C\vi
Yd EL
MDI1NAPOLIS, INDIANA, DECEMBER 26, 1874
No. 51.
Live Stock*
Cooked Food.
We make th« following extract from a
prize essay by E. W. Stewart, of New
York, on the subject. of cooked food,
which, giving results aa it does, is interesting : !
When fattening alot of twenty steers
(all of the same weight, 1,100 pounds),
I tried the effect of cooking on corn
meal. Commenced feeding each ten,
three bushels of uncooked meal per day,
with steamed hay and straw. This was
readily eaten. Then a bushel and a half
of meal was made into a thin pudding,
and while briskly boiling, six bushels of
short cut hay were stirred in, and all
well boiled together. This was fed each
day to ten of the steers, while the other
ten were still fed upon three bushels of
uncooked meal.
This bushel and a half of cooked meal
appeared to satisfy the ten steers as well
as the three bushels^ of uncooked. Each
ten were thus fed till disposed of to the
butcher, nearly four months, and the
butcher pronounced the ten fed upon
cooked meal the best. This would
appear to prove that meal is doubled in
value by oooking,
- S      S>      S  .      ,
Exercise for Animals.
An experienced farmer says that in
all schemes for feeding animals in yards
and stables, instead of allowing them to
get their own food in woods or pastures,
there is one thing lost sight of, namely,
the necessity of physical exercise^ in
order to have the best of health. As
regards soiling of horned cattle, much
has been gaid about the cost of labor in
feeding them, as against the saving when
they graze; but it is no doubt true that
the general health is not as good, and
that also should weigh somewhat against
the balance, when the profit and loss
are added up. We know how it is with
men and women who do not take exercise enough, and it is as true of animals.
They need something to do as well as
something to eatj and the wise man is he
who finds his animate as well as food,
One of the best chicken "culturists"
that we know acts always on this principle. They are usually so situated that
the birds cannot have full range, but
have tobe kept confined in a rather
small yard. They generally look pitiful
when penned up in this way, but here
they look as cheerful as if they
were in the open air, because something is found for them to do. In the
fall of the year leaves are thrown in
about the yard, and the grain on which
they are fed is thrown in about them, so
that it takes considerable scratching
about before they can find it. At other
times, they are treated to a load of sand
or earth thrown in the yard, in which
they scratch and amuse themselves, and
sometimes thr.ough tbe season the hired
man forks up the ground. These and
similar thoughtful plans for finding work
for the feathered flock are practiced,
and our friend believes with much profit
to the birds.
FATTENING CATTLE-
FOODS.
-SWEET
In fattening animals time is often a
matter of importance to the feeder.
Sometimes a month gained is equal to
20 per cent, greater weight at a later
period. Cooking food renders its constituents more soluble and digestible,
therefore more rapidly entering on flesh
and fat. As a condiment and appetizer
for fattening animals,_ molasses has no
equal. A small quantity of sweet, used
upon hay, will cause a larger quantity to
be eaten with a relish. We have often
tried molasses upon poor animals with
great satisfaction. Apoor horse will
show a change in condition in a few days.
The molasses is not only an excellent
condiment, but an excellent food; and
being so soluble and assimilable that it
produces an immediate effect upon the
condition of the animal. Three pints
may be fed to fattening animals per day,
but to cows and breeding stock it must
be fed sparingly, not more than a pint
per day to a cow, as too much sweet will
prevent their breeding. When necessary to use straw for fattening stock, the
use of molasses diluted with eight to ten
proportions of water, to wet the straw
before steaming, will be found to render
it very palatable, and cause it to be
eaten, incorporated with other fattening food, as readily as hay. Some noted
chemists have supposed all starchy food
to be converted into sugar by the action
ofthe stomach, before it becomes assimilated as food. Perhaps this will ac-
countfor the remarkable effects of sweet
food upon animals.—Ext. from Stewarts
Prize Essay.
 S)     S»      « ■
Sheep Bell and Bogs.
It is said that bells attached to sheep
will keep dogs off effectually. One bell
.to every ten sheep is the rule. The de-
[ struction of sheep by dogs is enormous,
Jand the bell remedy is certainly worth
j trying on.
Indiana Farmer Family.
Our Postal Card Correspondence.
STUDEBAKER BEOS. WAGON WORKS, SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.
BOONE COUNTY.
HAZEi.iuQa.Tlec. 20
Cera good. Wheat half a crop. Grass and
oats were light. Good crop of fat hogs. Cattle
aro plenty, but prices are low. Dry weather cut
our fall pasture Short. The present wheat crop
looks well. Lots of corn; nearly all crlbbedj
worth 65 cents per bushel. Wheat ls worth 90
cents. j. f, j,
MADISON COUNTY.
I'BNnLHTON, Deo. 12.
Corn crop was moderately good.   Wheat Is
looking well.
We have a lively time at the Grange once a
week. The Fakmkb Is a welcome visitor. We
intend aiding our grasshopper brethren in tho
West. A. J. Wood. .
PUTNAM COUNTY.
__        _ Marion Township, Deo. 19.
r Wheat crop for 1874 ranged from 4 to 80 bushels per acre. Farmers who raised nice, clean
wheat, sold the same from their granerles for
seed at 81.00 and $1.25 per bushel. The growing
wheat crop looks very promising. Where corn
was planted early the crop is good. Short crop
of oats. Hay very light; selling for 85 cents per
hundred. Pear blight very destructive. Good
apples are scarce. Light crop of peaches. A
good crop of plums and cherries. Short crop
of potatoes) bngs very numerous. Cabbages
very good.
The subscription to the Fabmer from Old
Putnam will ba largely on the Increase forthe
coming year. B. Bechman.
TROM ANOTHER.
QlUUtNCASTLE, Deo. 12.
Feed Back.
The following is a description'of a
feed, rack for poultry, which will keep
the food clean and from being wasted.
It also insures an equal share to each, as
the" stronger cannot domineer and drive
the weaker:
Take a plank six inches wide, and of
any desired length; nail on straps of
inch boards so as toform a trough two
inches deep. Two inches apart in this
place perpendicular stieks or wires, one
fofrt highi-<ahd"-p'ut on a railing, making
it somewhat resemble a hay rack. Hinge
a board cover on top and the machine is
complete. Put it in some convenient
place in the hennery, or fowl house, and
pour in the feed. The fowls soon learn
its use, and get the hang of it. They
can feed from all sides by putting their
heads between the wires.—Cor. Poultry
World.
  s     s»    •	
Treatment of Horses.
When the legs of horses swell upon
standing in the stable, it is evidence of
debility, general or local. _ It would be
well to increase the food in quantity or
quality. The following might also be of
use, viz : Powdered sulphate ot iron,
one and one-half ounces; gentian root,
two ounces; chlorate of potassa, one
ounce ; mixed and divided into twelve
powders. One of these given in cut
feed as little moistened as possible, night
and morning. Ground oats would be
better for food than corn. Friction by
rubbing with a coarse woolen cloth upon
the parts would also be helpful.
New Disease Among the Horses.
A disease far more fatal than the epizootic, which raged so fearfully and with
such disastrous results among horses,
has broken out in portions of Ohio. At
Akron, over seventy horses are affected,
and about twenty-five or thirty have
died from it. The Beacon, of the above
named place.says that among the symptoms of the disease a staggering gait and
loss of appetite seem to be the most
prominent and prevalent, accompanied
with a violent cough and fever. Postmortem examinations have shown that
the lungs were particularly affected, these
being black and rotten.
 S     »     I	
Live Stock and Population.
Prof. Thorold Rogers, of Oxford TJui-
versity, England, hasmade up a curious
return ofthe proportion of domesticated
live stock to population in the most
prominent countries in the world. It
shows the following result: Great Britain has one cow to. every twelve persons,
a sheep for everybody and one pig for
every six.
France has a like proportion of sheep,
a double share, comparatively, of cows,
but only one pig to six persons.
. The Swedes have a cow between three
and one-half of them, a sheep between
two and three quarters, and a pig to a
baker's dozen.
We Americans close the list with a
cow for every four of us, a sheep apiece,
one pig to every one and one-half.
 »    s»    *
Horse's Mate Falling Out.
The Country Gentleman say: "The
shedding of hair from a horse's mane
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 ammonia, one gill,
well mixed and rubbed in, will prevent
the falling of the hair. We have found
it effectual."
For the Indiana Farmer.
LETTER  FE0M   DR.
STEVENSON.
Our Visit to Illinois, and Observations
—What We Saw.
Tuesday, November 25th, we left LaFayette,  on the   Toledo, Wabash and
Western Railroad, for thc great Prairie
State.   From our starting point to Harristown,   our   first  stopping   place, we
traveled in the night, and consequently
saw nothing but the departure of travelers and their places refilled at the many
stations by the way.   And as many lay
sleeping upon their seats so quietly, the
night   being   very pleasant within and
without, we could but contrast it with the
stormy night that we last passed on this
road, and the very quiet and undisturbed
condition of the passengers contrasted
well with the incident that occurred on
board, that for a moment gave quite an
alarm.   It was just at or near the close
of the war, when the stealing of horses
was quite a business, and I had had a
few days before a very fine mare stolen,
and I had just got track ofthe thief and
had  learned that  he was a very large,
well armed rebel, from the mountains of
Kentucky, and altogether a dangerous
fellow.    My   state  of feelings on this
account,  and the storm that was raging
without helped much no doubt to magnify the incident of the night.   Just in
front of me on the first seat were too
rather   remarkable   looking   persons—
broad shouldered, heavy built, rakish
looking rogues.   They were not  quite
tall enough for the chap that I was pursuing.   On we went whistling and stopping  at  every  station.   At length we
had quite a stir as a full company of
soldiers were ushered in upon us,   in
their blue blouses, pale blue overcoats,
muskets and gleaming bayonets.   It was
quite a crowding time to find seats for
all.    This was finally accomplished, and
guns stacked, and all was quiet again.
The Captain, who was a rather slender,
young looking person for a military man,
found a seat with me; still he bore the
marks of vigor and   had   doubtless a
tough, withy constitution.   All was just
now quiet as a wake, when a small boy
entered with a basket,  crying,  " pies !
pies I"   When he approached the seat
in  front of us, where our two burly
gents were seated, each took a pie, broke
and commenced eating.     " I want the
pay," said the boy.   " They are not good,
and I won't give you anything for them,"
was the gruff  response.   The demand
was several times repeated with the same
reply.   Theboysaid:_ " These pies, bir,
wore bought on a credit—I have them to
pay for on my return."   " Your pies are
not fit to eat."   " Here, soldier, won't
you havo a piece?" reaching a piece to a
soldier across the way.   The boy now in
despair   was   about   moving   forward.
"Stop!" said the (*aptnin, who had been
a very attentive observer; "make him
pay you!"    This so inspired  the boy
that he faced  about and fixed hfe eyes
upon the ruffian—"ptiy me, sir, for my
pies!" and at the same time L noticed
him   elevating^ his right  hand  slowly.
"Can he be going to strike?" I inquired
of myself-^-1'surely he will not commit eo
"rash anact."   If you have ever witnessed
the confusion produced in a lot of barnyard fowls when a hawk has suddenly
pounced upon a young bird from his
concealment in some tree'top near by,
then you can conceive the cenfusion that
was produced by the boy as he grabbed
the hat from the head of the fellow as he
sat thrusting the large mouthfuls of pie
down his throat. As the boy fled, the
ruffian followed, with imprecations and
curses, until he was suddenly stopped by
the Captain,:who had at the moment
thrown himstjf in front: "Stop, sir!
stop, I say; you shan't melest that boy;
STATE NEWS.
take your seat, sir ! " You have doubtless seen a toad swell and puff and suddenly subside. Amidst the roars of
laughter from all on board he took his
seat, and left the cars hatless.
We reached Harristown without any
otBer exciting incident, and, as we have
breakfasted are ready to look about.
Mr. Pickerel's farm is all in grass, no
grain is raised upon it. It is well fenced
and upon yonder hill stands a windmill
for raising water which is evidence that
the farm, as are too many Illinois farms,
is scarce of water. The barns, sheds and
yards are convenient. The main barn is
two stories. The upper story is-occupied
by a few good horses, grain bins and hay
mows. The lower, or first story, is used
for cattle. The cattle at this hour were
all in the fields except the calves, which
were all tied in comfortable quarters.
Pointing to three young calves, Mr.
Pickerel remarked "these are the calves
of the three heifers that I have showed
this fall at the fairs, and that were pronounced, on account of their fat condition, to be barren." They were with
calf at the time and have done well. In
the barnyard we found Breastplate, a
bull too well known to need a description by us. One thing wo may say, few
bulls carry more meat on so small a
bone. He is of Booth blood. Two yearling bulls were in their stalls, one sold
at seven hundred dollars; the other is
is intended for breeding to Breastplate
calves. Mr. Pickerel's herd is not largo
but very select, all choice cows and
heifers—short legged, smooth, fleshy
animals kept in the highest condition at
all seasons. They are housed at night
and turned to pasture during the day.
The motto here is "high keep." "I never
loose anything by feeding well," he says.
One thing here is worthy of note, that
notwithstanding Mr. Pickerel has the
finest quality of grain land, and is ofthe
opinion that it is better to buy his grain
than to raise it. In this I believe he is
alone.   Is he right?
Mr. Pickerel has a comfortable dwelling, a good orchard and more still, a
pleasant family.
We shall pursue our journey in our
next. A. C. Stevenson.
How to Keep a Situation.
Be ready to throw in an odd half-hour
or an hour's time when it will be an accommodation, and don't seem to make
a merit of it. Do it heartily. Though
not a word be said, your employer will
make a note of it. Make yourself in-
dispensablo to him,- and he will lose
many of the opposite kind before he
will part with you.
Those young men who watchj the
clock the very second their hour is up—
who leave, no matter what state the
work may be in, at • precisely the instant—who calculate the extra amount
they can slight their work, and yet not
get reproved—who are lavish of their
employer's goods—will always bc first
to receive notice, when times are dull,
that their services are no longer required.
Randolph county is out of debt, with
$60,000 in the treasury.
Scarlet fever and diptheria prevails in
portions of Daviess county.
The value of the pork crop of Wayne
county is placed at $700,000.
Martinsville slaughtered 15,000 hogs
this season, against 11,000 last.
Some $35,000 have been subscribed
towards starting a bank at (Hagerstown.
Since harvest a Waterloo merchant
has bought over 30,000 bushels of oats.
Knightstown is to have a lecture from
1* red. Douglass on the evening of January 9th.
The    Floyd   County   Commissioners
have adopted plans for a County Poor
house.to cost $20,000.
From 14.000 to 16,000 barrels of salt
are received at Lawrenceburg annually
and distributed to other points.
*A£a™er near Bunker Hill has cleared
$2.800in money off his little farmin the
past two years.
Mr Hess bought of Alex. Bland, both
• tS county' two bo«s which
weighed 910 pounds.
J. H. Hart of Randolph county sold a
hogthisseason which weiglred790 pounds
at b cents per pound. '
Dugan, Cass & Co., of Delphi, have
slaughtered fifteen thousand hogs this
season at a cost of not less than $300,000.
Four New Harmony hunters report
tour deer and seventeen turkeys «as the
result of a four weeks hunt in Missouri.
Tipton county at present has no licensed saloons—a state of affairs that
has not been in existence for many years
before.
Daleville, Delaware county, sent 225
bushels of wheat and corn, ground into
flour and meal, to the grasshopper sufferers in the West.
Benjamin Aydelotto, one ofthe oldest
citizens of Harrison county, died very
suddenly, of apoplexy, Tuesday, in his
eighty-second year.
The Columbus and Burnsville Turnpike Company is in trouble. Thc people
refuse to pay toll, and lawsuits are in
demand.
We are told that Benton county farmers wear revolvers and carbines whilst
in the fields gathering corn, in consequence of the roving beast up there.
A number of Grangers are packing
pork on their own account in Richmond, and it is estimated that about
two thousand head of Grange pork will
be packed in that city this season.
The commissioners of Laporte county
have authorized the issue of $10,000 additional bonds at ten per cent, interest
This makes the bonded debt of the
county $40,000.
An average crop of corn; mostly sold'ln tha
field for from 25 to 50 cents per bushel. Hogs all
sold at an average of J6.00. The wheat looks
well; about the average amount has been sown.
Half a crop of oats. About one-fourth of a crop
of potatoes; sold at f 1 per bushel. One-fourth
of a crop of apples.
Grangers are wide-awake and increasing ln
number. A great many at this place do not
take the Farmkr. Will try to get up a club for
lt. - J. M. Coffhan.
INQUIRY-PLASTER PARIS, ETC.
Stanfokd, Monroe Co., Dec. 11.
I would like for some reader of tbe Farmer
to tell me through that valuable paper,
where plaster parts or ground plaster can bo
had, and at what price. When ls the best timo
to sow Hungarian seed t When should it be
cut? When a little green, or when perfectly
ripet What is tho best plan for making hay of
1" W. E. T.
SWITZERLAND COUNTY
East Entkhi-hihe, Dec. 14.
Poor prospect for wheat on account ofthe dry
weather. The early sown did not come up,
and some of tho farmers had to re-sow. We
had a good corn crop; selling for 65 cents per
bushel. Hay crop very light; Belling at tl7.00
per ton. This is the champion hay county of
the State. We sell WOOO bales annually. The
wheat crop was unusually good; averaged 15
bushels to the acre. Good lrult crop. Hog
crop Bhort and selling at ~V% cents per pound.
The Oranges are all working harmoniously.
•   Ouanokr.
WARREN COUNTY.
Wn.MAMSi'Oifr, Deo. 15.
The chief products of this county ore wheat,
oats, corn, hay, cattle ond hogs. Home sheep
are raised, but it is not a prominent business.
The same Is true as to horses and mules. H
costs 40 cents per bushel to rolse com; wheat
costs 11.00; oats 25 cent*; liny S6.00, cattle about 4
cents gross; hogs 4 cants gross; farm labor from
S15.00 to S20.00 per moth.
In what way has the Orange benfilted usT
By promoting society, and lowering the price
of farm Implements. Hckiiiui.bh.
BERKSHIRES-AN INQUIRY.
I wish somo ofthe Berkshire raisers wonld
inform me how much white is allowable on
pure Berkshires; and also, which Is preferable,
thick or thin hair. I await an answer through
the farmere'friend, tho Indiana Farmer.
CM. Hi.r.F.TH.
RIPLEY  COUNTY.
Hoi/rOn, Dec. 14.
Corn Is nearly all gathered; most of) tin grx>d
order.   We have not had a better fall forgathering corn for a number of years.
Cattle plenty;
looking thin; selling for2and Scents per pound.
Fat cattlo are In good demand but are
Hogs are scarce; worth from 5 to
pound.   The (Ji
lively.   Holton   _       „,,„,
and a prospect for several more
Cambridge City has no licensed saloon
now throughout all her borders The
three applicants before the Board of
Commissioners at their last session were
all defeated.
Timothy F. Smith, of Hancock county
committed suicide by hanging on Saturday of last week. He was at one time
a wealthy and enterprising farmer of
that county, but for a long time his mind
had not been right.
A fine pair of horses, a gray and a bay,
and a spring wagon were stolen from
'William Kieman, a subscriber tr> the
Farmer, living near New Castle, Henry
county, last Friday night, the 18th. A
reward of one hundred and twenty-five
dollars is offered for their recovery.
the Fauhbii, they wt
I greatly oblige
ti.W.Onn,
*«fsrr«,
ts... trl     — -"">,-> cents  p*»r
.,.!,*. Ranges ar<> working things up
Orange contains 40 member*
'""  J. It.
WONT MAKE BUTTER.
I wish to inquire through the Farmer, )f any
ofthe dairy or stock men reading the pnper
can Inform mo through tho same, why ,«ilk
will not make butter. I have a cow that hut
given milk nearly two years and had no calf
during that time, but has been a good milk
and butter cow until lately; the milk will uot
produce butter; cream raises well and ls good
but after churning tt while it becomes as waW-r'
and nothing w 11 moke It chang" after t iat'
The cow s fat, ls fed on corn-stalls and br„, ,
A Buried Forest.—Mr J K far
lor, F. G. S. has discovered a buriM
forest m the Orwell River, in HufToik
county England. It is reprwet.ted by »
layer of peat containing trunk*, I«,avB!
and fruits ofthe o,k. din. hazol a„r*fir
associated with whieh ar.. tht ■      r"
the mammoth.   A !,,„]   0f  (>,.,,,
shells, coutiuninjsppcfien not
hi the Orwell   und.rli».» O,
Jaylor remarks tl
'*■ r»muir,K ,,f
r
livin/
Mr
(
now
-'   P'.-it.
r«"t   in
fempor«oo«.ui. with oiiiwrt',',^ ,{*  7'"   PfM
which exist*.] previous to tbo .J,, , ##<L
separating Inland ivm ,h|.- l^'"']' f/j,%
'    *    /* 'tut/