Gilpin observer., 1906-10-11
TRAINING BUFFALUEs.
t6r. Baynes Meets Difficulties In Ex-
periments With Calves.

6oyne8 mGGtb xxs
perfments With Calves.
The domestication of the buffalo has
Its exciting moments, as Ernest Harold
Baynes, the secretary Of the American
Bison society, discovered when he at
tempted it. One Of the reasons which
Mr.. Baynes advances why the buffalo
should be preserved is its usefulness.
Not only is the animal a source Of eX-
cellent meat and of articles of raiment,
but he believes that 1t would make
desirable beast of burden. Before en-
gaging in the organization of the So
ciety he undertook to demonstrate this
to himself. He determined not only to
train buffaloes as draft animals, but to
secure a series of photographs illus
trating the process. The calves on
which the experiment was made were
secured from the fine herd OH the Cor
bin estate, which is only few miles
from Mr.. Baynes' home in New Hamp-
shire.
One of the things which Mr.. Baynes
discovered early was that buffalo moth
ers, much like other four footed moth
ers, dislike any interference with their
offspring Mr.. Baynes proposed to pho
tograph the calves which were to be
the subjects of his experiment just aft
er they were born. The picture most
distinctly photographed upon his retina
when he attempted to secure his pho
tographs was the image of great
body charging toward him. with head
down and stubby tail aloft, twitching
with excitement The camera was
smashed.
The transfer of the four calves from
the Corbn estate to Meriden, Mr..
Baynes' home, fifteen miles over the
mountains, was productive of a series
Of buttlng contests. The calves were
to be transported in crates, two in
each. The first match was with the
men engaged In Grating them. Each
man in turn was bowled over by the
young but energetic things before they
were inclosed between the Stats Of the
crates. The second contest was be-
tween the two occupants In each crate.
AS soon as the second calf had been
put in the two fell to butting each other
energetically. The calves reached Mr..
Baynes' home at o o'clock at night.
The crates were opened by lantern light
in barn in which n thirty foot pen
had been built. The calves shot out as
II fired from a gun and Immediately
began buttiEg their shadows on the
sides of the pen and their -neighbors
from the other crate. The light in the
lantern was Intentionally extlngulshed.
and Mr.. Baynes entered the pen to
make friends with his new charges.
He groped about in the momentary
quietness for one Of the calves, but one
of them found him first. Then all the
others got his range, and he retreated,
but not without losing his equilibrium.
When Mr.. Baynes appeared with bot
ties Of milk, as he did at frequent IN
tervals in the succeeding days. for the
calves were only three weeks old when
he got them. they again butted him.
not as an enemy, but simply for pure
joy.
In course Of time they were fitted
with halters, then with yokes, and at
the age of four months a pair of them
were hitched to heavy stoneboat and
driven for five miles by means of reins
and ordinary pony bits. This pair was
finally put into harness and driven to
a stoutly constructed cart. When be-
tween FIVE and six months old the team
was exhibited at a New Hampshire ag-
ricultural fair. where 1t created a SEN
sation by the speed 1t displayed on the
track. Mr.. Baynes believes from his
experiments that when buffaloes are
once broken they will prove faster.
stronger and of greater endurance than
oxen.-New York Tribune