The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-08-30
FARM AND GARDEN.

such "roasts" are found anywhere
else in the world The modus operandi
of its best production is as follows: A
pit is dug generally about six feet deep
and ten square, in which the animal to
be fatted is lowered. 1t is then sup
piled with all the roots, hay, and meal
it can digest, and furnished with the
needful quantity of water, as well as
an abundance of straw for litter. The
droppings are trampled under foot by
the animal as he moves about in his
narrow cell, and gradually by their ac-
emulation, rise to level with the
surface of the ground. When the sur
face is thus reached he is ready for the
knife, and yields rich and juicy flesh,
besides many tons of the best manure
packed into the pit. One great trouble
with the American beef is, that the
animal gets too much exercise. Even
our stall fed animals are allowed to
roam too much. But the worst feature
of all is the fact that nearly all the beef
found in the markets of our great cities,
is driven there on foot, and killed with
out rest or recuperation, and of course
in diseased state The animals trans
ported by rail are but little, if any
better, as the motion of the cars even
for few hours is extremely weakening
and facilitating on any animal heavy
with fat. Perfect quiet and good ven
tilation are essential to good beef.
When bullock is taken from its pas
ture and placed in stall or pit, it con-
tinues to grow in bone and muscle, or
red flesh, as well as to accumulate fat,
and the fatty matter is so blended with
the muscular as to make the latter ten
der, Juicy, and highly favored. In
fattening, as a general thing, American
cattle move too much, and hogs too
little. The hogs need more exercise
while fattening than bullock-or at
least, the evil effect of driving is not SO
perceptible as in driving cattle. Ken
lucky hogs, driven across the noun
tains into Virginia, are said to give
sweeter flesh and more highly favored
hams than corn-fed hogs fattened in
Virginia.
A CHAPTER ON NAILS. - Every
farmer who has had occasion to drive a
nail into seasoned oak posts knows its
liability to bend and break. If the
point be moistened in the mouth, it will
generally drive more kindly. Oil is still
better, but then it is inconvenient to
dip each nail separately into it. Another
point observed is, that boards become
loose eventually from the rusting of
nails, which, communicating to the
wood, causes not only an enlargement
of the nail hole, but the fearing away
of the nail itself, rendering the fence
or building shaky and insecure. This
may be prevented byheating any rough
grease until it smokes, and then pour
ing it over the nails to be used. The
grease will penetrate the pores of the
iron, and cause the nails to last, with
outrusting, an indefinite period. Besides
this, no trouble will be experienced in
driving them in the hardest wood.
The reason is that the coating of grease
prevents contact by air, and conse-
quently oxidation. Oxygen is the great
destroyer of iron, and moisture is the
inducing cause. Anything which is
kept from contact with the air is pre-
served indefinitely, and if it is kept dry
the effect is measurably the same. Paint
upon buildings prevents the contact of
air and moisture. If the whole fence or
building cannot be painted, the heads
at least of the nails should be touched
Herewith.
TRAINING HELPERS TO MILK.-Cows
usually become addicted to kicking
when heifers, from being MIXED by
abusive mixers. | have never seen an
old COW become kicker unless abused.
Instead of cows being averse to being
MIXED when giving large quantity, !
have ever found it the reverse. When
pasturage is good, and cows come home
at night, with udders distended with
milk, they seem grateful to have it re-
moved. Milking heifer for the first
time requires patience, for they will al
most invariably kick. In such case,
put broad strap around her body, just
in front of the udder, and buckle it up
moderately tight, and as soon as she
gets quiet (for she may kick around
little at frst), take your pail, sit down
and 60 to milking, for she is as helpless
as kitten. Do not attempt to use
rope instead of a strap, for it will not
answer. This is a much better method
than tying the legs, etc., as it does not
hurt the animal in the least.
Sunhowers are raised in Watowan
County, Mimi, for fuel. The oily seeds
in the flowers make hot fire, and the
woody stalk, when dried, furnishes
good substitute for cord wood, which
is very scarce in that region. 1t is es-
timated that two acres will produce
enough to last an ordinary family
through long winter.
An effectual process for cleaning the
hennery of vermin, is to fumigate the
building with sulphur. The quantity
win be determined by the size of the
building. Where it is not attached to
the barn or sheds from one to two lbs.
will probably be sufficient.
The Canada Poultry Chronicle says
pill of camphor, the size of garden
pea, given to a chicken will cure the
gaps, the odor of camphor being fatal