The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-03-14
FARM AND HOME
Selected For Its Interest to the Agri.
culturist and House Keeper.
GOOD AND POOR BUTTER cows.


mer:
| understand very well, as probably every
man does who handles milk, that there is
wide difference in the composition of pure
milk especially in the matter of the per-
centage of butter. All milk is richer in Sep
tember than in June, and it varies IN this
respect in different seasons in the same herd
or COW. The circumstances which lead to
this are many. The COW that is feshy gives
milk richer in butter than the cow that is
poor. One that has reached her full ma
turity gives better milk than she did before
she reached that age; a COW that is gaining
flesh day by day gives richer milk than
COW that is losing gradually. The condition
of the pastures has also much TO do with
the quality of the production. This condi-
ton is governed in turn by the season.
Experience has taught nae that cows
milk very deficient in butter often fattens a
finer calf than that of the first class butter
COW.
A man can not produce milk profitably for
any purpose without feeding his cows iber
ally with good, sound, highly nutritious
food. The COW has been Hkened to a ma
chine. It requires certain amount of food
to supply the demands of nature; all above
that amount which she will take and aSSimi-
late will be converted into milk and flesh.
The herd should be kept warm in winter,
and fed and watered with regularity. The
diet should be varied as much as convent
meal and vegetables should be included in
the bill of fare, and we shall then be re-
warded with milk rich in all the valuable
components of the fluid.
On the other hand, the herd that is poorly
fed, carelessly housed and cared for, can not
give anything but watery milk, almost
worthless for butter on the table.
| have been asked my opinion so many
times in regard TO the value of the several
breeds. and especially that of the Jersey, as
cows for family use, that | will take the OPP
pOrtunity to say a word upon this point. A
very good rule is this: III you wish nine
tenths of the milk for butter making, and
only small amount for cooking and the
table, then the Jersey is preferable by far;
but if the greater portion of the milk goes
directly TO supply the family consumption
then some other breed had better be select
ed. The milk of the Jersey throws up its
cream quickly and so completely that
the nilk is nearly worthless for any purpose
in few hours after baing drawn, and have
known gentlemen to part with otherwise
valuable animals for this very reason and no
other.
THE SCARCITY OF WHEAT.
Prairie Farmer.i
The information from Minnesota OF a Sc
rious dearth of wheat there Is undoubtedly
true, in so far that her exports this year will
reach far below the usual average. The de-
hciency has been estimated as high as 60 per
cent, and the home requirements for seed
being supplied. il is estimated that the mills
OF the time, from now to the next harvest.
This is undoubtedly overrating the def
CLERGY. But be this as it may the country as
whole has good supply of wheat.
In this connection it will be interesting to
our readers to note that the wheat prOduc-
ton of the country at large is steadily in
creasing, per capita year by year, notwith-
standing the well known fact that the pop
ulation OF the United States increases more
rapidly than in any country in the world.
In relation 10 our wheat production, the
American Miller saws. in 1919 the whole
crop amounted to 100000, 900 bushels; in
1859 il reached l73 600 200 bushels; and in
1869 it was 2S7, 0O0, 900 bushels. According
70 the population. 4 bushels were produced
per capita in 1919; 5 in 1889, and 7.46 in
1869. This last crop was an exceptional one.
Since then the average has been about 260,-
100000 bushels year, or nearly z bushels
per capita Our exports furnish another
means Of arriving at the same general con-
clusion that our supply of wheat is increas
ing. For the past so years our exports in
grain and -four have been equivalent to
1,062, 600 coo bushels OF this immense guam
tity only 17s. 900 600 bushels were exported
up to the year 1850 while In the year 1874
alone 100000 bushels were shipped to
foreign countries.
Thus IL will be seen, notwithstanding
our immense increase of population in the
last IS years. our wheat production has near
ly doubled per capita. This is largely owing
to the continued opening OF new
territory to the pioneer, whose first money
crops must be made from wheat.
As these farms are brought under thorough
cultivation other crops and live stock are
brought in, that the newer states as q
rule, become our greatest wheat producers.
The whole west last season suffered from
L..
wheat was injured in quality. Minnesota
suffered also from other causes. Ii was par
ticularly unfortunate for her farmers, since
In that state wheat is the important product
But, although our wheat product shows so
wonderful an increase, the last years crop
was generally short This is shown by the
fact that our exports of this cereal for 1876
fell short some s., 200 600 as compared with
1875. On the other hand, Indian corn rose
from SO, SAL ,161, in 1875, to $40. 824, 7S4. in
1876. SO. the export of tobacco rose from
$18,394, $50 to over $50, 900, 900. There was
also a large increase in many other agricul-
tural products as peas, rye, grass seed, hops,
bacon and hams. tall0w, etc. This latter is
interesting as showing the fact that as farms
are brought under cultivation, productions
essentially change; and. il also accounts, in
one sense, for the decline in the price of
gold. The balance of trade Is in our favor,
In other words, we sell more than we buy.
sUBsoIL FLOWING WITH DYNAMITE.
An Interesting experiment, says the Turf,
Field and Farm, was recently tried with
dynamite in grape culture. which from its
complete success is suggestive of still more
wonderful uses for this explosive agent. In
the case referred TO, the dynamite was used
in small proportions 70 loosen the earth and
allow the admission Of air and the free per-
collation. of water TO the roots of the vines.
This Is the manner of application: Holes
were made in the soil about ten feet in
depth, and Ut points where no roots Of the