Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-10
AGRICULTURE.

y
intelligence and industry into the work,
his vocation is a safe and sure one
A carrot that went % inches toward
China, and a turnip, 35 inches around
the waist, are recent opponents of the
capabilities of Kansas soil.
1t is stated that the farmers of Clinton
county Iowa, during the past year, have
lost from $4,000 to 100000 hogs from
cholera, the loss in value reaching at
least 5000 and many consider that
a low estimate.
Considerable attention is being paid
in Mexico to the production of coffee,
that industry having been largely de-
velOped within the past six years. About
100000 pounds are now annually ex-
ported from Vera Cruz.
The United States utilize in agricul-
ture 10 per cent. of their area; Great
Britain, IS per cent; France and Bel
GUM, So; Austro-Hungary, So, and
Holland, 20. This shows conclusively
whence the agricultural growth must
spring.
Farmers should use every means for
informing themselves in regard to pub
lie affairs. Agriculture is suffering from
bad legislation and public neglect be-
cause farmers have not taken care to
inform themselves and exert their pro-
per influence in and on our law-making
bodies.
| MURZTHAL CATTLE-This race of cat
tie are natives of Austria, though they
are considered to be closely allied to
the Hungarian cattle. They are much
priced for their milk-giving properties.
The COWS have been known to produce
3,lOO quarts of milk per annum, where
1850 quarts is given as the usual aver
age. The oxen are especially suited to
draught purposes, and after being work
ed from three to six years are fatted
and make excellent beef The color of
the hair Of the race is badger grey, with
brighter strips round the muzzle, color
rings round their eyes, and dark-colored
belly.-Ke'otucky LiUe Stock Record.
One of the curious features of French
industry, is the increasing demand for
toads. Procuring toads is now irregular
business, and they are sent in large
numbers to other countries, principally
! England, in baskets packed in damp
moss. 1t should be unnecessary to say
that they are used in gardens as insect
destrOyers, and bring in Paris from rs
to 50 francs a hundred, or about Is
cents each. Market gardens and the
more observing class of horticulturists
in the United States, have long known
their value and utilized them, and yet,
innocent and harmless as are toads, the
average man kills them on sight, and
women shrek and run from them in
disgust. Farmer
AMERICAN FARMING. farm
ing is now equal to any in the world.
Our farms, generally, are cleaner and
freer from weeds than foreign ones
with some exceptions if we would
use our native fertilizers, such as bones,
and meat refuse, and fish guano; our
native foods, such as linseed and cotton
seed Oil-cakes, instead of selling them
to our foreign competitors; and also
use those artificial fertilizers which are
SO cheap and effective, as an aid to in
crease our crops, we could excel the
famed English farms in the product of
the fields. We have this yet to do. All
that is needed is intelligence and con-
fidence, that the more literally we feed
our soils, the more bountifully they will
reward us with teeming harvests.-
american AgricuHurist.
| HIGH BRED ANIMAIS.-High-bre ami
mails are rarely profitable for the
farmer, except for the propagation of
improved grades by crossing on natives
or common stock; hence a farmer who
has at large expense procured herd or
flock of pure-bred stock, finds them
deteriorating in condition and appear.
ance, and less productive than he ex-
pected. This has been the almost uni
versal experience Of farmers. In Sc
lecting animals for purchase, those that
have the most attractive appearance
are generally chosen, with little regard
to anything else than to please the eye.
The largest and best proportioned, or
those of the most fancied colors, are
preferred, because these are the most
CONSPICUOUS points, and they appeal to
the sight rather than to an expert judg-
ment The points which make pure
! bred animal valuable to farmer as a
means of improving his herd are not
these, but such as lie deeper and re-
quire experience and judgment to de-
tect The fine bone, small offal, quail
ty of flesh, vigorous constitution, and
| hereditary excellence, do not always
in fact rarel excessive
size or attractive appearance; but the
former 60 to make up the true value of
an animal for the farmer VINO seeks to
improve his stock rather than the lat
ter.-NeW York Times
PAsTURING MEADOWS IN WINTER.-It
is bad practice because the ground is
bare and the new December grass
green. to keep stock grazing in the fields.
Yet. Notwithstanding the sloppy nature
of the soil, we have seen a number of
cases were this has been practiced dur
ing the present remarkably open win
ter. Those who have done so will find
next year, that they have in reality
been feeding that seasons crop. Not
only this, they will also find that the
poaching of their meadowsi by the
hoofs of cattle will cause the fields to
become not only uneven but foul and
weedy. The place for all stock in win
ter is under shelter; especially So dur
lug this season of almost daily rain.
What little grass stock get turns them
against hay, so they will not really keep
their stomachs fully supplied. AL
though the loss Of condition may not
SO surely be seen now, it will be per-
ceptible enough before spring, and thus
the farmer will have lost twice; once in
his meadows, and again in the reduced
condition of the stock. 1t is true he
may have some hay to sell, but selling
hay in the fall and winter and hides IN