1883.] 
173 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
long since accomplished in the United 
States. Strange that this and kindred fancies 
of feathers or markings are indulged in, at 
the expense of valuable points in their birds. 
Others are more sensible, and we are glad to 
hear of Brahmas being bred with fuller 
breasts, even approaching in this respect that 
of the turkey. This is the most valuable 
point of the fowl. The French Houdan ex- 
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Fig. 6.—VIEW OF STALL. 
•cells in it. It is supposed the latter is a cross 
of the White Dorkmg and the Black Poland, 
because it sports the top-knot of the one and 
the fifth toe of the other. But we recently 
•came across a French author on poultry, who 
says the Houdan is an ancient breed of 
fowls that originated in France. 
Puerperal or Milk Fever. 
Puerperal Fever, otherwise known as Milk 
fever, or Parturient Apoplexy, is most com¬ 
mon to cows that secrete milk abundantly, and 
is induced by high feeding, neglect of proper 
■care and insufficient exercise. At parturition 
the blood is directed to the udder to promote 
the secretion of milk, but if for any cause, as 
inflammation, the udder does not perform its 
functions, the blood may flow to other parts 
and serious results follow. 
The symptoms of milk fever are unmis¬ 
takable. The cow loses her appetite, her eyes 
become dull and heavy, the tongue is dry, the 
pulse beats rapidly, the bowels are costive, 
there is no milk secretion, her horns become 
•cold and general weakness and debility fol¬ 
low. In advanced stages of the disease the 
body becomes swollen, and unless a remedy is 
then effected and the swelling reduced, the 
chances are that death will soon ensue. The 
stockman should study these symptoms, and 
the disease itself in its various phases, so that 
he may know how to treat it, or, what is 
better, take the proper precautions to prevent 
its occurrence. The method of treatment 
depends upon the condition of the disorder. 
Bleeding may be resorted to in the early 
stages, if the animal is in great pain and very 
feverish, or ice may be applied and the legs 
rubbed. The blood should be diverted from 
the brain by every means available, since it 
is generally directed there, sometimes caus¬ 
ing loss of the senses. Administer a purging 
drink as soon as possible; small doses of 
some stimulant, such as brandy or whiskey, 
are advantageous. A good cathartic is a 
pound of Epsom salts dissolved in a pint of 
hot water, with a half ounce each of gentian 
and ginger, to be given in one dose. In four 
or five hours after, and until the action of 
the bowels is restored, give one-half the 
above dose. If necessary an injection may 
be given of a half pint of spirits of turpen¬ 
tine, a quarter of a pound of treacle, a half 
pound of salt, and two or three quarts of 
gruel, mixed. Should the animal refuse to 
eat, give her every two hours or so a drench 
of two quarts of milk, some linseed gruel, a 
teaspoonful of ginger, and a tablespoonful of 
molasses. Encourage the flow of milk by 
rubbing the udder, and if this should be in¬ 
flamed, rub it occasionally with soft soap and 
cold water. If at any time the bowels 
become costive again, resort at once to the 
use of the purgative above named, or to any 
other that will effect a similar result. Give 
the animal the best of care; let her have 
plenty of good bedding to rest upon. As the 
brain, in this disease, is frequently surcharged 
with blood, causing a partial loss of the 
senses, care must be taken that the animal 
does herself no injury. 
Grafting the Grape Vine—A New Method. 
We desire to have new varieties of grapes 
come quickly into bearing,but vines from nur¬ 
series are frequently tardy. Even after care¬ 
ful nursing they will often droop and die, 
while a few buds cut off on arrival and prop¬ 
erly grafted may produce fruit in a short 
time. Grafting on cut-off underground 
gnarly stumps of vines, as usually practised, 
is very uncertain at best. Our method is to 
take a good strong branch or cane of vine, 
or even a whole young vine when a change 
of fruit is desired, and whip the graft in the 
usual way. We then cover up the vine in 
the soil as near the roots as possible, leav¬ 
ing above ground only a bud or two of the 
graft. It is well known how quickly a layer 
will make a bearing vine, as it has the 
advantage of the parent roots as well as the 
roots it produces. The layer may be ex¬ 
tended, if long enough, to grow where the 
vine is to remain. Vineyards may in this 
way be quickly changed to better varieties. 
The English Cart-horse Society have passed 
a resolution that all stallions at its future 
exhibitions shall be inspected by a veterinary 
surgeon, and unless found entirely sound and 
free from disease of any kind, shall not be 
entitled to an award, whether it be that of 
money or a simple commendation. With 
neither of these, the owner of the stallion 
will find it impossible to get his horse used, 
except by the most ignorant farmers. If the 
same rule could be established for all kinds 
of horses in America, it would be worth 
millions of dollars annually to us, and we 
should in a few years be rid of the miserable 
unsound brutes which are now only a curse, 
instead of a profit to their owners. The 
practice of using a mare for breeding when 
she is worthless for work is without doubt 
a very bad one. Breed from the best, if 
superior animals are desired. 
Driving Hop and Other Poles. 
The usual method of driving stakes, etc., 
is to strike them on the upper end with a 
sledge or other heavy article ; but in the case 
of hop or other long poles this mode is im¬ 
practicable. Hop poles are usually set by 
making a hole with an iron bar and forcing 
into it the lower end of the pole. Poles and 
other long stakes often 
need to be driven 
deeply in the ground, 
and this may be done 
quickly, and without a 
high step or platform, 
by using a device 
shown in the cut. This 
consists of a block of 
tough wood, one foot 
in length, four or five 
inches square at the 
top, made tapering, as 
shown, with the part 
next the pole slightly 
hollowed out. Take a 
common trace chain, 
wind closely about the 
block and pole, and 
hook it in position. 
With an axe, sledge, or beetle, strike heavy 
blows upon the block. Each blow serves 
only to tighten the grip of the chain upon 
the pole. In this way, quite large poles or 
stakes may be quickly driven firmly in the 
ground. To keep the chain from falling to 
the ground when unfastened from the pole, 
it should pass through a hole bored through 
the block. L. D. S. 
A Cheap Chicken Coop. 
Mr. “ J. U.,” Chambersburg, Pa., sends us 
a sketch and description of a chicken coop 
which he has used for several years. He 
writes: My coops are all made of shoe- 
boxes by removing the tops and sawing them 
into strips two or three inches wide. Nail 
these strips on the box, leaving a space of 
from two to three inches between the strips 
for the young chicks to pass out and in. The 
CHICKEN COOP WITH DOOR. 
lower end of the door strip should be bored 
with a gimlet, so that it will work easily on 
the nail in opening and closing. Any kind 
of strips or lath will do for the front, but by 
using the top of the box no extra lumber is 
required. A coop of this kind allows the hen 
to pick from the ground or grass if desired. 
