VOL. XVIII.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., SATURDAY, NOV. 17,1883.
NO. 47.
FARM ECONOMY.
"Winter Management of Live
Stook.
CUTTTKO AND STEAMING FOOD.
At tbe last week's meeting of the Berks
county (Pa) Agricultural Society, tha discussion turned on tbe Importance of steaming
rood and was participated In br many expert*
enoed farmers:
Mr. Scherer believed In keeping cattle aa
warm as possible daring tbe winter. Warmth
1* very essential In the successful wintering
ot cattle. This Is especially true In regard to
milch cows, and a* bl* eowi gave more milk
and were In belter condition by being kept
warm, he was led to steaming their food and
feeding lt to them Ina warm state. Be fonnd
this the best and most economical method of
keeping cattle. The feed ls cat and steamed,
and fed to the cattle In the stable, Instead of
throwing the feed before them In the barn
yard, as ls done by some farmers, where much
of His trampled nnder and spoiled. By catting and steaming corn fodder cattle will ea
the whole of lt, and tbe speaker said that h
had been nnable to find anything eqnal to
steamed corn fodder for milk giving qualities. In conclusion he said: Keep the cows
warm, well sheltered, well bedded and tbe
stables well ventilated without any draft
over tbe animals—these are the essentials of
keeping cattle successfully daring the winter,
Jacob O. Zerr.E-iq., of Unlon,ex-presldent of
tbe society, asked Mr. Scherer to explain his
mode of steaming.
Mr. Scherer said that he has his steamer ad-
Joining his swine-house, 150 feet from the
barn. Be prepares the feed for his hogs aod
chickens In the building In which tbe steamer
has been placed. He also carries the steam In
elevated Iron pipes 150 feet Into the feeding
room In his barn, where he prepares the feed
for his cattle. Be has a large trough holding
SO bushels, provided with a tight lid, In which
the feed ls steamed. In the morning be
steams wbat ls needed for evening,andln the
evening gets tbe cattle's morning repast
ready. When feeding time has come around,
the steamed food has cooled off sufficiently,
aud It ls eaten by tbe cattle with avidity.
Sr. Tobias S. Qerhart, of Beckefsvllle, said
that be heard a report, which was probably
false, that steamed food will eventully wear
out the cattle: that the beat ls too artificial
and tbe effect In the long run ls disastrous.
Tbe same had been said as to ensilage, tbat
nature was cheated by these artificial articles
of diet for cattle and would finally rebel.
Ex-President Zerr said that he bad done
Mr. Scherer said that his cattle thrived upon
the steamed feed, prepared In the manner
heretofore stated. He has 18 to 20 head of
cows and five to six head of horses, and he
steams enough feed at one time to answer
for all ot them. Be got his present steamer
last January and bad lt In operation until
about the middle of June, at which time he
had thrice as much hay on his mow as would
bave paid for tbe steamer, and which would
all have been used up it he had not adopted
the different mode of feeding.
James Van Busklrk, of Ruscombmanor,
said that he had never tried steaming. Be
feeds oorn, oats and hay to his cattle. Be
gives them hay first, and after they have finished the hay he gives them corn and oats
chop mixed with a little rye. Be has found
that by observing this rule ho can get along
with leas feed. Three quarts of chop, for Instance, will be sufficient for two horse. On
18 acres of land he keeps two horses and seven
head of cattle. Bis corn crib ls 21 feet long,
9 feet high and Z}_ feet wide, and he usually
raises enough corn to fill It. From l&Hquarts
of White Brunswick oats, obtained at the society's distribution last spring of seeds furnished by the Department ot Agriculture, he
had obtained 28 bushels ot oats. It ls a heavy
ylelder, but rather late tor this section ot
eountry.
The Secretary, Cyrus T. Fox, said that the
gentlemen present had given much valuable
Information In regard to feeding, and he approved of tbe remarks that had been made as
to warm stables, ventilation, pure water,
wholesome food and cleanliness.
CONDITION OF TUE TYEATHEB.
In the State of Indiana, Week Ending
Friday Night, Not. 9, 1888.
All indications nowpolnttocolderweatber.
The mild and wet weather of the past six
weeks has given the growing wheat a flne
start for winter weather, and lt we shall have
plenty of snow during the next three months
the prospect is fair for a good wheat crop.
The notes on tbe weather by our reporters
during the past week will be found very Interesting.
REMARKS OP THE REPORTERS.
Cass Co.—Weather variable; heavy frost and
light freeze on the "th. Tuos. B. Helm.
Clinton Co.—Aurora night of 2d inst., followed by rain, lunar halo night of 8th, followed by rain, swallows In commotion on
9th, and rained that night; temperature this
week 10" higher than same week last year.
But little corn gathered yet; roads muddy;
farmerslate with farm work; stock doing well.
E. H. Staley.
Cbawtord Co.—Zodiacal light on evening
everything on his premises that could be done lot 6th; thunder 7th and 8th; greatest velocity
with steam, and had experienced no dlffl-|of wind on 8d; prevailing winds W. and 8. W.
Jefferson Co.—Friday 8th the average temperature was higher than any day since Oct.
10th, and only two days in Sept. marked
higher at 7 a.m. F. L. Morse.
JenninosCo.—Wind S. and 8. W.;w*ek waa
splendid weather for growing wheat, which
la doing well. DR. J. P. Cope.
LaPorte Co.—Mery heavy frost night of Sd;
snowbirds seen on 7th. L. A. Cole.
Lawrence Co.— Gsneral direction of wind
for the week was W.; remarkable changes in
temperature. AVA Burton.
Monroe Co.—Prevailing winds 8. W.; Tuesday and Wednesday night beavy white frost;
weather ot the week spring-like.
8. B. Wylik.
Montoomeby Co.—Warm during week; on
7th at 6 a. m. a bright rose light all around
the horizon, being the brightest in the north.
Sam. D. Symmes.
Miami Co.—On  7th Ice and heavy frost;
snow birds nave come; leaves all off tbe trees.
D. M. Adams.
RANDOL*r-n Co.-^Beavy thunder on evening
of tbe 8th; lowest barometer on morning ol
the Sth, being 29.70; prevailing winds 8. W.
W. J. Davisson.
Rush Co.—Frost 3d and 7th; light thunder
storm morning of 9tb; range of barometer 67
Inches; average amount ot clouds .68.   Prevailing winds S; wheat looks well; very llttlecorn
gathered yet, ls not dry enough to crib.
Elwood Kirkwood.
8i*encer Co.—Wheat is doing well.   Coldest
point during night of 7th.
John Anderson.
Switzerland Co.—The fluctuations ot pressure have been considerable the maximum
30.82 lnches,themlnlnum29.73,range .59 inches;
the highest dew point 68° on 0th, the lowest
25° on the Sd, mean dew point for week 42.6°;
mean humidity 42 6 per cent.; light frost 4th,
severe Sd; meteors 4th; thunder storm 8th and
9th. Comparison with corresponding week
of 1882 as follows:
1882, Sth. * 1883, Vlh.
Max temp. M.° Max. temp. 7«°
Min. temp   J«.° Min. temp.  81."
Mean temp. tVl Mean temp. 66 c09
Tbe coincidence of days ot high and low
temperature ls remarkable.
Chas. O. Boebner.
Vandekburo Co—Ducks and crows flylag
southward; no severe freeze as yet; leaves falling rapidly. W. McK. BvtKE.
Vermillion Co.—Frost morning of the 4th.
Farmers are gathering corn.      Fred Rush.
Wabash Co.—Beavy frost on the 7th; rain,
hall, thunder and lightning on night of the
8th. Dr. T. C. Eunteb.
Wells Co.—Winds generally 8. W. and W.
Eva Greenfield.
Warrick Co.—Light frost on 8d.   Too warm
and wet to preps re corn for Ihe crib; thunder
shower p. m. ou 9th. James P. White.
CONDITION    OF    WEATHER   IN   INDtANA   FOR
WEEK ENDING FRIDAY, NOV. 9.
.Postal Card Correspondence.
INDIANA.
Washington Co.—The corn crop ls rather
llghton tbe up-land, but good in the bottoms.
Cribbing will be commenced shortly. Wheat
was hardly half a crop. Many pieces were
balf cheat. There was a good crop of peaches
of the common varieties; but few of the
budded. Apples were plenty, but rotted badly. Sold in orchard from 75 cents to 1125 per
barrel. Wheat sowing waa late, owing to the
drouth, but was put in well, and about all
drilled and bone dusted. Oak mast was plenty
on the out-sklrts of the timber, but little In
thick woods. Stock generally looks well.
Cattle are selling from three to four and one-
half cents per pound; fat bogs, four cents;
sheep from (2 to S5 per head. Oood horses and
mules are high, and but few for sale. Health,
ls generally very good%tnd farmers are preparing for winter. " A. Q. Oatjblb.
ILLINOIS.
Pike Co., Nov. 10—Wheat never looked moro
promising than lt does this fall; no complaints ot fly here. Ruining about three days,
out of every week. Corn aa average crop; not
tit to crib yet; worth 40 cents per bushel at
home. Early Rose potatoes a heavy crop; late
varieties not good. Stock of all kinds in fine
Ox.   Pastures good yet. G. F.
Henderson Co.—The last days of Ootober
and a few days In November were flne, but It
has been ralnlngagatn. Our corn, wbatlittle
we have, is In a bad shape; lt Is green and
wet, and a large amount in the mud and spoiling,and the farmers feel badly over tbe thing.'
A small erop of hogs and low prices.
  L.W.
NEBRASKA.
Valley Co.—Crops good. Land on a boom.
Public land all taken in this county. Health
good.   Snow on 25th Inst. 12 Inches deep.
A. S.
culty. Be erected an engine and boiler bonse
at his barn, with which be cut all kinds of
teed, hay and fodder, and used It for cutting
the food for his animals; the engine was also
used for sawing wood and for many other
purposes. He had a cutter that would cut 100
bundles of corn fodder In an hour. Be ted
steers with a great deal ot advantage upon
one-third corn fodderandtwo-thlrdsbay. Be
had tried steaming lt in tanks, but eventually discovered tbat tbe cattle relished lt better
when scalded, and he, therefore, constantly
kept hot water in his water tank, which contained about two barrels. Be put the cut feed
In his trough; poured on hot water and then
pnt on meal, then followed np with more hot
water, and closed the tank. This operation
was done in the morning, and by evening the
food thus prepared would be soft and palatable. Be always prepared in the morning the
feed that would be wanted in the evening,
and vice versa. Stock fed in this manner will
oome out at the end of the winter In fine condition, and with smooth and glossy hair, Indicating perfect health. A great deal also
depends on keeping cattle warm.
Indiana.
J. M. Johnson.
Fbanklin Co.—Beavy frost 3d, also Jack
snipe; foggy 7th and 8th; lightning and thunder 9th; fox sparrows common.
A. W. Butler.
Gibson Co.—The 9th a very warn day, thermometer 72°.   Wheat looks remarkably well;
apples scarce; pastures still  good; hogs and
cattle In good condition.       Elisua Jones.
Greene Co.—Thunder showers 8th and 9th;
beautiful aurora 3d, 4th and 7th.
W. B. Sac ires.
Harrison Co.—Frost on the sd; on the 7th
heavy frost, dense fog; on 4th and 0th shooting stars; Sth very red sunset.
Maggie Hudson.
Benry Co.—The mean temperature of tbe
past week 60.S*', is very close to the mean annual temperature. Growing wheat ls splen
did; pasture plenty. Lowest relative humid'
lty 35, highest 90; mean 71.fi. Highest barometer reduced to sea level SO 23; lowest 29.75;
mean 2999. Great frost on 7th; 80snn spots
on the 4th. W. Dawson.
Jay Co.—Nearly all the rain fell at night,
12 a. at, to 8 a. m. B. J. Button. .
Tempera-
tuie.
Counties	
ca.s—
Clark.
Cllntot.
tirawford... -
Fayette.	
Franklin....
Oltieon ...
Greene _..
Harrison	
Henry „.
Jay	
Jeff.r oil™-.
Jennings—
Laporte	
Lswrence	
Miamt	
Munrce
Montgomery
Morgan 	
Kando ph...
Bush „„
8p -nc»r.—
hwlts rland.
V.nderbur..
Vermtlit ju ..
Wabash-.....
Warrick	
Wayne..™...
■as
COBS CROP.
In tbe West and Northwest.
Three hundred reports from Indiana, Ohio,
Illinois, Kentucky, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas
and Tennessee give the following In regard
to the corn crop of 1883:
In Illinois, where the aggregate yield il 75
per cent, of a good crop, there is much of got d
quality, but in the central and upper portions
ot the slate a considerable proportion ls Immature and not merchantable.
In Iowa, where there ls about two-thirds of
a good crop In quantity, the majority ot returns complain of poor quality.
In Missouri, with a yield but little under a
good crop, there ls but a moderate amount of
poor quality.
In Kansas, with the largest crop ever grown,
the quality ls almost uniformly excellent.
In Tennessee, with about an average production, the quality ls good.
In Kentucky, with a crop somewhat below
the average, tbe quality ls variable, but generally pretty good.
In Ohio, with the smallest crop in several
years, and less than two-thirds of a full yield,
the quality is generally poor. '
In Indiana, with a good aggregate production, the quality ls variable, a lair proportion
being good, and much of lt soft and poor. Of
old corn the supplies are fair In many sections, but the information ls not sufficiently
full on this point to make any but this general statement-
Taking the states mentioned, with Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Nebraska,
the aggregate preductlon of tbe corn this season is about the same as a year ago. Expectations ofthe helpful influence ot frosts in
hastening corn Iuto condition for marketing
have*i>een more or less disappointed by eflecta
of wet weather in many sections.