New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1892-05-11
PERTAINING TO THE r. RM.
VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS CON
cERNING FARM WORK.
Grooming the Farm Horse Smut
IN Oats--A Barbarous Prao-
tice--Preventing Milk
Fever Other
Matters.
Grooming the Farm Horse.

In, that delightful book, Tom
Brown at Rugby" there is q little in.
cident which points a moral for all
owners of horses who fail to give them
the attention they ought to receive.
When Tom and his friend had res
cued Toms humble playmate from
the minions of the law, who were
after him for poaching the young
Convict though tagged out and
dripping wet from a long run in the.
rain, would not come in to his sup
per until he had thoroughly rubbed
down and cared for. the horse they
had brought with them. That was
the true spirit OF a horseman of one
who understood the needs of the
horse, and had the disposition and
force Of character to sacrifice his own
immediate comfort to minister to
them.
A man who owns a ten or twenty
thousand dollar race horse will5spare
no pains to keep his valuable beast
in the best possible condition. He is
provided with comfortable and even
elegant quarters, and his food and
exercise and grooming are as carefully
looked after as though he were a.
prince in disguise. Such care keeps
the horse in excellent condition,
ready at any time for the special
junction for which he has been trained.
Now, is there any real reason why
the farmers horses should not, in q
degree at least, be as well cared for as
the far less useful animals devoted to
racing and sport? 1t may be urged
that farmers haven't the time, and
when the days work is done are too
tired to attend to such trivial matters
as making the horses clean and tidy
by thorough grooming. But if it is
essential to the health and continued
value, it is not q trivial matter. 1t.
has an Important bearing on the pro-
fit the owner derives from them.
They last longer and are worth more
while they last.
Many farmers are simply thought
less OF the comfort and safety OF
their horses. They leave them un-
.blanketed in cold weather when heated
with exercise and neglect to groom
them carefully before and after the
labors Of the day. II these things oc-
Cured to them and they appreciated
their Importance they would find
time to attend to them. They abuse
their horses through mere needless
ness. Others simply don't care and
let their horses suffer because they are
too lazy or heartless to give attention
to their needs.
But such neglect, whatever the
source Of it, shows the lack OF a real
affection for the horse, of the COM
radeship with him which made tom
Browns" humble friend forget him
self till he had cared for the dumb
creature which could not care for it
self.
IF farmers would devote little more
time to the grooming Of their work
horses the effect on the appearance
and condition OF the animals would
speedily Indicate it's value. A horses
skin is very sensitive, and thorough
work with the curry comb and brush,
with frequent washing Of the legs to
keep them clean, makes q vast differ
ence in his comfort and health.
Horses that are put into the stable
reeking with sweat and with legs COW
cred with mud do not rest as we'll and
are more liable to take cold or con-
tract some other ailment than when
they are well rubbed down and made
as comfortable as possible.
1t is an old. true saying that S'the
merciful man is merciful to his beast. ;"
But, Judged by their treatment of their
faithful useful work horses, how
many American farmers can be in
Guided iii the category?
Smut in Oats.
Our experiment stations are getting
down to work OF practical value to
the farmer. DIR. Arthur Of the Indiana
station has made study of7smut in
oats, and his conclusions are thus
summarized:
1.-The annual loss on account Of
smut in the oat crop in Indiana is
very considerable, varying from $780,
900 to $1,oOo,OoO year.
2. The occurrence Of smut in oats
may be completely prevented at little
trouble.and expense, and by means
entirely within the reach OF every
farmer.
3 Prevention is effected by treating
She seed oats in such q manner that
all adhering spores Of the smrft are
killed without killing the seed
4. The recently discovered hot wa
ter method oftreatmentisr ecommend-
ed as much superior to the copper
sulphate method heretofore recon-
mended.
5. The hot water method consists
in immersing the seed grain for five
minutes in hot water standing at first
1852 to l45o r., which may drop
during the operation to 1902 or may
fall even below 1909 if the time is cor
respondingly prolonged.
s. After drying by spreading upon
a floor, the seed may be sown immedi-
&