The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-01-13
ABANDONED PRACTICES.


A dozen years ago cooking food for
stock was tall the rage" Mr.. Clay, of
Kentucky, published the results of his
experiments in cooking food for horses,
I cattle and swine, which showed a net
gain of about so per cent, for the cook
/ ing process. On every fair ground there
was a very large display of apparatus for
I cooking food for animals. The columns
( Of newspapers circulating through the
country were filled with advertisements
I of steamers and boilers specially design
ed for cooking food for stock. Several
! firms and individuals became rich by
manufacturing these articles. Many
! farmers were not content to cook the
/ grain fed to hogs and cattle. They made
! arrangements to cook all the hay, straw
and corn fodder that were fed to them.
Mr.. Gideon Truesdall, of Kenosha.
Wis, built barn for the accommoda-
tion of the largest herd of dairy cows
IN the west, and cooked all the food for
/ them. His establishment was visited by
the members of the Northwestern dairy
mems assOciatian, and favorably report
ed on. Many thought that the time had
come when dairymen who did not cook
food for cows could not compete with
those who did. The same feeling exist
ed among swine raisers. Men of good
judgment declared that there was a pro-
hit in grinding and cooking grain for
cattle and hogs intended for the market.
even if farmer was obliged to haul his
corn ten miles to mill and to paw Sc
per ton for coal to cook it with In near
ly every large city were establishments
for cooking food for horses Just as
nearly as every person appeared to be
converted to the new gospel of stock
feeding, the practice suddenly stopped
,fY-r~s 81 ~ 4
ers and steamers for cooking food for
stock can be obtained for one-fourth
theiI original cost.
a rage for living fences was in its
height when the excitement in regard to
cooking food for stock commenced 1t
cost the farmers in each of the Western
states an immense sum, and few except
the growers and sellers of hedge stock
derived any benefit from it. One of the
finest blocks of buildings in this city. it
Is said, was erected from the profits of
selling the cuttings of the white willow
durlug a single season. One Of the best
country estates in the State is the result
OF speculating in Usage orange seed and
plants, Hedges were the subject of dis
cusslon at every agricultural convention
Books on hedging were published and
had very extensive sale, There was a
hedge department in every agricultural
magazine and newspaper. A large num-
Der of implements designed for setting
out, trimming and planting hedges were
patented and put on the market.
The trade in hedge plants was immense
and extended over every part of the
West. Farmers were advised to set out
and cultivate hedges, not only for pro-
lection against stock, but for wind
breaks aud for purposes of ornamcnta-
tIon. Most Of the Western States pa S. !
ed laws permitting farmers to set their
fences several feet into the tract occupied
by the road, so as to protect the hedges
that were on the line. a few States Of
fered premiums for hedges or granted q
1ehate on taxes in consideration of sup
porting hedges on farms. After thou
sands of miles of hedges had been plant
ed out and cultivated several seasons it /
was discovered that they only succeed
ed in few favored locations, and that
they were of doubtful economy any
where. During the past few years mile (
of hedge plants has been cut down or
rooted up where a rod has beeu planted.
1t is difficult now to find any one who !
will recommend hedge planting, even in /
localities where the plants have with /
stood the winters