Yol. IX.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, SEPTEMBER 26, 1874.
No. 38.
Liyg Stock*
-   LFor the Indiana Farmer.
Hog Cholera, and the Cure.
The last issue of The Farmer reports
hog cholera as prevailing to an alarming
extent in different parts of the State, and
requests some of its readers who have
used some reliable remedy for the malady
to report.
Last year I had on the farm about 160
hogs. The middle of July I commenied
feeding them, designing to put something
over 100 of them in the early market.
About the middle of August they com-
commenced dying with cholera, and in a
very few days fifty of them died. I succeeded at last in curing them. I would
see hogs eating, and apparently well, one
evening, and the next morning dead.
They therefore died very suddenly and
rapidly. This year, I finished wintering
and clovered 156 head, and the first of
August bought 85 head more, and commenced feeding all of them in two lots.
One lot of 80 head of the largest size, that
I have just disposed of, was fed in the
same field where those died last year, and
while feeding, they rooted up the remains
of those that died, that were at once
buried. The remaining 161 head I am
still feeding, and have lost but two hogs
since last spring.
Now to the treatment that I have given
them : To those that I had on the farm
last year, I gave nothing as preventive.
When they Commenced dying I bought a
medicine and gave them, but I don't
know anything about the ingredients of it,
nor the name of it.
This year I have used the following:
Sulphur, saltpetre, coperas, black antimony and common lye soap. One who
claims to have had the same kind of medicine that I used last year, analyzed, informs me that black antimony, 1£ lbs: sulphur, 6 ounces saltpetre, and two to three
pounds lye soap, and was fed to the hogs
once a week. For convenience sake, and
that the hogs might get all the medicine,
I provided a sufficient number of troughs,
ten feet long, eight inches wide and five
inches deep, in which to feed the medicine.
For the preparation of the medicine, I
provided myself with a box, one foot
wide, three feet long, and fifteen inches
deep, into which I put from one and a
half to two bushels of bran and shorts,
just as we get it with our grinding, and
then dissolved the coperas in water, with
which the bran is dampened, into which
the black antimony, sulphur, saltpetre
and soap, and a reasonable amount of salt,
are thoroughly mixed and then fed. which
they readily eat for the sake of the soap
and salt. Most farmers know how well
hogs like soap.
For a greater or less number of hogs
than 100, give a greater or less quantity of
medicine. My impression is, that the
benefit derived to hogs by the use of this
medicine, in keeping them in a healthy
and hearty condition, in addition to its
cholera preventing and curing properties,
richly repay all trouble and expense.
JOHN WOKKELL.
Clayton, Indiana.
Berkshire Swine.
M. H. Cryer, of Massillon, Ohio, a
successful swine breeder, says: Black
swine are the native swine of the
south of England, and whatever
breeds they may be crossed with the
pure bred Berkshire hog of the present
time is infinitely superior to any other
black breed. Pure Berkshire hogs should
be a jet black in color, with a thick-set
coat of fine black hair, but choose one
with coarse hair rather than one that is
short of hair. AVhite is allowable on tips
of ears, feet and legs, face, nose and tail,
but not too much white, as they are always
a black breed, and plenty of hair denotes
a good constitution. Choose a Berkshire
with short prick years, (some famous ones
hive sloucn ears) and as short a face as
possible, with broad back, carrying its
width back well over the hams (it is much
easier to breed them broad over the shoulders than hams) and by all -means they
should be deep in heart place (from top of
back just behind the shoulder) level and
smooth-all -oyer; in fact; as near a hewn
block as can be. .    .        .
Action of Sugar on Stock.
Prof. Henry Tanner, Queen's College,
Birmingham, says: "I have every reason
to believe that the action of sugar is most
important ip its influence upon the generative system, and I thinkthere is cause
for considering that any animal may, by its
use, be_rendered incompetent for propagating its species.- A breeder of some
eminence, with a view to an improvement
in the condition of his herd, added molasses to the dry food which he gave to
his stock. It certainly produced the result; he anticipated, for.their general.con-;
dition andappearance were most satisfac-*
=tory;l*ut -this, was^ accompanied by an influence he never expected; for his stock,
which had always realized high prices as
breeding stock, now, with a few exceptions, proved valueless for that object,
male and female being alike sterile."
Grub or Foot-rot in Sheep.
_ To treat this malady, take a box about
sixteen feet long and three feet wide; .put
in dry, fresh-slacked lime, and run the
sheep through it every other day for two
weeks or until a cure is effected. It is a
never-failing cure.
Tine Steers.
S. D. Downes, of Marshalltown, Iowa,
recently shipped a lot of choice cattle, and
among them were three 2-year-olds that
ranged from 1420 to 1510 pounds. These
cattle were on full feed less than five
months, and in the last sixty days the
gain averaged 155 pounds. They were fed
on linseed meal and shelled corn.
Price of Farming Lands in England—We quote the following item as
furnishing au illustration on this point:
Lord Kdgerton has purchased the Mil-
lifigton and Bollington estates in Cheshire, containing about 650 acres, for
£105.000. or £100 an acre.
It is impossible to say what is the cause
of a discharge from the nose of ahorse.
It may be simple nasal gleet; a common
cold;' nasal catarrh, and it may be the
dangerous disease, glanders. The safest
course would beto consult a veterinary
surgeon, because if glander is present the
horse ought to be destroyed lest he may
communicate this deadly disease to persons who handle him.
To Cure a Balky Horse.
A balky horse is understood to be an
animal which, when harnessed, refuses to
start. Various expedients, many of them
cruel, are resorted to in overcoming such
obstinacy, and it may, therefore, be well
enough to please note the California
method. It is to put a rope under the
horse's body, behind his fore less, and to
let two men, one at each end, draw the
rope backward and forward, as if "sawing" at the legs. It must not be done too
roughly, but still with force sufficient.
The animal, to escape something he does
not understand, will soon move a few
steps, and after a lengthened but quiet application of such a "persuasive" process,
will not fail to move on. Repeated applications will work a thorough cure.
Tender-Footed Horses.
Remedy for Choked Cattle.
A Quaker has a remedy for choked
cattle, which has never failed when tried.
The remedy is a teacupful of soft soap dissolved in a pint, or a little more, of warm
water, and poured down the throat of the
choked animal. As soon as administered,
the apple or potato is instantly thrown up
on passing the hand upon and along the
throat. He allows his cattle to eat apples
or potatoes without cutting, being positive that if one should choke he can relieve the animal instantly. A correspen-
dent says that cattle may be relieved when
choked by being made to jump over bars
left as high as the animal can be made to
jump. J. B. Jones says that a good way
is to make a ball of tobacco, and put it
into the animal's mouth as far back as
possible, which will cause vomiting and
give speedy relief. Now, as the first is a
dangerous method, and the second, tobacco, may not be handy, the best thing I
ever saw (and I never knew it to fail) is
to take a round stick eighteen inches
long, and put it into the animal's mouth,
the same as you would a bit into a horse's
mouth, having the stick as large as can be
put intomouth. It can be fastened by
strings tied to the horns. Turn the ani-
,mal loose, and it will soon throw the articles out, and it will not make it sick like
i tobacco. I have seeu it tried a great
jmany times in this section.
An old man who had had much experience in handling and dealing in horses for
more than half a century, said recently
that he had never known a horse to get
tender-footed that was kept loose in a
shedandyard, or in a boxed stall. That
turning around and treading with, their
forward feet in the manure _ keep them
constantly moist and soft. His theory appeared perfectly reasonable:_ "I have no
box stalls, but I used shavings for bedding, and every morning, with a large
shovel, I moved the wet shavings under
the horse's forward feet, and then the last
thing at night covered these with dry
shavings for him to lie on." He also remarked that he never knew a flat-footed
horse but was a good worker.
:_%E^^\>\)H\T&-B\.yE.SCj
BUFF    COCHINS,
Oicned by  W. F. Christian, Indianapolis.
Confining Poultry.
If we wish to confine our hens so as to
protect the garden aud crops, we must
necessarily take much more pains than
when we allow them to run at large. To
confine hens and have them do as well as
when allowed to run at large, we must
follow the following rules:
1. Feed regularly at least twice a day;
not too much, but just enough to satisfy
their appetites.
_ 2.    Keep pure water before them all the
time.
3. Keep plenty of gravel and sand before them.
4. Provide for them a good, warm
roosting house, and always keep it free
from dirt and vermin.
5. Keep at least half of their park in
grass, and plow the remainder occasionally, so as to allow them plenty of wallowing places. a.
Grain for Europe.
Hope, owned by
Boston, is   said   to
by the Grangers in
grain directly to
first vessel   entirely
The Star of Hope.
the   forerunner  of
To Shoe an Unruly Horse.
A gentleman long resident in Mexico,
says that a good way to manage a horse
that will not be shod, is to take a cord the
size ofa common bedcord; put it into the
mouth ofthe horse like a bit, and tie it
tightly on the animal's head, passing his
left ear under the string, not painfully
tight, but tight enough to keep the ear
down and the cord in its place. This
done,.pat the horse gently on the side of
the head and command him to follow. It
subdues any horse, and he becomes as
gentle and obedient as a dog.
Horse's Mane Falling Out.
The shedding of hair from ahore'smane
and tail can be prevented by washing the
parts affected a few times in carbolic soapsuds. Or a wash made of lard oil, one
pint, and aqua amonia, one gill, well
mixed and rubbed in. will prevent the
falling of the hair. We have found it
effectual.— Country Gentleman.
The ship   Star  of
Samuel   G-. Beed, of
have been   chartered
California   to   carry
Europe, aud   is the
loaded by the Order,
we are   told, is   only
many other vessels which will soon follow
her over the same track  and ou the same
mission.    It   is   curious  that, while   the
California Grangers are   thus   seeking to
work   out   the   problem of cheap ocean
transportation   in   this way, the Oregon
brethren are also seeking to work out the
problem   how   to  get   to   their   foreign
market without the help of the California
middlemen.
Rotation  of Crops.
Indiana Farmer family.
Onr Postal Cai-d'Correspondonce.
Henry County,
Spiceland. September 21st.
Farmers aredonesowing wheat, and rain is
sadly needed. Bat little fodder has been cut and
the corn is no w too dry, and will be ready for
cribbing in a fewdays. Mr. Henry Hoover sold
last week one hundred fat hogs which averaged
S40 lbs at 7 cents. Charles Stubbs has a similar
lot about ready for market. Wm.C. Williams
somewhat extensively known as a breeder of P<v
land China hogs, recently purchased in AVarren
county, Ohio, five thorougli bred short horn cattle, which he will add to his herd.
The farmers are the most successful and prosperous citizens in this part of the State.
O.H.B.
Hogs fair average. AVheat light average. O-ats^
light. Corn extra good. Hay light. Horses plenty.
Cattle selling at 3 cts per pound, and plenty.
J. R.
Huntington   County.
Mt. Etna, September 21st.
Wheat crop was short. Corn and oats good.
Hay short crops. Potatoeshalfcrop. The Indiana Farmer is a welcome visitor, and we could
not getalong without it. The Grange Is looking
up here, and promising. U. AV. L.
Monroe   County.
Bloomingtox, September, 19.
Our Fair closed yesterday, and was a success.
The weather very flne but dry. Our eounty has
suffered from drouth. Corn cut one-fourth short.
Sowing wheat is delayed by it. Pastures are
failing. The hog crop short. Fruit medium.
Hay and oats were short. Appearance of rain
to-day. AV. M. A. KIRBY.
Jefferson County,
Eagle Spring Grange, Sept. 15th.
Drouth severe and heat intense ; corn being
rapidly cut to save the fodder and less than
an average crop. Some wheat sown, and
early sown up; many have quit sowing till
it rains. A large acreage broken for wheat. Potatoes nearly a failure. Hogsscarce. Apples not
plenty and falling: badly. c. L. T.
Grant  County.
September, 15th.
A\rheat in Grant County about oue half crop.
Corn full crop. Oats dito. Fruit two-thirds.
Hogs two-thirds crop. Readers of Indiana
B'armeu one half crop, but we;expect to make It
above an average for next year.
Yours Fraternally,
D. D. HARDY.
Northern Wabash County.
AVheat % crop on clay land, a little better on
sandy land, cause drouth, chintz bug and hard
winter. Corn almost a failure on sandy land, is
some better on clay land, cause drouth. Oats %
crop. Hay is scarce. Apple crop %. Peaches
plenty but small. Hog crop something less than
last year. Usual acreage being put to wheat,
though much better cultivated than here-to-fore
owing to the circulation ofthe Indiana Farmer.
Grangers plenty, middle-men becoming scarce
monopolies great and small trembling.
S. M. McCUTCHEN.
Benton County.
September, 21st.
I will give you a few items  from this  county.
Wheat crop very short; oats  an  average.   Corn
a fair crop, though cut short by drouth at   shooting season; but the late  rains  brought out   the
ears wonderfully.   New corn is being contracted
at 45®50 cts per  bushel. Mr.   G. ty. Alkive  and
Mr. F. Sheets have contracted their entire crop
"20,000 bushels," at 45 cents at the crio.   Hog crop
an    average.   Chintz    bugs and   Grangers   innumerable. M. V. BOl/MAN.
From Alabama.
It has been the belief in   tlie  South   that   the
grasses would  not succeed,   and    cotton  was
wholly relied ou.   Here is my  experience:   AVe
gotabailof cotton per acre, worth  805.   Half  of
this goes for labor.   Now on this   cotton  land !
have just grown two tons of clover hay per acre,
worth S25 perton, atu cost of six dollars per acre.
A better day dawns for us here.   A. B. ALLAN.
Montgomery County.
It is proposed here to organize a  Grange plow
factory, with a capital stock of not less than
540,000.  AVe  notice the  brethern are succeeding
finely in this co-operation business in Iowa and
very dry in  this   county,
D. M.
Sex in Eggs.—I am not aware of the
extent of Prof. Agassiz's knowledge with
regard to sex in eggs, but after 30 years'
experience with hens, it has been and is
now my practice to select eggs for setting.
I have never succeeded in raising a full
brood, or having all the eggs hatch, but a
number of experiments have proved tome
satisfactorily that sexes in the eggs may
be determined by the three following rules,
which I always observe: lst. If an egg is
full or has no vacuum in the large end, I
never use it for setting, as it will not
hatch. 2d, If I want to raise chickens for
market I select all the eggs that have the
vacuum on or near the end; these are
what we call roosters. If I want hens for
breeding I take eggs where the vacuum is
on the side or clear from the end, and I
seldom'fail to get the kind of chickens I
want, but I admit there are some that have
the vacuum so placed'tis difficult to decide which sex it is.—[G. T.
The Spirit of Kansas says: 'The grasshoppers have left us at last. The damage
done by them is not so great as was at first
supposed. The corn in the river bottom
is generally pretty good. Some farmers
tell us that they expect to harvest at least
forty bushels to the acre."
Is our present rotation   of  corn,   oats,
wheat   and  grass   the  best  one we   can
adopt?   In English parlance it involves a
succession of three "white crops" (grain)
which is there considered very bad  management.   As a substitute I have  several
times adopted the following:    Corn (with
barnyard manure), Hungarian grass,   and
wheat with grass seed.   I would   like   to
work a crop of clover in between the Hungarian grass and wheat so  that   the   first
crop might be mowed and   the   aftermath
turned under for wheat, but   all   my experiments thus far seem   to  demonstrate
the idea that a good crop   of Hungarian
grass  forms   so   thick   a growth that it
effectually smothers   the   clover out.    A
friend recommends me to   grow  clover in
the corn either just before or   soon   after
the last working and mow the   first   crop
for hay, turning the aftermath down either
for   wheat   or   Hungarian   grass; I have
tried this but never succeeded in   getting
the, clover   to   take   well.    Our English
brethren bridge over the   difficulty   of  a
succession of grain crops by  an   intermediate crop of roots; o.ur   climate will  not
allow this and our corn crop is too serious
a competitor for roots to contend with.    I
find nothing better than corn well manured, Hungarian grass,   wheat,   clover and
timothy. G.
Illinois.   It has been
and pastures are cut short
Knox   County.
Vincennes, Sept., 22d.
Our grape crop was the finest we ever had in
this section, and take all together we  will  not
have much to complain about in   the crop line
this year. b. A.
From Wisconsin.
The recent hot dry weather lias matured all
the the corn in this State, and frost can now do
its worst and not hurt us. Our corn crop will not
only be good in quality, but larger than last
year, and we expect to realize good prices. A
few have foolishly sold in tlie field at only
moderate prices. A..C. THOMPSON.
Park County.
As you desire a report of the crops from each
county. I will report old Parke. Corn is an
average crop, would have had an enormous one,
if it had not been so dry. AVheat very good!
mostly threshed, Tappahannock generally considered best. Mr. H. H. Anderson hud over
three hundred bushels of Fultz wheat, which he
sold for seed for SI 25 per, bus., quite a difference
between that an il per, lb, tiie price asked by t lie
AVashington man. Tlie wheat yields well, and
weighs to lb per bus., stroke measure. Oats hardly an average crop, clover seed, very good ■ More ,
anon. L  E      (
Saline County, Kansas.
Our summer was the hotest experienced here i
for years, and very dry.   During the stay of the t/S?
.grasshoppershere they laid waste cornfields, trees V"~ '
and gardens, and greatly damaged   voim«- or- "J i
chards.   Lately we have had raiiis.   Fall w?heat ^A
here SI per bushel, oats 70 cents.   Milk cows'71    -1**
Little demand for hogs or cattle, ou aceouii" «,h
scarcity of feed. - '
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