MN. g 
The annual cheese product of the United 
States now averages a little under 300,000,000 
pounds, of which we export nearly 100,000,000 
pounds. 
MARKETING. 
He regarded the system of marketing through 
Dairy Boards of Trade as of great advantage, and 
he gave a history of their inauguration and pro¬ 
gress. At the interior markets competition often 
runs high, and merchants sometimes complain 
that margins are narrow and money not so easily 
made as when the goods were bought at the fac¬ 
tory on city quotations. Be this as it may, the 
dairymen now have a sort of commercial educa¬ 
tion. They study the markets, home and for¬ 
eign, and they-judge when it is best to realize 
on their goods. 
SHRINKAGE IN VALUES FOR 1876. 
The shrinkage in values on nearly all kinds of 
property during 1S7G has been very considera¬ 
ble. Real estate has depreciated from 25 to 30 
per cent., and in some localities fully 60 per 
cent. The fall in cotton goods and some other 
manufactures has been very great. The values 
of nearly all our agricultural products are below 
the range of 1874, and it is not surprising, under 
the pressnre of the times, that dairy goods 
should rule comparatively low. But even under 
the darkest phase of the times the outlook of 
dairying is by no means discouraging. Indcod, 
there is no <flasa of farmers bettor off to-day 
than the dairymen. They have sold their goods, 
from month to month and from week to week, 
for cash, and their goods have, without pushing, 
found a ready market, while other products have 
been dull and slow of sale, even at greatly re¬ 
duced rates. 
The European demand has been fully equal to 
our surplus, and exports keep values upon a gold 
basis. It is true prices have been low, but not 
nearly so low as they were years ago, when 
dairymen found it not difficult to amass fortunes 
in the business. 
The one hopeful Bign for our increased pro¬ 
duction is that English production is decreasing, 
while the increase of population in our towns 
and cities calls more and more for additional 
supplies of fresh milk and an increased qnantlty 
of butter and cheese for homo consumption. 
That we are not over-producing is proved by the 
free disposal of the entire product of the dairy 
from year to year. Very likely, if the make 
were less, prices would advance ; but tho values 
realized on account of scarcity press heavily 
upon tho masses, who, for the most part, find it 
hard to make the ends meet from year to year. 
It is better that the people should have cheap 
food with moderate gains to the producer than 
that they should suffi-r for want of food that tho 
producer may grow suddenly rich. Many dairy¬ 
men, of late years, have neglected tho economies 
of dairying, aud it is the waste and extrava¬ 
gance that pinch harder than the low prices, 
lie who can cut off waste aud be content with 
moderate gains will see a silver lining to the 
cloud—if, indeed, there bo a cloud—that dims 
the far distant dairy horizon. 
The merchants of the (lain’, both at homo and 
abroad, are men who do honor to trade, and 
among them may be found those who would 
sooner lop off an arm than stoop to a mean ac¬ 
tion. The commercial integrity of the Dairy 
stands unsullied and unimpaired, aud this is an 
element which helps to place American dairying 
upon a substantial footing. 
POULTRY AT THE FARM. 
A few days since a farmer paid me a compli¬ 
ment in telling me that he had read all my letters 
to the Rubai,, but he added that he did not agree 
with me in all I wrote. 
“Perhaps,"I said. “ 1 have been a little se¬ 
vere in Buying that at most farms the fowls are 
Badly neglected. Is that it ?” 
“ No," he replied, slowly, “ it ain’t that ex- 
ac’ly. I know that's tho fault at a good many of 
these 'ere farms; it was somethiu’ else that I 
thought you was wrong in. 1 acknowledge, 
though, you was kind o’ hard on us farmers too." 
“ Well," I said, laughing pleasantly, *' it was 
intended in good part, and you must remember I 
was finding fault with tire system and not ex¬ 
actly with the fanner. Bnt what is the ‘ some¬ 
thing else’ in which I was wrong 
“ Well, sir, I II tell you. You say that farmers 
—many on ’em—neglect their chickens. All 
right. But now I think sir. that you go awav off 
to the other end of the line, in wanting us to go 
into fancy fixin’s. You'll excuse me, if you 
please, if I speak too free, hut as old Nixon, 
down below the meadows said, when he was 
reading the Rural last week, • Why, 1 says Nixon, 
* this ’ere feller wants us to take care of onr fowlB 
like as though they was young ladies and gentle¬ 
men. In the next number I expec' he’ll be tell¬ 
ing us to put the hens into pantalettes and buy 
overshoes for the cock3 and give ’em all a little 
soothin’ sirup if they is wakeful, and put them 
to bed in night-gowns these cool nights!’ Now, 
sir. old Nixon, he speaks purty free and careless 
like, and I hope it don't offend you. Old Nixon 
puts it kinder strong, bnt yet don’t you think 
there’s jea’ n leetle grain o" truth in what he says 
—not that I agree with Nixon about the panta¬ 
lettes or the overshoes, sir—but (.bnt you think 
you want us to go a little too heavy into fancy 
fixin's?” 
This honest, brusque criticism was given with 
a vim aud energy that showed that tho speaker 
was in thorough earnest. As ho spoke, each 
sentence was emphasized with a gesticulation of 
the hand and a nod of tho head, and as he finish¬ 
ed speaking, he rapped the table with his open 
palm and looked triumphantly over his specta¬ 
cles at me with au air that said, as plainly as 
could words, “Now, sir, own up, and tell me 
you haven’t got a word to say, and I’ll let you 
down easy.” 
But I didn’t “own up,” and I had several 
“ words to say.” 
“Nixon's idea of the pantalettes,” I replied 
slowly, “ is good, but not practicable; and as for 
the overshoe scheme, it would bo too expensive 
to pay." 
My host looked at me curiously for a moment 
and then seeing that I was laughing at him, ho 
burst out with, “Of course that was a joke of 
Nixon’s.” 
“ Certainly; and I am joking too, ovor Nix 
on’s joke. But to speak seriously of it; you and 
Nixon have come to tho conclusion that 1, upon 
finding that you honest, hard-fisted old farmers 
who care for your horses and cows and sheep 
more tenderly than you care for yourselves will, 
in the most hard-hearted way imaginable, neg¬ 
lect your poultry. And you and Nixon, on read¬ 
ing the Rural, have come to tho conclusion that 
I thereupon go to tho other extreme and want 
you to give too much care to tho poullry-yard. 
nave I got you and Nixon down to a lino point ?" 
“ Well, sir, that’B about it," says my friend. 
“Then lot mo explain myself to you both. In 
writing letters on ‘ thoroughbred fowls,' I have 
not intended to advance the theory that all farm¬ 
ers should possess ‘ thoroughbreds’ only. This 
would involve an outlay of time and money that 
could only he afforded by a professional poultry- 
man, and would at onco necessitate the farmer’s 
becoming a scientific poultry breeder aud keeper, 
to the neglect of general fanning interests. But 
I do strongly advocate, that when poultry are 
kept at the farm, sumo system of feeding and 
housing should ho inaugurated, and that if it is 
worth doing at all, it is worth doing well. I do 
not advocate it as a golden rule, that wired runs, 
expensive houses and ‘ fancy fix in's’ should bo 
adopted at tho farm; but I do strongly urge, on 
behalf of tho speechless creature*, that proper 
food, iu quantity and quality, aud sufficient hous¬ 
ing in wintry weather are their due. Cleanliness 
in their roosting-placo and good, plain food, are 
what I ask for them, and I am sure my demand 
is not extortionate. And the farmer should re¬ 
member, when ho doleB out a gonerous supply 
of grain, that it is money iu his pocket from tho 
increased return of eggs and meat. 
“Expensive houaing is not necessary at tho 
farm, and I do not ask it. I would gladly give 
all the wired yardB and ingenious and expensive 
arrangements that are in my poultry yards to¬ 
day, for a few acres’ run such as any farmer’s 
poultry can enjoy. With me it is a ‘hobby,’ 
and a new style of yard or house or roost or 
nest, is an experiment that is a pleasure, but no 
special comfort to my fowls, and I do not ask or 
expect that farmers will follow my lead and at¬ 
tempt a ' model poultry yard.’ There is a happy 
medium I would wish to gee them adopt. Let 
us look at the two extremes. One is the ideal 
house, with all the necessary arrangements for 
breeding separate strains, roaring and preparing 
them for -exhibition. Such a house would be to 
the average farmer useless. Tho other extreme 
is such as I mentioned in a former letter—‘ How 
to make domestic poultry miserable.’ Why not 
adopt a happy medium, and give tho fowls some 
clean, warm shed or outbuilding, with a few 
comfortable perches and good nests—nothing 
expensive, but something that should embrace 
cleanliness and uoarmlh. 
“ Now let us look at the * stock’ and strike a 
happy medium in that, as well. I do not urge 
the farmer to become a breeder of ‘ exhibition 
poultrybut I do hold that it is vastly to his 
interest to breed with some f undamental rule in 
view, and if ho breeds only ' barn-door fowl,’ he 
should aim to follow’ the rule that guides him in 
the breeding of all other stock on the farm— 
their improvement iu whatever good quality they 
possess. If be is breeding for eggs or meat, let 
him mako a selection of stock with a view to one 
or the other, and breed with the one object and 
not endeavor to produce a hen that shall be a 
gigantic table fowl and alBO a persistent layer 
and non-sitter. He should in this, as well, strike 
a happy medium, and breed for either eggs or 
meat, if he does not wish to be disappointed in 
both.” 
“You wish us to breed nothing but thorough- 
1 breds,” says my friend. 
Once more let me ask him to Btrike a happy 
medium. I assure him that merely the yearly 
introduction of a good cock of strange blood but 
of the same variety, and the occasional addition 
of a well-bred hen, will confirm the good points 
already developed in the (lock and increase tho 
yard’s production. 
So I beg to explain my beliefs in this matter. 
Whiio I would wish to see only the best about 
the farm-yard, I know that'it is almost impracti¬ 
cable with the American farmer of to-day, and 
therefore I only urge “ a happy medium’’—tho 
gradual improvement of the stock , which, in a 
few years' breeding, will he his pride, and an ex¬ 
emplification of what selection, kind care and 
attention can do for “Poultry at the Farm.” 
Thomas W. White. 
Ridgewood, Bergen Co., N. J., Dec. 1C, 1870. 
Jfatm (Btoitmnii. 
FEEDING STRAW TO HORSES AND COWS. 
“ Americo-Germo ” says that he Baves $15 per 
ton, by feeding his horses on sedge, with 100 
pounds of linseed meal, at a cost of $12; and 
also by feeding his cows straw, with the same 
quantity of linseed meal per ton that is, ho 
saves this money by not feeding good liay with 
no linseed meal. 
Let us look into this subject a little and see if 
farmers can really make money by following his 
system of feeding. What is the cash cost of a 
ton of “rod top, timothy, or clover hay " to tho 
farmer who grows it—an average cost in the en¬ 
tire Northern and Middle States ? The selling 
prices, during tho last ten years, for these kinds 
of hay have averaged, in the rural districts, about 
$15 per ton for red top and timothy, aud $12 
for clover. But farmers, in estimating the ex¬ 
pense of feeding liay to stock, should rato it at 
what it is worth in their barns—not what it will 
sell for ten or twenty miles uway; aud, conse¬ 
quently, tho cost or value of every ton of good 
hay fed out will not average, throughout the 
Northern and Middle States, ovor about twelve 
dollars per ton. 
Now, what is the average value of a ton of 
good rye or wheat straw iu bundles ? Not much 
loss than that of good hay. It is worth in some 
places $20 per ton, for making paper; and $12 
or $15 per ton in all cities or largo towns, at the 
livery stables. Thcu comes up the fact that 
straw which was perfectly dry when the grain 
was'eut contains no nutriment, and, of itself, has 
no nioro valuo as food than a sawdust pudding 
has when served up for a man’s dinner; and I 
contend that there would he quite as much wis- 
dom in saying that tho expense of feeding a 
family can he greatly reduced by making a pud¬ 
ding, daily, composed of sawdust aH a basis, with 
eggs, mill:, and sugar, as to claim that a farmer 
can save money by feeding his stock straw, with 
an addition of something to render it eatable. 
Sometimes oats are cut in a somewhat green 
Btate, and the straw in such cases Is good to feed 
to young stock aB a part of their food; but the 
bleached and sunburnt rye and wheat straw, as 
usually found in farmers’ barns, is of no valuo 
as food for cattle. What would bo the benefit of 
paying $12 for 400 pounds of linseed meal to 
feed with a ton of straw, worth fully as much as 
tho meal, making $24, when a ton of good hay, 
costing only $12. would, even according to 
“ AmeriooGkrmo’8,” admission, be equally nu¬ 
tritious, and, as I claim, a good deal more so. 
I do not discuss the question iu regard to feed¬ 
ing “ sedge," as that article exiota in but few 
places in comparison with other grasses. 
Linden, N. J. T. B. Miner. 
-- 
OREGON FLOUR AND OIL MILLS. 
Tite industrial progress of the States of Cali¬ 
fornia and Oregon is a marvel to tho rest of 
tho world, and items like the following, from tho 
Pacific Rural Press, are but brief glimpses of 
what is being done where a few years ago the 
hunter and trapper, with their Indian associates, 
represented ail there was of anything which 
could bo called industry: 
The Magnolia flouring mills at Albany are in a 
prosperous condition, and are a great conveni¬ 
ence to the good folk of Albany. Tho mill is 
50x80 on the ground, but they require the use 
of a large warehouse, 40x80, of the capacity of 
125,000 bushels. The grain is brought to this 
mill from a distance of 20 miles. There are 15 
hands employed, and the mills turn out 1,500 
bushels a day. Tho Calapoye and Santa Anna 
supply the water to two turbiue wheels, one a 
48-inch and the other a ^G-inch, together equal 
to 100-horse power. This mill w’as put up in 
1851, at a cost of $45,000. The names of the 
first owners were Hale, Driggs, Crawford, Mon- 
tieth and Althouse. 
There is yet another fine mill here called the 
Albany City mill. It is 40x120 on the ground, 
and three stories high. There are three run of 
burr stones. The capacity of this mill is 200 
barrels in 24 hours. 
There is a splendid flour mill iu Salem, 140xG0 
on the ground. This is one of the finest, and 
built in the most substantial manner. They 
have nine run of French burr stones. In 24 
hours they turn out 550 barrels. Two Leffoll 
turbines, equal to 180-borso power, run tho 
works. Thirty hands are employed. Eighty 
thousand dollars were expended in building this 
mill. It belongs to tho Salem Flour Mills Co., 
of which A. W. Kinney is President and VT. 8. 
Kinney Secretary. 
The Pioneer Oil Co. has Joseph Coleman for 
President and Geo. P. Holman for agent. They 
make a strictly pure article of linseed oil, oil 
cake and meal. They contract with the farmers 
of Oregon and Washington Territory for furn¬ 
ishing the seed, which they cultivate and deliv¬ 
er to the mill. Last year the amount, raised was 
100,000 bushels. The flax straw is made into 
green tow and is used by upholsterers. Tho 
works arc located at Salem. 
- - - - ■ ■ 
Old Ink Rollers.— It is probably not gener¬ 
ally known tliat ink rollers, used in all news¬ 
paper and book establishments, are composed of 
glue and molasses, and as a matter of course 
thero are hundreds of tous of this material 
thrown away at tho manufactories of these 
articles, as the old composition cannot readily 
bo madu available for recasting. Now, this glue 
and molasses is a most excellent fertilizer, and 
we have used it for composting with muck, pro¬ 
ducing most excellent results. 
WINTER CARE OF SHEEP. 
It scarcely seems possible that there should be 
a question about tho benefits of affording sheep 
shelter iu winter, even in any part of tho country 
where cold rams and frosts occur. Still there 
are flock owners who excuse themselves for not 
providing shelter by declaring that their sheep 
do better without it. If their sheep arc com¬ 
pelled to wade through tho snow and mud, 
getting their wool matted together and their 
feet sore through being constantly wet and half 
frozen, we are informed that this is a “ harden¬ 
ing process,” which will make them a tougher 
breed. 
It is certainly something to marvel at, that 
sheep live at all under sueli treatment, uiul wo 
are rather surprised that so many live, than 
that so few die. If it had ever been proved 
that sheep COUid be kept on much less food if 
given warmer quarters than when fully exposed 
to tho weather, then thero would only bo tho 
cruelty part of the question to he discussed, but 
the testimony of our most scientific and experi¬ 
enced shepherds is all in favor of shelter, not 
only for its economy iu saving food, but the pre¬ 
vention of serious aud often fatal diseases. If 
an animal is compelled to stand shivering in tho 
snow, mud, or cold rain nil day, it cannot be 
laying on fat very rapidly to say tho least, still 
thousands of onr farmers, and especially the 
herdsmen on the Western prairies, are very loth 
to spend either time or money in constructing 
anything which will afford shelter to their 
animals, beyond perhaps stables for a few 
horses required for work. 
In a few instances where we have protested in 
person against this cruelty to animals, we have 
generally met with the old and stale argument 
that the animals were better off for not being 
pampered, aud coddled up in warm Bheds and 
stables. Of course it is of little use to talk to 
such men clr try to make them look on tho 
humane side of the question, for they have but 
one object in view’, and that is the greatest 
profit out of the least, possible expense and 
trouble. It iB for this reason that onr sympa¬ 
thies are never aroused in behalf of those who 
lose their flocks or herds through negligence in 
providing food or shelter in winter. But we do 
feel sorry for the poor animals, which have had 
to suffer when thero is no reasonable excuse to 
be offered on the part of llioir masters in exten¬ 
uation of what should bo considered a heinonB 
crime in all civilized communities and punished 
accordingly. 
A brush fence, a sod wall, aud a few stacks of 
straw, bag or prairie hay, would frequently be 
the moans of saving great suffering among 
Rheep if not their Hvoh in winter, and still even 
tills much is not provided in many Western 
localities where sheep-breeding is carried on 
upon an extensive scale, consequently it is not 
strange that we frequently hear of great suff er¬ 
ing and loss of life among Hocks and herds, 
from “ unprecedented ” severe storms. That 
these imprecedented severe storms havo occurred, 
thereforo are likely to occur again, should bo 
sufficient to prompt owners of flocks aud herds 
to mako preparations for them in the future, 
bnt the old story of the man who never patched 
the roof of his bonse for the reason that when 
it rained he couldn’t, and when it did'nt rain 
there was no need of it, is applicable to many a 
farmer and shepherd. 
£ 
