IOO 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
February 6 
BUYING A COW. 
What to Look For. 
When you go out to buy a cow what 
do you look for, or in other words what 
kind of a cow meets your idea of a pro¬ 
fitable one to purchase? If you are buy¬ 
ing for your own use the sooner you 
learn to depend entirely upon your own 
judgment the better. Almost every 
farmer has the pleasing impression that 
his cows are better than his neighbor’s, 
and no matter how honest the man may 
be when the cows are bought, you are 
the one who has to prove whether or 
not they are profitable. We do not care 
as to size, although some of our experi¬ 
ment stations have tried to prove larger 
cows the more profitable, we think it is 
in the cow, not her size. One must learn 
to form his opinions quickly and size up 
a cow upon short notice, and the faculty 
to tell a good or poor cow by examina¬ 
tion comes from close observation of 
cows, of type, and results that are apt 
to come from such a type. If one will 
study his best cows he will observe that 
they have certain similar characteristics 
no matter what the breed or size of the 
cow may be. 
We do not like the smooth (“slick 
looker” as she is often called) cow, yet 
she is always the easiest one to sell. She 
carries a good-looking udder, is good- 
sized and would make fair beef if knock¬ 
ed down at once, but mark you, she 
takes good care of herself before she 
does anything for you, and a good share 
of her food goes to supply the clothes 
on her back. We like to see the cow in 
moderate flesh, not poor or thin from 
lack of food or care. We like the hips 
wide apart, thin thigh, large barrel, and 
the ribs wide apart; a good wide space 
between the hip and first rib. Run your 
finger along her backbone and the 
rougher it is the better. We like to see 
the cow thin just back of the shoulder, 
so that the backbone is rather promi¬ 
nent there. If she is thick there do not 
buy her. She takes too good care of her¬ 
self. We are sipiply in want of a ma¬ 
chine that will work up the food we 
give her into the more profitable pro¬ 
duct, and the less toll she takes and the 
less she wastes the better. We have 
taken pains to observe in our own herd 
that the unprofitable cow nearly always 
was thick just back of her shoulders. 
We like to see a small neck, clean cut. 
a good wide dishing forehead, a good 
eye and large clear nostrils. Deliver us 
from the Roman-nose cow; she’s coarse 
everywhere else. Good large tortuous 
milk veins running well forward; these 
indicate that blood flows, and plenty of 
blood must reach and return from the 
udder. We do not like a cow up on legs 
too far, as it means that her barrel is 
too small to bring it close to the ground, 
avoid the straight underline. 
The real finishing work is in the 
udder, and we all have our ideal in this; 
running well up in front and high up in 
the rear, teats of good size and well 
placed, and far enough apart so that you 
can milk her without continually hit¬ 
ting knuckles. Fat, fleshy udders are no 
good, they should milk down well and 
be soft and flexible, and have plenty of 
tissue to perform their work. We have 
not said a word about breed, as that is 
not what we are after; it is the type of 
cow that is to make the most good milk 
for us at the least expense. Neither does 
the price of the cow cut any figure. The 
price of ordinary cows ranges from $30 
to $60, but there may be more profit in 
the $35 one than in the one costing $60. 
When you see the cow you want buy 
her; $5, $10 or $20 difference in price is 
nothing compared as to whether she will 
make 150 or 350 pounds of butter in a 
year, or give 3,000 or 7,000 pounds of 
milk. You will usually find it is the 
large, smooth cow that commands the 
best price. She is not the best cow to 
buy, and you are buying, not selling. 
We ought to study our cows and find 
out why this one gives twice as much 
milk as the one beside her under the 
same conditions. There is a reason for 
it, and even nature, they say, reveals 
her secrets to the patient unwearying 
student, and when we find this reason 
we shall know how to pick out good 
COWS. H. G. MANCHESTER. 
A PERFECT SMOKE HOUSE. 
It is true that the best smoked meat 
is cured with cold smoke by which the 
surface of the meat is not dried and the 
interior is not left half cured. Such a 
plan as is suggested on page 69 would 
doubtless cure the meat, but would 
harden it, and reduce its value for use; 
but the great expense of the method is 
wholly unnecessary, indeed objection¬ 
able, and would be very much more 
costly than is necessary. A very satis¬ 
factory smoke house is made in this 
way. It may be made of wood, but bet¬ 
ter of brick or stone, which may easily 
be made impregnable to meat bugs, flies, 
mice and all other vermin. For any 
ordinary family the house should be not 
less than 6x8 feet on the floor, and just 
so high that the meat hung on crossbars 
resting on the roof plates can be reached 
with ease. The house is best set on 
posts two or three feet high, by which 
it is safe from burrowing vermin. The 
smoke is made in an adjoining fireplace, 
built in the form of an oven, arched 
over on the top and needing no building 
to protect it, or the fire may be made in 
a stove under a shed or in any conven¬ 
ient way by which green hard wood, 
corncobs or other clean vegetable fuel 
may be burned slowly so as to make a 
dense clean smoke. The smoke is car¬ 
ried into the house as low as possible by 
a common stovepipe fitted in the top of 
the fireplace or stove, and this pipe 
should be long enough to cool the smoke 
and condense the more acrid of the 
pyroligneous acid vapors which would 
spoil the fine flavor of well-smoked 
meat. The smoke should be cooled so 
that there will be no drip of this pyro¬ 
ligneous acid in the house. Ten feet of 
pipe exposed to the open air under cover 
of a shed or open roof or inverted V 
cover will ensure the proper heat of the 
smoke. Green wood of any kind except 
pine may be used to make the smoke, 
and the fire should be kept low' to make 
smoke rather than heat. The hard-wood 
chips gathered in the woodyard, corn¬ 
cobs, any waste clean fuel in fact may 
be burned, and the smoking is best done 
on a still damp day, when a dull fire 
may be easily kept. A windy day, like 
other kinds of blustering, does very poor 
work. A low steady smouldering fire 
does the best work. Smoke one hour 
a day for 10 days. This will give—with 
good work in the way indicated—a very 
fme-flavored bacon or smoked beef op 
sausage. _ ir. s. 
Salt for Cows.—I agree with H. G. 
Manchester in regard to feeding salt. I 
have followed this rule since I have been 
in the dairy business, and would just as 
soon feed without any other portion of a 
cow’s ration as to leave off the salt. I 
have 45 head of cattle, and have never had 
a case of milk fever, abortion, or any other 
kind of trouble that is so common in largo 
herds of milch cows. I attribute this 
healthy condition of my stock to the use 
of salt; besides, I am thoroughly convinced 
that it greatly increases the flow of milk. 
Virginia. r. e. n. 
Bucket Bowl 
Separators 
Who make3 them? 
All our competi¬ 
tors make them; 
we have invented 
something better, 
and are the only 
ones who can 
make the 
Tubular Separators 
The Tubular is a distinct type of sep¬ 
arator, different from all others, full of 
improvements that make it better, as 
you will agree if you examine one. 
Write for free catalogue No. 153. 
The Sharpies Co., P. M. Sharpies, 
Chicago, III. West Cheater, Pa. 
SUPERIOR 
CREAM 
SEPARATOR Jf 1 
GETS ALL THE CREAM 
In 00 to 90 minutes “just as (rood as 
r. flOO machine.” Sold under a lilnd- 
inc guarantee. Your money back If 
not satisfactory. Simple, practical. 
40,000 Farmers Use It. 
Least trouble and expense of any 
good method. Cold water circulat¬ 
ing thro center water-column and outer water jacket 
does all the work. No mixing. Tlio best invest¬ 
ment on the Farm. Write today for full particu¬ 
lars. Don't delay. 
SUPERIOR FENCE MACHINE CO. 
Grand River Ave. 309 Detroit, Mich. 
CREAM SEPARATOR CDCC 
This is a genuine ■ ® 
offer made to introduce the Pcoplcr 
Cream Separator in every neigh¬ 
borhood. It is the best and simplest 
in the world. We ask that you show 
it to your neighbors who have cows. 
Send your name and the name of 
the nearest freight office. Address 
PEOPLES SUPPLr CO. 
Dept. 8(5 KANSAS CITY, MO. 
SEND US 
A COW, 
Steer, Bull or Horse 
hide, Calf skin, Dog 
skin, or any other kind 
of hide or skin, and let 
us tan it with the hair 
on, 'Soft, light, odorless 
and moth-proof, for robe, 
rug, coat or gloves. 
But first get our Catalogue, 
giving prices, and our shipping 
tags and instructions, so as to 
avoid mistakes. We also buy 
raw furs and ginseng. 
THE CROSBY FRISIAN FUR COMPANY, 
116 Mill Street, Rochester, N. Y. 
Wo own “International Stock Food Farm,” which is 
located 12 miles from Minneapolis and contains 650 
acres. We feed “International Stock Food** every day 
to all our World Champion Stalliohs, Dam Patch l:56)f, 
Dirxctum 2:05}f and Roy Wilkes 2:06%; and also to our 
Youko Stallions, Brood Marks, Colts, Work Horses, 
Cattlk and Hoos. “INTERNATIONAL STOCK FOOD’* 
8 FEEDS for ONE CENT is Preparod from Roots, 
Herbs, Seeds and Barks and Won the Highest Medal at 
Paris Exposition in 1900 as a High-Class vegetable, 
medicinal preparation to be fed to stock in small 
amounts as an addition to the regular feed. It is a 
Great Aid in Growing or Fattening stock because it 
BIG MONEY IS 270 HOGS 
International Stock Food Co., Minneapolis, Minn. Hamburg, Iowa. 
Kind Sirs:—I commenced using '‘International Stock Food” about a year ago, and am feed¬ 
ing it today to 30 head of fattening cattle and 100 head of hogs. I have fed about 400 lbs. 
of it to my hogs in the last six months and would not be without it* In the six months I 
fattened 270 head of hogs and did not have a sick hog on the place. I have fed several dif¬ 
ferent kind9 of foods, but lean take pleasure in recommending “International Stock Food” as 
by far the cheapest and best food on the market. I cannot say too much in favor of it. 
C. C. WHITE) Breeder of Thoroughbred Poland China Hog# and Shorthorn Cattle. 
W# Have Hundreds of Thousands of Similar Testimonials and Will Givo You $1,010 Cash to Prove 
That They Are Not Genuine and Unsolicited. 
increases the Appetite, Aids Digestion and Assimila¬ 
tion so that each animal obtains more nutrition from 
the grain eaten. Wo positively guarantee that its use 
will make you extra money over the usual Plan of 
Growing and Fattening stock. “International Block 
Food” can be fed in safety to Horses, Cattle, Sheep, 
Goats, Hogs, Colts, Calves, Lambs or Pigs. It will make 
your Calves, Colts or Tigs grow amazingly and will 
keep them healthy. It is Absolutely Harmless even if 
taken into the Human System. You insist on eating 
the following medicinal ingredients with your Own 
food at every meal; Table Salt is a stomach tonic and 
worm medicine, Table Pepper is a powerful stimulating 
tonic, table Mustard is a remedy for dyspepsia, Table 
Vinegar is a diuretic. You eat tlicso medicinal ingred¬ 
ients almost with every mouthful of your food, and it 
is proven that these medicines promote health and 
strength for people and improve their digestion. “In¬ 
ternational Stock Food”contains pure vegetable medi¬ 
cinal ingredients that are just as safo and as necessary 
an addition to the regular feed of your stock if you de¬ 
sire to keepthem in the best possible condition. “Inter¬ 
national Btock Food” is endorsed by Every High-Class 
Farm Paper and Over One Million Progressive Farmers 
and Stockmen. It purifies the blood, stimulates and 
permanently strengthens the entire system so that dis¬ 
ease is prevented or cured. “International Stock Food” 
Is sold on u“Spot Cash Guarantee” by Fifty Thousund 
Dealers throughout the World, and has the Largest Bale 
ever known. #^“Your Money will be Promptly Refund¬ 
ed in Any case of failure. Wo Refsr You To Any Bank 
Or Wholesale House In Minneapolis. •^‘Bewaro of the 
many Cheap and Inferior Imitations aow on the market! 
No Chemist ean separate and name all the Different 
powdered Roots, Herbs, Barks and Seeds that we use in 
our preparations. Any Chemist or Manufacturer claim¬ 
ing to do so Must be an Ignoramus or a Falsifier. Imita¬ 
tions Are Always Inferior. Insist On Having Tha Gen¬ 
uine And You W ill Always Obtain Paying Results* 
WWWvN. 
A $300000 STOCK BOOK FREE 
BOOK contains 183 large ENGRAVINGS of HORSES, CATTLE, SHEEP, POULTRY, ME 
The Cover of this Book Is a Beautiful Live Stock Picture ^-Printed In Six Brilliant Colors, and Without Aay Advertising on it. Size of Book Is 6% by 9% inches. It cost us $8000 to have our 
Artists and Engravers make these Engravings, which are the finest engravings of Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Hogs and Poultry that you have over seen. They are all made from actual photocraphs 
ana are worthy of a place in any librar y. I t also gives Description, History and Illustrations of the Different Breeds of Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Hogs and Poultry. It contains Life Kn- 
g ravings of many very noted Animals. 11 contains a Finely Illustrated \ eterlnary Department That Will Save You Hundreds of Dollars, because it doscribas all co m m i 
you how to treat them. The Veterinary Illustrations aro large and scientific and better than you can obtain in any other book regardless of price. 
I common diseases and tells 
WE WILL PAY YOU $10.00 CASH uG IF BOOK IS NOT AS DESCRIBED 
WE WILL MAIL ONE COPY OF THIS BOOK TO YOU ABSOLUTELY FREE, With Fo.tage Prepaid, If Yon Will Write C. At Onee,Letter »r Po.UI Card, and ANSWER THESE TWO QUESTIONS: 
«-lst.-NAME THIS PAPER. w2nd.-HOW MUCH STOCK HAVE YOU? 
Addrc.i a, once.... INTERNATIONAL STOCK FOOD CO., Minneapolis, Minn., U. S. A. 
( (size 21 BY 2b) mailed you free if you si 
BEAUTIFUL COLORED PICTURE OF THE CHAMPION STALLION 
FOR THIS 
Largest Stock Food Factory intho World. 
Capital Paid In $2,000,000. 
775,000 Feetof Space in Our New Factory. 
Contains Over 16 Acres of Spaco. 
we: will, ray you $i,ooo in cash 
, IF WE EVER Kf FrSK T0 REFUND YOUR MONEY ON OlIR POSITIVE “CASH GUARANTEE” THAT IS PRINTED ON EVERY LABEL OF THESE PREPAKATIO.VS. THEY ARE SOLD BY 00,000 DEALERS. 
“vi'.dl 1r ®?‘ 1 ?. rk , Ilbl0 *.?* P r 1 ° I d , uc < ir . and insure, good health and rapid growth for all kind, of poultry,. “International Louse Killer.” “International Worm Powder.” “International lleare 
,i. tU 1 . In ‘ <,rDaUon, ‘ l ,Urncss S«»P-” “International Foot Remedy.” “International Hoof Ointment.” “International Pheno-Chloro (A Bure dieinfectant and germicide) .“International 
.nS » ( .r: carbs ' ; wbil « >’ our >'«•» -°rk.) ■ “Sllrer Pine Healing Oil” (The wonderful quick cure for barb-wlre cut., kick., burn, etc). We will bo Glad to Refund Your Money if 
they eTerfatl andwe agree to accept your plain,written statement and iaare the entire matter with you. INTERNATIONAL STOCK FOOD CO.. Mlnnea polls. Minn. 
Guarantee] 
