Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-12-19
THE FARM.

IN Minnesota a few weeks since, and
becoming interested in our sugar in
dustry went to Dundas to see Messrs.
Miller and Kenny, the originators Of
the Amber cane. He secured samples
of both the syrup and sugar, and took
them back to New York with him.
These were placed in the hands of
several syrup brokers to learn their
opinion of its commercial value. The
syrup being a new thing to them, and
untrled in the east, they were of the
opinion that it would have to find its
own market. They appraised its value
at about thirty-fve cents per gallon.
Some of the sugar was exhibited to
Prof. Allen G. Thurber, of the Ameri-
can Agr1cuHurid, vino could barely be-
lleve that such a quality of sugar could
be made, from amber cane IN Mime
sofa, Experimental analysis, however,
On a single sample went to prove that
grape sugar composed too large q
portion of it to make it much of a
rival against true sugar from southern
cane. This defeat, Mr.. Sylvester thinks,
may be remedied in the boiling and by
the use Of milk of lime. Even cane
sugar, boiled in the open air and treated
as the amber cane juice is, is liable to
be converted into grape sugar. He de-
slres to obtain some of the juice before
boiling to experiment with-a hard
matter, probably, at this late day.
OIL CAKE OR OIL MEAL-D. A. G..
wishes me to state whether linseed-oil
cake meal is not as valuable as linseed-
oil cake. That depends entirely upon
its purity. The oil meal, if pure, would
be considered more convenient for feed
ing, and therefore preferable. The ex-
portation of this article is altogether in
the cake. The meal offers such facil-
tiles for adulteratiOn that the English
feeders do not buy it in that form. The
writer has used it in both forms, and
sometimes found it equally pure in
meal as In cake, but more times not;
and the best way is to buy the cake and
break it up as wanted, unless the pur-
chaser knows that the meal is pure.
Oil meal dissolves readily in hot water,
and if a little of the meal be taken in a
tablespoon and wet with hot water,
stirred and spread upon a plate, the
residue of the linseed will be dissolved
and adulteration can be determined by
what does not dissolve. A close watch
seems to be necessary now upon many
lines of manufacture. Our best grades
of white sugar are now adulterated
with grape sugar, a form which is cheap
er and having only about sixty per
| cent. of the sweetness of cane sugar
In this way even granulated sugar has
lost about twenty-five per cent. of its
real value. Authorizations ought to be
punished with heavy penalties, and the
law SO formed as to render its execution
reasonably sure. d. A. G. lives in the
finest blue grass region-the paradise of
cattle feeders--but even that region will
be greatly benefited by moderate use
of oil cake, which can be purchased in
the near market at reasonable figure,
and will assist in polishing even a Ken
lucky shorthorn.-E. W. S. an Country
Gentleman.
RINGING BULLs.-Very many among
professional breeders do not know
how to ring a bull with ease to
| the operator and a minimum amount
of pain to the animal. When
we were breeding cattle we used to
have a simple straight iron punch OF
the same calibre as the ring to be used.
The animal was fastened between
stanchions in the usual manner, and
also by rope around the horns, pass
ed out in front securely round a post.
A piece of wood was tapered to hold
against one side of the nostril, the
punch was placed against the opposite
side, "a sharp blow with a hammer
against the punch, and clean cut was
made, the ring inserted, fastened, and
the animal operated on never seemed
to hold grudge on account of the in
sertion of the jewel. A scratchawl or
knife is a barbarous instrument for do
ing the work. In breaking bull to
lead never use harsh pull on the nose.
Let him know that he is permanently
and securely fast except at the will of
the operator. A touch by an attendant
from behind is better than a strong
pull in front The animal must be
taught, not forced. The best horsemen
now train animals; they used to break
them. Training is a good word also
for the education Of service bulls
Prairie Farmer
SAVE THE TURKEY FEATHERS. Sea
sonable advice with regard to taking
care of turkey-feathers is given by Rob-
ert Skene, of Louisville, KY, which, as
there is demand for the feathers for
making brushes and busters, is called
to the attention of those who have
heretofore allowed them to 60 to waste.
In saving the feathers of turkeys it is
recommended that they be taken in
bags like geese feathers, those from the
body, wing and tail being kept separate,
and each kind packed in a box by it
Eself. For tail and wing feathers the
boxes should be little wider than the
feather is long, and the feathers laid in
the boxes straight, care being observed
that the sides and ends of the feathers
do not curl up, as this spoils them for
making busters, and thereby impairs the
sale of them. In selecting the wing
| feathers leave out the third joint, or
that part commonly used as fan, as
! the feathers on that part of the wing
! are useless in the manufacture of dust
ers. Body feathers should be kept as
straight as possible and also packed in
boxes. Keep all feathers perfectly dry,
as wet feathers are unstable; for this
reason turkeys should be dry-picked.
! CATTLE SHIPMENTS TO EURoPE.-Dur-
ing the week ending Nov. II five
steamers arrived in Liverpool, four from
New York and one from Quebec, hay
ing on board 5,568 quarters of fresh
beef and 1926 carcasses of mutton,
which is the largest quantity this sea-
son. GAS an indication of the fact
that the shippers are now engaging
more largely in this branch of our