THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
Mayf 20 
386 
HICKORY HILL FARM NOTES. 
THE STORY OF A DAIRY FARM. 
I 
For Beginners and Small Capitalists. 
(Concluded from last week.) 
The Butter Trade. —The way we es¬ 
tablished our butter trade was like this : 
I made a nice package of butter, and 
took it to town, but was unable to sell 
it. I tried at a hotel where I knew a 
good table was always set, and at last 
induced the proprietor to try a package 
of my butter. He told me that, if I could 
make a uniform article like that, he 
would give me 25 cents per pound for a 
year, and I soon became firmly estab¬ 
lished with him. Then I tried private 
families, and after a while worked up a 
trade for all my butter. I sold it with 
the understanding that, if a package 
was faulty in any way, I would take it 
back and refund the money. This gave 
the customer confidence to try my goods, 
and I calculated that, when I had induced 
cne to try it, I had acquired a new cus¬ 
tomer. 
Feeding the Land.—8o the product 
of my cows was disposed of, but the 
question of feeding them had not yet 
been solved. The first year, I drew cut 
all the manure that had been made by 
the stock of my predecessor for two 
years, and was able to cover thinly about 
four acres, which I plowed and planted 
to corn and potatoes. The crops were 
fair, and the next Spring I seeded this 
plot, sowing it to oats and seeding with 
eight quarts of clover and eight of Tim¬ 
othy. The oats were rather poor, and 
the grass was worse, for the corn and 
oats tad taken the manure, and had left 
the ground about as before. 
At about this stage, I had a spell of 
thinking ! With my present stock of 
cattle, 1 could manure about four acres 
each year. To manure 60 acres, would 
take 15 years, and my land was in no 
better shape when I got it seeded. I 
saw that, at that rate, I would be a very 
old man before my farm became a very 
productive one: so I made a change in 
the programme. I bought a ton of £ood 
commercial fertilizer, and used it on six 
acres of meadow land, which I planted 
to corn, with the four manured, making 
10 in all. A man I hired to help hoe that 
corn said: “This corn will take all of 
that phosphate, and leave your ground 
as poor as before.” “ Never mind,” I 
replied ; “ I will have the corn and fod¬ 
der to feed next Winter, and I will draw 
the manure back on to this land, and 
then you will see it will be better.” 
Food Increased —I plowed that corn 
stubble in the Fall, and through the 
Winter, I drew on tbe manure as fast as 
it was made. As I had added some to 
my stock, and had more to feed then, I 
was able to get five acres covered by 
sowing time. 1 hari owed in this manure, 
and sowed to oats and seeded to clover 
and Timothy as before ; the result was a 
meadow that cut, at least, three tons of 
hay per acre by mowing twice in the 
season. The other five acres were again 
fertilized and planted to corn together 
with five more of sod land, and another 
good crop was the result. 
I was so well pleased with this method 
that I have followed it ever since, and 
three years ago, when it was so dry that 
many acres of seeding were an utter 
failure, mine came through all right. I 
think that the Fall-plowed land holds 
the moisture better than Spring-plowed, 
and the clover takes hold of that fresh 
manure so firmly that it is a hard mat¬ 
ter to kill it out 
Winter Feeding. —My butter custom¬ 
ers demanded fresh butter all the year 
’round, so it became necessary to have 
some of my cows come fresh in the Fall, 
and milk them through the Winter. 
This has been rather expensive, because 
it took so much grain to keep up the 
flow of milk. The first two or three 
years that I began raising about 10 acres 
of corn, I was obliged nearly to winter 
my cows on corn fodder for roughage, 
and I found that some corn fodder is 
good, but that too much is a nuisance. 
I tried sowing it thick, and found that a 
little better than well water (it wouldn’t 
freeze so easily). I planted it thin, and 
the cows couldn’t chew the big stalks. 
One man told me that his cows would 
eat his coarse stalks all up c’ean, and I 
found this to be a fact. The secret was 
this : A cow craves some coarse fodder, 
and he gave his just a few stalks and 
made up the rest of their ration with 
grain. They ate the stalks all right, 
but his butter cost him more than it 
would bring, and this was not the kind 
of dairying I was after. All this while 
I had been studying the farm papers, 
agricultural bulletins, etc , and was try¬ 
ing to be an up-to-date dairyman. 
The Silo. — “Then why didn’t you 
build a silo?” you ask. Well, I am 
rather ashamed to say it, but I was 
afraid to. “ Your butter will be spoiled,” 
said one. “ Your cows will be sick,” said 
several more. So, while I did not really 
believe that my butter would be spoiled 
and my cows made sick, still a great 
deal depended on that butter and those 
cows, and I kept piling in the corn fod¬ 
der and carrying out the big stalks, and 
drawing home tbe grain. But a year 
ago last Winter, I became so thoroughly 
disgusted with the corn stalks, that I 
bought some hemlock trees standing in 
the woods at $3.50 per 1 000 feet, and had 
them sawed into 2x6 plank, 12feet long. 
With these I made a round silo 12 feet 
in diameter and 24 feet high. I followed 
very nearly the plan of one described in 
The R. N.-Y., and counting my own 
labor at $1 per day, the thing cost me 
$65. I filled this silo about September 
20, heaping full, and put on a board roof 
after it had settled. After settling had 
stopped, I found I had 20 feet of ens : - 
lage, quite a lot more than I could have 
got in with a roof on the silo. The corn 
was cut to one-half inch, and the cattle 
have eaten it perfectly. I fed 15,1% bushel 
each daily until the first of March, when 
I cut them down to a half ration, being 
afraid it would not last until grass came. 
Eut for the past two weeks (Since April 
15), I have gone back to the 1%-bushel 
ration again. 
Great Improvement. —My cows have 
done better than ever before, tbe past 
Winter, and I have fed only about one- 
half as much grain. The ensilage has 
kept them in a hearty, thriving condi¬ 
tion, but it has not been ensilage alone. 
1 think that, for the cow to do her best 
on the least grain, one should feed her 
all the good clover or mixed hay she will 
eat in connection with the ensilage. 
Don't build a silo with the idea that you 
can keep your cows thriving on ensi¬ 
lage, and sell all your hay, for it can’t 
be done with profit. 
Farm products are low, and that is 
not all, they are going to stay low. The 
man who goes in debt this year with the 
idea that prices will go up and let him 
out next year, will make a mistake. We 
must first get the cow that will produce 
the most at the least cost. Then we must 
manage to raise as much as possible of 
her food on the farm, so that we may 
have much to sell and little to buy, and 
we may expect that our books will show 
a balance on the right side. 
Madi'on Co., N. Y. j. grant morse. 
SCRAPS. 
A prize Hereford bull recently landed in Bos¬ 
ton crossed the ocean three times before it was 
allowed to land. It was shipped first to Port¬ 
land, Me., and as that is not a quarantine port, 
the animal was sent back promptly, and re¬ 
shipped to Boston. The purchaser is obliged to 
pay for the three journeys. 
Potato Bread for Horses —In Germany, po¬ 
tato bread is being used as food for horses, 
especially when the animals are worked hard in 
cold weather. The potatoes are slowly stewed 
till soft; they are then mashed thoroughly, and 
an equal quantity of corn meal added. It is 
mixed into a thick paste, with a small quantity 
of salt. The paste is then divided into four-pound 
loaves and allowed to bake till thoroughly done. 
In the slow country ovens, it generally takes 
from 15 to 18 hours. When cold, they are fed to 
the horses and cattle doing heavy work, at the 
rate of four loaves a day, viz., one in the morn¬ 
ing, one at noon, one about 4 o’clock, and one at 
night With the last, about 10 pounds of poor 
hay arc given. It is claimed for this method 
that horses can do much more work on the same 
amount of food, and that it is good for their teeth. 
May 3, the New York City Health Board issued 
a statement to the effect that there was net a 
quart of impure milk in the entire city. This is 
due to the vigilance of the inspectors and to the 
convictions of several dealers who had violated 
the sanitary code. 
Some of the volunteers doing duty at Manila 
complain that the Filipino hen is very unsatis¬ 
factory, if considered as part of the ration. She 
flies until she is tired, and then runs until her 
wings are rested, and as the soldiers are not 
allowed to shoot such stock, the hen has the best 
of the situation. 
Here they saw the horns off the “wild” or 
Texas cattle before they ship them east. The 
animals pack better, take up less room in the 
cars, are not so likely to injure one another, and 
look better to the buyer. A Texas steer may 
carry just as much beef and tallow as a mulley 
cow, but his long horns make him look leaner. 
Texas cattle have a bad reputation, too, and 
when their horns are sawed off they look as inno 
cent and harmless as a barnyard heifer. 
Kansas. w. e. curtis. 
Mr. S. Hoxie, of the Holstein-Friesian Associa¬ 
tion, says that he read the statement that milk 
from Holstein cows would not make a good 
enough showing of cream to sell well in bottles 
He sent to a farmer who handles a good deal of 
Holstein milk, and asked him about this matter, 
receiving the following reply: “ Our milk, mostly 
Holstein (grade), was bottled here and labeled 
as follows: ‘Orange County Milk, Bottled on 
the Farm ’ (giving name of producer). I am 
under the impression that the consumer in New 
York City believes that all Orange County milk 
is Jersey milk. Our station has been in the prac¬ 
tice of shipping a quantity of cream every day. 
The men in charge were under the impression 
that Holstein milk was of poorer quality than 
that received from other cows, and did not use it 
from which to separate cream. But on buying a 
Babcock tester and testing it, they found that my 
milk was the richest of any received at the sta¬ 
tion, and since then it has been used for cream¬ 
ing.” _ 
1 have been using Jayne’s Expectorant for the past 
THIRTY YEARS. During that time I have cured 
myself as well as the members of my family, of some 
very severe Colds. I consider it the very best and 
safest remedy made for the relief of all pulmonary 
troubles.—P. M. GREEN, Culbertson, Nebraska, 
October 17,1895. 
Aid digestion with Jayne's Painless Sanative Pills. 
—Adv 
Cows barren 3 years 
MADE TO BREED. 
Moore Brothers, Albany, n. t. 
Trade 
Mark 
LUMPJAW] 
Easily and thoroughly cured. < 
New, common-sense method, ( 
not expensive. No care, no ( 
pay. FREE. A practical, ill- . 
ustrated treatise on the abso¬ 
lute cure of Lump Jaw, free to ' 
readers of thispaper. 
Fleming Bros., chemists, 
Union Stock Yards, Chicago, 
NO MORE WAITING A device feeds anything 
any time desired; fitted to any stable; takes no room; 
set in less time than the old way of feeding. 
C. E. BROWN,Sole Manufacturer, Bridgevllle, Del. 
SUCCESSFUL DAIRYMEN use 1 cents worth 
SHOO-FLY 
Saves 3 quarts milk daily if used in time. 
NO FLIES, TICKS, VERMIN OR SORES ON COWS. 
Thousands duplicate 10 gallons. Beware of imitations. 
“I have used several so-called • Cattle Comforts.' 
none equal to 'SHOO-FLY. It is effective and 
cheap. Used 100 gallons.” H.W. Comfort, Falls- 
i ngton, Pa., President Pennsylvania Dairy Union. 
Send 25c. Money refunded if cow is not protected. 
SHOO-FLY MFG. CO., 1005 Fainnount Ave., PHILA, PA. 
GUERNSEYS. 
225 purebred Guernseys of the best American 
and Island breeding. Butter average, wholt 
herd, 318 pounds per head. No catalogue. Come 
and make your own selection. 
ELLERSLIE STOCK FARM, 
RHINFCLIFF, N. Y. 
Registered Guernseys. 
Seven cows ; four heifers springing ; three 13 
mos,, five 4 to 8 mos. Two bulls: One 1 mo , one 
6 mos. A. J. SNYDER, Plumsteadville, Pa. 
Registered Jersey Cattle 
For Milk and Butter. 
R. F. 8HANNON, 907 Liberty 8t., Pittsburgh, Pa. 
ST. LAMBERT and Combination. For sale 5 Cows, 
7 Heifers, IB Bulls. 8. K. NIVIN, Landenburg. Pa. 
WILLSWOOD FARM. 
BERKSHIRE SWINE. 
GUERNSEY CATTLE. 
Order all ages and both sexes swine. Bull Calves. 
Choicest selection? to EXPAND your herds. Reason¬ 
able prices. WILLS A. SEWARD, Budd's Lake, N.J. 
BLOODED LIVE STOCK 
Sheep—Oxfords.Shropshircs,South- 
downs. Fancy Poultry. Pipe— 
Berkshires, Poland-Chinas, Chester 
Whites, Yorkshires. Catalogue free. 
H. L. HOLMES, Harrleburg, Pa. 
Reg. P. Chinas, Berkshires 
and Chester Whites. Clio’ce 
Spring Pigs. 8 week old, mated 
not akin. Bred sows & service 
boars. Poultry. Write for hard 
times prices and free circular. 
Hamilton A Co., Cochranville, Chester County, Pa. 
LargeYorkshire Pigs 
THE ENGLISH BACON BREED. 
Healthy, hardy and most prolific of all breeds 
Have raised 147 pigs from four sows the past year 
Choice Boars, Gilts and bred sows for sale by 
HILLS & PRICK, Crystal Spring Farm, Delaware, O. 
Newton’s f AW TT1' 
Improved '-''-J * * AlXi 
Holds them firmly, draws 
them forward when lying 
down, pushes back when 
standing, gives freedom 
of head, keeps them clean 
E. O. NEWTON CO. 
Batavia, Ill. Catalogue Fret 
THE CHAIN HANGING 
CATTLE STANCHION. 
The most practical and humane Fastener ever in¬ 
vented. Gives perfect freedom of the head. Illus¬ 
trated Circular and Price free on application. 
Manufactured by O. H. ROBERTSON, 
Forestville, Conn. 
25 gallon packet, 50 cents; 100 gallon, 82. If drug¬ 
gist cannot supply, send $1.75 for 100 gallon packet to 
CYRIL FRANCKLYN, 
Cotton Exchange, Hanover Square, New York City. 
KILFLY. 1 
More Milk, More Money, More Comfort | 
for Cows and Milkmen. 
* 
1 
* 
* 
* 
Pour JWtirrd amount 
ito ihr reservoir of toe 
Ki rcTRic Sprayer, ac- 
ordimr >o the number 
4 cowi to be treated. 
Woik the plttun rod, 
when the Ki.lctkic will 
brow a hoe aprav It 
equlfe* only a few mo 
xientA to eprav a herd 
,l thirty to fifty cows 
When first surfing its 
use It Is desirable to 
• pray the rows once a 
day.and It rtiesare very 
*ev»re, twice- morning 
an«1 mght. Thereafter 
••v every other day 
Kilfiy is also used on 
none*. 
A Liquid Mixture of Untold Value. 
Applied with Childs’ Electric Sprayer. 
Protects cows from the torture of flies, thereby increasing the 
amount of milk. Absolutely harmless to man or beast. 
Put up in one gallon cans. 
Once Tried, Always Used. 
| ELECTRIC SPRAYER Patented January 25,1898. 
Convenient and Practical in Every Particular. 
1ft Throws a very fine spray of any of the liquids and mixtures usually 
used for destroying insects 
hugs, etc., and for keeping cattle free from flies 
during the summer weather. Can he thoroughly cleaned after using a poisonous mixture, 
which is conveniently done by removing the cover. Especially recommended for spraying potato vines 
with Paris green, also all kinds of plants, hushes, vines, trees, and interior of henneries, with any desired 
formula. Sample Lot—One gallon can KILFLY and one Sprayer, securely packed, expressed to any 
address (except in State of Maine) charges prepaid, upon receipt of $2.00. Special prices for quantity. 
Agents Wanted Everywhere. 
CHAS. H. CHILDS & CO., Utica, N. Y. 
