i
4
1
y
Jfor Use Indiana Farmer.
SUPERIORITY OP SHOBT-HORNS.
f I have noticed for some weeks occasional inquiries from your readers concerning a cheap class of thoroughbred
cattle such as the "17's," and as yet
have seen no satisfactory replies telling
these inquiring gentlemen where such
animals can be had.
If the parties really want to improve
their common Btock, and I   oontend the
only way to satisfactorily do that is. by
the use of thoroughbred bulls on   their
scrub   stock,   a useful   class    of cattle, such as the "17's,"  or other cheap
families will prove as good for the purpose    as • any,  and   will  cost    less.
.Every    breeder      of      high      class
stock       keeps      some   cheap    fami-
', lies  of  thoroughbreds with  which to
'; supply this demand among farmers, and
. is  always ready to sell calves  from his
a high-bred   bulls, sometimes  bulls  of
i great reputation and prize winners—and
the  cheaper class  of thororoughbred
cows at reasonable prices—at such fig-
| urea as any farmer can afford to pay.
People should not think that because
| they see the great show animals of a
herd at the fair, and hear the long prices
asked, that these exhibitors have no
other stock. A breeder is like a man in
any other business. He has articles of
a cheaper class to meet the demands of
a lower priced class of customers,
and right here let^ me say, that a leading
breeder will sell a better bull calf for
less money, generally, than will a man
who does not carry on the business so
extensively. The reasons are that he
usually has a large stock on hands, and
as bulls become a source of considerable
trouble after they are weaned, he is glad
to be rid of them at anything like paying prices—and again, his breeding bulls
are ot the highest class to use on his
best cows, and he uses the same on .his
t cheaper class of cows, thus bringing up
the standard of excellence of the latter
class as well as the former.
' Let me add that if the farmers looking to the improvement of their stock,
will attend the public sales of Short-
\ horns in their vicinity, they can get ae-
I commodated if they are disposed to pay
' anything for blood. Right here let me
add a few words with reference to
"blood." I see some of your correspondents are so far behind the general information of the country as to claim
that scrubs are equal to Shorthorns.
The superiority of the race of Short
horns, is claimed for its beef and  milk
producing qualities.   To produce these
food must be consumed, and the animal
must therefore have capacity to consume |
—next it must be so formed bodily, that
food taken into the system can he readily assimilated or taken up by the  blood
and formed into meat or milk.   Any observing man who  has  fed  stock,   has
noticed that some animals will   take fat
faster than others—the reason   is, theii
peculiar  physical organization.      The
origin of the Shorthorn race  was in selecting these peculiarly formed animals,
possessing  other qualities   which will
hereafter be named, and coupling   them
together.   This has been done for centuries until the race  has become noted
for  those  particular   qualities.    Any
farmer who wants  to  raise good corn
and to make an extra crop, does not select his seed from the "nubbins" of the
rear before, but he chooses the best developed ears—those that   have  grewn
hrgeand matured  early.   Neither,   I
suppose, would he expect  to improve
took by using scrubs to breed from.
The Shorthorns also.possess the quali-
'.y of putting on flesh, where it will   do
'.he most good.   Every  lover  of  good
beef wants a sirloin steak,  standing-rib
roast, or something  of   that sort.   He
does not want soup bones,   although a
little soup is a good thing.   Hence the
most beef in a Shorthorn for the gross
weight.   The bone is   fine  and closely
knit and is stronger to   hold  Up great
weight than the large Watery, bone of a
scrub.   The butcher kn»ws  that there
is more wastes or offal in some  animals
than others, hence he can afford to pay
more  per  pound  gross  for "quality"
'when to be had.   Your   "scrub"  man
jjwould say, let us breed up our own eat-
itle, making selections from the best  of
Short-Horn Cow " COUNTESS OF YARBOROtJQH."
them until this same standard has been
attained as the Shorthorns now have.
The scrubs could in time" be improved,
but no man now living could ever expect to see the day when his efforts
would be successful. It takes a long
series of years and many careful experiments, together with an endless number
of logical comparisons to do this. Then
we ask why should a man waste his
life-time and his energies in this when
he can buy a few Shorthorns for a sum
that would be small, comparing with his
other undertaking, then he knows from
the experience of other men, what the
Shorthorns will do, while with his scrubs
his future is clouded with uncertainty.
Let one of the correspondents who
claims such superiority Hor scrubs go to
any city stock yards, Chicago, St. Louis,
Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Pittsburg,
Buffalo or New York, Let him look at
the quotations in the morning papers,
and then look upon the cattle that bring
the top prices per pound, and the lower
priced ones and eompare the two. He
will find that the choice ones are grade
Shorthorns that will bring as much or
more for beef, as he would have to pay
for a thoroughbred bull calf, while the
low priced ones per pound are the scrubs
that the man who raised and fed, has actually lost money upon. The reason
why he lost money was, scrubs will not
mature before 4 or 5 years old—it is
worth from $20 to $30 per year to keep
each steer that will sell when grown at
$45 to $50, and slow sale at that. A
grade Shorthorn steer will mature at 2
years old and then sell readily at from
$75 to $100. It is strange that men will
stand in their own light so much when
these things are of actual every day occurrence. II. C. M.
.. >  m   »
A GOOD SHOWING OF STOCK.
Editor of Indiana Farmer :
I visited the the farm of the famous
Stock FSeder, Horace Tucker, who
resides in Franklin township, Kosciusko
county, Indiana. And after conversing
with the gentleman, he proceeded to
show me his fine stock. "We first looked
at a flock; of fifty stock ewes, which
averaged one Iamb and eight pounds of
wool, last year. Next we came to one
and two year old steers—yearlings averaging 800 punds, and two year olds 1,300.
Then he showed me to his barn—the
finest in the county—where I saw his six
cews, averaging 1,400 pounds, and a calf
four months old, weighing 400. He also
told me that he shipped 140 sheep, February 13,1875, of his own feeding, that
averaged 144 pounds at home, in New
York, 131; he shipped at the same time
the three celebrated triplet steers, their
weight at home was 8,200 pounds, in
New York, 8,100. His other stock looks
as well in proportion..' J. T.
Sevastopol, Kosciusko Co., April 10.
For tbe Indiana * anner.
SALE OF SHORT-HORNS.
SALE OF THE LINWOOD HERD.
Tho sale of the Elm Grove Herd of
Short-Horns belonging to Elliott &
Kent, of DesMoines, Iowa, was made at
Dexter Park, Chicago, Illinois, on the
8th inst. as advertised in this paper for
sometime past. The day was warm and
showery in the afternoon. There was a
good attendance of bidders present and
the sale was lively. Most of the stock
was in fine condition though some of the
young stock especially bulls were thin in
flesh and indicated poor treatment. Below is the result:
COWS AND HEIFERS.
Imp. Frill, 6 years., 8. Meredith & Bon,
Indiana _ -     8675
Young Mary of Elm drove, 7 yrs., name....     625
Young Mary 2d, 20 mos., (1. Chase, West
Liberty, Iowa.       275
4th Tube Rose of 13., 4 years, R. Holloway,
Alexin, Illinois _     8425
2d Red Rose of B., 12 mos., ty. Bitns, Paris,
Kentucky     1810
2Sth Lady Hale, 3 yrs., T. J. Megibben     1250
39!h Lady Sale, 9 mos., Geo. Grimes     1100
37th Lady Sale, 12 mos., J. R. Shelly     1050
5th Tu be Rose of II., 3 yrs., Wm. 81ms     1550
6th Tube Rose of B.,2 mos., II. B. Thompson. Winchester. Kentucky      750
13th Lady Sale of It., 10 mos., G. Grimes....    1550
Melody Gwynne 6th, 3 yrs., Plngrey ale
Son, Blalrstown, Iowa „..     975
Jubilee of Woodlawn, 3 years, A. Craln,
Kansas      925
Jubilee of Elm Grove, 10 mos., A. Ludlow,
Monroe, Wisconsin  760
Mazurka Duchess 2d, 4 yrs., same     1700
Louan lst of Elm Grove, 7 yrs.. A. Craln_     125
Louan 2d of E. G., 5 yrs., 8. W. Ficklin,
Virginia. „„ _ __ _.. •   425
Louau Sd of E. G., J. M. Lattlmore, 111.       600
Louan 4th of E. G., 11 years, A. Bowman,
Waynesboro, Virginia..      625
Louan 5th of E. G.,3 years, A. Craln     1400
Louan 6th ot E. ()., 20 months,   E. lies,
Springfield, Illinois       300
Louan 7th of E. G., IS mos., same..      400
Louan 8th of E. G., 2 mos., 8. ty. Ficklin,
.Vlrglna      195
Pha-nlx lst, 3 yrs., 8. Meredith _ Son_      500
Phumlx 2d, 3 years, A. Btrawn, Ottawa,
Illinois      570
Phoenix 3d, 3 years, H. H. Corbin, Paris,
Kentucky      600
Phcrnix 4th, 3 years, A. Strawn      710
Phoenix 5tn, 2 years, 8. Meredith & Bon      425
Louan of Airdrie, 8 yrs., 8. Corbin, Paris,     	
Kentucky-      300
Louan of A. 3d, 18 mos., Wm. Piper, Me-
chanlcsvllle, Iowa      300
Louan Duchess 5th, 5 years, J. D. Donnan,
Iowa.      325
Louan Duchess 6th, 9 mos., H. H. Prime,
Oskaloosa. Iowa      160
Jennie U'Gaunt 2d, 5 years, A. Bowman,
Virginia      775
Red Rose, 5 years, A. Strawn      845
Red Rose 2d, 18 months, A. Prior, Garden
Grove, Iowa      270
Princess Ada 3d, 5 years, H. H. Corbin      600
Grand Duchess of E. G., 7 years, Nlles
Bros. Wataga, Illinois „     425
Grand Duchess 2d, IS months, A. Craln....      325
Duchess Ella, 5 years, A. Pryor       240
Duchess Ella 2d, 13 mos., 8. Mattler, Garden Grove, Iowa       130
Phyllis Maid, 7 years, A. Craln ;.._      100
Phyllis Queen, 6 months. II. H. Prlne      135
Belle of Oakwood, 2 years, 8. Meredith &
Bon	
Emma Bride 3d, 2 years, A. Craln™	
Belle, 8 years, L. Mattler.. 	
Belle 2<1,2 years, J. Dolese, Summit, 111...
Lady Nellson, 4 years, J. R. Shelly 	
Mabel, 3 years, A. Craln _.„
Owned by J.  H.. Kiiienger & Co.,
Clarksville, Missouri, at Dexter Park, Chicago, III.,
AprilB, 1875.
Reported for the Indiana Fahmeb by J. H.
Pic_EKEX_, Harristown, Illinois.
Illustrious 3d.7 yrs., J. H. Spears & Sons,
.   a. , Tallula, Illinois..- 81,000
Louan Lesley, 2 yrs., A. Craln, Kansas..... 300
2d CounteRS ol Corlnthla,3yrs., B, Beat-
tie, On _ „  425
Rs3d Twin 5th, 18 mos,, A Craln  300
Czarina, 3 yrs., A. Kershaw, Wayne, 111... 4O0
3d Louau of Linwood, 2 yrs., G. Otley,
Neponset, 111 ;... 1,800
Mazurka  of  Linwood, 2 yrs., E. lies,
Springfield, 111 _  1,600
Marlorte, 20 mos., ty. _ W. Plckerell,
Mechanlcsvllle, 111  225
Lefra7th,4 yrs., Geo. Chase, Iowa.  250
Lady Clinton 2d, 18 mos., U. Rhodes,
Hingham, Wis  225
Victoria 17th, 2 yrs., V. B. Canneld, Phll-
adelphla.Penn , _. 230
Olivia, 2yrs., Same  390
Boston Beauty, 18mon.,J. E. Griffith, Mo. 410
Qeen or the Meadows 2d, 4 yrs., 8. W.
Ficklin, Va _   530
Addie Teague, 13 yrs., Q. W. Rust  250
Miss Wiley of Lln wood, 2 yrs., A. Craln... 1,700
Phebe Taylor. 7 yrs., J. H. Potts at Bon,
Jacksonville, HI _ _  715
Rowena 16th, 20 mos., J. E. Griffith, Mo.... 310
Rowenal6th,2yrs.,A. Ludlow, Monroe,
Wisoonsln _ 300
Rowena 9th 4 yrs., J. Bcott, Ky   400
Lady Mason, 10 mos., B. Corbin, Ky   S2">
Rowena 7U), Oyrs., A. Craln...  375
Orphan Gwynne, 6 yrs., R, Otley, _ 1650
Vanda 3d, 2 yrs-, J. R. Shelly  625
Lady Fairy, A 5 yrs.. W.dt W. Pickrell  1,000
Calla 19th, 2 yrs., J. 8. Lattlmore  400
Calla 20th,2 yrs., Same    625
Calla 21st. 28 mos., Roblson at Bro., Wataga, 111  610
Cassaltsth,2yrs., W. Warnock, Ky _ 650
Cassa 17th, 22 mos., Roblson <£ Bro  . 755
Cassa 18th. 22 mos., R. Houston, 111 _ 840
Red Bud 4th,22mos. Jas. Mix, Kankakee. 400
Red Rose 4th, 18 mos., J, Ingham,  Ke-
wanee 111           . ..       .... 400
Queen Charlotte^'iethVismosV,Gr6Tley"! 900
Queen Charlotte llth, 3 yrs., A. Pryor,
Garden Grove, Iowa  S85
Queen Charlotte 6th, 7 yrs., H. Thompson, Ky _  600
Mattle Garrard, 1 jt., J. R.Shelly  725
BULLS.
Kissinger's Breastplate, 2 yrs., E lies  2,300
lied Duke of Linwood, 18 mos. H.Rhodes. 300
Other Bulls sold at the following prices: $235,
H25, J250 and 8300.
SUMMARY.
37 cows and heifers, av'ag, 8605.81—T«tal 822,415
6 bulls and b. calves, "      568.33     do 3,410
43 head, average 8600.58-Total...82S,825
BULLS.
8heldon'sDuke,9 yrs., T. McHardy, Des
Moines, Iowa —     200
Baron Bates of E. G., 2 yrs., J. N. Brown's
Sons —     «M
Mazurka's Baron Hubback, 18  months,
A. M. Bowman, Virginia      725
Phoenix Duke, 2 years, J. Ingham, Kewa-
nee, Illinois-      325
'  Other young bulls and bull calves sold
at about $100 each.
SUMMARY.
43 cows and heifers, av'ge,,W»9.06—Tot_l,...831,155
13 bulla and b. calves, do.   215.00     do.   ...   2,705
Jersey Bull.—F. M. Churchman,
President of Fletcher's Bank, has just
received at his farm five miles southeast
of this city, Marius "760," recently
purchased from T. J. Hand, _ing Sing,
New York. He is regarded as an unusually fine animal—solid gray, black
tongue and switch, rich, yellow skin,
very small waxy horns, good escutoheon,
round and barrel limbs, very fine, stands
low, is dooile and handles well. Fine
results may be expected fcem his use.
Books and Papers as Premiums
The cultivation of the potato has become an important element in agriculture, since this excellent vegetable is
found on every well filled table at all
seasons of the year, and has come to be
regarded as an indispensible article of
diet. The market is seldom over-stocked,
and sales can generally be effected at
paying rates. The yield, under good
culture may be made to average, as farm
crop, 100 bushels per acre. The labor
required in cultivation is but little more
than that required in gtowing corn.
The seed and harvesting are more expensive.
The price realized per bushel is generally, nearly double that of corn, so that
the culture of the potato may be regarded as profitable.
VARIETIES.
These are numerous, and each has its
special champion ; hut the farmer who
grows potatoes for market should confine himself chiefly to tried and approved
varieties. For early culture the Early
Rose is standard, early and excellent. It
has an established reputation, commands
ready sale in any market and is an excellent keeper. There may be others
equally good, but none so well established. Of the large number of competitors for public favor in the varieties of
late potatoes, the Peach-blow stands
ahead. No potato in the market commands so ready a sale, or so good a price.
Its qualities as a table potato are scarcely equalled, and as a keeper or not surpassed.
SOIL.
Any soil that will grow corn successfully will generally produce potatoes.
But we have found this to fail sometimes.
A rich loam, well under-drained, is most
suitable. Tf not naturally rich it should
be made so by well rotted manure. It
will never pay to attempt to grow potatoes in poor ground. It is a waste of
time.
Plow deep and pulverize well. Always put your ground in thoroughly
good order before planting. For early
potatoes furrow out your ground in rows
three feet apart and plant two eyes in a
place, from 15 to 18 inches apart in the
row and do not cover too deep. Potatoes
planted early and covered deep are liable
to rot, or lose their vitality before the
ground is sufficiently warm to promote
their growth. The time of planting
should depend entirely on the season and
the condition of the soil. Plant as soon
as the soil is in good condition and sufficiently warm to promote rapid vegita-
tiou.
For late potatoes furrow out three feet
apart each way. This will facilitate
cultivation, and allow sufficient space
for the profusion of vines and also for
the tubers which, with the Peach-blow,
do not grow in close clusters, but scattered in the surrounding soil. Three or
four eyes are sufficient for a hill, and
should be covered deeper than the early
planted. Late potatoes may be planted
any time from the tenth of May to the
tenth of June.
CULTIVATION.
Cultivation shoilld commence as soon
as the plants are fairly through the
ground, and should be thorough, and
kept up till the young potatoes are setting when it should cease, except it may
be, pulling grass and weeds from the
hills. There will be little need of this,
however, if the cultivation has been good.
The cultivator and double shovel plow
are the proper tools, and the plowing
should be done thoroughly and close up
to the hill. At the* last plowing the
earth should be thrown to the hill. This
will serve the double purpose of protecting the young potatoes from the excessive heat of the sun, and act as a
mulch to keep moisture about the growing tubers.
In my card correspondence I prom's if
to write on wheat culture, and feel much
complimented with the request being
granted.
I expect to be brief, plain and simple
in my remarks, as I am not a sidewalk
farmer but a practical one, and will give,
experiments and results from under my
own observation and on my own farm.
I have always held the opinion that
one-half bushel of wheat was sufficient
for one acre of land provided the ground
was rightly prepared, and the wheat
evenly sown. In the fall of 18671 made
my first experiment with one,bushel of
wheat brought from Michigan and rented
to me for one-half the wheat raised from .
the bushel.
I sowed in corn land (not among the
corn).   I cut the corn as soon as it would
do to feed to hogs, then manured moderately with such manure as I could find
about my stables and straw-ricks that
was sufficiently rotten, then plowed ten
inches deep, harrowed and rolled till the
soil  was  thoroughly pulverized,  then
prepared my drill to sow one bushel per
acre, then stopped half the spouts (alternately of course) and sowed one acre
with one-half bushel of wheat, and only
having one and one-half acres prepared,
I sowed the  remaining  half bushel on
one-half   acre.     The    soil    was    all
prepared exactly alike and of the same
quality,  being a sandy loam with clay
subsoil such as produces large walnut,
poplar   and   sugar timber  mixed with
beech, ash and oak.   After sowing the .
wheat  in this manner  I gave it  a  top
dressing with  muck, prepared by hauling alternate loads of manure (not very
much   rotted)   from   slahleH   and straw
ricks and the blackest loam that I could
find in any swamp.   This was prepared
about four months   before  sowing and
should have been prepared double that
time.   This top dressing: was not very
heavy but I think very necessary to prevent the wheat from freezing out. Ashes
make  a very   good   top  dressing  for
wheat,   I frequently use them to good
advantage.   Well,  I   almost  hear you
ask, how did your wheat do?   The half
bushel per acre made the largest growth
of wheat I ever saw, about six feet high,
large straw and very  large  heads  and
was frequently guessed at sixty bushels
on the one and one-half acies; but before it matured the midge or field weevil
came on it and we were sure, destroyed
fully one half the grain, and we threshed '
thirty-five and  one-half bushels from
the one bushel.   We have been sowing
the same wheat ever since and it lis the
standard   wheat   of   our   county.   We
raised last year three hundred and fifty
bushels on eleven   acres wheat fallow,
with no extra pains; and if any of; your
numerous readers should desire seed of
this   kind  they  can   be  supplied   by
writing to Box 69, Ogden, Indiana.
In conclusion I would just say that I
have one bushel of Michigan wheat
sown on two acres oi ground and treated
in a similar manner as that of 1867, of
which you will hear in due season if you
will still allow young Dow to write.   •
Dow, Jr.
Ogden, Indiana.
Sale of Short-Horn Bull
Thomas C. Hammond, of Greencastle,
has sold to Sidney L. Pitzer, of Whites-
town, Boone county, " Cambria Duke,"
calved February 6th, 1874, sired by
Duke of Edgewood, 13923, dam, Cambria
2d, by the Priest, 62-16.   Price, $200.
We commend the suggestions of Mr.
Templin, found elsewhere in this paper,
on the advantages of offering books and
papers  as  premiums  by Agricultural,
il head, average .5556.56—Total,...t»3,%o Horticultural   and  other  societies, as
well worthy of the consideration of Di-
The advertisement announcing the
important stock sales of General S.
Meredith & Son, which are to take place
on the 28th of May, appear in the
Farmer of this week. We have already referred to this superb herd of
Short-Horns, and it is likely to attract
much attention.
rectors and committees in making up
their premium lists. We shall take
pleasure in furnishing to all such, price
lists of books and papers suitable for
premiums. Our people are anxious to
improve   in  all  departments  of labor.
Brother R. O. Roache, in the Missouri
Farmer, thinks that the National
Grange is preparing to institute certain
reforms, such as the abolition of the
higher degrees, and the extension of the
privilege of attendance at its sessions,
especially when financial questions are
being discussed, to all members.
Some of our exchanges are carrying
lone articles describing the jaunt of the
National Grange up the Ashley River.
This is all well enough, but we would
like it much better if the National
„..,,,, , ,-,     ...Grange would furnish us with the official
Suitable books and papers  would  aid | proceedings of that body at   its   late
them wonderfully. session.—Michigan New Era.
For the Indiana Farmer. '-.
Can We Obey thc Boad Laws 1
Senate Bill  59, in  regard  to tax or
labor.performed on roads, requires that
money and.labor be expended before the
15th of August, instead of September as
heretofore.   Now  it does  seem  to me
almost  impossible   for  Trustees    and
Supervisors   to   get   all   the labor and
money  expended  by  that   time.   The
season is a very busy one.   Farmers are
clofcely engaged in cultivating or harvesting their crops.   It is exceedingly difficult for  them to withdraw any part of
their force from the farm to the road.
If the new law is an improvement on the
old I should be glad to know it.   This
is a  matter that  interests  all, and as
nearly  all   of   our   people  read    the
Farmer, I hope you will give it a place.
One op the People.
Water containing lime compounds—
very common in country wells—may be
rendered fit for use lor many purposes
in the arts by the addition of a little
chloride of ammonium.