JUNE f® 
THE 
NEW-YORKER. 
can greatly change all this. If a large portion 
of area is put under cultivation for crops, it 
will absorb the spring rains and invite the sum* 
mer showerB. This year, in May, I laid out 
several thousand feet of tila drains. Part of it 
was in spring-plowed land, part in growing 
wheat and part in spring grass land. Jn the 
first, both soil and subBoil were thoroughly 
moist, even after four weeks of drought. In the 
second the soil was partly dried by the growth of 
the wheat, but the subsoil was thoroughly damp. 
But in the third (the grass ground) both soil 
and subsoil seemed as dry as dust to a depth of 
three feet. “Seeing is believing," and I have 
often seen the Bame thing before in drain¬ 
ing. There was truth in the sarcastic remark 
of the grain-raising, Stark-County Dutchman 
to the long-faced, dronght-bemoaning, West¬ 
ern-Reserve dairyman. He said: “You shoost 
raise blenty of wheat and Oder grain, and you 
get6 blenty rains in harfest. Shoost try him 
once!" 
Proper cultivation of the soil in our dairy 
regions and the devotion of a considerable 
part of our area to grain and vegetable raising, 
are, it 6eems to me, our remedy for drought. 
It may, yes, will, necessitate the tile-drainage 
of much of our clay soil; but bo much the 
better. Not only will concerted cultivation 
be our remedy, but individual cultivation, as I 
showed in my last, will prevent the disastrous 
effects of drought when it occurs; and this 
fact will, in time, lead to general cultivation. 
If the latter does not entirely prevent the oc¬ 
currence of droughts, it will prevent their 
crippling our industry for the summer and 
bringing financial distress. Wheat and corn 
can Btand drought. Exclusive dairying is a 
mistake, I think, in this region. Indeed, ex¬ 
clusive pasturage belongs to a rude, uncivil¬ 
ized age, or to rough, hilly, non-arable regions, 
and the sooner we find it out, the better. We 
are already learning it. My own farm will 
harvest more wneat this year than some whole 
townships did five years ago. And I find that 
the more I plow, within reasonable limits, the 
more cows I cifn keep, and vioe versa. The 
straw increases the manure pile, and the latter 
increases next year’s wheat and straw, and the 
sale o f wheat and the buying of shorts increase 
boin the ready cash and the richness of the 
manure. On drained clay soil, dairying and 
grain-raising go admirably hand in hand. I 
shall preach and practice this doctrine till I 
see good reason to believe it false. And when 
all my neighbors practice it, as many already 
do, I believe onr droughts will be diminished 
in frequency and severity, and their effects be 
far less disastrous when they occur. 
Jarra (fctoiumj. 
THE TRUTH ABOUT IT. 
[The object of articles under this heading is not bo 
much to deal with “ humbugs" as with the many un¬ 
conscious errors that creep into the methods of daily 
country routine life.— Eds.] 
ENSILAGE OF GREEN FODDER. 
HENRY STEWART. 
Ensilage is having a “ boom," with other 
things more or lesB important. The boom has 
evidently for its purpose the making of money, 
for there is talk about patenting some of the 
proposed devices for making it more effective, 
or at least this result is claimed for the said de¬ 
vices. Moreover, one may know all about it 
by buying “my little book," and the corn for 
producing the fodder may be had of the author 
of the Baid book for 60 cents a pound. “There’s 
money in it," doubtless, if a sufficient number 
of persons cau be induced to bay the book and 
plant the corn; not to say anytblhg about 
making patent silos to put the corn in. The 
truth about this matter is simply this: ensil¬ 
age has been practiced for many years, and in 
the simple manner in which the fodder has 
been preserved it has been a profitable prac¬ 
tice. But with the costly modern appliances 
with which the practice is now encumbered, it 
is questionaDle if it can be made to serve the 
purpose of a farmer, or can be of any use ex¬ 
cepting as one of the modern improvements 
adapted to the fancy farming of lawyers and 
other professional business men, who find in 
such pursuits agreeable relaxation from busi¬ 
ness cares and au easy way of disposing of 
their surplus funds. 
Stripped of all nonsense of masonry silos, 
which cost more than a good barn, and of use¬ 
less refinements, the practice is nothing more 
than an old-fashioned method of preserving 
green fodder, pressed compactly in air-tight 
pits or trenches dug in the ground and covered 
with earth. In fact, the pit itself is only a 
matter of convenience; the fodder could be as 
well preserved iu the same manner in which 
potatoes or roots are pitted, if only it is effec¬ 
tually kept from contact with air. Notwith¬ 
standing all the fuss about the so-called new 
method, theie are farmers within 50 miles of 
New York who have been practicing ensilage 
for several years. The old-fash)ODed plan of 
pitting apple pomace or of keeping it tightly 
pressed down in barrels or boxes is but an¬ 
other plan of ensilage in all essential points. 
Originally the silo was a trench dug in the 
ground three or four feet deep, six or eight 
feet wide, and as long as might be needed, and 
in this corn fodder, as it is brought from the 
field; green, newly-cut clover or lucern ; or 
dangerous necessity of introducing new blood ; 
for these two strains can be crossed and bred 
together, if judiciously done, to almost an un¬ 
limited extent. These two bulls are given the 
larger yards, G. G.and if the fences are solid— 
as they certainly should be—there will be no ill- 
feeling between the bulls. When the fence is 
built, be sure and put the stringers on the in¬ 
side of the posts. The boards are put on n»- 
PLAN OF STABLE FOR BOLLS.—FjG. BIO. 
beet-pulp or leaves were packed and pressed 
down as compactly as possible. A small quan¬ 
tity of salt was scattered in the mass as 
It was packed, and when the trench was 
filled, the fodder was heaped np three or four 
feet high above the surface s this wrb covered 
with straw and then with earth a foot or two 
in depth, beaten down very solidly. In a short 
time, as might be expected, the green, succu 
lent fodder would heat and ferment to some 
extent and until the oxygen in the mass was ex¬ 
hausted, when the change was arrested, and if 
the covering was kept close and tight to ex¬ 
clude air, the fodder remained in that condi¬ 
tion until removed for use some months after¬ 
wards. The mass shrunk and settled down, 
pressed by the weight of the earth upon it, and 
this was beaten firmly as each subsidence 
took place, until the heap was reduced, per¬ 
haps, to the level of the surface, and the 
whole contents were inclosed in the trench. 
This is the whole of the process of ensilage 
as it has been practiced for forty years in Eu¬ 
rope. 
Recently, however, some French journal¬ 
ists and agricultural writers have doubtless 
improved the practice in some respects, by lin¬ 
ing the walls of the trench with cement or ma¬ 
sonry and covering it with a roof, and by cut¬ 
ting the fodder into chaff. The feeding value 
of the preserved fodder, however, remains the 
same. As compared with green fodder, it is 
improved to some extent by the process of fer¬ 
mentation In digestibility and nutritive value, 
but not in any greater degree by the more 
costly character of the improved 6ilos. These 
are useful, if at all, in saving labor in the work 
by their convenience and permanent stability. 
That is all. The improved process is one to 
be tested before it can be made of general use. 
as few farmers have $500 to spend on an ex¬ 
periment which may perhaps save $20 yearly. 
A STABLE FOR BULLS. 
L. S. HARDIN. 
Of the great number of practical and fancy 
breeding farms it has been my privilege to 
visit, I do not recollect ever having seen a dis¬ 
tinctive building designed and set apart for 
the special occupation of bulls. They are 
usually put in box-stalls in different buildings, 
and while the favorite breeding bull often has 
a small yard to exercise in, others that are 
only held for sale usually have to stand chained 
in one place for an indefinite period. Even 
the most complete breeding establishments 
have been designed with no thought for the 
comfort of the younger bulls in winter, out¬ 
side of the limited accommodations of a box- 
stall or a place in the stanchions. The design 
herewith submitted was originated and used 
by myself for many years on my place near 
Louisville, Kentucky, and was found to meet 
all the requirements demanded of it so com¬ 
pletely that I am tempted to submit the design 
to criticism and adoption, if thought necessary 
or advisable by those who have lelt a need for 
Buch a building. It is generally conceded, and 
often claimed as absolutely necessary to health 
and vigor, that balls should have some exer¬ 
cise, and to my way of thinking they are all 
the better for a moderate amount of exposure. 
In the stable here represented, the floors of 
their stalls were kept clean, but no bedding was 
ever given them, while they had the full run 
of the yards. These should be made as large 
as circumstances will admit of. 
Every breeding establishment should have 
two bulls to breed from, This will save the 
right, and face inward. The bull cannot then 
push any of them off, as he is apt to do if the 
boards are nailed on the outside of the posts. 
The partition between the two bull yards 
should be doubled, with broken joints, so the 
bulls cannot see each other. It is very wrong 
to have doors made to the stalls ; for the bulls 
are certain to get them loose playing with 
them, and then tear them from the hinges. 
There should be no opportunity given them to 
get into mischief. 
The water tubs, k, are stationary, partially 
sunk in the earth and supplied by pipes from 
the cistern, laid underground. The stalls are 
six feet by ten, and there is a sliding door over 
the mangers, I, I, so the feeding can be done 
from the alley-way. 
In summer these water tubs must be cleaned 
out at least twice a week, for it is astonishing 
how foul the water becomes by meal and other 
ground foods getting into the tub. The alley- 
way should be four feet wide, and the sliding 
doors over the mangers kept always closed, 
or the bulls will get to “blowing" at one 
another, which is a novel but a fearful sound. 
The roar of a lion is but little more terrifying 
to the uninitiated. 
When a number of cows happen to drop 
their calves about the same time, two at least, 
if not more, of these stalls can be utilized for 
breeding purposes, though the door openings 
should then be closed to keep the calf from 
getting swamped in the manure pits, “y.” 
These pits should not be more tiiau three feet 
deep and walled with stout boards to keep the 
banks from caving in. The upper story of this 
building may be utilized for grain or other 
purposes, or the structure may be like my own 
—but one story high. It was never my prac¬ 
tice to take the bulls out of these yards for 
service, but to turn the cows into them. If 
the bull was v’cious or unruly, a long four- 
horse whip would master and control him- 
He feared the crack and Bharp cut of it more 
than the effects of a club or other blunt instru¬ 
ment. It was never my misfortune to have 
such a bull; but 1 have seen the above plan 
piacticed on bulls that required such treat- 
men U 
A stout bar should be run parallel with the 
manger and about two feet above it to keep 
the bull from rearing up and putting hi« front 
feet in the manger, which he ib certain to do if 
not prevented. Jersey bulls are usually light, 
active and energetic, so that it is refined 
cruelty to keep them constantly tied up in a 
stall or even confined to a box-stall. At the 
same time they are far more apt to become im¬ 
potent if not allowed some exercise. If turned 
Into the pasture with the cows, you not only 
lose the date of taking the bull by many of 
cows, bat your high-toned Jersey bull is a dan¬ 
gerous customer to meet in a large pasture, 
and few purchasers with ordinary physical 
prudence can examine the cows with comfort 
while this obstreperous gentleman is taking 
into consideration the question whether or not 
he will rescDt the intrusion. The right place 
for a Jersey bull is a small yard, with a com¬ 
fortable stall attached to it. 
STOCK NOTES. 
Transportation of. fresh meat across the 
ocean by cold air iustead of ice, is now being 
agitated. Our readers may be curious to know 
how this is done. The carcasses, after beiug 
dressed, are quartered, and then bung up in a 
close compartment on board ship. Cold air is 
now introduced into this, by an apparatus 
made lor the purpose, worked by a small 
quantity of steam from the 6hip’s boilerB. The 
air is compressed, then rapidly exhausted, and 
worked over and over again to continue the 
process, There U ft great saving of ship’s 
bulk by using this cold air instead of ice, as It 
does not occupy more than one-fourth the 
room to keep the meat cold, sweet, and freely 
till its arrival at its port of destination. There 
is another advantage in the u?e of this cold atr, 
and that is, if the ship's voyage be prolonged 
by any accident, it can be kept up indefinitely ; 
wheress ice might be exhausted, and the meat 
spoiled before getting into port. 
■ <>« -- 
A Great Mass Meeting of Short-horn 
Breeders and all interested in improved 
cattle, is to come off at Lexington, Kentucky, 
early in July—just before the large sales of 
cattle are to begin there. The day previous to 
the commencement of these, all present will be 
invited to partake of a public banquet at the 
Phoenix Hotel. Speeches will follow, and a 
free interchange of opinions on cattle inter¬ 
ests in general and particular. We have no 
doubt, the results of this great meeting will be 
much to the benefit of all participating, and 
we call the attention of our friends to it, no 
matter in what quarter of the United 8tates 
they may reside. 
♦ ♦ »- 
A Great Butter Short-horn Cow.—Elea¬ 
nor, belonging to W. Armllage, of Yorkshire 
England, made 24$ pounds of excellent butter 
from the cream of a single week. Her portrait 
is now inserted in the English Herd Book. 
Thus it will be seen when bred for the pnr_ 
pose Short-horn cows can excel iu the dairy as 
well as at the shambles. We have well attested 
accounts of their giving, over and over again, 
from 30 to 39 quarts of milk per day of a fairly 
rich quality. 
-- 
For the Royal English Agricultural 
Society’s Annual Show, whieh is to come 
off at Carlisle in July, 486 horses have been en¬ 
tered, 434 cattle, the same number of sheep, 
and 146 pigs. The prizes offered for them are 
£5,676. about 627,500—an encouraging sum to 
be distributed among the breeders of choice 
live stock. 
-- - - 
Remedy for Worms in a Horse. —In reply 
to a late inquiry in '• Querist,” a correspond¬ 
ent writes that in his experience the following 
recipe has never failed to cure:—half a cap of 
pure hard-wood ashes finely Bifted and mixed 
dry wi/h the mash. If one dose should not be 
sufficient, recent it after a day or two. 
gairj fjusbaaiiri). 
MARKET TERMS FOR BUTTER AND 
CHEESE. 
To those who are familiar with them, the 
curreat terms of trade seem simple and appro¬ 
priate enough, but to the stranger, and often 
even to an interested party, the exact mean¬ 
ing of these queer terms are as unintelligible 
as Hebrew verbs. Every dairyman aud dealer, 
however, Ebould be familiar with the language 
of hiB trade, not only iu usual phrases of com¬ 
merce, but even in the local “slang "of the 
market he sells iu; for each market has its 
own pet phrases. The terms that I shall re¬ 
view and do my beBt to throw a reasonable, 
amount of light ou, are those in are in the city 
of New York, aud with few exceptions they 
are more or lees used in all the important mar¬ 
kets of the country. 
When one merchant listens to the story of a 
big or brilliant sale told by another merchant, 
if he does not altogetherbelieve it, ho calls the 
story a “little off color." If it is a simple 
narrative that challenges his belief he says, 
“He is giving it to mo straight.” “Funny 
business ” implies that there is some crooked¬ 
ness io the transaction. There are, of course, 
numbers of these local phrases that are often 
exceedingly apropos, of so concise a meaning 
that it would require quite a lengthy explana¬ 
tion to convey the same idea. 
In dealings in cheese and batter there is a 
slight difference in the terms used, though 
they are often used convertibly, the oue 
for the other The term “culls,” more 
particularly applied to packages (printed 
usually “peks") of butter, though sometimes 
to eheese, means those that have been left out 
of lots, either rejected or not needed. This 
creates a loss on the “culls ” not always through 
the fault of the maker, though usually it oc¬ 
curs from want of good quality iu the goods, 
or proper taste aud nearness in selecting and 
making up the vessels that contain the butter. 
A term that often misleads the stranger is 
“spot stock" or “spot lot," which simply 
means a lot of packages, either butter or 
cheese, that are on the spot; that is, in the 
city aud not on consignment to arrive in the 
future ; for “ futures” are traded for in butter 
aud cheese the same aB for stockB and bonds. 
The term “ outside quotations ’’ means the two 
extremes—the highest and lowest prices. 
The means by which these “prices" or 
“ quotations ” are arrived at are interesting 
