5o6 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
July 19 
“BUFFALO ROBES” FROM SCOTCH 
CATTLE. 
Several years ago there was quite a dis¬ 
cussion in the papers about the value of 
hides from Aberdeen-Angus cattle. It was 
said that these hides proved a good substi¬ 
tute for buffalo robes, and that a large 
number of them were used. Do the hides 
from these black cattle command a higher 
price in the market? If so, how much are 
they worth, and can it be said that the 
hides are worth enough more to add ma¬ 
terially to the value of the live cattle when 
sold? 
The hides of the Angus cattle are not 
used for robes and overcoats enough to 
affect the price of such hides very much. 
The hides of the Galloways have longer 
hair, and are better for these purposes. 
Sawyer, Iowa. s. b. dewey. 
The Angus robes are all right. I have 
had several hides tanned, and they are 
much handsomer than a buffalo, and I 
think will wear longer. They are very 
glossy black. They make excellent 
coats, etc. I sent seven hides to the tan¬ 
ners the past Winter. 
Creston, Ill. Stanley pierce. 
The Galloway robe is of equal value 
with any buffalo. Their beef is the best 
on record at Smith field, London, Eng¬ 
land. They make their mark on the 
block; their milk is good, and they make 
good butter cows. They are the poor 
man’s cow. We have sold robes as high 
as $75; about $50 is their average price. 
These cattle have no horns and are good 
dishorners when the bulls are used on 
common cows. They can live where oth¬ 
ers will starve to death. They always 
face the storm; never do they turn 
around. alex. forbes. 
Fort Wayne, Ind. 
Tt is true that Angus hides are used to 
some extent for robes and overcoats, but 
the demand for this purpose for hides 
of any particular breed of cattle is so 
limited that it has no perceptible effect 
on the market value of the hides. It is 
also true that they are a good substitute 
for buffalo robes. One of the largest 
cattle-purchasing firms at the Chicago 
Stock Yards states substantially that the 
demand for such hides is so small that 
it cuts no figure in the value of the hide; 
that is, the firm does not make a spe¬ 
cialty of sorting such hides from the 
regular class of native hides, and, as a 
rule, they sell them and the natives at 
the same price. Sometimes they are re¬ 
quested by the owner when selling cattle 
to save a hide or two, which is some¬ 
times done as a matter of accommoda¬ 
tion only, and he is usually permitted 
to have the hide at the market price of 
hides. I also inquired of a firm of tan¬ 
ners and manufacturers of fur-lined 
overcoats, and they state substantially 
that in their business of tanning hides 
for robps and fur coats they find the 
Angus hide somewhat preferable, and 
perhaps worth a little more in their 
business, but they always buy them with 
other hides at the same price, and add 
that, they make a very nice robe. 
Lake Forest. Ill. geo. finoi.ay. 
Aberdeen-Angus robes are very gen¬ 
erally used here in the place of buffalo 
robes; the fur is very well adapted for 
making warm robes. There is a coat of 
long hair, and underneath this is a fine 
coat of much finer hair of a velvety fin¬ 
ish. The hides make equally good over¬ 
coats; a person wearing these coats can 
stand any amount of cold. They also 
make fine rugs for houses. The only 
means of getting these hides is from 
one’s own herd, for the reason that the 
Aberdeen-Angus cattle, when brought to 
a finish, bring such high prices for beef 
that they are almost invariably export¬ 
ed and killed at Liverpool. Of recent 
years, since the true value of Angus cat- 
Live Stockand Dairy 
tie has been learned by reason of their 
early maturity, and marbling their meat 
and consequently killing out a greater 
per cent of edible meat, the demand for 
breeding Angus bulls is greater than 
can be filled. As to the relative value 
of Angus hides compared with other 
breeds I cannot say. We lay no claim to 
keeping them for their hides; we believe 
they have a higher calling, tnat of fur¬ 
nishing the best marbled beef, free from 
patchiness, the greatest per cent of edi¬ 
ble meat of any breed, that they have 
topped the market oftener than any 
other beef, and that they will mature at 
three years of age. It is also said that 
they will feed longer without going to 
patchiness than any other breed. These 
claims are conceded by the Chicago 
packers, and the buyers and Killers are 
the best friends the Angus cattle have, 
because of the tests they have been able 
to make with them. w. a. m’henry. 
Denison, Iowa. 
We believe some of the Galloway 
breeders have made claims to extra 
value of their cattle because of the value 
of their hides for robes and furs, and 
doubtless it is true that they are better 
for that purpose than the Angus. Either, 
however, is good enough to suit the 
most critical. Some of the finest robes 
we have ever seen were from grades out 
of Angus bulls and Short-horn cows. A 
yearling or two-year steer that has been 
kept in the open, and moreover has a 
good coat of hair, gives something fine, 
as black as black can be, and fine as 
silk. Many of them are curly, especially 
the Galloways, but also the Angus. We 
have a large robe from a grade Angus, 
the hair on which is somewhat curly 
and four inches long, and the fur is as 
fine as can be. We have a six-months 
calfskin tanned which we use for a floor 
rug. Most of our visitors think it an 
elegant bearskin. These robes are used 
very extensively about here. They can 
be had at all prices from $10 to $50, de¬ 
pending on quality and trimmings. They 
have the great advantage of being all in 
one piece, and very strong, hence do not 
rip. They cannot fade, nor can color 
run; wetting does not hurt it, and they 
can be tanned as soft as a kid glove. 
Does it add value to the breed of cat¬ 
tle? In general, no. These grades can 
be had all through the West by the 
thousands. However, not one in a hun¬ 
dred will make a fancy robe. To such 
an animal it may add vaiue. A good 
hide should be taken about Christmas, 
when at full length, and before any 
shedding begins to affect the hair. We 
do not believe that ordinarily speaking 
the value of the hide for robes even at 
the best season cuts any figure in values 
on the Chicago markets. The additional 
price received by the Angus men for 
their cattle lies entirely in the extra 
quality of their meat and high per cent 
of killing quality, d. bradfute & son. 
Cedarville, O. 
4< 
BREEDING UP” CORN. 
A company for the breeding up of seed 
corn on an extended scale has been or¬ 
ganized with headquarters, offices and lab¬ 
oratories at Bloomington, Ill. This com¬ 
pany has capitalized for $25,000, and is 
known as the Funk Brothers Corn and 
Seed Company—the company, excepting 
the manager, all being members of the ex¬ 
tensive Funk family. This family owns 
27.000 acres of the choicest of Illinois black 
soil corn land lying in a body near Bloom¬ 
ington, in the very center of the greatest 
corn belt in the world. The first objective 
point aimed at is to make a selection of 
the best varieties of corn, as judged by 
physical perfection and by chemical analy¬ 
sis; then to choose from each of these va¬ 
rieties a few hundred ears; to subject each 
ear to a chemical test to determine its pro¬ 
tein, oil, and starch value, and to select for 
planting those ears that show the most sat¬ 
isfactory desired properties. To provide 
for the analytical work, the company has 
provided a laboratory in connection w r ith 
the private laboratory of Prof. Graham, 
chemist of the Illinois Wesleyan Univer¬ 
sity at Bloomington. The various experi¬ 
ments that have been going forward in 
some of our agricultural colleges, as''Cor¬ 
nell, University of Wisconsin and those un¬ 
der the direction of Prof. Cyril G. Hopkins, 
of the University of Illinois, have made It 
certain that corn and other cereals can be 
bred up, with reference to the constituents 
valuable for any special purpose, just as 
cattle can be bred up for certain qualities. 
These experiments were necessarily on a 
small scale, and the limited area available 
for the work tended to vitiate in a mea¬ 
sure the results. With but 40 acres to work 
on, for example, patches one-tenth of an 
acre in extent were devoted to the tests. 
But the different test-patches, being so 
near together, allowed for the carrying of 
pollen back and forth between these. For 
the first time the experiment is being made 
on a commercial scale, and patches several 
acres in extent and separated by long dis¬ 
tances are being devoted to this. About 
1,000 acres will be used, in fields scattered 
here and there over the great area. 
Last Winter over 1.200 ears were tes’ed, 
for protein and oil especially, as these two 
ingredients are found to be specially valu¬ 
able feeding properties. The varieties se¬ 
lected for test were J. O. Tolland's Learn¬ 
ing. Orth's Yellow Dent, Reed's Yellow 
Dent, and K. F. Chester’s Learning. From 
the samples analyzed, about one-third were 
selected for the chemical patches; each of 
these containing about three acres. Then 
the bulk of the remainder was carefully 
worked over, taking into account the prop¬ 
erties revealed by the analysis, and plant¬ 
ed in a second series of patches of larg r 
extent. In the chemical patches, reco"d 
was made of each ear planted; in other 
words, the “pedigree” of each row was re¬ 
corded in a “pedigree book.” The plant¬ 
ing was done in such manner that in some 
cases ears highest in protein were so plant¬ 
ed that the stalks from these would ferti¬ 
lize one another, by removing the male or 
female flower at the proper time. In other 
cases, high oils were arranged to fertilize 
high proteins; and a “high oil, low pro¬ 
tein” patch was placed by itself. At har¬ 
vest time the descendants of each ear will 
be kept separate, a selection of samples 
according to physical perfection made from 
these, these samples subjected to chemical 
analysis, and the offspring showing highest 
in desired qualities, the “most worthy sons 
of worthy sires,” will be selected for next 
year's “chemical patches.” Those of the 
next grade wdll take their places in the 
“second patches”; and the best products 
of-this year's “second patches” will supply 
the seed for a “third patches” series, on 
an extended scale. In this way. year by 
year, the desired qualities in each series of 
patches will be raised: and pedigreed seed 
corn of a higher quality along the chosen 
lines of breeding to correspond with the 
purpose to which the purchaser desires to 
devote it will be furnished. The chemical 
analyses this year show' a variation in dif¬ 
ferent ears of the same variety of more 
than 100 per cent; in oils of 30 per cent. 
There seems to be every reason to hope 
and to expect that m feeding qualities, for 
example, the eventual product will be a 
corn, two bushels of which, costing the 
same per bushel to raise, as ordinary corn, 
will have the value of three bushels of the 
corn now being raised on the same lands. 
Think what such a result will mean to our 
great corn States. J- d. 
Notes on Alfalfa. 
There was an inquiry in a recent issue 
for information as to sowing Alfalfa. For 
a sure growth any time during the month 
of June will do. One of the best results 
I ever had was the first week in July. 
Plow the ground as for a grain crop, then 
sow about one bushel of oats or barley 
(bats preferred) to the acre; harrow until 
the earth is fine; then sow the Alfalfa, 20 
pounds at least to the acre (T tried to get 
on 30) with thumb and two fingers; then 
harrow- again, and if a clay soil roll after¬ 
wards, if possile. There are some Don't s 
to be remembered. Don't pasture at any 
time. Don't let the grass lie long in cocks 
or windrows after cutting, but get it off 
the land as soon as possible. Don’t mow 
the first year until after the frost stops 
the growth in the Fall, then cut oats and 
all for Winter feed. Alfalfa feeds every¬ 
thing. I have fed three horses, two cows 
and five hogs from one acre all Summer, 
from May 20, without any grain, in better 
condition than my neighbors and cut a 
large load of hay off it in addition. No 
need of a field of green corn for Summer 
feeding w-hen pastures are brown. It is 
the cheapest and best feed for all stock 
that a farmer can raise. a. g. 
Niagara Falls. N. Y. 
Breeders’ Directory 
Registered Jersey Bull Calves 
from Imported Golden Lad at fair prices. 
R. F. SHANNON, 907 Liberty Street, Pittsburg. Pa. 
A Foundation Herd of 10 or 20 young registered 
** HOLSTEIN COWS Is offered at a special price 
by DELLHUK 8 T FARM, Mentor, Ohio. 
P 1 -.- I —-PUREBRED BERKSHIRE 
rOl Odlc SWINE and SCOTCH COLLIE 
PUPS from registered stock. 
W. W. CHENEY, Manlius, N. Y. 
pHENANGO VALLEY STOCK FARMS, Greene, 
^ N. Y.—Dutch-Belted and Jersey Cattle, Dorset 
and Ramboulllet Sheep. Poland-China and Jersey 
Red Swine; 15 varieties Land and Water Fowl". 
Eggs cheap In season. 
The high-bred herd of Holsteln-Friesians at 
the MAPI,KB STOCK FARM. Binghamton, N. Y. 
Address WM. ROOD, Proprietor. 
IMPROVED URGE YORKSHIRES 
hog. Pigs of all ages from imported stock for sale. 
MEADOW BROOK STOCK FARM. Rochester, Mich 
Reg. P. Chinas, Berkshires and C. Whites. 
Choice Pigs. 8 weeks old, mated not 
ak-n. Bred Sows and Service Boars. 
POULTRY. Write for hard times 
prices and free circular. 
HAMILTON & CO.. Rosenvick, Chester Co., Pa. 
lUPflDl P rt A TC are handsome, hardy and 
AHUUnA UU A I O profitable. Prize stock. 
Low prices. Large oir. E. W. Cole & Co., Kenton. 0. 
For Sale.—Scotch Collies, magnifi¬ 
cently bred. A J. BENEDICT. Woodworth, Wis. 
PHI I 1C miDC—By Prize-Wlnnlng.Imported 
UULLIb r Ur O Sires and Trained Dams. Kit 
for Bench, Ranch or Farm. Both sexes: all ages. 
Also a Book on the Care and Training of the COLLIE 
for all Practical Uses. Price, 50c. Book free to ptfr- 
chaser of Collie. Maplemont Sargent. Albany, Vt. 
WHITE WYAND0TTES STRAIN 1 . 
Farm-raised; unlimited range. A few choice breed¬ 
ers, yearlings. Hens.$2 each; male birds. 12.50. Eggs 
balance of season, $1 for 15. Five hundred selected 
pullets and cockerels for sale in September. 
H. A. HATHAWAY. Greendale. N. Y. 
n a * 1 1* U I Iaa on HENS and CHICKS 
U69III 10 LIGG 64- page Book FREE. 
D. J. LAMBERT, Box 307, Apponaug, R. I. 
XX7HITEWASH Stables and Hennery— DIs- 
** infect Drains, etc We ship a whole barrel of 
Chaumont White Lime on receipt of 80c. 
The Adams A Duford Co., Chaumont, Jeff.Co.,N.Y. 
NO SPAVINS 
The worst possible spavin can be cured in 
45 minutes. Ringbones, Curbs and Splints 
just as quick. Not painful and never has 
failed. Detailed information about this 
new method sent free to horse owners. 
Write today. Ask for pamphlet No. 88 
Fleming Bros., Chemists, Union Slock Yds., Chicago. 
The 
Animals’ 
FRIEND 
SHOO-FLY 
Kills every FLY it strikes; keeps off the rest; harmless to Dian 
and beast. Cures all sores (beware of IMITATIONS that make 
sores). Half cent's worth saves 2 quarts milk and much flesh. 
Thousands have duplicated 10 to 50 gallons 7 consecutive years. 
If your dealer does not keep it, send us $1.00 for Improved Double 
Tube 8prayer and enough “ghoo-FIy M to protect 200 cows; or 
send 50 cents for liquid. Quart FREE—to those naming 
IMITATION they have used, and promising to pay Kxpress; to 
these will send a’sprav for 60c. 
SH00-FLY MFG. CO. 1005 Fairmount Ave. Phila. Pa. 
Experience has proven SHOO-FLY to be O. K.— Kdito*. 
Kendall’s Spavin Cure 
lathe only horse remedy that has 
stood out with special prominence 
all these years. Cures Spavins, 
Ringbones, Splints, Curbs and 
all Lameness. $1. a bottle; 6 for 
$5. All druggists. Unequaled 
for family u^e. Book <4 A Treatise 
on the Horse” sent free. Address 
Dr* B. J. Kendall Co* 
Enonburg Fall*, Vt* 
BEST FENCE 
Can be made at the actual cost of wire. 
Over 100 Styles, and 60 to 70 rods per day, 
Hon>e-high, Hull utrong, Pig and Chicken-tight. 
THE DUPLEX MACHINE 
makes it. The Machine Is Automatic, simple 
in construction, runs easy, works rapidly. 
Sent on Trial. Plain, barb wire and 
Gates at wholesale prices. Catalog tree. 
KITSELMAN BROTHERS, 
BoxD92 Muncle* Indiana. 
S&Sj 
2E2SE3 
Pretty Hot 
time to build fence, but our factory is running full 
time making your fall fencing. 
PAGE WOVEN W IRE FENCE CO., ADRIAN,MICH. 
Cattle Comfort 
KEEPS CATTLE COMFORTABLE IN FLY TIME 
Sold by Merchants and the Seedsmen. 
Send for Pamphlet to 
Hammond’s Slug Shot, Fishkill-on-Hudson, N. Y. 
