FEB 46 
&\)t (Oucvist. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
[Every query must be accompanied by tbe name 
and address of tbe writer to Insure attention.! 
FEED FOR COWS IN A MILK DAIRY. 
N. J., Walton, N. F.—What is the most 
profitable feed for milch cows when a fair 
quality of milk is the sole object? Feed sells 
here as follows: com meal, $1 50: cotton-seed 
meal, $1.48; wheat middlings, $1.30; shorts, 
$1.10: oats, 50 cents. 
ANSWERED BY PROF. L. B. ARNOLD. 
Assuming that, the varieties of food named 
are what Mr. J. expects to select from, it may 
be well to call attention to a few facts before 
making a selection. 
The modern improvements iu milling are 
such that all the flour is taken out of wheat 
so that the refuse of flouring mills now con¬ 
sists only of bran iu different states of com¬ 
minution, and there is no use iu paying more 
for it under oue name than under another. 
The Dy-produets of wheat, whether called 
bran, shorts or middlings, or whether fine or 
coarse, have essentially the same composition, 
and are as easily and perfectly digested by 
the bovine race in one form as in another. 
With some other animals this probably would 
not be true, but when fed to cows there is no 
propriety in giviug $1.30 a hundred for middl¬ 
ings when the same thing can be had in 
another form and under another name for 
$1 10. Middlings are therefore not advised, 
neither would shorts be advised, if under the 
name of bran the same thing can be bought, 
as it usually can, for 10 cents a hundred less. 
Another item worthy of consideration is the 
fact that, the albuminous or flesh-forming 
matter in a cow's ration has more to do iu 
controlling the quantity of milk than the fat 
and heat-producing elements. Where the 
largest possible quantity is desired the former 
should never be lacking in a cow’s food. If 
either must be deficient it had better be the 
latter, for tbe deficit may only make a little 
inferior quality. Neither, however, should be 
defective. A cow never gives so much milk 
as when the available quantity of both of 
these constituents exist in her food in the 
same proportions in which she utilizes them. 
Iu the formation of milk the flesh-forming 
constituents of food are in greater proportion 
than in what is used to supply waste and 
auimal heat—the food of support, iu milk, 
speaking in whole numbers, and counting fat 
as having two-and-one-half times the value of 
sugar, they are used iu the proportion of one 
to four. In the food utilized for support, they 
are as one of the former to six or more of the 
latter, according to the temperature to which 
the auimal is exposed. Such an adaptation 
of food constituents to their use is regarded as 
important. 
No single food that we know of, however 
well balanced its elements, will produce as 
much milk as a variety of foods, the amount 
and proportion of the respective constituents 
being equal in the rations. Animals in gen¬ 
eral, including the human, are more healthy 
and vigorous, and grow and fatten better, os 
well as give more milk, when subsisting ou a 
variety than when living on a single kind of 
food. A mixture of foods is therefore advised, 
Speaktng again in whole numbers, the nutri¬ 
tive ratio for bran is 1 to 4, just right for pro- 
dueing uiilk. The ratio for oats is 1 to fi, just 
right for the food of support. We could make 
an excellent ration out of a combination of 
these two materials, but the oats are too ex¬ 
pensive. At 50 cents a bushel, the whole 
grain would cost $1.56 per hundred, and the 
attendant labor and shrinkage and cost of 
griudiug would bring the price up to $1.75. 
We can get an equivalent out of com and cot¬ 
ton seed for less money. 
Take 4(H) pounds bran..$4.01} 
Take. 2u0 pounds corn meal .. - 3.00 
Take Kw pounds cotton-seed meal. 1.45 
$8.45 
which gives $1.31 as the cost per hundred lor the 
mixture, or if the cheapest variety of bran 
costs $1.10,then the mixture will be worth $1.36 
a hundred. The nutritive ratio for this com¬ 
pound is 1 to 5, a most excellent one for milk. 
If we were to alter it at all we would add an¬ 
other 100 pounds of bran for cows which are 
giving a large flow of milk. Heavy milkers 
require more protein compounds than mod¬ 
erate milkers, aod another 100 pounds of bran 
would give a ratio of 1 to 4%. With a com¬ 
pound similar to tbe above, linseed meal being 
used instead of cotton seed meal, the writer 
has obtaiued the largest and cheapest pro¬ 
duction of good milk for cheese or family use 
he was ever able to obtain from the use of dry 
feed. If green food were available, such as 
roots or good ensilage, more milk could doubt¬ 
less be obtained and for less money. 
FRENZY IN A HORSE, ETC. 
J. P, T,, Brookside, N, J — 1. Some time 
ago my horse started at a fearful rate, two 
persons being una ble to hold him back. Finally 
he brought up against a building, and was 
thrown down and freed from the wagon. 
Then he sprang up and dragged three men 
who clung to the lines, through a picket fence, 
where all three fell in a pile. When I reached 
him, he was trembling violently, and when 
taken to the stable, it ivas found he was blind, 
and so remained until next morning. What 
ailed him. and how can a recurrence of tlie fit 
be prevented? 2. What is the cause of fistula ? 
Ans.—1. The horse suffered from pressure on 
the brain from excitement and violent action 
of the heat In such a case it would be well 
to dash cold water on the head. If the horse 
was not frightened at something, the rnn-away 
was due to frenzy produced by excitement of 
the brain (phrenitis) produced by disorder of 
the stomach (a sort of ••jim-jams”) or by 
heart disease. This is a case in which bleed¬ 
ing of the jugular vein may be useful. To 
prevent the danger to some extent, the horse 
should be fed very lightly before a journey: 
but some horses are prone to it constitution¬ 
ally at times. 2, Fistula is caused by an injury 
to any part and the burrowing of pus which 
cannot escape among the muscular tissues. It 
is most frequeut iu the poll and withers. 
COLIC IN SHEEP. 
It. L. WDakota Ter.—What is the cause 
of, and a remedy for, colie in sheep ? 
Ans.— Ordinary eases of colic in sheep are 
known as stretches, a complaint which i3 often 
a symptom of disease rather than a disease it¬ 
self. It frequently occurs when changing 
flocks from pasture to dry- feed, and is due to 
constipation. Care in chauging the food is a 
preventive, and a few ounces of linseed-cake 
meal daily will remove the trouble. Injec¬ 
tions of warm soap and water, or of an ounce 
of linseed oil, will relieve the bowels, and an 
ounce of linseed oil given at the mouth will 
generally cause a cure. In protracted cases, 
the sheep stretches itself, spreading the feet 
apart, raising the head, curving the back and 
extending the abdomen; then a tablespoonful 
of flowers of sulphur mixed with a small 
quantity of molasses or lard, should be placed 
back on the tongue to be swallowed, once or 
twice a day for a week. A regular allowance 
of a mixture of four ounces of sulphur with a 
pound of salt, placed where the sheep can al¬ 
ways reach it, is a sure preventive of costive¬ 
ness and attendant trouble. In spasmodic- 
colic severe pai os occur in paroxysms. This 
too is generally accompanied by constipation 
and always by indigestion. Give tincture of 
rliubarb, one dram; carbonate of soda, one 
dram; warm water sweetened with molasses, 
two ounces. Administer slowly with a spoon. 
When the spasms are relieved, give half an 
ounce of linseed oil. 
OVER-FED PIGS. 
If. If. C., HudsonviUe, Mich.— What ails 
my pigs? lliey appear to bo in excellent con¬ 
dition, come up to the feeding trough as lively 
as a pig can step out, and often before they 
touch a morsel, they squeal, tumble over and 
kick. Sometimes they get up in a few min¬ 
utes and begin to eat, at other times they die 
in the fit. They are four months old, and for 
the last two mouths have been kept in a clean 
dry well-bedded pen, and fed scalded ground 
feed composed of corn, oats and wheat screen¬ 
ings, sometimes mixed with boiled potatoes, to¬ 
gether with salt, charcoal and sulphur. 
Ans.—T he fits are caused either by indi¬ 
gestion or worms, probably the former. The 
feed is too heavy for pigs of that age. Give 
them nothing but fine wheat middlings aud 
potatoes or other vegetables once a day. The 
midtilings should be slightly fermented. Put 
salt, charcoal and sulphur where they can 
help themselves as they desire. The mid¬ 
dlings would be better if they were mixed with 
kitchen slops. We have answered questions 
like this frequently during the past year, and 
warned our friends of the danger of over¬ 
feeding pigs. 
OILED CALICO FOR HOT-BED COVERING. 
William Oldjield, no address.—1. What is 
the best way to prepare calico or cotton cloth 
in place of glass for hot-bed frames; also what 
is the best material for covering? 2. What is 
the address of a reliable firm of whom I may 
procure pheasant eggs for hatching this 
Spring? 
Ans.— 1. Buy the thinnest unbleached 
musliu—it costs from five to six cents a yard— 
aud tack it tightly over a frame to fit closely 
the top of the hot-bed. Into a pint of linseed 
oil, unboiled, beat oue egg thoroughly, and 
with a paint brush, free from paint, give a 
coating to the top side of the muslin. The oil 
makes the cloth water-proof, aud the egg ren¬ 
ders it translucent. When very cold, or at 
night, spread an extra cover over the hot-bed. 
With such a hot-bed cover there is no dun- 
ger from sun burning, and the plants thrive 
admirably. 2. We regret to say that we know 
of no jjersons dealing in pheasant eggs, 
THURSH IN A HORSE’S FROG. ( 
“ SubscriberOrleans Co., N. F.—On 1 
pressing on the sides of the frog on one of my 1 
horse’s feet a soft spot is found, on opening ' 
which matter of a whitish color is seen 
sometimes on both sides of the frog; is it 
thrush or canker, and what is the proper 
treatment? 
Ans.— This is thrush of the frog; eaukcr 
will follow if the disease is not checked. It 
is now in its first stage. To treat it, pr icure 
a syringe and wash the parts as far inwardly 
as possible with a mixture of 10 parts of 
soapy water and oue part of carbolic acid, cut¬ 
ting away loose horn it necessary to open a 
way. Clean the sole thoroughly before it is 
dressed, and dress it twice a day. It is caused 
by filth or constaut wetness of the foot with 
urine in the stable. It would be useful to 
bed the horse deeply with sawdust and renew 
it often. 
SHOE-BOIL ON HORSE’S LEG. 
If. ./., Deltona, N. Y.— My three-year-old 
colt, has a bunch the size of an egg on the 
back of oue of its front legs two inches below 
the elbow joint; what causes it? 
Ans,—T his is a shoe-boil which comes on 
the joint of the elbow and is caused by the 
pressure of the shoe when the horse lies down. 
It may be removed by rubbing it with iodine 
ointment, but it will return agaiu, as it is pro¬ 
duced by the way the horse lies and the fold¬ 
ing of the leg. Some horses never have them 
and some always do. It would uo doubt pre¬ 
vent the trouble if an apron of stiff leather 
were strapped to the foot when the horse is iu 
the stable, so as to cover tbe back and sole of 
the loot when the horse lies down. 
WHITE PINE SHELTER BELT, 
E. S., Highlands, N. C.—ln plantiug a 
shelter belt of White Pine (Pinus Strobus) 
how far apart should the trees stand? 
Snould there be a double row? What is the 
best time to plant, and how far should the 
young trees be cut back ? 
Ans.— We should much prefer a double 
row. Of course, they take up more laud in 
that case. In single rows the trees should be 
placed 20 feet apart or more It would then 
require 12 years tor their branches to meet if 
not cut back. At a distance of 20 feet from 
the first, the second row should be placed, the 
trees alternating. As early hi the Spring as 
possible. We should not cut back until the 
trees were three to five years old iu their new 
places. 
CHAFF AS SUPPLEMENTARY FEED. 
D. E., East Rockaway, N. Y.— Is it well to 
mix wheat chaff with borse-feed, such as 
oats, for instance, and should they be fed wet ? 
Ans.— If the chaff is not from bearded 
wheat it will do no harm; the chaff is more 
nutritious than cut straw aud about half as 
good as common hay. By increasing the oats 
about one-fourth in quantity the chaff would 
make a fair substitute for hay. They would 
be just as well fed dry, unless they are given 
with meal. 
APPLE POMACE. 
T. R., no address.— To what profitable use 
can pomace from a cider mill lie put? 
Ank. —It is of very little use. When it is 
fresh the cake is eaten with relish by horses, 
cattle, pigs and sheep and in reasonable quan¬ 
tities, as a peck at a feed twice a day, it 
would be an agreeable aud wholesome variety 
in the feed. But as a fertilizer, it is hardly 
worth bundling. If it would be useful any¬ 
where, it should be to spread over the orchard. 
TREATMENT OF A COW THAT DOESN’T GET RID 
OK AFTERBIRTH. 
The cheapest, best and safest treatment for 
a cow that does not clean herself after calving, 
is to give her six quarts of oats, scalded and 
fed warm. D. B. m. 
Lincoln, Neb. 
Miscellaneous. 
W. A. B„ Yorkshire, N. Y.—l. A says to B, 
“How w ill you trade horses?” B answers, “I will 
trade for $50. How wil 1 you trade?” A answers, 
“I will trade for $25.” Finally, they agree to 
split the difference; who pays the boot money, 
aud how much? 2. Why do my neighbor’s cows 
abort ? 3, Does it injure potatoes to cultivate 
them alter new potatoes have set ? 
Ans. —1. We give it up. It is impossible to 
say who pays the difference. The difference 
is $37.50, whoever pays it; oue way the differ¬ 
ence is $25 and another way it is$i5. The 
flrrt way the difference is added to the $25 
making $37.50; the other way the difference 
is $75. But whether A was to pay B, or B 
was to pay A. there is nothing to show. 3. 
Abortion is an exceedingly contagious disease 
and should be managed accordingly. It has 
been carried from one stable to another by the 
clothes of a person passing from one to the 
other. The causes are various and it appears 
without notice. 3. Shallow surface cultiva¬ 
tion is uo injury; it is disturbing aud break 
iug the roots by deep cultivation which does 
mischief. 
J, L,, gyvmsvilte, Kansas.—Hy colt re¬ 
covered apparently from distemper last 
Spring. In June I noticed that he wheezed, 
and he has been getting worse in this respect 
ever since until now he breathes mostly 
through his mouth, nms at tbe nose in both 
nostrils, and has an enlargement, under his 
right eye, like “big-head,” but no other symp¬ 
toms of that ailment. Otherwise he is in good 
condition, has a good appetite and feels well. 
What ails him ? 
Ans.—T he parotid glaud is swollen as a re¬ 
sult of the distemper, and there is inflamma¬ 
tion aud catarrh of the nasal membranes 
Probably other glands are swollen and inter¬ 
fere with the breathing. Give a pound of 
Epsom salts, and follow with daily doses of 
one ounce of hyposulphite of soda for two or 
three weeks. Rub the throat aud swollen 
parts with camphorated ointment or any 
other active liniment. 
No name, Richmond, Fa.—1. W hat is the 
name of the accompanying Irish potato? 2. 
Would it be right to put commercial fertilizer 
in the drill for potatoes, then run the coulter 
in the drill, incorporating the fertilizer with 
the soil t 3. Do commercial fertilizers iu con¬ 
tact with a cut seed potato injure itf 
Ans.— 1. We cannot flame potatoes. 2. We 
see uo objection to it. S. It would not, 
treated as you propose. A large quantity 
might. Salt, in contact with the pieces, would 
injure them. • 
Q. T. D., East Randolph, 17.—Is the Flor¬ 
ence Grape in any respect better or earlier 
than Moore’s Early, ami what is better in any 
way than the latter? 
Ans.—C ottage is of fair quality and earlier 
than Moore’s Early. The berries and bunches 
are not. so large. Florence is not cared for. 
W. H. V., Milan. Pa.— 1. Who makes the 
Minnesota Chief Thrasher? 2. W ho keeps 
Houdan poultry near me? 
Ans.— 1. Seymour,Sabin & Co., Stillwater, 
Minn. 2. The nearest we know of is Miss A. 
G. Stowell, 56 Clarke Street Avenue, Balti¬ 
more, Md., or W. Atlee Burpee, or Johnson 
& Stokes, Philadelphia, Pa. 
M. M Englewood, N. J.—Where can I get a 
journal of the proceedings of the American 
Pomological Society at their meeting in 1883 ? 
Ans.—I t has not been published yet. The 
reports that appeared in the Rural were the 
most complete that have yet been given to the 
public. 
J. V. T., Nunda, N. F—What is the best 
variety of dwarf pears for family use? 
Ans.—B eurrf d’ Anjou, Howell, Urban iste, 
White Doyenne, Beurre Superfin, Tyson, Jo¬ 
sephine de Malines. Duchesse d’Angouleme 
succeeds best on quince, but the quality is not 
of the best. 
T. R , Johnson Co., Kan.—When canning 
fruit, wbat cheap mixture can I use that will 
boil at a few degrees higher temperature than 
water? 
Ans.—A solution of chloride of calcium or 
lime. 
,/. F. P., Waukon, la— How should ashes 
be applied to potatoes? 
Ans.—W e should place the seed pieces in 
furrows or drills, and then scatter the ashes. 
r. M., Roger smile, Pa .—Is the Cayuga Plas¬ 
ter Co., Union Springs, N. Y., reliable? 
Ans. —Yes. 
Communications Received kor the week ending 
Saturday. Feb. 9. 
.T. F. S -T. T. U-I. T., Prize I.-J. C.-L. D., Prize I. 
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H. J.—VV. O. H.-R. F.-M. D.-C. VV. B.-P. V. B.-B. C 
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RtehUian. sec Prof. Roberts's article.—W\ J. B. H 
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prize Il.-w. H L.-T.C M.-R. W, “Turkey." 
