/ 2 
iuirij ©ttsbattorg. 
X. A. WILLARD, A. M., EDITOR, 
Or Lirn-K Fall*. Hebkim** County, N«w Ioek. 
PROVIDING SUMMER KEEP FOR 
THE HERDS. 
The summer campaign for tlie herds is at 
hand, but has ample provision been made 
for forage ? It is a great mistake to over¬ 
stock pastures, and yet many fall into this 
error throughout the dairy districts. We 
have seen dairymen till up their herds in the 
spring with high priced animals, in the ex¬ 
pectation of making a large product ot but¬ 
ter or cheese, when much better returns 
would have been secured had not an animal 
been added to the herd. Dairymen are often 
too anxious to have no food go to waste, 
and in the effort to economise in this respect 
they lose sight of the fact that by overstock¬ 
ing the whole herd is compelled to econo¬ 
mise also in the yield ot milk. 
It must bo remembered that the actual 
requirements for ultima! life must first be at¬ 
tended to. Respiration must be supported, 
and the waste of the system constantly 
going on is to be made tip. These always 
stand first, and titter that the cow Is willing 
to convert surplus food Into milk. But even 
where pastures are not overstocked (bed 
begins to depreciate in quality during the 
latter part of summer, aud unless provision 
has been made to meet this exigency, and 
supply the herd with additional food, the 
yield of milk also, as a consequence, falls 
off. Experienced dairymen understand the 
fact, that when the flow of milk Inis been 
checked for any considerable length of time, 
by reason of depreciation in food, It is diffi¬ 
cult to get. the cows back again to the old 
standard. Hence, soiling is resorted to for 
the purpose of keeping up the habit until 
the time for turning into the after-feed, 
Corn sowed broadcast, or iu drills, is ad¬ 
mirably adapted for producing tbo requisite 
food in the summer soiling of milch cows 
upon dairy farms. It is succulent and nu¬ 
tritious, and promotes a flow of milk, if not 
quite equal, at least second only to clover. 
An immense quantity can be grown to the 
acre, and it therefore is an exceedingly 
profitable crop to grow for the purpose of 
soiling. And there need be no loss in rais¬ 
ing the crop, since if any part is not, wanted 
for soiling, it may be cut and cured for win¬ 
ter use. 
No one who keeps a dairy should neglect 
to grow a patch of sowed corn to meet the 
probable wants of his herd during August 
and September. If the season proves to he 
dry his stock will need it, ami by this means 
he will he able to keep his cows in condition 
and obtain full returns, while those who 
have made no provision for extra food must 
suffer a considerable loss. We have seen 
persons, during seasons ot drouth,compelled 
to feed cattle from meadows, thus cutting 
short the supply of winter fodder, and In 
consequence were obliged to reduce the herd 
in the fall, all of which could have been 
avoided by a little forethought in raising a 
soiling crop. Somewhat recently we have 
seen statements made, that green corn fodder 
is not a food to be recommended for soiling 
milch cows, but such statements cannot be 
founded upon any true,practical experiment, 
and we hope no one may he misled in losing 
money by following such teachings. The 
time to sow for corn fodder is from the first 
to the tenth of Juno. The land should he 
heavily manured ami put in good tilth. Old 
land, that was not plowed in the full, should 
he plowed twice, and the manure thorough¬ 
ly mingled with the soil. The seed should 
be sown in drills about two and a-hnlf feet 
apart in the rows, or not loss than two feet, 
in order to admit a cultivator or horse hoe 
between the rows, to stir the soil and keep 
down weeds. When machines for drilling 
cannot lie had, the seed may be put in 
broadcast, at the rate of three to four bushels 
per acre. 
The Western or Dent corn gives the larg¬ 
est amount of fodder, but sweet corn gives 
better results In milk, and is to be preferred 
when the seed can be obtained at not too 
much expense. When sod ground is to be 
employed for sowing tbe crop, it pays well 
to subsoil. We have grown immense crops 
by manuring heavily on the sod, turning 
over a thin sod, followed by subsoil plow to 
deepen tbe soil, but not burying the manure 
beyond the reach of the young plants. The 
extent of ground needed for growing fodder 
will depend, of course, upon the fertility of 
the soil, the manner in which the crop is 
p it in and cultivated, as well as ttie season 
and the condition in which pastures arc 
stocked. Ordinarily it should not he less 
than an acre for every eight cows. There are 
occasional seasons, it is true, when with an 
abundance, ot rain to keep grass fresh and in 
vigorous growth, corn for soiling purposes is 
not needed, hut it is poor economy and had 
management to base dairy operations of this 
character upon chance. There are somany 
ihat neglect to make proper provision for 
carrying stock along during the latter part 
of summer, and so many heavy losses in 
consequence, that we cannot urge this mat¬ 
ter too strongly upon the attention of dairy¬ 
men. Let. it be remembered that the crop 
is not an unprofitable one, even if it should 
not be needed for soiling, for it wdll pay 
largely if cut and put up for winter fodder; 
hut the satisfaction of having an abundance 
of food for stock in times of need, is another 
consideration beyond its mere pecuniary 
value. It is a painful feeling to see cattle 
Stinted for food in overstocked pastures, and 
those who would save worry and secure 
flowing milk pails, will make provision for 
an extra supply of forage for soiling. 
--- 
RELATIVE PROFITS 
Of MellinK Milk or Manufacturing it Into 
Clieesc. 
A correspondent who is about estab¬ 
lishing a dairy tor the first time, inquires as 
follows:—“I am about the same distance 
from the railroad depot that I am from a 
cheese factory, and I propose keeping ten or 
twelve cows this year. Which would he 
most profitable for me, to deliver the milk at 
the factory or send the milk to the city ? 11 
I send the milk to the city, I think I could 
make it realize me about three cents per 
quart.” 
Such questions are not easy to answer, be¬ 
cause no one can predict with any certainty 
what, is to be the average price of cheese 
during t tie coming season. In matters of 
this kind it, is always better to look at all the 
points of advantage and disadvantage in 
each business, and then decide for one’s-self, 
without relying too much upon the advice 
of Others, who cannot, be expected to under¬ 
stand all the circumstances of the case with¬ 
out more knowledge of the situation in its 
various relations than is given in this letter. 
The best that wc can do in this case is to 
give some facts and statistics which may 
assist, our correspondent in making up an 
opinion on the matter. 
In the first place we should presume that 
the milk business would require more care 
and attention than the other, and be attend¬ 
ed with more expense. In the milk business 
more cans would lie required, aud particular 
attention must be given to the cooling and 
care of milk. Then very likely the delivery 
of a certain quantity of milk would he de¬ 
manded through the winter. On the other 
hand, should there happen to be misman¬ 
agement at the factory, and an inferior pro¬ 
duct made, the loss must be shared by the 
patrons in proportion to the quantity of 
milk delivered. 
Generally, as an average for the season, it 
takes ten pounds of milk to make one pound 
of cured choose. A quart of milk, wine 
measure, will weigh a trifle over two pounds 
(thirty-five ounces.) To make a safe esti¬ 
mate, we may assume that it will take about 
four and a half quarts of milk, wine meas¬ 
ure, for a pound of cured cheese. Call it 
five quarts, so as to be sure in covering losses 
from damaged cheese, shrinkage from hold¬ 
ing, &c., and it will be seen that the nett 
sales of cheese, after all expenses of manu¬ 
facturing, boxing, &c., have been deducted, 
must be fifteen cents per pound in order to 
be equal to the sales of milk at three cents 
per quart. Now, as the expense of manu¬ 
facturing, bandage, salt, anuotto, and box¬ 
ing for the cheese, is about two cents per 
pound, tho sales must reach on an average 
about seventeen cents per pound to be equal 
to the other business. It is a question wheth¬ 
er such figures will be made by the majority 
of factories the coming season. Still, it is 
possible the better grades may go to this, or 
above it. 
In 186? Mr. H. B. Platt, In a communi¬ 
cation to the Connecticut Board of Agricul¬ 
ture, gave a statement of the yield from a 
dairy of t welve cows. Mr. Platt is in the 
milk business, and his cows are of different 
breeds, such as he can buy about the coun¬ 
try, and he reports the total product for the 
year to have been 33,199 quarts. His sales 
that year averaged four and three-quarter 
cents’per quart; but at three cents per quart 
tlie amount, of money realized would be 
$995.97. 
Now estimating five quarts of milk as 
tlie average for one pound of cheese, Ave 
have, if tlie milk were turned into cheese, 
6,639 4-5 pounds which at fifteen cents would 
amount to $995.97. The cheese av rage per 
cow in this instance avo may remark is 
higher than that usually obtained at the 
factories. Still as there are cases where an 
average of 550 pounds and even 600 pounds 
per cow has been made, we may use Mr. 
Platt's figures as illustrating what could 
he realized from a high yield ot cheese at 
llie assumed rate of fifteen cents per pound. 
Then there is the value of tlie whey from 
cheese-making which is to be credited to 
that, business. 
If there be a skillful manufacturer at the 
factory, av Iio is able to turn off a pound of 
cheese from four and a half quarts or less of 
milk, the product, of course, would be in¬ 
creased. Still the cheese must he sold above 
fifteen cents per pound to make the business 
ns lucrative as selling milk at three cents 
per quart. 
With these figures our correspondent 
ought to be able to make up an opinion 
whether it will be best for him to accept the 
certainty of three cents per quart for his 
milk, or take the chances of realizing more 
or Jess money at the factory. 
DUCK-WING GAMES. 
In reply to J, D., Ashland, Ohio, Rural 
March 26, page 207, concerning Duck-wing 
Games, “L” makes some statements at 
variance with my ideas, and I wish for more 
light on the subject, for at preasent, to use a 
slangy but expressive phrase, “ I don’t see 
it.” In describing Silver Duck-wings he 
says: — “ breast clear, mealy, silver gray 
colorI have seen Duck-wings from many 
different breeders, and have had some ex¬ 
perience with them myself, but have never 
seen a Duck-wing cock with such a breast 
as described above. Have seen Irish Greys 
with breasts of all shades, from a light 
mealoy grey to a coal black, but a Duck- 
Aviug never. As to what they should he, the 
“ Standard of Excellence ” says, “ Breast, 
underpaid of body, and thighs, black.” 
He also states as follows :—“ The legs of 
tlie Silver Gray should be white; eyes red 
and skin white. Many of this breed of birds, 
however, have willow colored legs, but such 
are prejudicial to a pen of prize foAvIs.” 
Will L. please give his grounds for the 
above statement ? I think not the “ standard 
of excellence,” which says of Silver Duck- 
Aving Game: ‘‘Legs willow, olive, bronze or 
blue.” Colors preferred in the order in which 
they are named. If a pen of L.’s Silver 
Duck-wings Avitli white legs, arc ever brought 
into competition with a pen of the same 
having willow legs, the birds being equal in 
other respects, the decision of the judges will 
afford him ample proof as to which colored 
legs are prejudicial to a pen of prize birds." 
He says further: ‘‘The weight of the 
cocks of the Duck-wing variety of game birds 
varies from five to seven pounds, Avliile that 
of the hens exceed* (the italics are my own) 
that of the cocks.” I have always found five 
and one-quarter pounds about the average 
weight of Duck-wing cock, and t he hens not 
far from three-quarters the weight of the 
cocks, or about the same relative size as other 
varieties of games. I never before realized 
my ignorance of this subject, and humbly 
beg to be enlightened on tin: folloAving points: 
Does L. consider seven pounds a desirable 
size for a game cock of any variety? Would 
a Duck-wing hen to match a seven pound 
cock have to weigh as much as eight, pounds? 
Oriskuny Palls, N. Y. C. P. W. 
Remarks. —Our authority tor description, 
markings, &c.,of the Silver Gray Duck-wing 
game fowls, given in our article, to which 
our correspondent takes exception, is Tre¬ 
vor Dickens, Esq., of London, England, 
Who Wright, in ids “Practical Poultry 
Keeper,” says is “ one of the most eminent 
authorities in England on all points con¬ 
nected with the game fowls.” If C. P. W. 
Avill refer to the “ American Poulterer’s Com¬ 
panion," (the standard American authority,) 
or “ Saunders’Domestic Poultry,” or Tkget- 
meier’s “Poultry Book,” (the standard au¬ 
thority of England,) or Beeton's “ Hints on 
Poultry,” he will find we are not so far fiom 
the mark as he imagines. We have never 
bred game fotvls for the cock-pit; having 
“ conscientious scruples ” on that point; but 
we bred the Red Derby and Irish Gray game 
fowls over thirty years ago, for the table, 
and frequently exceeded the Aveight given 
in oar article. Fowls bred for the cock-pit 
hardly ever exceed five pounds; from four 
and a-lialf to five pounds being the standard 
weight,.—L. 
-- 
POULTRY PROFITS. 
Deeming the following report on poultry 
keeping, made to the Farmers' Club of this 
town by Mr. Jonas Saavyeii, of much im¬ 
portance and not easily excelled, I send it to 
you for publication in your excellent paper, 
hoping it, will stimulate others to endeavor 
to accomplish like results: 
THIRTY-TWO HKNS ANH TWO ROOSTER8, DR. 
To cost of HO bushels of corn, for keopinc for 
one year ending January 1, 1870, at #1.25 
per bushel. $75 00 
12 dOKBtl eggs for setting, at 37 cents per 
dozen .. 4 44 
Total... $70 44 
Poultry, Cr. 
By 477 dozen eggs, at average price, 37 cents 
per dozen. $170 49 
Poultry sold and eaten. 46 3? 
Increase of 20 fowls. 25 00 
Total. *347 86 
Deduot expense for year. 70 44 
Net gain. $168 42 
Net gain for each fowl. $4 95 
The manure of these fowls amounted to 
ten barrels, with a little chaff and ashes 
added occasionally to keep the fowls clean. 
This manure was worth at least fifteen dol¬ 
lars, and not reckoned iu the profits but left 
to offset what little damage they may have 
j done, which the owner says Avould not 
I amount to five dollars. If we deduct the 
five dollars damage and add the ten dollars 
to the profits, we have a profit to each fowl 
of $5.26. 
These foAvls are Brahmas and Chittagongs. 
Their food is before them all the time, con¬ 
sisting of corn and waste from the kitchen. 
They are continually supplied with water; 
in Avinter warm water, oyster shells and 
waste bones broken up are furnished them. 
They have their liberty ihe year around, 
and wander but little. They have comfort¬ 
able accommodations for laying and roost¬ 
ing, with a southern aspect; but, best of all, 
they have the supervision of Mrs. Saavyer, 
whose tact, skill and attention are ever on 
the alert to see that they lack for nothing. 
If the result of this example of poultry keep¬ 
ing is a fair test of what may be done in this 
line, it would certainly seem that no person 
having conveniences, and a disposition to 
try, coukl do better for the small outlay than 
to keep poultry. 
Where poultry can have their freedom but 
part of the time, they may not do as well; 
but even then they will be profitable if 
they have the requisite care. There is 
more in the attention than in the breed, 
all hough this is important. Kindness, gen¬ 
tleness and familiarity will well repay when 
bestowed on any animals, and it is especially 
true when shown to fowls.—G Berlin, Wor¬ 
cester, Mass. 
In October 1, 1869, stock on hand fifty- 
four hens, two cocks, and seventeen chickens, 
$125.75; October 1, 1868, stock on hand 
fifty-four bens, three cocks, $114.00; excess, 
October 1,1869, $11.75. 
Poultry, 
Cr. 
“ liens and chickens acid. . 
“ excess in value of stock, Oct. 1, 1869.... 
. 11 75 
Total..... 
roiTLTBY, 
DR. 
To feed from Oct. 1. 1868, to Oct. 1, 1SG9. 
“ 1 cock, bought in March. 
“ 3 chickens, bought in June. 
.$103 64 
. 5 00 
. 3 (JO 
Total. 
Balance. 
.$171 64 
. #69 13 
Eight Creve-coeurs and six bantams have 
been kept the whole season out of the above 
feed, but they, or their products, are not esti¬ 
mated in the above account. It must have 
cost at least $23 to have kept them ; and, 
therefore, that sum must be added to the 
profits, which Avould make it amount to 
$92.18. They have been fed on a variety of 
grains—oats, corn, buckwheat, wheat screen¬ 
ings; also, corn meal, scraps, meat, and 
boiled potatoes. They appear to thrive bet¬ 
ter on such a variety than when confined for 
any great length of time to any one partic¬ 
ular grain; they have been confined nil the 
time in a close yard, where they could not 
pick up their living from the farm. 
My slock is nearly all Brahmas, and I 
prefer that breed to any I have had, for the 
following reasons:—They arc very hardy and 
quiet; the best of layers in cold Aveather, 
Avheu eggs bring a high price; the young 
chickens are very strong—much more so 
than most other breeds; they grow quick, 
and are preferred by the dealers in the 
market; the eggs being five to eight cents 
a dozen more in Boston markets in the 
winter than either Leghorns, Black Spanish, 
or the common fowls, not so much on ac- 
coiml of their size, but because they are 
thought to be of better quality.—M., Con¬ 
cord, Mass. 
I herewith send j t ou a statement of what 
my fowls have done since January 1. 1 have 
eight pullets, hatched May 27, 1869, and four 
hens two years old, that have laid as follows: 
January one hundred and seventy-nine eggs; 
February one hundred and sixtv-two; March 
two hundred. Our March Avas about as cold 
as any mouth this season. The ground Avas 
covered Avith snow throughout the month. 
Noav if the reader, “ or any other man ” is 
owner of twelve hens that have shelled out 
more liberally than mine have done, iu the 
same time, please report through the Rural’s 
Poultry-Yard. I do not pretend to say that 
my hens cannot be beat, but 1 do not re¬ 
member seeing anything (taking age and 
all other things into consideration) that 
would better my report. My foAvls are a 
cross between tbe Brahma and Sebright. I 
feed all the corn they w ill eat, together Avith 
scraps of refuse meat from the kitchen. 
To all those Avho tRiuk there is nothing 
made by keeping a feAV foAvls I would say 
that I realized a profit, of enough, in the 
above mentioned three months, to buy all 
the com my fowls will need, for the balance 
of the year, and pay for the Rural a whole 
year besides, which latter I consider about 
as good an investment as one could make. — 
W. H. M., Eaton, N. T. 
-- 
MALAY GAME FOWLS. 
I see a writer in a late Rural New- 
Yorker questions there being such a variety 
ofgamefoAvl as the Malay, as a distinctive 
breed. His theory is not Avell founded. Mr. 
Darwin, in his neAv work “ On the varia¬ 
tions in animals,” claims distinctly that the 
Malay has been bred for years as a game 
fowl in India; is noted for its courage aud 
endurance; proves successfuliu the cock¬ 
pits of India aud adjacent islands. He says 
they are a small breed of foivl, and are 
designated iu Europe as the “ Indian 
Games ; ” but in reality are of the original 
Malay species of game fowls. Mr, He witt 
says he is “ not aAvare of any variety of fowl 
so cruel, oppressive, and vindictive as Ma¬ 
lays; they are literally the tyrants of the 
poultry yard.” 
I bred tbe red Malay years ago, and found 
that the cocks evinced such a pugnacious 
disposition that I was glad to rid myself of 
them; I did not do so, however, until after 
they had made attacks upon my children 
whenever they showed themselves in the 
yard. In my experience with this breed I 
found nothing commendable in them for the 
amateur or fancier; the hens proving only 
ordinary layers, while neither the plumage 
or build of the cock is attractive. 
Monroe Co., N. Y. R. O. Chester. 
<pe dlahmtlist. 
NOTES FOR NATURALISTS. 
Retiring Silk Worms in (he Open Air. 
The following is an abstract of a paper 
read before the French Academy of Sciences: 
On account of the disease prevalent among 
the silk worms in France, many experi¬ 
ments have been made in order to discover 
the best means of rearing them. The re¬ 
sults obtained by M Sintrae, and which 
were communicated to the Academy of 
Sciences in Paris, In September, seems to 
contain facts which may be useful for the 
sericulturists of .this State. This observer 
found that eilk worms succeeded much bet¬ 
ter when raised iu the open air than when 
kept in close rooms. Ilis idea up to the 
present time has been that the Avorms re¬ 
quire lo be kept at a high temperature, and 
carefully preserved from sudden changes. 
M. Sintrae finds, on the contrary, that they 
bear very avcII a temperature as low as forty- 
seven degrees and as high as one hundred 
and four degrees; that they are not injured 
by the direct rays of the sun nor by sudden 
changes in temperature. They were not 
hurt by rain, nor even by thunder-storms. 
The disease that has been so prevalent 
among silk worms in Europe, aud which hns 
called torso large an importation of foreign 
eggs, is considered by the author to be 
caused by the worms being confined in too 
close rooms. Tlie only shelter he gives 
them is an open shed, Avith roof sufficient to 
keep off tbe rain. Tbe 3 T ield of silk seems 
very satisfactory, as thirty-eight ounces of 
eggs furnished tAvo hundred and seventy- 
two pounds of cocoons, besides a large yield 
of eggs. 
To Destroy llie Ciirraut Worm. 
James M. Wardner writes the Essex Co. 
Republican that he saves his currant bushes 
as follows: 
“ Keep close watch of the bushes after 
ibey are fully leaved out, examining very 
closely the lower leaves on the new shoots, 
and as soon as you see one that is perforated 
with small boles, pick it and drop it into an 
old pail, and so go over all the bushes care¬ 
fully every other day, as long as the worms 
continue to batch, which will be about two 
or three Aveeks, and burning the leaves 
plucked. Be sure and pick each time going 
over the bush every leaf gnawed by the 
worms. I have about seventy-five as fine 
bushes ns you often see, Avliile most of the 
currant bushes in this vicinity are entirely 
destroyed 1 have had to be vigilant and 
persevering, but I have conquered so far, 
which is some satisfaction, as well as the 
pleasure of having all tbe nice currants I 
Avant to use.” 
(Tl»f i|toin£-f§crb. 
PIG-PEN PAPERS. 
The Black Ekhcx Hok for the South. 
Richard Peters, Atlanta, Ga., writes the 
Rural Carolinian that his experience (Avith 
most of the leading breeds of sAvine) has 
taught him that “ a black hog suits our cli¬ 
mate and our mode of treatment much bet¬ 
ter than the white, the latter being more 
subject to cutaneous and other diseases. 
Tlie Black Esesx may be classed with the 
smaller breeds of SAvine, but when fully 
grown and very fat, they can be made to 
weigh up to 400 pounds net. They are 
exempt from diseases of the skin, are very 
thrifty, and can be fattened at any age.” 
A New Breed of Swine. 
James McMillan, Fairport, N, Y., writes 
us“ The town of Ogden, Monroe Co., N. 
Y., can boast of a pig with a double head— 
two mouths, two sets of teeth, and tAvo 
tongues—one body to the middle, and the 
hind parts separate—two perfect pigs with 
a pair of hind legs each; four legs forward, 
tAvo of them under the body all right and 
two directly above on tbe back—all perfect.” 
Remedy far Han Cholera. 
The following is highly commended by 
good authority:—“Take half pound black 
antimony, one pound of sulphur, one pound 
saltpeter; mix thoroughly and feed on meal 
once a month. This is regarded as enough 
for fitly hogs, less in proportion for a smaller 
number. If the bog is prostrated with the 
disease, take one lublespoorifiil of the mix¬ 
ture with one teaspoonful of turpentine add¬ 
ed ; give a (lose every four hours until it is 
administered three times. If the bowels are 
running off, add two teaspoonsfu) of log- 
Avood to tlie mixture, ancl give in half pint 
of warm Avater 
J 
