V>"
Livs Stock.
WILL   THE  PRICES   OF   SHORTHORNS BE SUSTAINED?
In the month of January, 1874, there
were three public sales of Short-Horn
cattle made in Canada at which 17 males
and 51 females were sold at an average
of $457 per head. One of the herds sold
was one ofthe best in the Dominion and
the sale was a "closing out" one. In
January just past there have been again
three public sales in Canada, the summary of which is as follows: At William Miller's Bale, 33 cows and heifers
sold at an average of $1305 per head, and
6 bulls at an average of $167.50 per
head, making 39 head at an average of
$537,50 per head. At Birrell and Johnston's sale, 19 cows and heifers sold at
an average of 1393 per head, and one
birll for $-100 making 20 head at an average of 139350 per head. At Thompson
Brothers sale, 22 cows and heifers sold
at an average of $412.75 per head and 4
bulls, at an average of $132.50 per head,
average $370 per head. At J. R. Craig's
"closing out" sale, 27 eows and heifers
sold for an average of $594.25 per
per head, and 5 bulls for an average.of
$371 per head, making an average on the
32 head of 1559. The entire 117 head
told for an average of $481.50 against
the 68 sold last year at an average of
♦457 per head. Surely the price has not
broken down yet. At the sales ma<je
last year a number of the cattle sold
came to Indiana, General Meredith &
Son being large buyers. In the report
of the sales just made we do not notice
the name of any man from Indiana as a
purchaser. Most of the highest prices
paid were by buyers from Illinois and
Kentucky. "Ware & McGoodwin, of
Danville," Kentucky, purchased one cow
at the nice little sum of $3,360 and a
white heifer calf at $1,200. Will the
white color come in fashion again? Will
the high prices be sustained?,
    .    sis    .	
Fattening by Shrinkage.
Jamestown. Boone County, 1
Indiana, January 24.    j'
Editor Indiana Farmer.
Information wanted, which I suppose, can be readily given by
some of the many cattle feeders of Indiana. It appears to be desirable with feeders to have a good fat
set of cattle to commence with. ■ We believe it is customary to rough feed till
February or March, allowing each animal to shrink from one hundred to one
hundred and fifty pounds, then feed out
on corn to get the original weights back.
This is what we cannot understand. In
what way does this management pay?
Please explain in the Farner.
Granger
.    s»    <	
Sale of Poland China.
James Mustard, of Broad Ripple, re
eently sold one of his finest young Poland
China sows, Eva Dili, James C. Calvert,
Poseyville, Gibson county, Indiana
She was two years old and weighed 492
pounds and the price paid was an even
$100.
-    —.         I    .     s .      -
- Care of Young Stock.  —•
Some farmers have advanced the opinion, and even practiced upon it, that to
have hardy stock they must be exposed
to the weather, and stinted in food while
young; or. in other words, that a calf or
a colt well fed and cared for will naturally be tender, and must be so fed
through life to be kept in good condition. This is not so, in the first instance, for stock half kept while young
can never recover from the injury thus
received, and no after-care in feeding
can make as good an animal as would
have been produced by proper treatment
in early life. To keep stock profitably,
they should always be kept in thriving
condition, receiving extra -attention
while young and growing, especially
during the winter and spring. Good
shelter and plenty to eat and drink are
particularly necessary at this season of
thc year to all colts and calves which
we desire to become^valuable horses and
cattle hereafter.— Wool Grower.
Horses were exported from France,
' in the first nine months of 1874. to the
value of three million dollars. They in-
eluded 5,217 mares, 536 stallions, and
11.959 geldings. The exports for the
corresponding period in the two previous
Wars were: 1873—Mares. 4 957; stallions. 616; geldings, 12.990. 1872—
yMares, 4,265; stallions, 992; gelding s
* «J26. They are exported principally to
ngland, Belgium, and Germany.—N.
Times
THB  MARSH  HARVESTER AT  "WORK.
The Marsh Harvester is simple in construction, made ofthe very best materials, and although weighing only about
800 lbs., is strong and durable. Thc draft is lighter than any other Reaper of the same capacity. The platform is adjustable, and easily adapted to all kinds and conditions of grain. Two binders will easily bind as much on this machine, as four
6r five binders following other styles of Reapers, saving in addition all the grain that by other machines is lost,—this saving
is estimated, by many, to be sufficient to pay thc wages of the binders. There is furnished with each machine a Shade-
frame, over which an awning can be placed, protecting the workmen from the rays of tie sun, enabling them to do their
work thoroughly and comfortably. ■•■"..
In brief, the saving of labor, the saving of grain, tbe saving in wages and board of additional help, the durability and
adaptability of this Harvester to all conditions of grain, renders it tin: Cheapest, most et-onomical, and best grain cutting machine now in use. .:.■'..
BLANKETING HORSES.
But few people, comparatively, understand how to blanket a horse to prevent
him, from contracting cold. We frequently see the blankets folded double,
and laid across the rump, and a part of
the animal's back, leaving those parts of
the body that need protection entirely
exposed to cold 1 storms and chilling
winds. Those -parts of the body of a
horse which surround the lungs require
the benefit of a blanket, in preference to
his flanks and rump. When we are exposed to a current of cold air, to guard
against any injury from contracting cold,
we shield our shoulders, chest, neck and
hack. If these parts be kept protected,
the lower part<of the body will endure a
degree of cold far more intense, without
any injury to the body, than if the lungs
were not kept warm with suitable covering. The same thing holds in the protection of horses. The blanket should
cover the neck, withers and shoulders,
and be brought around the breast, and
buttoned or buckled together as closely
as a man buttons his overcoat, after baring his bosom. Let the lungs of a horse
be protected with a heavy blanket, and
he will seldom contract cold, even if the
hindermost parte of the body are not
covered. .
We refer more particularly to blanketing horses that have become unusually
warm by violent exertion and hard driving, and exposing them to a current of
cold air while standing still. Many of
our best teamsters protect the breast of
their horses by a place of heavy cloth
about two feet sqmare, hanging down
from the lower end -of the collar. This
is an excellent practice in cold weather,
as the most important part of the animal
is shielded from the cold wind, especially
when traveling toward a strong current.
The forward end of the horseblankcts
should be made to fit as closely around
the breast of a horse as our garments fit
our bodies. Most horses will contracts
violent cold almost as soon as a man,_ if
not blanketed while they stand still,
after having been exercised so violently
as to produce a profuse perspiration.
So long as a horse is kept in motion,
there is little danger of his suffering any
inconvenience from cold winds. But
allow him to stand still for a few moments, while loading or unloading, without a heavy blanket to protect his
shoulders and lungs, and he will take
cold sooner than some men.—Exchange.
CORN MEAL AND HAY.
1
Your correspondent T. .T. E., in comparing a ton of hay with the same quantity of corn meal, makes a difference of
one dollar in favor of the former, but
thinks this differeneo "more than made
up by the increased value ofthe manure
from the ton of corn meal." He forgers
that what goes to the dung heap is so
much taken from what was estimated as
going to the animal. This is one of the
dlJiculties with grain when fed—the
mannre pile gets _ too much, probably
in consequence mainly of a lack of balance of the nutritive properties of the
grain, grass (dried) supplying them all
in the right proportion' and so as to be
nearly all available. The grain is only
a part of the  plant;  hay is  the entire
plant. This acoounts for the difference.
A feed is not valuable for what it may
contain, but for what is _ available.
Grass, or tender hay, fills* this last requirement. It is the natural feed of
herbivorous stock, as milk is for young
animals, and hence adjusted to the wants
of the system. But theoretical discussion is not needed; practice and careful
observation make clear the fact that
grain, though it has its advantages, is
not a profitable feed when stock is to be
wintered or held to milk. For working
horses and for fattening purposes it becomes a necessity. The cow, the sheep
and the young animal thrive upon grass
alone, provided always that the quality
is good and the quantity is sufficient,
whether green, or dried when green, the
mature grass in all cases to be excluded.
We include under this h.ead the clovers,
the usual forage grasses, and corn fodder, when the material reserved for the
berry is yet in the plant and available;
and what is more than all, such fodder
can be much more cheaply raised. This
should decide the matter, and it does
where it is known; and it is getting to be
more and better understood. Hay is
cut greener (often two crops in a season^,
which early cutting favor. -Clover is
comingmore into favor, and cornstalks
are being largely used, as well as corn
fodder, for feeding in summer—which
is found cheaper and better than grain.
Let us not deceive ourselves by theory,
but go direct to practice, and bring all
things, including the healthful action of
the feed, to bear upon the subject.—
Cor'. Country Gmlleman.
The Ayrshiresi
A poor farmer in 1750, finding it al
most impossible to_ subsist, took _ great
pains to nave his children drive his cow
where she could eat the richest and
thickest grass, to house her in the winter, and feed her with carefully stored
hay; in fine, took unheard-of care of his
cow. The grateful animal rewarded her
owner with a fine calf and an unusual
abundance of milk, and thus the celebrated breed of Ayrshire cows was pro
duced, though it was not till about the
first of the present century that it was
brought to perfection.
At the recent great fat cattle show at
Islington, England, the Short-Horns
took the three leading prizes. Best ox
or steer, Mr. Belt's steer No. 65; best
cow or heifer, Mr. II. Stratton's Nectar
ineBud, No. 81. The 4*500 cup tothe
best animal in the yard, "H. R. H." the
Prince of Wales' white heifer, No. 170,
bred by Mr. Hugh Aylmer; got by T.C
Booth s British Crown. A fat ox exhibited by Mr. Wortley weighed, at
sixty-five months old, about 2,700
pounds.
Indiana Farmer Family.
Onr Postal Card Correspondence.
BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY.
Coi.umbcs, Jan. 3S.
Tlie last few days of freezing and thawing has
been hard on tbe thin wheat. Wheat ls worth
»5«Mnts per bushel; corn 55 cents. Cattle are
looking very well considering tho severe, <x>ld
weather we have had. Stock hogs are getting
scarce.
Hike your paper better than ever and think lt
Is being Improved every week. Success to yon.
E. P. CLICK.
TROM ANOTHER.
Walksboko, Jan.
We are beginning to nse land Plaster here
and find lt very profitable, especially in clover.
Borne fear It will Injure tbe soil by packing,
exhausting, etc., and say that when Its use ls
o»ce commenced lt must be continued.
The opinion of those  having experience In
Its use on these points wonld be valuable. Will
J. N. Robinson, respond through Uie columns
of this paper. E. B.
HARRISON COUNTY.
Siiarpe's Mills, Jan. 30.
Will you, or some of your readers, please answer the following questions:
Wihere can lactometers be procured? What
means will prevent the ravages of the old,
striped potato bugs? Were lt not for these I
think, .mangel-wurzel would be a profitable
crop.
Why can we not have an engraving of the
Jersey or Aldercney stock occasionally.
8. U. B.6CSIBEB.
A newly patented article is an india
rubber over-shoe for horses. It is made
and lined the same way as the one for
the human race, only the sole is_ made
thick and roughened to prevent slipping.
It has the advantage that it can be removed at will, and easily put on again.
The cost is one-third _mor,e than iron
shoes but their durability is said to be
great.
NEW PARIS. OHIO.
In Use report ofthe weights of my hogs, given
In the Farmer a few weeks since. You got the
weights a little too heavy. It should have read
'.'the two largest weighed 1,500 pounds," not
"1,500 pounds each" as the type made lt read.
Please correct, as your readers may accuse
me of telling Munchausen-like stories.
W. H. Garret-son.
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Salem, Jan. 28.
We have had excessively cold weather. The
peaches are nearly all killed. Apples are badly damaged. The wheat appears to be Injured,
as there was no snow to protect lt during the
severe freeze.   Weather ls warmer.
I.. N-Smith.
RIPLEY COUNTY.
Holtox, Jan. 28.
The growing crop of wheat looks well. Corn
Is selling at 55cents per bushel. Apples nearly all gone; have been rotting very badly; selling at 40 cents per bushel. Cattle, are plenty
and are looking well. J, It.
DECATUR COUNTY.
We are In the southern part of Decatnr county, and think that the soil in this neighborhood ls almost as productive as can be found.
This part ofthe county raised the usual number of hogs; most all sold at from J6.00 to 7.35.
Corn plenty; selling at50 cents. Cattle plenty;
selling at 3K cents, Qur Grange ls ln good
working order. J. W. Armstrong.
ALLEN COUNTY.
Hogs all sold at7 and 8 cents. Stock hogs are
bc arce. Wheat looks very bad. Corn is worth
00 cents; wheat 11; clover seed 16; potatoes 75,
bay CO; batter !I5 cents per pound.
Obangeb.
WARREN COUNTY.
Kainsvillb. Jan, 25.
Weathereold; very little snow; hard on the
wheat, especially on the prairie. Feed ls high
and scarce. Water for stock ls scarce; stock, ls
looking well. Fat hogs all sold at from 15 to
t6.75.   Very flne, fat cattle on hand.      H. B.
FOUNTAIN COUNTY.
Tbeearly sown wheat looks promising, bnt
tbe late sown looks.bad. Last year's crop was
not as good as usual, neither In quality nor ln
quantity. The corn crop was a fair one. Not
much of an oat crop sown. Our hog crop ls
nearly all sold, worth from five to six dollars
per hundred. There will not be very many
hogs for next winter's market. Cattle are tolerably plenty, bntare selling very low. The
farmers will not have much feed to spare.
W. N. I..
• CREENE COUNTY. •
Marco, Jan. 30.
To prevent rabbits from destroying young
fruit trees I take the liver and lltes of a hog
when butchering ln the fall, and rub the tree
from the ground up higher than they can
reach.    This Is a novel but effectual way.
J. B. Stiles.
SHELBY COUNTY.
Jan. 28.
Since the long cold spell of weather ls over,
and the snow and  ice ls gone, wheat looks
nice and green.
I have a Berkshire pig that ls nine months
old. At7 months it was a flne growing pig, but
has now lost Its flesh. IU hair looks coarse and
rough; the hide is rather dry and dead looking;
lnsldeof the ears lsa white, horny substance
at which lt strikes with Its hind feet. ltls running with mate which ls doing well. Will
some of the readers of the Farmer please be so
kind as to tell me through Its colums what alls
him? It eats both corn and slop with a good
appetite.' 0. M. Sleeto.
ALFALFA SEE0.
We have got some ofthe Alfalfa seed from
California. Can some one give us some advice
as to the time of sowing lt and on what kind of
ground lt should be sown.? Please give full
Information and lt will be appreciated by a
reader of the Indiana Farmer.
J. McClellan.
JEFFERSON  COUNTY.'
February 1.
Will you or some of your readers Inform me
through the cesiums of your paper how nuch oil
meal to give at a feeding, and how often to feed
lt to horses,  cattle and sheep, when the object ls to fatten, Subscriber.
MARSHALL COUNTY.
How to Estimate the Profits ot. Farm.
The farmerllvesln his own house.    The use
of the house he lives ln and does not pay for, ls
as much apart of his Income as the money the
salaried man may pay for rent is of bis, and
should be counted as such in* an estimate of the
profits of a farm.
All things produced on a farm and consumed
on the fanner's table, Including the vegetables
from his garden, and tbe eggs and milk used ln
cooklngareos much a part of his Income as the
money a salaried man pays for the same.
If a fanner giveshls wife a pleasant ride to
town, and when using his own horse and vehicle, the value of their use lsa part of the Income from the farm as truly as the money the
salaried man would have to pay for the same.
The correct way to estimate the profits of a
farm is this: Give credit for everything produced or expended, no matter how small In
value, as well as for cash received for produce
and Increase ln the value of farm property, and
charge against the farm theintereston capital
Invested, and for all expedltures. The man
that will do this from year to year will not
feel much like com plaining about the unprofitableness of farming. Few take into consideration the comfort and luxury ol lresh eggs,
butter, fruit, Ac, such as they would have to
pay high prices for^or do without, if they lived
in towns. o. W. Oles.
JOHNSON COUNTY.
I have about 500 loads of manure under my
barn, ln the dry, made from 70 head of mules.
What ls the best method of disposing of It? I
am hauling it out and spreading It on ■ clover
sod to be put in corn in the spring. Is lt better todrop a load ln a place and spread Just before turning under ln the spring.
Wheat looks well. Grangers are in splendid
working condition. Farmers generally are
aiming to get a better stock of cattle and hogs;
till less land and do it better; buy less goods and
pay cash. E. D. B.
RANDOLPH COUNTY.
I have been a breeder of Poland-China hogs
ever since I was 15 years old. I have raised
pigs which, when 7 months old, weighed 320
pounds; never fed strong until they were 8
months old. I believe the best way to raise
pigs ls to not feed much corn to sows with
young pigs, as lt will give them the scours.
Some say that clover will kill young pigs. I
beg leave to differ with them. I have raised
fine pigs on clover alone. Good elover with
small feeds of corn Is much better than If the
feed was all corn. Some have a great deal of
trouble In saving pigs. If they will feed their
brood sows some bran mash with a few small
potatoes one month before harrowing, the pigs
will be sure to have good luck If properly cared
for. W. H. Farmer.
MONROE COUNTY.
Growing wheat looks bad.    Hogs all sold.
Wheat is worth tl. per bushel; corn  00 cents;
oats 50; potatoes 80. J. H. T.
IKDIAKA 1TEWS.
Ice ten inches thick has been cut in
the Wabash at Yincennes.
It is estimated that over 5,000 hogs
have been marketed at Laporte so far
this season.
A. pottery is talked of in Petersburg,
Pike county.
Father William Taylor, a veteran of
the war of 1812, died in Lafayette Wednesday night, in his 84th year.
Wm. Wright, who lives near Scipio,
weighed 120 hogs last week of his own
raising, which averaged over 440 pounds
each.
The heaviest tax-payer in Switzerland
county is U. P. Schenck, who pays $2,-
462 42.
The treasury of the Howard county
agricultural society is plethoric with a
cash balance of $5 98, while the outstanding debts unpaid amount to $1,-
473.25.
Hundreds of bushels of apples and potatoes have been frozen in the cellars of
Delphi during the frigid term.
The following item from. The Republican, published at Auburn: A recent fox
hunt resulted in the capture of six foxes
and some other game.
The Sullivan Union says: Wheat continues to pour into the market here.
The mills are kept running day and
night. This is something unusual for
this time of year, and gives a little idea
ofthe immense crop which-was raised
last season.
Says Ihe Frankfort Banner: "Last
Friday and Saturday were field days for
grain men. The fear ofthe roads breaking up hurried many farmers up, and the
consequence was that at least 6,000
bushels of corn was delivered on each
day."
The Tipton Advance says: "Two brothers, both young men, living in the southwest corner ofthe county! whose names
we failed to learn, were out hunting on-
last Friday, when one was shot by a rifle
in the hands of the other, from the
wounds of which he died some hours af-'
terward."
Ihe Tipton Times states that during
the last summer, Mr. McFatridge had
forty-four colonies of bees, and fromt
them he obtained8.567 pounds of slung!
honey. He sold 5,817 pounds at nineteen cents. The whole-amount raised
from the forty-four colonies was worth,
at market price, $1,627 73. and the
amount sold came to $1,105 23.
Ihe Noblesville Ledger says: A man
named Frank Brewer, aged about thirty-
five years, and a musician by profession,
was found in the Perkinsville grave
yard Monday morning, frozen to death.
Deceased is said to have been a very-
skillful musician, and generally traveled
with shows in the practice of his profession.
The Bedford Independent: "Prof. Cox,
State Geologist, informs us that there is
more mineral wealth in Lawrence county than in any other county in the State,
and that Indian Creek and Spice Valley
townships take the lead. The professor,
is urging the necessity of building a nar-
row-guage railroad from rockport to Indianapolis, through this county. He assures us that it would be tbe best paying
road tn the State." ,
The Laporte Herald gives the following ice notes: "It is believed that the
different firms and companies will pity
out at least $50,000 for labor before the
close ofthe harvest. Thompson & Co.
have shipped in all 464 car-loads of ice
to Chicago—at least 5,500 tons. This is
about all the ice sent off by rail thus far.
When the barns are filled the shipments
are likely to be quite heavy, as Hilt &
Co. will want to to send some blocks
south over the I. P. & C. railroad.
HENDRICKS  COUNTY.
Lizton, Jan. 25.
I have a mare that chews the halter strap
and bridle rein.   Will some one that has a remedy give lt through the colums of the Farmer
and confer a favor on J. K.
The Scientific American proposes the'
following treatment for wet boots :
When the boets are taken off, fill them
quite full of dry oats.   This grain has a
f:reat fondness for damp, and will rapid-
y absorb the last vestige of it from the
wet leather. As it quickly and completely takes up the_ moisture, it swells
and fills the boot with a tightly-fitting
last, keeping its form good, and drying
the leather, without hardening it. In
the morning shake out the oats and
hang them in a bag near the fire to dry,
ready for the next wet night; draw on
the boots and go happily and comfortably about the day's work.
Eating Without an Appetite.
Dr. Hall says: It is wrong to eat
without an appetite, for it shows there
is no gastric juice in the stomach, and
that nature does not need food; and not
needing it, there being no fluid to receive and act upon it, it remains there
only to putrify, the very thought of
which shouldbe sufficient to deter any
man from eating without an appetite for
the remainder of his life. If a tonic is
taken to whet the appetite, it is a mistaken course, for its sonly result is to
cause one to eat more, when already an
amount has been eaten beyond what the
gastric is able to prepare. The object to
be obtained is a larger supply of gastric
juice, not a larger supply of food; and
whatever fails to accomplish that essential object fails to have any efficiency toward the cure of dyspeptic diseases. The
formation of gastric juices is directly
proportioned to the wear and tear ofthe
system, which it is to be the means of supplying, and this wear and tear can only
take place as the result of exercise. The;
efficient remedy for dyspepsia is workout-door work—beneficial and successful in direct proportion as it is agreeable,;
interesting and profitable.