Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-09-24
The Practical Farmers Club.

cloudy weather.
Either owing to the day or to the pleas
ant place of meeting, the members al
seemed to be in an exceptionally good
humor. Could the public have seen the
generous hospitality of the host and
hostess, the club would surely not be
charged with selishness.
Some people. in rather spirit of jeal-
ousy, have said. "If there is any good to
be gotten out of farmers club, why not
extend its influence that everybody may
be benefited ?" Well, in the first place
the number must be limited, for there
are but few farm houses where more
than about a dozen families could be
entertained. Again, in the discussions
nearly every member has something to
say, and if the company was large there
would be lack of time. There are town
ship and county clubs, but they have not
the social advantages secured by the
meeting of few families; besides ma
jority of people will not get up before a
public audience, while they are able te
say some most excellent things to few
listeners. Now, In Belmont county there
could be score or more clubs organized
composed of intelligent farmers and their
families, each club as successful as the
one above mentioned. Then at theiI
annual public meeting. number of clubs
could join together and have a much
better program than where one club as,
sumed the responsibility.
Among the visitors at Mr.. Hogues
were Mr.. and Mrs. j. W. Nichols, DIR
and Mrs. Isaac Hogue. Mrs. Eugene Wat.
SOD, Misses Osborne and Bentley, Mr.
Tomp. Dillon and Mr.. Armstrong; the
last named gentleman, we understand
contemplates joining the club. s..
While awaiting for some of the tardy
members. those present INDUCED in quite
an animated conversation on horticul-
ture. The subject was brought up BY
their observations at the different Fairs
some of the members having attended
the Ohio State Fair, others the West Va
Fair, while nearly all had attended tbs
County Fair.
The program of the day was opened
by the reading of appropriate selection;
by Mrs. Nichols, Mrs. Miner and Mrs
Sidebottom.
The topic for discussion, Diseases ant
Treatment of Domestic Stock" In the
care of stock Mr.. Lodge recommends
kindness, plenty of good food and pur;
water. Thinks impure water one of The
greatest causes of disease among domes
tic animals.
Mr.. Atkinson prefers to use the ounce
of prevention rather than the pound o1
cure. Men who have made the science
of medicine study often make mis-
takes; we farmers, who have never made
the subject a study, should be careful
how we administer drugs, if the cast
requires only use the mildest remedies
Gives cows small quantity of coppera:
in their feed to prevent milk fever. Al
this disease is most prevalent in warn
weather when milk producing food i:
abundant, the cow should be put OF
short pasture or kept on dry feed. Tht
udder should be kept free from milk
beginning some days before the COW
dropped her calf, milking as often a.
three times day. Give plenty of colo
water and keep out of the hot sun.
Mr.. Sidebottom thinks every farmer
should be provided with some reliable
book treating Of the diseases Of stock
has been very successful in treating sicl
animals.
Mr.. Pollock believes all diseases the
result of carelessness. Health is The
rule and disease the exception. By pro
viding good stabling and the proper foOt
all diseases may be avoided, unless it be
contagious diseases.
Mr.. Thompson is very much opposed
to doctoring, does not favor giving med.
icine to either man or beast; believes il
letting nature work out her own cure.
Mr.. Nichols, who has handled a great
deal of stock of all kinds, would give hi:
own experience. Where hogs could have
the run of grass fields, they were always
healthy; it was the heating quality oi
corn when fed alone that caused cholera
and other diseases. This was especially
the case with small pigs. Had saved the
lives of ten head of cattle by giving each
a spoonful of copperas; they had gotten
into the orchard and eaten an over feed
of apples, we're all down and unable tC
get up. When sheep are diseased and
poor, it is the best plan to kill them. The
hoof disease, In whatever stage it may
be, can be cured by the application Of
blue vitriol. Mr.. Nichols said about his
FIRST experience in the sheep business, be
purchased quite large lot of lambs of a
care for them. The reply was, "AIway,
have your sheep fat in the fall, and fat
the next summer" By following that
advice anybody could be successful.
J. W. Nichols intimated that he was
better posted, just at the present, in re
gard to doctoring babies, than in treat.
ing the diseases of farm stock. Thinks
disease is owing to ever feeding or under
feeding. Horses become diseased more
from bad usage thaR any other cause.
Mr.. Hogue thinks swine are more lia>
BILE to disease than other stock, and it is
because they have less variety in their
food than other animals. Disease is also
more prevalent in winter than in sum-
mer; this would be avoided by feeding
i