1896 
539 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
Live Stock Matters 
THE ARMY HORSE. 
WHAT HE IS ; HIS CARE. 
Although the army horse is intended 
for a somewhat different purpose from 
the horse of the farmer and city man, 
the treatment and care it receives is a 
model one, evolved from experience ex¬ 
tending over 100 years, and can, I am 
certain, with slight alterations, suiting 
place and purpose, be adopted by any 
horse owner. Each troop of cavalry or 
battery of light artillery, has its own 
stable, which contains from 50 to 60 
horses. An experienced and trusty 
soldier is appointed “ stable sergeant,” 
and is responsible for the proper condi¬ 
tion of stable, food and horses. The 
utmost cleanliness is observed in the 
stable and its surroundings, and no ill 
smell permitted to vitiate the atmo¬ 
sphere. Where the stable is a frame 
building, it is kept well limewashed, 
and the woodwork in reach of the horses 
is painted with coal tar to prevent its 
being gnawed. The feed boxes are com¬ 
monly of iron and are washed from time 
to time with salt and vinegar and kept 
sweet and clean. Every morning, the 
stable is thoroughly policed, the bed¬ 
ding turned, saturated parts of it and 
the droppings removed, and the dry 
parts stowed under the manger for the 
rest of the day. If the horses are to be 
kept overnight inside the stable, it is 
bedded down just before evening feed¬ 
ing time, and enough straw or hay added 
to make the horse comfortable. 
Each animal, of course, has its own 
permanent stall over which is placed the 
name of the horse, corresponding with 
the name in the “ Descriptive Book of 
llorses,” which contains a description 
and short history of each horse. The 
stable doors are always left open in the 
daytime, and further to facilitate venti¬ 
lation, well above the horses’ heads, so 
that the draught will pass over them and 
the light not injure their eyes, are side 
openings, which are never closed except 
in inclement weather, on the windward 
side. Stable lofts are avoided, so that 
the foul air can freely pass through the 
top ventilators. The minimum allow¬ 
ance of air space for each horse is 1,200 
cubic feet; the minimum width of a 
stall is five feet, of a double stall, nine 
feet, the depth four feet and six inches. 
A number of box-stalls are provided for 
sick horses. 
Connected with each stable and con¬ 
taining the water trough, is a corral or 
paddock about three-fourths acre in ex¬ 
tent, in which the horses are turned 
whenever idle, and when the weather 
permits, winter or summer. During the 
hot season, horses enter the stable only 
to be fed. They are never covered or 
blanketed while in the stable only dur¬ 
ing exceptionally cold nights. 
The grain allowance for each horse is 
12 pounds of oats or its nutritive equiva¬ 
lent in corn or bran, supplemented by 14 
pounds of hay and, in summer, by graz¬ 
ing on the prairie. Hay is fed thrice 
daily ; at the evening meal, each animal 
receives, at least, one-half its daily 
allowance. During the short winter 
days, the feeding at noon may be 
omitted without injury to the animal. 
Salt is constantly kept before the horses. 
In summer, they are watered thrice, in 
winter twice, and on cold days, only 
once, but this must be done at noon, as 
the horse will not drink enough in the 
morning. As far as practicable, the 
water should be, in winter, 15 degrees 
above, and in summer, 15 degrees below, 
the air temperature. 
The army horses are never permitted 
to stand idle for any length of time, and 
are, if not put to work, exercised even 
in bad weather. If subjected to severe 
sheath receives a thorough washing, 
cleaning and greasing. The horses are 
groomed in field or garrison, at least, 
once a day, and under ordinary condi¬ 
tions, twice, mornings and evenings. 
The implements used for grooming are 
a stiff bristle brush, curry comb and a 
hook for cleaning the sole of the hoof. 
The shoeing is done according to the 
individuality of horse* and hoof; some 
horses are kept shod all around, others 
on the front feet only, and occasionally, 
all the shoes are taken off. Each stable 
is provided with a few necessary medi¬ 
cines and veterinary instruments. 
The standard of the army horse is 
best described in the “Blue Book” (army 
regulations): 
“ The cavalry horse must be sound and 
well bred, gentle under the saddle, free 
from vicious habits; with free and 
prompt action at the walk, trot and gal¬ 
lop ; without blemish or defect; of kind 
disposition ; with easy mouth and gait, 
and to conform with the following de¬ 
scription : A gelding of uniform and 
hardy color; in good condition, from 
15% to 16 hands high; weight not less 
than 950 or more than I,i50 pounds, 
from-four to eight years old ; head and 
ears small; forehead broad ; eyes large 
and prominent; vision perfect in every 
respect; shoulders long and sloping well 
back ; chest full, broad and deep ; fore 
legs straight and well under; barrel 
large and increasing from girth toward 
flank ; withers elevated ; back short and 
straight; loins and haunches broad and 
muscular ; hooks well bent under the 
horse ; pasterns slanting, and feet small 
and sound.” 
The artillery horse wanted is a similar 
one, except that it can be a little heavier, 
and the shoulders should be a little 
broader to receive the collar. Although 
the horse described is certainly nothing 
better than an average horse should be, 
and although the price paid for it is a fair 
one, from $100 to $ 200 , it is with the 
greatest difficulty only, that a sufficient 
supply can be secured, and very few of 
those received conform in every respect 
to the standard. The difficulty of se¬ 
curing good horses is, indeed, so great, 
that army officers have proposed that 
the Government should breed its own 
hoi'ses. There is certainly a golden op¬ 
portunity for a horse breeder to supply 
this steady and perpetual demand, which 
neither bicycle, electricity nor cable will 
ever lessen. 
To illustrate : The yearly demand for 
this military post—Fort Riley, Kansas— 
is somewhat over 100 public horses, not 
counting the demand for private horses 
of finer stock, which is also quite con¬ 
siderable. Yet not one-tenth of them is 
purchased in this vicinity. Not that there 
are no horses, there are only too many 
good-for-nothing scrubs which eat up 
their value five times before they can 
be sold ; not that the country or climate 
is unfavorable to horse breeding, ’tis 
almost an ideal one for this purpose. 
The only thing wanting is quality, and 
whoever cares to breed horses good 
enough, and adapted to army purposes, 
will find a willing customer in Uncle 
Sam. WILLIAM BULZING. 
Sergeant Light Battery “ A,” Second 
Artillery, D. S. A. 
SOMETHING ABOUT WOODCHUCKS. 
They Are Here to Stay. 
Woodchucks have, indeed, been a ter¬ 
rible nuisance with me, and they still 
“ hold the fort.” My land suits them 
exactly, and the result is, it seems to 
me, that I have always had more than 
my share. I have tried trapping with 
steel traps, but with indifferent success. 
With thin, large bodies and short legs, 
it is difficult to hold them. 
whether by the occupants or outsiders I 
could not say. I fed one bold fellow 
apples doctored with “ Rough on Rats.” 
He disappeared for two or three days, 
and then appeared on duty. I have 
never tried bisulphide of carbon, neither 
have I tried gasoline, which is said to be 
very effective by letting a tin cup of it 
evaporate in a closed hole. 
My neighbor has a shepherd dog that 
creeps on them, and he is good for 
but little else ; but he has made wood 
chucks very scarce on his farm. A per¬ 
son who has a rifle and the time to use 
it, can make almost a clean sweep of 
them. But few farmers have the time 
to do that. Gasoline is cheap, suppose 
we give it a thorough trial and report 
results. 
It looks to me as though woodchucks 
are here to stay, like the ordinary house 
rat. They can be thinned out, but soon 
come back, so it’s a continual aggressive 
fight to keep them down. I am glad 
that you have taken up the subject, for, 
quite likely, some one will tell just how 
to exterminate them. m. h. c Gardner. 
Orange County, N. Y. 
Exhaust Both Air and “Chuck.” 
Woodchucks are surely very annoying. 
Six years ago, our place was infested 
with them. We tried various plans with 
indifferent success. Beans and peas, 
especially, suffered from their depreda¬ 
tions. Finally, we placed leaves, straw, 
shavings—rubbish of any kind—in their 
holes, added about a pint of kerosene to 
the rubbish in each hole, set fire to it 
and, as soon as burned out, filled and 
pressed the hole full of earth. Not a 
hole was ever opened, and there was no 
more trouble for nearly six years, or 
until last spring, when the chucks again 
showed up. But before they had done 
much damage, our house-dog, a well- 
trained Bull Terrier, took a hand, and 
has very quietly and thoroughly inter¬ 
fered with their proceedings. With the 
use of kerosene, my theory is that the 
air in the hole is exhausted, and by 
quickly filling the hole, the animal fails 
to survive. b. t. w. 
Rochester, Mass. 
Jayne's Expectorant Is both a palliative and 
curative in all Lung Complaints, Bronchitis, etc. It 
is a standard remedy for Coughs and Colds, and needs 
only a trial to prove its worth. The best family Pill, 
Jayne's Painless Sanative — Adv. 
MOST SUCCESSFUL REMEDY 
FOR MAN OR BEAST. 
Certain In Its effects and never blisters. 
Read proofs below : 
KENDALL’S SPAVIN CURE 
i6, *93- 
Shelby, Mich., D 
Dr. B. J. Kendall Co. 
Sirs :—I have used your Kendall’s 
Spavin Cure with good success for 
Curbs on two horses and it is the best i 
Liniment I have ever used. 
Yours truly, August Fredrick. |j 
For Sale by all Druggists, or address 
Dr. Ji. J. KENDALL COMPANY, [J 
ENOSBURGH FALLS. VT. J( 
RECOMMEND TUTTLE’S ELIXIR 
Used and Endorsed 
by Adams Ex. Co. 
I read in The R. N -Y. a few years 
exertions or long marches, and brought ago, of a contributor who fired a heavy 
back hot and wet with perspiration, they pistol in a large number of holes, then 
are rubbed dry with a wisp of hay, and covered the hole up quickly to keep in 
against the hair, and the legs are hand- the fumes, and he said that none were 
rubbed, as this removes enlargements ever du g out;_IJried that with a few 
and prevents stiffness. Occasionally, the holes, ‘but they were openedT~but 
As a sure, safe and 
speedy cure for Colic , 
Curb , Splints, Contracted 
and Knotted Cords, Cal¬ 
lous of all kinds, Shoe ( 
Boils, when first started, 
etc. For Ringbone, 
Spavins, Cockle Joints, 
etc., nothing else will 
give surer or quicker re¬ 
lief. It will locate lame¬ 
ness when applied by re¬ 
maining moist on part 
affected. The rest dries 1 
out. A few more appli¬ 
cations will cure. 
READ WHAT OTHERS SAY: 
Dear Sir: I have doctored horses for tho 
i last 25 years, and I think your Elixir the best 
liniment I have ever used, and I would recom- 
' m ®nd it to any one. C. M. Guyer, Wolcott, Vt. 
I hear Sir: I had a horse that had two bundles 
on his shoulder, caused by wearinganewcollar 
I Less than one bottle of your Elixir cured it after 
| six months’standing. L. VV. Fisher, Wolcott,Vt. 
Tuttle’s Family Elixir cures Rheumatism, 1 
1 ?„'?. ralns > Bruises, Pains, etc. Sample of either , 
Elixir sent free for three 2-cent stamps to pay 
postage. 50 cents buys either Elixir of any drug¬ 
gist, or It will be sent direct on receipt of price. 
DR. S. A. TUTTLE, Sole Proprietor, 
37 R Beverly Street, BOSTON, MASS. 
Protect Your Stock From Files. 
Myself and patrons have been so delighted with tho 
effectof “Shoo-Fly,” manufactured in Philadelphia, 
1 a., that I made duplicate orders in May. aggregating 
250 quarts. j. w. BUSHER. 
Kansas City, Mo. 
I have used Shoo-Fly two years on my cows. It 
pays. Send me Twenty-five (25) gallons. 
Fallsington. Bucks Co., Pa. H. W. COMFORT. 
SPECIAL Send 2 °e.; will return 1 pint Shoo-Fly. 
, Name Express Office. $1.60 per gal. One 
gal. lasts 3 animals a season. Freight pd. on 10 gals. 
Shoo-Fly Mfg. Co.. 1005 Falrmount Ave.,I’bila., l’a. 
AGENTS WANTED. 
HIGHEST CLASS REGISTERED 
JERSEY CATTLE 
R. E. SHANNON, PITTSBURGH, PA. 
GUERNSEYS. 
Fifty head choice Cows, Heifers 
and Bulls for Sale. 
ELLERSLIE STOCK FARM, 
RHINECL 1 FF, N. Y. 
CHENANGO VALLEY IX,. 
burgh, Jr„ Proprietor. Dorset Horn, Shropshire and 
Kambouil let Sheep, Dutch Belted and Jersey cattle; 
also Poland-China, Jersey lied and Suffolk Pigs. 
FOR SALE. 
One Registered Jersey Cow, four years old. 
One Registered Jersey Bull Calf, four months old. 
These are both full bloods; will sell at a bargain to 
lower stock. Box til, Gioton, Tompkins Co., N. Y. 
CAD ©Ag C A Thoroughbred Guernsey Bull 
I If II wHLL Calf, 3 mouths old. All right in 
color, ancestry and show-rin^ points. Unsurpassed 
in any respect. M. 8AGER, Orangeville, Pa. 
Others may offer special low prices with Chrotno. Our 
motto. Best are Cheapest. Buy from the winning 
Willswood Herd 
Recorded Berkshire Swine. 
Registered Guernsey Cattle. 
3 CHOICE Bull Calves. 1 Heifer Calf. Examine at 
Willswood Farm, Budd's Lake. N. J.. or the Fairs 
Address WILLS A. SEWARD, 207 Broadway, N Y 
CLOSING OUT FOR GOOD^iS^S 
SHIRES. The famous Boars: Letterblair 28002; 
Stelton, 22702. Four Sows in pigs and about 20 young 
Pigs of last May and June. Very cheap. 
PARK FARM, New Brunswick, N. J. 
BERKSHIRES 
LARGE 
ENGLISH _ 
OF THE BEST families. 8 end for Catalogue. 
C. FRED. BOSHART, Lowville, N. Y. 
WE 
are selling, at reasonable prices, 
POLAND-CHINA PIGS 
all ages. Write us what you want; we can please 
F. H. GATES & SONS. Chittenango, N. Y. 
W. & B, P, Rocks and W, Wyandottes 
Good March to May-hatched Pullets or Cockerels $1 
One-year Breeding Hens. $1; six for $5. 
One-year Cocks. $2. Eggs, 75c. per sitting. 
.... „ Stock and Eggs guaranteed pure. 
DR. II. J. ASHLEY, - - Macliias, N. Y. 
400 
SELECTED PEKIN DUCKS; extra stock 
Brookside Poultry Farm, Columbus. N. J. 
Kills and 
Prevents 
Ticks. 
Lice 
and 
Scab 
COOPER 
Will — - 
make 
wool 
grow 
Book on dipping mailed free, by 
Cooper & Nephews, Galveston, Tex. 
100 gal. pkt. $2. 25 gal. pkt. 50c. 
If druggist cannot supply, send $1.75 for $2 pkt. to 
CYRIL FRANCKLYN. Cotton Exchange, N. Y. City 
DIP 
Galled Horses 
It s the best. You will swear to this fact if you 
w'lltry CALL POWDER. 60 centsby mail. 
XJ^PFJLBROS. _ Albany N. y. 
DIRECT-UM BIT. 
Best Combination Bit made. 
Severe or Easy. 
as you want It. 
Sample mailed, XC *I.OO. 
Nickel 
* 1 . 50 . 
RACINE MALLEABLE IRON CO., Racine, Wis. 
BUCKLEY’S IMPROVED BASIN. 
We make Watering Basins for Horses and 
Cattle, with styles adapted to every kind of fasten¬ 
ing, at prices from 75 cents to $1.50. 
WRITE FOR CATALOGUE. 
C. E. BUCKLEY & CO., Dover Plains, N.Y, 
