Vol. IX.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, OCTOBER 3, 1874.
Liys Stock.
Public Sale of Alderney's.
; '■     We call special attention to the adver-
Tlie Berkshire Hog the Hog Of thej tisement, on  another page, of tho public
Future. "    (sale of Alderney cattle   to  take place at
  Terre Haute next week.    We trust   that
An experienced stock man writes that i none of these valuable dairy animals will
it becomes more and move evident that
the Berkshire breed of swine is crowding
aside very fast all other breeds of hogs in
the Western pork-producing States.. If
we inquire why this is the case, we find
several very weighty reasons. At first, the
Berkshire is a very hardy hog, which
transmits it qualities upon its offspring
with great certainty, and which has_ a
dark-colored skin, less subject to skin-
diseases than that of almost any other
breed. Secondly, the Berkshire matures
very early, is very active and industrious,
is an excellent feeder, fattens very rapidly
on almost anything commonly used as
food for hogs, and contains, when well
fattened, as little offal as any other known
breed. Thirdly, the Berkshire has the
most desirable size ; is neither too small
nor too large,—that is, the same is sufficiently small enough to be fattened, if
grain is scarce, and is also able to grow
large enough for any purpose, if well fed
and rationally treated when young.
It is true, some other breeds—the
Poland-China, for instance—attain a larger
size and a greater weight, but require
more time to mature; while a well-bred
Berkshire pig under one year old will outweigh in net weight, if it has been sufficiently well kept, any Poland-China of
the same age. I myself have a Berkshire sow which had a live-weight of 500
pounds when 11 months old, and which
outweighed any Poland-China or any other
hog of the same age. Therefore, if a
Berkshire pig can be Drought so young, to
such a weight—and_ my pig might have
been heavier still, if I. had fattened the
same for the shambles,—there needs to be
no more complaint that Berkshires are too
small for general purposes. Neither
should the same be classed any more
among the so-called small breeds, as is
usually done; but they should be enrolled
as a middle breed, as which they have
been recognized for a long time in Kurope.
Further, the meat of the Berkshire swine
is much more solid and less flabby than
that of almost any other breed, and therefore the most desirable, not only for family use, but also for packing purposes.
be permitted to leave our State. Imliau
is especially adapted to the dairying busi
ncss and as the Alderney or
are the best of all   bfeeds for dairy  pur- ( protective society,. ^ Thebasis is   that   no
poses our farmers will show their wisdom
by saving this hero to the Stale   and   importing others as fast as their  means will
allow.
The Champion Drag Saw.
The champion reversible drag saw is
guaranteed to be the best in use, never
breaks, will saw a tree just as it falls on
even or uneven ground, into any length,
without the tree or power being moved.
One man can saw from fifteen to twenty-
five cords of wood per day, or three to
four thousand staves. Every, machine
guaranteed to do all claimed for it. One
cheese shall beiSold for less than 15] cents ! 0f these saws can be seen on exhibition
per pound, and if  a   member   must   sell ,     Exposition  grounds,   made and
when the market is lower, then either the I '     . '.,,    ,
society or any member will buy it until   it: sold by Champion Drag Saw \\ orks, Ao.
A Salem correspondent says: "A worm,
the body of which is about the size ot a
knitting-needle, of u yellowish ca.-t. and
about one-half inch in length, has attacked the cabbage, and the probability is they '
will entirely ruin it. A new kind of worm
has attacked the wheat, that is yet only
about two inches high, and cms it square
off.    What pest will come next?"
,    The cheese-makers of New York   State
Jersey cattle j propose   to   organize themselves   into   a
will bring that price.
31 Third street,  Louisville, Kentucky.
'Horses Pawing in the Stable.
I have tried a variety of means, among
others, the strap and chain, but all failed,
llecently I devised a plan which has succeeded to my entire satisfaction. I make
a frame four feet long, and of sufficient
width to reach nearly the top of the manger, from which I suspended it, allowing
it to reach to within about ten inches of
the floor. I boarded up the sash or frame,
in order that he could not get his feet over
the lower bar, whieh was a round stick
two inches "in diameter. The act of pawing sets the swing in motion, causing it to
strike against the shins, which so disgusted my animal that he very soon gave
it up entirely. G. T.
A CELEBRATED  SPANISH MERINO BUCK.
The first Merino Sheep brought lo the U. S. were imported by Chancellor Rub't R. Livingston, in 1802: a pair of tacit sex.
Fine Horses.
T. G. Duncan arrived in this city Monday, bringing with him four magnificent
English stallions for improving the breed
of draught horses in this country.. They
are magnificent animals, deep-chested,
broad-breasted and powerful. The oldest,
six years old, weighs 2,100 pounds, and is
seventeen hands high. The others, two
four and one five years old, weigh 1,700,
1,800 and 1,900 pounds respectively.
They will compete for the State Fair
premiums.—Journal.
Horse Shoeing.
Never touch thc bars, frog, sole or outer
surface with a knife or rasp. Shoe with
light, thin shoes that, allow the sole bars
and frog to be brought in contact with
the ground, and thus bear their due proportion of the horse's weight." Use small
nails, and not over five of them. Never
allow the points to be driven high up the
wall of the hoof. For ordinary service in
thc country during the summer months,
use only tins which protect the toe, but
leave the entire ground surface of the foot
unprotected.—Murray.
Tlie Atrocity of Blinders for
Horses.
We never could see what vice or deformity lay in a horse's eye that should make it
necessary to cover it up and shut out its
owner from at least two-thirds of his
rightful vision. The poets say that old
age looks backward; but we never heard
such an idiosyncrasy charged upon tho
horse. The theory that he is less apt to
be frightened when shut out from everything behind him, we suspec't to be a fallacy, else saddle-horses and war-horses
would he duly blinded. Every horse is as
familiar with his own carriage as with his
own tail, and as far as his "personal" fortitude is concerned, is no more disturbed
at being pursued by one than by the other.
As for the other scare-crows that come up
behind, they are mostly so familiar to the
animal that the more fully the horse can
perceive them thc more quietly does he
submit to their approach. 1 hen it is such a
pity to cover up one of the most brilliant
creatures. The horse has borne such a
hand in the civilization of this rough-and-
tumble world, that it seems not so much a
cruelty as a discourtesy, as well as -a disgrace, to hide his form with embarrassing
toggery. No wonder we estimate the
force in the world as horse power; no wonder the Romans and the Germans, each in
their own language, designate their aristocracy as riders; no wonder their descendants make chivalry a synonym for their
highest virtues. Let the horse be given
his due, and unblinded. The check-rein
is another nuisance in harnessware wliich
has almost entirely disappeared from England, the army having at last given it up
by order of the commander-in-chief, Sir
George Burgone, all honor to him.
 ■    m*    .	
Talue of Wheat Meal.
Jl Profitable Cow.
The following figures  show the exact
yield of milk from one cow, owned by .1.
I Cosway,  Oakfield,  N.  Y.,  for the six
months ending May 22, IST-t:
November 2;i to December 2-1	
December 2:! to January 2">    	
January tn fo February 21	
February 2 ) to March 23	
March 2J to April 2'->	
April 2:;to May 2!	
..1,(02':,
..i,-.-'ljj
..i,-»%
Total 8,78i«i
The largest yield for one day was 5Si
lbs.; smallest yield 10 lbs.; average for the
wholij lime over 48 lbs. per day. January
15, frMH one milking of 20? lbs, milk, she
madel pound 8 ounces butter. Her milk
will average 1 pound of butter from 20
pounds of milk; for the six months 4559
pounds of butter. She is still giving 4G
lbs. per day, now on grass. She had
plenty to eat thc whole time. I would
like "to hear from any one that can beat
that on dry feed. J. S. C.
From Texas.
A Live Oak county (Texas) correspondent says:
I I have a neighbor who imported, two
'years ago. a ram two years old. from Dr.
| Handall, of New York, and be reported
him to shear .'SO pounds, not quite 11
months' growth. This year tbe same man
imported another two year old, also from
Dr. Kandall, N. Y.—so I have it, as I did
not see thc ram—and he says he sheared
35 lbs. So you see Texas is not so very
far behind California for big fleeces, if not
big humbugs.
The sheepmen here havo all. got the
blues. Bain all the time, and grass knee-
high. Lambs dying, and old sheep likewise. I shall not raise enough lambs to
keep'up the original flock this year; and
if it does not stop raining, in three months
from now I shall be flat broke, with
nothing but a lot of wild land to make a
living off of.
Red  Hogs.
ffh
Mysterious Cattle Disease.
A car-load .of twenty-one cattle from
Buffalo  were attacked  by a  mysterious
disorder at Washingtonville, Orange county. New York, on Saturday.   Eight suddenly died and others will die. _ The dis-
jease is conjectured to be an affection of the
J lungs caused by the recent dry weather
ad long confinement in the cars.
The London Dietetic Reformer shows
by scientific data that wheat meal, which
is cheaper than bolted meal or fine flour,
contains one-third more nutriment than
flour docs from which the bran has been
sifted. Fine flour, according to this journal, is not food at all, in the proper sense
of the term; the elements of the grain
that are separated in the process of bolting
being essential to perfect nutrition, those
who use fine flour *are obliged to subsist
mainly on other things, or lose their
health; thatno one, therefore, who makes
baker's bread a principal article of diet
can long maintain health, while those
who use wheat meal bread, unfermented
and unadulterated, can maintain their
health with a very small addition of other
food.
The original color of the old Berkshire
breed of swine was more or less sandy;
and although the characteristics of the
breed were greatly changed in the course
of thc "improvement" which resulted in
the Berkshire of today, this sandy color
of thc original breed has not been entirely eradicated, and very often makes its
re-appearance, even among the best herds.
We do not know that occasional sandy
hairs are regarded with disfavor by first-
class breeders, but a pig of which the prevailing color is sandy, would certainly be
considered a disgrace to his stock by any
Berkshire breeder.
There is a family of hogs in certain
portions of New Jersey known as the
Jersey Beds, or Durocs ([described in the
Proceedings of the National Convention
of Swine Breeders, page 29), which in
some sections are of a dark red color, and
in others patchy sandy and white. Their
origin is unknown ; but it is surmised that
they aro descended from importations of
the old Berkshire breed made years ago,
before it had been improved by crosses
of thc Chinese.—Live Stock Journal.
Ouit contributor at North Madison,
Dclos Wood, made seventeen entries at
the recent fair in Jefferson county, and
carried away a premium for all but one.
It pays to show superior stock and
products.
New Outlets to  tlie East.
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad is
building a road through to Chicago, and
will soon have it completed and trains
running. It runs parallel with and alongside of the Michigan Southern road some
thirty miles out of Chicago andaroundthe
head ofthe lake; thence itstrikes off and
pursues a course as far east as Defiance,
Ohio, midway between the Michigan
Southern and Pittsburg & Fort Wayne
roads, and thence southeasterly to the
Ohio river, where it connects with the
main line ofthe Baltimore & Ohio road,
striking some of the wealthiest towns in
Indiana and Ohio. It has the easiest
curves and lightest grades known in this
country. The line of the road traverses
the system of north and south lines converging toward Lake Erie and makes no
less than thirteen connections with the
most important of these lines. At Tiffin
it connects with the Cincinnati. Sandusky
& Cleveland, and the Mansfield & Lake
Michigan railroads; at Fostoria with tlie
Lake Erie & Louisville road ; at Deshier
with the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton;
at Defiance, with the Ohio State Canal,
and the Toledo, Wabash & Western railroads, which drains all Southern Illinois
and extends into Missouri and Kansas,
operating in all over 1200 miles of road.
In connection with it tho road offers a line
from Toledo to Chicago 13 miles shorter
than the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern,
or any line now in operation.
Indiana Farmer Family.
Onr Postal Cai'd!Correspoiidenco.
Washington  Counly,
Livonia, Sept. 23rtl.
Corn below an average, owing to drouth and
chinch bugs, stalks drying rapidly. Pastures
parched for want of rain. Apples are scarce. A
few peaches. Wheat sowing is progressing slowly
no prospect of its doing any good till it rains. 1
think I can beat the world for large crab apples.
1 have them that weigh three ounces and a half
apice. Alter trying several varieties of Irish
potatoes, I think theearly rosestandsunrivalled.
Among sweet potatoes the white lirazilian stands
ahead. J. K. HOWARD.
Randolph County.
Winimok, Sept. 25.
Wheat average yield, XX In quality; Corn, the
best crop ever grown In this locality; Oats and
hay short, not over a half crop; Karly potatoes
good, late ones, not a half crop; Fruit; apples a
failure, a fair crop of peaches, grapes Ac. Stock;
hogs about two-thirdsof a crop, price six cents;
cattle large fat, scaice, small, young, average
price two lo three-cents per lb., sheep scarce, no
sales lately. Weather dry and warm; wheat*
aoont seeded,chinch bugs destroying the lirst
seeding. Stock healthy, pastures 'short, money
scarce.   Granger stock on Ihe rise.
T. W. HKECE.
Daviess County.
Sept., ajnl.
I Dry anil not much prospect for rain. Farmers
are busy in scedinglhcii- lands. They break their
ground early and roll, and harrow and drill and
roll. There will he more wheat sown this fall
than was last, in this county. Wheat all threshed, good price. So to :r, cents per bushel, flats not
a half crop, l'otatoes not a half crop. Corn is
good in this part of the county, In the north part
cut short by tbe drouth and chinch bugs. |Io*>
crnplight, price good. Cattle plenty and price
low three cents gross. Wlnlerapples scarce and
dropping oil".
Bethel Orange Xo. U-V) is prospering,- numbers
forty members and still they come ; composed of
as good farmers as there is in the countv.
I'A'KMEK.
White County.
Moxticki.lo, Sept., 21th.
I see in a recent number of your paper that
certain parties are oflering Fultz wheat at extravagant prices. I wish through the Indiana
Faumei! to say to the farmers not to be imposed
ui>on by paying such prices. Carroll county will i
harvest a few thousand bushels of Fultz wheat
next year, (if no accident happens to the crop)
the wheat Is in the hands of men who will dispose
of it upon reasouable terms. I have fifteen acres
that ls looking nne. j. LILLY.
Jennings County.
ISuxi.KiiVir.i.i:.
Weather dry.   Corn all cut.   Wheat sown, but
not coming well ou account  of drouth.   CWnch
bugs   plenty.   Grangers   meet   with strong opposition here, increasing slowlv but steadily.
L. 1'. DKOUGHER.
Hancock County.
Wksti.anii,Sept. 21.
Our Grange Fairheld iii this township by the
Hlueriverand Shilo grange on the Bid and 21th
was unite a success. There were ;J2.1 entries made,
ah from our own granges. There was as large a
show of fruits and vegetables as I ever saw at any
falr. Tlie show of stock was very good but not so
large probably asit would have been If we bad
gone to the expense of fixing up stables for them.
There were no premiums awarded, it being a free
exhibition. There was a large crowd out on the
last day. j.;. S. COFFIN.
Admas Counly.
Ski'tkmhkh, 28th.
Having seen nothinglii the Fakmkis fAra this
county, I thought I would write you few lines.
The corn crop in this county is the best In twenty
j'cars; oats a good crop; wheat better than was
expected before threshing; potatoes about an
average crop; hay a little short; fruit half crop;
hogs not more than half crop; cattle plenty and
cheap.'   We have of Grangers  a fair crop.
J. MEKIUJIAX.
Jefferson County,
Noi'.Tii Madison, Sept., 28th.
Our fair came off last week, and was a perfect
success. There were more entries, more visitors
and better articles than at any previous exhibition. Theshow of horses, sheep, poultry, agricultural Implements and farm products, were
especially flne. The large display of fruits could
not be excelled in quality and appearance.
Farmers here have nearly done sowing wheat,
a few have been waiting for the long desired
rain, which fell on the 20th, raining gently all
the afternoon. We hope for more soon. No hogs
for sale, and no buyers. I). WOOD.
Jasper County.
HnNS.SKi.AKK, Sept., 2S.
Mr. Editor.—Dc-ar Sir, I would like to have
you, or some of your subscriber Inform me
through your excellent paper, when Is the best
time in the year to cut down the common swamp
willow, so that it will not again sprout, and
grow.   I am a reader of your paper.    J. W. M.
Switzerland County.
East Knteiu-hize, Sept., 26th-
Com good. Wheat above an average. Hay
and oats half crop. Hogs scarce. Early potatoes
fourth of a crop, late potatoes a failure. Peaches
and early apples good, Late apples scarce.
Weather very dry, and early sown wheat coming
up poorly. We have just held our fair which
was a success. II. STOW.
Information Wanted.
In John Worrell's article on "Hog Cholera and
Cure," he gives a prescription, but omits to mention the amount of black antimonv to   be   used.
I.»t him please give   us  the information,  and
oblige. . H. H. F.
Kosciusko County.
Etna GiiEKX.Kept., 20th.
Wheat is all sown, hut owing to  drouth  looks
bad   except  summer   fallow   that  were stlred
several times', they look well, while land plowed
just before sowen looks as bare as the  road.   We
more than ever see the necessity of summer   fallows, especially of a dry fall like this.   We had a
fine rain September, 27th, after twenty-two days
of dry hot weather.   Wheat is growing tine now. >
Pasture is  quitedryandsliort. Wheat SI 00, corn
«0 cents, oats 40, hayS12 per ton, hogs  Ii  cents on'
foot, anil scarce at that; cattle low.
The Indiana Fakmkk Is a desirable paper, we
are always ready forthe next number before It
comes. ty. IDKN.
%m>.