Short-Horn Bull "HANNIBAL," (6838,) the property of Charles Lowder, Plainfleld, Indiana
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THE SHORT-HORN BREEDERS.
Program of Exercises  of   the State
Association   on   Tnesday   and
Wednesday of Next Week.
The fourth annual session of this
association, as already announced, convenes on Tuesday next, the 25th. Interesting papers will be read on the
following topics:
lst. The value of Short-Horn bulls,
and what are the characteristics of a
breeding bull.—By Chas. Lowder, Plain-
field, Ind.
2d_. The color of Short-Horns, physiologically and philosophically considered—By Dr. W. C. Bice, Bluff Creek,
Ind.
3d. Indiana as a grazing State.—By
S. F. Lockridge, Greencastle, Ind.
4th. What constitutes a good or model
Short-Horn cow—By W. W. Thrasher,
Groves, Ind.
5th. Preparation of Short-Horns for
exhibition, and manner of showing in
rings. What are the objections?—By J.
T. Williamson, Thorntown, Ind.
6th. The proper age of breeding, both
male and female.—By H. C. Meredith,
Cambridge City, Ind.
7th. Anatomy and physiology of the
organs of reproduction, how affected by
•verfeeding.—By Dr. Navin, Indianapolis, Ind.
a    s»    a
Treatment of a Balky Horse.
The Society for the Prevention ot
Cruelty to Animals, puts forth the following rules for the treatment of balky
horses:
1. Pat the horse upon the neck ; examine the harness carefully, first on one
side, then on the other, speaking encouragingly while doing so; then jump into
the wagon and give the word, "go!"
Generally he will obey.
2. A teamster in Maine says he can
start the worst balky horse by taking
him out of the shafts and making him go
around in a circle till he is giddy. If
the first dance of this sort does not cure
him, a second will.
3. To cure a balky horse, simply
place your hand over the horse's nose,
and shut off his wind until he wants
to go.
4. The brain of a horse »eenis to entertain but one idea at a time; therefore,
whipping only confirms his stubborn
resolve. If you can, by any means, give
him a new subject to think of, you will
generally have no trouble in starting
Him. A simple remedy is to take a
couple of turns of stout twine around
the fore leg, just below the knee, tight
enough for the horse to feel, and tie in a
bow-knot. At the first check he will
probably go dancing off, and, after going
a short distance, you can get out and
remove the string to prevent injury to
the tendon, in your further drive.
5. Take the tail of the horse between
the hind legs, and tie it by a cord to the
saddle girth.
6. Tie a string around the horse's ear,
close to his head.
Sulphur for Siieep.—A Vermont
sheep-breeder recommends a teaspoonful
of sulphur to two quarts of salt an a
feed to sheep that will exterminate ticks.
Peed this twice a month.
THE SHORT HORN   SALES
WEEK.
NEXT
Crescent Hill Herd.
An Aged Mule.—A mule lately died
at Fredericksburg, Va., at the remarkable age of sixty years. The animal, notwithstanding his great age, was an excellent worker up to the day previous to
his death.
This fine herd, belonging to Charles
Lowder, of Plainfield, Ind., is now at
the State Fair Grounds. It consists of
seventy head of Shorthorns, with pedigrees, and will be offered at public sale
on Thursday of next week, the 27th.
The wide acquaintance of Mr. Lowder in the West, as a successful breeder
of Shorthorn cattle, and his reputation
as an honest and upright gentleman,
will doubtless command a large attendance at the sale. But if the farmers of
Indiana could examine his stock, see
and realize for themselves the value of
this superb herd, they would hardly
leave before securing some of these animals. It is proper in this connection to
say that Mr. Lowder has been carefully
breeding this stock with respect to the
future stock interests of the State and
the West, and his suceess is apparent
enough to every one who avails himself
of the pleasure of looking in upon this
herd. The sales he has heretofore made
have given such satisfaction as guarantee the genuineness of the stock he
offers.
Hannibal 6838, a cut of which is given
on this page, stands at the head of the
herd as catalogued. He was bred by G.
M.Bedford. Ky., and got by Clifton
Duke, he by Imported Duke of Airdrie
(12730) the finest bull perhaps that this
country has ever seen. Twenty younger
bulls of the finest breeding, make up
this part of the herd.
In the list on the other side stands
Helianthus by Washington Turley, out
of the 2d Duchess of Ninevah, with a
magnificent pedigree. Then follows
Helianthus 2d, red, by Hannibal; Miss
Wiley Hudson, and a line of fine
females, running to imported cows, viz :
Imported Bloom; imp. Clarksville ; imp.
Rose ; imp. Red Rose; imp. Caroline ;
imp. White Rose; imp. Britania; itpp.
Mrs. Motte.
We wish that the readers of the Indiana Farmer could look in on this
herd. It shows what faithful and honest
effort can accomplish by way of improving our stock, and we believe would
stimulate all in an earnest endeavor to
rid themselves of the comparatively
worthless common breeds, and reap the
large advantages enjoyed by the few
Shorthorn breeders of the West. It
will pay any lover of fine stock to attend the sales.
A choice lot of Berkshires will also
be offered at the same sale by Mr. Lowder, of his own fine breeding.
GEN. MEREDITH * SON.
On Friday the 28th, the day following
the sale of Mr. Lowder, Gen. Meredith
it Son, of Cambridge City, Indiana, will
sell a large portion of their superb herd
of Shorthorns. The herd and list to be
sold embrace an array of choice bred
animals rarely offered at public auction.
The well-known reputation of Gen.
Meredith & Son, throughout the West,
as honest and successful breeders, and
the great satisfaction  given   by former
purchases from their herd, will attract
a large attendance at the sale. We had
the pleasure of seeing this herd some
days ago, when general reference wa«
made to the fine line in these columns.
It was out of this splendid herd we se«
lected our first premium, which- is so
much admired up at Plymouth by the
neighbors of the lucky John Brownlee,
Esq. Gen. Meredith & Son have shown
by their success at the head of tho list
of breeders in the West, just what can
be done to bless the country with good
stock, and their example will have a
most healthy influence upon all this section for years to come.
Inasmuch as our Indiana peoplo have
not invested much in the' late Illinois and Iowa sales, we are led to believe
that they mean to avail themselves of
the privilege of attending and securing
some of the fine animals at these two
sales in our own State. It would be to
the lasting credit and benefit of the
State if every one of these offered were
bought and kept at home. We need
them all to improve our stock.
A few farmers in different localities
could with great benefit and profit to
themselves club together and buy some
of the best for breeding purposes.
J. G. Brown, of Marshall county, Iowa,
who it is said, raised the heaviest hogs in
the State in 1874, communicates' his
method of raising and fattening hogs to
the Register of that State.   He says:
.We breed_ young sows and have the
"gs come in April. May and June.
Yould like to confine them to the first
two months, but cannot always do so.
Each' sow is put in a separate pen, on a
floor or dry ground, a few days before
farrowing time. When one sow has a
large number, and one a small number
of pigs, we equalize them, but always
put older pigs with younger, and do it as
soon as the sow has farrowed. The sows
are fed ear corn and the kitchen swill,
with a little bran or ground feed in it.
When tho pigs are two or three weeks
old, thc sows and pigs are turned together
in a lot, or the pasture, if the grass has
started sufficient for feed. As soon as
the young pigs take to feed, we shell and
soak corn for them, and give swill with
ns much milk in it as the farm affords.
The corn or swill shouldnot be allowed
to sour till the pigs arc six weeks or two
months old. Tho sows are still fed ear
corn, and run to grass and water. We
wean the pigs at three to five months old,
by turning the sows inte another pasture, with tho sfock hogs, where they
get only grass and water. The pigs are
fed soaked corn until the new corn is
hard enough to pull, which they are fed
for awhile, and then, generally, they are
put after cattle.
_ In the following spring, as soon as the
timothy starts so the shoats can get a
mouthful, they are turned to pasture,
and get only grass and water till the new
crop of corn is ready to feed, unless dry
weather late in the summer should make
the grass very short, when they are fed a
little old corn once a day. We feed new
corn sparingly until it is dry. The latter
part of October the hogs are shut from
the pasture and the feed increased to a
full feed by the last of November, which
is continued till February, when they
are ready for market. In the winter the
fat hogs have good shelter, with a dry
dust nest.
Many feeders make a great mistake by
stuffing their poor hogs with green corn,
expecting to fatten them in a few weeks.
It is a great waste of corn, as a bushel
will not make over five pounds of pork,
while later, when it is dry, it will make
double that amount. Hogs that are
intended for market before December,
should be fattened on old corn, as a
change from old to a few weeks' feeding
of new corn, will be of little advantage
to them.
SHORT-HORN INTERESTS.
Next week will be an important one
to Short-Horn stock interests of Indiana. The State Association will be
held in thiscityon Tuesday and Wednesday, and promises to be an important
meeting. As will be seen by the programme elsewhere, papers on a variety of
important topics will be read. These
will be followed by general discussion of
the topics, and all will be of very great
value to farmers and stockraisers. The
best and most successful stock raisers of
the State will 'participate in these discussions, and it can be but profitable.
On Thursday, the Crescent Hill herd
of Charles-Lowder will be sold at the
State Fair Grounds. On Friday the
great Short-Horn sales of General Meredith & Son, takes place at Cambridge
City. These herds are well known as
very fine ones, and we should be glad to
be able to report that they were all
bought by our own people, and retained
in the State.
KIBKPATRICK'S HOOSIER HAY CARRIER.
We present above a view of an invention made by Mr. C. II. Kirkpatrick,
of LaFayette, Indiana, for lessening the labor and increasing the speed of mowing
ing hay. During the present year this device—which was exhibited and took the
medal at our last State Fair—has been greatly improved, and is now supposed to
be the best in use. In the cut above the carrier is represented after heing unfastened from the latching place over the driveway, and run back over the mow
with the hay attached. The method of rigging the rope and weight cord are also
shown. Mr Kirkpatrick has numerous testimonials from those who have used
the machine, showing that it has stood the test of practical use, and in all cases
gives perfect satisfaction. It will soon be_regarded as one of the most important
labor saving implements of the farm, and indispensible to every large hay grower.
The Use of Salt for Stock.
RAISING GRADES FOR BEEF.
Ayrshire Herd-Book.
Moore's Rural _ says: " Ayrshire men
are not a little agitated over thc prospect
of an Ayrshire register that will exclude
gome of their animals that have already
been recorded in Baggs' Ayrshire herd-
book, and purchased as herd-book animals, because, forsooth, they cannot be
traced to some foreign importation. This
state of things is alarming to the owners
of such stock, who, in good faith, have
supposed they had had genuine, pure-
blood animals. What the result will be
it is easy_ to foresee, if the Sturtevant
Register is to supersede as authority
Mr. Baggs' herd-book. There is going
to be more than one protest against such
a proceeding."
 s     a»     »  »
A Goon Jersey Cow.—The Manchester, N. II.. Mirror tells of a handsome
five-year-old .Tersey owned by Daniel
Farmer of that place. She did not have
a calf till four years old, and soon after
the calf was taken away the butter from
her milk yielded a pound and a half
daily. The Mirror asks where there is
another Jersey that can do as well at the
same age ?
I raise and sell for beef about twenty
calves per year, and until lately the most
of them have been grades. I usually
castrate all my grade bulls, and sell my
thoroughbreds, while young, at from
$100 to $150. And if I fail to make a
sale of a thoroughbred bull before he is
two years old. I make a steer of him.
And I can make more out of my steers
than in raising bulls for sale at two years
old, these prices, as I shall proceed to
show.
One spring I sold a lot of yearlings at
$52 a head: they averaged about fourteen
months. I feed my calves nearly all
they will eat until six months old;
through the winter, about half as much
grain, and sometimes much less, with
plenty of hay.
Last fall I sold my steers at thirty
months old, for five and a half cents a
pound. They weighed overl,500 pounds
each. They had not been fed any grain
the summer after they were a year old.
and scarcely any during the winter, until
April 15th, when I fed all they would
eat of twenty-five to twenty-eight cent
corn.
Last spring I sold my. steers at an average age of two rears ahd six days. They
were fed nearly all they would eat, except
the first winter, and brought me over $85
per head.
Now it costs twice as much to keep a
bull two years as it does to keep a steer,
and unless I can sell my bulls young, I
find I had better make steers of them.
I am as ready as any man to benefit my
neighbors; but when they accuse me of
avarice for asking $100 to 150 for a bull,
I confess my philanthropy evaporates,
and I go for beef to feed the world, even
if I do compete with two-cent Texans.
I can compete with them successfully
with Short-Horns.—Illinois Cor. Cultivator.
 a    a»   < 	
Sale of Devons.—Ex-Gov. Hyde, of
Connecticut, has recently sold thirty-
five head of Devons to parties in Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut,
at prices ranging from $150 to $300 each.
The Devons appear to be in greater favor
in the east than in the west.
While a certain amount of salt is absolutely necessary for the health of stock,
it by no means follows that its indiscriminate use is either needful or safe.
On the contrary, salt used in excessive
quantities is highly dangerous. It then
acts upon the stomach and intestines as
an irritant poison, and cases of death
have occurred through permitting cattle
and hogs to consume too much of it.
When stock are allowed free access to it,
they will take a. small quantity very
often, but if denied a frequent supply,
they becomeravenous for it, and are in
danger of eating it to excess. The safest
way is to use a small quantity regularly
in the food; a quarter of an ounce daily
being amply sufficient for a cow or a
horse, ana a fourth of that quantity for
a hog or a sheep. If stock are salted
once a week, no more than one ounce at
a time should be given to a cow, and a
quarter of an ounce to a sheep or a hog.
It should also be given in such manner
that no animal should eat more than its
share. It may be given scattered thinly
in the eating trough with more safety
than in any other way, excepting when it
is mixed with the feed. Regularity in
its use is the most conducive to the
health of the cattle. We find it necessary to give this caution because some of
our readers have been led to suppose,
very erroneously, that as salt is a good
thing, stock cannot have too much of it.
—American Agriculturist.
CROP REPORTS.
A Valuable Pip.
The New York Tribune contains the
following:
Mr. John A. Woodward, President of
the Centre County, Pennsylvania, Agricultural Society, sends us notice ofa pig
worth paragraphing. When 336 days
old it weighed, alive, 448 pounds; dressed
for market, 417, making the offal less
than 7 per cent, of the live weighty and
less than 71 per cent, ofthe dead weight.
These figures certainly show unusual
porcine merit and unwonted fatness.
Such qualities are never observed in
common swine or in those of mixed
breeds; neither are they in thoroughbreds. _ This porker was a grade Suffolk,
and it is among grades, i. e., pigs having
a thoroughbred sire and a good common
or half-bred dam, that we find oftenest
such extraordinary excellence.
WnAT an Ox will Consume.—An
ox will consume two per cent, of his
weight of hay per day to maintain his
condition. If put to moderate labor, an
increase of this quantity to three per
cent, will enable him to perform his
work and still maintain his flesh. If he
is to .be fatted, he requires about four
and a half per cent, of his weight daily
in nutritious food.
An English farmer who has "used
wheat as food for his horses for some
time," tells the Mark Lane Express that
he allows " ninety pounds per horse for
the week, soaked in a cistern for forty-
eight hours, in cold water.. The water is
then run off, and and the grain allowed
to remain twenty-four hours to create
fermentation."
A Breeding Mule.—It is now well
established that mules do sometimes
produce young. The instances are very
rare, but some are well > authenticated.
In the famous acclimatizing garden near
Paris there is. a mare mule which has
had two foals sired by an Arabian stallion, and is now in foal by a jack. The
two foals are living and much resemble
the sire.—Canada Farmer.
Atchison Kan.—The wheat crop in
this county promises well. The acreage
is an average one. The grasshoppers are
not as numerous as they were in 1867,
and it is not believed that they will do
much damage here.
Lawrence, Kan.—Crops of all kinds
here are doing well, a greater breadth is
being planted than usual.
Neosho, Kan.—A large amount of
the wheat crop of this county is already
destroyed by the grasshoppers, and the
early gardens are nearly all eaten up.
There are great fears here concerning-
the future.
Fort Scott, Kan.—The fruit is not
injured here, and the crops of grain
promises well. Only a small amount of
wheat was sown but it looks well.
Topeka, Kan.—Reports from some
parts of the State indicate that the grasshoppers are damaging the crops much,
and in others none whatever.
McPnERSON, Kan.—Some of the
farmers are holding their field seed,
awaiting the departure of the grasshoppers. Wheat and rye here generally
look well. The hoppers are in a few localities in this county.
Kansas City.—The grasshoppers
have in some places attacked the meadows, and rolling them after a rain has
proven a successful way of destroying
millions. The growing crops generally
look well.
Garnett, Kan.—The grasshopper
question is a serious one here. Along
all the streams and skirts of timber they
are doing great damage.
Clay Center, Kan.—The wheat and
small grain crops never looked better
here. No grasshoppers in this region of
the State. Immense corn crops are being planted, and the crop promise is excellent.
Wilson Co., Kan.—There are here
and there grasshoppers in abundance,
but not much damage has been done yet.
But a small part of the county is infested, and there are no very serious apprehensions yet.   Crops look quite well.
St. Paul, Minn.—Very large crops
are being put in. The season has been
backward but farm work is well advanced
and there are no fears from insects.
St. Clair, Mich.—Wheat, on account
of the dry weather, looks poor. Will
have no truit.
Jasper, Iowa.—Not so much wheat
sown as usual, but an abundant corn
crop will be planted, as good prices
have stimulated this.
Kalamazoo, Mien.—On the high
ground wheat was much winter killed,
and damaged in other lands from other
causes. At present the prospect is poor
here for a good crop.
Fulton, III.—The season is very
backward. The clover was greatly damaged, thus far the harvest promise is
poor. ______________
No farmer is excusable who makes his 1
field-work a reason for not attending to
the vegetable garden.   A good supply of.
vegetables in their season is worth much *
in money and health.
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