smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

Bots do not injure horses, but are ben
eft. IL is not unfrequent that l am called
upon to relieved some horse said to be
troubled with bots, but during my practice,
which has been nearly twenty years, | have
not found case where horse has suffered
any inconvenience from this harmless para.
site.


Tho masses have become honest in the
belief that their supposed destructive habits,
for the want of better knowledge of these
supposed habits and processes.


Veterinary science unfolds TO us that
nature has made this provision, and the only
provesion whereby the gad-Ay (aestrus equil
is gcrminated by and in the stomach of the
horse or those of his specia, the mule, Zebra,
Quagga, etc. What nature has made, she
has made perfect. l find no time in the
horses life when he is so healthy as when ho
runs to pasture. All horses that run in
pastures during autumn have bots, all colts
have them, and colthood is the healthiest
part of their lives.


The gad-Jfy is hatched and commences his
work about August lst


The female sticks the eggs with gluten
upon the forward limbs and shoulders Of the
horse he licks them off they come in con.
tact with the saliva Of the mouth, at which
instant they germinate into life. This is
shown by taking the egg between the thumb
and finger and applying warm spittle, and it
germinates at once. As soon as terminated
they seek some substance to which they can
attach themselves. They fud nothing until
they reach the stomach. Here they find
natures provision, the cuticular coat, which
occupies but small portion of the stomach,
that portion near the cardiac ori6ce. To the
cutlcular coat they attach themselves by two
hooks or PROCESSES, situated at the anterior
portion Of the bot; in this position they re.
main firmly until March or April, when they
mature in this larva state and let 90 their
hold and pass away with the excreta. AS
soon as voided they work their way under
some earthly substance or manure and
change to q chrysalis state. They remain
in this state until about the first of August,
when they break from their shell and come
forth male aud female gad-Ay, and 90
about their work laying their eggs. These
questions are often asked me, and their
answers may be of practical utility to many
farmers and horse owners. Does not the
bot bore or gnaw through the stomach of the
horse and thereby cause death? My answer
is, they do not As they have no organ by
which they can bore, neither do they have
teeth whereby they may gnaw! For the
coatings or membranes oil the stomach would
require teeth Of the carnivora to guaw
through them.


They have a mouth shaped for suction,
and sustain themselves by sucking the
mucous Of the stomach! The next question
in order is, "llow came the holes in the
stomach which we 50 often fnd when per-
forming autopsy ?" These holes are pro-
duced by the action of the gastric juice upon
the coatings of the stomach after death -
Cor Massachusetts PLown,an.
Year: 1876

A great diversity of opinion exists among
practical farmers as to the value of the sew
eral annual grasses commonly known as mil
let. This may be accounted for in part by
the character Of the soil where grown. All
the varieties Of milet are peculiarly adapted
to light, sandy, or sandy loan soils, such as
will produce full crops OF timothy and red.
top only under the most favorable circum.
stances. Land that is excellent for grass is
not the best for mlllet, and the best mllet
land is not natural grass land. Millet re.
sembles the corn plant in its adaptation to
warm land and hot weather, and for this
reason we should expect to find it more
popular crop on the dry, sandy land border
ing our seacOast than upon the moist, green
hill-tops Of Vermont, New Hampshire and
western Massachusetts. And this we find is
the case--many farmers in the interior hav-
ing scarcely ever seen a patch Of milet
growing. Profitable crops Of mllet presup.
poses land easily plowcd and capable of be-
ing smoothed of aud laid down with little
labor.


As a feeding crop for mich COWS we hold
it in higher estimation than when we COM
mcnced raising it, probably because it is now
grown more thicklY and cut earlier Form
erly it was thought that peck of seed was
enough for an acre. Then twelve quarts was
recommended next half bushel, aud so on,
till now we find the most successful growers
using from three to four pecks Of seed per
acre. This gives fine quality of hay, and
If the land is fertile, a heavy burthen may
bo obtained. When hrst introduced into
our own neighborhood, many years ago, mil.
let was recommended as specially valuable
for horses, yielding both the hay aud grain
on the same plant, and it was tried for this
purpose, but without giving satisfaction.
The straw was too hard and stiff and the
horses did not appear to relish it like good
timothy and oats. Most farmers ROW cut it,
or iutend to, when it is in blossom, and when
cut thus early they 6nd that II is eaten
readily by all kinds Of stock. Many even
contend that it is better than the best hay.
We cannot give it quite as high credit, but
esteem 1t very valuable plant with which
to supplement the grass crop in dry season,
like the present. From two to three tons
per acre can be obtained in from sixty to
seventy days from sowing, aud it may be
grown after an early crop of hay has been
removed .-Neao England Farmer.
Year: 1876

Few of us appear to to remember that the
effects of drought on trees may eliminate
a long time after the drought is past. The
follow ing, from the Germantown Telegraph,
is true:


1t is often thought that we are learning
from year to year but the conductor OF a
newspaper, beyond most others, knows how
knows how slowly tho world profits by the
labors of discoveries. From time to time,
however, We can refer to new matters in sea-
son, as the knowledge can be made avail able,
and in this way the newspaper can be the
teacher as we'll.


Amongthe knowledge gained 10 recent years
is the truth that the effects of a drought on
vegetation is not always Immediately appar.
ent. Trees, which seem to get through tho
summer struggle remarkably well, will often
live several years afterwards and yet die.
The reason Of this, divested Of all technical
language, is, that though not killed, the
vital condition is lowered, and thus dc.
gree Of cold, or any unfavorablo circum.
stances. which under ordinary conditions the
plant would easily resist, is too much for it
ana the tree dies.


We have had this season one Of the most
trying times in the drought line. Whole
forests 10 some parts, especially in the state
OF New York, have been destroyed; but
those which escape now are not safe, and
many will 60 in the winter, even though it
may be comparatively mild.


We may make use Of this knowledge
wherever we have particularly valuable trees
that it is worth while taking little trouble
to preserve. What is called life or the vital
principle in plants, is simply food changed
into that character, and thus by giving food
we strengthen life. Therefore, there is no
better way to help half-dried tree to get
through the winter than by giving it manure.
Spread thin around such trees as soon as may
be after reading this, 1t may seem tn at as
there will be no more leaf-growth or growth
Of branches this season, there will be no use
OF putting on manure now. But this is not
what experience teaches. 1t is found that
the roots are strengthened the whole vital
power increased by the top.dressings around
weak trees in the fall as we recon mend !;
aud as a great old farm-writer once said, a
grain Of practice is worth a ton Of theory
Evergreen hedges especially will be found
benefited by top.dressing of manure.
Year: 1876

A correspondent of the Mas sachusetts
Ploughman says;


Thinking perhaps some of the readers of
the Ploughman would like to learn of some
way of Kidding their trees Of this pest, we
send you remedies that have been tried and
are therefore safe and reliable.


First, to carefully examine the tree and
dig him out with the knife. Second, one
pound of sal soda dissolved in four quarts
of water, and this applied around the butt
of the tree. To be applied with brush at
the butt, four or five times year. One ap.
plication will remove the bark louise com.
pletely and give the tree beautiful appear.
ance. These we have tried aud know their
merits.


A practical nurseryman tells us that he
wraps piece of common brown paper five
or six times around the tree, extending from
the top root up the trunk of the tree about
six or eight inches, and fastens it with
stout string or tacks. He then paints this
paper with coal tar, One application will
do for two Or three years and will smother
the borer to death eventually. In applying
this remedy be careful and keep the tar
away from direct contact with the bark Of
the tree.


If ants work around the butt of the tree =,
put two tablespoonfuls of sulphur upon
them. This will in few days cause them
to leave, and is perfectly harmless TO the tree
itself. A quart or two Of wood ashes put
upon them will accomplish the same results.
Year: 1876

The Scientific Farmer some time AGO pub.
lished an article entitled Facts about the


Potato Beetle" which was extensively copied
by the press, and among others by the Scion-
tlhc American. Whereupon Prof. Riley
writes to that journal as follows:


Ii is not often that you are caught nap.
ping, and you are more apt to be caught
when lounging in the ield of natural history,
than in any other. In your issue of July
70, you copied an article from the Scientific
| Farmer entitled "Fucts about Potato Bee.
Ties" in which among the prominent state.
ments offered IS facts," we are told that
the potato beetle (by which of course is
meant the we'll known immigrant from Colo.
rado, and not any Of the other beetles that
affect that paut) does not fly till night and
does not eat. Both these statements are in
correct. The dorophra 10-lineata, like most
most of the species of its family, flies rapidly
IN the day time but not at night and il
feeds freely upon the various plants of the
pightshade family besides the potato, and
ssmetimes does considerable damage in the
spring long before the Larvae appears though
it is not as voracious as these and seldom
abounds on plant to the same extent.
Reasoning from his "facts," the writer Of the
article goes on to say that "any mode Of
destroying the beetle, practiced by the far.
mers here and there is only loss of time
therefore let the beetle alone"-
an erroneous deduction naturally following
following from the erroneous premise, aud
very unsound advice. 1t is in fact all i'm.
portant, from the practical view, to destroy
the first beetles and thus prevent the laying
OF eggs aud the subsequent injury /;
for while it is true that they may continue
to fly in from neighboriug fields, the fact
nevertheless remains that the more you kill
the less you have Many experienced far.
mers in this part of the country justly consider
the destruction Of the early beetles important
enough to warrant the laying of traps before
the the potatoes begin to put out of the
ground; and they do this by dipping slices
of the tuber in Paris green and laying them
about field where no domestic animal eau
get at them.


There are other errors in the article in
question, but of minor Importance. For in
stance, everyoRe who has had much expert
ence knows that the third or last brood of

beetles is fully developed and flies around
for weeks or even months before seeking
winter quarters, and that hibernate in the
perfect state, ready to awaken in the spring
and fly about again for few weeks before
procreating. The species is, also, northern
not southern, in habitat, and, while spreading
east along certain parallels. has not extended
SOUTH The talk, therefore about the insects
remaining dormant through the winter
merely because the temperature is too low
to perfect the insects" and about the proba.
bility that if they reach tropical climate,
their "transmigration transformation will
be uninterrupted misty" to say the
least. The hybernating state is induced not
alone by cold, and many insects prepare for
it and cease multiplying months before win.
ter sets in and the dOryphOra is one of them.
Year: 1876

WHEN AND How TO SALT MILCH Cows.
i would say that, until Ave or six years
ago, had the old-fashioned idea that to
throw COWS handful of salt once a week
along path in pasture, was all they re-
quired, About that time my attention was
called to the fact that once a wOek for a
couple Of days after sailing there was an in
crease In the quantity of milk. Acting on
this suggestion, | tried sailing twice week
and found decided improvement. l then
thought if twice week was good, perhaps
every other day would be better. Here,
again, my attention was called to the fact
that on the days they were salted they gave
more than on the other days. MIXED some
eight or ten, so | noted these things more
closely than | otherwise would | there
fore concluded to try it every day, and liked
the result, and noticed that when they missed
their salt there would be decrease in the
milk. When salted every day, very small
amount will do, say tablespoonful Just be.
fore they are turned out Of the stable in the
morning. tried sailing in the evening in
the stable, but found that had q tendency to
shrink the flow of milk; so, after several
trials, gave that up. In trying the above
experiments, it was not for a period of a
few days, or weeks only, but for a year or
two. Another thing 6nd that the corn
l feed my cows, which l grind and rescald
to mash, if it be sated will decrease the per-
ceutage of the croam--all other feed being
just the same. The reason, l presume, is
that the salt in this case has a tendency to
run more to fat than to the product of milk.
-Wm. S. Nivia ia Rural World.
Year: 1876

Dynamite is used in Scotland for clearing
the land of stumps aud land boulders. The
earth is removed from the side OF the stump,
a hole made in it, and the dynamite put in
with the fuse attached. The hole is then
filled up and tho fuse lighted and the stump
made into pieces, and blown out Of the
ground. In breaking up the boulder stones,
the dynamite is simply placed on top of the
stone, covered with wet sand, aud fired with
fuse in the ordinary way. The result is the
reduction of the bOulders to fragments the
size Of walnut.
Year: 1876

If farmers would avoid suddenly cooling
the body after hard exercise if they would
be careful not to go with wet clothing aud
wet feet, and if they would not oyer.eat,
when in an exhausted condition, aud dathe
dairy using much friction, they would have
loss rheumatism
Year: 1876

BRIDGE DowN.-The bridge over Clear
IFeek, near the mouth of Canon Creek
t enc day last week and wagon COM
hunlcation with North Fork and Canon
Peek is therefore temporarily suspended.
new bridge will be put up as soon as
Practicable.
Year: 1876

The London Daily NeaOs says: The


Scotch farmers, with all their shrewd-


ness, are apparently utterly beaten by


the mouse. So far at least they have


been unable to devise any means of rid
ding themselves of the armies of these


insignificant creatures which have quar-
tered themselves on the border farms.
About three months ago the attention of
the public in general, and of local agri-
cultural clubs in particular, was called
to the depredations caused by these tiny
quadrupeds, which, it was suddenly dis
covered, had increased to such an alarm
ing extent as to have actually destroyed
large expanse of pasturage and to
threaten to overrun this country. The
land is represented as resembling the
ground in the neighborhood of targets
for rifle practice, being literally riddled
with holes; the whole of the vegetation
is destroyed in certain localities in
Teviotdale, not merely the blades of
grass being eaten by the mice, but the
roots being consumed as well. The
consequence has been that the sheep
have been robbed OF their natural food,
and the recent lamhing season has been
one Of the most disastrous ever known,
both ewes and lambs being deprived of
sustenance and perishing in numbers.
The plague is almost identical with that
which has so seriously interfered with
the progress of sheep farming in New
Zealand, only there it is the rabbits that
have caused the mischief: and unless it
can be stamped out it threatens the
ruin of many sheep breeders and wool
growers. One farmer in New Zealand
has actually sacrificed $1,000 acres OF
land by inclosing that area with a solid
masonry wall in order to prevent the
spread of colony Of rabbits which had
taken possession of portion of his
farm. But land is too scarce and valua-
BILE in Scotland to permit of such an
heroic method of cure. The question
for the Scotch farmers is whether they
can reduce the number of the mice by
encouraging the increase of weasels,
hawks, owls and other carnivorous birds
and beasts, or whether they must take
the law into their own hands and drive
out the enemy. The unfortunate part
of the business is that the little rodeuts
are of no value, unlike rabbits, whose
skins and flesh are both of a certain
worth, and tney are too small to attract
sportsmen with their guns. One thing
is certain, that the Scotch farmers will
not in future encourage the use of the
gun at hawks and weasels, but will
rather encourage the visits of these
mouse catchers.
Year: 1876

A young housekeeper, says CORE
spondent, inquiries how to make cheese
on small scale. [ will send my method
of cheese making, which l have found
to be very good: Cut the rennet in
small pieces, aud fill jar half full ;
throw in two haudfuls of salt and fill
mp with water. Strain the nights milk
in tub and add two spoonfuls of rem
net to each pail of milk, as sufficient to
f -rm firm curd in half an hour. As
soon as the curd will break square across
the finger it should be cut in pieces all
inch square. Let it stand until morn
ing, then dip the curd to drain. Scald
the tub, strain the mornings milk, and
proceed as tefcre. When the whey
covers the surface of the curd dip it.
When the curds are drained sufficiently
they should bo scalded by pouring On
hot water to raise the temperature to
ninety-eight deg. or one hundred deg,
stirring constantly Let the curd re-
main in the hot water until thoroughly
done, then drain and hang in cool
place. Proceed with the next days milk
in the same way. When the curd is
cold chop both together; add one spoon
full of sslt to each pail of milk. P'ess
lightly at fir t, steadily following up tie
pressure until the whole is firmly set
together. The cheese must be turned
every day, kept we'll buttered, and rub
bed often to keep off the flies. If in
clined to spread, bandage will be
needed.
Year: 1876

At the gathering of people on the &C.
casion of the opening of the Centennial
Exhibition, striking example and
illustration was observed of the fact that
crowd lives only by the aid of the
ascending current from the bodies of the
persons composing it. The observer
was sitting on the platform i'll front of
Memorial hall, and all the space between
this platform and the Main building, a
space of probably one hundred and fifty
feet in width by five hundred feet in
length (of dense crowd), was occupied
by about forty thousand persons, stand
ing as closely as comfort would allow.
The air was quite warm, about seventy
five degrees Fahrenheit, and light
breeze was blowing from the west.
There were many smokers in the crowd,
and it was noticeable that tie course Of
tobacco smoke, which showed white
against tue brown front of the Main
Exhibition building, indica' ed the course
of the current at different points. A
breath of smoke on the outskirts of the
crowd was dispersed irregularly. A
puff of white smoke anywhere toward
the middle of the crowd rose with great
apparent rapidity until it was lost to
sight by ascending above The line of
roof of the building the background of
white clouds, with which the blue sky
was then broken, not allowing it to be
distinguished higher up. The swiftness
with which the smoke rose showed that
the ascending current in the center OF
so thickly thropged and so large space
was rapid. In fact, it showed set OF
currents like those at a fre-on the
outskirts tending toward the center, in
the center upward.
Year: 1876

An Eastern gentleman engaged in
mining in Arizona has written to friend
in New York, giving an account OF the
difficulties under which mining opera
tions are prosecuted in that Territory.
He says: The amount of progress l
make seems to me small, but you can
have no idea of the difficulties which
have to be constantly met and over
come. The labor is very unreliable, and
it is hard to get days work for day s
pay, and there is strong feeling OF
jealousy between the whites and Mexi-
cans which is hard to overcome. The
weather is hot beyond belief. Never, L
think, less than ninety degrees in the
shade, and from that up to 120 degrees.
There is no lumber in the country, and
all the building has to be done with
cottonwood poles, and hauled five miles
on jackasses to the mine. In addition,
1 have had to pack water five miles, as
we have had no rain, and the tanks at
the mine are exhausted. We have now
killed three rattlesnakes in the house,
besides any quantity of scorpions, etc.
In opening my trunk was stung in the
finger by q scorpion. L bound a poul-
tice of onions and tobacco on the wound
and drank three full pints of whisky.
1t make me very drunk, and 1 think
killed the other poison, although my
whole hand and arm was numb for
day or two. It is pretty hard country,
and three men have already died of
thirst near here. My last letters were
sent here from the -- mine (only
fourteen miles distant) by an old Scotch
man. The letters did not arrive, and
we searched for him and found him dead
only four miles from camp. He was
stripped and his nails were worn from
his hands by scratching in the sand for
water. We have sent out twice and
brought in men who were crazy and
blind and speechless from thirst. The
sun is terribly hot, and the rocks 80 hot
that they blister the flesh if touched.
You can hardly realize what country
it is. nor how expensive it is, as well as
hard work, to accomplish much. Trans
portation, more than anything else, is
the great bugbear.