Sacramento daily record-union., 1882-12-23
AGRICULTURAL MATTERS,


Of scale bugs and other fruit pests through
the medium of returned fruit boxes. The
plan is TO allow the boxes to go with the
fruit. Heretofore the growers were labor.
ing under the impression that by having
Their boxes returned to them they were
saving much expense, but it has been dis
covered that this is but poor economy, es-
pecially when taking into account the
great risk Of sowing broadcast through the
orchards the Larvae of orchard pests, by the
means of the use of the old boxes returned
from the San Francisco markets. An ex-
change, speaking in advocacy of ship
ping fruit in Lone but new boxes, Gays !:
.sTne orchardist is told that boxes
are returned free, but that it is fallacy
which must be seen at a glance. Railroad
and steamboat companies cannot afford to
handle boxes by the thousands free of cost.
Instead of charging, say six cents for full
and four cents for empty boxes, they
charge ten cents one way and return free.
Truckmen in the city charge enough for
the full boxes to cover the expense of the
empties, and as quite percentage is never
returned they are that much ahead. The
commission merchant can afford to handle
the goods at less figures if he does not have
bio obOas Tue uDASS III,
sorting and mailing into packages. So ii
will be seen that the full price for new
boxes is paid out for the return of the old
and battered and oftentimes worthless
ones. ."-[Petaluma Argus, November 18th.
DANGER OF REMOVING CATTLE TO HoI
CLIMATES In view of the that cattle are
frequently imported to this coast from
comparatively cold climates. the following
| instructions taken from the Planters Jour.
nal, Nicksburg Miss., may prove interest.
ing and useful at is never safe to send
an animal of the bovine species which is
over one year old from hot climate. II
should always be in thin condition, and
shipped the latter part Of autumn, yhen
the weather will be the coolest on it's ar.
rival at the port of destination, and as the
following spring opens, it will get gradu
ally accustomed to the heat. An imported
animal should be put, Immediately on ar.
rival, into roomy, well ventilated stable,
SO dark as to be protected from annoy.
ing insects. 1. ought never to be exposed
to hot sun by day, or to dews at night,
| for the latter are often as Injurious as to
the former. 1t should be watered from o
pure source all it will drink five times a
day, and only be moderately fed. 1t might
| be taken out for exercise for half an hour
or more just before sundown, and again be.
fore sunrise. Rock salt should be con.
stantly kept in its feed box, for it to lick
at pleasure, and a half to full, heaped
tablespoonful OF sulphur, according to size
and age, and twice as much pure wood
ashes given it, once or twice a week. II
| these last two be mixed with little bran
or meal, the animal will take them readi
ly."
HEREFoRDs ON THE RANGE. The Here.
ford breed of cattle is rapidly coming into
favor in the coast districts of this colony
In our last issue we noticed the arrival o.
fifty heifers from. the celebrated local herd
to form the nucleus of pure herd at Du
rundur. These will be followed in the
course Of few months by one of the best
BULLS now in use at local to preside ovel
this newly formed stud here. For ter
years past the Durundur herd has beer
gradually undergoing change from Short
horn to Herefords, and so far, in the opin
ion OF the owners, the change has been 6
most jldicious one. At Cressbrook, where
they have been tried alongside one of the
best Short-horn herds in the colony
it is reported that they hold their owr
well. At Gracemere, where they are
also kept side by side with frat. clss:
Short-horns, Mr.. William Archer gave il
as his experience OF them that they main
tain their condition in seasons of severity
when the Short-horns were "curled up. ,
For many years Mr.. Elliot has had Here.
ford herd at Undully in the Logan district.
and as butchers cattle this herd is said to
be equal to any in the district. In the far
north large herd has been established in
the Kennedy district, the owners believing
that they thrive and fatten better than the
Darhams. 1t has been the opinion of many
that they are not SO suitable TO the inland
districts az the Durhams but here again
the opinion of the NJ sssrs. Wyndham, who
have long experience of the breed or
Winton run, in the southwest of Darlipe
Downs, Is IN direct opposition to this. Tht
first cross between Hereford and Durham
has been found TO produce an exceedingly
valuable beast for the butcher.-TQ leens
lander.
STRAW IN PLACE OF HAY.-Colonel F,
D. Curtis has been experimenting in feed
ing farm animals upon straw in place o.
more costly hay, and finds profit in it,
provided a suitable amount of grain be
| given with the straw. Last winter he
found himself short of hay but with plenty
OF straw, and he gives in the New York
Tribune his experience in substituting the
cheaper for the dearer fodder. The straw
was fed chiefly in cold weather, as the ami.
mails had better appetite then than after
the weather became warm in spring.
horse ate 81 cents worth of meal and &C
cents worth of straw in seven days, THAT
would have eaten two dollars worth oil
hay in the came time, il hay alone had
been his food, thus making saving OF
more than one-fourth. Mich cows,
working oxen and young cattle all did
well with straw and corn fodder as par,
OF their ration. The butter made was oi
excellent quality and the milk yield highly
satisfactory. He found that bright straw
for horses driven on the road is superior to
hay, as they will not go readily overfill
themselves as with hay. Plenty of grain
must be given with straw to animals al
hard work. He believes that farmers can
afford to sell a portion of their hay, and
then purchase grain to feed with their
straw and make profit by exchange. II
is 10 new thing to feed straw in winter tc
farm animals, but it was not till such ex,
perimenters as Professor Sanborn and the
1 ~ ohOWCu Vic
of the prartice that the farmers have fel,
free to adopt it as sound policy.
THE MANcHAMP SHEEP.-La BGssa.
Cour, the acknowledged live stock journal
of France, in recent number contained
the following interesting account of the
Manchamps," among the most prized
wool sheep of that country: "The fine
ovine breed Of Manchamps, remarkable fo,
the long silky wool of its subjects, is one o
the triumphs of French breeding. Thi,
variety was obtained from single pupy,
ill.shaped male sheep. When this anima
was examined, it was found that, though
badly shaped, it had excellent wool
smooth, long and silky as beast could de-
sire. The farmer who owned the creature.
being master of his art, understood
the Importance of the occasion, and
knew that his fortune was made if only
the lamb lived and was used to the
best advantage. The name of this far.
mer was Nj. Graux. The problem was
how to borrow his useful qualities to trans.
NIT them to the entire flock, and make the
exception which he presented the rule and
the characteristic of new breed. When
the animal had attained q suitable ace he