Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1878-09-12
A lCULTURAL.
CHICKEN CHOLERA.

Chicken cholera is a common dis
ease, more common in the South than
in the North, where it may depcpu'
late the poultry-yard in a few days
The experience therefore, Of Mr.. G
0. Brown, of Maryland, as given in
the American Farmer, may be useful
TO others: Immediately upon the
first evidence Of cholera's approach
which may be readily told by the
droppings--the morning feed should
BE- mixed as usual, but to the water
add enough Jamaica ginger to make
the water look blush or milky, and
then scald meal as usual. This will
Immediately check the disease. Pull
verified alum is also good mixed with
the feed. A lump of assafetida
should be kept in the drinking water
for day or two. Do not feed any
whole grains to the birds until you
are satisfied they have fully recov-
cred. One of the most excellent
things to keep fowls in health is feed
ing with their mixed food powdered
charcoal. An ear Of corn placed in
the oven until the kernels are charred
black they will devcur with avidity.
In hot weather see that they have
shade, and good, we'll ventilated hous-
es; observe these instructions, and
poultry diseases will be comparative
strangers among your hocks.
BEST BAIT FOR INsECTs.-M. 3.
Carriers has lately been trying
number of experiments on the best
bats for insect traps, and gives an ac-
count of them in, the Revue Horticole.
The results etfectually disprove the
truth of the old saying that we may
catch moro flies with a spoonful Of
honey than with a gallon of vinegar.
A number OF glass hy-traps, filled
with different liquids, sweet and sour
were placed under some fruit trees
which were subject to the attacks Of
flies and other insects. The traps
were baited with honey, weak wine
and water, beer and water, vinegar
and water, pure beer, pure wine,
crushed pears and water and other
liquids and the victims were counted
after the traps had been exposed for
three weeks, with the following re-.
suits: The trap containing beer and
water stood at the head, and con-
tained $50 flies and other insects
pure beer stood next, with 63l ; the
crushed pears, weak wine, and pure
wine coming next, pure honey at the
bottom of the poll, with only II suf-
ferers. No doubt the odor of the beer
and water, which was in a strong state
of fermentation, had a great deal to
do with attracting the insects.
SuEAR1NG SHEEP.-According to
an interesting paper by Professor
Freitag, of Halle, it is only since the
sixteenth century that the practice Of
sEearing sheep has been followed in
Germany. Previously to that date
the wool was separated by simply
plucking it out,-a process which was
found to be greatly facilitated by pen
ming up the sheep closely, and keep
ing them without food for few days
before the operation. This system
still EXISTS in some northern Europe
an countries; and the professor had
an opportunity OF personally witness
ing it during his late travels in GER.
tain parts Of Norway and Sweden.
and in Iceland and several other is.
lands. In these regions the short.
tailed sheep (ovis dorea1is), which
like other wild mountain races
changes its hair yearly, is the variety
chiefly kept; and tho fleece is plucked
off in June, after its bearer has been
submitted to few days starvation
The ordinary breeds of sheep met
with in most other countries do not
change their coat, as has been clearly
demonstrated by exhaustive experl.
ments. They have been left unshorn
for four, seven, and even eleven years
without any fresh growth being OBJ.
served, although the original coat con-
tinued to increase by simple prolonga'
ton OF the individual hairs. The rate
of growth is fastest during the first
three years of the sleeps life, after