Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-02-18

How Cors SHRrEKs.-A correspou
dent a the Prairie F,svwer weighed
out IS lbs. of cssn on the ear, dried 1t !;
and on submitting it to tho teet OF the
scales auain, found that the corn and
cobs together only weighed 60 lbs, hav-
ing lost Is lbs. He thinks it did not
shrink more than most corn will by
keeping over winter.
SALrrp WATER FOR SHEEP.-The
New York Tribune gives the following
experiment
100 sheep we're fed regularly 1877 lbs.
hay and l75 lbs. straw per day. This
was replaced by 10 lbs. Of hay and the
same Of cut straw, the sheep bsiDg3 wa
tered over night with 33 gallons Of
water, in which "a lbs. of sea salt had
been dissolved. Notwithstanding this
reduction in the amount Of their feed,
the sheep remained in as good condi-
lion as they were before Genesee
Farmer.
AGRICULTURAL SocIETIEs.-The st.
Louis Agricultural and Mechanical A.
soc;ation have resolved to offer . premi-
um list of $4,000 for the their next
fair. A resolution was passed by unan-
imous vote rendering the thanks of tie
Society to the late President, Hon. J.
Il. Barrett, for the satisfactory and efiic-
lent manner in which he had performed
the duties Of president of the associa
ton since its institution in 1856. 4
HEAVY OATs.-That bushel ofheavy
oats are worth more than bushel Of
light oats, all will ,dmit, and it is equally
certain, though not quite 80 apparent,
that, reight for freight, the heavy oats
are the most valuable. 1t has been found
by experiment, that bushel Of oats
weighing forty-two lbs. yields twenty
five lbs. of meal; one weighing forty
lbs, twenty three and one-iourta lbs;
thirty-eight lbs, twenty-one and three
fourth lbs; thirty four lbs, eighteen and
three-fourth lbs, and bushel weighing
only thirty lbs, yielded only sixteen lbs.
of meal. In other words, one hundred
lbs. of meal which will weigh forty two
lbs. per bushcl, will give sixty lbs. Of
oat meal; while one hundred lbs. Of
oats weighing only thirty lbs. per bushel
afford only fifty three lbs. of meal. 1t
will be seen that two bushels Of the
heavy oats are worth as much as three
bushels of the light oats.--Genesee
Turner.
CArrLE's ToNGUEs-CURRY COMBS.
The tongue Of cow or cx is sugges-
tive. 1t is formed with compact bed of
spines, very rough to the touch, and
adapted to . variety of uses. With
this pliable member it draws grass be-
tween the teeth for cropping, and all
other articles of food when necessary.
1t comes in play in reaching into the
limbs OF trees for foliage or fruit, or in
reaching over walls and fences after for
hidden crops. The tongue is also used
in disturbing the hair and skin on all
parts Of the body within reach, and the
inaccessible parts Of the head are cur
ried by mutual accommodation. No
sight is more common in herd Of cat
tie, than this reciprocal toilet of the
tongue. Here is natures hint for the
use of the card and curry comb. These
tools are especially called for in winter,
when cattle are kept in stalls, with
their heads confined, so that they can
not use their tongues upon their own
skin.
1t is said by old hsstIers, that good
cnrrying, brushing, and rubbing down
once day, is equal to feed Of oats for
horse. However this may be, there
can be no doubt that it greatly promotes
the comfort and health Of horses aud
cattle. 1t removes all filth from the
skin, which is apt to accumulate in sta.
bles, unless currying is attended to daily.
The skin is constantly throwing of
etfete matter, which collects around the
roots of the hair, and stops up the pores,
unless it is in some way removed. The
tongue does this partially, but the card
and curry-comb do it still better. This
office is performed for the horse quite
regularly, because he is more frequently
exhibited in the presence OF his owner,
and the cleanliness Of the carriage, and
of the clothes of the family, depend
somewhat upon the condition Of the skin
of the horse. But the OK, the COW, and
tho young animals, arc sadly neglected.
1t is not unfrequently that yoke of OK
en- will come out Of the stable in the
spring, with a thick plaster Of filth upon
their hams, the accumulation of whole
winter-a disgrace to humanity, and to
the good husbandry of the owner.
All these animals manifest their
pleasure at the use of the card and cur
1y-comb upon their skins, and after a
little practice, the young stock will come
as regularly for their carding as for
their food. 1t is an excellent method to
tame hefers that are to boar their first
calves in the spring. They become &C.
customed to the handling Of man, and
submit to the first milking without re-
sistance. 1t is equally good for steers
that arc soon to be brought under the
yoke. They become so gentle under
gentle treatment, that they are easily
broken to the yoke, and make more
tractabe team, than by the ordinary
process. The card is much better
persuadcr than the OK whip. This il
excellent business for the boys, and
/ <ko. .hc,,ll T., >-.J