477 
THE RUBAI. fflEW- 
as much money at this price for sorghum as 
it will in other crops? 
FROM H. L. JONES. 
Farmers cannot afford to raise and haul 
sorghum cane for §2 per ton—and It would 
not pay as well as ordinary farm crops, in 
the long run. 
Salina, Kansas. 
FROM D. K. GOODRICH. 
There is not much sorghum raised in this 
section. I do not think it pays. Our main 
crops are corn, oats and hay. And then we 
have some creameries as fine as one would 
wish to look into, and it is through these we 
get our money back. 
West Union, Iowa. 
FROM JOHN ENFIELD. 
An average of seven to 10 tons per acre is 
right, though 10 tons are nearer the average, 
some laud bringing as high as 15 tons, as it is 
weighed at the mill—blades, tops and all. 
Farmers can afford to raise and haul sorghum, 
provided they do not have to haul it too far. 
A team can haul about one to 1% ton per 
load. The greatest expense is the cost of 
hauling. Teams and men are worth about 
$2 per day. To raise and barvfst sorghum 
costs about the same amount per acre as corn. 
Corn does not average more than 30 bushels 
per acre here, one year with another. It is 
now worth 20 to 25 cents per bushel—§0 to 
$7.50 per acre. Cane at 10 tons per acre and 
$2 per ton would bring $20 per acre for the 
same work needed for an acre of corn. The 
comparative profit in cane and corn, is rep¬ 
resented by the difference between $7 50 per 
acre and $20, less the cost of hauling. If 
seven tons made the crop, the difference would 
be $7.50 to $14. Sorghum cannot be profit¬ 
ably hauled more than three miles, so mills 
should be located in the center of the cane 
fields. Cane does not exhaust the fertility of 
the land nearly as much as corn or any other 
grain crop. Both soil and climate seem to be 
peculiarly adapted to the sorghum plant in 
Kansas. 
Mapleton, Kansas. 
FROM J. E. MANS. 
The sorghum mills located here pay $2 per 
ton for cane, seed included. The average 
yield is eight tons per acre. The farmer lo¬ 
cated within two miles of the mills can raise 
cane, though there is only one point in favor 
of doing so—quick returns for labor and 
money invested, as the cash is paid for the 
crop as soon as delivered. Last year I raised 
23 tons 1,045 pounds of cane, (not for the 
Sugar Mill Co.,) not including seed, on two 
acres. This cane was manufactured at a local 
mill. I received 10 gallons of sirup per ton, 
for which I received 30 to 35 cents per gallon, 
at retail. The seed I had thrashed and the 
yield in all was 70 bushels, and I sold it at 50 
cents per bushel. This crop was raised on 
bottom land. I had to haul it three miles. 
By keeping the seed I realized a better profit 
than would be possible with corn, wheat, oats 
or any other crop, except possibly when Old 
Hutch runs a corner, 
Vidette, Kansas. 
FROM J. E. HESTON. 
I do not think sorghum pays as well as corn. 
It is of slow growth, and has to be hand-hoed 
at least twice, and a crop that would make 
from seven to 10 tons, would be extra. And 
an extra crop of corn would be from 60 to 75 
bushels per acre, and it would supply fodder 
enough to keep a cow all winter, and corn at 
25 cents per bushel. Then again, the tending 
can be all done with a plow. I do not think 
farmers can afford to raise and haul sorghum. 
Mount Pleasant, Iowa. 
FROM J. J. MARTIN. 
Sorghum at $2 per ton would pay well where 
we did not have to haul It more than five 
miles and by having plants at different cen¬ 
tral points, farmers could supply the mills 
with all they could work up for the season 
when cane is to be taken care of. Farmers 
here, generally, are not very busy and what 
we would make would oe almost clear gain, 
and again, sorghum has been a sure crop here, 
rain or no rain. 
Pratt county is well adapted to sorghum 
raising and the county would assist and en¬ 
courage a sorghum plant. It seems as though 
Secretary Rusk is the right man in the right 
place and one who means business for farm¬ 
ers. 
Iuka, Kansas. 
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION OF OVER-HEATED 
HAY IN THE MOW. 
A., We stover, Md. —Is there danger of spon¬ 
taneous combustion of hay from over-heat¬ 
ing in the mow? If clover or Timothy hay 
gets too warm in the mow should air be ad¬ 
mitted or excluded? {Should the hay be open¬ 
ed or left alone “ to sweat it out ? ” 
ANSWERED BY HENRY STEWART. 
The possibility of spontaneous combustion 
of hay is a much disouted question. There is 
every reason scientifically to disbelieve this 
possibility, and so far as known there has 
never been a clearly established fact to prove 
it in practice. Combustion is caused by ac¬ 
tive oxidation. This oxidation in a mass of 
closely packed hay will begin no doubt when 
the hay is damp, and fermentation occurs, 
which is inevitable under usual conditions. 
But the oxidation cannot go further than the 
supply of oxygen in the substance of the hay 
will permit, which is no more than to carry 
the heat up to 120 degrees or perhaps 140 
This heat always occurs in the silo, but no silo 
as yet ever burned by spontaneous combus¬ 
tion because combustion cannot occur at any 
temperature produced m any moist or damp 
substance until it has become quite dry and 
is exposed to a free current of air. Sponta¬ 
neous combustion may, and often does, oc¬ 
cur in oily cotton rags, but the chemical ac¬ 
tion is then very intense because of the large 
quantity of oxygen in the stuff, its porous 
character and the easy access of air which 
supplies all the oxygen needed for active com¬ 
bustion. These requisite conditions are not 
pres nt in a mass of closely packed hay, and 
combustion is easily prevented by keeping the 
mass pressed down and by not disturbing it. 
The heat then never exceeds a point of safety 
or such as will merely discolor the hay and 
cause it to become brown. This does not in¬ 
jure the hay but makes it more palatable and 
digestible, in the same way that the heat¬ 
ing of silage under similar conditions 
changes its digestibility and makes it some¬ 
what better for fteding than the green fodder 
is. Salt is an obstacle to fermentation and a 
liberal sprinkling of it on the hay when it is 
unavoidably packed away in a damp condi¬ 
tion, will decrease the fermentation and pre¬ 
vent any injurious excess of it. 
Spontaneous combustion of bay in the stack 
or mow, I believe, to be as much a myth as 
the spontaneous combustion of persons who 
have soaked themselves with alcobol, and 
which has been alleged to have occurred in 
some cases. Ancient stories to this effect 
have been current but without any evidence 
other than popular superstition; no medical 
evidence of any Kind has beea brought to 
support this belief which was as common 40 
or 50 years ago as the belief of spontaneous 
combustion of hay is to-day. Cases have oc¬ 
curred in which the hay, especially clover, 
has been found blackened even, in the stack, 
but this change is exactly similar to the slow 
carbonization of leal mold, or swamp muck or 
vegetable matter in the damp woods, and Dot 
to any actual excessive heatiDg to a point 
when combustion or charring could have oc¬ 
curred. Where I am now residing the cli¬ 
mate is very damp, the annual rain fall ex¬ 
ceeds 60 inches and sometimes amounts to 
over 100 inches, consequently it is impos¬ 
sible to dry hay in the field and it always 
goes into the stack or barn, damp and some¬ 
times moist, but although it has heated 
very much, 1 have not found it to exceed 140 
degrees at the worst, and as it packs closely 
by reason of the dampness, this heat is retain¬ 
ed for weeks; but no case of combustion has 
ever been known or even alleged here. It hay 
so hea’ed is left undisturbed it will not burn, 
but will cool off gradually, the moisture often 
being deposited in drops like dew on the sur¬ 
face of the mass. Sometimes a sort of mil¬ 
dew which appears like flue dust or white 
smoke escapes from such hay when it is 
opened after it has cooled, but as long as the 
hay is not disturbed and it is kept from access 
of air in a tight barn even this mildew rarely 
amounts to inconvenience or injury; while 
salting will prevent it. 
HYDATID OR TUMOR ON THE BRAIN IN CALVES. 
H. M. G., Well's Tannery, Pa.— Two three- 
month-old calves died here lately from some 
ailment with the following symptoms: They 
seemed to become blind and walk round and 
round in a circle. If they came agaiust auy 
object they would push it down if they could, 
and continue the circular movement. Occa¬ 
sionally they would stop and turn their heads 
round to the right side, then start and run as 
though trying to get away from something 
they feared. One of them ran against a fence, 
pushed it down aud crossed over; then wheeled 
and came agaiust it again, pushed it down 
again aud crossed over as before; aud did the 
same thing several more times, all the while 
keeping up the circular motion. During a 
paroxysm each bawled as if caught by a dog, 
fell down and was unable to get up again. 
On examination after death, part of the 
smaller intestines were found nearly black, 
and the kidneys were also discolored and one 
was much larger than the other. They were 
noth large and fat. They bad been on grass 
all spring, and had plenty of skimmed milk 
and wheat bran. They appeared in good 
health till the attack became noticeable. 
"What was the matter? 
ANSWERED BY DR. F. L. KILBORNE. 
The symptoms indicate pressure on the 
brain, as from a tumor, ruptured vessel, or 
the presence of a parasite or hydatid, the 
Coenurus cerebralis or cystic form of the 
Tcenia coenurus, a tapeworm of the dog, the 
immature form of which lives in a cyst in the 
brains of sheep and young cattle. The era 
bryo in this cyst when eaten by a dog develops 
into the tapeworm or mature form. The eggs 
passed by the dog are eaten by the calf or 
sheep with its foed, the embryo making its 
way to the brain where it produces the disease 
commonly known as “gid,” “sturdy” or 
“staggers.” This parasitic disease is met with 
quite commonly in sheep in seme countries, 
and less commonly in young cattle. Killing 
all stray dogs or worthless curs will prevent 
a large proportion of the cases of this as well 
as other similar diseases. In the hands of a 
skillful operator an operation is sometimes 
possible by which the parasite may be re¬ 
moved. But the simplest and best course to 
pursue usually is to send the ca'f immediately 
to the butcher, the meat being perfectly whole¬ 
some for food. 
CHRONIC NASAL DISCHARGE, OR GLANDERS, 
IN A HORSE. 
M. M., Fergus Falls, Dak.— In No. 2042 of 
the Rural I got some information about an 
ailing horse of mine. Since then he has not 
improved very fast. He has a fastidious 
appetite and does not seem to get any strength 
from wbat he eats. He is fed one feed of 
oats and one of bran mash, gets once in a 
while a feed of carrots and has for the last 14 
davs bad the benefit of the new, fresh gras?. 
He is still discharging through the nose a 
thin slimy stuff, which is, after feeding, 
mixed with some of his cud, which returns 
through the nose. Also when he drinks, the 
water returns through his nose. There is no 
sore at all in the nose He h»s a kind of 
hoarse, deep cough, and when he neighs the 
sound is hoarse and unnatural. His eyes 
look bright, he is not inclined to move 
around except at a walk, but every day he 
rolls himself in the pasture. His winter hair 
is shedding, but Dot as quickly as usual; his 
coat is hard to groom. Any further advice 
with regard to him? 
ANSWERED BY DR. F. L. KILBORNE. 
If there is a veterinary surgeon at hand 
you had better have the horse examined to 
make sure it is not a case of glanders. If 
you cannot well have such examination made, 
watch for ulceration well up in the nose; such 
ulceration is a pretty sure indication of 
glanders, when the horse should be destroyed 
at once. In the meantime the Dose might be 
injected daily with a solution of one dram 
each of sulphate of zinc and carbolic acid, 
with two ounces of glycerine, dissolved in a 
quart of water. "When used the solution 
should be milk-warm, and injected with a 
nasal siphon made especially for the purpose, 
or with a piece of half-inch or inch hard 
rubber tubing three feet long, and a funnel in 
one end. Insert the siphon or free end of the 
tube into one nostril, pack around with 
cotton, and inject until the solution comes 
from the other nostril. Repeat on the other 
side. The general condition may be improved 
by giving two table-spoonfuls of the following 
powders in the feed twice dailySulphate of 
soda and gentian each one-half pound; powd¬ 
ered nux vomica one ounce. 
OBSTRUCTION IN A COW’S THROAT; RETAINED 
AFTERBIRTH IN A COW. 
5. L. T. y Fairfield, Neb. —1. "When one of 
my cows droppod her calf in the spring of ’$8 
she was thin in flesh, and would * low as if 
there was in her throat something which she 
was trying to get rid of, and this habit has 
continued ever since. In the spring of this 
year she bad another calf, and is now giving 
a good mess of milk. Can anything be done 
for her ? 3. What should be the treatment of 
a cow which doesn’t get rid of the placenta 
soon after calving ? 
ANSWERED BY DR. F. L. KILBORNE. 
1. Apply the following strong linimeut over 
the region of the throat once daily until the 
skin is quite well blistered: Equal parts of 
strong aqua ammonia, sweet or raw linseed 
oil, and oil of turpentine well shaken to¬ 
gether. If you can feel any swelling or lump 
about the throat blister it more severely. 3. 
If the afterbirth does not come away in IS to 
24 hours it should be carefully removed, be¬ 
fore the neck of the womb has closed so as to 
prevent the introduction of the hand. Grasp 
the protruding mass of membranes iu the left 
hand aud pull gently from side to side. In¬ 
sert the well soaped or oiled right hai d into 
the womb, and with thumb and fingers care¬ 
fully squeeze out or separate each attachment 
or cotyledon (about 50 in number when com¬ 
plete) being careful not to tear the buttons or 
cotyledons from the womb. When all are 
seps rated the membranes will readily come 
away. After the removal of the afterbirth, 
wash out the womb with tepid water, and 
finally, inject a weak antiseptic solution— 
one dram of carbolic acid or of sulphate of 
ziDC dissolved in a pint of water, may be used 
for this pumose. A piece of soft rubber tub¬ 
ing three or four feet long and one-half inch 
in diameter.with asix-iDch fuDrnl in one end, 
will be fouDd very convenient in washing out 
and injecting the womb. If a discharge con¬ 
tinues after the operation, inject the antisep¬ 
tic solution once daily until the discharge 
ceases. 
HOTEL SLOPS AS HOG FEED. 
F. D. P., Asheville , N. C. —l want to feed 
125 hogs and have about 100 acres ot wood¬ 
land pasture for them. I can get enough or¬ 
dinary hotel slops at the town four miles 
away, to feed from 100 to 150 anima's. with 
the addition of this pasture. To deliver the 
slops at the pasture would cost $350 a year. 
Would it oe cheaper to haul the slops or spend 
the same amount of money for corn and oats? 
I can buy the corn for a out 45 cents per bushel 
and the oafs for 34 to 40 cents in the fall. Are 
slop-fed hogs more liable to cholera than 
those that are grain-fed, both having a large 
pasture to run in and plenty of fresh water? 
Of the 125 head at lea«t 100 would be three 
months old on February 1, 
Ans.—H otel slop usually contains the best 
of all food for swine, being composed of both 
vegetable and animal matter. It consists of 
about the right proportions of nitrogenous 
and carbonaceous elements for the production 
of the best kind of meat, with a proper pro¬ 
portion of lean and fat intermingled and not 
laid cn in alternate layers. Pigs fed upon it 
have been made to reach a dressed weight of 
25U to 350 pounds in nine or 10 months. If 
the slop cost? nothing but the hauling, the ex¬ 
pense of food would amount to less than $3 
per head which, with the charges for at¬ 
tention, would make the pork cost less than 
three cents per pound. This is much less than 
the cost by feeding grain at the prices men¬ 
tioned. which would be at least five cents per 
pound under the most careful management. 
As diseases in swine are chiefly produced by 
excessive grain feeding and the slop will 
probably be a much better balanced food in 
regard to the right elements of nutrition, 
there should be no danger of cholera (intes¬ 
tinal fever) by the feeding of this slop. 
INJURY TO FETLOCK JOINT OF HORSE, FOL¬ 
LOWED BY BONY DEPOSIT. 
IF. A. S., Manchester, Ioiva.—My six-year 
old horse injured his left hind leg on a barb¬ 
ed wire fence when a colt. The ankle joint 
became swollen, but ihe animal didn’t become 
lame till driven on the read three years ago, 
when he went lame so badly that I couldn’t 
use him. The swollen ankle became hard, 
and though fired and blistered still remains 
in that condition. Can anything remove the 
evil? 
Ans.—A personal examination would be 
necessary to enable us to advise a very satis¬ 
factory course of treatment in a chronic case 
of this kind, that has been repeatedly treated 
by such active measures as firing and blister¬ 
ing. From a dfscription we cannot tell 
whether the present condition is due to the in¬ 
jury itself or to an improper course of treat¬ 
ment when first injured. The latter is very 
often the case. Firmg again by a competent 
operator followed by an active blister, would 
probably be the course most likely to produce 
favorable results. A complete recovery can¬ 
not now be expected. 
SWELLED JAW WITH ABSCESS IN STEER. 
L. S., Prescott, Washington Ter. —AmoDg 
220 head of cattle one four year-old steer has 
a swollen lower jaw, and emits a yellow, 
sticky fluid from its nostrils. Someneigbbors 
say I ought to cut open the place and scrape 
the bone; others think 1 ought to kill and 
bury it. What does the Rural say? 
Ans.—I f you have reason to believe the ani¬ 
mal has “ lump jaw ” or “ big j iw ’’—actino¬ 
mycosis—it would be best to destroy him at 
once because the disease is communicable by 
inoculation not only to other cattle but to 
man. Your description of the symptons indi- 
ca r e actino-mycosis, a parasitic fungus, as 
the probable cause of the disease. It would 
be a safe precaution to destroy the aDimal, 
and burn the head. The flesh of such an 
animal should not be used for food. If the 
swelling and discharge are due to an injury 
the proper treatment would be to open the 
abscess, scrape the bone if found diseased, and 
then treat as an open sore. 
POLYPUS OR TUMOR IN TEAT OF COW. 
D.F.G ., Sandwich, III.— There’s an ob¬ 
struction in one of the teats of a young cow 
that dropped her second ealf two weeks ago. 
