Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-04-16
THE FARM AND GARDEN.
Selecting Seed..Late Milking Cause Of
Abortion..Catt Gad.Fly..The Dear
Batter.

SELECTING SEED.-Ii is custom am ong
most farmers to discard the kernels
from the butt and tip ends of an ear OF
corn, and to favor the seed-end of a
potato. In direct opposition to this
practice, we clip the following from the
New England Farmer: According to an
experiment made with potatoes and
corn last season by Mr.. S. B. West, Of
Columbia, Conn, and reported in the
Ohio Farmer by William II. Yeomaus,
the butt ends OF potatoes, and the kerr
nels of corn from the butt ends of the
ears, each produced crops that were
materially better than where the oppos-
lite course was pursued. In the case OF
potato, the stalks from the butt ends
were much the larger and more for
ward at the first hoelng. The increase
in the corn was some 20 per cent. in ia
vor of the bait end kernels. OF course,
repeated experiments are needed to set
tie question of this character. One
experiment does not go tar toward
proving anything, but we have read ac-
counts recently of a number of just
such experiments, all of which corrobo-
too. The butt end grains are first
formed, and are fully matured sooner
than the tip ends; why, then, should
they not produce more and earlier?
LATE MILKING A CAUSE OF ABORTION.
"A medical gentleman, writing to the
Rural NeW- Yorker, thinks that he has
discovered one cause of abortion in
cows. He says: The last number of the
Rural was received by this mornings
mail. In perusing it find an article
on abortion in Cows, "a matter of
great importance to stock-ralsers and
dairymen. On this subject | would
like to give an opinion, however little
it may be worth. Several years ago
was IN Herklmer county, New York,
when dairymen were suffering serious
loss by the trouble above referred to-,
and could discover no cause or remedy.
| visited and examined Il number OF
stables, made many inquiries, and
formed an opinion, and told the dairy
men how believed it could be avoided.
The COWS had been well fed, and were
in good condition. The water furnished
them was the best we'll or spring water
They were well cared for,-only large
numbers were stabbed in we'll and
closely. built barns. But | found that
the COWS were MIXED very late before
calving; and reasoned that, no mat
ter how well COWS are fed or kept, sGf-
ticient nutrment could not be supplied
to nourish the futus and furnish mix
at the same time. Acting on this hint
the trouble was stopped. While the
statements made by the RuraIs CORE
spondent may have weight, and may
be true, none Of the conditions he men
tious were found in the region refer
p. We presume that this subject has
oeen fully discussed before by dairy
mems associations, but we have never
before seen the idea so tersely stated.
CATTLE GADFLY.-One of the pests
Of neat-cattle, especially where they
are not well cared for is this fly. We
recently noticed hide with over fifty
holes in it caused by this insect. The
hide was almost worthless; but what
must have been the misery endured by
the poor, tortured animal that owned
the hide? We have seldom found the
grubs in fat cattle, but they doubtless
exist to some extent. The presence of
the grub may be known by slight swell
ings along the back of the animal. The
New York Times says: These contain
each one grub, which is the larva of
E,trus bowls, the cattle gad-fly. This
fly is something similar in shape to a
bee, and worries cattle in August and
September by singing them along the
NJ InnnSittlu ~ clyy
The cattle have an instructive dread of
this fly, and endeavor to avoid it by
darling hither and thither furiously
when attacked by it.. This unwonted
exercise is great injury to milk
ing-cows, and in many cases is
undoubtedly the cause OF mysterious
Shrinkings milk. Besides this injury
the poor beasts suffer greatly from the
irritation caused by the presence Of the
grubs under the skim and, when these
are numerous, the animals may fall off
greatly in condition. There ia but little
difficulty in exterminating this pest, if
A concerted and general effort be made.
The grubs are now to be found lnhabit-
ing the tumors, ana in each swelling is
asmall hole through which the insect
breathes, while it subsists upon the pus
formed in the tumor in consequence of
OF It's irritating presence. BY gently
squeezing the swellings' the grub may
be dislodged and destroyed, and this
will put an end to it so far. If every
farmer or catte-owner in "A neighbour
hood would do this just now, the flies
would become practically extinct in that
locality, IT this is neglected the larva
will soon emerge Of its own accord from
It's hiding place and drop upon the
around form n n11na and in nrnnnr