322 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[July, 
Polled Norfolk Cattle. 
The recent importation of a considerable num¬ 
ber of Norfolk cattle has recalled attention to a 
very important stock interest. This has resulted 
while this must be supplemented by the benefit we 
shall gain in other ways. The Norfolks have the 
advantage, to begin with, of being able to cross 
with all the rod breeds, and retain that favorite 
color. They carry splendid teats, a strong constitu¬ 
tion, and great feeding capaci¬ 
ty. This is not a numerous 
breed, but the importation of 
them and their systematic 
breediug, is a new enterprise. 
opinion still existing among farmers as to the best 
time for cutting their grass for hay. Some con¬ 
tend, if for milch cows, it should be cut before the 
grass begins to blossom, if for other kinds of stock, 
at the time of flowering, while some contend that 
for horses the seed should be nearly ripe. In order 
to settle this point satisfactorily, it would be well 
for the Agricultural Colleges to extend their care¬ 
ful experiments with the various grasses and clover, 
cut at three to four different stages of growth. 
Fig. 1.— SIDE VIEW OF LARGE PRIZE BARN. 
Fig. 4.— BASEMENT FLOOR OF BARN. 
in a general recognition of the adaptation of horn¬ 
less cattle for a greatly enlarged usefulness. The 
colors of the Norfolk Polled range from dun to 
bright red, the udder being of the same color, in¬ 
clined to be somewhat hairy, with large teats. The 
tip of the nose is free from color, and the end of 
the tail may be white. The head is the most char¬ 
acteristic, the frontal bone tapering from the eye 
to the top of the skull, which is crowned with a 
tuft of hair, curling over on the forehead. This 
breed was developed in Scotland, from the Polled 
■Galloway, the original native polled breed. 
The Scotch Polled cattle of the present time 
are black, as was also the original Galloway. A 
great impetus has been given to their breeding at 
home by the fact they are coming to this country 
for beef production on our western plains. They 
are made a special feature of the great shows, 
where they have attracted much attention, espe¬ 
cially since 1867. That the breeding and exporta¬ 
tion of these cattle has settled into a permanent 
interest, is shown by the fact that the first annual 
meeting of the “ Polled Cattle Society,” held at 
Aberdeen, two years ago, completed arrangements 
for making entries to the Herd-book of the breed. 
Early maturity is a good point with the Norfolks. 
A single illustration will show this. In the great 
Smithfield Show, the first prize and the silver 
•cup was won by a polled steer, three years old, 
and weighing 1,850 lbs. Their harmless condition 
and docile disposition, when it comes to herding 
or transportation, is of value. It is claimed that 
they can be brought into market at from seven to 
fen per cent less than the best horned stock. Some 
£>f the most noted of Shorthorn breeders are put¬ 
ting the Scotch Polled cattle into their herds. 
The money value which will accrue to this country, 
by simply using Polls, to dishorn that Texan ani¬ 
mal known as the Longhorn steer, is incalculable, 
The men and boys who have had their heads 
cracked or their noses set up by a whack from a 
fractious cow’s horn, will rejoice in the possession 
of a prime dairy animal, which can be stabled with¬ 
out stalls, ties, or stanchions. D. D. Bisiiop. 
Cutting Grass for Hay. 
It was once a saying among farmers, and may be 
so still to some extent, that grass ought to be cut as 
close as possible to the ground, for it was so much 
thicker at the bottom, that an inch there was worth 
two or more at the top. This may be true or not, 
according to circumstances, and the kind and 
quality of the grass to be cut. If it be the natural 
growth on the broad meadows of the Connecticut, 
or similar river bottoms, or a very fine-stalked 
variety, like June grass, or the short-growing white 
clover, then an inch at the base may be worth two 
at the top. If it is Timothy, orchard, or any other 
coarse-stalked grass, or red clover, then two to 
four inches at the bottom may not be worth one 
at the top, especially if left standing until passed 
blossoming and the seed begins to form. 
Coarse, rank grasses are usually divested of leaves 
near the ground when attaining their full growth ; 
and if they are cut close, the stubs are left so 
short as to be no protection against the hot sum¬ 
mer sun. If dry weather follows for a few weeks 
subsequently, it will greatly iujure the grass, and 
sometimes kill it. When protection is left by not 
cutting too close, a fair second growth is ensured, 
which, if not sufficient by autumn, for rowen or 
pasture, it will be at least a good protection for 
the roots during winter, and give an earlier start 
in spring and a better crop in haying time. 
The invention of mowing machines has given 
the farmers a great advantage in harvesting their 
grass, for they can so set the bars and cutting 
knives, etc., of these, as to cut high or low, as de¬ 
sired. There is a considerable difference of 
Plans of a Large Barn. 
SECOND PRIZE IN SECOND CLASS, BY “ BURR OAK” 
(EDWARD PRATT), JACKSON CO., MICH. 
I have combined convenience of arrangement 
with neatness of appearance, and estimated for, a 
thoroughly built barn. The length is 76 feet, 
width 40 feet. The main building has 22-foot 
posts with basement walls 10 2 /s feet high by 18 
inches thick, laid in mortar, faced and pointed. 
The wing-walls and drive-ways have suitable open¬ 
ings left for ventilation under basement floors. 
The horse stable floors are of 2-inch plank sloping 
3 inches: with the stalls fitted up with mangers, 
feed boxes, harness room, etc. The cattle and sheep 
stables are arranged with mangers, stanchions, 
racks, etc. The frame to basement is of white 
oak, or oilier equally durable timber; main frame 
of pine or spruce, all thoroughly braced and con¬ 
structed in the best manner. The tops of interior 
bents are fastened with f-inch iron rods. The 
outside covering 1 inch by 12 inches best quality 
stock boards, dressed and battened, with doors 
made of 1 by 6-inch dressed and matched flooring. 
The large doors to drive-way, are each hung with 
three heavy strap and hook hinges, and fastened 
with standard and sliding catches. The cornice 
projects 3 feet, with outlookers in gables to match. 
The rafters are thoroughly spiked to plates and 
purlines. The roof is covered with dressed cull 
boards, and best quality 18-inch pine or cedar 
shingles, laid 5 inches to weather. The granary is 
8 feet high, with hard- wood flooring filled in with 
Fig. 5.— MAIN FLOOR OF BARN. 
cull brick. The hay sliutes run from drive-way to 
alleys in horse and cow stables, and from scaffold 
over wagon-room to hay-box in sheep stable. The 
Fig. 6.—SECTION OF CATTLE STALLS. 
drive-way and wagon-room floors are laid with 2 by 
10-inch plank dressed and matched, or square 
edged and lined with F-incli boards. Other floors 
