The Arkansas banner., 1843-11-18
AGRICULTURAL.
AcoLIMATING CATTLE IN MISSISSIPPI.

ACCLIMATING CATTLE IN MISSISSIPPI.
 We are greatly obliged to our friend NJ w. Philips, Esq, of Log Hall, Hinds CO.,, Miss, for his letter of July g, from which we give the following extract: :. In the July number of your present volume, page IF, you seem to think there is no great difficulty in rearing the Durhams here. Having had some expe- rience in this matter, as much and probably more than any one else, beg to correct you, lest my friends may be led to go into the pur- chase, without knowing the whole ground will not for moment contradict any one who would say improved cattle would suc- ceed as well here as elsewhere, if we would provide ample stores of feed and pasturage That is not the difficulty: it is the keeping alive the first summer; for almost nine-tenths of them die of disease, not want of food.- They must undergo acclimation there is no doubt of this fact: have it from gentlemen of high standing, of many different plans be- ing pursued, some stabling, some on fine pas lures, some housing at night, &c., but in too many instances l might say all have died.- We might prepare all sorts of clover, but good as these are, in all probability August will find many of them " numbered with the dead.o have been the means of introducing more horned stock in this region at least of Mississippi, than any one else; have lost about one-half, and for days together, i'll l840, had to haul out COW or heifer
 "The greater part of the stock brought here, came very poor; did not improve at all until about 1st of June; then grazing on a good pasture, with an abundance of water within few hundred yards of where they were at any moment. l had fancied to my self they were safe, as they had begun to play and visibly to improve, when fine young bull died, without any one noticing he was diseased. Immediately 1 brought up the stock into lot, where the pasture was very trihing, commenced salting freely, with ash es, lime, tar and salts, but too late. All that were affected, except " one,o died, and some twelve head cast their calves. tried bleed- ing, salts, blister on the spine, clysters, &c., &c., but of no avail, immediately changed their diet, and kept them the balance of the year on principally dry food; since which I have lost only two from disease, one of them native bred.
 "The experience of my friends cores ponds precisely with my own. will now give what deem the best plan, and what pursued with some others since received, and which plan was successful, had not stopped too soon; but the cattle having lived till in September, thought them safe, turned them into the pea field, and so soon as they began to improve, Gin some 15 days one cast her calf, and with all the attention of housing, physic, (calomel,) &c., she died.
 ''I would advise cattle to be brought here from the east, because have had four sent here from Philadelphia and Baltimore. One of the first died by the brutal treatment of negro-the other, as l state above. would also advise calves to be brought under twelve months, young of any kind becoming accli- mated soonest
 or May; they should not be suffered to im- prove after that time; their principal food dry provender, with an occasional grazing, say from to 9 in the morning Let them run in well shaded lot, with free access to abundance of water to drink, or stand in to salt, mixed with ashes, or little lime, and shed under which they can lie in mid day and at night. This plan pursued, and so far have saved more, considering the num- Der brought out, than is by any means usual Understand me, give them water, salt and ash es, without stint; drive them to it if they will not go, for frequently they will drink very much when they will not walk one hundred yards to it. Give them well shaded lot protect them from hot sun and the dew-feed on dry food, without permitting any increase of flesh, with enough grass to prevent fever or constipation of bowels, and no more.
 Rely on it, it is not leeches that always cause murrain: lost one that had access on- ly to spring water, that we all drink daily of It proceeds often here from the grass being forced into an undue succulence by seasons and our warm sun. Instances are known here where almost whole herd of hun dred or more natives have died of it, from the fresh, succulent grass putting up in August, or about, after the woods were burnt in mid summer A friend lost several, after fine rainy spell of weather. l have given my plan to several this season, and so far have not heard of any losses; and certainly we have had just the season for the murrain.''
 The following advice is given by Dr. Phil lips, of Mississippi, in regard to the manage ment of the cotton crop:
 "The work of September, October, and