403 
4885 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
good deal of room that would otherwise be 
wasted. Then for a manure shed, build a 20- 
foot lean-to instead of keeping the manure 
under the barn; for then it could be better 
ventilated. Where a good many cattle are 
kept in a basement, I find there is a strong 
odor and n perceptible dampness which would 
show itself on tools, especially of polished iron 
or steel. At Fig. 63 is a sketch showing my 
idea of a bam, with ventilators to allow the 
escape of moisture from the breath of animals 
and foul odors from their droppings, etc, I 
suppose the ground to have a gradual slope. 
WARREN VREELAN’D. 
£l)e i)fri)sin£m. 
NOTES BY A STOCKMAN. 
All that is required to prove the justice of 
any just thing is to wait. “Time proves all 
thiugs ” These thoughts occur to me as I 
read a remark in the Rural of January 17 
(page 40) to the effect that “a writer, refer¬ 
ring to the fat beef exhibited recently at 
Chicago, asks if it was really beef or only a 
sort of exaggerated veal,” I have remarked 
at various times something of thesame sort of 
thing in iegard to “baby beef 1 ’; but I have 
been soundly rated for my old-fashioned views. 
Now ray preference in regard to beef is for a 
four-year old which has been well fed all 
through its life, but not fatted until it has 
matured its muscle and made firm, solid flesh 
which is a foundation for the fat. Age is 
indispensable to maturity, no doubt; and, no 
doubt, too, the breeding of a modem beef 
animal has hastened its maturity and has in¬ 
creased its capacity for digesting food to a 
considerable extent, but then an animal can 
uo more make good, firm beef at two years of 
age than a sucking pig can make good, firm 
pork and hams. 
It is a question, too, which admits of some 
doubt if a four-year-old steer costs any more 
to get its full growth with moderate feeding 
than the outlay for which a two-year-old gets 
its immature growth with its immoderate 
feeding and forced, unhealthful development 
It is quite certain that this question has arisen, 
and is giving rise to some serious thought 
among breeders and grazers of cattle. 
>!Tor a country which is supposed to be so 
full of contagious and deadly diseases among 
our live stock, as to make it necessary for 
foreign countries to forbid the importation of 
our meats and live stock, we are certainly 
getting along very comfortably. 
The cat is out of the bag at last. I have all 
along insisted that the so-called scare about 
contagious diseases among our live stock in 
foreign countries was simulated, and put up 
simply as a cover for an attempt to prohibit 
trade in cattle until a reciprocity free trade 
system should be inaugurated. Mr. Morton- 
Frowen, of Eugland and Wyoming, discloses 
the open secret when he said at a farmers 1 
club dinner that “the election of Mr. Cleve¬ 
land to the Presidency of the United States 
was the first step toward the adoption of free 
trade, and (hat consequently we might ex¬ 
pect a rapid increase of general trading be¬ 
tween the two countries.” This has always 
been so plain that a blind man, who bad his 
other senses intact, could see it. And it is 
also curious to perceive that the fuss about 
contagious diseases has beeu fomented and en¬ 
couraged by the free trade papers aud writers, 
while those who were not troubled at all about 
this political aspect of the case and have beeu 
disinterested, have done their best to represent 
it in a true aud just light. 
If all the nonsense which has been written 
on the subject of animal diseases were gath¬ 
ered into a volume, it would be “a big thing.” 
The Cleveland Leader would have a promi¬ 
nent place iu the work, for it writes recently, 
"Let the Bureau of Animal Industry have the 
power it now possesses in the District of Col¬ 
umbia, in all the States and Territories.” It 
would be n good thing, no doubt; but there is 
a little obstacle in the way, viz,: the Constitu¬ 
tion of the United States, which reserves to 
each of the States the right and duty of regu¬ 
lating its own domestic affairs. Without ftu 
amendment, to the Constitution, which would 
wholly destroy our present system of State 
Governments, this thing cauuot be done. 
Aud this is just what is the matter. 
A European despotism can order a general 
supervision and slaughter of all suspected 
cattle in any part of its dominions. The 
l rated States is not a despotism, and can 
only act according to the power conferred by 
the people, who are really the Government. 
And until the people confer the authority, this 
disturbing questiou cannot be settled. 
A good deal of attention is being turned to 
sheep just now, and the question of breeds Is | 
being discussed vigorously in regard to the 
profit from the various kinds. The Cotswold 
is on the wane, aud the South Down is takiug 
the first place, as it must necessarily do when 
mutton is the first consideration. A n exhaus¬ 
tive test, made by the Canadian Agricultural 
Commissioner, puts the South Down first,with 
a yearly profit of $6.60, or more than 100 per 
cent. The Shropshire follows, with a profit of 
$6 32, or about 90 per cent. The Merino shows 
a profit of $4.69, or about 80 per cent. The 
Cotswold is low down, with a profit of $3.17, 
or about 35 per cent., and the native comes 
next to it and last, with a profit of $3,75, or 75 
per cent. This seems to be a very fair and 
accurate result to any expert in sheep, aud 1 
think may form the basis for safe figuring by 
those who think of keeping sheep. 
But there are always “ wheels within 
wheels,” so to speak. And the sheep question is 
not wholly one to be settled in this way without 
taking into account several other con&idera- 
stock where a better kind could not exist. It 
goes to show that our native stock should not 
be despised; but encouraged and improved as 
far as may be. 
£l)c 
A PIG MISTAKE. 
COL F. D. CURTIS. 
There is nothing like experience to teach 
principles, although it is often costly. 
Let it be understood that pigs born in Autumn 
will not winter well in a close pen, fed on 
grain. The man who tries it will always lose 
rnouey, if he does not lose bis pigs outright. I 
have tried it to my satisfaction, and it never 
works well. Furthermore, it is always risky 
to attempt to winter young pig3 (say four 
months old or less) in a close pen, even though 
they may be fed quite a variety of food. When 
Cook’s Seedling Potato. Fig. 61, (See page 102.) 
tions. Eighty per cent, can be made from 
a flock of Merinos much more easily than 100 
per cent, from as many South Downs. For Me • 
rinos can be kept on much poorer aud cheaper 
land and in places where South Dowus could 
not. In large flocks, too. Merinos and aatives 
could be kept with little loss, while South 
Downs and other high bred sheep would suf¬ 
fer considerably. 
The native stock deserve some credit. 
They are patient and long-suffering, and are,as 
one might say,the stone and iron of the edifice 
of which the pure breeds are the gilt and the 
finish. I have receutlv seen native sheep cost¬ 
ing $1.50 each wintering in the woods and on 
the mountains in the South; and, taken from 
the range, yielding 80 pounds of good mutton, 
which sells for four cents, and leaving a pelt 
behind them upon which there are six pounds of 
the floor of the sty is plank, the conditions are 
all the worse. Three of my neighbors this 
Winter have had constant sickness amongst 
their pigs, and have lost a numbpr because of 
too much pig-peu, floor aud gram. 
I sold a perfectly healthy boar pig, four 
months old. to a neighbor, and in two weeks 
it died. The pig had “blind staggers,” as it 
is familiarly calle l. This disease, or rather 
symptom of disease, is caused by dyspepsia or 
a clogging of the stomach and bowels. This 
was the case with this pig. When I owned it 
it was fed buckwheat hrau mixed with swill 
twice a day. oats twice a day. and apples 
once. It also had the run of a six-acre lot 
aud a warm sty to go into. It had a variety 
of food, both solid and laxative, and plenty of 
exercise. The seventeen others in the same 
lot are fit to butcher, so plump and healthy 
are they, and not one has ever been ailing. 
Montreal Potato. Fig. 62. (Seepage 102.) 
good wool, worth $1.50 This despised native 
then gives a profit of more thau 200 per cent, 
aud feeds on land which costs uo more than 
$2.50 per acre, and much of it only half as 
much. 1 have eaten as good and sweet beef 
from native cattle which cost less than $5 per 
head to raise, aud which made, when slaught¬ 
ered, $25 clear of hide aud tallow’, as was ever 
made from the prize cattle of the exhibitions, 
aud these natives can be reared where better- 
bred stock would utterly perish from ex¬ 
posure aud poor feeding. This is an extreme 
case, but it is a fact that a large part of the 
country is adapted for the rearing of such 
The dead pig was shut in a small pen and fed 
liberally of bran. The coarse part of the bran 
did not work off, as there was too much of 
it, and the other couditions all helped to make 
the animal worse. 
Close confinement has more injurious effects 
ou young pigs than ou any other animals. It 
causes other disorders besides those of the 
stomach aud bowels, as the limits are stiffened 
aud the heurt is weakened in its action, pro¬ 
ducing “thumps,” a most fatal trouble with 
young pigs. These facts are proven by the 
experience of all observing breeders, who 
know that when the animals are out on the 
ground, the disorders mentioned are exceed¬ 
ingly rare. This being the case, we should 
endeavor to have the conditions surrounding 
the pigs as nearly ground-like as possible, and 
to avoid pig mistakes. 
ppinulogicfll 
SOME SOUTHERN APPLES. 
Northern fruit growers are not aware of 
the very great difference that exists in the 
quality aud appearauce of southern-grown 
apples. Tbediffereuces between Western and 
Eastern fruits have long been recognized by 
the American Pomological Society, and the 
recommended lists were modified mauy years 
ago, after a hard struggle against the appar¬ 
ent sectional division of the word American. 
Thebehaviorof the apple under the differences 
of soil and climate, however, could not be 
ignored, and the lists of fruits had to be re¬ 
vised in spite of all opposition. This is a 
matter of history, which youug pomologists 
may not know aud some old ones may have 
forgotten. This same sort of behavior affects 
Southern apples very considerably. For in¬ 
stance, apples that ripen iu the Summer in 
the North, are worthless in the South. Fall 
apples in the North are summer apples here, 
while wiuter apples ripen in the Fall. Some 
localities, however, on account of elevation 
and consequent change of temperature and 
season, produce apples that surpass those 
grown iu the North in size, color and general 
appearance, and in theseasonof ripening, and 
in the habit of the tree. This elevated plateau, 
which, on the average, is 3.500 feet above tide 
level, is especially adapted, from its cool 
climate and its long growing season, to the 
culture of the apple. The soil and general 
features of the country are in every way 
favorable. The prevailing rocks are rich in 
potash; the drainage is perfect; the climate 
is even and never rigorous; the rainfall is 
abundant, and all these help to give to the 
apples grown here those very’ qualities which 
make them most salable in the markets But 
two other regions in the United States ap¬ 
proach this valley in this respect; these are 
Western New York and Michigan. 
One of the most conspicuous instances of the 
peculiar adaptation of this section to apple 
growing is the Yellow Bellflower, which grows 
to an enormous size, aud has a very fine ap¬ 
pearance and flavor, in the elevated mountain 
region of the Blue Ridge, surpassing in these 
respects any I have ever seen grownelsewhere. 
The American Golden Pippin, too, grows here 
to the greatest perfection. The color is a real 
golden yellow, the fruit is smooth aud russety 
in appearance; the flavor is most delicious; 
and the tree bears profusely every year. An¬ 
other specimen is the Buff which originated in 
Haywood Co , N. C., a very large apple of 
quite ordinary or even poor flavor in the 
North,and no better than a turnip in the West; 
but here it is very good in quality. The tree 
is erect and a very vigorous grower; the fruit 
is yellow, striped aud splashed with red to 
very dark red. henry stewart. 
Macou Co., N. C. 
We show this variety as sent us by Mr. 
Stewarts at Fig. 65 p. 106. As will be seen, it is 
large—stem % iach long, planted in a medium¬ 
sized, regular, pure yellow, slightly russeted 
cavity; the calyx is small with open segments 
staudlug out from the sides of a small, shal¬ 
low, irregular and very much russeted basin. 
The core is small for so large an apple, as 
shown at Fig. 60. p. 105. The flesh is white, rath 
ercoarse-grained. EatenNovember27.sweet; 
as sweet as the Talman. Mr. Downing says 
this apple is sub acid. 
THE NIAGARA PLUM. 
For several years I have not been able to offer this 
most valuable Plum to the public, owing to not hav 
Ing a sufficient stock, but now am prepared to offer 
it, having a fine stock of tlie trees. The Niagara 
Plum, having been fully tested, tree and fruit, l now 
offer it with renewed confidence. This beautiful 
plum was originated in Niagara County, N. Y., and, 
all thlugs considered. Is perhaps the very best plum 
yet introduced. It is very large, entirely free-stone, 
the tlesb cleaving Com the stone perfectly. It is 
sweet. Juicy, and luscious. Ripens about the first of 
August. Is of a rich purple color, and ju>l ns good as 
it looks. For eating from the hand it Is perfectly 
delicious. I own the entire stock of Niagara Plum 
trees, and shall only sell them to my customers In 
small lots, therefore the trees can only be obtained 
from my agents. If you are fond of this delightful 
and refreshing fruit, the plum, ask my agent, who 
will call on you, to Show you a cluster of Niagara 
fruit. Remember the trees of the Niagara can only 
be bad of my agents. ©. k. okruish. 
The above is a copy of a little circular, 
several of which we have received from New 
Eugland. It also contains a roughly executed 
wood-cut, claiming it to be a likeness of the 
plum of which we elsewhere show an outline 
figure. From the letters received we con¬ 
clude that the peddlers who have been offer¬ 
ing it for sale, have been doing a large busi¬ 
ness, making a specialty of selling the trees at 
big prices. They also show photographs of a 
