Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-10-23

the cost OF a steer makes but little difference
in his cost at four years old, while if proper
ly expended it adds much to his value.
We often zee farmers worrying along with
a..pair of halfbroken steers (called out of
compliment, oxen) which actually al
most much trouble they are worth :;
while for less than what these cost they
might raise for themselves a pair of good
oxen, which would perform the work re-
quired in much less time than such as they
in the habit of using.
1t may not pay on all farms, and under all
circumstances to raise stock, but it certainly
does to raise oxen, which cost no more and
are worth much more in the actual cash
value, as well as for the convenience in work
ing, which is no small inducement to me
Cor. Germantown Telegraph.
NEW POINT IN Coon Cow-The follow
ing, from a writer in the Wisconsin Farmer,
contains idea that commends itself to the
careful consideration of farmers
Long observations and experience with
hcifers and their subsequent character
mixers have satisfied him that commencing
milk in summer is an indispensable condition
to good mixer in after years, and that the
difference is fully one-half in any grade of
stock The philosophy of the difference in
in June, he state. as follows 50 The grass
being then in the best condition to produce
full flow of milk, all the parts that tend to
secretion of milk are developed to their ut
most capacity. The udder, the teats and
milk veins become enlarged, permanently
and the best cows | ever raised had to
commence milking several weeks before they
calved to prevent garget.'
The theory seems to be that the milk YES
sells become fixed in their capacity by their
first use, or, at least. that their subsequent
development will be after the type they are
first made to assume 1t is not reasonable
To suppose that heier two years old, under
any circumstances will give much milk
the same animal will at four years old, with
the same antecedents, and in this sense the
milk vessels cannot be fully developed with
the first calf, if the heifer be quite young.
But ii is reasonable to suppose that the type
of the tactical vessels in their proportions to
the age and general development of the ami
nal will become fixed at the period alluded
to, and the idea is well worthy the attention
of every farmer.
HARVESTING CARRoTs.-Mr W are, of Mar
lehead, stated to the Board of Agriculture
the method of harvesting carrots as practised
there, as follows:
Our method is to top them, either with a
hoe or shovel, 1--WE generally use a shoveD
and then a subsoil plough and so far as
my experience goes, it is the only use to
which suts soil plough can be put to any ad-
vantage in our county. Previously to plough
ing, the tops are raked off the field SO as to
be entirely out of the way. We then run
the subsoil plough directly by the side of the
row of roots, which lifts them out of the
ground about two inches then with potato
diggers, forks or hoes. go along and rake
them out, SO as to lift them from the ground,
and throw them inward. leaving room for
the team TO 90 through again. We first turn
a back furrow In the centre, and leaving a
space for the horse or OK to travel, without
treading upon the carrots That leaves them
spread all over the surface of the ground
We do that in the forenoon we pick them
up, throw them into the carts and put them
into the cellar. That gives about half a
day time for the carrots to dry and in pick
ing them from the ground and throwing
them into baskets, the dirt is mostly shaken
off; so that, if the weather is suitable -
end dry weather ought to be chosen for the
harvesting of roots-they will go into the
cellar dry, which. in my opinion, is very i'm
portant. State Agricultural Report.
COOKING FooD FOR STock-It renders
mouldy hay, straw and corn stalks perfectly
sweet and palatable Animals seem to relish
taken from stack, which has been
wet and badly damaged for ordinary use, and
even in any condition, except dry rot
steaming Will restore its sweetness.
1t diffuses the color. of the bran, corn meal
oil meal, carrots, or whatever is mixed with
the feed. through the whole mass. and thus it
may cheaply be favored to salt the animal.
1t sOfte0s the tough fibre of the corn
stalk, rye straw, and other hard material
rendering it almost like green. succulent
food, and easily masticated and digested
by the animal.
1t renders beans and peas agreeable food
for horses as we'll other animals and thus
enables the feeder to combine nitro
genOus food in the diet Of his animals
1t enables the feeder to turn everything
raised into food for his stock, without lessen
ing the value of his manure. Indeed the
manure from steamed food decomposes more
readily and Is therefore more valuable for
the same bulk than that made from unco0ked
food.
We have found it to cure incipient heaves
in horses, and horses having cough several
months at pasture, have been cured in two
weeks steamed feed 1t has a remarkable
effect upon horses with sudden cold and in
constipation. Horses fed upon it seem much
less liable to disease in fact. in this respect.
it seems to have all the good qualities of
grass, the natural food of animals.
1t produces marked difference in the ap-
pearance of the animal, at once causing the
coat to become smooth and of brighter
color; regulates the digestion, makes the
animal more contented and satisfied, enables
fattening stock to eat their food with less
labor, gives working animals time to eat all
that is necessary for them in the intervals of
f,11 ODD 81
especially with horses. 1t also enables the
feeder to fatten animals in one-third less
time.
1t saves at least one-third of the food We
have found two bushels of cut and cooked
hay to satisfy cows as we'll as three bushels
of knocked hay, and the manure, in the
case of the o)ked hay. contained much
more fbrous matter unutilized by the animal.
This is more particularly the case with
horses. The cooking Of hay and straw
destroys all foul and troublesome seeds
f.. W. Ste,cdrt IN american Farmer
on every farm is good supply of ladders
A long ladder is always necessary to reach
the top of a building in case of fire. A
shorter ladder for roofs and the walls of
buildings is also necessary. ladder five or
six feet in height is often convenient for fruit
trees. One can hardly do without these
three ladders but there is one other ladder
which is very convenient in painting buildings,
and especially in gathering fruit. 1t con-
sists of two ladders put together like the
rafters of building. These may have
small platform on the top which any ordina-
~ mechanic can make, on which a person
can stand for the purpose of gathering fruit,
grating, or any other kind of work requir
ing such an elevation. Now let a light piece