The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-04-01
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.

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SHADE TREEs.-We regard the follow
ing, from the New York Sun, as both
sensible and timely. We wish to say,
however, that while there is no doubt as
to the importance of planting shade
trees, it is very important also not to
overlook the necessity of well defined
plan or system-one which will not
caricature nature, and cause regret to
the intelligent observer:
Farmers hold various and widely diff
ferent opinions In regard to the value OF
shade trees upon the farm. Much, how
ever, depends upon mans early life, as
sociations, and education, all of which
have their influence in forming taste
and love for the beautiful in nature or
otherwise. Some men can neither see or
admire anything except from utilitar-
ian point of view, and this perhaps in its
most circumscribed aspect; a tree to |
them being worth only what it will fetch
for timber or firewood. These utilitar-
ian notions are far too common in all new
countries covered with heavy timber,
and the habit which is first formed
through necessity becomes so fixed and
universal that barrenness of landscape
frequently follows, where an opposite re-
suit might have been secured without
cost to the original owners of the land.
The first generation of farmers destroyed
that which the next two or three restore
only in part, and at great expense OF
| time and money. But as these are by
gone follies in the older States, we have
only to take care of what is left of the
old landmarks, and put out new trees
wherever they are likely to be valuable
or useful and in doing so the subject OF
shade trees upon the farm should be con-
sidered as carefully as their value as
timber, or for the fruit which they may
produce.
The contrast between two regions OF
country, the one with trees judiciOusly
distributed, and the other without them,
is sufficient in itself to make any man
favor the former. The generally attrac-
tive appearance ola country is certainly
one of its strong points, and mankind
cling to things of beauty quite as tena-
ciously as to those of strict usefulness
and intrinsic value. Nomadic races sell
dom inhabit hilly, mountainous, or
wooden countries, for these tend directly
to fixedness of purpose, and love OF
one spot which We term home. A rock,
hill, or tree is an object which clings to
the memory of both civilized and uncivil-
lied man. This idea may seem some
what sentimental, but it cannot be de-
MED that it is very potent in its in
fluence upon nations as we'll as COM
, munities.
! THE EAR A GUIDE AS TO A Cows
, MILK.-John Shattuck, noted butter
, dairyman of Chenango county, N. Y, at
E the late convention of the New York
state dairymen's association, said that he
r had found the color on the inside of the
a ear an infallible guide to the direction Of
a good butter-cow. If the skin on the
. inside of the ear is of rich yellow color
= the COW was sure to give good quality
: of milk that is, milk rich in butter. He
: said in all his experience he had never
). known this sign to fail. Mr.. j. w
9 North, in the Maine Farmer, gives some
. further information concerning the sub
: iect. He observes that cows producin!
" yery high-colored butter have larg
y amount of the ear secretion, in man.
. instances the whole internal surface be
- ing covered with a thick, 0range-colored
l. oily matter; on the other hand, tn
II light-colored butter-makers present
=" scanty, thin and pale yellow secretion, j
y some cases found only at the bottom G
= the ear. His theory is that every anima
= has the power of secreting a certai
- amount Of this yellow pigment. If tn
= quantity be sufficiently large, secretiO
q will take place freely in the mammar
- glands, the ear and skin. If, howeve
Y" the production be limited, the tendenc
may be wholly toward The milk-glanC
n and ear, causing the animal to exhibit
ly pink hide, or the skin may be almost til
er sole avenue of escape from the body, tn
ok butter in consequence being lightcolore'
ne or there may be so little coloring matte
IN evolved, as to furnish none to the skill
ed and very scanty supply to the ear an
ed milk. In selecting Jersey COWS, in ord'
he to Judge in regard to the color OF the
v, butter, he recommends that the ear
Id inspected. DR.. Startevant, in his recci
address before the Connecticut Sta
no board of agriculture, alluded to tn
color of the ear in selecting cows, but
ed thought some caution should be observe
,s- in clearing away the secretion that ms
be accumulated on the skin, SO that Il
uI true color of the skin on the inside
mi the ear may be seen. Otherwise the a
cumulated secretion, if taken for Il
true color of the skin inside the ca
would deceive, as it might be darker
exhibit deeper color than that of Il
Ia. true skin. He regarded the color of q
nd ear as good guide in respect to the col
To of the butter which the cow wou
I'm yield.
at CLIPPING HoRsEs.-The practice
it, clipping horses, shearing the hair she
ne in winter, will probably never becon
m. common among farmers. 1t is grown
nd popular in cities and Just now special {
ok tention is attracted to the practice fro
mt the fact that Mr.. Bergh has made sever
Ige arrests of drivers of clipped horses
ID. New York. The Spirit of the Times {
Id. tends the practice when it is confined
me horses used for fast driving and viii
m. are we'll cared for 1t says:
he We believe in the clipping of hor'
in that are intended for sharp, fast VOL
he but we do not believe in, and we do n
en blame Mr.. Bergh for interfering with
nd exposure of clipped horses in temper
,ev ture ranging at and under twenty {
to grees zero, by pampered brute muffl
On to the ears in wooden capes and furs, W
mt throws nothing more ample than d
,ev ing napkin across his horses lions.
10 1t is one thing, however, to prott
me- horses from abuses such as this, a
ant quite another to make such special
ali stance of abuse the justification for
he crusade against practice, which in
the self is not only painless, but calculate
cd. when accompanied by proper auxilar
,on of protection, to be of the greatest bel
me fit and comfort to the animal to viii
the the treatment is applied.
of The first thing to be inquired
'ds. whether clipping gives a horse any pr
18th at the time of the process, and ne
to what service it affords. Now we do ]
lev hesitate to say, that there is no more p,
the given to horse by the operation of cl
ali ping than there is given to man
no having his hair cut /; and not so much
all there is to man in shaving when he
II the misfortune to fall into the hands Q