and brought to America last year. In him are to be found all the fine
characteristics of his race. He took the second place at the Smithfield
Fat Stock Show of 1883; at the Kansas Fat Stock Show of the same year he
was placed second to the Short-horn steer Starlight; and at the last Fat
Stock Show of Chicago he took first place among the best three-year-olds
of the country. At the time of entry for the Chicago Show he was 1,380
days old, and his weight 2,330 pounds, almost 175 pounds less than he
weighed before leaving Scotland for this country. Besides the prizes above
mentioned, Black Prince won numerous honors in his own country before
coming here.
Their black, glossy, thick coats, their hornless heads, and particularly
their low-set, smooth, round and lengthy bodies are the principal features
of this breed.
Beef consumers will find them in the front rank for yielding wholesome,
nourishing food, juicy, tender, and of the best flavor, free from all
unpalatable masses of fat or tallow. It is these favorable characteristics
which have gained such an excellent, and widespread reputation for the
Aberdeen-Angus cattle. The growing belief that the best breed of beeves is
the one that for a given quantity of food, and in the shortest time will
produce the greatest weight of nutritious food combined with the smallest
amount of bone, tallow, and other waste is going to make these cattle as
popular with our beef consumers and producers generally as they have been
with those who have long been familiar with their many superior qualities.
Grass for Hogs.
With plenty of milk and mill-feed to mix with the corn, good hogs may be
grown without grass. But with corn alone, the task of growing and
fattening a hog without grass costs more than the hog is worth.
To make hog-growing profitable to the farmer, he must have grass. In the
older States where the tame grasses are plenty, it is a very thoughtless
farmer who has not his hog pasture. But out here in Kansas and Nebraska,
where we have plenty of corn, but no grass, except the wild varieties, the
most enterprising of us are at our wits' ends. Hogs will eat these wild
grasses while tender in the spring, and, even without corn, will grow
long, tall, and wonderfully lean, and in the fall will fatten much more
readily than hogs grown on corn. But fattening the lean hogs takes too
much corn. We must have a grass that the hogs will relish, and on which
they will both grow and fatten. They will do this on clover, orchard
grass, bluegrass, and other tame grasses. But we have not got any of
these, nor do we know how to get them. Hundreds of bushels of tame grass
seeds are sold every spring by our implement dealers. A few have succeeded
in getting some grass, but nine out of ten lose their seed. We either do
not know how to grow it, or the seed is not good, or the soil is too new.
The truth, perhaps, lies a little in all three. Our agricultural colleges
are claiming to have success with these grasses, and their experience
would be of value to the farmers if these reports could ever reach them.
Not one farmer in a hundred ever sees them. I know of but one farmer of
sufficient political influence to receive these reports through the mails.
The rest of us can get them for the asking. But not many of us know this,
fewer know whom to ask, and still fewer ask. I do not know a farmer that
orders a single copy. Farmers, living about our county towns, and doing
their trading there, and having leisure enough to loaf about the public
offices, and curiosity enough to scratch through the dust-covered piles of
old papers and rubbish in the corner, are usually rewarded by finding a
copy of these valuable reports. But we, who live far away from the county
seat, do our farming without this aid, and mostly without any knowledge of
their existence. This looks like a lamentable state of agricultural
stupidity. Notwithstanding this dark picture we would all read, and be
greatly profited by these reports, if they were laid on our tables.
If it pays to expend so much labor and money in preparing these reports
and sending them half way to the people, would it not be wise to expend a
little more and complete the journey, by making it the duty of the
assessor to leave a copy on every farmer's table? Compulsory education.
As an explanation of much of the above, it must be remembered that we are
nearly all recently from the East, that we have brought with us our
Eastern experience, education, literature, and household gods; and that
not until we have tried things in our old Eastern ways and failed, do we
realize that we exist under a new and different state of things and slowly
begin to open our eyes to the existence of Western agricultural reports
and papers giving us the conditions on which the best results have been
obtained.
There will be more grass seed planted this spring than ever before, and
the farmers will be guided by the conditions on which the best successes
seem to have been obtained. But this seeding will not give us much grass
for this coming summer. What must we do? I write for our Western farmers
who have no clover, orchard grass, blue grass, but have in their
cultivated fields.
CRAB GRASS.
This grass, the most troublesome weed of the West, smothering our gardens
and converting our growing corn-fields into dense meadows, makes the best
hog pasture in the world, while it lasts. Put hogs into a pasture
containing all the tame grasses, with one corner in crab grass, and the
last named grass will all be consumed before the other grasses are
touched.
Not only do they prefer it to any other grass, but on no grass will they
thrive and fatten so well. Last spring I fenced twelve acres of old stalk
ground well seeded to crab grass. With the first of June the field was
green, and from then until frost pastured sixty large hogs, which, with
one ear of corn each, morning and evening, became thoroughly fat. These
were the finest and cheapest hogs I ever grew.
This grass is in its glory from June till frosts. By sowing the ground
early in oats, this will pasture the hogs until June, when the crab grass
will occupy all the ground, and carry them through in splendid condition,
and fat them, with an ear or corn morning and evening. A. D. LEE.
CENTERVILLE, KAN.
NOTE.--Many of our readers may be unfamiliar with the variety of grass
spoken of by our correspondent. It is known as crop grass, crab grass,
wire grass, and crow's foot (_Eleusine Indica_). Flint describes it as
follows: Stems ascending, flattened, branching at the base; spikes, two to
five, greenish. It is an annual and flowers through the season, growing
from eight to fifteen inches high, and forming a fine green carpeting in
lawns and yards. It is indigenous in Mississippi, Alabama, and adjoining
States, and serves for hay, grazing, and turning under as a fertilizer. It
grows there with such luxuriance, in many sections, as never to require
sowing, and yields a good crop where many of the more Northern grasses
would fail.--[ED. P. F.]
A Stock Farm and Ranch.
Some years ago Prof. J. B. Turner, of Jacksonville, Ill., whom almost
every reader of THE PRAIRIE FARMER in days gone by knows, personally, or
by his writings, in company with one of his sons conceived the idea of
running an Illinois stock farm in connection with a ranch in Texas. The
young animals were to be reared on the cheap lands in the latter State
where care and attention amount to a trifle, and to ship them North to
finish them off for market on the blue grass and corn of the Illinois
farm. To carry out this purpose they purchased nearly 10,000 acres in
Coleman county, Texas, and they converted 1,000 acres in a body in
Montgomery county, Illinois, into a home stock farm. Unfortunately, just
as all things were in readiness for extensive operations, the son died,
leaving the business to Prof. Turner, now nearly an octogenarian and
entirely unable to bear the burden thus forced upon him. As a consequence,
he desires to sell these large and desirable possessions, separate or
together, as purchasers may offer.
The Illinois farm is well fenced and in a high state of cultivation. There
are growing upon it more than 2,000 large evergreens, giving at once
protection to stock and beauty to the landscape. There are also 1,500
bearing fruit trees, a vineyard, and a large quantity of raspberries,
blackberries, currants, etc.
Besides a good farm-house, there is a large barn, in which there are often
fed at one time 150 head of horses, with plenty of room for each animal;
and an abundance of storage room in proportion for grain and hay. Also a
large sheep shed, the feeding capacity of which is 3,000 head. Also a
large hog house, conveniently divided into pens with bins for grain. Other
numerous out-buildings, granary, hay sheds, stock and hay scales, etc.,
etc. There are on the farm twelve miles of Osage orange hedge, the best
kind of fence in the world, in perfect trim and full growth; and four
miles of good rail fence, dividing the farm off into conveniently sized
fields of forty, eighty and one hundred and sixty acres each, access to
which is easily obtained by means of gates which open from each field into
a private central road belonging to the farm, and directly connected with
the stock yards near the house, so that it is not necessary to pass over
other fields in the handling of stock. Stockmen will appreciate this
arrangement. Owing to its special advantages for handling stock, it has
become widely known as a "Model Stock Farm." The lands are all naturally
well drained; no flat or wet land, and by means of natural branches, which
run through every eighty acres, the whole farm is conveniently and easily
watered, by an unfailing supply. There are besides three large wind mills,
with connecting troughs for watering the stock yards and remotest field.
This supply of stock water has never failed. It is therefore specially
adapted for all kinds of stock raising, and is well stocked. It has on it
a fine drove of Hereford cattle and Norman horses, and is otherwise fully
equipped with all the recent improvements in farming implements. This farm
is only about fifty miles from St. Louis, Mo., two miles from a railroad
station, and six miles from Litchfield, Illinois. Besides its location
commercially, and its advantages for handling stock, this farm is in one
of the best wheat and fruit producing sections of Illinois, and has now on
it 200 acres of fine wheat.
The ranch in Texas consists of one body of 9,136 acres of choice land. By
means of an unfailing supply of living water the whole ranch is well
watered, and has besides a very large cistern. The soil is covered with
the Curly Mesquite grass, the richest and most nutritious native stock
grass known in Texas. There is also on the ranch a splendid growth of live
oak trees, the leaves of which remain green the year round, furnishing
shade in summer, and an ample protection for stock in winter.
There is on the ranch a large well built stone house, and also a fine
sheep shed, with bins for 5,000 bushels of grain. This shed is covered
with Florida Cypress shingles and affords protection for 2,000 head of
sheep, and can be used just as well for other kinds of stock. Here can be
bred and raised to maturity at a mere nominal cost, all kinds of cattle,
horses, mules, and other stock, no feed in winter being required beyond
the natural supply of grass. After the stock reaches maturity they can be
shipped to the Illinois Farm; and while all the cattle easily fatten in
Texas enough for the market, still as they are generally shipped to St.
Louis or Chicago, it costs but little more, and greatly increases the
profits, to first ship them to the Illinois Farm, and put them in prime
condition, besides being near the markets, and placing the owner in
position to take advantage of desirable prices at any time. With horses
and mules this is a special advantage readily apparent to every one.
It will be seen at once that any individual with capital, or a stock
company, or partnership of two or more men, could run this farm and ranch
together at a great profit. All the improvements on both being made solely
for convenience and profit and not anything expended for useless show.
I do not write this communication from any selfish motive, for I have not
a penny's worth of interest in either farm or ranch, but I want to let
people who are looking for stock farms know that here is one at hand such
as is seldom found, and at the same time to do my life-long friend and
yours a slight favor in return for the great and lasting benefits he has,
in the past, so freely conferred upon the farmers of the State and
country.
I know these lands can be bought far below their real value, and the
purchaser will secure a rare bargain. I presume the Professor will be glad
to correspond with parties, giving full particulars as to terms.
SUBSCRIBER. MONTGOMERY CO., ILL.
Western Wool-Growers.
The Western wool-growers, in convention at Denver, Colorado, March 13th,
unanimously adopted the following memorial to Congress:
Whereas, The wool-growers of Colorado, Kansas, Utah,
Wyoming, Nebraska, Idaho, New Mexico, and Minnesota,
assembled in convention in the city of Denver, the 13th of
March, 1884, representing 7,500,000 head of sheep,
$50,000,000 invested capital, and an annual yield of
35,000,000 pounds of wool, and
Whereas, Said Industry having been greatly injured by the
reduction of the tariff bill of May, 1883, and being
threatened with total destruction by the reduction of 20
per cent, as proposed by the Morrison tariff bill just
reported to the House of Representatives by the Committee
on Ways and Means; therefore
Resolved, That we, the wool-growers in convention
assembled, are opposed to the provisions of the Morrison
bill now before Congress which aim to make a further
reduction of 20 per cent on foreign wools and woolens, and
that we ask a restoration of the tariff of 1867 in its
entirety as relates to wools and woolens, by which, for the
first time in the industrial history of the country,
equitable relations were established between the duties on
wool and those on woolen goods.
Resolved, That we pledge ourselves to work for and to aid
in the restoration of the tariff of 1867 on wools and
woolens, and request all persons engaged or interested in
the wool-growing industry to co-operate with us.
Resolved, That we as wool-growers and citizens pledge
ourselves to stand by all committees and associations in
giving full and complete protection to all American
industries in need of the same, and cordially invite their
co-operation in this matter.
The memorial concludes with an appeal to Western Senators and
Representatives in Congress to do all in their power to restore the tariff
of 1867.
The Cattle Disease Near Effingham.
Saturday, March 15, I visited the herds of Messrs. Du Brouck, Schooley and
Fannce northeast of Effingham, Illinois, and carefully examined them with
Mr. F. F. Hunt, of the university, as they were reported affected with
foot-and-mouth disease. In each herd diseased cattle were found; about 20
distinctly marked cases, a few others having symptoms. The disease is
unlike anything I have known, but does not resemble foot-and-mouth disease
as described by any authority. Only the hind feet are affected, and these
without ulceration. In most cases "scouring" was first noticed, followed
by swelling above the hoofs. In the most severe cases, the skin cracked
about the pastern joint or at the coronet. In four cases one foot had come
off. Swelling of pastern and "scouring" were the only symptoms in several
cases. The mouth and udders were healthful; appetites good. In one case
there was slight vesicle on nostril and slight inflammation of gum. Some
animals in contact with diseased ones for weeks remained healthful. Others
were attacked after five weeks' isolation. The most marked cases were of
eight to ten weeks standing. But one animal had died.
What we saw is not foot and mouth disease as known abroad, nor is the
contagious character of the disease proven from the cases in these herds.
G. E. MORROW, UNIVERSITY, CHAMPAIGN, ILL.
[Illustration: The Dairy]
Dairymen, Write for Your Paper.
Camembert Cheese.
The Camembert is one of the variety of French cheeses that find ready sale
in England at high prices. Mr. Jenkins describes the process of making
this cheese in a late number of the Journal of the Royal Agricultural
Society of England which information we find condensed in the Dublin
Farmer's Gazette:
The cows are milked three times a day, at 4.30 and 11.30 a. m., and at 6
p. m. In most dairies the evening's milk is highly skimmed in the morning,
butter being made from the cream, and the milk divided into two portions
one of which is added to the morning's and the other to the midday's
milking. The mixture is immediately put into earthen vessels holding
twelve to fifteen gallons each, and after it has been raised to the
temperature of about 86 deg. Fahr., a sufficient quantity of rennet is
added to make the curd fit to be transferred to the cheese moulds in three
or four hours, or, perhaps, a longer interval in winter. The mixture of
the rennet with the milk is insured by gentle stirring, and the pots are
then covered with a square board. The curd is ready for removal when it
does not adhere to the back of the finger placed gently upon it, and when
the liquid that runs from the fingers is as nearly as possible colorless.
The curd is transferred, without breaking it more than can be avoided, to
perforated moulds four inches in diameter. The moulds are placed on reed
mats resting on slightly inclined slabs, made of slate, cement, or other
hard material, and having a gutter near the outer edge. The curd remains
in the moulds twenty-four or even forty-eight hours, according to the
season, being turned upside down after twelve or twenty-four hours; that
is, when sufficiently drained at the bottom. After turning the face of the
cheese, the inside of the mould is sprinkled with salt, and twelve hours
afterward the opposite face and the rim of the cheeses are treated in the
same way. The cheeses are then placed on movable shelves round the walls
of the dairy for a day or two, after which the curing process commences by
the cheeses being transferred to the "drying-room," and there placed on
shelves made of narrow strips of wood with narrow intervals between them,
or of ordinary planks with reed mats or clean rye straw. Here the greatest
ingenuity is exerted to secure as dry an atmosphere and as equable a
temperature as possible--the windows being numerous and small, and fitted
with glass, to exclude air, but not light, when the glass is shut, with a
wooden shutter to exclude both light and air; and with wire gauze to admit
light and air, and exclude flies and winged insects, which are troublesome
to the makers of soft cheese.
The cheeses are turned at first once a day, and afterward every second
day, unless in damp weather, when daily turning is absolutely necessary.
In three or four days after the cheeses are placed in the drying-room they
become speckled; in another week they are covered with a thick crop of
white mold, which by degrees deepens to a dark yellow, the outside of the
cheese becoming less and less sticky. At the end of about a month, when
the cheese no longer sticks to the fingers, it is taken to the finishing
room, where light is nearly excluded, and the atmosphere is kept very
still and slightly damp. Here they remain three or four weeks, being
turned every day or every second day, according to the season, and
carefully examined periodically. When ready for market--that is to say, in
winter, when ripe, and in summer, when half ripe--they are made up in
packets of six, by means of straw and paper, with great skill and
neatness.
Few Words and More Butter.
The Wisconsin Dairymen's Association last year offered prizes for the best
essays on butter-making, the essays not to exceed 250 words. Competition
was active, and many valuable little treatises was the result. The first
prize was won by D. W. Curtis, of Fort Atkinson, and reads as follows. We
commend it to all butter-makers and to all writers of essays as a model of
the boiled-down essence of brevity:
COWS.
Select cows rich in butter-making qualities.
FEED.
Pastures should be dry, free from slough-holes, well seeded with different
kinds of tame grasses, so that good feed is assured. If timothy or clover,
cut early and cure properly. Feed corn, stalks, pumpkins, ensilage and
plenty of vegetables in winter.
GRAIN.
Corn and oats, corn and bran, oil meal in small quantities.
WATER.
Let cows drink only such water as you would yourself.
CARE OF COWS.
Gentleness and cleanliness.
MILKING.
Brush the udder to free it from impurities. Milk in a clean barn, well
ventilated, quickly, cheerfully, with clean hands and pail. Seldom change
milkers.
CARE OF MILK.
Strain while warm; submerge in water 48 degrees. Open setting 60 degrees.
SKIMMING.
Skim at twelve hours; at twenty-four hours.
CARE OF CREAM.
Care must be exercised to ripen cream by frequent stirrings, keeping at 60
degrees until slightly sour.
UTENSILS.
Better have one cow less than be without a thermometer. Churns without
inside fixtures. Lever butter worker. Keep sweet and clean.
CHURNING.
Stir the cream thoroughly; temper to 60 degrees; warm or cool with water.
Churn immediately when properly soured, slowly at first, with regular
motion, in 40 to 60 minutes. When butter is formed in granules the size of
wheat kernels, draw off the buttermilk; wash with cold water and brine
until no trace of buttermilk is left.
WORKING AND SALTING.
Let the water drain out; weigh the butter; salt, one ounce to the pound;
sift salt on the butter, and work with lever worker. Set away two to four
hours; lightly re-work and pack.
A MACHINE that can take hay, corn fodder, grass, and grain and manufacture
them into good, rich milk at the rate of a quart per hour for every hour
in the twenty-four, is a valuable one and should be well cared for. There
are machines--cows--which have done this. There are many thousands of them
that will come well up to this figure for several months in the year, and
which will, besides, through another system of organisms, turn out a calf
every year to perpetuate the race of machines. Man has it in his power to
increase the capacity of the cow for milk and the milk for cream. He must
furnish the motive power, the belts, and the oil in the form of proper
food, shelter, and kindly treatment. By withholding these he throws the
entire machinery out of gear and robs himself.
Compiled Correspondence.
KANE COUNTY, MARCH 17.--Snow is nearly all gone. There is but little frost
in the ground. The spring birds have come. Hay is plenty, winter wheat and
winter rye look green, and have not been winter-killed to any great
extent. Cattle and horses are looking well and are free from disease. We
fear the spread of the foot-and-mouth disease. Every effort should be made
to confine it within its present limits. Its spread in this county of so
great dairy interests would be a great calamity. Our factory men will make
full cream cheese during the summer months. The hard, skim cheese made
last season, and sold at 2 cts per pound, paid the patrons nothing. We
hear of factory dividends for January of $1.60 to $1.66. J. P. B.
GRAND PRAIRIE, TEX., MARCH 8.--The spring is cold and late here; but
little corn planted yet. Winter oats killed; many have sown again. Farmers
are well up with their work. G. E. R.
* * * * *
Brown's Bronchial Troches will relieve
Bronchitis, Asthma, Catarrh, Consumption and
Throat Diseases. _They are used always with good
success._
[Illustration: VETERINARY]
Symptoms of Foot-and-Mouth Disease.