Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-07
FARM AND ORCHARD.
UTILITY OF ANIMALS FOR ALL PUR
POSES ON THE FARM.
Interesting and Useful Poultry Notes
Peppermint Oil-Duck Culture
General Farm Notes.

1t has long been the desire of some
breeders to produce animals from all
classes of stock that are adapted for every
purpose on the farm. They have sue
ceeded in producing many animals that
excel in certain characteristics, but as vet
no animal combines within itself all the
traits and merits that make the perfect
animal. The breeder who attempts to
merge all the breeds into one must con.
tend with nature to an extent that renders
his task one of the most difficult vet en-.
countered; and, though all efforts at i'm
provement are worthy of encouragement
it is doubtful if the attempt to create an
all-purpose animal will be rewarded with
the appreciation of the farming class il
general, as such efforts rather lessen
the work OF improving the separate breeds
by directing breeding into improbable
channels.
a general-purpose animal must grow
rapidly, mature early, produce abundantly,
and adapt itself to all climates and condi-
tions. That an animal possessing such
qualifications cannot be obtained is made
PLAIN by the fact that in order to develop
a breed in one direction some sacrifice
must be made in another, and it is that
great drawback which constantly presents
itself as barrier. Nearly all of the i'm
proved breeds have attained their excel
lence for the purposes desired by sacrifc-
ing qualities found in other breeds, and to
endeavor 10 again improve them in that
which has been yielded up for generations
in the past is to detract from the dominant
talent which it inherits by virtue of long
and persistent adherence to certain lines
Of selection and breeding, loss that
breeders will not willingly endure. Gil
matte influences also largely interfere 10
prevent the consummation of the object.
and productions of the soil are too varied
according to section) TO permit of the
introduction of an animal adapted to
winter, summer, hillsides full pastures.
shelter, exposure and other variations.
The past teaches that multiplication
OF breeds has resulted more fayorably than
when but few improved breeds were
known. In considering cattle it is found
that the breeders produced the beef,pro-
ducing breeds, such as the Herefords.
Shorthorns, Galloways and Angus. bv TO-
noring all other qualifications, while the
great milk-producing breeds, such as the
Holsteins, Ayrshires and Kerry, have not
been given much attention as beef-pro.
ducers. Occasionally an animal will be
found that combines large size, hardness.
production and butter-yielding to a
large degree, especially among the Hol-
stems, but the breeders of such cattle do
not attempt to select them as beef pro-
ducers, preferring 10 breed them for the
| production of milk and butter. The .Jer-
seys have been bred almost exclusively as
| butter producers, but at sacrifice of size.
To attempt to infuse new blood into them
by resorting to other breeds would prob
ably destroy the efforts and labors of
years. A general-purpose animal must be
capable of living on a coarse diet if re-
quired and rival the scrub in hardness. as
well as keep fully up to the standard of all
other requirements. With the many
breeds from which to select the farmer is
more fortunate, as he can take his choice
and secure that which he desires. Phda.
delphia Record
| PEPPERMINT OIL.
| For the information of those who wish
to experiment with the growing of pepper
mint for the making of oil, the following
| simple directions will be found useful. Z he
only cultivation required is to keep the
ground free from weeds. A field Yields
two crops. The sets, or parts of old plants.
are planted in April and May, in rows two
feet apart, and they grow two feet high.
The harvesting is done in August, and the
cto l-c
lowed to stay IN the sun for some hours, as
the oil Is more easily extracted when the
plants are wilted. A wooden vat hooped
with iron makes the still, which is four
feet deep and six in diameter. Into this
the mint is pressed, and steam is forced
into it, while the vapor is condensed, as in
any still. The mixed oil and water is col
lected, then separated, the oil being placed
IN tin cans. All the waste is fed to the
cattle. The oil is worth from So to S. a
pound. The making of peppermint oil is
one of the leading industries of Wayne
county, \. Y. 1t is profitable business,
and some enterprising Californian should
start the ball rolling by giving it trial.
California Fruit Grower.
DUCK CULTURE.
Mrs. E. H. Freeman, writing from Santa
Clara to the California Cackler says:
thought, perhaps, you would like to
know how Mrs. May Taylor manages her
ducks, and send you an extract from a re-
cent letter from her. She says; II find
them little trouble to raise, as they have
no lice and no disease. While small they
must be kept where rats cannot get at
them. Feed all they can eat of everything
they like. Ny ducks run on the grass and
help themselves, so l am not troubled
about that. manage them much the
same as | do little chickens. Little ducks
cannot stand cold rain. They are as
easiely drowned as little chickens, but
very often when you think they are dead,
if put near the fire and rubbed dry they
will be all right in few minutes.
Grown ducks shed all their feathers
once year, but about every FIVE weeks the
year round they lose the feathers from
breast and back, and ought to be picked.
They are just right to pick when the
feathers come off freely and the quilts ends
are oily. If the quill end is soft and little
particles of blood in them, the feathers are
not ripe yet, and should be left a few DAYS
longer. 1t is almost impossible to pick
a fat duck and not tear the skin, but all
such places heal readily, and need give no
anxiety"
thought | would inquire the price of
feathers in Santa Clara, and find them
worth 81 per pound. A pair of common
pillows cost IS. | think it would be a
good plan for young people with more time
than money to invest in few ducks and
go to picking.
POTATOES ON SANDY SOIL.
Thirty or forty years ago potatoes grown
ON sandy soil were reekoned the best, and
it was thought that heavier lands were un-
suited to them. But potatoes on sand soon
run out, probably from deficiency of potash.
and the bulk of the crop for market is now
!