The National tribune., 1885-01-15
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
TIE TREATMENT OF BULLS.

| whereas it is but the playfulness of youth
This is toned down by placing ring in tbs
nose of the bull. Whenever practicable-an
there are few cases where it is not so-bulls in
service should be kept in building where the
mich cows are kept. They thus become accus-
toned to the regular association with human
beings and as docile as are the COWS. Never
strike bull without reason; they have long
memories, and may retaliate when least ex-
pected. If disobedient, one quick stroke il
usually sufficient, and the animal knows the
reason for it. A whip is the best implement to
use in connection with bull
The best way to spoil bull is to keep him in
place by himself to feed him through trap
door, and never to bring him out except when
he is wanted for service. When so kept, the
getting him out is usually formidable affair,
So kept, he grows moody and savage, and it Ia
! to such bulls that we usually look for accidents
| The attendants should never display fear of q
bull. If the latter once perceveS that his at
tendant is afraid of him, and they are quick to
| see the signs the man should be replaced, or 1t
| is likely mischief will result, and the bull be
spoiled.
| Young bulls become playful when they sre
beginning to want service work. At this time,
| if you do not keep an eye upon them, they will
| land the attendant cropper when feeding, es-
| pecially if they think he is not quick enough
in supplying their food. For this foolish
| attendant will thrash the animal, and prob
| ably he viii take stick with him every time
thereafter that lie goes to feed it, and on every
| such occasion the bull will come in for few
| hard whacks This is just the way to spoil him
| for life fer he conceives such hatred of the
| human race that he is never afterwards safe.
The best cure is ring, and the putting in the
| L,,N l. IS,
| utes-London LiUe-Stock Journal.
MILKING IN WINTER TIME.
| The following humorous sketch on milking
we clip from the New York Times: You give
| each COW about half bushel of steaming hot
chopped feed" consisting of equal parts of
| hay and cornstalks, mixed with hot water and
sprinkled with meal. Then you sit down and
take advantage of her distraction in eating il
to milk her. If she were not eating she would
take too much interest in being MIXED, and,
perhaps, give you kick sideways that would
make you wish cows were born without legs,
ard had to be proPped across two carpenters
horses to be MIXED. You take q one-legged
stool and sit down close to the COW to milk her,
in such a position that she he's you at her
mercy. great many cows take an infinite
amount of pleasure in waiting until you have
got the pail full iof milk, and then pretending
they detect, at APPOINT within the line of direc-
ZION Ol lHo miAh pal4, Ny, WHICH III Is tuelE
bounded duty to feel Of with the hind foot
OF course that tips over the milk, and etiquet
demands upon such an occasion that you arise
with proiane ohiurgation, take your stool by
the leg and whack the cow across her south
end with it. 1t doesn't hurt the COW very
much, but it relieves your own conscience.
The meanest thing to do to cow however, is
to call her a gosh darned fool. That hurts her
feelings and makes her wish she had been
eaten when she was veal. Some cows are that
mean by nature that when you go to milk
them they hump their backs up and try to hold
the milk in. The proper thing to do in this
case is to give her thump in the middle Of
the back with your list. When you have done
it Just once you win realize that cows back
is shaped like the roof of a house, and that her
spinal column is the ridge pole, but your hand
will get well in a week or two, and you will
have the satisfaction of feeling that you know
more about bovine anatomy than you did
before you hit her. Experience is q great
teacher.
FODDER CUTTER AND GRAIN MILL.
A fodder cutter is one Of the most economical
machines that can be used on the farm. Il
saves both hay and fodder, and grain as well.
1t follows by implication that grain mill to
crush or grind the grain must be an equally
economical machine, and so it is. Where 500
bushels of grain are fed in year it will pay
to have grain mill, for the so bushels of mil
ler's toll saved will pay all the cost of mill in
five years or less, and the saving of time In
going to mill will also be great gain. The
cutting of the fodder viii save one third or
one-half of it, because straw and corn fodder
can be used as well as hay and without waste,
and the grinding of the grain will save one
third OF it. This is not theory, but actual
practice, for the writer, in feeding six oxen,
eight horses, and Is COWS, during a long Winter,
found by accurate account keeping that the
tEnf 60 s. IA- Il
grain the previous Winter, by cutting the hay
and grinding the grain, amounted to 16 tons of
hay, worth $500, and 600 bushels of grain,
worth $3.50. The saving bought o burr-stone
portable mill, large fodder cutter, and paid a
man whole year for cutting the feed and feed
ing the stock.
CARE OF SHEEP.
Nature has intended that all animals shall be
reared as nearly as possible in accordance with
her established laws, and any material depart
ure from their dictates eHgenderS a weakened
condition of the whole animal system, and so
yitiates the vital forces that their early decline
is assured. This is as well illustrated by the
crowding and undue development of stock
rams as by the careless and starvation policy of
some sheep men. Either is violation Of the
laws Of nature, and indicates lack of judg-
ment on the part of the breeder. Sheep re-
quire plenty of good, nourishing food, fresh
water and shelter from storms, and nothing
more. They require pampcriug, and de-
mand that they be not starved and neglected.
Either is bad and should be avoided. Breeders
should follow neither extreme, but adopt such
a system of feeding as will insure a healthy
flock,
MAPLE SUGAR ORCHARDS.
A Canadian farmer advises the planting of
maple-sugar orchards ON hillsides. He consid-
ers it matter of considerable profit. He
would not plant maple saplings dug from the
forest, but would raise seedlings. After the
Fall rains, small maple seedlings may be found
in any maple grove, and they may be pulled up
by the fingers. Hundreds can be collected in
an hour whore they are abundant. These little
seedlings may be transpianted to rich place
III the garden, two feet apart each way. In
three or four years these trees will be fit for
transplanting, and they will overtaks maple
saplings which are trapsplanted from the woods
when 10 feet high.
NoTELErs.
When the ground is frozen sufficiently hard
to allow wagons 60 go over it without cutting
up the ground haul out manure from your
stable on the grain sown in the Fall or on your
pasture land. 81
49, An excellent lubricant for wagons is palm
oil, which is thick and adhesive. 1t may be
improved by adding to it an equal weight Of
black lead and thoroughly mixing it. A very
small quantity may be used. For road wagons
and bEggies castor oil is an excellent lubricant
- For TN old sprain give the horse rest
fomcnt the part with hot water for few days
until the inflammation is reduced and them |