1899 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
145 
Ailing Animals. 
ANSWERS BY DR F. L. KILBOKNK. 
Moldy Straw for Bedding Horses. 
Is there any danger to horses from using straw 
for bedding which has been in a silo, and is very 
moldy? n. c. K. 
Cortland Co., N. Y. 
Such moldy straw, while it might not 
be dangerous, would not be desirable for 
bedding, because of the dust that would 
arise whenever the straw is stirred. 
This mold-dust would be very disagree¬ 
able, especially if the horses were in¬ 
clined to a cough, the heaves, or any 
bronchial affection. In the absence of 
any other bedding, this straw, if dry, 
might be used sparingly with no special 
danger, but I would not advise its gen¬ 
eral use if it could be avoided. 
Black Teeth in Pigs. 
What is the cause of “ black teeth” in pigs, 
and how should they be treated ? Pulling is the 
only thing people here know of. p. l. b. 
Massachusetts. 
When you can tell me why some pigs 
are black and others white, I will tell 
you why some of the teeth of some pigs 
are black and others white. They are 
“borned that way.” It is a natural 
condition, not due to disease, and their 
presence or absence never causes disease 
of any kind. The only rational treat¬ 
ment is to let them alone and pay no at¬ 
tention to them whatever. They will 
take care of themselves. Ignorant 
quacks of the old school of self-made 
doctors still continue the practice of 
pulling the black teeth, simply because 
it was the traditional practice of their 
ancestors. The pulling of the teeth 
causes the pigs unnecessary pain, with¬ 
out any benefit resulting from the oper¬ 
ation. 
Deformed Hoofs on Younq Mare. 
I began working my mare on the farm and 
driving some on the road when she was three 
years old, working her over a year without hav¬ 
ing her shod. All this time she had a quarter 
crack on her off front foot. She seemed a little 
tender sometimes on this foot when driving on 
the road. When I had her shod, the crack 
healed, but the hoof began growing concave, and 
she got quite lame on it. She has been wearing 
shoes about five months. Is there any cure or 
help for it ? e. ii. 
Sycamore, Ill 
It is doubtful whether the mare can 
be cured ; but, being young, she ought 
to be benefited if properly treated. A 
personal examination would be necessary 
to determine the cause of the trouble, 
which is not made clear by your descrip¬ 
tion. I Mould advise taking the mare 
to a qualified veterinarian for examina¬ 
tion and treatment. 
Feeding Nitrate of Potash to Cows. 
1. If a cow should eat a piece of saltpeter the 
size of an English walnut, half in the morning 
and half at night, every day for six months, what 
would be the effect? 2. If the cow were fed on 
turnips, ensilage, carrot tops or anything that 
tends to impart an unpleasant flavor to the milk, 
wouldn’t the saltpeter acting as a diuretic, tend 
to eliminate a large part of the objectionable 
flavor ? 3. Would the nitrate of potash have any 
effect upon the muscular system ? 4. It the cow 
were killed for beef at the end of the experiment 
would the beef be tenderer and sweeter than it 
otherwise would have been ? a. h si. 
Massachusetts. 
1. Your queries involve a hypothetical 
case, as I am not aware that any test or 
experiment of this kind has ever been 
made. The daily feeding of a piece of 
nitrate of potash of the size of an Eng¬ 
lish walnut might be continued for a 
few weeks, possibly months, without in¬ 
jurious effect; but if too long continued, 
it would cause weakness or disorder of 
the urinary organs—the kidneys and 
bladder. 2. The nitrate of potash might 
eliminate a small portion of such un¬ 
pleasant odors, but it would not be suffi¬ 
cient to free the milk from them. 3 The 
nitrate of potash would have little, if 
any, effect upon the muscular system, 
except indirectly through derangement 
of the kidneys. 4. If there was any 
effect on the meat, I am of the opinion 
that it would be unfavorable rather than 
favorable ; that the meat would be more 
desirable without such feeding of the 
nitrate of potash. 
Founder in a Cow. 
What is the cause of a cow being foundered ? 
If cured of it, does it lessen her value ? In what 
condition does it leave a cow ? Would you ad¬ 
vise me to buy a cow that has foundered ? The 
owner claims that it has been cured, that she is 
a good cow and a good milker, and is coming in 
in May. She is about eight years old. c. h. 
New York. 
Founder in the cow—inflammation of 
the sensitive structures within the hoof 
—is usually caused by overfeeding or 
excessive drinking, especially when 
warm; by overheating and by long drives 
over hard roads. If the cow is cured so 
as to be, apparently, as well as before 
being foundered, it does not materially 
lessen her value, except that she would 
now be more liable to be foundered than 
if she had never been foundered. A 
mild attack usually leaves no permanent 
lesions, but in severe cases, there may re¬ 
sult stiffness or lameness, deformed 
hoofs, or even the loss of one or both 
claws. If there is no stiffness or disease 
of the feet, I should not hesitate to buy 
a cow that had been foundered, if she 
was now apparently well and healthy. 
I would not, of course, expect to pay 
quite as much for her, owing to the fact 
that I would have to be more careful to 
avoid causes that would be liable to 
cause founder. 
Horse Thin in Flesh. 
My horse is 10 years old, seems to be in good 
health, and has good life, but for the past year, 
he is very poor; the flesh has sunk from his back 
bone, and he has the appearance of a horse just 
gone with old age. I cannot see anything wrong. 
All the feed he can eat will not help him. What 
ails him ? m. j. r. 
Washington. 
You should have given your feeding 
ration, together with available food ma¬ 
terials, to enable me to advise a ration. 
As a general ration, if you have the 
materials, I would suggest one part by 
weight of corn meal, two parts each of 
wheat bran and ground oats, and one 
part of oil meal. Feed three or four 
quarts three times daily, or when work¬ 
ing, five to six quarts may be fed for an 
1,100-pound horse. Medicinally, give 
the horse a course of nux vomica. Be¬ 
gin by giving one teaspoonful of the 
powdered nux in the feed three times 
daily for three days. Then increase the 
dose to 1% teaspoonful, and continue in¬ 
creasing the dose by half teaspoonfuls 
every three days until giving three 
spoonfuls three times daily, after which, 
continue for 10 days or two weeks, 
unleis muscular twitchings are observed, 
when the dose should be reduced or dis¬ 
continued. It would, also, be well to 
have the teeth examined by a qualified 
veterinary surgeon, and floated if found 
overgrown or irregular so as to interfere 
with mastication. You may or may not 
he able to put more flesh on the horse. 
There are, occasionally, horses that will 
remain thin in flesh, on the best of feed 
and care. It does not seem to be in them 
to lay on flesh. 
Butter in Danger.— The following 
report was sent over the wire from Rock¬ 
ford Ill., to the Chicago Record : 
Indications of the genuine alarm that is felt 
among northern Illinois producers of butter over 
the present demoralization of the market through 
the manufacture of substitutes, is shown in reso¬ 
lutions adopted unanimously at farmers’ insti¬ 
tutes in the three counties of Winnebago, Mc¬ 
Henry and Stephenson. Farmers and dairymen 
believe that, unless they receive legislative help, 
the complete ruin of their industry will ensue. 
In the same paper we find the follow¬ 
ing advertisement: 
HOLSTEIN 
B UTTERINE. 
Sold squarely on its merits for just 
what it is. 
EVERY PACKAGE PLAINLY MARKED. 
Your dealer sells it. 
Insist on Holstein. 
The only high-grade. 
BRAUN & FITTS , 
CHURNERS. 
That is, at least, honest so far as it goes ; 
but the trouble is that much of this 
“Holstein” stuff will be eaten in res¬ 
taurants and boarding-houses by people 
who think it is butter. 
At the close of the New York Poultry show, 
quite a number of birds were sold to go to Cuba 
and Porto Rico. The favorite feathered Ameri¬ 
cans for those countries seem to be White and 
Barred Plymouth Rocks. 
Mrs. S. Hoxie reports a Holstein-Friesian cow 
which gave milk containing over six per cent 
butter fat. This is a remarkable showing for a 
Holstein. 
The Michigan Farmer says that the craze for 
breeding dairy cattle has worked great Injury to 
the cattle of eastern Michigan. The herds iD 
that section formerly contained a good deal of 
Short-horn blood. The cows gave a fair quantity 
of milk, and raised calves that made good beef 
animals. These cattle suited the mixed farming 
of that section, and they were profitable. The 
craze for dairy breeds brought in dairy blood, 
and the result is an Inferior class of cattle for 
beef or general-purpose farming. Dairying has 
not been entirely successful with many of these 
farmers, and the steers sent away to market are 
much Inferior to the old class of cattle. Here is 
a case where the general-purpose cow is better 
than a special-purpose animal. 
Raising Calves Without Milk. —A correspond¬ 
ent of Hoard’s Dairyman tells how he is raising 
four heifer calves that came early in the Fall, as 
he prefers these to Spring calves. They were 
selected from the best cows, and are allowed to 
suck one day or night as the case may be. They 
are then taken away and taught to drink, giving 
them about two quarts of their mother’s milk 
twice a day for a week. At a week old, each calf 
is given a little strip of mangel cut from the in¬ 
side. The mangels are increased gradually until 
the calf will eat a whole one. At the end of a 
week, the milk is diluted with a little flax-seed 
tea, made by boiling a quart of flax seed and two 
gallons of water to a jelly. About a tablespoon¬ 
ful of the jelly is takeD, a little boiling water 
poured over it, and added to the milk, and the 
flax and water increased and the milk decreased, 
so by the time the calf is a month old, it will 
be getting only flax seed and water. A little 
bran is gradually added to the mangels until at 
two months old, they take a quart of bran, two 
quarts of mangels, cut fine, and about four quarts 
of flax and water, twice daily. After that time 
the flax may be dropped and warm water substi¬ 
tuted. A little clover hay of good quality is 
always kept before them. 
Remember that Bowker’s Anima' 
Meal is sold only in yellow bags and 
yellow packages. The original; richest 
in protein.— Adv. 
FumaCarbon Bisulphide 
“The wheels of the gods grind slow but exceed 
ing small.” So do weevil, but don’t let them grind 
your grain, it doesn't pay. firiltil liasothers 
KILL THEM WITH rUfflAj are doing. 
EDWARD R. TAYLOR. Cleveland, Ohio. 
Cracker Jack Sack Holders. 
Justthe thing for farmers, grain 
and feed dealers. Saves time. 
Holds fast any sack without wear¬ 
ing or tearing it. Agents and Im¬ 
plement men wanted to sell them. 
Write for prices, etc. 
BOOTH BROS., 
2 N. Water St., Batavia, Ill. 
TANDEM SWEEP 
I ahead of al 1 other mills. ^The load 
Is equalised, and each horse moil 
pull hia own share. Great gain In capa- 
c J\y> speed and comfort. No gearing; m 
friction. Give your horse* a chance. 
SPECIAL PRICES NOW. (AUomakel 
sizea belt power mills; 2 to 25 H. P.) 
. BOWSHER CO. SOUTH BEND, IND. 
Feeding Steers. This feed makes quick, 
heavy growth. Steers fed on it develop 
evenly and furnish tender, juicy, sought- 
after meat. 
“Feeding for Flesh,” an invaluable 
book on I lorse, Cattle, ! log and Sheep Feed¬ 
ing. Sent postpaid on request. Address, 
Science Department, 
THE AMERICAN CEREAL CO. 
1.139 Monadnock Bldg., Chicago, 111 . 
»«/f t.ptjv/cJr AOv aCInli n.l . — 
LIVE-STOCK FEEDERS 
should see that a guaranteed analysis 
accompanies every bag of 
Cotton-Seed Meal. 
It is the only safe way to avoid adulterated 
Meal. Every bag shipped by the American Cotton 
Oil Company contains a red tag guaranteeing 
not less than the following analysis: 
Ammonia. 8.50 per cent. 
Nitrogen. 7.00 “ 
Protein.43.00 “ 
Crude Fat and Oil.9.00 “ 
See that the name of The American Cotton-Oil 
Compant Is on the red tag attached to bag. 
Bend your address for free Information about 
cotton-seed meaL 
THE AMERICAN COTTON OIL COMPANY, 
46 Cedar Street, New York City. 
O 
RAISE THE CALVES 
o 
on Blatchford’s Calf Meal, the 
perfect Milk Substitute, and sell the milk. 
“Have Spring Calves as Big as Cows.' 
J. H. Cooley, Now Woodstock, N. 
Ask your Feed Dealer for It. 
J. W. BARWELL, Waukegan. 111. 
J. h 
O 
N. I. 
o 
“YANKEE” 
SILO 
SENSE 
Our “99” booklet now 
roiuly, contains Ex-Gov. 
Hoard's views. Every up- 
to-date Farmer should 
read iV.Mailedfreeifyou 
name tliis paper. Also 
Cat. of Silo JMaeliin- 
ery, BADGER ROUND 
su.os, 50, 75, lOO 
tons. Farm Powers, Feed 
Mills, Root Cutters , Corn 
Shelters,one and two hole. 
SMALLEY MFB. CO., 
Sale Maker*, Banltoweo,Wla. 
KELLI Sffin 
GRINDING ITIILL 
Is made to grind all kinds of grain, cotton 
seed, corn and cob, shucked or un shucked, 
into coarse, medium or flnegri&t. 
,_. Does It rapidly, cheaply,and with 
I== amall power. Only mill made with 
DUPLEX GRINDERS. Don’t buy a grinder 
until you get our free Catalogue, No. 8 4 
- ^ O.S.Kellv Co.Sprln$fleld,0. 
SI 5.93 
Tills Disc Harrow 
cute 6X ft, has 12 16-in. 
discs; price $15.99. 
BALL BEARING 
All steel harrow is made 
with 16 and 20-ln. discs in 
8 sizes. Guaranteed light¬ 
est running and best made, 
Prices reduced. 
Send for Our FREE 320 
$6.25 
buys a 2-horse plow, turns 
furrow Min. Shipped 
oil triul. Terms print¬ 
ed In catalogue. We hore 
. no 
$7.10 \ agents, 
BUYS 
this 8-ft. steel mill; guar¬ 
anteed easiest running 
A strongest made; pump¬ 
ing and power mills, 8 to 
16-ft.; also tanks,pumps, 
pipe a all pumping sup¬ 
plier . We furnish com- 
plet'Outfits. Prtcenall 
reduced. Catalog free. 
Don't fail to send for it. 
this 2-horse Culti¬ 
vator: made of best 
material; steel wheels;aU 
complete. A riding culti- 
tivator, $16.99. 5-shovel 
1-h. cultivator, spreads to 
33 in., all steel; retailed 
at $4; our price $2.65. 
SEEDERS, ALL KINDS. 
for steel lever harrow; 
cute 10 ft; 60 teeth, 2 sec¬ 
tions ; also 3 Ac 4 sections, 
■Page Spring Agricultural Catalog,^ Marvin Smith Co., 55-57-59 N. Jefferson St., T16 , Chicago. 
SI 7.50 
for this team hnrneMft, 
cut from select oak-tanned 
leather, traces 6 ft long, 1^ 
in. wide, withcockeye, 18-ft 
lines; Hook A Territ pads, 
pole strap \y x in.; collar 
strap %\n. R|g liurtruln. 
The Farmers’ Dollar 
is as big and as round and is worth just as much 
as any other dollar. He is just as much entitled to 
his dollar’s worth as anybody else. When he buys 
a plow he wants one that is worth the money. He 
expects, as he has a perfect right to, to get his 
money’s worth. 
When he buys the 
“Oliver Chilled Plow” 
he knows that 
he gets his money’s 
worth every time. 
THE OLIVER CHILLED PLOW WORKS, 
South Bend, Indiana. U. S. A. 
