THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
666 
1910. 
NUX VOMICA AND CHICKEN HAWKS. 
While wintering at the home of a 
friend in western Florida, I interested 
myself hatching chicks by the old meth¬ 
od. We had phenomenal good luck, in 
many clutches every egg fertile; in fact, 
they came along so fast we lost count. 
All of a sudden we were awakened to 
the fact that there was a tremendous 
shrinkage. Rats were accused, and we 
had a baiting, cleaned the barn and 
outbuildings thoroughly. The leak 
continued, and we laid it to the hog. 
He was turned out to pasture, floor of 
pen ripped up and a few bones and 
feathers found. In the end, wc had to 
acknowledge it was hawks. From old 
settlers came the word that it was an 
easy matter to get rid of them; you had 
only to feed the chicks nux vomica; 
wouldn't hurt them; the hawks would 
be poisoned to death from eating them. 
I didn't believe a word of it, but was 
wise enough to keep my unbelief to 
myself and start an inquiry. The drug¬ 
gist in Pensacola, to whom I applied, 
met me more than half way; said, in 
effect, that he had lived all his life in 
Florida, had dispensed drugs for more 
than 30 years, that it was a well-estab¬ 
lished fact. A little later at another 
point in the State I talked with a friend 
who was turning out thousands of 
chicks. Fie said he usually selected a 
few puny chicks, made a paste of the 
nux vomica and put it on their heads, 
although a better remedy would be to 
station a man for a few days near the 
chicken yard and shoot the hawks. 
While in Charleston, S. C., I inter¬ 
viewed a druggist, and he assured me 
that nux vomica fed to chicks was the 
approved remedy and worked success¬ 
fully. While this conversation was be¬ 
ing carried on a gentleman joined in. 
His explanation was that the nux vomi¬ 
ca would not kill anything born with 
open eyes; further, that where they 
suspected their shotes were being stolen 
they fed them this way and fixed the 
colored individual who stole and ate 
their hogs. I was skeptical about this 
race being born blind, but he insisted, 
and I did not continue the argument. 
I will add that my friends write me 
that they are no longer losing chickens, 
but have found no dead hawks. There 
must be some foundation for the fore¬ 
going belief. It is all new to me. Can 
you enlighten me? h. c. u. 
New York. 
R. N.-Y.—We turn this over to our 
friends for a discussion. What is the 
foundation for the belief or practice? 
COW STALLS. 
For nearly 18 years I have seen in 
and out of the State of Ohio almost 
every conceivable device that could be 
denominated a cow stall. Sometimes I 
had to be coached to believe that some 
of the “contraptions” kept in barns were 
ever intended to be called cow stalls, 
much less intended to be used for com¬ 
fort and profitable milk production. I 
have traveled for weeks among dairy¬ 
men and cow stalls have been as varied 
and different in type and style as the 
voluminous ladies’ hats of the present 
generation. I observe that the inten¬ 
tion of inventors of cow stalls, patentees 
and natural born geniuses who frequent 
dairy barns and hatch up the best stall 
in use, aim to legislate the cow to keep 
clean. She won’t do so unless forced 
by iron-clad regulations or wood-bound 
furniture. Flow well these honest yeo¬ 
men succeed is apparent from close ob¬ 
servation. They are honest in their 
belief that they are providing the best 
possible device for comfort, cleanliness 
and profitable production. Only in few 
cases have they come near the mark of 
perfection in the three dominant 
essentials. Some do not care, but 
most of the owners of cows are 
really desirous to reach the point 
of perfect sanitation in their work. 
They fail in securing the desired 
conditions largely because they do not 
put themselves to thinking and make 
practical experiments along lines for se¬ 
curing more nearly perfect sanitary sur¬ 
roundings. It is not the intention of 
the writer to attack any of the number¬ 
less and some of the nameless makes of 
cow stalls and cow ties, most of which 
absolutely fail to assist dairymen to 
comply with the sanitary laws of the 
different States. Some of the costliest 
and highly ornamental stallings have 
been the worst of the lot. even worjte 
than the old slip-shod wooden styles and 
with the same attention the’ former 
would be condemned as worthless and 
a nuisance. Why? Because money and 
inexperience cannot make cows gee with 
any sort of inconvenient ill-planned ar¬ 
rangements. Flence an architect who 
knows nothing of cows and their pe¬ 
culiar habits, and a carpenter possibly 
who knows less, when combined in a 
job, surely make a mess for the cow 
and a job for her owner to keep her 
clean. 
As I have stated, I do not care to go 
into controversy with the legions of 
made stalls and ties. It is not neces¬ 
sary. I am presenting with this article 
two devices, either of which, when con¬ 
structed correctly, will correct almost 
all the defects that present themselves 
in most stalls. To secure anything like 
sanitation, the cow must be clean. . To 
be clean, her voidings must be dropped 
where her body cannot come in con¬ 
tact with them. To secure this neces¬ 
sary order of things, she must have a 
trench at her heels the right depth and 
width, which long experience has taught 
the owner are just right. This is not 
all, for if he is a genuine cow man he 
has observed that she must not be al¬ 
lowed the privilege of moving forward 
in her stall, and any arrangement or 
device that will entitle her to move 
her body any distance toward the feed 
alley and away from her ditch means a 
dirty cow. If every dairyman would 
take this one true axiom as the first 
principle in the construction of a cow 
stall, study it and sec its virtues before 
he begins work, I am sure there would 
be cleaner cows, cleaner barns and 
cleaner milk. 
Fig. 223 is the poor man’s stall, and 
it answers every purpose for comfort, 
cleanliness, cheapness and looks, and is 
easily constructed. The floor and ditch 
may be constructed from either concrete 
or wood. The distance from A to B 
for a cow weighing 1,000 pounds should 
be six feet six inches; for a 1,200-pound 
cow add on three inches (six feet nine 
inches). For an 830-pound cow change 
the fencing to the side toward ditch on 
the 2x4 post. For a heifer weighing 
about GOO pounds, build in four inches 
or •more, or what is better, construct 
two or three stalls with the whole man¬ 
ger and fence movable, so as to move 
forward or back to suit the growing 
cow. The platform should have a drop 
of two inches from A to B, and the 
walk to the rear of ditch should be two 
inches lower than the platform. This 
prevents the cows rushing in and slip¬ 
ping. If the platform is made of con¬ 
crete it is better to arrange to use 
boards to keep cows away from the 
cold hard stonework. It is a gaining 
sentiment among the cow people of the 
Northwest that concrete is not whole¬ 
some for milch cows, and they arc keep- 
I FEW OF THE MANY VERY PROMINENT 
MORE THAN ONE MILLION USERS OF 
DE LAVAL CREAM SEPARATORS 
U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 
The Royal Dairy of England, at Sandringham, England. 
Hon. Levi P. Morton, Ex-Vice-President of the United States. 
E. II. Ilarriman, Esq., (estate of), the late great railway magnate. 
J. Pierpont Morgan, Esq., the greatest of bankers. 
Hon. Whitelaw Reid, U. S. Ambassador to England. 
It. W. Sears, Esq., founder of Sears, Roebuck & Co. 
lion. J. M. Dickinson, U. S. Secretary of War. 
Charles L. Tiffany, Esq., of Tiffany & Co., the famous jewelers. 
J. C. Hoaglaud, Esq., President Royal Baking Powder Co. 
Ex-Gov. W. D. Hoard, proprietor of Hoard's Dairyman. 
James J. Hill, Esq., the great western railway magnate. 
Clarence H. Mackay, Esq., Pres’t Postal Telegraph & Cable Co. 
Sir Hugh Montagu Allan, head of the Allan steamship lines. 
C. P. Goodrich, Esq., the well known dairy writer. 
P. E. Sharpless, Esq.,of Sharplcss’ “Philadelphia” butter fame. 
Walter W. Law, Esq., owner of the famous Briarcliff Farms. 
Beatrice Creamery Co., largest creamery concern in the world. 
J. Ogden Armour, Esq., head of Armour & Co„ Chicago. 
George Burnham, Esq., President Baldwin Locomotive Works. 
Frederick G. Bourne, Esq., President Singer Sewing Machine Co. 
H. N. Higginbotham, Esq., President Chicago World’s Fair. 
John Huyler, Esq., the famous New York candy maker. 
T. Eaton, Esq., (estate of), of Toronto’s great department store. 
Denman Thompson, Esq., the actor of “Old Homestead” fame. 
Hon. Paris Gibson, Ex-U. S. Senator from Montana. 
Dr. J. A. Mead, President the Howe Scale Co. 
II. O. Havemeyer, Esq., (estate of), late Pres’t Araer. Sugar Co. 
Henry Clay Pierce, Esq., President Waters-Pierco Oil Co. 
John Newman, Esq., President Elgin Butter Hoard of Trade. 
William A. Wright, Esq., Ex-Pres’t New York Milk Exchange. 
Fairfield Dairy Co., famous for its “ certified ” milk. 
Norman 13. Ream, Esq., of the Pullman Palace Car Co. 
L. F- Swift, Esq., President Swift Packing Co , Chicago. 
Edward D. Adams, Esq., head of the Allis-Chaltners Co. 
Prof. W. H. Caldwell, Secretary American Guernsey Cattle Club. 
Dr. Leslie D. Ward, Vice-Pres’t Prudential Life Insurance Co. 
Dr. Charles H. Frazier, Medical Dean University of Pennsylvania. 
Dr. S. B. Hartman, of “ Peruna” and stock farm fame. 
Hon. Sidney Fisher, Canadian Minister of Agriculture. 
Nathan Straus, Esq., head of II. II. Macy & Co., New York. 
George Abbott, Esq., Philadelphia’s largest milk dealer. 
Moses Taylor, Esq., President Lackawanna Steel Co. 
C. Brigham & Co., Boston’s great iqilk dealers. 
George Eastman, Esq., President the Eastman Kodak Co. 
George H. Ellis, Esq., proprietor Christian Register , Boston. 
J. It. Whipple, Esq., prop’r Touraine & Young’s Hotels. Boston. 
J. B. Haggin, F.sq., the great capitalist and bret dor. 
F. L. Houghton, Esq., Sec’y Holstein-Friesian Breeders’ Assn. 
John Arbuckle, Esq., the great New York coffee merchant. 
Col. F. P. Holland, proprietor of Texas Farm and Ranch. 
Walter M. Lowney, Esq., the great candy manufacturer. 
Mrs. Scott Durand, owner Chicago’s famous “Crabtree” dairy! 
S. R. Guggenheim, Esq., the American Smelting Co. magnate. 
William MacKenzle, Esq., President Canadian Northern Railway. 
E. A. Darling, Esq., President American Jersey Cattle Club. 
Sheffield Farms Co., the high-class milk producers. 
W. II. Wanamaker, Esq., the Philadelphia clothier. 
Horton Ico Cream Co., the biggest concern of its kind. 
P. G. Henderson, Esq., President Red Polled Cattle Club. 
Hon. Wayne McVeagh, Ex-U. S. Attorney General. 
Philip Moen, Esq., the great wire manufacturer. 
Hon. Fletcher D. Proctor, Ex-Governor of Vermont. 
Colgate Hoyt, Esq., President Automobile Club of America. 
T. S. Cooper, Esq , the chief importer of Jersey cattle. 
George W.Vuuderbilt, Esq., owner great “ Biltmore” N. C. estate. 
All of the agricultural colleges and 98 per cent 
Andrew Carnegie, Esq., the great philanthropist & steel magnate. 
John D. Rockefeller, Esq., President of the Standard Oil Co. 
Judge Alton B. Parker, Democratic ex-candidate for President. 
Borden’s Condensed Milk Co., the world’s greatest milk concern. 
C. I. Hood, Esq , of “sarsaparilla” and fancy cattle fame. 
J. B. Duke, Esq., President the American Tobacco Co. 
George J. Gould, Esq., the railway and financial magnate. 
11. B. Gurler, Esq., the Dean of American dairying. 
R. T. Crane, Esq., President the Crane Co., Chicago, 
lion. Seth Low, Ex-M iyor of New York City. 
August Belmont, Esq., the banker and subway magnate. 
Thomas W. Lawson, Esq., of “frenzied finance” fame. 
Sir William Van Horne, Ex-President Canadian Pacific Railway. 
E. M. Barton, Esq., President the Western Electric Co. 
O. C. Barber, Esq., President Diamond Match Co. 
W. Campbell Clark, Esq., of the Clark Thread Co. 
James A. llumrill. Esq., Ex-Pres’t Boston & Albany Railroad. 
Mrs. W. E. II. Massey, Dentonia Park Farm, Toronto. 
Hon. John W. Goff, Supreme Court Justice, New York, 
lion. Thomas Ballantyne, Ex-Speaker Ontario Parliament. 
J. I). Farrell, Esq., Vice-President Oregon & Washington R. It. 
Col. Chas. F. Mills, editor Farm Home , Springfield, Ill. 
Hon. L. J. Forget, Canadian Dominion Senator. 
Walker-Gordon Laboratories, of nearly all the large cities. 
Robert W. Reford, Esq., the steamship magnate of Montreal. 
Dr. Geo. C. Mosher, owner St. Louis Fair prize dairy herd. 
Hon. W. Owens, Canadian Dominion Senator. 
C. A. Griscom, Esq., head of the great American steamship lines. 
. W. pettys. Esq., the celebrated Tennessee Jersey breeder. 
Western Ohio Creamery Co., the largest of eastern creameries. 
Hon. W. B. Barney, President Iowa State Dairy Assn. 
If. F. Yoakum, Esq., head of “Frisco” railway system. 
Geo. Brumdor, Esq., President Germania Pub. Co., Milwaukee. 
Glenside Stock Farm, World’s Champion Short Horn Breeders. 
Neil P. Anderson, Esq., Texas’ largest cotton factor. 
Henry Sherwin, Esq., President Sherwin-Williams Paint Co. 
Hiram Walker & Sons, Canada’s greatest distillers. 
J. Hendry Smith, Esq., Detroit’s largest grocer. 
Henry C. Wallace, Esq., editor of IFaitlace’s Farmer. 
Jacob Miller, Esq., Secretary International Hotel Stewards Assn. 
Hon. Knute Nelson, U. S. Senator from Minnesota. 
Hon. John Sundberg, Pres t Iowa Corn Growers Association. 
Victor F. Lawson, Esq., editor Chicago Daily News. 
A. A. Hurd, Esq , General Attorney “Santa Fe” Railroad. 
S. S. Carvalho, Esq., manager of the Hearst newspapers. 
Frank A. Vanderlip, Esq , President America^ greatest bank. 
_ Miss Helen Gould, the great New York philanthropist. 
J. II. Rushton, Esq., President Fairmont Creamery Co. 
Traymoro, Chalfonteand Iladdon Hall Hotels, Atlantic City. 
Dr. F. W. Gunsaulus, President Armour Institute, Chicago. 
F. L. Daggett, Esq., Manager Fairbanks, Morse & Co. 
M. S. Driggs, Esq., Pres’t Williamsburgh Fire Insurance Co. 
Benjamin Stern, Esq., of Stern Bros., dry goods, New York. 
E. B. Thomas, Esq., President Lehigh Valley It. R. Co. 
II. B. Duryca, Esq., of the famous starch manufacturers. 
Hon. Wm. J. Gaynor, Mayor of New York City, 
llershcy Chocolate Co., the famous chocolate makers. 
Holland Duiry Co., Colorado Spring’s magnificent dairy. 
Ewell Farm, Spring Hill, Tcnn., fine cattle and horse breeders. 
“Al” G. Field, Esq., the famous minstrel as well as farmer. 
Edw. It. Strawbridge, Esq., Strawbridge & Clothier, Philadelphia. 
John Hays Hammond, Esq., the $500,000. a year mining engineer. 
Frank E. De Long, Esq., of “hook and eye” fame. 
Hon. John Lee Carroll, Ex-Governor of Maryland. 
Joseph L. Jones, Esq , President Philadelphia Milk Exchange. 
John Lowber Welsh, Esq , President Keystone Watch Case Co. 
of the world’s creameries and butter factories. 
The De Laval Separator Company 
105-187 Broadway 
NEW YORK 
42 E. Madison Strut 
CHICAGO 
Odumy & Sacramento Sts. 
SAN KRANCISCO 
173-177 William Street 
MONTREAL 
14 & 10 Princess Street 
WINNIPEG 
1016 Western Avenue 
SEATTLE 
