institution that is to be, have accepted the 
proposition of Champaign county, and the Industrial 
University will be located in the town of the same 
name. The vote in favor of this was unanimous. 
Woodchuck Skins.—C. M. G., Savona, is informed 
that woodchuck skins are deemed to be good fcr 
tanning about the commencement of summer. For 
the process of tanning the skins of “chucks" see a 
communication in the Rural of last week. 
A Sheep Show and genera) Agricultural Exhibition 
is announced by the Thorn Hill Farmers’ Club, to be 
held at Thorn Hill, Onondaga Co., on Thursday nest, 
June 6th. It will be the 5th annual show of the Club. 
Frequent mowing makes the green, smooth 
lawn. Common farm scythes are hardly fit for 
lawn use; short, broad scythes are best. 
Barren Co. (Ky.) Ag. Societt Fair.— The 3d annu¬ 
al Fair of this Society will be held on their grounds 
near Glasgow on the 14th and 15th days of June. 
