1899 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
81 
THE CONNECTICUT DAIRYMEN 
NOTES FROM THEIR ANNUAL MEETING. 
Some of their Problems and Possibilities. 
| EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE. | 
A Good Outlook. —The Connecticut 
dairymen who met at Hartford January 
19, were hopeful and fairly contented with 
their business. Their talk would have 
opened the eyes of some of our western 
brethren, who seem to think they are to 
have a monopoly of the dairy business. 
Connecticut is dotted all over with towns 
and cities containing a large manufac¬ 
turing population. These people de¬ 
mand vast quantities of milk, and this 
is supplied largely by nearby dairies. 
Skim-milk may be sold if marked as 
such, and thus many butter dairies do a 
double business. The factory workmen 
consume far more milk than the average 
cit'zen of a western town. 
Some dairymen find an excellent mar¬ 
ket for ice cream—the pure cream fla¬ 
vored and frozen. Mr. Manchester, of 
W. Winsted, says that this ice cream 
trade pays much better than buttermak¬ 
ing. Every package or ticket that leaves 
the Manchester farm bears the word 
“Inspected”, which means that the 
herd and premises have been pronounced 
free from disease. 
Hartford, probably, has more wealth 
per capita than any city of equal popu¬ 
lation in the country. These excellent 
home markets help the Connecticut 
dairyman, and he is quick to take ad¬ 
vantage of it. You seldom hear of an 
abandoned farm in Connecticut nowa¬ 
days. I never saw before such a large 
proportion of young men at an agricul¬ 
tural meeting. 
New Competition. —He has his trou¬ 
bles, too. Western competition has hurt 
him, for he is told that, in Minnesota, 
butter can be made for eight cents a 
pound. Competitors at home are hurt¬ 
ing him more than those out West. Hay 
is a great crop in Connecticut. Since 
the silo became popular, these shrewd 
Yankees have learned to feed their cows 
on ensilage, and to sell the hay and buy 
cheap western grain with the money. 
This worked well while hay brought a 
fair price. Now hay is so low that there 
are thousands of tons of it piled up on 
Connecticut farms. Extra stock is be¬ 
ing bought to eat this hay. Of course, 
this means more dairy products. The 
market-gardening near large towns and 
cities is quite rapidly going into the 
hands of Germans and Italians. The 
Italians are considered harder competi¬ 
tors than western farmers. These for¬ 
eigners live closer and work longer than 
Americans and crowd them out of gar¬ 
dening, so that they take up dairying in 
a small way. Again, many farmers who 
have been growing peaches for the past 
few years, now fear an overproduction, 
and they are turning to live stock as “an 
anchor to windward ”. 
A Curious Change. —Thus we find a 
curious change going on. Twenty years 
ago, it was thought that the live-stock 
business in New England would be of 
small importance. The silo has provided 
cheap Winter roughage, and has so in¬ 
creased the amount of hay in local mar¬ 
kets that it is better to feed it at home. 
The New England hillsides still give the 
best pasturage on the Continent. Thus, 
in spite of all the wise prophets, New 
England is swinging back to live stock 
again. Some western sheep and steers 
are fed, but the trouble is to sell them 
to good advantage. There is hardly a 
large slaughterhouse left in New Eng¬ 
land, for the western dressed beef has 
monopolized the market. One man who 
is running a milk dairy of Holstein cows 
near New Haven, said that most of his 
old cows were sold to the Jews. But for 
this demand for cheap beef, he said it 
would be hard to find customers for the 
cows. One farmer with a lot of hay left 
on hand had bought a car-load of New 
York State heifers. He said that he 
would either sell them as two-year-olds, 
or keep the best and breed them to a 
good bull of a dairy breed, and run a 
“ heifer farm.” 
The Connecticut Cow. —Few, if any, 
beef herds are left in Connecticut. The 
Holsteins and Brown Swiss have many 
friends, but most dairymen prefer a 
smaller cow with Jersey, Guernsey or 
Ayrshire blood. Unconsciously, perhaps, 
the feeling is growing in favor of selling 
milk on the basis of its fat or “ quality ”, 
therefore, the demand is for richer milk. 
Speaking of Jersey cattle, Prof. Phelps, 
of the Agricultural College, said that 
Connecticut supplied a larger share of the 
World’s Fair Jerseys than any other 
State. He said that our American Jer¬ 
seys are often smaller than the cattle on 
the home Island. One reason for this is 
that they were bred too often and when 
too young during the days of high prices. 
This had weakened certain families. 
During the discussion, it was stated that 
Jerseys will naturally breed earlier than 
most other breeds. It was thought to 
be a mistake to force a cow to produce 
calves oftener than 12 or 13 months. 
Some thought it best to breed the heifer 
early, and then give her a long rest. It 
was claimed that the Guernseys can ex¬ 
tract more natural color from the food 
than any other breed. Prof. Phelps told 
of a sample of butter made from Guern¬ 
sey cows’ milk which was cut by the 
judges because of “too much butter 
color ” when not a pinch of anything 
had been used in the natural milk 1 
Several persons spoke of keeping several 
Guernsey cows in a herd of Holsteins, to 
give needed color to the milk. The point 
was made that, if a fair measure of 
labor is the breaking down of muscular 
tissue, a cow giving a large mess of milk 
works as hard as an ox at heavy labor. 
Her History. —More cows are being 
bred in the home dairies than formerly. 
The best dairymen use the scales and 
Babcock test, and thus know the rob¬ 
bers from the earners. A purebred 
bull of good family is kept, and the 
heifer calves from the best earners are 
Baved and raised. The others are sold 
to calf buyers. The most serviceable 
co ws seem to be large high-grades. Many 
cows are still bought from buyers. The 
greater part of them come from the 
North—Vermont and western Massachu¬ 
setts. In old days, these cows were 
driven down in droves, but now they are 
bought in car-load lots. Most of them 
contain more or less Jersey blood. There 
is a good chance for Connecticut dairy¬ 
men to use their surplus pasture and 
hay in producing these dairy cows that 
are now imported. They will give bet¬ 
ter returns for the food consumed than 
beef or mutton. 
How Fed. —The silo is very popular in 
Connecticut. The lower part of the Con¬ 
necticut River Valley was always noted 
for its crops of corn. The Indians who 
lived there always had a surplus to sell. 
Ensilage is the standard roughage on 
most of the paying dairy farms. One 
thing about ensilage is that it is “ health¬ 
ful You can safely feed with it almost 
any grain that the cow likes. This can¬ 
not always be done with dry fodder, 
which is usually constipating. Very 
little corn meal is bought. Mr. Clemence, 
who owns a very profitable dairy farm 
in Massachusetts, feeds bran and oil meal 
for grain. Most of the ensilage men feed 
more or less cotton-seed meal. Mr. E. 
Manchester told me he had found that 
cows “ clean” better after calving when 
cotton-seed meal is fed. Too much cot¬ 
ton-seed meal might cause abortion. Mr. 
Manchester says that he has had experi¬ 
ence with cows that were bloated or 
“ drunk ” from eating apples. He cures 
this by feeding at once about three 
pounds of corn meal, which seems to 
prevent or stop the fermentation. These 
Connecticut Yankees were always shrewd 
buyers and feeders. Some of the best of 
them now figure the value of grain by 
the amount of protein it contains. Their 
argument is that ensilage and other home 
fodders will supply all the fats and fat- 
formers that the cow needs. The chief 
thing to buy is the muscle-making food. 
So, with due allowance for the effect of 
various foods on the cow’s system, they 
buy the grains that give them most 
muscle-makers for a dollar. 
Another wrinkle is to feed two rations. 
One is a general well-balanced ration for 
all the cows. The other is a stronger 
mixture of such foods as bran, cotton¬ 
seed meal and linseed. All the cows get 
a fair mess of the first, and the heaviest 
milkers get, in addition, more or less of 
the last in proportion to the amount of 
milk they give. The argument for this 
is that the extra milk requires extra 
protein. It is cheaper to give it only to 
those cows that need it, and there is no 
use in giving them too much of the other 
elements. The western man may say 
that this would not pay him, but it pays 
in Connecticut. New England farmers 
are saving themselves by saving wastes. 
h. w. c. 
SCRAPS. 
An Australian contemporary reports that a 
flock of 10,000 sheep, recently noted in Gippsland, 
were herded by drovers on bicycles, instead of 
horses, as usual. 
In regard to the cost of horse shoeing, I have 
run a dray in the city where my horses were on 
pavement nearly all the time. The first six 
months of 1898, my horses drove one-half day 
each, the next six, all day. One horse cost me 
$10.35, and the other $12.45. t. s. 
Binghamton, N. Y. 
In the six months before November 1, 1898, 201 
cases of loss by lightning were reported in 
Illinois. This included 122 buildings and 221 head 
of stock, the total loss being $43,000. The reports 
indicate that there was a greater loss on wet 
land and in barns or granaries where damp grain 
and hay were stored. Considerable loss of stock 
was directly due to wire fences. 
At West Superior and Ashland, Wis., prosecu¬ 
tions have been begun by Assistant State Dairy 
and Food Commissioner Chadwick against the 
big packing companies which are again selling 
imitation butter. The agent of Armour & Co. 
at West Superior has been arrested for having 
butterine in his possession with intent to sell, 
and at Ashland, the agent for Swift & Co. is 
under arrest on a similar charge. 
Grafting a Cud. —Last Summer, I saw a neigh¬ 
bor’s hired man diligently searching for some¬ 
thing in the cow pasture. He said that one of 
the caws had lost her cud, and his employer’s 
wife had sent him out for it. He did not find it. 
A Cincinnati paper recently said on its market 
page, “ Dehorning is often the means of saving 
the life of a valuable animal, as by it, hollow 
horn is detected and the proper remedies given.” 
What is the proper remedy for hollow head in 
city newspaper reporters ? c. d. lton. 
Ohio. 
The meat question in Germany seems to have 
reached national importance. Prices of meat in 
the German market are said to be higher now 
than in several years. This is due to the fact 
that German farmers have been calling for 
higher tariffs on American meat. The German 
farmers do not appear to be able to supply all 
the meat needed in Germany. Germany is be¬ 
coming more and more a manufacturing nation, 
like England, and is thus more and more de¬ 
pendent on America for her food. The time must 
come eventually when more of our meat will be 
needed in Germany, in spite of the efforts of 
German farmers to keep it out. 
Breeders' Directory. 
This column Is reserved for small cards of live 
stock, Including poultry, breeders. No cuts. Rates 
on application. 
C HENANGO VALLEY STOCK FARMS, Greene, N 
Y.—Dutch Belted and Jersey Cattle; Dorset and 
Rambouillet Sheep; Poland-China, Jersey Red and 
Suffolk Pigs; White and Bronze Turkeys, Peafowls, 
and Blooded Chickens. J.D. VAN VALKKNBORGH. 
Another Good Offer \S Sniff. 
March, at $15. Just the kind you are looking for. Also 
Fall Pigs. F. H. Gates & Sons, Chittenango, N. Y. 
IMPROVED CHESTER WHITES 
of the best breeding and all ages for sale at reason 
able prices. Pamphlets and prices free. 
CHAS. K. RECORD, Peterboro, N. Y 
GRADE HOLSTEIN SPRINGERS. 
I nave for sale 30 head of very fine three-year old 
Grade Holstein and other grade Springers. Some due 
soon. Address A. C. WEBBER, Baldwlnsvllle, N. Y. 
Phoehiro Pigs. Quality right; prices right. All stock 
VillColillC registered. Silas Dean, Oak Hill, N. Y. 
FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE. 
One Imported and one half-bred bay French Coach 
Mare; Reg. Ayrshire Bulls of all ages, and Cocker 
Spaniel puppies. WANTED.—Dark Chestnut Hack¬ 
ney Stallion or Mare; Angora Goats; White Mam¬ 
moth Turkeys, Embden Geese and Shade Trees. 
B. LUTHER SHIMER, B. So., Mount Airy Park 
Farm, Bethlehem. Pa. 
Fifty Registered Ayrshires. 
Continuous milkers of good quality, with strong 
constitutions. MAPLE ROW STOCK FARM, 
F H. COOKINGHAM, Cherry Creek, N. Y. 
Farmer’s 
Improved FEED COOKER 
■Ib superior to all others in Safety, 
.Durability and Cheapness of cost 
[and operation. Scientifically con¬ 
structed. Heavy cast Iron lining 
In furnuce. Boiler of heavy gal¬ 
vanized steel. Stands high from 
l the floor and can be put up in the 
barn or summer kitchen with 
safety. Made in 3 sizes. Every one 
guaranteed or money refunded.For 
'descriptive book and prices address 
ACME M’F’G CO., Quincy, III. 
FEED COOKER 
Increases the grain you have by 
making it more palatable and dl 
gestible. THE 
FARMER’S FAVORITE 
is a thoroughly reliable cooker at a 
reasonable price. Furnace made of 
best gray iron; boiler of best gal¬ 
vanized steel. It Is of special value 
for cooking feed for all kinds of 
live stock and poultry: for heat¬ 
ing water for scalding hogs, etc. 
Excellent for evaporating Maple 
sap, boiling down syrup, “sugar¬ 
ing off,” etc. Just the thing for boiling down duer. 
Don’t buy until you get our circulars andprices. 
V R. LEWIS, SO Main St., Cortland, N. Y. 
Farmer’s Handy Feed Cooker. 
Reader’s attention is called to this device, 
which is sold at $12.50 for 50-gallon capacity. 
By feeding poultry and animals cooked food 
during winter at least 
one-third of the feed is saved ; also having 
stock in a healthy condition, preventing hog 
cholera among your hogs and insuring the 
hens laying freely during the winter months. 
On application to the Empire Manufacturing 
Company, Quincy, Ill., a catalogue giving full 
description, may be obtained. They are made in 
all sizes. 
Ask Anybody 
Did you ever see or hear of a sheet-iron pan for cooking that lasted more than 
a year ? Did you ever hear of a cast-iron kettle wearing out ? Our cookers are 
cheapest in fuel, quickest in heating, simplest, most durable and convenient. Full 
measure ; no burning of feed with the 
Heesen Feed Cooker. 
Examine all other Cookers, too. Here is a specimen letter: 
Heesen Bros. & Co.: Springfield, Ohio, December 5, 1898. 
Gentlemen: We have tested several Cookers, but find yours requires less fuel, and 
can be fired up quicker than any other before used. With very little fire left under 
the kettle, one can have plenty of warm feed In the morning. We took out an up-to- 
date upright steam boiler to put in your 70-gallon Cooker, and find it more economi¬ 
cal—it will pay for itself in one season. Yours truly, R. L. HOLMAN. 
Send for Circular. Five sixes, 30 to 70 gallons. 
HEESEN BROS. & CO., 28 High St.,Tecutnseh, Mich. 
