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Yol. I. IjNDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, MARCH 13, 1875. No. 10. Live Stock. For tne Indiana Farmer. FEEDING CATTLE. I noticed an article in the Faemee, from Mr. M. B. Waugh, of Coltax, in reference to feeding cattle. I was pleased to hear from some one on this subject; for I consider it one of great importance. Mr. W., Beems to think it will not do to feed corn at 50 cents. I well know it is expensive, but I think it can be made profitable if fed in the right way. I think I can show it to be go. I have been feeding for the last ten or twelve years the fore part of winter, say December and January, and havo not failed making it profitable. I will give the figures: Suppose we take 100 head of cattle, weighing the first of December 1.-400 pounds. I feed different from the most of farmers in this section, and I think it best from experience. I have troughs three feet wide and about the same in hight, twelve or fourteen feet long and about six steers to the trough. In this way my cattle always have clean corn to eat; and it is not half the trouble to feed. In feeding this way I have no changing of hogs. I am confident they will do better by running with the cattle, for they get the droppings while it is warm; in this way there is nothing lost. One hand can feed and break the corn for 600 head of cattle, and have plenty of time to rest. I think there is more money in feeding these two months than to feed all winter, or from February out, anil then graze. If I want to graze until fall or later I do not want to add so much expense as corn will make, I can put on 100 pounds in two months—December and January. • Now for the trial: 1,400 pounds at 5 cents, brings $70; 100 head 17,000; 3,000 bushels of corn, 5 cents, $1,500; 18,000 pounds of bran with one-fourth shorts, $180; 180 shocks of fodder, $45, or hay to the same amount, that is all they will eat, with bran. I feed 25 bushels of eonrin the morning, and 150 pounds of bran; at noon, 3 shocks of fodder or hay {- 25 bushels of corn in the evening, 150 pounds of bran, with half gallon of salt per day mixed with bran; they will keep 125 hogs to average 100 pounds at 5i cents; cost, $687. Interest on cattle and hogs for two months, $128; expense of hand, $60; cost of cattle and hogs for two months feeding, $9,600; say they will weigh by that time 1,500 pounds. 8ome'may think' this too much, but I have put on more than this in the same time; 1,500 pounds at 6 cents, brings $90; 100 head, $9,000; the hogs will gain 90 pounds—that makes them 190 pounds at 6 cents, 125 hogs, $1,425; cattle and hogs bring $10,425; that amount on interest for Bix months brings $521, whieh makes $10,946; that leaves over and above all expenses, $1,346. Now for the late feeding we will take the same number of cattle the first of December, weighing 1,200 pounds at 4J cents, $bl per head—100 head, $5,400; 125 hogs, to average 100 pounds, 5} cents, $687; expense on cattle for two months. $2 per; month, $400. Now we will feed the same amount of corn in three months we fed the others in two months, 3,000 bushels of corn at 50 cents, costs $1,500; interest on cattle for eight months, $360; interest on hogs for three months, $17. Suppose we run the cattle 'till' the first of August on grass that k.worth $2 per month, 100 head, $600; expense of hand for five months feeding, $150; cost of cattle and hogs, $9,114 at that time; suppose they weigh 1,500 pounds at 53 cents, 100 head brings $8,625; weight of hogs, 235 pounds the first of May, at 6 cents, 125 hogs brings $1,762 whole amount for cattle ahd hogs, $10,387; that leaves over and above cost, , $1,273; this makes it in favor of early feeding, $73. Now there are other things in favor of early feeding. I get my ., stock off in time not to interfere with my spring work, and another thing, I do not have my land tramped. I can feed oa my fields, which is quite a benefit—a thing you cannot do in the spring with- * out injuring your land. jl jam neither a lawyer, preacher, or 'ga_n§er; but take a little advice from !a^>'Jnel' do the best I can for myself. For the Indiana Farmer. TOO MUCH POOR STOCK. The Celebrated Jersey Cow, "DUCHESS," Imported by Chas. L. Sharpiess, Philadelphia, Pa. Indiana Farmer Family. I would be pleased to hear from some one of the many readers of the Farmer whether I am right in my calculation or not. James Bridges'. P. S.—The 10th of February I weighed out 400 head of very fine sheep averaging 136 and 8 pounds over. How is that for Old Putnam ? . J. B. SHORT-HORNS AND SCRUBS. For the Indiana Farmer. ALL ABOUT BREEDING DAIRY STOCK. The present for the dairy, mode of cattle breeding is a transaction which does not appear to bc governed by any definite regulation, or standard, consequently the results are varied, and thwart the breeder, in attaining the higher orders of merit in his stock. There certainly is not sufficient effort made by those most interested to avail themselves of scientific history or well authenticated treatises appertaining to this business. In the breeding of this kind of cattle and endeavoring to apply means to the promotion of greater certainty in producing stock of merit, I have become impressed with the belief in the existence of markings to be found upon all domestic animals, indicative of their merit, in the sphere contributing to the support of man, as well as their prepotence in breeding. This theory is apparently sustained, Genesis, 30th chapter, in the record of the cattle trade made by Laban, and his son-in-law Jacob, who served in the capacity of herdsman for a sufficient time to possess himself of the knowledge justifying him, in undertaking to produce specifically -marked cattle, which he was to have as pay, for services rendered. The careful application of science, or his knowledge, produced the cattle as per contract, and in the ring- streaked we recognize the Holstein or Dutch, the speckled, furnishes the type, of Ayrshires and roan of the seventeens, the grizzled affords the attractive coloring of the Channel Island cattle, (combination or blended colors). In the array of colored cattle, we have the type fixed by Jacob, of the most perfect dairy cattle of this age, being reproduced without their breeders knowing exactly how to apply scientific principles, or give a marking, by which breeders may select the strong, or the weak, of herds, as Jacob did, for specific breed ing, and make available that higher faculty possessed by some females, of marking their offspring otherwise, than that of coloring the hair. It is not too much to believe that the investigative disposition of stock breeders, when reduced to a systematic effort, would eventuate in finding upon their stock, formations or markings, indicative of this peculiar faulty (which is known to exist), as readily as Guenon made the discovery of the markings of the cow, which he called the milk mirror, together with other markings of dairy stock, denoting their merit as to quantity and quality of product. Jno. B. Poyntz. Alderney Farm, near Maysville, Ky. Editor Indiana Farmer. Mr. Thrasher talks very nice about Short-Horns, at the same time does not make it quite satisfactory to my mind in regard to their origin. He says the first Short-Horn bull, Hubbac, was found on the commons, and was purchased by a Mr. Collins, some two hundred years ago, but does not say in what county. He says they are a distinct breed from all others. If they are distinct from all others and discovered onlr two hundred years ago, they must be a new creation. We cannot understand in what way a distinct breed could be produced from a single animal. If a different breed of cows were bred to Hubbac, there was an admixture of blood, and consequently could not be distinct from all other breeds. We are not posted in regard to the origin of the different breeds, but suppose that Mr. Collins found a superior animal in some man's herd, and then bred with good judgment from year to year till they became perfect. He claimed them to be a distinct race. AVe admire the appearance of Short-Horn cattle, but have always been too poor to own one, therefore must be content with common stock, if they are not as delicate in the head and neck, and have not such fine limbs they are well adapted to this climate and can be made to weigh from fourteen to sixteen hundred in the fall after being two years old. It is unpleasant to speak of the bad management of my countrymen, but it is a fact that you might give many farmers a herd of the best Short- Horns in the State and in the space of ten years they would have nothing better than scrubs. Where cattle are kept in a condition to barely live from year to year, Short- Horns would be as poor as the poorest. We do not believe there is any scrub stock only as it was made so by bad treatment. Every farmer in the land might have saleable cattle if they would only keep the amount they could feed well, from calves'till disposed of. We find it much easier to- bring cattle up to the proper weights than it is to give proper shape, but this can be done by perseverance, and acting with good judgment in selecting animals to breed from. Yes, Mr. Thrasher, let every animal stand on its own merits. A mean animal with a long pedigree makes a popr show. Boone County, Ind. Granger. For the Indiana Farmer. JERSEYS, GUERNSEYS, AND ALDERNEYS. A few remarks about Jerseys, Guernseys and Alderneys, I do not think them the most profitable bullocks for this country. In the first place they are not very hardy, Alderneys especially, their skin is thin, hair short, require a warm house and extra care. Another objection is they are not much for beef; they feed well, but are extremely light when fat. Another objection is they put on more fat inside in proportion to their beef than other animals. A small cow, well fed, that will net 500 pounds, will have 100 pounds of tallow. This is an object in countries where tallow sells at the same price per pound as the best points of beef, but here where so much tallow goes for candles at a great reduction, it is a loss. If I were a dairyman I would not keep them; that is, if I was a conscientious one, and did not mix water with my milk. If I was a gentleman, just keeping a few cows for family use, and felt that when I had friends to come in,-. I wished to set beforo them the very best cream and butter they ever saw, I should keep one ofthe three breeds. If I lived near some town, and kept a few cows for butter, and could contract that butter for 40 cents per pound, I should keep one of the three breeds. A thoroughbred cow of these breeds highly kept, and in full milk, will not increase in flesh at all—it will all go to the milk. When I see numbers in this country called pure bred in full milk and just fit for the butcher, with a small bag, they bear but a slight resemblance to those I have seen come direct from the islands. If they are in full milk and poorly kept, or too much exposed, their constitutions will give way and death will follow. There are large numbers shipped to the western parts of England from the islands, and sold by auction. They do not sell high. As a rule, a good young heifer, from one to four years old, will make from $25 to $45, which is not high where beef sells for about 16 cents per pound and upwards. In passing through the country you will find them largely kept around towns and cities, and many farmers keep a few for butter and veal their calves, as there would be an objection to them for steers for beef. The best cross with them I have ever seen is the Short-Horn. They bring them up in size and help the constitution, while the other gives milk and good fattening qualities. Of the three breeds, I should rank Guernseys first, because largest, best formed and good for milk and butter. Next I should put the Jerseys. Some I have- seen nearly black, some black and white, some white and yellow. They are quite equal and perhaps rather better for milk and butter than the Guernseys. The Alderneys are small in the bone, are very portly in shape, have none of that roundness to those called Guernseys. I have seen here that they are the most tender of the three breeds, but I think quite up in milk and butter, perhaps the best in proportion to size as to their color. They are often liver color and white, or all of a liver color, with other variations; but are invariably small in the bone, with small heads, small horns, more like a deer about the mouth than any other animal I know of. .A. M. We as farmers keep more stock than we can feed, I mean and do it right. Why do we do so? You answer to make manure. Let us see if we are improving our farms or not. We take all the hay we raise on forty acres of land to feed, six head of horses and twenty head of cattle; say four to six of those are milch cows. Now we raise on these forty acres, forty tons of hay, which makes twenty tons of manure, worth about six dollars per ton; we spread this manure, on twenty acres of land, and leave the other twenty acres without anything. Then we sell ten head of cattle in the spring, which arc three to tour years old, at thirty dollars per head. Now what I want to urge is, to keep less and better stock, and use artificial manures. First, we must not keep so much stock, and second we must keep better stock. We take the same forty acres; we have six head of horses to keep same as with the other, but instead of the twenty head of cattle we only have ten grade Short-Horns; we feed them well the same as the others; they do not consume as much hay. We have, say eight tons left, this we sell for fifteen dollars per ton, or one hundred and twenty dollars; with this we buy artificial manures at twenty-five dollars per ton. So we get nearly five tons; we apply four hundred pounds per acre, or we apply it to twenty-five acres, and have manure made from the hay to apply to twenty acres more, or in all forty-five acres. This artificial manure increases the production one third to one half the next year. So we get of these forty acres fifty- three tons of good hay. We sell a lot this year again, and buy artificial manure. We have six grade Short-Horns to sell for beef, weighing from twelve to fifteen hundred pounds each, and we get about seventy dollars per head for them, while with the ten common steers we have only weigh about nine hundred pounds, at four years old. There is more money in keeping good stock and keeping it well, than to have a lot of half starved common stock. Do not keep more than you can feed well, see to this matter and make money. T. W. W. Sunman. Spades, Indiana. Oar Portal Card Correarpondenoe. Editor Indiana Farmer: Tell "A. M.,"in last week's Farmer, to take fresh butter, warm from the churn, (by churning), before there is any salt or water put in the butter, grease the wart three different times, always with fresh butter, warmed by churning. Dose—Butter the size of the wart well rubbed in by the hand. "* I have known the above tried on both man and beast—never have known a failure. I wish to hear from " A. M.," through the Farmer, in one month. Subscriber. Miami County, Indiana. James J. Cunningham, Leavenworth, Indiana, desires the address of breeders having South-Down sheep to sell. Those having this breed to dispose of, should advertise in our columns. a ass a —- Sale of Jersey Cattle—Immense Prices. Editor Indiana Fanner. Mr. James Bridges, of this county, fed a flock of 398 sheep, which averaged on the 10th of February, 136 pounds each. He sold them to Mr. James N. Edwards, of this county, and he to Mr. Dille, of Benton county. Price paid per pound, 6 cents. Who will beat it ? J. B. Fosher. Putnam County, Ind. At a recent sale of Jersey cattle, at Hargrave Park, in England, fifty-two head brought the following prices, the largest, we believe, ever paid for this Particular breed :. Cows and heifers— >uchy, 3 years old, 255 guineas, the Duke of Bedford; Lightsome, 20 months old, 255 guineas, Mr. H. Jenkins; Duchess, nearly 7 years old, 215 guineas, Col. Wilson;__ Milkmaid, nearly eight years old, 155 guineas, Mr. Sharpiess, Philadelphia. The eighteen cows sold reached the extraordinary average of £90 16s. 6d. The bull Banboy was sold to Captain Fairman for 52 guineas, and the two-year-old bull Ducal brought 46 guineas. .__^________ The culture of tobacco maybe looked upon as one of the principal pursuits of Algeira. The tobacco crops for 1874 have been exceedingly abundant, and the returns are double that of the previous year—namely, 3,530,607f. Since the year 1874 it has been calculated that the cultivation of tobacco has realized 54,000,000. —— a s» s» Wheat.—The London Mark Lane Express says the weather during the past week has been rough. The general aspect ofthe wheat market is firmer.In the Continental markets prices have improved ls. It is thought that the lowest prices have been reached everywhere. MUNROE COUNTY. Ground ls frozen hard to the depth of 2 feet. Wheat looks bad. Peaches are all killed. Hogs scarce. J. H. I. VIGO COUNTY. Weather cold. Feed scarce. Hay Is scarce and selling high. Wheat looked well when lt went under the snow. W. T. P. CLARKE COUNTY. Some of the wheat fields look promising, but all are badly damaged. Will some one please Inform me what kind of soil Is best suited to potato raising? When ls the proper time to plant? Also, what variety of sorghum is best iormolasses? D, A. B. 1ACKS0N COUNTY. Wheat looks tolerable well. Hogs all sold. Stock hogs scarce and unhealthy. Cattlo are looking well. Feed is scarce. The ground ls frozen to the depth of 30 Inches. ty. S. S. PIKE COUNTY. • The prospect for a fruit and wheat crop ls not good. Ice crop was good. Grangers have done , much to establish a cash system. J. Is. B, RANDOLPH COUNTY. There has been great improvement In hogs; the Poland-China Is thought to be the most profitable. Good crop of corn. Potatoes badly frozen. Wheat looks bad. Patron. HOWARD COUNTY. Most of the fruit and vegetables are frozen and entirely spoiled. Wheat looks bad. O. H. F. FROM AlfOTIIER. We think the late sown wheat is badly frozen out. A large amount of potatoes and apples have been frozen. The ground is frozen to the depth of two feet. Considerable sickness— alarmingly fatal. T. J. H. MONTGOMERY COUNTY. Wheat looks as though it had been scorched. The mud has not been more than three inches deep at any time for the last three months. Feed is scarce. Hogs all sold. Fruit buds are mostly killed. The Farmer is read with great pleasure. We have "roured on" all newspapers that do not advocate our interests, ty. H. S. KOSCIUSKO COUNTY. The prospect for wheatis poor. I see many hogs advertised ln the FARMERand-I sent to James Mustard and bought a pair of Poland Chinas, which I think cannot be beaten. J. Curuy. FROM AXOTJIEK. Wheat is injured to some extent. Potatoes • nearly all frozen. Cattle plenty. Stock hogs scarce. Sheep scarce. Ice 22 inches thick on Yellow Lake. An uuusual amount has been put up this winter. I like the Farmer very much and would recommend it to other afternoon farmers as I am myself. H. C. Smith. INQUIRIES. Will onions do well in sandy soil? What variety is best suited to sandy soil? Should potatoes be hilled up in sandy soil? What variety ought I to plant in order to secure a good crop? Will It be of any benefit to put manure in the hill with the potatoes when planting them? D. D. H. WHITLEY COUNTY. Wheat in this section is badly injured. The corn crop was good. L<\rge hog crop. The Farmer has been of great valne to us and we are all eager for each successive nnmber. D. D. H. BOONE COUNTY. Wheat looks bad. Peaches reported killed. Apples badly damaged. Fat hogs all sold. Stock hogs scarce. J. D. from another. Peachesare all killed and the trees badly injured, wheat looks bad. The ground in many places Is frozen from two to three feet deep. Potatoesare nearly all frozen. Stock hogs are scarce. Farmers are nearer out of debt than they have been for many years, and but few of them are contracting debts for future payment. 1. N. Barker. JEFFERSON COUNTY. The wheat lsln such a condition as to make lt impossible to state whether it ls dead or alive. Many persons say it is killed. Btock hogs are scarce. Sheep look well. Peaches reported killed. The Grange movement is gradually gaining in strength. The prompt action ot the State Grange in snubbing the political feature that some tried to give it, has helped on the good work ol the order. D. Wood. FROM IOWA. Council Bluffs. Corn is worth SO cents; wheat 65. Crops are mostly on hand yet. Potatoes are badly frozen. No winter wheat is sown here. There is a demand for land to cultivate by the grasshopper sufferers. There will be considerable. spring wbeat'sown here. There has not been any rain here since last September. There has been snow on the ground aU winter. On our coldest day the thermometer stood 21° below zero. Hogs scarce and selling high. " Cholera prevailed during January but it has since disappeared. Our Grange ls in good condition; numbers sixty members. J. B. C. PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. Wheat looks bad since thesnow and ice have gone off. There was not the usual acreage sown last fall on account of the drouth. Fat bogs all sold. Stock hogs scarce; a great many are dying of cholera which was brought into the neighborhood by the grasshopperhogs. Mr. Farmer, of Randolph county, advances a | new idea about hogs when he says that corn fed to sows with young pigs will give the pigs the scours. When my young pigs get the 1 scours, I feed the sow for a few days on nothing ' but dry corn and water. 5 Out of the abundance of advice given In the J Farmer, its readers will have to follow Paul's advice to "Prove all things and hold fast that J which ls good." ty. H. a :/'-i
Object Description
Title | Indiana farmer, 1875, v. 10, no. 10 (Mar. 13) |
Purdue Identification Number | INFA1010 |
Date of Original | 1875 |
Subjects (LCSH) |
Agriculture Farm management Horticulture Agricultural machinery |
Subjects (NALT) |
agriculture farm management horticulture agricultural machinery and equipment |
Genre | Periodical |
Call Number of Original | 630.5 In2 |
Location of Original | Hicks Repository |
Coverage | United States - Indiana |
Type | text |
Format | JP2 |
Language | eng |
Collection Title | Indiana Farmer |
Rights Statement | Content in the Indiana Farmer Collection is in the public domain (published before 1923) or lacks a known copyright holder. Digital images in the collection may be used for educational, non-commercial, or not-for-profit purposes. |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Date Digitized | 2010-10-29 |
Digitization Information | Original scanned at 300 ppi on a Bookeye 3 scanner using internal software. Display images generated in CONTENTdm as JP2000s; file format for archival copy is uncompressed TIF format. |
Description
Title | Page 1 |
Subjects (LCSH) |
Agriculture Farm management Horticulture Agricultural machinery |
Subjects (NALT) |
agriculture farm management horticulture agricultural machinery and equipment |
Genre | Periodical |
Call Number of Original | 630.5 In2 |
Location of Original | Hicks Repository |
Coverage | Indiana |
Type | text |
Format | JP2 |
Language | eng |
Collection Title | Indiana Farmer |
Rights Statement | Content in the Indiana Farmer Collection is in the public domain (published before 1923) or lacks a known copyright holder. Digital images in the collection may be used for educational, non-commercial, or non-for-profit purposes. |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Digitization Information | Orignal scanned at 300 ppi on a Bookeye 3 scanner using internal software. Display images generated in CONTENTdm as JP2000s; file format for archival copy is uncompressed TIF format. |
Transcript | Yol. I. IjNDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, MARCH 13, 1875. No. 10. Live Stock. For tne Indiana Farmer. FEEDING CATTLE. I noticed an article in the Faemee, from Mr. M. B. Waugh, of Coltax, in reference to feeding cattle. I was pleased to hear from some one on this subject; for I consider it one of great importance. Mr. W., Beems to think it will not do to feed corn at 50 cents. I well know it is expensive, but I think it can be made profitable if fed in the right way. I think I can show it to be go. I have been feeding for the last ten or twelve years the fore part of winter, say December and January, and havo not failed making it profitable. I will give the figures: Suppose we take 100 head of cattle, weighing the first of December 1.-400 pounds. I feed different from the most of farmers in this section, and I think it best from experience. I have troughs three feet wide and about the same in hight, twelve or fourteen feet long and about six steers to the trough. In this way my cattle always have clean corn to eat; and it is not half the trouble to feed. In feeding this way I have no changing of hogs. I am confident they will do better by running with the cattle, for they get the droppings while it is warm; in this way there is nothing lost. One hand can feed and break the corn for 600 head of cattle, and have plenty of time to rest. I think there is more money in feeding these two months than to feed all winter, or from February out, anil then graze. If I want to graze until fall or later I do not want to add so much expense as corn will make, I can put on 100 pounds in two months—December and January. • Now for the trial: 1,400 pounds at 5 cents, brings $70; 100 head 17,000; 3,000 bushels of corn, 5 cents, $1,500; 18,000 pounds of bran with one-fourth shorts, $180; 180 shocks of fodder, $45, or hay to the same amount, that is all they will eat, with bran. I feed 25 bushels of eonrin the morning, and 150 pounds of bran; at noon, 3 shocks of fodder or hay {- 25 bushels of corn in the evening, 150 pounds of bran, with half gallon of salt per day mixed with bran; they will keep 125 hogs to average 100 pounds at 5i cents; cost, $687. Interest on cattle and hogs for two months, $128; expense of hand, $60; cost of cattle and hogs for two months feeding, $9,600; say they will weigh by that time 1,500 pounds. 8ome'may think' this too much, but I have put on more than this in the same time; 1,500 pounds at 6 cents, brings $90; 100 head, $9,000; the hogs will gain 90 pounds—that makes them 190 pounds at 6 cents, 125 hogs, $1,425; cattle and hogs bring $10,425; that amount on interest for Bix months brings $521, whieh makes $10,946; that leaves over and above all expenses, $1,346. Now for the late feeding we will take the same number of cattle the first of December, weighing 1,200 pounds at 4J cents, $bl per head—100 head, $5,400; 125 hogs, to average 100 pounds, 5} cents, $687; expense on cattle for two months. $2 per; month, $400. Now we will feed the same amount of corn in three months we fed the others in two months, 3,000 bushels of corn at 50 cents, costs $1,500; interest on cattle for eight months, $360; interest on hogs for three months, $17. Suppose we run the cattle 'till' the first of August on grass that k.worth $2 per month, 100 head, $600; expense of hand for five months feeding, $150; cost of cattle and hogs, $9,114 at that time; suppose they weigh 1,500 pounds at 53 cents, 100 head brings $8,625; weight of hogs, 235 pounds the first of May, at 6 cents, 125 hogs brings $1,762 whole amount for cattle ahd hogs, $10,387; that leaves over and above cost, , $1,273; this makes it in favor of early feeding, $73. Now there are other things in favor of early feeding. I get my ., stock off in time not to interfere with my spring work, and another thing, I do not have my land tramped. I can feed oa my fields, which is quite a benefit—a thing you cannot do in the spring with- * out injuring your land. jl jam neither a lawyer, preacher, or 'ga_n§er; but take a little advice from !a^>'Jnel' do the best I can for myself. For the Indiana Farmer. TOO MUCH POOR STOCK. The Celebrated Jersey Cow, "DUCHESS," Imported by Chas. L. Sharpiess, Philadelphia, Pa. Indiana Farmer Family. I would be pleased to hear from some one of the many readers of the Farmer whether I am right in my calculation or not. James Bridges'. P. S.—The 10th of February I weighed out 400 head of very fine sheep averaging 136 and 8 pounds over. How is that for Old Putnam ? . J. B. SHORT-HORNS AND SCRUBS. For the Indiana Farmer. ALL ABOUT BREEDING DAIRY STOCK. The present for the dairy, mode of cattle breeding is a transaction which does not appear to bc governed by any definite regulation, or standard, consequently the results are varied, and thwart the breeder, in attaining the higher orders of merit in his stock. There certainly is not sufficient effort made by those most interested to avail themselves of scientific history or well authenticated treatises appertaining to this business. In the breeding of this kind of cattle and endeavoring to apply means to the promotion of greater certainty in producing stock of merit, I have become impressed with the belief in the existence of markings to be found upon all domestic animals, indicative of their merit, in the sphere contributing to the support of man, as well as their prepotence in breeding. This theory is apparently sustained, Genesis, 30th chapter, in the record of the cattle trade made by Laban, and his son-in-law Jacob, who served in the capacity of herdsman for a sufficient time to possess himself of the knowledge justifying him, in undertaking to produce specifically -marked cattle, which he was to have as pay, for services rendered. The careful application of science, or his knowledge, produced the cattle as per contract, and in the ring- streaked we recognize the Holstein or Dutch, the speckled, furnishes the type, of Ayrshires and roan of the seventeens, the grizzled affords the attractive coloring of the Channel Island cattle, (combination or blended colors). In the array of colored cattle, we have the type fixed by Jacob, of the most perfect dairy cattle of this age, being reproduced without their breeders knowing exactly how to apply scientific principles, or give a marking, by which breeders may select the strong, or the weak, of herds, as Jacob did, for specific breed ing, and make available that higher faculty possessed by some females, of marking their offspring otherwise, than that of coloring the hair. It is not too much to believe that the investigative disposition of stock breeders, when reduced to a systematic effort, would eventuate in finding upon their stock, formations or markings, indicative of this peculiar faulty (which is known to exist), as readily as Guenon made the discovery of the markings of the cow, which he called the milk mirror, together with other markings of dairy stock, denoting their merit as to quantity and quality of product. Jno. B. Poyntz. Alderney Farm, near Maysville, Ky. Editor Indiana Farmer. Mr. Thrasher talks very nice about Short-Horns, at the same time does not make it quite satisfactory to my mind in regard to their origin. He says the first Short-Horn bull, Hubbac, was found on the commons, and was purchased by a Mr. Collins, some two hundred years ago, but does not say in what county. He says they are a distinct breed from all others. If they are distinct from all others and discovered onlr two hundred years ago, they must be a new creation. We cannot understand in what way a distinct breed could be produced from a single animal. If a different breed of cows were bred to Hubbac, there was an admixture of blood, and consequently could not be distinct from all other breeds. We are not posted in regard to the origin of the different breeds, but suppose that Mr. Collins found a superior animal in some man's herd, and then bred with good judgment from year to year till they became perfect. He claimed them to be a distinct race. AVe admire the appearance of Short-Horn cattle, but have always been too poor to own one, therefore must be content with common stock, if they are not as delicate in the head and neck, and have not such fine limbs they are well adapted to this climate and can be made to weigh from fourteen to sixteen hundred in the fall after being two years old. It is unpleasant to speak of the bad management of my countrymen, but it is a fact that you might give many farmers a herd of the best Short- Horns in the State and in the space of ten years they would have nothing better than scrubs. Where cattle are kept in a condition to barely live from year to year, Short- Horns would be as poor as the poorest. We do not believe there is any scrub stock only as it was made so by bad treatment. Every farmer in the land might have saleable cattle if they would only keep the amount they could feed well, from calves'till disposed of. We find it much easier to- bring cattle up to the proper weights than it is to give proper shape, but this can be done by perseverance, and acting with good judgment in selecting animals to breed from. Yes, Mr. Thrasher, let every animal stand on its own merits. A mean animal with a long pedigree makes a popr show. Boone County, Ind. Granger. For the Indiana Farmer. JERSEYS, GUERNSEYS, AND ALDERNEYS. A few remarks about Jerseys, Guernseys and Alderneys, I do not think them the most profitable bullocks for this country. In the first place they are not very hardy, Alderneys especially, their skin is thin, hair short, require a warm house and extra care. Another objection is they are not much for beef; they feed well, but are extremely light when fat. Another objection is they put on more fat inside in proportion to their beef than other animals. A small cow, well fed, that will net 500 pounds, will have 100 pounds of tallow. This is an object in countries where tallow sells at the same price per pound as the best points of beef, but here where so much tallow goes for candles at a great reduction, it is a loss. If I were a dairyman I would not keep them; that is, if I was a conscientious one, and did not mix water with my milk. If I was a gentleman, just keeping a few cows for family use, and felt that when I had friends to come in,-. I wished to set beforo them the very best cream and butter they ever saw, I should keep one ofthe three breeds. If I lived near some town, and kept a few cows for butter, and could contract that butter for 40 cents per pound, I should keep one of the three breeds. A thoroughbred cow of these breeds highly kept, and in full milk, will not increase in flesh at all—it will all go to the milk. When I see numbers in this country called pure bred in full milk and just fit for the butcher, with a small bag, they bear but a slight resemblance to those I have seen come direct from the islands. If they are in full milk and poorly kept, or too much exposed, their constitutions will give way and death will follow. There are large numbers shipped to the western parts of England from the islands, and sold by auction. They do not sell high. As a rule, a good young heifer, from one to four years old, will make from $25 to $45, which is not high where beef sells for about 16 cents per pound and upwards. In passing through the country you will find them largely kept around towns and cities, and many farmers keep a few for butter and veal their calves, as there would be an objection to them for steers for beef. The best cross with them I have ever seen is the Short-Horn. They bring them up in size and help the constitution, while the other gives milk and good fattening qualities. Of the three breeds, I should rank Guernseys first, because largest, best formed and good for milk and butter. Next I should put the Jerseys. Some I have- seen nearly black, some black and white, some white and yellow. They are quite equal and perhaps rather better for milk and butter than the Guernseys. The Alderneys are small in the bone, are very portly in shape, have none of that roundness to those called Guernseys. I have seen here that they are the most tender of the three breeds, but I think quite up in milk and butter, perhaps the best in proportion to size as to their color. They are often liver color and white, or all of a liver color, with other variations; but are invariably small in the bone, with small heads, small horns, more like a deer about the mouth than any other animal I know of. .A. M. We as farmers keep more stock than we can feed, I mean and do it right. Why do we do so? You answer to make manure. Let us see if we are improving our farms or not. We take all the hay we raise on forty acres of land to feed, six head of horses and twenty head of cattle; say four to six of those are milch cows. Now we raise on these forty acres, forty tons of hay, which makes twenty tons of manure, worth about six dollars per ton; we spread this manure, on twenty acres of land, and leave the other twenty acres without anything. Then we sell ten head of cattle in the spring, which arc three to tour years old, at thirty dollars per head. Now what I want to urge is, to keep less and better stock, and use artificial manures. First, we must not keep so much stock, and second we must keep better stock. We take the same forty acres; we have six head of horses to keep same as with the other, but instead of the twenty head of cattle we only have ten grade Short-Horns; we feed them well the same as the others; they do not consume as much hay. We have, say eight tons left, this we sell for fifteen dollars per ton, or one hundred and twenty dollars; with this we buy artificial manures at twenty-five dollars per ton. So we get nearly five tons; we apply four hundred pounds per acre, or we apply it to twenty-five acres, and have manure made from the hay to apply to twenty acres more, or in all forty-five acres. This artificial manure increases the production one third to one half the next year. So we get of these forty acres fifty- three tons of good hay. We sell a lot this year again, and buy artificial manure. We have six grade Short-Horns to sell for beef, weighing from twelve to fifteen hundred pounds each, and we get about seventy dollars per head for them, while with the ten common steers we have only weigh about nine hundred pounds, at four years old. There is more money in keeping good stock and keeping it well, than to have a lot of half starved common stock. Do not keep more than you can feed well, see to this matter and make money. T. W. W. Sunman. Spades, Indiana. Oar Portal Card Correarpondenoe. Editor Indiana Farmer: Tell "A. M.,"in last week's Farmer, to take fresh butter, warm from the churn, (by churning), before there is any salt or water put in the butter, grease the wart three different times, always with fresh butter, warmed by churning. Dose—Butter the size of the wart well rubbed in by the hand. "* I have known the above tried on both man and beast—never have known a failure. I wish to hear from " A. M.," through the Farmer, in one month. Subscriber. Miami County, Indiana. James J. Cunningham, Leavenworth, Indiana, desires the address of breeders having South-Down sheep to sell. Those having this breed to dispose of, should advertise in our columns. a ass a —- Sale of Jersey Cattle—Immense Prices. Editor Indiana Fanner. Mr. James Bridges, of this county, fed a flock of 398 sheep, which averaged on the 10th of February, 136 pounds each. He sold them to Mr. James N. Edwards, of this county, and he to Mr. Dille, of Benton county. Price paid per pound, 6 cents. Who will beat it ? J. B. Fosher. Putnam County, Ind. At a recent sale of Jersey cattle, at Hargrave Park, in England, fifty-two head brought the following prices, the largest, we believe, ever paid for this Particular breed :. Cows and heifers— >uchy, 3 years old, 255 guineas, the Duke of Bedford; Lightsome, 20 months old, 255 guineas, Mr. H. Jenkins; Duchess, nearly 7 years old, 215 guineas, Col. Wilson;__ Milkmaid, nearly eight years old, 155 guineas, Mr. Sharpiess, Philadelphia. The eighteen cows sold reached the extraordinary average of £90 16s. 6d. The bull Banboy was sold to Captain Fairman for 52 guineas, and the two-year-old bull Ducal brought 46 guineas. .__^________ The culture of tobacco maybe looked upon as one of the principal pursuits of Algeira. The tobacco crops for 1874 have been exceedingly abundant, and the returns are double that of the previous year—namely, 3,530,607f. Since the year 1874 it has been calculated that the cultivation of tobacco has realized 54,000,000. —— a s» s» Wheat.—The London Mark Lane Express says the weather during the past week has been rough. The general aspect ofthe wheat market is firmer.In the Continental markets prices have improved ls. It is thought that the lowest prices have been reached everywhere. MUNROE COUNTY. Ground ls frozen hard to the depth of 2 feet. Wheat looks bad. Peaches are all killed. Hogs scarce. J. H. I. VIGO COUNTY. Weather cold. Feed scarce. Hay Is scarce and selling high. Wheat looked well when lt went under the snow. W. T. P. CLARKE COUNTY. Some of the wheat fields look promising, but all are badly damaged. Will some one please Inform me what kind of soil Is best suited to potato raising? When ls the proper time to plant? Also, what variety of sorghum is best iormolasses? D, A. B. 1ACKS0N COUNTY. Wheat looks tolerable well. Hogs all sold. Stock hogs scarce and unhealthy. Cattlo are looking well. Feed is scarce. The ground ls frozen to the depth of 30 Inches. ty. S. S. PIKE COUNTY. • The prospect for a fruit and wheat crop ls not good. Ice crop was good. Grangers have done , much to establish a cash system. J. Is. B, RANDOLPH COUNTY. There has been great improvement In hogs; the Poland-China Is thought to be the most profitable. Good crop of corn. Potatoes badly frozen. Wheat looks bad. Patron. HOWARD COUNTY. Most of the fruit and vegetables are frozen and entirely spoiled. Wheat looks bad. O. H. F. FROM AlfOTIIER. We think the late sown wheat is badly frozen out. A large amount of potatoes and apples have been frozen. The ground is frozen to the depth of two feet. Considerable sickness— alarmingly fatal. T. J. H. MONTGOMERY COUNTY. Wheat looks as though it had been scorched. The mud has not been more than three inches deep at any time for the last three months. Feed is scarce. Hogs all sold. Fruit buds are mostly killed. The Farmer is read with great pleasure. We have "roured on" all newspapers that do not advocate our interests, ty. H. S. KOSCIUSKO COUNTY. The prospect for wheatis poor. I see many hogs advertised ln the FARMERand-I sent to James Mustard and bought a pair of Poland Chinas, which I think cannot be beaten. J. Curuy. FROM AXOTJIEK. Wheat is injured to some extent. Potatoes • nearly all frozen. Cattle plenty. Stock hogs scarce. Sheep scarce. Ice 22 inches thick on Yellow Lake. An uuusual amount has been put up this winter. I like the Farmer very much and would recommend it to other afternoon farmers as I am myself. H. C. Smith. INQUIRIES. Will onions do well in sandy soil? What variety is best suited to sandy soil? Should potatoes be hilled up in sandy soil? What variety ought I to plant in order to secure a good crop? Will It be of any benefit to put manure in the hill with the potatoes when planting them? D. D. H. WHITLEY COUNTY. Wheat in this section is badly injured. The corn crop was good. L<\rge hog crop. The Farmer has been of great valne to us and we are all eager for each successive nnmber. D. D. H. BOONE COUNTY. Wheat looks bad. Peaches reported killed. Apples badly damaged. Fat hogs all sold. Stock hogs scarce. J. D. from another. Peachesare all killed and the trees badly injured, wheat looks bad. The ground in many places Is frozen from two to three feet deep. Potatoesare nearly all frozen. Stock hogs are scarce. Farmers are nearer out of debt than they have been for many years, and but few of them are contracting debts for future payment. 1. N. Barker. JEFFERSON COUNTY. The wheat lsln such a condition as to make lt impossible to state whether it ls dead or alive. Many persons say it is killed. Btock hogs are scarce. Sheep look well. Peaches reported killed. The Grange movement is gradually gaining in strength. The prompt action ot the State Grange in snubbing the political feature that some tried to give it, has helped on the good work ol the order. D. Wood. FROM IOWA. Council Bluffs. Corn is worth SO cents; wheat 65. Crops are mostly on hand yet. Potatoes are badly frozen. No winter wheat is sown here. There is a demand for land to cultivate by the grasshopper sufferers. There will be considerable. spring wbeat'sown here. There has not been any rain here since last September. There has been snow on the ground aU winter. On our coldest day the thermometer stood 21° below zero. Hogs scarce and selling high. " Cholera prevailed during January but it has since disappeared. Our Grange ls in good condition; numbers sixty members. J. B. C. PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. Wheat looks bad since thesnow and ice have gone off. There was not the usual acreage sown last fall on account of the drouth. Fat bogs all sold. Stock hogs scarce; a great many are dying of cholera which was brought into the neighborhood by the grasshopperhogs. Mr. Farmer, of Randolph county, advances a | new idea about hogs when he says that corn fed to sows with young pigs will give the pigs the scours. When my young pigs get the 1 scours, I feed the sow for a few days on nothing ' but dry corn and water. 5 Out of the abundance of advice given In the J Farmer, its readers will have to follow Paul's advice to "Prove all things and hold fast that J which ls good." ty. H. a :/'-i |
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