The Osceola times., 1878-08-10

old for about one half the sum that
would be regarded as paying price at
the age OF year and a half. We are
speaking now, of course, Of bulls OF good
blood, usually selling at from 500 to
$500.
There Is another important considerA-
tion that should not be overlooked in
this connection. The farmer who buys
his bull at this young age is able TO break
the animal to suit himself, 40 that he
will be likely to be made quiet and bet
ter behaved than those taken in hand at
an old age: and it is unquestionably
true that young bull, growing up in
this way, without the irritation
always attending the herding with
other yeung bulls, grows up
in the best and most attractive from.
It may be asked, How is man to
know what an animal will be at matu-
rity il he selects at so young an age ?
We answer, that this may be determined
about as well at the age of one or two
months a. at ten or twelve months. The
main points to consider are l. That
you are dealing with an honest man 2.
That he has good stock, and that your
calf is by good bull and has good
dam; aud, 3 That the calf himself is
straight and square in form, and appears
to have vigorous and healthy constitu-
-[Philsdelphis Practical Farmer.
BLACK Leg.
This disease is fatal malady among
calves and yearlings in the west. We
dc not ever remember ofhearipg of it in
the east, and from its prevalence among
western young cattle, we are disposed TO
attribute its cause TO the food of young
stock in this country being 40 largely
composed of corn. Indian corn is essen
TALLY fat producing constituent, and
this is not the kind OF food young grow.
ing animals require. A concentrated
food that will build up bone and muscle
/, what the young animal demands to
keep it in healthy and growing con-
dition, and for this purpose there is none
within convenient reach of our " estern
farmers equal to oats. Oats is muscle
producer, and 10 keep the young animals
growing, and at the same time avoid un-
due accumulation of tat, is the grand Sc
cret to success in raising calves.
Feeding corn in large quantities
to the exclusion of all other
concentrated food to calves and
young cattle, creates an injurious
amount Of fat, while the system calls for
more bone and muscle food, deranges
the system, and diseases the blood. The
very natural consequence is congestion
and sudden death. IL oats and wheat
bran, both or either, were mixed with
ground or crushed Indian corn and the
calves and young stock fed this mixture
In moderate allowance daily, with a
plentiful supply Of hay and corn fodder,
and other coarse provender to serve the
purpose of distending the stOmschs Of
the growing animals, it is our opinion
that blackleg" would be rarely heard
of, instead OF the scourge it is among the
finest calves in the herd.
The practice among prairie farmers OF
turning their stock into corn-felds after
the corn has been gathered, to feed on
the dry husks and stalks that are left
standing ~ they grew, causes the death
Of many fine animals. Any one who
loses COW beast by feeding on dry fod-
der, will be Convinced, If post mertem
examination is made, of the danger that
is ever prevalent to the owner of stock
which Is allowed to feed in this volunteer
manner. The stomschs will be found
packed with hot, dry, hard mass OF
stalks and husks, which no remedy can
reach or remove. Animals which die
from eating this dry food suffer the
greatest agony, expiring in commissions.
Feeding at will on dry corn stalks lie I
standing in the fields, is almcst-probab-
ly altogether-ss fatal to larger cattle
~ "black leg" to calves. While there is
no other feed more wholesome and nu-
tritious than corp.fodder cut and cured
in the shock before frost touches it,
it becomes a dry, harsh, dangerous
food when lett standing to dry
by the frost and wind where il
grew.
Every farmer who raises calves-and
every farmer should rear all the ealve,
possible-should provide few acres o.
red clover hay for winter feed for them
Red clover hay, cut when the bloom ha,
begun to turn, and properly cured and
protected from the weather, is the mosl
wholesome coarse food that eau be pro-
vided for calves and sheep. 1t is almost
as cooling and grateful to the stomach
and bowels rs green grass.
Calves given one feed Of clover bay
daily with generous lick of meal com.
posed of half corn and halt oats or whea,
bran, would never be troubled with
"blsck leg" But it is less trouble Ia
feed prairie hay and dry corn stalks,
supplemented with hesvy doses of whole
corn, with the inevitable percentage OF
deaths from indigestion and "black
leg" though the more enlightened treat,
ment would prove The mole profitable
in the end --Kansss Farmer.