VOL. XV.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1880.
NO. 24.
Wt
£fodi.
W. C. Williams, Knightstown, Ind., recently sold two female Poland China pigs
t > C. L. Hancock, Palmyra, Ind., which
•were but two months' old. and yet weighed
5S and 60 pounds respectively.
Mr. J. R. Reed, New Castle, Ind., sold
last week to B*rclay <S_ Traer, West Liberty, Iowa, 12 yearling Short-horn bulls at
prices ranging from $50 to $100 per head,
t ie five Short-horn cows at from $100 to
$150 per head.
 ss_»
Mr. Ij. H. Aikman, Dana, "Vermillion
county, Ind., has recently sold five bulls
a id three heifers from his herd of Shorthorns, and 16 Poland China pigs. He reports his stock in fine condition, and that
there is nothing like the Parmer to advertise in when you want to make sales.
IN-AND-IN BBEEDING.
H. R. H., a correspondent writing from
lacking county, O., takes exceptions to
Dr. Navin's recommending our farmers to
devote their attention to raising mutton
sheep, in a recent number. He also opposes the theory that it is wise to produce
cross breeds of any kind of stock. Speaking from his own experience of 40 years as
a breeder ol sheep and cattle, he says:
You must avoid mixing higher with lower
grades of animals. The profit lies in purity of blood in all classes. He says that
when one of a committee of three appointed
to make a scale of points on Merinos, to
make the United States Merino Sheep Register, he found in all States they visited
that the farmers who advocated purity of
blood were the wealthiest class, that is the
most successful ones. He adds "my mode
of breeding is to get .pure sheep and per-
pstuate them by iu-breeding continually. My fl >ck was imported from Spain
by Humphrey, in 1802. I have filled a
great many orders to most of the States,
but only seven to Indiana, but at the making of the United States Merino Register
your State was one of the few that did not
claim to Own one pure sheep. We found as
pure sheep in Pennsylvania, Virginia,
Ohio and Massachusetts as America has. I
calculate every 100 ewes to profit me ?3,000
if they raise lambs. I have now sold 23
tale lambs for $25 per head, the balance
will bring from $25 to $100. Will mutton
sheep pay to keep in Indiana?"
Not Large Bat Satisfactory.
Editors Indiana Farmer.
Below I give you the weights of my little flj>ck ot Cotswold sheep, also the amount
sheared from each: . Two three-year-old
ewes weighed respectively 195 and 225
pounds, and sheared 12% and 15 pounds:
three yearling ewes weighed 145, 125, and
135 pounds, and sheared 11, 11, and 9\M
pounds; one yearling ram weighed 156
pounds and sheared 12 pounds; two aged
ewes sheared 834 and 9 pounds each. They
were sheared May 6th, and the wool being
nice and clean sold for 32}£ cents per pound,
j ust as it came from their backs. The above
is what any farmer can do by giving his
flock good care, and the wool brings in a
little cash when there is no other crop to
dispose of. Just now there is a "boom"
in sheep, but that is not as it should be;
there is always room on a farm for a flock
of sheep. They will clear the pastures of
briar sprouts and noxious weeds, but they
shcflild not be put off with this alone, for
they enjoy a bite of fresh sweet grass as
much as any stock, and will turn it to as
good account. I would say to every farmer
by all means keep a flock of good sheep,
poor stock is an eye sore to any place.
Give them good care; shelter them while
their wool is long, and yard them with
your cattle at nights, and my word for it
you need not lose any by dogs, and they
will be as profitable stock as you have on
the farm. O. H. W.
. Friendsville, 111.
Oood Clip.
Editors Indiana Farmer:     ,
I sheared 12 head of yearling sheep,
weights of fleece, 8J4, 9, 9K, 10,10,11, 11J4,
UK, 12K, 13, 13J4,14, or 11 pounds and a
fraction average, 134 pounds in all; Cotswold and-common, and Merino and common grades. This compares well with tbe
Wayne county report in your last number,
and encourages me totryagain. The sheep
were housed every, night and fed twice a
day on corn, with occasionally some sheaf
oats; the other feed was corn fodder, no
hay. W.
Putnam Co..
Sale of Short-Horns.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
We have recently sold the following
Short-horn cattle: To C. S. Barclay, West
Liberty, eight cows, six heifers and two
bulls; to John Bird, Montgomery county,
Ind., one cow; to R. M. Crouch, of Boone
county, Ind., six heifers; all at prices that
farmers can afford to pay.
Geo. S. Wren & Son.
?<    Sugar Grove Farm, Hendrieks Co.
Experience   and  Observation with
all Breeds  of Sheep.
Essay read by J. L. Thompson, Arcaaa, Ind., before tlie recent meeting o. tbe Wool Growers' Association.
The subject allotted me at our last meeting is a very broa-l one, and my experience
and observation has been limited, indeed.
I will begin with the Cotswold. My experience with this noted and v^lu.-tble breed
has not been as extensive as with some
other breeds, but has bsen very satisfactory
when used lor cross-breeding. When bred
straight in this changeable climate, they
don't do well; are subj ct to scours of wet
seasons, especially the lambs, and when
they get on the decline from any cause,
they are hard to recruit up sufficiently to
go for mutton. My observation has been
that they are very profitable when kej-t ia
small flocks, with ample range and the best
of care, but for large fl,>cks we need a more
compact, close-wooled sheep.
' THE LEICESTER.
I have never had any experience with
this breed, but my observation has led me
to consider it a poor breed for the farmer or
wool-grower of our State, as they are not
hardy enough for this climate and our
management. I consider the Leicester
more than worthless for crossing with our
common sheep, as it fails to give constitutional hardiness, a very material point in
cross-breeding sheep.
TIIE   LINCOLN
Has been introduced in our part of the
State to a limited extent within the last
few years, and does well with the highes*.
keeping and best of care. It matures early
and shears a heavy fleece of good combing
wool. It has not been tried long enough
to know how it will stand our climate,
but I think better than the Leicester and
probably not so well as the Cotswold.
THE MERINO.
My experience in breeding the Merino in
its pure state is limited, having used it
principally in cross-breeding, for which it
has proven very valuable with me. Where
wool-growing on a Urge scale is the object,
the Merino has no equal; but in this State,
with our system of mixed farming, there is
great inducement to raise a larger and better mutton sheep. I have been keeping a
small flock of pure blood Merinos for a
short time, and find them hardy and good
feeders, and they shear more wool on a
given amount of feed and pasture than any
sheep I have ever kept. From some cause
I find it difficult to get lambs started.
They seem to lack vitality for the first few
days. On account I think of close breeding and confinement for so many generations. My experience and observation
have led mi to the exclusion that for a
farmer who wants to keep a few sheep in a
flock this breed is too small and of too slow
growth, but where the land is hilly or dry
and large flocks are to be kept, they do be*-
ter than any other breed.
SHROPSHIRE?.
My experience with this breed commenced in the fall of 1875 with a few yearlings past, bought here at the State fair.
They were very nice looking when bought,
and have fully met my expectations since.
They have proven hardy and to thrive well
on moderate keep. Their close compact
fleeces furnish a good protection for bad
weather. The ewes are good mothers, taking the best of care of their own lambs, or
readily adopting those of another if deprived of their own from any cause. For
crossing with good common ewes the
Shropshire ram has no superior wh9re wool
and mutton combined is the object sought.
As a mutton sheep they are second only to
the Southdowns. As a wool grower they
are medium, shearing from seven to 10
pounds of good clothing wool. The lambs
are very vigorous and require little attf n-
tion in the start. As the Shropshire has
been highly kept in England, it is the
he:ght of folly to expect the imported one»
to keep up here, on briers in summer and
in the muddy barn-lot, with other stock in
winter.
CROSS-BRED SHEEP.
I come now in conclusion to sheep of
what in my opinion is the coming sheep of
this State, the cross-bred. Just what shall
constitute this Bheep is yet largely to be
determined and may be left to some extent
to each breeder's fancy. My experience in
cross-breeding commenced some eight
years since, by coupling a sized Cotswold
ram, that would shear from eight to 12
pounds, with about *60 common grade
Merino ewes, weighing SO to 90 pounds in
good store condition, and shearing five to
six pounds in the dirt. The result of this
cross was very hardy, compact sheep,
weighing from 110 to 125 pounds for the
ewes, and shearing about seven pounds on
the average. I bred in this manner for
three years, and then coupled these Cotswold-Merino ewes with Shropshire rams,
weighing from 200 to 250 pounds, and
shearing from nine to 12 pounds. The improvement from this cross has been very
marked, giving a more compact, round-
bodied, short-legged, hardy sheep, one that
readily responds to good keeping and matures early enough to be profitable as a
mutton sheep, as weU as a wool grower,
and weighing at two years old 140 to 200
pounds, and shearing from eight to 13
pounds of first class medium wool.
Weights of Fleeces.
Editors Indiana Fat mer:
As Dr. Navin says: "Now is the time for
big fleeces on paper." Yen, this mammoth
fruit generally "comes in" just before the
strawberries, and in the last few numbers
ofthe Farmer we have some "whoppers."
But we beg to assure the doctor that "Slick
John" is not confined to the ranks of those
alone, who make a specialty of selling horns
and grease. But he is also engaged aud
pulling a great deal longer kind of wool
over the eyes ol the credulous than grows
upon the backs of Merinos, indeed of fabulous length, and it doesn't take eo much
of it, so many pounds, to answer the purpose. But no matter, he is sure to give
you enough pounds and "down weight."
Witness the fleece from Park countj: 18
pounds from ayearlirig Cotswold ewe. But,
Mr. Editor, isn't that yearling, and all
others for that matter, of a very Indefinite
agt-? Oh, you sea a yearling ih always a
yearling until it is two years old. Exactly!
Clear as mud; why did'nt 1 think of it?
But you say that the wool was 16 inches
long. AU right. Why didn't you let it
grow till it was two feet long? It would
have done it if you had just let it grow long
enough. The fact is, Mr. Editor, I see so
much in the papers—of the nature referred
to by Dr. N*vin—that is calculated to deceive and to bring into disrepute a most
worthy calling that of breeding for Btock
purposes that I am led to make a few observations. I have aU my life been interested in the sheep and wool business and
for several years have made the breeding of
long wooled sheep for stock purposes a speciality and from purely business reasons have
tried to learn all I could in regard to my
business. Observation has taught me that
there are many things that will modify the
weight o'wool and also its softness, lus'er
and strength. Shall not now stop to discuss any of them, except to say that wool
is always heavier after a dry, cold winter
than after a warm, wet one, and it is also
softer and stronger. As all the wool on a
sheep come3 from what it eats it follows
that feed is the first element to be considered. But we will not now consider it
given.
Proposition 1.—A sheep one year old, of
good constitution and the same treatment
as to surroundlngs,feed,weather,etc.,andfor
several years in succession, it will produce
the same weight of wool and of the sa-ne
length and texture.
Proposition 2.—Wool of same texture,
closeness on ths sheep and same amount o!
yolk, will be heavy in proportion to its
length.
Proposition 3.—The wool on no thoroughbred long wooled sheep will grow
more than an inch a month, on an average
ior a year. In regard to this proposition
I will say I have seen some high grades
that would beat it a very little, but never
saw a thoroughbred that came quite up to
it.
Proposition 4.—I have found that taking the best Cotswold sheep, weighing 150
to 200 pounds, and their fleeces weigh about
a pound to the inch in length of staple.
Now put these four propositions together,
and what have we? Why simply this—the
fleece from a yearling weighing 16 pounds
was 16 months growing. In corroboration
ol this I would • say, the heaviest -fleece
bought in Lafayette last year wasl7 pounds,
from a lamb and of at least 18 months
growth and very dirty at that.' There were
200,000 pounds bought at this place
and we have as good sheep as I have seen
anywhere.
A week or two ago there appeared the
fabulous weight of 25 pounds for a fleece
sheared from a yearling Cotswold buck. I
immediately sent for a specimen of wool,
desiring the exacj, age of the sheep. The
specimen came and with it the encouraging
information that, "the buck was 2 years old
this spring." The specimen is a fair one
and just 12 inches long when stretched out.
But unfortunately the specimen was cut
square off at the outer end that I might not
know the exact length of time it had been
growing. An expert can readily tell
whether the growth is over a year. Now
I do not sunpose for a moment this gentleman wants to deceive anybody, but that he
himself has had the wool pulled over his
eyes. Now, Mr. Editor, I question the
weight of any fleece over 14 pounds of wool
taken from any thoroughbred long-wooled
sheep, of any breed, of a year's growth; and
in proof of my sincerity I will give $200 for
a thoroughbred English (I use this word
in distinction from those imported from
Canada, represented as such) Cotswold
buck that will shear 16 pounds of wool of
only a year's growth.at the second shearing,
and I will give ?100  apiece  for  the  same
uine ease of pollevil, but may run into it.
Take and blister him with Spanish fly and
spirits of turpentine, one ounce of the
former and one pint of the latter. Rub in
hard with the hand once per day for several days.
Tumor.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
Mr. Dohnna's mare has. a lump on her
knee-cap behind, and I don't know what to
do. It is hard, and about as big as a walnut, and she is a little lame. I saw an account of you in the paper as a "boss" doctor. The lump is a little hard. Flease tell
me what to do for it. S. S.
Your mare has no knee-cap, neither before nor behind, except at the stifle-joint.
The knee is on the front limb and hock be-
eyes became enlarged and ofa light green
color; there is no soreness, lids are not
swollen, no lever, does not seem to suffer
any pain nor misery; e.j»ts hearty and seems
healthy every other way. A Reader.
McDade, Tex.
I fear that the chances are poor for the return of your horse's sight, very seldom
such an occurrence is met; the sight might
return for awhile, but if no secretion is
running from them the chance for recovery
is m«agre. Take an egg, break one end,
let the albumen out; fill with salt, stir with
a teaspoon handle; make it a stiff batter;
place in the fire, surrounded by clear coal-1;
burn to a cinder, or char; grind flne and
put in the eye once per day.
Iiame Shoulder.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
I have a horse that has his shoulder
bruised; it was a little sore and I quit
working him for a few days, when it began
to enlarge. I thought it was a swelling,
and alter a few days I opened it and thei e
was nothing but water ran out; wheu that
was all out the enlargement was all gone,
but it filled up again in the course of a day,
then I opened it again; it is filled again
now. L.
Blister your horse',, shoulder; this will
either drive it back or draw it to a suppuration of healthy matter which, when fully
matured, open, and it will not refill. Use
the liquid blister, spirits oi turpentine one
pint, Spanish fly one ounce. Rub in well
with the hand twice daily until well blistered, then once per day for about 10 days,
then grease with lard. If this fails, the
sack must be cut out.
Distemper.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
Six weeks ago my horse took the distemper
kind of ewes, not overtwo years old, that   hind.   If the tumor is on the hock, blister ,      , .  -      -        . ...
will shear 15 pounds of wool,   at  a  year's  it merely for 10 or 15 days, using the med-  ^i^nd^Tick ZaUef; puUeVbout ?eg
growth and second shearing.   Should you
desire any more facts iu regard to  weight
of wool I am prepared to give them.
Montmorency. B. F. Maoee.
More Wool.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
I will take the privilege of sending you
a sample of wool clipped from my imported
j,Cotswold yearling ram, "2nd Duke of
Hinkston," that I bought of McClintock <fe
Vimont, Millersburg, Bourbon county,
Ky. The wool measures 19 inches in
length and is ofa splendid quality.. I have
54 ewes, suckling 65 lambs which clipped
510 pounds of wool, making an average of
about 914 pounds to the sheep.     C. T. G.
Metamora.
Mr. C. T. Gordon, Metamora,Ind.,bought
of Alex. McClintock and Jeff. Vimont,
tlieir yearling ram,"2d Duke of Hinkston,"
at ?100. This is a very promising young
sheep and will be a prize ram in any country. Also 10 imported ewes from Mr. McClintock, at §17 50 per head; also some
ewes from Mr. Vincent.—Paris, Ky., Citizen.
'iJctcrinarji*
icine recommended for S. H's horse iu this  ular; breathing heavy, but breath not of-
This department is edited by Dr. John N. Navin,
Veterinary Surgeon, author ot Navin's Explanatory
Stock Doctor.
Rules to be observed by those expecting correct
answers:
1. State t"ie rate of pulse.
2. The breathing.
3. The standing attitude.
4. Appearance ol hair.
5. If cough, and secretion from nose, whether
glands between the Jaws can be felt, and how near
the bone.
6. It breathing ls rapid, accompanied by rattle or
rushing sound, no time must be lost ln blistering
throat, and using tincture of aconite root and tincture of belladonna 20 drops on tongue alternately
every two hours, for time Is too short for an answer.
7. Parties desiring answers by mall must enclosed
stamp.
.Editors Indiana Farmer:
I have a young mare that has a large
lump on each shoulder about half way up
from the point of the shoulder, caused by
bames not drawing right; am afraid tbe
lumps will callus. What will remove
them? . J. 4.-F-
If they, are filled, open with a knife; if
not, blister as directed for S. H's horse, in
-tbis issue of the Farmer.
Turn Him on Pasture.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
What ails my horse? His bowels are
loose, manure thin and watery. I feed him
dry hay and corn all the time; has not been
on pasture one-half day this spring. He
has a quivering in his flesh on his fore-legs
up next to his body, more on the left side;
eats hearty and works well.      A. M. H.
You could not do better than to turn
your horse upon pasture. If in two or
three weeks his bowels are not regular,
take him up and give the following: Salts
of tartar, 40 grains; pulv. rhubarb, 20
grains; laudanum, 12 drops; water, Tour
ounces. Give half an ounce every two
hours. If that will not check, give an
ounce or more; add as required.
Pollevil.
Ediiors Indiana Farmer:
What is the matter with my horse's- neck?
Is it pollevil? It appears to be tender from
the ears back about one foot or so. When
I turn him on grass he seems to get stiff,
and swells on each side of his neck; eats
well and works well. Tell me wkat will
cure him. S. H.
I do not think that your horse has a gen-
issue of the Farmer.   Cannot answer letters and furnish stamps.
Lime Colt.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
My neighbor has a two-year-old colt that
got overheated by a playful work horse
running it about a year ago, since that it
stands on the toes of its front feet, and the
pastern stands too far forward, as though
the rear cords were too short or the front
ones too long. Can it be cured? Will it
p*y to invest in it? .   Sur.
The only remedy for your neighbor's
colt is to put a pair of shoes upon him with
a piece of iron welded to the toe, that projects in front about \\£ inches turned up so
as not to catch on the ground in stepping;
then blister the back of the limb, the tendons, blister until quite sore, using it every
day.   The price of my book is $4 50.
What Aila My HorseP
Editors Indiana Farmer:
When he is iri motion he breathes hard,
that is his breath comes with a snort or a
kind of a puff, but after a moderate drive of
a few miles it is not so bad; sometimes it
seems but a habit. What can be done for
it? Sub.
Take and blister your horse's throat, use
Spanish fly one ounce, and spirits of turpentine one pint; use constantly all or
mostly all of one day. Give in his feed the
following: One teaspoonful three times
per day, ground ginger, four ounces; blood-
root, pulverized flour ot sulphur, pulverized niter, sulphate of iron, black antimony, and resin of each two ounces. Mix;
use chop or mill feed wet.
Sick Mules.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
On examining my other mules I find
those lumps the same. I should have told
that the mules were overheated last fall,
and that there was a little clover in the hay
I fed. She rattles at the nose the most
when hot or pulled hard; works well and
has shed nicely. S. G.
1 do not know what you mean by behind
the j*ws, between the j<ws is the place to
feel for the glands, about six or eight
inches below the throat Utch. If your
mule or other mules have enlarged submaxillary glands, it is time to look after
them. If you mean ' the kernels often
found along the windpipe, they do no harm;
fensive to smell; appetite good; has no
cough; seems to be iu good health; works
every day. There are some lumps between
his j *ws, running at the nose, does not diminish. A Reader.
If your horse had the strangles (distemper) so recently you need have no fears
about his fast recovery, but if you work
him hard on scant fare, afc especially if
you heat him and let him cool suddenly,
you would drive him into glanders. Give
him the following: Ground ginger four
ounces, phosphate of lime, powdered blood-
root, powdered goldinseal, pulverized nitre, black antimony, flour of sulphur, of
each two ounces. Mix. Dose, one teaspoonful in wet mill or chop feed.
Sick Mare.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
I wish to know what is the matter with
my mare. She is somewhat mopish or dull
in her movement; eats her chop feed and
corn well, but when I turn her out on grass
she coughs, and more when she lowers her
head to the ground, and some white phlegm
comes out at the mouth and nose, and
raises her head about half way up to chew
the grass, and sometimes yellow stuff runs
at the nose, and she seems weak to work;
her pulse beat about regular. I bred the
mare about 21 or 22 days ago to a horse at
Frankfort, and the horse has died since,
and they said he was ailing then, but was
letting him to one mare a day. It was the
Baum & Given horse. P. M.
See page 66 of my book, Navin's Veterinary Practice Explanatory Stock Doctor,
and give her the two upper prescriptions
mixed up in one; make 40 parts of it, and
give her one throe times per day. The
powder you are giving her is not the thing
she needs.
Texas.
Letter From
Editors Indiana Farmer:
A destructive cyclone drapes the village of Savoy, of 400 or 500 inhabitants,
in mourning. Property destroyed, lives
lost, homes despoiled. The track of the
cyclone at Savoy was from southwest to
northeast.
LIST OF    KILLED.
A. Horn; Sam Gill;  Dr. Kearns;   W-
Suddeth;    E.   Andrews;    Miss  P-Wisoy
Johnson;   Miss Mattie Byst; Gallagher's
child; Andrew's child.   Sixty are report-
those between the jaws is where the dan-1 ed wounded; some of this number   will
ger is felt.
Bing-Bone.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
I have a mare that has the ring-bone,
has had it for three years, but never got
lame until last fall, andseems to be getting
worse. The enlargement is on the left hina
foot on the inside. It has not enlarged on
front or outside any, but the enlargement
is very small compared to some.      S. T.
You allowed the ring-bone to assume a
chronic form, that is you allowed ossification to become complete on tbe part affected. I suppose that it is about to encircle the joint, and blistering is all that
can be done, with chances unfavorable.
Treat as recommended J. G. C. In last issue. Why will men allow the day of grace
to pass and then expect that a prophet, a
charmer, or a witch can be found that can
work against nature.
Blindness.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
Please tell me through the Farmer
what disease my horse has, and give a cure
for it. While plowing a few days since I
noticed my horse was losing his sight, and
in a few days was blind.   The sight ol his
die. It is impossible to imagine or tell
what a wreck was made by  the   wind.
In less than two minutes only six or
seven houses were left standing. Among
these are the school-house, church and
Odd Fellows' hall, which are now used
as hospitals for the wounded and dying.
The cyclone was but a few rods wide
and just what damage was done is not
yet known. Another cyclone, about
two hours later, the same night, struck
the farm of Mr. Bronaugb, tearing down
two houses for him; theu on in its course
to the northeast striking the farms of
Pirt Henderson and Thomas Smith,
making a total wreck of both. No lives
lost.
Honey Grove. J. D. K.
The House has refused to pass the
amendment to the appropriation bill as
made by the Senate appropriating severa
sums asked by the commissioner for
making experiments with sugar producing plants, and other purposes. It
would be well for the country if th's
spirit of economy were manifested as
often towards other departments of industry as that of agriculture.
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