smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

A man in Solano County, California,
beat his wife so numerically that she died
within a week. When the carriages and
hearse passed through the streets Of Knox
vile, he was shaking dice in saloon.
Some one remarked that it was his wife's
funeral, and be went to the door, lifted his
hat, and hurrahed. The greeting seemed
TO shock the sensitive public sentiment oi
the town. The brute was discovered the
next morning lying in the shallow water OF
the creek, with one or two bowlders on tor
of him.
Year: 1876

The steamship Egypt, which sailed
from this port for Liverpool on Satur-
day, carried one hundred and thirty
head of cattle in the shape of beef worth
ten thousand dollars. 1t ia expected to
place this beef in the London and Liv-
eTpoOl markets as fresh as when it left
here. 1t is carried in chest which is
divided into tight compartments. In
these compartments the quarters of beef,
sewed up in canvas, are hung distance
of one foot from each other. Several
tons of ice are placed in receptacle at
one end Of the chest, and stream OF air
forced over it continually and kept in
circulation around the beef by an en-
CINE. While awaiting shipment the
beef, as soon as it is dressed at the
slaughterhouse, is placed in q similar
ics.chest, 80 that by the time it is start
ed it is thoroughly "cured" after this
process, and becomes as hard and cold
IS IL frozen. This is the first shipment
OF beef in this manner, and should it be
successful, American beef can be placed
in the English markets at price twen-
ty.five per cent, below the English mar
ket rate.-Neo0 York Tribune.
Year: 1876

Governor Tilden hiss bonored a cor
Respondent Of the Cincinnati Enquirer
with an expression Of his views upon
The canvass. The summing up Of the
oOnvcrsation is iD these words: "There
is one thing 81 CT US es good Democrats
eau do, We can unite ia q vigorous
campaign against our common enemy.
We can all agree in our determination
TO rO5t ont the fraud and corruption and
dishonesty which we see daily exem-
plified in thst party. We may have our
different views on matters of policy or
finances and tbs Ike. You people in
Ohio may believe one way and we peo-
pie here in New York another. One is
as honest in his b lief as the other. But
the thing fer US sll to do now is 10 unite
and make cur battle on grounds on
which We can all agree, and then, after
We have won our victory over COM
mon enemy, is time enough to settle


ur differences among ourselves.n
Year: 1876

Paul Hanpt, of Denver, served
throughout the war without receiving a
wound. and when his regiment was sent
to Arizona he on one occasion fought
five Apaches single handed, killing three
of the number The other day he was
crushed to death between two blocks of
ice in an ice house.
Year: 1876

Meet me by gaslight alone sang a
Harlem swain beneath tie window of
his lady love. Now. you git out; I
amt no gas meter replied the gentle
creature throwing open the lattice. and
sending down the contents of the tea
kettle on his head.
Year: 1876

FIGHT.-There was a personal
encounter on the wharf yester-
day between boss logger and
one of his men, which resulted
in the boss getting badly pound
ed up and the man having his
head laid open by glancing
blow from "a shovel. The man
laid a complaint against the boss
before Justice Scott, and as a re-
suit both got fined S. and costs.
Year: 1876

The Pekin duck was first imported from
PCkin, China, in 1873 and again in 1875.
So far as the observation Of the three years
that they have been bred in this country can
60, there is no Improvement to be made upon
the Pekin ducks in size, beauty Of form. or
plumage. ln color they are pure white or
orange white; legs and bills bright orange
color. They are Il very hardy bird and are
more easily raised than other varieties the
eggs hatch in warm weather in about TWEEN.
ty-six days, coming out two or three days
sooner than other varieties. They are larger
aud stronger at birth, and after a week
with the hen can safely be put in Aocks Of
twelve or fifteen, aud with box or barrel
for shelter will take care of themselves.
They can be raised in any place where
chickens can be, aud do not need any more
water than enough to drink until two or
three months old A board foot high will
guard them, for they cannot fly, as they are
too heavy and their wings are short, owing
to their long domesticatiou. The Pekins are
excellent ioragers, and with good range in
any pasture they require but little feed to
keep them in good condition.


They arc remarkable for their thick, soft,
downy feathers; the ground is strewn with
them at every shedding and they can be
plucked as safely and their feathers econo.
mized as well as those OF geese. But the
qualities in which these ducks arc most
noted is their capacity to produce flesh and
eggs. They mature very early, take on
flesh very rapidly, and can be marketed in
July and August at high prices, Fourteen
to eighteen pounds to the pair are not unus-
ual weights during the first year, with out
extra fatting.


Last year one Of the imported birds laid
POI eggs, beginning the 9th of February
and laying more than six months, missing
only four days in the time. The Pekins
come as near being perpetual layers as any
of the gallinaceous breeds Of fowls; they
are of very quiet disposition after eating
they will sit down quietly, while other ducks
will keep travelling. They do not ramBle
and in fact they are the most profitable
breed of fowls ever raised. Since | have
raised them have had several persons say
to me, "WeIl, your gosings look fine this
year" "Yes; but those you are looking at
are ducks" After the observation aud ex.
perience of the past year think the Pckins
are fairly entitled to the front rank among
our useful aquatic fowls. Every farmer
should have them.


W. l.. SWEET
| 81. JohHsbury, Nor. %.
Year: 1876

Ice HOUsEs.-It is one of the easiest
things n the world to make an ice house
which will keep that useful and luxurious,
and for the dairy indispensable article
through the hot weather. Any sort of
frame and siding which will hold sawdust
firmly against the ice is all that is ecessary.
The bottom should be so made that the wat
er can drain off without admitting currents
Of air, and the roof which keeps out the
rain and breaks the rays of the sun is
enough. 1t is much better to locate it on
the north side of buildings or trees which
will afford shade. Of course it is we'll to
build substantial, permanent structure, but
there is no excuse for going without because
such building cannot be provided this sea.
son
Year: 1876

A distinguished gentleman of Boston,
dealer in wool, and high authority on all
questions respecting woods, prepared a cabi-
net Of every sort aud quality of wool grown
in all countries on the face of the earth for
exhibition at the Centennial Being desir-
Gus of placing the figure Of Merino sheep
on top Of his cabinet as an appropriate
GROWING piece and attraction, he applied
to an eminent Vermont breeder of Merinos
to furnish the same. The preparation and
mounting of the skin would cost forty dol.
lars. The Vermont breeder declined the
offer, but offered to furnish valuable ram,
to be used for the purpose. This offer was
gladly accepted, with the promise that the
breeders name should DO attached, and the
assurance that the exhibition to the whole
world Of this specimen of his skill in breed
ing would be of immense advantage. The
ram, selected for his fine, well. developed
form aud perfect fleece, was forwarded alive
to the wool man, with pleasant anticipatiOns
Of sales of sheep to result. When oul
sheep breeder came TO visit the exposition
he soon found the cabinet of wool and hi.
Merno ram. But what was his horror tC
discover that this sapent dealer and exper
had caused the fleece, either before or after
mounting, to be thoroughly washed Now
our wool.grower did not swear-he never
does. But he said it was the "awfulest look.
ing thing" he ever did see-loOked as if it
had just come out of the brook. lie tore
off his name from the thing and walket
| aWaV
Year: 1876

thick, and very thin layer of pulped roots,
then another layer Of cut fodder and thin
layer of pulpod roots, and so on to the
amount Of food required for days feed for
the stock. Let this lie in mass for IL 10 "a
hours, and it will commence a slight fer
mentation, and the flavor OF the roots will
be diffused through the mass, and the taste
of the whole will be very agreeable to the
animals. l have sometimes thought that
carrots or sweet beets used in this way are
worth as much in producing thrift in ami
mails as the same measure of corn. In this
case did not use more than four quarts OF
carrots to each animal per day +; even less
would do to simply flavor the food. When
| used roots to flavor straw alone for feed
ing, generally used also one pint Of oil
meal aud two quarts Of bran for each ami
NAL to make the straw equal to hay, and
upon this ration have found young cattle
and dry COWS to thrive fuely in winter.


Another way, and the one used by condi-
mental food compounders, is to clean the
carrots thoroughly, and then desiccate them,
or dry out the water, when they may be
ground or mixed with other materials in con-
dimental food There are many aromatic
roots and seeds, such as fenugreek, anise-
seed, fennel-seed, ginger, wntergreen, etc.,
which may be used as havoring material in
foods. These are aromatic, and when used
10 very small quantities, give delicate favor
and one not injurious to the animals, but
promotive of health and greater thrift by
improving the appetite aud the digestion
| have tested the last four and found the
food thus favored very agreeable to the ami
mails but have generally preferred to use
something which is a direct food in itself
There are enough of these to answer our pur-
pose in making an agreeable food for stock.
The reader will see how this can be varied
with the materials mentioned, using only what
is food in itself. Oil meal is an excellent
flavoring material, as well as one of the
most excellent foods. The American far
mer should use all that is made in this
country instead Of allowing two.thirds of il
to be exported. There are many more
points | might touch, and that, perhaps, will
arise in the minds Of the reader, but this
article is long enough already, and if fur
ther information is desired, must give it al
another time.
Year: 1876

The best way to keep cider sweet and re-
tain its perfect favor is to put il in clean
barrels When it begins to work draw il
of into other clean barrels, aud scald the
first ones. Let this process be repeated un.
ill the tendency to fermentation disappears,
then buug it up tight aud store in a cool
place, and you will have cider much nicer
than any in which the fermentation is check
ed by drugs or other foreign matter. 1t is
a healthy drink in spring, when the system
needs an acid and tonic.
Year: 1876

Rolling the soil with large roller, drawn
by team, is in many instances a good ac-
cessory to cultivation. BY its means the
following results are obtained


The soil at the surface is puverized with.
out the compacting Of the lower parts, the
area of contact being large and the stones
in the land are pressed down SO as to be out
of the way Of tho sOytho in moving,
The soil is compacted around seeds after
sowing in such manner as to exclude the
light and to touch them in every part, both
Of which are essential to the health of the
plants.


The soil is so compacted at the surface
that it is less frequented by grubs, ETC., than
when it is loose.


When the soil is smoothed in this manner,
there is less surface exposed for the evapo,
ration Of water with its cooling effect. Light,
sandy lands by being rolled in the fall are
rendered more compact, and the lOosening
effects of frequent freezing and thawing are
avoided


Although productive Of these effects, rCllng
should be adopted only with much care, aud
should never be applied to very heavy lands
except in dry weather when lumpy after
plowing, as in such cases it would ren
der them still more difficult Of cultivation
Soils in which air does not circulate freely
are not improved by rolling, as itpresses thu
surface particles still more closely together
aud prevents the admission Of the atmos
phere.


If well underdrained, large majority o
soils would doubtless be benefited by a ju
diciOus use of the roller, and think that
great improvement can be made in rollers b.
constructing them in sections thereby max
ing them easier in turning,


| should like to see the OPP ..on OF som
Of our practical farmers expressed on thi
subject, through the columns Of the FARMER


A. W. W,
PnsumBsis, NOT. H.


MI


-
Year: 1876

BREEDING uoRsEs.-Colman's Rural
World has this on horse breeding: The
stallion gives the general form to the off
spring, A close observer will pick out the
get of any stallion he is acquainted with in
miscellaneous collection, because they par
take so much Of his bodily characteristics
But this cannot be doue with the get OF a
dam, as a general rule. She controls to a
great extent the mental characteristics, the
temper and disposition, aud generally the
form Of the head and neck, even-but the
body patterns alter the sire. We have colts
with the head aud neck of the dam almost
precisely, and the body aud form of the sire
almost precisely, Even the name of some
resembles that of the dam, aud the tail and
its carriage that Of the sire. We know that
this is getting down to fine point, but we
are stating iacts-aud we ask breeders
whether their own observations do not sus.
tain our assertions.
Year: 1876

A successful cultivator of a fine quality
of tobacco in North Caroiaa states that he
gains eight per cent. in the weight Of his
crop by picking the leaves off the stalk be-
fore curing.
Year: 1876

As showing the high estination(?)
in which the Democracy of the North
is held by the Democracy of the South,
we quote the above as one of the pet
expressions of the latter when referring
to the former The Southern people
always claimed to be the "head and
brains'' of the Democratic party and
now in their disgust and contempt for
their Northern allies, who are ssinvinci-
BILE in peace and invisible in war;" they
style them the "rump Democratic
speaks!" The appropriateness of this
Characterization, as applied to the
Northern Democratic politicians, will
be seen at once. Our contemporary
occupies the same position to the
"rump'' that the cork does to the
bottle.
Year: 1876

A writer, who appears to know his bust.
ness, offers the following on training colts !:


A cool head, and calm and steady nerves,
with quick eye, will 60 far towards sue.
cess in conflicts with even the most irritat-
ing animals. Moreover, never forget that
the law if kindness stronger in its
influence on the animal creation than the
law OF force. Remember this also 4: do
not make much noise when having a con-
Aict with colt. Say little to him, and
nothing to any one else. Do not be shout.
ing. "Get up !" ""Whoa !" "Look out there !"
and the like. Silence is a great virtue in a
horse trainer. A low-voiced groom is worth
his weight in gold about the stables.


A horse cannot understand sounds like
human being and the less said to him, for
the most part, the better. A few sounde, of
course, are necessary the word "whoa" be-
ing one Of these. This word should mean
stop it should never mean anything else in
the colts ears. 1t should be pronounced
in q quick, sharp, imperative tone. 1t
should never be drawled out or prolonged
as if there were dozen as, instead of one,
after the o, as is often the case. Whoa
means stop and when colt hears it, he
should stop, and stop in his tracks too.


The method is simple. Put your bride
onto your colt, buckle in pair Of long lines,
and, taking position in the rear start him
again. After he has taken few steps, say
"Whoa !" at the same time give him slight
twitch on the bit sufficient to cause him to stop.
DO not be rude or harsh, but gentle and
firm. Start him now again, and repeat the
sound and the movement of the hand. The
colt will catch the idea, and learn what the
sound means. Then you can 60 on, and
teach him that it only means stop, but that
it means stop instantly. A few days of this
simple treatment will suffice to teach him
thoroughly the lesson, which, when well


learned, he never forgets, and the real value
of which can scarcely be over-estimatcd. Ii
the colt is worth $500 when broken in the
ordinary way, he is certainly worth 5000
when instructed fully in the manner here sci
forth, Any sensible man, in purchasing o
horse for family service or for fast driving
on the road, will gladly pay hundred dol
lars extra, if the breeder can show to hin
that the colt will stop short in his tracks al
the word for he sees that, amid even the
average risks and hazards Of driving, such Q
power over the animal may prove oil supreme
Importance.
Year: 1876

For two seasons past, much damage has re-


suited to the hay crop in central and SOUTH
ern Ohio, from the occurance Of showey
weather for several weeks at haying time. l
spent some days in Franklin and Delaware
counties early in the past month, when about
half the grass crop had been cut, but very
little of it had been secured owing to the fire.
qusnt rains; and yet there was little sun
shine almost every day, SO that farmers were
encouraged to persevere in their efforts, and
sometimes to start the moving machines again
after repeated losses and ddisappointments, only
to be caught again by damaging shower be-
fore the hay could be dried sufficient for get
ting into cocks or barn. think must have
seen not less than hundred acres of seeming
ly ruined hay, in drive Of twenty miles. In
some fields as much as FIVE or six acres might
be seen bleaching 10 the sunshine or soaking
in the rain, just as it was dropped by the ma
Year: 1876

Horse BLrNDERs-We never could see
what vice or deformity lay in horses eye
that should make it necessary to cover it up
and shut out its owner from at least two
thirds Of his rightful field of vision. The
poet says that old age looks backward, but
we never heard Of such an idiosyncrasy
charged upon horses. The theory that
horse is less apt to be frightened when shut
out from everything behind him we suspect
to be fallacy, else saddle horses and war
horses would be duly blinded. Every horse
is as familiar with his own carriage as with
his own TAIL and as far as his "personal"
iortitude is concerned, is no more disturbed
by being pursued by one than another. As
for other scarecrows that come behind, they
are mostly familiar to the animal, and the
more fully the horse can perceive them the
more quietly does he submit to their ap-
proach. Then it is such pity to cover up
one Of the most brilliant features of this
most brilliant creature. The horse has
borne such a hand in the civilization of this
rough and tumble world that it seems not so
much cruelty as a discourtesy as we'll as
disgrace to hide his form with cmbar-
RAISING toggery. No wonder we estimate
the force in the world as horse power; no
wonder the Romans and Germans, each
in their own language, designated their ar.


stocracy as riders; no wonder their de-
cendants made chivalry synonym for their
highest virtues. Let the horse be given his
due, and unblinded. The check-rein is an.
other nuisance in harness. ware which has al =
most entirely disappeared from England,
tho army having at last given it up by
order of the commander-in-chief, Sir George
Burgoyne. pap.
Year: 1876

The two varieties of red clover, large and
small, are extensively used both for soiling
aud grazing. Tho points which give them
preference with dairymen are, the large
amount Of nutritious feed they yield, the
rapidity with which their growth is renewed,
their ability to endure drOuth by reason of
their long fusilorm roots, and their we'll
known action as fertilizers. More butter
and cheese can be made from given area of
clover than Of grass, but the quality Of
neither will be as good as when made from
grass


1t is question that must be settled by
local circumstances, whether the smaller and
better product Is more or less profitable than
a larger and inferior one. Glover, in its
Year: 1876

A writer in the American Agriculturist
expresses surprise that Charles l.. Sharpless,
an eminent breeder of Jersey cattle, should
couple Dairy-maid, COW imported at great
cost, and which had been bred with extraor-
dinary care to retain with her solid colors,
great milk and butter qualities, with black
and white piebald bull, though IN form. milk
mirror and pedigree he was all that could be
desired. He hardly knows another breeder
in the country who would not condemn him
as a calf for his color alone Nevertheless
Mr.. Sharpless will sell his bull calves for
more than other breeders can get for their
heifer, and the butter record of his herd is
so high as to make it almost heresy to ques-
tion his judgement.
Year: 1876

REARING Calves WITHOUT MILK-An
English paper says: At the ordinary held
at Congleton on the recent fair day Mr..
Taylor, the landlord of the Lion aud Swan
Inn, explained to the company who were
principally farmers, very economical
method, as adopted by himself, of raising
calves without milk. Subjoined is Mr.. Tay-
lor's plan of operation Soon after a COW
calves some oatmeal is scalded, mixed with
common brown sugar, and made into balls
about the size Of hens egg, one or two Of
the balls being given three times day to
the calf, which sucks them and swallows them
greedily. After the first three days the calf
is fed by hand, and in small quantities, with
chopped hay mixed with the bran or barley
meal scalded. The calf, after few trials,
eats the mixture voraciously. After the
first three days, too, one quart of thin meal
cruel is given each calf. The young stock,
for which Mr.. Taylor obtains remarkably
good prices, feed better than those fed in the
old way; no noise or bleating is heard among
them. They are free from sickness and
swelling. They grow rapidly and are soon
turned out to grass. Mr.. Tailor stated that
he had reared twelve calves each year for
the last three years in this manner, thus ef-
fecting larger saving Of milk, which. as he
had two or three cows only, was all required
for the use of his hotel, while the plan only
involved him in little extra trouble for the
first first few days.
Year: 1876

FooT RoT.-A correspondent of the North
British AgricuIturist who appears to have
experience with the disease writes The
only preventive and perfect cure known to
me is dip in solution of arsenic. At
first my reason for dipping with arsenic was
to destroy the parasites which are so injuri-
GUS to sheep At that time l dipped in
October or November at length | found
September more suitable time, at which
time foot-rot, as formerly stated, is very prev.
alent. observed that in about two or
three weeks after dipping, the cases of foot
rot were comparatively few in number. l
now dip, if weather permits, about the end
Of FEBRUARY, which | find to be the most suit.
able time for the destruction of the parasites,
and at the same time for the prevention of
foot-rot. So perfect is the preventive and
cure that in October now dispose of my
draft ewes almost free from the disease
AS to murrain or toot.and. mouth, L have
not seen much OF it, but what l have seen
leads me to infer that it is an epidemic of
kind analogous to scarlet fever or small
pox, or as it were, combination Of these, l
believe the whole system is affected in the
samo manner as the foot and mouth, only it
is more apparent in these parts. In case
of small pox. for example, very severe pain
is experienced in the feet, in consequ ence
Of the unyielding nature of the sole, the
covering of which must be thrown off, so
as to allow the inflammation to expand. In
like manner the hoof must break up in both
mouth and foot.rot.