ORE’S  RURAL  NEW-YORKER. 
®l^f  Ijfrlisiuan. 
ENGLISH  PKIZE  8H0RT-H0EN  OX. 
Ora  portrait  representH  a  model  8hort-Horn 
Ox  which  liaH  taken  pri/en  at  several  Eiiglish 
Cattle  Khows.  He  is  thus  described  by  a  London 
contemporary : 
In  the  class  of  older  Short-Horns  at  Islington, 
over  39  months,  there  was  a  groat  display. 
Among  the  eight  were  at  least  two  grand  speci¬ 
mens,  and  two  more  not  to  bo  overlooked.  That 
declared  the  Ist  in  its  class,  and  awarded  the  X50 
Clip  as  best  male  in  the  classes  (Mr.  O.  Kowerby's 
roan  ox)  id  an  old  visitor  here.  In  1873  he  was 
put  2nd  h)  Mr.  Holt's  tine  roan  (which  was  Ist. 
again  last  wetiU  in  Bingly  HallJ.  Now  he  gains 
all  tlie  credit  tliat  he  can  exjieet,  for  the  judges 
reserved  (as  gallant  Judges  will  when  they  have 
a  chance)  their  highest  place  to  a  most  beautiful 
heifer.  Last  year  Mr.  Kowerby’s  ox  weighed 
20  cwt.  1  qr.  10  lbs.,  now  he  gets  credit  for  23 
cwt.  0  qr.  2  lbs.  which  at  four  years  and  two 
months,  is  a  great  record.  Ho  handles  very  soft, 
as  he  has  done  tliruughout.  His  hind  legs  are 
somewhat  wciirj  .giving  him  a  bad  carnage  behind. 
But  he  Hoems  an  aduiirablo  champion  of  the 
popular  breed,  and  might  encounter  any  of  his 
own,  or  of  a  rival  breed  without  fear.  Take  him 
all  round,  from  his  K3'mmelrical  horns  to  the  tip 
of  his  tail,  it  is  difficult  to  suggest  an  improve¬ 
ment.  It  is  plain  that  he  is  grossly  fat,  but  ho 
is  healthy,  and  by  far  the  best-finished  animal  in 
the  show. 
- - 
FOR  BEEF  AND  BUTTER. 
Qeo.  E.  Wauino  in  the  Feb.  No.  of  Ogden 
Fann  Papors,  in  the  Agiiculturist,  disapproves  the 
advisability  in  considering  the  adoption  of  a  breed 
for  dairy  purijoscs,  that  the  preponderating  re¬ 
gard  should  bo  had  to  the  value  of  a  cow  as  beef, 
after  her  milldng  is  done.  This,  of  comse,  is 
valuable  and  imimrtant,  but  its  value  and  im- 
jwrtance  are  much  loss  than  socondarj’.  I^et  us 
put  the  probahticH  for  the  yield  of  butter  at  from 
200  to  225  lbs.  per  cow,  a  difference  that  may 
very  easily  be  seem  td  by  the  selection  of  go(Hl 
representatives  of  the  best  breed,  or  of  the  second 
best.  Take  the  average  diuation  of  profitable 
milldng  as  ten  yeai  s,  and  we  have  a  difference  in 
butter  products  of  250  lbs.  worth  at  30  cents,  a 
ixjuud,  $76.  In  the  one  case  let  us  assume  that 
we  have  a  worn-out  thin  cow  worth,  (to  fatten) 
$20,  and  that  hr  the  other  case,  we  have  a  well- 
constitutioned  large  animal  worthy  (to  fatten), 
$50 ;  this  is  the  true  standard,  m  considering  the 
worth  of  the  cow  for  fattening,  we  have  to  re¬ 
gard  the  cost  of  feed,  and  care,  and  time.  Hero 
is  a  difference  of  $75  in  the  income  from  butter, 
and  of  only  $30  in  the  value  for  making  beef.  I 
have  purposely  neglected  the  citation  of  large 
yields  and  fancy  prices,  and  have  presented  tlie 
case  in  its  proper  agricultural  boai’ing  for  most 
localities.  It  seems  to  me  to  prove  very  clearly 
that  no  fanner  who  looks  to  the  manufacture  of 
butter  as  his  business,  can  afford  to  consider 
the  hoeflug  value  of  his  used-up  cows,  as  au  off¬ 
set  for  inferior  butter  production.  Tlmrougb- 
hred  animals  get  tlieu  fancy  value  from  fancy 
reasons  less  largely  than  issupiwsed.  The  butter 
of  the  Jersey,  UjC  milk  of  Uie  Ayrshire,  and  the 
beef  of  the  Khort-Horu  are  at  the  ls>ttom  of  the 
fancy  prices  for  all  of  these  breeds,  for  it  is  this, 
after  all,  that  must  be  looked  to  for  the  imnna- 
nent  value  of  any  race.  Those  who  <;mbark  large¬ 
ly  in  the  raisijjg  of  thoroughbreds  ofUm  pay  amaz¬ 
ing  prices  for  good  specimens,  but  they  have  al¬ 
ways  the  fact  to  fall  back  upon,  that  their  ani¬ 
mals  will  multiply  rapidly,  and  that  a  slight  ad¬ 
vantage  in  practical  value  will,  wdU*  their  in¬ 
creasing  herds,  soon  help  to  make  up  for  their 
large  outlaj'S.  They  always  believe,  of  course, 
that  they  will  find  customers  able  to  appreciate, 
and  wlUing  Ui  pay,  for  peculiar  excellence,  but 
the  whole  question,  in  its  wide  Itcarings,  finally 
settles  itself  down  upon  the  practical  agricultm-al 
advantage  of  the  race.  Khort-Uoms,  however 
flue,  that  are  doficient  in  the  quaUty  of  continu¬ 
ing  in  their  progeny  the  beef  producing  cboracUtr- 
istics ;  beautiful  Ayrshires,  well  up  in  all  the 
fancy  points,  whose  dcHcendants  will  not  be  good 
milkers;  and  Jersey  cattle  of  the  fanciest 
character,  whose  famihes  are  poor  butter  makers, 
will  always  fail  in  the  end  to  be  highly  appreci¬ 
ated. 
It  will  theiefore  be  the  wisest  course  for  any 
beginner  in  stock-breeding,  who  is  willing  to  in¬ 
vest  the  necessary'  capital,  and  to  give  the  care 
and  attention  requisite  for  success  in  thorough 
breeding,  to  select  such  animals  as  are,  in  the 
first  plac'C,  best  adapted  for  the  home  industry 
that  ho  intends  to  pursue,  and  in  the  second 
place,  to  get  such  specimens  of  the  breed  as  will 
win  favor  among  those  who  are  to  be  depended 
upon  as  buyers  at  fancy  prices,  but  a  prudent 
man  will  always  regard  very  high  prices  as  so 
much  lucky  addition  to  his  income.  He  will  not 
depend  upon  it  as  au  element  of  his  regular'  busi¬ 
ness.  For  example,  if  one  can  estabhsh  a  herd 
of  Jersey  cows  which  will  make  an  average  of  250 
lbs.  of  butter  ))er  annum,  and  is  so  situaUHl  that 
he  can  secure  (net)  60  cents  i)or  lb.  for  his  pro¬ 
duct  the  year  round,  so  that  he  may  lx*  sure  of  a 
gross  Income  of  $125,  he  can  afford  to  pay  a  very 
high  price  for  thoroughbreds,  or  if  bo  has  thne 
and  patience,  he  may  buy  a  smaller  iimnl>er  of 
remarkably  good  females,  at  still  higher  prices, 
and  build  up  bis  herd,  by  a  few  years  of  careful 
breeding.  If  at  all  well  situated,  he  may  depend 
on  a  yearly  average  value  of,  say  $40,  for  Iris 
/7  ^ 
«WOR'r-liORN  ox. 
ing.  We  have  procticssl  this  mode  for  the  past 
fifteen  years,  endeavoring  to  attain  the  jxiitrt  for 
OUT'  herd  in  merit  wbei'«*  thej’  will  transuiit  with 
cei'tainty,  merit  of  Guenon’s  “class  first,  a>id 
first  order,"  Uixm  thi;  farm  wo  have  now  fifty 
cewH  and  Ircifcrs,  ranging  iir  ago  from  seventeen 
j'CMrrs  old  dowtr  to  weeks,  and  seventeen  hulls 
from  five  years  to  tliree  mouths  old.  all  having 
Giumon’s  marks  of  the  highest  order  of  merit, 
and  all  bred  upon  the  fann  according  hr  the  trae 
principles. 
weaned  calves  Of  both  sexes.  This  will  pay  the 
inti'rest  on  tlm  cost  of  iris  original  shxk.  Then, 
in  pr'oportion  ns  he  is  fortunate  in  his  judg¬ 
ment  and  anangeiuent,  arrd  in  his  skill  in  giving 
to  his  h<!rd  n  gocsl  reprrtation,  he  rimy  increase 
lh«i  value  of  his  progeny  to  an  amount  Uial  will 
add  a  vei-y  liaudsome  lu’oftt  to  a  hitsim  ss  that 
has  already  been  fairly  ]jrofitHhle  and  siitisfarvtory. 
Referring  to  my  own  experience,  alt  hough  I  have 
bought  mauy  animals  for  from  $150  to  $260  each, 
by  far  the  most  profitable  ouop  have  becir  those 
vi'hich  have  cost  rno  several  times  tlicse  siiius.  I 
have  already  refetTorl  iu  these  paix.a  s  tf)  a  cow 
for  which  I  paid  $500,  (when  this  was  a  much 
higher  price  than  it  would  be  now),  a>td  which 
has  retrrrued  rno,  iii  her  progeny,  nearly  $2,000 
cash,  and  more  than  tliat  amount  in  the  value  of 
arrimais  still  on  hand,  tlrcsc  increasing  year  by 
year,  and  givutg  a  value  to  the  herd  that  reduces 
the  original  investment  to  insignificance.  One 
may  buy  ten  cows  of  gorul  quality  and  goodjLnii- 
groc  for  $2,500,  hut  the  same  money  judicumfty 
irrvested  m  one  bull  and  two  cows,  would  probably 
bring  a  larger  profit  in  the  end. 
- - - - 
“WEEDING  OUT”  IN  JERSEY  STOCK. 
Thk  Jerseys  are  so  exciu.sively  grown  for  milk 
and  butter  that  their  valiro  depouds  almost  wholly 
on  Uioir  excellence  iu  these  characterisUcs.  Kizo, 
fattening  quaUties  ai.d,  within  certain  Umitatious, 
liealUi  and  vigor  arc  each  subordinate  to  the  milk 
and  butter  making  tendency.  Fortunately  the 
character  of  tlie  escutcheon  as  described  by 
Guenon  affords  a  fair  test  of  the  potential  value 
of  au  animal  for  milk  iu  advance  of  practical 
UiSts.  Judging  by  this  the  brecsler  is  able  to  save 
calves,  both  male  and  female,  for  their  value  as 
breeders  fur  milk  and  in  this  way  coutimre  and 
incr'easo  the  distinctive  valuo  of  the  breed.  Mr. 
John  R.  Poyntzof  Maysvillc,  Ky.,  lias  acted  upon 
this  principle  for  years  in  breeding  Jersey  stock 
and  wo  quote  from  tbo  Ky.  Live  Stock  Recoi'd 
bis  remai'ks  on  the  theory  and  objects  of  weeding 
out  objectionable  animals.  Hu  says: 
llie  true  principles  of  breeding  necessitate 
pruning  the  herd,  therefore  all  female  animals 
are  emlowed  with  a  time  of  heat,  which  faculty 
atti'aots  the  males  of  their  kind,  and  inaugurates 
nature's  requisites  to  tlie  perjictuation  without 
deterioration.  Of  wild  auimuls  the  process  of 
priiiihig  the  herd  is  successfully  accomplished  by 
the  fighting  of  the  males  imto  death  or  banish¬ 
ment  from  the  herd,  leaving  the  must  vigorous 
males  to  propagate  their  kind ;  the  buffalo,  elk 
aud  deer,  are  instaiicej,  showing  no  dcUn  ioratiun 
either  iu  form  or  vigor,  and  fairly  represent 
nature’s  standard,  which  is  perfection,  matured 
by  the  true  principles  of  breeding  in  hue,  and 
concentration  of  blood  to  that  extent  necessary 
to  perjvetuate  merit. 
Man,  iu  adapting  animals  to  his  use  for  sjKtcific 
purposes,  has  not  adhered  to  nature’s  teachings 
in  the  process ;  hence  the  limited  number  pro¬ 
duced  that  are  renowned  iu  tlieir  sphere.  This 
may  result  from  tlie  “  gendering  of  diverse 
kinds  "  being  engaged  in  breodiiig  cattle  for  rich 
milk  and  butter  making.  Where  merit  in  tliese 
particulars  gives  value  aud  distinction  to  thorn,  I 
soon  learned  by  practice  that  a  standai'd  of  merit 
was  necessary  to  regulate  my  business.  I  was  for¬ 
tunate  in  selecting  “  Guenon’s  Tieatise  on  the 
Milch  Cow,"  have  ndliered  to  the  markings  dis¬ 
covered  aud  interpreu'd  by  him  (of  my  selection), 
to  determhie  the  question  of  life  or  death  of  the 
FES. 
calves,  both  nxale  and  female,  of  the  herd  at  the 
age  of  eight  weeks.  If  they  do  not  have  the  marks 
indicative  of  merit  up  to  our  standard  of  his 
classification,  they  are  deemed  Ul-brcd,  and 
placed  with  the  butcher  for  veal.  In  tbis  maimer 
the  prunning  process  is  successfully  acoompHsh- 
ed,  and  prevents  Uie  historic  reputation  of  the 
Alderney  and  Jersey  cattle  as  butter  makers  be¬ 
ing  tarnished  In  our  herd  by  the  worthless  of 
their  race,  purity  and  blood  being  no  guaranty 
^  of  the  merit  of  the  highest  order  in  butter  mak- 
(iljf  Houltvi)  Dari). 
DOES  IT  PAY  TO  KEEP  POULTRY  1 
AraiK  ten  years’  experience  I  unliesitatingly 
say  Yes,  with  proper  care  and  management. 
Many  iveople  think  there  is  no  profit  in  keeping 
them.  If  wo  investigate  closely  the  fact  will 
probably  appear  that  these  unprofitable  lions 
have  to  roost  in  trees,  under  sheds,  on  the  wagon, 
upon  the  fanning  mill,  or  anj-where  else  where 
they  can  find  rest  for  their  weary  fwU  They 
have  probably  had  t”  scratch  all  day  with  might 
and  main  for  «  few  scattered  grains  or  a  scant 
supply  of  worms,  and  have  had  to  run  (he  gaunt¬ 
let  of  boys  aud  dogs  besides. 
Raid  a  farmer  to  me,  “  I  kcej)  fifty  hens  and 
have  to  buy  oggs,  aud  I  am  fully  satisfied  that  it 
does  not  pay.”  1  asked,  “How  much  giain  do 
you  feed  them?"  “Oh,”  ho  says,  “they  have 
the  run  of  tlie  barns  and  help  themselves.  I  do 
not  know  how  mucJi  tliey  eat,  but  it  is  more  than 
they  arc  worth." 
“  ^^^lcre  do  they  roost  was  the  next  inquiry. 
“  O,  anywhere  that  they  can  be  most  iu  tlic  way. " 
“Can  they  get  drink  this  winter  weather?” 
“Yes,  they  can  eat  snow.” 
It  would  not  have  been  polite  to  have  called 
this  man  a  simpleton,  but  I  felt  like  ifoiiig  so. 
Why  he  had  to  buy  eggs  was  apparent  enough. 
Hens  arc  often  blamed  for  scratching,  but  well 
fed  hens  are  not  so  very  troublesome  in  this  re¬ 
spect.  They  do  much  good  by  destroying  bugs, 
worms,  aud  the  like.  Much  is  said  and  written 
about  sparing  the  robins,  but  I  would  sooner 
liave  100  hens  than  1,000  robins  for  the  ptu-pose 
of  destroying  insects,  and  are  qiiite  sure  they 
n't!!  make  less  havoc  among  the  fruit  and  berries. 
Besides,  hens  can  be  kept  shut  up  while  the  rob¬ 
ins  camiot.  There  is  nothing  better  to  destroy 
squash  bugs  than  a  hen  with  a  brood  of  cliickens 
cooped  near. 
Visiting  a  sU’awberry  grower  once  I  found  him 
with  several  boys  busily  engaged  digging  after 
the  “grub."  He  complained  that  his  plantation 
was  half  ruined  by  them.  After  sj'mpathizing 
with  him  for  awhile,  I  remarked  that  no  hens  aji- 
peared  about  his  bara,  which  stood  within  a 
few  rods.  “No,"  he  replied,  “ I  will  not  keep 
any ;  they  are  a  pei  fect  nuisance.  We  had  a  few 
once  and  they  scratched  up  everything."  My 
reply  •was,  that  “  If  Uiey  had  dug  over  as  much 
ground  as  you  aud  your  boys  have,  probably  j'our 
wi'ath  would  have  been  great.” 
“Whj',’’Baid  be,  ill  great  surprise,  “we  are 
digging  out  the  gmbs  that  are  destroying  my 
strawberries." 
“  And  so  were  your  heus."  I  repUed,  “  and  had 
you  let  tliem  nm  on  here,  they  would  probably 
have  destroyed  the  May  beetle  and  then  you 
would  have  had  no  trouble  with  this  grub  ■,  the 
hens  would  have  saved  your  crop  as  well  as  this 
immense  amount  of  work." 
Poultry  gives  a  home  look  to  one’s  premises. 
Lack  of  them  has  a  chilling  effect.  Very  much 
hke  findiug  a  house  with  no  children  in  it ;  a 
front  j'ard  with  never  a  slirub  or  flower  in  sight, 
or  a  church  service  with  the  singing  left  out,  not 
pleasant  by  any  moans. 
Poultry  to  a  wise  man  is  useful,  ornamental 
and  profitable,  and  any  one  who  does  not  see  it 
in  this  light  is  depiived  of  a  great  source  of  hap- 
piiiesB  as  well  as  profit.  Of  course  it  will  l>c  at 
times  necessary  to  shut  up  the  hens,  but  a  greater 
part  of  tlie  time  they  can  have  the  run  of  the 
Iiremises.  I  generally  shut  up  ray  fruit  iu  pref¬ 
erence  to  shutting  up  the  hens,  and  find  it  the 
most  profitable.  N.  Ritter. 
- - 
FACTS  IN  TURKEY  BREEDING. 
The  American  Agricultmist  has  these  com¬ 
ments  and  quotations  on  turkey  breeding  and 
raising ; 
There  is  nothing  like  facts  to  confirm  a  theorj'. 
If  it  were  really  behoved  that  good  selection  and 
good  feed  would  increase  the  average  size  of  tur¬ 
keys  a  third,  it  would  not  be  difficult  to  get  inUd- 
ligcnt  farmers  to  pay  attention  to  those  points. 
We  find  a  very  important  item  in  a  lixal  journal 
from  North  Stoningtmi,  Gt.,  which  confirms  this 
view.  Tills  town  is  on  the  Isirders  of  Rhode  Is¬ 
land,  and  represents  the  district  where  the  Nar- 
ragausett  turkeys  are  priiicipuUy  raised,  Iftiowu 
in  the  market  as  Rliodo  Island  turkeys.  The 
ivriter  says ;  “  Probably  more  than  fiftj’  thousand 
jKiunds  of  poultry  were  sent  from  this  vichiity 
for  the  Thanksgiving  market  in  Boston  last  sea¬ 
son,  at  23  cents  per  ismnd.  The  quality  sent 
this  yeiu'  is  bidter  than  that  of  last  year,  some 
lots  Ilf  turkeys  averaging  nearly  twelve  isiunda, 
and  one  monstrous  old  fellow  bore  down  thirty- 
six  aud  a  quarter.  Tlie  size  of  turkeys  raised 
hereabouts  has  iuerfAstnl  Hteudil)  foi  twentj'-five 
or  thirty  years,  owing  to  attention  to  propaga- 
gation.  Tlio  time  was  when  the  average  at 
'i'haiiksgiving  did  not  exceed  eight  pounds,  and 
brought  only  as  mauy  cents  per  pound ;  whereas 
the  weight  has  beon  iuwasud  fifty  js-r  cent,  aud 
the  price  two  hiuidrcd  jier  cent." 
From  Stoniiigton,  the  town  innnediately  south, 
a  still  larger  quantity  was  sent,  and  the  quality 
was  a  grade  heavier.  Kaid  an  old  farmer  who 
bought  a  large  bronze  gobbler  of  premium  stock 
last  season:  “I  must  have  some  more  of  that 
stock,  for  1  have  the  lieavicst  turkeys  iu  the 
neighborhood."  Gooil  feed,  esis-dally  during 
the  first  fall  and  winter,  is  almost  us  important 
as  goisl  stock.  A  farmer  feeds  a  bushel  of  coni 
a  (lay  fo  a  huuih'ed  turkeys  iu  November,  at  the 
cost  of  a  doUar,  and  it  looks  a  little  exti  avagant. 
But  it  is  less  than  the  tliird  of  a  quart,  and  the 
cost  of  a  c(mt  a  day  for  each  bu  d.  We  once  ti  led 
the  experiment  of  feeding  some  sooond-litter  tur¬ 
keys  through  the  winter,  aud  found  the  hens 
gained  alxmt  two  pounds  a  moiitli  and  the  gob¬ 
blers  three.  The  feed  was  jiriiicipally  boiled 
potatoes,  and  meal  and  corn.  At  this  rate,  the 
gain  iu  fiesli,  at  tweutj’-five  cents  a  pound,  would 
be  worth  seventj'-five  ccuts  a  mouth  for  each 
gobbler,  and  fifty  cents  for  cacli  hen.  If  thirty 
eeuts’  worth  of  feed  will  make  this  gain,  it  can¬ 
not  l>e  very  bail  buxiness  to  feed  turkeys  liberally 
through  the  wiutoi'.  By  all  means  have  large, 
well-fed  stock  to  breed  from  in  Hie  spring,  and 
the  time  to  make  them  is  now. 
POULTRY  NOTES. 
Warm  Food  for  Hens  m  Winter. — “  A  Boy” 
asks  how  he  may  give  warm  food  so  as  to  get 
nianj’  eggs  iu  winter.  A  warm  place  is  necessary 
before  the  warm  food  will  be  of  mueh  use.  Dry 
food  is,  probably,  the  best  for  all  animals  exposed 
to  the  weather.  If  you  liave  a  warm  place,  then 
you  may  Ueat  yoxur  pullets  to  warm  hxxi,  such  as 
waim  com  pudding  cooked  with  a  little  oil-meal, 
milk,  etc.  Feed  once  a  day  with  dry  food,  such 
as  corn,  wheat,  oats,  barley,  rye— but  wheat  is 
la-st.  Give  warm  foinl  twice  jxn'  day  and  let  there 
be  a  variety.  You  should  also  keep  a  trough  with 
flue  raw  bone  and  bine  in  it,  all  the  time,  for  the 
heus  to  oat  when  they  choose,  and  they  will  pick 
at  it  many  times  a  day.  The  Avariu  place  and 
warm  food  will  give  you  eggs  in  plenty  aud  money 
iu  your  pocket,  for  eggs  bring  the  liighest  price 
iu  winter. — Bnjfalo  Live  Block  Journal. 
Hens  in  Close  (Quarters.— Vow  correspondent 
(C.  A.  Rxjssell)  I  think  could  not  Lave  hved 
through  the  hen  mania  of  25  years  ago,  or  he 
would  go  cautiously  into  the  business  of  keeping 
five  acres  of  hens.  'Ih-j'  the  coufiniug  of  hens  on 
a  smaUcr  scale  and  see  how  their  imprisonment 
will  pay  on  four  acre’s  with  half  the  number  he  in¬ 
tends  for  the  eight  aiTOS,  as  I  tliink  the  experi¬ 
ment  will  be  a  failure.  One-half  the  expense 
will  do  to  try  it.— w. 
Sick  Mocking  Bird.— A  lady  friend  asks  what 
she  should  do  with  her  mocking  bird,  which  is 
sick  and  does  not  sing  a  note.  Possibly  moulting 
is  the  trouble,  in  which  case  the  bird  will  recover 
of  itself.  Give  it  some  red  pepper  as  food,  and 
dust  sulphur  on  its  back  and  neck  for  lice. 
