Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1893-07-07

There are some farm hands who. APP
parently possessing less sense than the
animals themselves, try to accomplish
by brute force what little persuasion
would do far more effectively. have
seen this more clearly exempl1tied IN
teaching a calf to drink than IN any
thing else. The mehod of a hired man
/ have in mind was to seize the animal
in both his arms, straddle bis body,
holding the head of the creature be-
tween his legs as If 1t were IN wise,
and with two fingers thrust as far
down the Calls throat as he possibly
could get them, and the forefnger and
thumb pushed up its nostrils TO their
full length, endeavor, by all the brute
strength that he possessed, to force
the animals head into the milk pail,
until the perspiration was pouring
down his bronzed cheeks, and IN this
way try to compel the creature to
drink. Naturally, any animal would
resent such treatment. The calf Will
not be coerced into doing anything
against its will. It often occurred to
me that if the person adopting such
"CIAOo pdu5C % @AUI4C A1A LIE
work, and think how he would like to
see a mother using her infant child in
like manner that Is, If 1t refused to
drink out of natures usual course, and
she were to use all the animal force at
her command to make it drink, he
would be more gentle in his efforts.
A plan which I have successfully
used, and seen others use with the
same effect, was to get astride the
animal, exercise little persuasion to
bring the calf to the milk bucket,
then. taking hold of its head gently,
place two fingers in its mouth, turning
them slightly upwards, and leaving an
open space between them. If the calf
will not bend its head, draw the pail
towards the calf, let it taste the milk,
and it will commence sucking. Now
gradually remove the fingers, and the
young animal will continue drinking
for moment, until it suddenly re-
members that it ought to have some
thing in it's mouth besides the milk,
and will follow your hand until these
improvised substitutes are again Sc
cured. By and by it will get accus-
toned to sip without any extra help,
and the work is satisfactorily accom-
plished. I have had q young calf
drink alone the first time / tried it, by
adopting the above method; and, to
show how the animal nature will be-
come Injured to anything, after the
calf had commenced to help himself,
no sooner did he see me come into the
l. ~x-1 h. he o.
placed himself in position between my
legs and slipped his daily rations.
Sometimes this was not agreeable,
when he would give me slight nudge
with his head, indicating that he was
not getting his food fast enough.
Speaking of this reminder in the shape
of gentle butt with his head, it seems
to me as though the mother COW often
times rebuked the little one for this
conduct. I have heard her give
peculia~ cry when this was being con-
tinued too strongly, as if to say ''be-
have yourself, when it Immediately
ceased.
AS to the milk to be given to suck
ing calf: For about week after the
animal had been taken from its
mother, gave it new milk; after that
| mixed little of this milk with about
two quarts of skinned milk, which we
brought back from the creamery, and
on this mixture had no difficulty in
raising the young stock up to the time
when no milk was necessary and grain
food was given-American Agricul-
turist.
FARM AND GARDEN NOTES.