Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1867-01-11

boar recently purchased I'm New York,
took the first prize at the n. Y.
state Fair over al large breeds. They
are of great length, broad even back and
loin, full thick hams, fine hnir, white,
with no bristles short clean head with
no waste. There were, also, a tine Chcs-
ter White boar and sows, ard Chester
sOws from New York importation
from Cheshire county, England. With
some OF these fat.ening hogs there were
some OF the common stock fed Mt n COM
mon trough ard the difference was
very marked. With n given quantity
Of feed, The advantage o. the thorough
. breds is from fifty TO one hundred per
cent, which fact ought TO arrest the at
tention OF every farmer in Iowa, to shy
nothing of another important fact, the
quality OF the pork.
The pens for swine were made twelve
feet square, divided by one partition
making two 6xl2 feet each. These have
oak floors, and the double pens are placed
about three feet apart, so that If deemed
necessary the space may be filled with
straw, and thus afford much additional
warmth for brood sows aud pigs. The
lumber FOR these pens is found to be Ia
surface feet of II inchoak for floor, four
six-inch boards on each side, making
altogether some $50 feet, inch measure :.
4, T., Halt ~: ,rl -, IN,
dollars besides the stills for each pair Of
pens.
A plan for stables and other out-build-
ings, adapted to the means Of all our
farmers, and furnishing a warm shelter
for stock, is n most important matter in
iowa. Here we saw a cattle stable 2Sx
40 feet which was very warm and COM
fortable-more so than ordinary frame
barns. This is built in the following
manner. The upright posts are 10 feet
apart each way except through themid-
die, these being feet apart, thus form
ing gangway 6X40 feet for feeding.
Upon these are plates, rafters, aud ribs,
the latter placed two feet apart to thatch
to. SIS
The sides Some eight feet h:eh) and
the lower portion OF the ends were en-
closed with pine boards, ant, the gables
and entire roofwere matched with long
heavy slough grass, cut with scythe
and tied in bundles if some four inches
in diameter, which are dashed to the
1, to. H. ~,
can be laid on with the same rapidity as
shingles, and If we'll done will last
twelve to fifteen years. This cord ia
worth about SOC q h., and ten dollars
worth Of it answered for this large stable
"a horse stable. wood house, and hen
house, -altogether about 400 square
yards of roof. 1t is certainly warmer
than n shingie roof and is perfectly Sc
cure from damage BY wind and per-
feet protection from storm.
This stable is provided with stan
cl!ions for keeping cattle in their places,
rather than stalls or head ropes, and az
fords room for sixteen head of cattle on
each side, facing each other, andreceiv-
ing their food on the floor Of the inter
vening gang-way. The cattle stand OH
plank doors four to five feet wide accor-
ding TO size, the floor being six inches
higher than theground, SO that whether
lying or standing the oftal is dropped
clear o. the floor. Years Of experience
in the various methods stabiing cattle,
has convinced the doctor this is the
most convenient aud economical plan.
DR.. Sprague's farm now comprises
800 acres, including the southern half
of Island Grove. The entire grove COW
erS some 80 acres or 50 Of timber, most
ly burr oak, with All abundance of wild
fruits. The natural shelter for stockA,
very fine, and springs and streams are
are convenient, within the grove.
Farmers in every portion OF the State
would find much to admire on Island
Grove Farm, and would gather many
hints u great practical value to them
Our brief visit was made doubly pleas
ant by the personal Kindness and gem
erous hospitality of DR.. Sprague and
his amiable wife.