loot. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
673 
SHUFFLING THOSE JERSEY COWS. 
Where Does the Vet. Come In? Where Am I At? 
Some years ago a member of Congress asked that 
question, the debate having wandered away from him. 
No one was able to tell him but his question became 
famous. It seems to us that our amiable and respected 
friend Dr. Chas. D. Smead might well ask where he 
is “at” in view of Dawlcy’s numerous and varying ex¬ 
planations about those famous Jersey cattle which were 
sold to Rogers. These cattle were numbered and 
marked in the ear with indelible ink—and the marks 
are still there. Dr. Smead examined the cows before 
lie knew where they came from and gave the following 
descriptions: 
Cow marked 04, past 5, nearing G. 
Cow marked 03, 7 years anyway, nearing 8. 
Cow marked 56, 3 years old. 
Cow marked 59, 3 years old. 
Dr. Smead made this examination April 2G, 1906. The 
cow marked 04 was sold by Dawley as a two-year-old 
the previous December or nearly five months before. 
No. 56 was sold as two years old the previous June, 
59 as two years the previous August and 03 as four 
years old the previous November. Thus Dr. Smead’s 
estimate would make 04 two years older and 03 three 
years older than they were represented at time of sale. 
This same estimate made 56 and 59 of the age given 
when sold to Rogers. But here came in another em¬ 
barrassment for Dr. Smead. Dawley had previously 
identified 59 as Dotshomc Queen Carey to Rogers and 
he afterwards wrote Dr. Smead that this 59 (the dark 
cow with rings in her nose) was Dotshome Queen Carey. 
There was no other cow with rings in her nose in this 
lot. On examining the registry papers it was found 
that 59, then identified by Dawley as Dotshome Queen 
Carey, and 56, Dotshome Helen Stanley, were full sisters. 
Of course this could not be unless the cows were twins 
and they were not registered as such. 
After his examination, and learning who sold the 
cows. Dr. Smead wrote Dawley that he was satisfied 
an error had been made and he_advised Dawley to settle 
with Rogers for the error. Then Dawley explained 
that the heifers bad been forced when young and that 
this forcing would account for their older appearance. 
It was in this same letter that the dark cow with rings 
in her nose was called Dotshome Queen Carey—regis¬ 
tered as a four-year-old. There will always be plenty 
of people to say that if Dr. $mead had stuck to his 
estimate of the ages of these cows this case would 
have been quietly settled over a year ago. He did not 
do so but obligingly accepted Dawlcy’s explanation and 
agreed that the forcing would account for the apparent 
difference between his estimate as a skilled veterinarian 
and the registry papers submitted by Dawley. It must 
have shocked his professional pride somewhat to agree 
that the forcing made 04 appear two years older than 
she really was and 03 fully three years older than she 
ought to be while it made 59 appear two years younger 
than her actual age as given in the papers. This was 
annoying enough for Dr. Smead but Dawley gave him 
full measure of embarrassment when he came before 
the investigating committee. After Dr. Smead had 
stood so loyally by Dawley one might expect the latter 
to bank on the Doctor’s figures and stand by his pro¬ 
fessional estimate. But instead of doing so Dawley 
gave the name of a two-year-old cow to 59 and identi¬ 
fied 03 as Dotshome Queen Carey. Instead of asking the 
Committee to agree with Dr. Smead and accept 59 and 
56 as full sisters, Dawley abandoned the Doctor entirely 
and fitted another cow to one of the papers for the 
sisters! There was one little difficulty with this new 
adjustment. Dotshomc Queen Carey was transferred 
by Dawley as “not served,” while 03, which he claimed 
was the cow, gave birth to a calf 14 days after the 
sale—just as Dawley’s herdsman said this cow would! 
Still another embarrassment awaited Dr. Smead in the 
cow 04. Before he knew about that forcing, or who 
sold the cow, he put her down as five years coming six. 
When he finished making allowance for that heavy 
forcing he agreed with Dawley that she was coming 
three at the time lie examined her. c Now Dawley did 
not deny the identity of this cow, Dotshome Harmony, 
before the Committee and he had previously positively 
identified her, but the investigating committee said she 
was older than her papers made her out to be—and 
rejected her! In this they seemed to agree with Dr. 
Smead. 
Now here, as it seems to us, was a golden opportunity 
for Mr. Dawley to play the Damon and Pythias act and 
stick by his obliging friend and co-worker Dr. Smead, 
who had so clearly shown his friendship. Pie could 
have repeated his forcing explanation and insisted that 
Dr. Smead’s revised estimate was right and that the 
cow was not as old as she looked—which, for aught 
we know to the contrary may be correct. But Dawley 
did nothing of the kind. He went home and discovered 
what he did not seem to find in 15 months before, that 
03 was not the cow he sold Rogers, that this cow had 
never been on his place and that Rogers had sub¬ 
stituted her for the true Dotshome Harmony. Dr. 
Smead and the forcing theory were both forced out 
of this new explanation which might better have been 
thought of before the investigation committee met. 
In view of all these different explanations by Dawley, 
and in view of what reliable men still say about these 
cows. Dr. Smead may well repeat the famous question—. 
“Where am I at? _ 
THE FIGHT AGAINST WEEDS. 
I see that you mention a weed known as the devil’s 
paint brush. In Chautauqua County near Sherman it has 
practically destroyed farms. I put salt on and the next year 
it was almost as big as a whitewash brush. That is why 
I am thinking of planting yellow locust or catalpa to see 
which will outlive the other. j. m'e. 
Buffalo, N. Y. 
This weed (sow thistle), is destined to drive us from the 
soil if allowed to multiply much longer. We all know what 
multiplication means. Simply soon beyond numeration. We 
have wild mustard, hut it spreads only as carried in seed. 
Will not grow in grass. Hawk weed is liable to he carried 
by the wind hut does not flourish in plowed fields. Wild 
carrot is troublesome in grass and spreads fast. But stock 
will eat it and it does not bother much in grain. While 
this thistle in question readily adapts itself to all soils and 
conditions, nothing will eat it nor will anything grow near 
it; simply controls the lands and readily spreads on the 
wings of the wind to all adjoining fields and furl her. Tt 
is really discouraging to feel and know that all labor of a 
lifetime to secure a home for old age and those to follow is 
to become wiped out from pure negligence on the part of the 
public, that should be interested were they not so peculiarly 
constituted. Last year from memorandum kept it cost me 
about $25, and this year some $50 to pull and burn this 
weed. Next year no knowing what will be the expense, as 
blossoms came in the wind. There are farmers in this sec¬ 
tion now almost beyond individual etforts to clean out and 
subdue. Still these men through ignorance as to what is for 
their interests slumber on. And when the day of awakening 
comes it is too late. s. g. 
Chazy, N. Y. _ 
CROP NOTES. 
We are having an unprecedented drought, but hoping it 
will break soon, as towns, as well as farmers, are uneasy on 
the outlook for water supply. The hay crop was good this 
year but late. Farmers will hold on for a good price, es¬ 
pecially as continued dry weather must damage meadows 
and cause early feeding on dry fodder. Early potatoes 
turned out well, but late will be held firm in this section. 
Apple crop is light. Corn needs rain. Milk is bringing 4^ 
cents wholesale, delivered in Stamford, and most dealers 
short at that. Altogether farmers must expect to make up 
by high prices for the bad luck of a rather peculiar season. 
We are so near New York that many of our farms are 
bought up by city people who either do not care to or do 
not know how to raise enough produce for Stamford markets. 
I believe smart, practical farmers can make good money 
in this town raising poultry, eggs, vegetables and small 
fruit, and go right to private customers in Stamford and 
get the highest prices. c. h. c. 
Just at present we are having fine weather and lots of 
hard work, for weeds are furious this season. Other growths 
are correspondingly large. Apples, pears, plums, peaches and 
cherries dropped their fruits almost all when nicely set. 
Blackberries are abundant, large and excellent quality. 
Grapes look well and are well loaded with fruit. Nursery 
stock has made an extra strong growth. Perennial phlox 
and dahlias show their lovely flowers in great abundance 
lgow, just gorgeous. I have nearly three acres and it is 
almost as good as a night’s sleep to spend an hour among 
the beauties. There seems to he lots of blight among potato 
fields, more than common. Corn, king in Illinois, was and is 
very backward, but doing well. In this section it promises 
a good crop, and with continued favorable conditions an 
extra good yield. Our Ruby Queen when in bloom was 
gorgeous, covered a trellis lOxS completely. The grape has 
grown about one foot to date . I am delighted to know 
we are to have a parcels post of 10 pounds carriage. I 
began to read the stories and study the puzzles in Moore’s 
R. N.-Y. in the early 50's. It was a favorite then and is 
now and I am 64 years old. s. e. ii. 
CLARK'S ALFALFA CULTURE.—Without intense culti¬ 
vation you will fail. They say that inoculation is important. 
Some advise 15 to 25 pounds of seed to the acre; I have 
found 40 pounds better. Air-slaked lime is good. I had 
no lime or inoculation soil from Alfalfa fields. I sowed 3% 
acres upon high dry land on the third day of June, 1905”, 
after most intense cultivation, and used only high-grade com¬ 
mercial fertilizer. The first two years, 1905 and 1906, I 
obtained six crops, each averaging 1 % ton to the acre, 30 
tons. I used yard manure the third vear, 1907; thus far 
have got three crops, the first June 18, the second July 11, 
and the third August 10 ; total for the three crops this year 
17 tons. It has been very dry, less than two inches of 
water has fallen since June 18. With more water I shall 
expect two more crops this season. The home of Alfalfa is 
in the arid regions. There, as soon as a crop is removed, 
they flood the land for another crop, and in 30 or 40 days 
get it. That makes 12 tons easy, and there is no trouble 
about drying it. I have taken nine crops from my field, 
have harrowed it over with my double-action harrow twice 
in each direction immediately after cutting each crop, setting 
the harrow at a light angle; and each crop has grown 
stronger. geokge m. ceakk. 
Iligganum, Conn. 
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