RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
NO 
tar*) 
CUED KNIVES. 
A correspondent writes us concerning 
curd knives, and asks us why sharp steel 
blades are preferred to curd cutters made by 
stretching small wire across an iron frame. 
J !<■ desires to know also whether the steel 
blade cullers are a patented article, and 
where they may he obtained, &c. One of 
the essential points about cheese making is 
to treat tin-curd in such a manner that there 
will be as little waste as possible. All rough 
handling of the curds in their tender state 
operates to disentangle and press out por¬ 
tions of the buttery particles which, escaping 
with the whey, are of course lost for cheese 
making. Wire cutlers tear and mangle the 
curds, while sharp steel blades go through 
the mass with less resistance, and therefore 
cause less waste of butter. This, briefly, is 
the philosophy of the matter,and it has been 
abundantly proved to be correct by numer¬ 
ous tests with the two kinds of cutters. 
The steel curd knives, we believe, are not 
patented. They have been greatly improved 
within the past two years, the best now be¬ 
ing nickel-plated, so as to protect from rust 
and facilitate cleaning. Quite recently we 
observe an improvement has been made in 
1 lie head of the knives, which is of metal in¬ 
stead of the wooden block formerly used. 
We give in the subjoined figure an illustra¬ 
tion of the improved ottrd knife, which those 
who are seeking this description of imple¬ 
ment will do well to select. 
The metallic head, it will he seen, is an 
improvement over that made of wood, as 
the wood was difficult to lie kept clean and 
livtjueii11 v became tainted, thus doing injury 
to i lie cheese. We are glad to notice any im- 
ready sales at extra prices, and perhaps far 
more than enough to pay all expense, but 
this can only be told by the experiment of 
testing the markets. Under the rectangular 
plan of pressing, the cheese, when cured, 
can he cut in desired shapes, so that there 
would be no difficulty in fitting the cbeese 
(Tin )|ottIfrt)-§at*b. 
NUN PIGEONS. 
This variety of pigeons, as indicated by 
aim 
~ymw 
ill 
W/M 
ws&e&kJ&iaSm 
III | | 
mm 
fe-/« 
lm 
■A///,'// ////• i 
/'///. /< • i! ",’t , 
FAIR OF NXJ3ST FIGr KOJST«. 
to a variety of fancy packages. Small 
cheeses are largely demanded for home 
consumption as well as for shipment also, 
and if we can devise means for retaining 
flavor in perfection and at the same time 
young fowls. The food used is oatmeal 
mixed stiff with milk, made up into boluses 
the size to be put down the chicken’s throat 
without danger of choking it. To fatten 
more rapidly mutton suet may he boiled in 
the milk used to mix the oat or Indian meal. 
The persou employed in the cramming pro¬ 
cess opens the chicken's beak, and puts six 
or eight boluses down its throat morning 
and evening. If the fowls seem to wish for 
food at noon, a little can he given them in 
the trough, which must also he supplied 
with water aud gravel. Those which have 
been put up will be finished off in a week ; 
those which have to he fatted entirely by 
t he cramming will take fourteen to sixteen 
days." While fattening by either process 
they must be kept free from draught, ns they 
will fatten all the belter for being comforta¬ 
bly warm. 
-- 
POULTKY NOTES AND QUEEIES. 
Pigeon* Nesting Togellier. 
In reply to W. 8. IB., page 284 Ruiial 
New-Yorker, 1 would say that any num¬ 
ber of pigeons may he kept in one room or 
cot. It is only necessary to have the room 
large enough, and to place nesting boxes 
armmd the room. After a pair are once 
mated they will, in most eases, breed together 
as long as they are allowed to, very seldom 
missmating. The number that may he kept 
together and breed true is unlimited, as they 
very seldom, if ever, mix. Care should he 
taken to mate them properly, as all odd 
birds of different sexes, whether of the same 
variety or not, will find mates. Mating may 
ingitnic Information. 
our engraving, are extremely pretty birds, birds of different sexes, whether of the same 
They are smaller in size, but resemble the variety or not, will find mates. Mating may 
Trumpeter in having a tuft of feathers rising he done by placing the proper pair in a large 
from the back of the head and bending for. room separate from the others for a few days, 
wards, like a hood thrown a little back. The or in regular mating pens, which may be 
prevent loss from decay and shrinkage, the small bill aud pearl eye of this bird also add 
frequently became tainted, thus doing injury plan suggested may open up a new phase to 
to die cheese. We are glad to notice any iui- the cheese trade. There are large quantities 
provement in dairy utensils whereby labor of food of various kinds now preserved by 
may lie lessened and at the same time a bet- canning, why not CheeseV The experiment, 
ter produel, result from their use. 
As to the question where these knives 
are to he had, we must refer our correspon¬ 
dent to the advertising columns of the Rural 
New-Yokkkr where all such matters are, 
or should he, set forth. 
CANNING CHEESE 
Mr. S. C. IIai.l of the Sycamore (Ill.) 
Cheese Factory, communicates to the Prai¬ 
rie Farmer the result of his experience''-in 
canning cheese in tin. He says:—“The 
method is simply to inclose the cheese in a 
tin Imx and solder it. air tight. The cheese 
should be well cured before canning; then 
keep in a cool place. The advantages are, 
for family use, no further trouble in looking 
after it till wanted for use. It is safe from 
flies, retains all its weight, and grows more 
mellow nod fine flavored. What little air 
there is iu the box will do no harm ; it will 
not mold. The advantage for shipping 
South would be no loss from exposure’’ 
The plan of putting up cheese in tin 
cases, has long been practiced by English 
shippers in sending cheese to the East In¬ 
dies and to tropical climates. We gave an 
account of the method in our report of Eng- 
to the beauty and neatness of its appearance. 
“ The most beautiful specimens of Nuns,” 
says Tjcmminck, “ are those which are black, 
but have the quill-foalhers and the head 
at all events, is well worth trying. white; they are called Nonnains Mamins” 
--BcffON says lhat tlie Hutch Shell-Pigeon, 
SETTING MILK — DEEP vs- SHALLOW, m- Coquille Jlollanduise breed are the most 
charming birds, because they have at. the 
Sicking in the Rural Nicv-I oukicb an |>jic:k of their head reversed feathers, which 
account, of atrial of selling iiiilk in deep or form u Sf>rt „f shell. They are of short 
slmIlox\ pans, signed E. \Y. S , asking lot suture, having the head,the tail and the 
other experiments to test the matter whether eiul ()f thdr willg8 Wttck u the rest of 
deep or shallow setting of milk will produce the body 5s pure wbitifii Th( , rfl are , WO spe- 
the most and best butler, I submit/the follow- ciua () f , hu Nun pigeons on the Comment, 
mg tests to your notice, made in Cattaraugus Uu . firet of wWcb j,called the Bearded Nun. 
county, N. Y., with the Cans and coolers, the iUU , tTim .,. a on j y f roni lh „ variety spoken of 
model of which I invited your attention to by B[IFF0N l)y | mvillg white flights, the head 
on the 6th inst. I he fiist soiies <>f expci i- am j j a jj being Hie colored parts. The other 
incuts was made at Messrs. Hummekson & variety, having the oil white and the head 
\\ YLLV 8 dairy in Lit tle \ alley, in cans only black, FifikoeA^ateiirs call I he “ death- 
18)4 inches in diameter and 20 inches head" pigeon 
deep, with 137 pounds of milk taken from °_, , t _ 
FA-mamio fowls foe maeket. 
was conducted by Mr. Hummerson himself, We have given in former numbers of the 
each time producing six pounds of butter of Rural New-Yorker the manner of dress- 
made of light hoards—slats or laths, three 
feet long by two wide, then make one adjus¬ 
table partition of lath, which should he 
placed between tl. b birds in the center of the 
pen. Place I he food and water near the par¬ 
tition, tliaL birds may lie near each other 
when eating, and when they show respect 
lor each other by low cooing or billing, re¬ 
move tlie partition,and in from two to three 
days they will be ready to take t heir place in 
the col.—J. Y. B., Westmoreland, A r . T. 
Wlmt is the IMsense? 
I have a lien Dial lias ils throat, or wind¬ 
pipe apparently diseased,so much so that it 
breaths with difficulty, making a noise simi¬ 
lar to croup iu children. At the orifice in 
the windpipe there is a bright yellow matter 
growing. The comb looks dull and white, 
„,il being llio cotowl par,, T,.*. “if ‘Xjt ' wK ta IK 
variety, having the -til white and Ihe head 
only black,Fri 
head ’’ pigeon. 
ateurscall llie “ death* 
EATTENING FOWLS FOE MAEKET. 
We have given in former numbers of the 
for family use, no further trouble in looking superior quality. I lie cream was taken from 
after it till wanted for use. It is safe from the milk as soon as the ebauge began to show 
flics, retains all ils weight, and grows more il8el, '« before souring. This was made in 
mellow and fine flavored. What little air July when the thermometer stood in the 
there is ill the box will do no harm ; it will 100111 ‘d AO KUd upwards, in the afternoon 
not mold. The advantage for shipping ot ' eAcl ‘ T1,e mIlk v ™s brought by the 
Souili would be no loss from exposure’’ cooler down as low as 60 in an hour and 
The plan of putting up cheese in tin ten minutes alo i it was put in the can, and 
cases, has long been practiced by English kt Td that temperature until iho change 
shippers in sending cheese to the East In- ( tke time varying from 30 to 50 hours), and 
dies and to tropical climates. We gave an the cream was churned at once, yielding six 
account of the method iu our report of Eng- P°tinds for each experiment, or nearly a 
lish dairy practice when abroad during the l J Otln<1 ol butter from 26 pounds of milk. 
year I860. We were then informed that 
cheese incased in tin would retain ils flavor 
for long periods, and could bo safely trans- 
poricd to hot climates, arriving iu as good 
condition, ordinarily, as when first put up. 
The only objection to casing in tin is the 
heavy cost of packages, and except for 
shipment to countries where a high price, 
comparatively, is obtained for the cheese so 
as to more than cover the extra expense for 
Mr. Hummer son says that the surroundings 
did not give a fair test. 
The next experiment was tried in the town 
ol Cold Spring, at llie dairy of Wji. K. Mil¬ 
ler, and was conducted by his son, Nor¬ 
ton. They have forty cows, and have been 
using for the last two years the Pope and 
Tuttle pans in their dairy in Cold Spring, 
also in their dairy in Muchiees. They arc 
using all the known facilities for making 
packages, the plan has not been practiced to good butter, having running water in their 
any extent. Some of the small German milk room and ice whenever it is needed to 
cheeses, we believe, are put up in tin cases, keep the desired temperature. This trial 
but the quantity is very limited. was made within the first ten days of Ail- 
Cheese is now furnished so cheaply that gust, and designed to he a thorough test of 
ing, packing, marking and shipping fowls 
for market, and now propose to say a few 
words in regard to fattening. 
Fowls can be fattened readily and without 
much trouble, provided a little care is taken 
on the start. Our advice would he to those 
keeping poultry to always have them in 
good condition, from the fledgling until they 
become fit for the table—this can he done 
with less expense and more profit to the 
breeder than to leave ihem to shift for them¬ 
selves until wanted for the table or for mar¬ 
ket. There is nothing gained by keeping 
any kind of stock in poor condition. 
Purchasers, as u general rule, look more 
to the plumpness of a fowl than to its age. 
Still, if it is desirable to send yearling birds 
to the market in place of older ones, their 
rotundity cun he developed by feeding plen¬ 
tifully with cooked warm loud, and Ibis 
should not he fed so hot as to “burn the 
gullet out of them." 
The fowls desired to he fattened should 
he placed in small, warm coops, not too 
many “ huddled together,” but so that they 
can have a limited range. As soon as they 
it is a question whether the use of tin pack¬ 
ages in the way suggested could be made 
remunerative for very large quantities of 
cheese. Still for small lots of “ fancy quali¬ 
ties” it may possibly be made to pay. Were 
the plan to be tried we should say that the 
square or rectangular shape would he most, same tank to keep the temperature of the 
convenient, as well as less expensive for 
packages, than the usual round shapes. 
milk standing at about 58\ it souring 
in the pan at 40 hours and not changing in 
Possibly, to some extent at, least, cans that the can till 48 hours. The cream was 
have boon used for other purposes might he churned as soon as taken from the milk, the 
employed, and thus a saving be made on 
the cost of packages; but the trouble of ob¬ 
taining such cases and thoroughly cleansing 
them would militate against any extensive pound of butler from 22 lbs. 10 <>z. 
use, even though procured iu the first in- The next experiment gave precisely the 
stance—as with cans emptied of oysters, same result. The third experiment the pan 
&e.—without cost. On the whole we see had 2 lbs. more milk than the can and the 
no way of escaping from extra cost of pack- same amount, of butler. These gentlemen 
ages and packing, and the real question is sa 3 r they have carefully tested the matter 
whether the cheese could he sold for enough and are fully satisfied that the best manner 
more to make it an object for such manner of setting the milk is in deep cans, and that 
of package. the temperature of tile milk may he kept as 
We have no doubt that fine cbeese put up wanted. I design to further experiment un- 
in quite small packages would meet with 
was made willmi tlie first ten days of Au- become reconciled to their new quarters, 
gust, and designed to he a thorough lest Of commence feeding them regularly three 
ihe manner of setting milk. The morning’s times a day—morning, noon and night. In 
milk was used each lime, tlie milk being the morning we should feed with cooked 
divided into nearly equal parts; first exper- corn meal, at noon with cooked oaf or bailey 
iment, 13G?4 lbs. in the deepcan 17J£ inches, meal and mashed potatoes; at evening feed 
and 141)4 ft's. 111 pan 3% inches with n mush of corn meal cooked in skim 
deep. The water was taken from the milk, if the milk is procurable. It is said 
same tank to keep the temperature of the this latter feed gives the flesh a rich golden 
milk standing at about 58\ it souring hue. The coops should he kept scrupu- 
in the pan at 40 hours and not. changing in lously clean, well supplied with gravel, and 
the can till 48 hours. The cream was provided with plenty of fresh water; for 
churned as soon as taken from the milk, the this purpose we would recommend an im- 
can producing 6 lhs. of butter before salting, plement similar lo Yak Gaasbkek's water 
ami the pan 5 lhs. 10 oz., or a pound of but- fountain. 
|cr from 23 lbs. 6 oz. of milk, and the can a If fowls are fed in the manner here indi- 
pound of butler from 22 lbs. 10 oz. catcd, they will fallen in from fen to twelve 
The next experiment gave precisely the days, when they should be killed and sent 
same result. The third experiment the pan to ,he u'arkct, or else they are liable to dis¬ 
had 2 lhs. more milk than the can and the ease t and decline rapidly. Old fowls can, 
same amount of butler. These gentlemen in like manner, he (aliened, perfectly fat, in 
su 3 r the 3 ’ have carefully tested the matter tbe course of fifteen or twenty days, 
and are fully satisfied that the best manner Crum m ins: Fowls, 
of setting the milk is in deep cans, and that The English have a mode of cramming 
can producing 6 lbs. of butter before salting, 
and the pan 5 lhs. 10 oz., or a pound of but¬ 
ler from 23 lbs. 6 oz. of milk, and the can a 
remedy ?—Dkabbuu, Monroe, Mich., 1871. 
The disease affecting your bird is diph¬ 
theria or cankered throat. The one so affect¬ 
ed should he removed from the coop and 
placed in a warm place, ns it is said by 
those who have had experience with the dis¬ 
ease that it is contagious, and unless treated 
when in its first stages, it will prove fatal. 
We have seen recommended for the disease 
to burn the matter formed in the throat out 
with lunar caustic. Another mode is lo lake 
half an ounce tincture of myrrh, one drachm 
powdered borax, one do. chlorate of potash ; 
dissolve the potash and borax in three and 
a-halfounces hot water; when cold add the 
myrrh and apply the mixture to the throat 
wit h a camel’s hair brush, half a dozen times 
a day until a cure is effected. 
A New Breed of Fowls. 
Some genius out West has been playing 
“ pranks” oil the Judges of Poultry at the 
Muskingum (Iowa) County Fair laitety. An 
exchange gives the following as the particu¬ 
lars of the “ sell” :—“A deformed chicken 
of common breed, the deformity resulting 
from a broken hack, was entered at the Mus¬ 
kingum County Fair ns a Hungarian cock 
of the “Slavi Magyar breed," just imported, 
and the judges, after inspecting it, awarded 
it the first premium over one of Ihe finest 
poultry shows ever seen in the county." 
Cane Seed for Fowls. 
A correspondent of the Rock River 
Farmer soys:—“I have fed my fowls a 
quantity of cane (sorghum) seed every year 
for eight years past, except hist year. Have 
had no cholera or gapes among my fowls, 
except last year when I had no cane seed. 
Does it prevent cholera? 1 know one place 
where they feed cane and broom corn seed 
every year and have no cholera.” 
No Good can Come ot It. 
We desire to say to L. D. S & Co., that 
we deem it unadvisable to publish their per¬ 
sonal article reviewing the action of one of 
the judges of the late State Fair. We are 
of opinion “ no good can come of it," save 
to give rise to a personal controversy which 
will be of no interest to any one other than 
the parties concerned. Therefore we must 
decline its publication. 
Eurly Laying: Pullet. 
I have a pullet, hatched April 12, 1871, 
that commenced laying Oct. 12, 1871. “ How 
is that for high ?” Can any of your sub- 
fowls which is proceeded with as follows: scrihers heat that? The pullet is a cross 
“The finest and healthiest birds are taken between a Cochin and Leghorn.—G. K. G., 
til the question is satisfactorily settled.— a. h. 1 from the falleniug coop, or any good fleshy I Albany, N. Y. 
HYGIENIC REMEDIES. 
In the Rural New-Yorker of Oct. 21 
there are “pills” and “decoctions” pre¬ 
scribed for dyspepsia; and another writer 
Calls for a “remedy for liver complaint.” 
These articles remind me of the story told 
of the celebrated English physician, who, 
being called upon by a desponding dyspeptic 
for a “ remedy” for his compluiut, the doc¬ 
tor said to him, “My fee is five guineas! 
That paid and I will give yon a prescription 
Unit is infallible.” The dyspeptic, without 
hesitating a moment, handed over the fee, 
when the doctor handed back to him the 
following prescription:—“ Live on sixpence a 
day, and earn it” 
The writer has been “ forty years in the 
wilderness" of the “pestle” and “ pill 
boxes,” and long ago he was himself cured 
of dyspepsia mid “ liver complaint” by fol¬ 
lowing out this method. 
There is a story told of another physician 
that stood in the front ranks of the medical 
profession who prescribed “the oil of the ax 
handle” as ft “sovereign cure” for liver 
complaint; this “oil” to he squeezed out 
every day chopping wood. “ Chop,” said 
the doctor, “ till you feel and see' the ‘ oil’ 
dropping from your face.” While giving a 
course of lectures in New York some years 
since on hygiene, a German doctor told me 
the following .—lie was applied to by a man 
suffering from diarrhea, when the doctor 
wrote his prescription and handing It to 
the patient said, “ There, take that.” The 
sick man took the paper and departed. In 
a few days lie returned to the doctor to pay 
liis bill, when the latter inquired if the 
“remedy" was successful, ami the patient 
at once declared that the piece of paper the 
doctor gave him had certainly cured him; 
“ but," said he, “ I found it a difficult job to 
swallow it.” 
There are but few, if any, cases of dys¬ 
pepsia or liver complaint but which lmve 
been brought on by the habits of living; 
that is, the fault is iu the food, or lo its kind 
and quantity. In quantity it is out of pro¬ 
portion to the amount ol regular and appro¬ 
priate exercise taken. I could give the cases 
of hundreds like the following: 
Dr. 8. R. L., age sixty, of a nervous bil¬ 
ious temperament for fifteen years, had had 
dyspepsia, constipation and sick headache. 
He abandoned the city, and took to hard 
work in Ids garden, ten years ago,and with¬ 
out a particle of medicine, he has been per¬ 
fectly well ever since. I have seen the 
worst forms of dyspepsia and of liver com¬ 
plaint cured without medicine. The pro¬ 
verb says, “ Nat lire performs ihe cure, and 
the doctor gets the credit.” Live on simple 
food, such ns boiled wheat or parched corn. 
Eat no bread except that made of unsifted 
meal. In Germany there is a popular 
method known as Ihe “Raisin Cure,” be¬ 
cause the diet of Ihe patient consists exclu¬ 
sively of that fruit during the process of 
treatment. I know a man, now in good 
health, who has lived five years on fruits 
exclusively. The true method of cure 
points out wlmt is to be done, or left un¬ 
done; it is not a “dose" to bo swallowed. 
Undo all you have done to get sick, and 
good health must follow as the result 
Quinoey, Muss, Leroy Sunderland. 
There is as much dyspepsia among hard 
working men or women as among those 
who are supposed to do nothing. Especially 
among farmers it prevails; and It is often 
due to ihe fact that they bolt down their 
food in great haste, holt away from the 
table and out into the field to work without 
giving the stomach time to assimilate and 
digest tlie food it has received. It in one of 
the most prolific causes of dyspepsia among 
workingmen. A half or whole hour’s rest 
should follow the eating a hearty meal. 
HYGIENIC NOTES. 
Blecdiiur nt itie Lungs. 
I would like to ask what is good for bleed¬ 
ing at the lungs; also what will cure ague so 
that it will not come back? I would like 
something without quinine.—M. B., Mont¬ 
gomery Co., Kan. 
Dyspepsia Remedy. 
Burton I. Green writes:—“ Take a small 
piece of brimstone, about the size of a pea 
eacli morning before breakfast. Do this for 
a few days and then discontinue it for the 
same length of time. I know this to he a 
good remedy, having tried it successfully 
several times.”_ 
The Tliompsoninn Composition Powder 
Is composed ns follows:—Bay berry hark, 6 
oz.; hemlock hark, 3 oz.; ginger root, 3 oz.; 
cayenne pepper, % oz -i cloves, y 2 oz. All 
finely pulverized and well mixed. Dose— 
half ateaspoonful with a teaspoonfulofsiigar. 
Put in a teacup and pour on ii a half a cupful 
of boiling water. Let it stand a few minutes, 
then fill up tlie cup with milk or water aud 
drink freely. We give the foregoing in an¬ 
swer to au inquiry. 
