City LsiDrary
Vol. X.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, SEPTEMBER 18th, 1875.
No. 37.
LiYe Stock'.
BEEEDIFG  IONG-WOOL   SHEEP-
WHY SOME HAVE BEEN
DISAPPOINTED.
I have been interested in reading the
article on sheep breeding in the last number. In writing, I have no wish to enter
into any argument with my friend Ray,
or to discuss the relative value of the
different kinds of sheep, but rather to
give some reasons (as they seem to me)
for the failures he speaks of in breeding
. Long-wools, and to relate my experience
witn them, which it seems, differs very
much from the experience of some
others.
Within the past fewyears I have known
several different men that have found it
very profitable buying Sheep in Canada,
or in the Stock Yards at Buffalo, and
driving them into this State, and offering
them as pure-bred, and nine-tenths of
the farmers didn't know the difference.
Some of them were diseased; the ewes
no one in Canada wanted to keep; others had been fatted and shipped to Buffalo for mutton; some were unruly, and
all of them nearly worthless to breed
fiom. This is the kind of sheep most
men began with. I will admit that many
of them were good looking animals, and
many a man paid long prices for them.
I know of one man that purchased a
flock of one of these peddlers, for which
he paid $30 per head. In three years
. one-half of them were dead, and had
left no produce. The rest were fatted
for the butcher. Another dealer sold
and pedigreed several good-sized flocks
in this eounty, and afterwards acknowledged that he never brought over but
five pure-bred sheep.^
Some farmers in this section, that com
menced breeding with this scrub stock,
have given up the business, and I doubt
not consider the whole tribe of long-wool
sheep as worthless as the mongrels they
failed with. There are others that purchased their sheep from men they could
rely upon as being reliable breeders, and
so far as I know, they are well satisfied
with them.
Others have failed to succeed on account of herding them with fine-wools.
There is no way to destroy a flock_ of
long-wools quicker than by confining
them in flocks with Merinos. A large
farmer in an adjoining town lately asked
me how we managed to keep Cotswolds.
He said he had a small flock,but did not
like them. They were running with his
Merinos, and had all the hay and grain
they would eat, but while the others
were thriving they grew poor. I have
known several cases of the same kind,
and never knew a flock of long-wools to
thrive with Merinos.
We never had a healthier flock of sheep
than at present, and we are not at all
particular to keep them in small flocks.
We have had 175 Cotswolds in one flock
since they were turned to grass in the
spring, and have wintered over 100 head
of breeding ewes in one yard.
In England, several hundred sheep are
often kept together without difficulty,
and I can see no reason why, with proper
treatment, they cannot be bred as successfully here as in England. After an
experience of ten years, my opinion of
the Cotswold is that they are as hardy as
any other breed of sheep, and are well
calculated to thrive where any sheep can
be profitably kept. I don't think 1 could
advise any one to buy heavy long-wool
sheep to browse upon a brush pasture, or
to live on steep hills. Smaller sheep
would travel around much easier in such
places.
Our sheep have always been healthy
and we have had but few deaths from unknown causes, and have never had a case
of puerperal fever, which has proved so
destructive in some flocks of Merinos in
this State.
The account book shows an average
for the past seven years of 7s pounds of
washed wool per head. This wool has
been sold at an average of oyer 51 cents
per pound; the prices ranging from 43
cents in 1870 to 65 cents in 1872.
We have never fed 100 lbs. of oil cake
to sheep, and very rarely feed grain to
anything but lambs in winter. We have
often had sheep weigh 200 pounds or
over, at two years old, after being wintered without grain.
With this account I leaTeyou to judge
whether or not long-wool sheep can be
Profitably bred in our State for their
Wool and mutton.—Frank D. Ward in
Nat. Live Stock Journal.
HABITS OF HORSES.
We came nearly heading this article,
"Moral Character of Horses," for it is
true that the characters of horses may be
termed moral or kind or good, without
perverting facts or language. There are
naturally gentle and amiable horses, and
there are others naturally vicious, which
can be cured or reformed by moral means
alone. A wicked groom, who has not a
kind heart and sympathy for animal life,
and whohas not learned to control his
own feelings or passions, but vents them
on man or beast on the least provocation,
is whelly unfit to take charge of a stable.
The close connection between the moral
constitution of man and the animals
which were intended to be his daily or
life-long companions at home,and in the
fields and on the_ highway—in a word—in
almost all the important circumstances
of his life, has
just begun to be
understood b y
the mo re advanced elass of
men. The sympathy of his
horse for his benevolent master
is not a fact only,
but it is one of
the beautiful
harmonies of
nature—a fountain of delightful feeling, of
which even the
noble servant—
the horse—is not
unconsci ous.
And even the
vicious tendency _
of a horse mayS
be reformed by
attentive kindness. Yet, when
these habits are
once well developed, it is difficult, often impossible, to effect a
thorough reformation.
Restivenesis is
one of the bad
habits of the
horse. It is the
product of bad
temper, or ill
usage or both.
Whatever   {oiaf
Late Importations of Swine.
Thorntoytn, Ind., Sept. 10.
Editor Indiana Farmer:—I have
just received from John Snell's sons,
Edmonton, Ontario, Canada, a remarkable fine young Berkshire boar, sired by
their noted imported boar '"Lord Liverpool," and from their imported sow,
"Primrose." Both are prize winners at
the Royal shows in England, previous to
their importation. I am highly pleased
with the pig. I have also_ purchased of
S. Sleredith & Son, young imported sow,
"Mapledale the 2nd." She was imported
by Beattie & Miller, of Canada, and wa>-
bred by Eber Humphrey, in England. I
regard her as.quite a promising young
sow. I. JN. Bark .a.
■ Wilkes Spirit gives an account of a
steer at the Syracuse, N. Y., driving park,
said to be seven feet high, 12 feet and one}
inch in girth, and weighing 4,C17 pounds.
"At present only kept in condition for
traveling and is quite thin." The owner
expects to make him weigh 6,000 pounds.
We are afraid few men acquainted with
cattle will believe this story, and we are
sure we do nojt.
  •     SSS.    *	
A singular disease rages among the
horses in Oregon. At first the animal
begins to mope, then breaks out in lumps
and sores from which yellow water runs,
and in a few days tho animal dies, or gets
well, as the case may be. _ The disease
does not seem to bc contagious, as it has
not spread beyond the place where it
first made its appearance, and only a few
horfes have been attacked out of a large
number exposed.
Indiana Farmer Family.
Onr Postal Card Correspondence.
ROSBDALB, IMPORTED, OWNED BY COL. "W. S. KING, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.
it may assume—kicking, rearing, plunging, or bolting—it rarely admits
of a perfect cure; so that the importance of the early education of the
horse takes position relatively with that
of the early training of children. The
indiscreet playing with colts is apt to result in one or more bad habits; and we
have little doubt that the formation of
vicious habits in the horse may often be
traced to the frolicking amusements of
children or men in teasing colts. Colts
should be handled at a young age, but
they should be handled wisely, affection-
stely, firmly. Their sympathetic faculties should be appealed to, and their intelligence made the source of their obedience, as far as possible. They should
be whipped only upon the last resort, and
then with the discretion and sound sense
of an intelligent and good master. But
before measures of severity are resorted
to in any case, whether with_ a colt or
horse, a great deal of reflection should
be used to know whether the animal is
not in some way pained by the saddle, the bit or the gear; and when
physical correction has been decided on,
an intelligent mind and benevolent heart
can alone conduct it to advantage The
horse has intelligence enough_ to know
or understand what the correction is for,
and generally he will accept the meaniDg
and act better. But he also has enough
of understanding to resent persecution
and cruelty, and to run the whole extreme of utter viciousness towards his
master. It is_ no uncommon thing for a
horse to be vicious in the hands of one
man,and gentle in the hands of another.
—Kentucky Live Slock Record.
live Stock and the Kansas State Agricultural College.
Within the past week, the Farm Department received from the famous
breeding establishment of John SneJl's
sons, Edmonton, Canada, a splendid pair
of Berkshire gilts, the get of imported
Lord Liverpool, out of imported sows
bred by the Agricultural College of
England.
. The College lias recently sold to Mr.
A. W. Rollins, Manhattan, Kansas the
Short-Horn heifer Miss Lee, got by Mincer 6363, out of Kate Lee, to Norman
Eastman, Humbolt, Kansas, the Jersey
►Bull Master Frank, got by Glenco out
-of Duchess, to W. L. Fuller, W'alker,
JKan., a pair of Short-faced Lancashire
111; B.—Kansas Farmer.
According to an article in The Massachusetts Plowman, the stallion Hambletonian, the great grandfather of them
all, was foaled in 1816, by a Charles Kent
mare, and sired by Abdallah, and never
had any record for speed, though put
into training. He is still owned by William M. Rysdyk, of Orange county, New
York. As the sire of trotting stock,
however, he stands pre-eminent. The
enormous charge of $500 is now demanded for his service, being raised from
$300 a few years back. At first, when
not much could have been expected
from his progeny, $25 was the humble
demand.
 s   m  ■  ■
Special attention is called to the great
series of Sales in Kentucky, in October,
commencing with:
J. J. Adair, Oct. 12.
Warnock & Jenkins, Oct. 13.
B. B. Groover, Oct. 14.
II. P. Thompson, Oct. 15.
Richardson & Co., imported stock,
Oct. 16.      '
 ■ ss    sss    »   — •
Edmund Clemens, of Levant, Me., has
a pair of steers four months old, that
girt four feet five inches, and weigh 1,060
pounds.
Jersey Cattle.
If the value of Jersey stock is to rest
on color, deterioration will surely follow
of those useful qualities that are so far
noticeable in the- good old-fashioned
parti-colored cow, than that which will
be found among the generality of fine,
high-bred, whole-colored fawns, grays,
or foxy, so-called_ Jerseys. I have owned
hundreds of acclimated Jersey stock and
have never, as a rule, found tho whole
colored such large producers, as many
particolored, but the most ugly and
ungainly beast of the lot, yet her stock
have never failed to _ show their large-
butter-making qualities. The true type
of a Jersey cow is in fact an animal that
will net make meat. I do not say that
this is not improved upon, by acclimatization and a slight introduction of a
hardier breed, of which what arc termed
Chichester Jerseys are the best description; neither do Isay that Jersty breeders in the Island itself have not in some
instances a breed that shows a disposition to make some flesh, and very probably may then be following up the requirements of fashion, yet I maintain that a
pure Jersey should throw the bulk of
her feeding properties into butter, and
with little to flesh. The parti-colored
good cow may have but a white spot,
especially under the belly, but throughout the body the rich yellow skin, under
any colored hair, will be found, black,
white or fawn. I have seen the commencement of a whole-colored herd, the
property of a noble Duke, to obtain
which I have seen the healthy and large
producing cows sold off to prevent an
animal with the slightest stain of that
one color. I have heard from good
authority that usefulness has been sacrificed for fashion in this instance, which,
if followed up, as it rapidly is, I have no
doubt that the future rich Jersey will
be beef, not butter as it was.—Eng.
Agricultural Gazette,
NATIONAL
AGRICULTURAL
GRESS.
CON-
TnE Glen Farm herd of Short-Horns,
bred by the late Jesse S. Long, of Jasper
county, Iowa, was sold here. The sale
included 90 head. The prices were not
high, the death by suicide, of the owner
of the herd having a depressing effeci on
the sale. The sale aggregated $25,136.
The average price paid f'or bulls was
$241.50. The average for cows was
$27819. The highest price paid was
$830 for a cow—Phoenix Sth, of Elm
Grove.
 s   m »
In 1121 an Arabian horse was brought
in to the empire by one of Scotland's
kings, who gave it to the church of St.
Andrew's. King .John brought 100
chosen stallions from Flanders, from
which probably sprang the renowned
draft horses of England.
v «   sts.  « :	
Wm. Petty, of Muncie, took seve'al
first premiums on fine short-horn stock
at the late Anderson, Ind., Fair.
The Fourth- Annual Session of the
National Agricultural Congress will be
held at Cincinnat. commencing Wednesday, September 22. at 2 o'clock P. m.,
and continuing until Friday, September
24th: The Congress will meet in the
spacious Parlors of the Grand Hotel,
which will be the Headquarters for the
officers and other members of the Congress.
After the Annual Address by the
President, Reports, etc., the meetings
will be devoted to addresses and discussions on the following subjects: Agricultural Education; Legislation in its
relations to Agriculture, including
Transportation and Financial Questions;
Organization and Co-operation by Farmers; Proper Relation of City and Country; Relations of Different Sections of
the Country to each other in Production
and Distribution of Agricultural Products; Future Work for the Congress,
and such other appropriate topics as may
be chosen by the Congress.
Among those from whom addresses or
papers are expected or who will be present and engage in the discussions are the
following:
J. R. Dodge, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C; S. H. Ellis,
Master, and W. H. Hill, Business Agent
Ohio State Grange; Hon. E. D. Mansfield, and Hon. J.. M. Millikin of Ohio;
General A. H. Colquitt and Colonel R.
A. Alston, of Georgia; Colonel J. B.
Killebrew, of Tennessee; Sterling Cock-
rill, of Arkansas; President T. C. Abbot
of the Michigan, and President J. A.
Anderson, of the Kansas State Agricultural College; Prof. Manly Miles, of the
Illinois Industrial University; Hon. W.
C. Flagg, President Illinois State Farmers' Association; W. W. Corbett, of
Chicago; Lt. Governor N. J. Colman, of
Missouri, and J. S. Marmaduke, Secretary of Missouri State Board of Agriculture; Co). Ed. Daniels, of Virginia; Hon.
W. W. Field, Secretary Wisconsin State
Agricultural Society, and J. M. Smith,
President Wisconsin Northern Agricultural Society.
So far as rime will permit, opportunity
will be given for free discussion of each
topicby the members of the Congress.
It is expected that at some convenient
time the members ot the Congress will
visit the Exposition in a body. Delegates to the Congress can avail themselves ofthe reduced rateson most railroads leading to Cincinnati.
Delegates from Agricultural Associations—State, county or district—Agricultural Colleges, Granges and Farmer's
Clubs in any part of the country will be
welcomed to the Congress and such delegates are requested to report their arrival to the Secretary.
W. H. Jackson, President.
G. E. Morrow, Secretary.
STARKE COUNTY-Sept. 13th.
I dug sixteen bushels of potatoes from four
rods of ground, which ls at the rate ol 6JO bushels per acre, and this on laud that cau be
bought for 110 per acre. Who of the "Farmer
Family"can beat lt? J.Hardy.
MARSHALL COUNTY-Sept. 13th.
Crops doing well since the rain ceased. Corn
good ln this locality (Maxinkuckee). Wheat ls
yielding better than was anllclpated. Tho
most of the farmers are getting ready to seed,
and some have commenced. E. Parker.
JOHNSON COUNTY-Sept. 13th.
Our prospects are better now than ln times
past.  Corn  will  be nearly  an average crop.
Wheat, oats and hay badly damaged.   Potatoes good.   Hogs scarce, and high priced.
W. S. BALDWIN.
PORTER COUNTY-Sept. 13th.
We have had flne weather here for two weeks
Crops, such as corn, buckwheat, hungarlan
aud potatoes look well, and promise a big
yield. Oats were good. There ls too much
clay ln our ground to raise winter wheat.
Marsh hay making good, and a great quantity
of lt will be gathered as usual. Some apples.
Grapes ln abundance. Health good. Grangers
plenty and prospering. J. 13. D.
HAMILTON COUNTY-Sept. 13th.
Wheat nearly all threshed, but very badly
damaged. Good seed wheat ln demand at $1_0
per bushel. Wheat for i-lilpplng, 50 cents to $1,00.
General average of wheat, 15 to 18 bushels per
acre. Old corn 55 cents. There will be a large
crop of potatoes, but will be small. Plenty of
hogs, but many of them are dying with cholera.
Pleniy of horses for sale, and a few good cattle.
There are a few sheep changing hands.
JoSKPn I.Little.
FULTON COUNTY-Sept- 13th.
The weather ls now pleasant, and seeding ln
progress. About the usual acreage will be
sown, but some two weeks later than usual.
Corn, where not Injured from excessive wet, ls
coming out pretty well, and will make in this
vicinity, a good half crop. Prairies still too
soft to admit a team and mower, though drying finely. Apples very scarce. Hogs scarce.
Cattle plenty and cheap.
J. W. Bra., tboffkb.
CORROLL COUNTY—SepL 13th.
Weather warm and gronnd dry. Farmers
have begun seeding. There will not be a very
large acreage sown on account of the bad condition of the soil. Considerable threshing haa
been done, and wheat is better than was expected in harvest Some are selling their hogs
on account of the short corn crop. They are
now worth 6_J to 7 cents. New wheat 85 cents
to $1.25, according to quality. Dogs have been
killing our Bheep. We need a better dog law
or better dogs. D. Is.
GREENE COUNTY—SepL 13th.
Wheat about all threshed, most of lt turns
•nt very well, although considerably damaged
by tbe rain. Potatoes good. Corn on upland
good. Grass tolerably good. Hogs scarce, and
worth 6 centa. Old corn worth 80 cents per
bushel. Old wbeat most all sold; new wheat
worth 75 cents to $1.25, owing to quality. Cattle
plenty and low. Horses ditto. Farmers are
busy plowing for wheat. The Indiana Farmer Is a welcome visiter ln our family. Long
may lt live. Wm. L, Wakefield.
TIPPECANOE COUNTY-Sept. 13th.
The farmers are busy taking care ot their
crops and seeding. Wheat will average from 6
to 8 bushels per acre; oats 25 to 30. Corn will
yield about one-third of a crop. Potatoes good,
but think they would be better with a little
rain, as lt has been very dry for three weeks.
Hogs are taking the cholera. They are worth
6 to 7 cents, and scarce. Hay $12 to $11. Corn
55 cents and dull. Wheat sells at 60 centa to
J1.10. Potatoes 25 cents. Hebron Grange, No.
123 had a feast on the 8th. The Grange owns a
good hall of Its own. ty. E. McMinimy.
PIKE COUNTY.
The fair passed off last week. Save the
gambling lt was a success. Not as good a show
of cattle as common, and rather deficient ln
fruits. The weather was warm. We had a good
shower on Friday. Corn and hogs are both
high. Much hog cholera in the county. Farmers are preparing for wheat, but I don't think
there will be a large crop sown. Horses and
mules plenty and cheap. Good trade ln sheep
and cattle.   Plenty of chills and fever,
J. Li. Bkntoj.
WABASH COUNTY-Sept. 13th.
Wbeat sowing has commenced In earnest.
Wheat all threshed; some good wheat, but
much ol lt damaged by th e wet weather through
harvest. New wheat has been selling from SO
cents to $125 per bushel. Corn on upland ls
good; ln flat, nndttched land, a lallure. Flax
Is making from two to twelve bushels per acre.
The straw pays almost as much as the seed.
Will some one, through the Farmer, let me
know when, and how much plaster to sow on
npland for wheat ? J- D- S.
HAMILTON COUNTY-Sept. 10th.
The hog cholera is raging fearfully. The hogs
are nearly all dying. It seems different Irom
the ordinary attack. Their heads first swell,
and then become dull, and won't eat. Some
are purged very bad, and others are the reverse,
Some live for two weeks or more, while others
die In a day or two. It seems to prevail only
ln sections, and spreads until all ln the neighborhood takes it. Corn is poor; wheat no better ; potatoes not good. Not one-half the wheat
crop will be sown.  Health not good.
M.A.E.
Monkqe County, September 10.
The weather has been very dry. Have
not had any rain for the past six weeks.
Fruit very scarce; no peaches at all.
Hog* scarce; selling from six to seven
cents. L. H. Anderson. .
Farm Talks and Inquiries.
Effect of Distemper.—I have a young
horse that wheezes from the effects of distemper. Can any reader of the Farmer give a
remedy, and oblige a subscriber?
Inquiry abont Wheat,—Can some one
tell me where the Clawson wheat can be had.
Also whether A. C. Harvey has any of his Gold
Medal wheat for sale, and the price of lt?
W. L. McRoberts.
IIor.es Manes.—If "W. F. M" will take
good fish oil and keep the mane well saturated
for about twelve months, his horse will have a
good mane again. Rub in well at the root of
the mane about oncea week, or enough to keep
lt moist. We have a horse, that nine months
ago had but two Inches in length of frizly mane,
but now has twelve Inches ot soft raan«.
J. Demoss.
Onions and Osage.—Will some one,
through the columns of tbe Farmer, tell us
what kind of manure is best for onions, and
how much should be used to the acre. What
kind of onions ls best, and where the seed can
be had, and If there ls a drill to drill them with ?
Tell us where we can get some Osage plants,
and what at, unless you know of something
better.   If you do, tell us of lt.      F. M,.Cook.
Weeds.—Please Inform me of the name of
the enclosed weed through your valuable paper,
and oblige several Interested friends and
patrons. H.B. Kisk.
Mt. Auburn, Ind.
ANSWER.—This plant is Solidago Altissima.
It ls ullflcult to determine the species of the
Solidago's without knowing the size, and especially wlthoutseelng the lower leaves.but I think
the above Is correct. Golden Rod is the common name.
Sowine Grass.—I wish to know when Is the
best time to sow timothy andblugrass Beed. It
would suit my convenience to sow either Immediately after plowing corn the last time, or
on oat ground ln the spring? Is it the best to
haul aud spread manure as lt accumulates ln
the winter, or pile lt nicely and haul and
spread the ensuing antumn ? Will lt not wash
badly when spread on crass lands, especially in
winter, If the land ls rolling? The Indiana
Farmer Is always welcome. Its greenback
views are correct. T. Harris.
Webster, Wayne Co., Indiana.
A Mistake.—I see ln tho Farmer a letter
from friend  Burnett In regard t<» my chicks
dying with cholera.   There ls a mistake ln the
printer, or his Informant, for I have not lost a
chick with cholera for eight years, and am
this season only breeding Buff and Partridge
Cochins, and ln my eight years as a breeder of
pure chicks, I have never had them to grow as
fine as they are doing the present season.  I
have fed mostly wheat and corn at noon and
night, giving them oat-meal mlxed|with a little
corn-meal scalded for their morning meal, and
with this feed I have not lost a chick during
the year.   Friend "B" I have been a subscriber
to the ihdiana Farmer sines about November
18G6, and with this I take and read abont ten
other agricultural papers, besides some outside
of this line, and any man that can keep over
150 chicks, on the same farm, or In the same
yards, and make flne, large birds of them, can
beat me.    Fifty ls about as many as I can keep
ln one squad and  keep   them  healthy and
growing during the dry and hot summer.
Eixis House.
Blcknell.KnoxC, Ind.
A Clean Fool try-house.
_ A clean, sweet fowl-house is a very desirable thing. A building infested with
vermin is a wretched place to confine
fowls in, and however generous may be
their feed or the attention given to their
needs otherwise, the neglect to keep the
laying and roosting quarters free from
lice overbalances all attempts to maintain poultry in a healthy condition.
Purity and cleanliness are absolutely essential to the health and comfort of the
fowls; guarding them from vermin, and
rendering even narrow quarters comparatively comfortable. Whitewashing is
one ofthe most important aids to secure
these results, and should be performed
twice a year, Spring and Autumn, at
least, and oftener if necessary. The best
wash is made from fresh lime slacked
with boiling water, jto which is added one
ouncejof carbolic acid to every four quarts
of wash. Some says the building should
be clear of fowls, closed, and thoroughly
fumigated by burning in it sulphur or
tobacco-stems in an iron kettle, previous
to whitewashing, but we have not found
this necessary. Whitewashing every portion of the interior with the above mixture will do the business. The lime,
besides purifying the building, covers
unsightly stains on the walls, and greatly improves the general appearance of
the room, while the acid destroys lice,
fleas, and other vermin.
American Inventions Abroad.
A mong the great American inventions,
which have been adopted all over the
world, are the following: 1. The cotton
gin, without which the machine spinner,
and the power loom would be helpless.
2. The planing-machine. 3. The grass
mower and grain reaper. 4. The rotary
printing press. 5. Navigation by steam.
6.The hot air (caloric) engine. 7. The
sewing machine, 8. The India rubber
industry. 9. The machine manufacture
of horseshoes. 10. The sand blast (for (
carving.) 11. The gauge lathe. 12. The
grain elevator. 13. The artificial manufacture of ice on a large scale. 14. The,
electro-magnet, and its parctical application, by Henry and Morse.
hy