[Everyone seems to know how criminals (or others) 
may be identified by “finger prints.” This system is 
based on the faet that no two human hands are exactly 
alike in their marks and wrinkles. A print of the finger 
in black on paper therefore will distinguish the hand 
from all others. During the past few months the state¬ 
ment has lieon made that a similar system of identifica¬ 
tion can be developed by taking accurate prints of the 
noses of cattle. The following article tolls how this is 
done, and gives an idea of what may come of it. 1 
O T'K Prof. Peterson, who has been working along 
this lino for some time, does not claim to he 
the discoverer of the idea upon which the system is 
based. It is said that a breeder somewhere in the 
East first called attention to the fact that the pat¬ 
tern or arrangement of “hills and valleys” on the 
end of a cow's nose, like the pattern 
on the ends of a man’s thumbs or Ha¬ 
gers. differed with different animals. 
The thought at once suggested itself 
that this might be taken advantage of, ^ 
and a system similar to the Bertillon 
system of identification might he estab¬ 
lished for cattle. 
Last Fall Prof. Peterson began tak¬ 
ing prints from the noses of all calves 
in the University herd. He has con¬ 
tinued to take prints every mouth, and 
seems to have established the following 
facts: Nose-prints from individual 
calves do not vary from month to Scion L 
month, excepting as they grow larger 
with the growth of the animal. No 
two animals have been found to have The Various Processes of Budding. Fig. 372 
the same pattern of nose-print. Nose* 
piints from members of the same family, for exam- However, we find that varieties on Doucin become 
pie, mother and daughters, or calves from the same more slender and straggling in growth. The dif- 
sire, show what may be called a family resemblance ference can readily be seen when comparing with 
in the general appearance of the pattern. This last a standard tree, but does not show when given in 
faet may be of use in establishing relationships in figures. 
cases of uncertain records. We make it a practice with dwarf trees, as well 
There seems to he every reason to believe that the as standards, to cut back the tips of limbs where the 
system of nose-print records will solve the problem growth seems abnormal. This Spring we found on 
of a dependable and convenient method of identify- examining our pear block Ivioffers that had grown 
ing cattle. With the nose-print of the calf on the f> ft. during the past season. These leaders were 
pedigree blank it will always be possible to make the shortened back considerably, always cutting at a 
comparison to show whether or not the purchaser bud on the outside to widen out the tree rather than 
gets the animal he pays for. and all temptation to let it run any higher. The same treatment was given 
substitute will be removed. a block of dwarf Bartletts. which made a vigorous 
The process of taking the prints is very simple, growth last season. A bulletin on “Dwarf Apples" 
The nose of the animal is first rubbed dry with a can lie secured by addressing the Geneva Experi- 
clotli. then is touched with an inking pad. then with ment Station, Geneva. N. Y. This compares apple 
a piece of print paper, such as is used for mimeo- varieties on the various stocks in a 10-year test and 
graph work. Enclosed are the prints from the noses contains much helpful information, 
of three half-sisters. These show a general re- Apple stocks in the nursery are budded with the 
semblance in pattern, but are different in detail. variety desired just above the surface of the ground. 
University of Minnesota. j. m. drew. Small trees of undesirable varieties can be budded 
Dwarf Trees and Budding 
A PPLE trees are changed considerably by the 
stocks on which they are budded. Those on 
French crab are full-sized or “standard,” those on 
Doucin are half-dwarfed, and those on French Para¬ 
dise are true dwarfs. There is no average size that 
could he given, because of the variation in varieties. 
raging, and no 
was ordered to 
make a test by ) f * 1^. 
taking bipod from 
each animal and * 
sending it to a i ^ 
laboratory forex- f" 
animation. 11 e --- 
took samples from Minnehaha Majesty Golden 
five cattle, and f ( 
then took blood 
from his own arm and sent it with the others. The 
report came back about as follows: 
“Three of the samples of cattle are clean, two have 
traces of disease. The sample evidentiu taken from 
an old donlceg shows evidence of sum<' obscure men¬ 
tal disease!" 
The prints given at Fig. 373 show the noses »>f 
three half-sisters. There is evidently some family 
resemblance, yet they are distinct enough to give 
them individual character. Some years ago The It. 
Af- 4. ^ rel of water and 
, allowing it to re- 
T- IVi 
- main two or three 
omehaha Majesty Gold Lass days before using, 
[•j The same results 
can be obtained 
by dissolving nitrate of soda in water and soaking 
the ground around the plants. Care should Do taken 
not to sprinkle the leaves, as the solution will burn. 
Applications should not he made in the dry state, as 
the roots are often burned, especially in dry weather. 
These are probably better methods of growing show 
specimens than “skim-milk” mixtures often referred 
to in stories about big squashes and pumpkins. 
The superintendent of the vegetable department 
at the New York State Fair tells of one of these 
soon as the buds have matured on the variety tree 
or scion. The bud-sticks or scions are taken from 
the growth just made on the tree, and all leaves 
Stripped off, leaving perhaps a half inch of stem. 
(See illustration. Fig. 372). A T-cut is made at 
the base of the tree to he changed and a hud is in¬ 
serted as shown, being sure the cambium or living 
part of the scion and stock touch. The whole is 
wound tightly with raflia and should have grown 
together in three weeks. The next Spring the tree 
