1898 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
747 
PRAISE FOR THE SHORT-HORN COW. 
WHY SHE IS KEPT. 
I am not surprised that some of your 
western readers tell you that “beef- 
making- pays, on the whole, better than 
dairying.” There are good reasons for 
that opinion. Many of them have not 
good shipping facilities for dairy prod¬ 
ucts, especially milk, and the markets 
furnished by cities and country towns 
generally are not satisfactory, as prices 
fluctuate more than do those of the larger 
cities, where many dairies sell their prod¬ 
ucts on yearly contracts. 
Then there is need of more help in the 
dairy than in beef-making, to the same 
number of animals kept. I think that 
no one will dispute this point. Many 
farmers have learned from experience 
in the last 10 years that hauling their 
milk to the creamery was not the road 
to wealth. Look at the abandoned 
creameries in the Middle West. They 
were tried from the Ohio River as far 
north as the Dakotas, and found un¬ 
profitable 
I think farmers are correct when they 
select good Short-horn cattle in prefer¬ 
ence to the dairy breeds. Who ever 
heard of a bunch o '' Jersey or Holstein 
steers topping the market ? Buyers of 
feeding cattle always avoid them as 
much as possible. On the other hand, 
good Short-horns are always sought by 
cattle feeders. 
A good Short-horn cow will raise her 
calf in good shape, and furnish some 
surplus for family use besides if she is 
properly fed and cared for. I do not 
claim that every Short-horn cow will do 
this, neither do I claim that she is the 
only cow that will do it, and raise a calf 
that is a good beef animal ; but I do 
claim that she has more good qualities 
than any other cow. Her docile disposi¬ 
tion is much in her favor. Where is 
there another cow so easily managed ? 
1 speak of her now as a breed, and not 
of an exceptionally quiet animal. Of 
course, there are cows of other breeds 
that are docile, but are they not excep¬ 
tions rather than the iule among the 
beef breeds ? 
When a dairy-bred cow fails to give 
milk, from any cause, who would buy 
her to fatten for beef ? Here the Short¬ 
horn has the advantage. This brief 
article will, likely, call out criticisms 
from some dairyman ; but I will ask all 
to read a series of articles, six in num¬ 
ber, just published in The Breeders’ 
Gazette, from the pen of Prof. Shaw, of 
Minnesota, on The Dual-Purpose Cow. 
I think he cannot be accused of writing 
what he does from self-interest or pre¬ 
judice, and what he says should not hurt 
the feelings of any one who cares to 
know the facts. While he says much to 
the credit of the Short-horn cow and the 
grade Short-horn, his claims are in ac¬ 
cord with the experience of thousands of 
farmers, and are not based on a delusive 
theory. 
In any part of the country where corn, 
oats, Timothy and clover are abundantly 
produced, it is safe to recommend the 
Short-horn cow as likely to be more 
profitable than any of the dairy breeds. 
Where farms are small and the land is 
very high priced, it is possible that the 
dairy breeds are best, as pasture is neces¬ 
sary for beef animals. Let every man 
choose for himself according to his con¬ 
ditions. o. C. HALSTEAD. 
Rensselaer, Ind. 
FORKFULS OF FACTS. 
Cure for a Kicking Cow.—I bought a cow that 
was “ all right,” but the first move she made was 
to hook the hired man in the ribs, tear his 
coat and shirt, and she almost took a rib. I cut 
off her horns, and that ended that, but since she 
came in, she kicks worse than any Texas steer. 
What can I do with that end of her ? Saw off a 
leg? I have been accustomed to cows all my 
life, and I never saw such a kicker. She is an ex¬ 
cellent cow If I can break her of kicking. The 
hired man is not to blame this time. Can you 
tell me how to break the cow ? c. a. 
Medina, N. Y. 
Ans.—T he best way that I have ever seen to break 
cows of kicking, was to cross a stout one-half 
inch rope about three feet in length, between the 
cow’s hind legs above the gambrel joints, and 
with a slip-noose, bring the legs together and 
fasten the rope so that the tie will not slip. Go 
away from the cow and let her have it out by her¬ 
self. Milk three cows, at least, then try her. If 
she rebel, let her repeat the “ show,” and then 
try again. Keep this up until the cow finally 
submits, and lets you milk hpr. Tie her every 
time you milk for a week, at least. Be gentle 
with her and feed her a little mess of some kind 
to bribe her. If she at any time repeat it, retie 
her and soon she will see that it is retaliatory 
punishment, but cannot associate you with the 
transaction, hence she will not “ lay for you to 
pay you back.” .iohn gould. 
It is reported that Minnesota is building ICO 
new creameries every year. 
A Canada mail has figured out that the gross 
revenue from hens is over five times greater than 
that from the cow. 
The death is announced, at his home at Men- 
don, Mich., of Mr. James H. Taft, a prominent 
breeder of Hampshire Down sheep, and one of 
the vice presidents of the Hampshire Down 
Breeders’ Association. 
Hoard’s Dairyman says that feeding animals 
is something like handling water with a leaky 
pail. The .amount of water saved depends on the 
size of the leaks in the pail; and so in feeding 
animals, the prospective profit will depend on 
how many leaks there are for the money to run 
away. 
It is reported that sheep feeders in Colorado 
are very timid in purchasing Mexican lambs this 
year. Several of the best feeders in the vicinity 
of Fort Collins will feed calves instead of sheep 
this Winter. The crop of Alfalfa in Colorado was 
of excellent quality this year, and was harvested 
in good condition. 
Grain for Fattening Steers.— I am feeding 45 
steers, averaging 1,000 pounds and over. What 
should I feed for the best results to feed out, say 
March 1 ? I have an abundance of corn fodder 
and Timothy hay for rough feed. t. h. g. 
York, Pa. 
R. N.-Y.—We would feed all the corn fodder 
and bay these steers will eat clean. Without 
knowing your prices for various food stuffs, 
we cannot advise a grain ration. The steers 
should have, at least the equivalent of five 
pounds of bran per day. You may be able to 
obtain this cheaper in the form of oil meal, cot¬ 
ton-seed meal, corn or gluten. With local prices, 
we can figure a fair ration. 
Another Drunken Cow.—We have just passed 
through a trial with a drunken cow. Our cow 
spent one whole night (presumably) eating ap¬ 
ples. In the morning, when milked, she appeared 
logy and dull. I drilled in the wheat that day, 
and during the whole time, she stood in the ad¬ 
joining lot looking at me with a mournful, far¬ 
away look in her eyes, hardly moving, eating 
nothing, but emitting occasionally a low groan 
or grunt sounding much like a man with a deep 
bass voice saying “ Boo-oo” to a baby. She made 
a very comical picture, and I had many a good 
laugh at her experse, until I discovered that her 
milk had shrunk to about, a pint that night. The 
next day brought no milk at all, but she began 
to imjirove the next on plenty of bran and clover, 
and is all right now. She is a very “strong- 
minded” cow, and managed to keep her feet 
pretty well all through it by spreading them 
apart a bit. c. A. l. 
Painesville, Ohio. ^ 1 k 
"seeding Milk in BoTTLF^c^lrre'delivery of milk 
in bottles is, no doubt, the most satisfactory way, 
with only one drawback, namely, the possible 
transmission of disease germs, which causes 
many customers to object to this mode of deliv¬ 
ery. I am thinking of overcoming this objection 
by having (for my steady customers) a narrow 
aluminium tag or collar made, to be attached to 
the neck of the bottles with the customer’s name 
stamped thereon. This would insure each con¬ 
sumer getting his own bottles each day. The 
first cost would be a slight objection, but a man 
once in possession of a set of steel stamps or 
dies, could stamp any name desired at small cost 
of money or time. What is your opinion in re¬ 
gard to the feasibility of this plan ? c. u. 
Erie, Pa. 
R. N.-Y.—It seems to us that this plan would 
give the consumer more confidence. He would 
feel that the bottles marked with his name would 
not be used for others, and that is about all he 
wants. We sometimes see careless milkmen fill¬ 
ing bottles on the wagon, taking them up at one 
place, filling and delivering at the next stopping 
place—all without washing or cleaning. Cus¬ 
tomers object to such practices, and this plan 
would largely prevent them. We would like to 
hear from milkmen who use the bottles. 
On the subject of securing good milch cows, 
the Melbourne Leader sagely observes that the 
man who starts out to buy high-class ones will 
soon discover that those who are acquainted with 
their business do not sell that kind of cows until 
their day of usefulness is past. When a man 
offers to sell a cow that promises to be a good 
milker, for any reasonable price, the buyer is 
likely to discover, either that she deceives her 
looks, or that she has some secret fault which 
will-be discovered only after purchase. Of course, 
there are times when a very keen buyer can pur¬ 
chase good cows, but he will have to buy them 
from men who do not understand their business, 
and with whom the possession of a cow of this 
kind is an accident; or, perhajis, in the purchase 
of a dozen or more, he may find one or two that 
are up to his’requirements. When he counts the 
time and money that he spends in experimenting 
in this way, he will very likely come to the con¬ 
clusion that the cheapest way, after all, is to 
grow his own milkers. 
In a communication to Colman’s Rural World, 
“ALPHA-DE LAVAL” 
CREAM SEPARATORS. 
Mr. M. King wishes to know why, if butterine is 
so good people prefer it to real butter, and 
why manufacturers fought the many laws which 
require that it shall be branded and sold for what 
it is. If it is so good, why do these men fight and 
spend money to prevent color laws being passed? 
If it is as good as the friends of these frauds 
would have us believe, then it is more dangerous. 
It is not the reputation of oleo that dairymen 
are fighting, but its character. 
At the recent meeting of the New England Wool 
Growers’ Association, the point was made in an 
address that sheep husbandry can be made to 
utilize the abandoned farms, give them fertility, 
more than double their value, make a demand 
for lumber to erect new buildings, thus give em¬ 
ployment for mechanical and other labor, fur¬ 
nish abundance of healthful, nutritious mutton, 
add to the wealth of the States to share and re¬ 
duce the burdens of taxation, and give general 
prosperity. An increase of sheep would make 
an enlarged demand for pasturage, hay, oats and 
other feed produced by those who own no sheep, 
as well as those who do. 
How to Make Dairy Farming Pay 
is a problem that is 
easily solved if the 
farmer has good cows 
and a 
SAFETY HAND 
SEPARATOR 
to do the skimming. 
The machine will pay 
for itself in six months, 
and will last a lifetime. 
There is a consider¬ 
able saving of labor in 
its use when com¬ 
pared with the pan 
system, aside from 
the 20 to 25 per cent 
saving of butter fat. Our free circulars 
tell all about it. 
Branches: /> JJf. SHARPLES , 
Elgin, Ill. ’ 
Dubuque, la. West Chester, Pa. 
Omaha, Neb. 
He Laval Alpha “Baby” 
Cream Separators were 
first and have ever been 
kept best and cheapest. 
They are guaranteed su¬ 
perior to all i inflations and 
infringements. Endorsed 
by all authorities. More 
than 150,000 in use. Sales 
ten to one of all others 
combined. All styles and 
sizes— $50.- to $225.- Save 
$5.- to $10.- per cow per 
year over any setting 
system, and $3.- to $5.- 
per cow per year over any 
imitating separator. 
New and improved ma¬ 
chines for 1898. Send for 
new Catalogue containing 
a fund of up-to-date dairy 
information. 
THE DE LAVAL SEPARATOR GO. 
Randolph & Canal Sts., I 74 Cortlandt Street, 
CHICAGO. I NEW YORK. 
Top Price Butter. 
The kind that a fancy private 
trade demands, is colored with 
Thatcher's Orange Butter Color — 
the color that does not contain 
any poison. Send for a sample. 
THATCHER MFG. CO., Potsdam, H.Y. 
TRUE DAIRY SUPPLY CO., 
CONTRACTORS AND BUILDERS OF 
Butter and Glieese Factories, 
AND MANUFACTURERS OF 
FOR DIPPING SHEEP 
For tick*, 
Ucc, scab, 
foot rot 
and all forma 
of SKIN 
DISEASES this 
, BOON , _ 
HALL d, OTk° 
will be found the beat and 
the moHt convenient. Made of beat 
_ galvanized ateel it is strong and durable* 
Will not leak* runt or rot. You just buy once; they lunt* 
Special inducements to prompt buyers. Circulars and prices free* 
HALL STfcUL TANK CO*. 63 N. Ashland Av. Chicago, Ills- 
COOK Your FEED and Save 
Half the Cost—with the 
PROFIT FARM BOILER 
With Dumping Caldron. Emp. 
tics Its kettle In one minute. The 
simplest and best arrangement for 
cooking food for stock. Also make 
Dairy and Laundry Stoves, 
Water and Steam Jacket Ket¬ 
tles, Hog Scalders, Caldrons, 
etc. tlT Send for circulars, 
J' It. SPERRY & Co., Batavia, 1U. 
French Buhr 
Stone Mills 
are the best for Farm- 
Uses. Grind ear corn, 
and any grain mixed or 
separate for feed. Table , 
com meal, buckwheat, —- 
rye andgraliam Hour for family use. Easiest 
kept in order, largo capacity, less power. 
Send for new book on mills and sample ( 
meal. , 
N0RDYKE &MARM0N, Flour Mill 
270 DAY ST., INDIANAPOLIS 
lill Builders, £ 
\NAP0LIS, IND- J 
SHRED and^O! 
Jwith the WOLVERINE Cutter,I 
(Shredder and Grinder. Gutter has knives 
(with four cutting edges. It is a great lui-« 
/provement. We can also attach our uew Shredder Head" 
Jtoour cutters, making two greatly improved machines in one.( 
jiland power cuts !2 % tons an hour. Price $2.50 up.l 
(Largest cuts a ton in 5 minutes. Our ’98 Model Shredder can be# 
(run with a 1-horse tread or a ‘2-horse sweep power—only shredder/ 
(made that runs successfully with so little power. A complete) 
/shredder $25.00. Larger shredders have snapping roll. 58} 
lntyles and »!/.••*. Swivel carrier any length. 
GRINDING MILLS 
Belt and# 
carrier any 
49 k 
Geared mills for horse power,/ 
(engine and wind mill; any size wanted, from 2 to 25 H.P. Grind) 
/line or coarse—for feed or family purposes. 
)pnPN Q M PI I PDC 18 hinds and sizes, for hand or 
) V U ft power. Hand sheller 90 Cts. 
(Shells bu. in 4 min. 1-hole sheller with pulley for power, $5.00.J 
(Self feed sheller, ‘hells bu. a day. WIND M ! L L S S ft. J 
(steel mill, strongest and easiest running made, for $16.25./ 
/Pumping and power mills 8 to 16 ft. ) 
>PnWFR* 1-horse tread with governor $52. 2-horse\ 
/FT ■ ** R V sweep power $21.50. 4-horse S29.50A 
(6-horse $31. Tread and sweep powers all sizes. We can fur-# 
fnish you the best feed cutter, shredder, grinding mill, corn sheller/ 
(wind mill or power on earth because our line represents over 37/ 
(years’ experience. Cheapest as we have no agents. Send forV 
>FREE 200 page illustrated catalogue. (Address in full.) C 
)MARV!N SMITH CO. 66 S. Clinton St. 16 D, Chicaco, lll.< 
vwJ 
Machinery, Apparatus ami Supplies for 
Cheese uud Butter Factories, 
Creameries and Dairies. 
303,305,307 and 309 Lock St., Syracuse, N. Y. 
References: First Nat. Bank of Syracuse; State Bank 
of Syracuse; II. G. Duu & Co.’s Mercantile Agency; 
The Bradstrcet Co.’s Mercantile Agency, or any Bank 
or Business House in Syracuse and adjacent towns. 
Elliot’s 
Parchment 
Butter 
Paper 
To Dairymen or 
others we will 
send half a ream 
8x11, free, if they 
will forward 30c. 
to pay postage. 
Try the Best But¬ 
ter Wrapper and 
avoid imitations. 
HALF 
A 
REAM 
Free 
A. G. ELLIOT & CO., 
Manufacturers, 
Philadelphia, Pa 
VICTORY 
Feed Mil 
Grinds Corn and Cob, 
and all kinds of 
Small Grain. 
Made in four sizes for 2, 
i. 8 and 10 horse-power. 
Also make sweep mills 
and corn she Hers. Send for 
catalogues and prices. 
TIIOS. ROBERTS, 
P. O. Box 92. 
Springfield, - Ohio. 
I 
easy. Shakes out all dirt. Does not slice or 
cube the roots but leaves a line shaving that 
can t chokeanything. Four sizes, hand and 
power. Write for introduction price 
O. E. THOMPSON &. SONS. 
IT River Street, Ypsllantl, Mich. 
I 
Hick. ^ 
Improved U, S. Cream Separators 
In thoroughness of separation take the lead. 
In completeness of design and ease of operation excel 
all others. 
Are more substantially made and are superior in all 
points to all others. 
All Styles and Sizes. $ 75.00 to $ 625 . 00 . 
Agents in all dairy sections. 
Send for latest illustrated catalogues. 
VERMONT FARM MACHINE CO., - Bellows Falls, Vt. 
