The National tribune., 1890-09-25
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
FAT IN MILK.

--A-~-
FAT'IN MILK.
II Is the fat in the milk from which butter
is made, and if the dairyman had any means of
determining tho amount of fat in o certain
amount of milk he would be able to use his
richest milk for that purpose. An experiment
to determine the amount of fat in milk, tried
by DR.. s. M. BabcOck, of tho Agricultural
Experiment Station of the University of Wis
consin, will doubtless be interesting to our
readers, rs 1t appears to be simple, and is
claimed to be accurate and economical. Briefly
described, the method Is as follows:
A carefully measured sample Of milk is
placed in test-bottle having a long, narrow
neck. Next an equal volume of sulphuric acid
is added, and the bottle is placed in O wheel,
| which is rovolved horizontally from 600 to 800
times per minute for about six minutes. At
the end Of this time the fat of the milk set free
by the acid has risen to tho top of the liquid.
Hot. water is poured into the bottle partly fill
ing tho neck. Upon again whrling for a couple
of minutes, the fat will rise through the water
into the neck in n long column where it is
easily read off by graduations on the neck. BY
this method the fat in skim milk buttermilk,
whey, cream, and even cheeze can be deter
mined. This gives the factoryman means Of
watching his separator and churn to detect
losses heretofore realized, but not accurately
located. After the frst cost of the apparatus
the expenses Of tho test are small, the acid
being the only item aside from the time re-
quired; pound of acid, costing from two to
four cents will make IA tests. DIR. Babcock
states that after the samples have been meas
| ured out, 60 tests can be made and the bottles
cleaned in two hours. The method is not pat
ented. We hope TO sec this bulletin in tho
hands of every dairyman, as it is sent free to
all who ask for it.
soAB IN SHEEP.
Scab is one Of tho most terrible diseases OF
sheep in this country, being very contagious
very rapid in its effects, and very difficult TO
eXterminate. 1t is most fatal to the young the
weak, the closely inbred. and those that are
poorly sheltered; and to such animals death
may como in two or three months. Other
sources of loss are tho decrease in the value Of
tho mutton, aud in that of the wool of the first
shearing after recovery and tho fewness and
fceblenoss Of the lambs from diseased ewes
A full treatise this subject is given in the
report OF tho Bureau Of Animal Industry from
which We extract this account, as we believe
that every farmer who keeps sheep should be
perfectly familiar with the disease. The dis
ease is caused by an insect known as the scab
mite or itch insect. When the sheep show, by
scratching, biting and rubbing themselves, that
they are suffering from itch the SIX in should be
examined. and If infected it will show small
elevations sightly whittier or yellowcr than
the surrounding skin, and the insects can be
found among the hairs. The scab insect is large
enough 10 be seen by the naked eye. II looks
like a little whito point with brownsh ex-
trcmity, aud If picked up with tho point of a
knife and placed on the hand 1t will lie seen to
move. As IL seeks the longest and thickest
wool, the disease Is most disastrous in Autumn
and Winter. The elevations increase in num-
Der aud size until they run together over n
considerable space and each Of them gives out
q watery fluid, which gradually dries into
yellowish greasy crust Under this tho insects
hide and produce their young; aud the itching
becomes 80 intense that the sheep by rubbing
tear out the crusts and with them tags of wool
The insects now como out upon tho surface
aud may be found Ia sgarms at the edge Of tho
thick scabs, which take place Of tho torn crusts,
thus spreading tho disease still further To
euro is difficult and expensive; 10 prevent is
very easy.
PTcvcntion.-The rleans ofpreYentiou will be
seen In the fact that Infection is carried In one
way only and that Is by tho insects passing in
| some means from sheep 10 sheep. The pieces of
scab and tags Of wool which the sheep have left
wherever they rubbed themselves carry the in
sects aud disease To other sheep rubbing on tho
| same posts and even to those walking over the
| same ground. Experiments have shown that
the insects can live Oh piece Of scab from 10
! to 20 days From tho foregoing il is evident
| that when gcab has appeared ia flock treat
ment must be applied to every sheep exposed
| To contagion that the flock should bo strictly
| quarantiued 10 prevent the disease from spread
| ing 10 other fiocks; that the sheds and yards
| where they have been kept should be thor
1 oughly cleansed, and that after cleansing the
yards should bo left vacant for three weeks
! The soil of tho yards should be carted away,
and all the wood work high "A mans head
should be washed with boiling lye and then
whitewashed.
| Dipping.-Dipplng for the cure Of scab should
come after shearing. and should be repeated in
| 10 days or two weeks, that the egga may be
| Matched and yet mono of tho young be old
enough 10 lay eggs The best temperature for
| the dip is from 1902 to 1l0o. Hold the sheep
| ia IL from 60 TO 80 seconds, rub the scabs with
a stiff brush, aud immerse tho head at least
| once. The Australian or Rutherford dip, which
| has been very successful in the hands of large
! hockmasters, Is composed as follows: Tobacco
| and flowers OF su phur one pound each To every
four gallons OF water. Steep the tobacco in "a por-
tion OF tho water; mix tho sulphur with some
| OF the tobacco water to the thickness of cream
| then add the rest OF the water. Stir constantly
during the dipping. Stephen Powers gives the
| following: To every 100 gallons of water use
| 35 pounds Of good. strong tobacco (if stems are
| used there should be more and 0pouuds flowers
| of sulphur Laws recipe Is a very good one
Tobacco. l6 pounds oil of tar. three pints; soda
ash 20 pounds; soft soap, four pounds; water,
| 80 gallons. Dips containing limo apt TO in
juTe the wool, and arsencal dips are often fatal
to the sheep. Probably tobacco and sulphur
form the best combination known for the treat
| ment of scab.
WHEAT RUST.
| Tho wheat rust has ruined many crops in
different parts of tho country this year. and il
| will continue to DO so until the farmer learns
| enough about IL to prevent It's ravages The
| fertilizers applied To the wheat often Is the
| beginning of this disease. Grain of any kind
that has been fertilized with minerals is much
| less likely TO rust than that manured with
mainly carbonaceous fertilizers. Often, how.
ever docs rich stable manure mako Il splendid
crop Of grain, while manure made from straw
which Is mainly caTb0naceous, will make weak
straw and shrunken wheat. The explanation
given for this is that rich manure helps to make
soluble potash in the soil while poor manure is
not strong enough to do so, so that by adding
a dressing Of manure from grain fed horses
may have the effect Of dressing of potash moi
directly supplying this mineral, but only lib
Grating what was all ready in the soil in an in,
soluable condition.
NOTES.
The article in this weeks paper on "Seab In
Sheep Is printed by request of several sub