Southern world : journal of industry for the farm, home and workshop. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1882-18??, March 15, 1882, Image 5

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THE SOUTHERN WORLD, MARCH 15, 1882. 6 the owner, if lie has any taste for stock- breeding (he had better let it alone if he has not) will enjoy five times the pleasure from the thoroughbreds. Many have been waiting for a decline in Jersey cattle, only to witness an advance of nearly one hundred per cent within the last four years. Jersey cattle, properly selected and well cared for, afford to-day a better in vestment than any city property, railroad or factory stock in the South. When we say properly cared for, we mean that if not acclimated they shall be watched with the utmost care and protected in seasons of ex traordinary heat and drouth from undue exposure to climatic influences. We would be derelict toour duty did we not warn our readers of the risk incurred in the purchase of cattle of any breed from the North and West—greater when brought from the latter section—of cases from the disease now known as the red-water, formerly known as and still called murrain, a term of such wide meaning ns to mem almost Dothing as generally understood. It was with a full knowledge of this risk that we advised in a former number of the Southern World the purchase ns far as practicable of acclimated stock, following ns nearly as possible geo logical lines rather than those of the par allels-of latitude. In a country so favored as is the hill and mountain regions of the South, the neglect of the special advmtagesofsoil and climate by the tillers of the soil is a little less than criminal. With Bermuda grass, Guinea grass and crab-grass for summer pasturage, lu cerne, corn, the millets, Egyptian wheat, ■nembered that Shaddow ran a dead heat n- gainst Dashing Norvice, and divided first money (which was $500) for first place in the Derby Stake, ran at Grand Junction, Tenn essee, December last, and also received a handsome silver cup, donated by Mr. Wild, of New Jersey, for the best puppy in the stake. Mr. Adams, will return her to Mr. Dew, of Columbia, who will prepare her for the Minnesota Field Tests to be held in that State in September next. The Chicago Field, in speaking of the race, says: “We regard Shaddow as the most promising young dog in America. Barring accidents we shall ex pect to see her go to the front in the Min nesota Trials.—[Gallatin (Tenn.) Examiner. Clydesdale Horses. Probably no firm in the country is doing more to improve the breed of farm and road horses than Powell Brothers, of Spring- boro, Pa. At their “Shadeland” farm, near Springboro, is one of the most complete stock-breeding establishments in the United States. As an indication of the extent of their operations, it may be mentioned, that during 1881, they made some fourteen or fifteen importations of Clydesdales, consist ing Of as many as thirty-five head at a single importation. We give in this issue a spec imen of their Clydesdale in “Dainty Davie”, which horse connoisseurs will unite in say ing, is the perfection of equine beauty. It is being generally accepted as a fact, that a heavier breed of horses than those common ly in use, is necessary for farm work, and it is also getting to be acknowledged, that the Clydesdale combines all the elements for a Clydesdale “Dainty Davie," Imported by Powell Bros., Springboro, Crawford Co., Pa. Ihe §tack gjepartmnt. TIiorougti-Iirc'lH null Grades vs Com mon Ntork. In a recent number of the Southern World we had something to say of the in fluence of the stock law, which has been adopted in quite a number of counties, and must of necessity be generally adopted in other parts of the South, on the character of the stock reared in the South. We have daily illustration of this influence by in quiries at the Georgia Department of Agri culture about the cultivation of the grasses and other forage plants and the kind of cattle to breed and where to get them. Never since the organization of the Depart ment have inquiries about grass culture been so numerous or so earnest os now. Nor have the evidences of a desire to im prove the character of the stock bred on the farms been so marked if we interpret the inquiries which we receive at the De partment as an index of such disposition. We regard them as most encouraging indi cators and hail them os prophetic of a whole some revolution in our systen of agricul ture,—a revolution long advised and often predicted, but never until now showing signs of vitality. We have thus prefaced our remarks in order that the readers of the Southern World may not be laggards in the grand march of progress by the only safe road to prosperity. It costs but little more to ra sea thorough-bred animal worth according to size and quality from $50 to $1000 than to raise a common animal the maximum selling value of which is meas ured by the price of beef. There are farmer in every Southern State who rear cattle for their milk and butter who do not realize an average of more than one gallon per day from each cow, of very inferior milk and yet it costs very nearly as much per head to keep these cows as it would to keep the same number of thorough breds which, if well selected and bred, would average three gallons of milk and more than one pound of butter per day and butter too which would bring thrice the pr.ee of the white tallowy stuff called in our stores "country butter.” . There are two courses open to farmers who wish to improve their stock from the scrub to the thoroughbred.—One by gradual approach, through grading up and the other by direct sale of the scrubs and a purchase of thoroughbred, with the proceeds so far us it will go. One good cow well cured for in everv respect will afford un ample supply of milk and butter to an av erage family and ah extra good one will yield a surplus. Now is it not better to keep one good cow than a dozen poor ones? A cow that will yield four gallons of milk will eat no more than one that yields only one gallon and yet the profits from her are, so far as milk and butter are concerned, four times as great. Instead of feeding and milking four cows which yield one gallon of inferior milk each, sell them and buy one thoroughbred which will yield four gallons of rich milk per day and bring annually a calf worth from $50 to $160 when only a few months old. Those who with limited means are de sirous of continuing to keep quite a herd of cattle and still improve their quality may do the latter quite rapidly by the introduc tion into the herd of a thoroughbred bull. If butter is to be the market product of the dairy no other breed compares with the Jerseys. If milk is the principal product desired and a ready sale can be Imd for it, the Ayrshire is beyond question the best breed for the South. Few farmers however are sufficiently near cities to justify the sale of milk. In the great majority of cases therefore the Jerseys are the best source from which to draw for the infusion of pure blood. In u recent publication of remarkable yields of Jersey cows in the cotton states, Tennella, owned by Mr. J. B. Wade, of De Kalb county Georgia, stood at the head of the list, yielding over three pounds of butter per day. 8uch but ter sells in Atlanta at fifty cents per pound and is in greater demand than white “coun try” butter at twenty-five cents per pound. Why feed and milk ten cows, the offspring of which are not saleable except to the butchers, when two thoroughbreds will yield mors and better milk and butter, and whose calves, dropped every year, will sell for more than ten scrub cows and their an nual increase in calves are worth. The ten scrub cows will consume five times as much as two thoroughbreds and require five times the labor in milking, feeding, etc., while clover, etc., for soiling crops, orchard grass, enselage, wheat, oats and barley for winter pasturage or winter soiling crops, the most of which advantages are peculiar to our climate, together with the resources com mon to our less fortunate friends of a more northern climate, we are criminally neg lectful of the blessings bestowed upon us by a wise Creator if we fail to utilize them. We can cure hay and store it in bams as do our northern friends or preserve green forage in silos in addition to the peculiar advantages arising from climutic influ ences above mentioned. But says one, this is peculiarly a cotton country. We admit this, but claim that it is also peculiarly a stock country, and that we can rear stock and derive all of the profits of a stock farm, and then reap more clear profit from cotton than would accrue from an exclusive cotton culture as now ruinously practiced by too many of our planters. The cattle will not only yield a profit, but emancipate their owners from the slavery to the dealers in commercial fertilizers and at the same time Improve the soil and make the cotton crop practi cally a clear money crop, as it should be. Besides all this the cattle will utilise the cotton seed in the production of milk, but ter or beef and transmit through their manure all the advantages that are usually derived from their use as a fertilizer. We have extended this article heyond the lim its at first intended, but it is a subject so fraught with interest to our southern far mer and planter than our pen runs riot. J. S. N. Dr. E. 8. Carr, of this county, sold his Flewellin setter, 8haddow, to Mr. Luther Adams, of Boston, for $300. It will be re- perfect draft and farm horse. The Messrs. Powell have lately made an importation of Percheron Norman horses for the benefit of those who prefer that breed to the Clydes dale. Their stock of trotters and roadsters, is as good in its way as is their collection of draft horses, containing several highly bred young Humbletonian stallions. The firm also deals in pure Holstein and Devon cat tle, We are pleased to hear that the de mand for their stock is increasing almost beyond the ability to supply it, because we know that they are doing a good work for the American farmers in the way of improv ing American horses and cattle. Holstein bulls are gentle and docile, and excellent workers in the yoke. The cows are large milkers, excelling in that respect all other breeds. They are easily fattened, and males often attuiu a weight of two or three thousand pounds. Females generally attain a weight from twelve to twenty hund red pounds. There is considerable demand for both males and females for breeding pur poses, enough to take up all the importa tions, amounting to over four hundred in 1871), and the natural increase, at prices af fording a reasonable profit, both for the im porters and breeders. It is a noticeable fact that half-breed heifers, sired by Hol stein bulls, generally bring twice and often three times as much as tb^jrades of any other breeds willsell for; and this fact is perhaps tbe most reliable indication of the estimation in which Holstein cattle are held by Ameri can farmers who have had experience with them.—[Prof. Shelton. The dog catchers of Greenville, 8. C., re signed, unable to stand the popular indigna tion. 90 dogs were captured and 20 drowned. PROTECTION OF 1,1 VK STOCK FROM DORN. En. So. Live-Stock Journal: Having recently received many letters of inquiry; “how shall I protect my flock from sheep killing dogs,” und a large majority of such queries coming from subscribers to your valuable paper, thought it advisable to adswer all in one siiort letter through its columns. After much experimenting, the following has proven the most beneficial in protecting sheep from dogs. For a flock of from 'JO to 100 and 150 head, put on from 14 to 10 bells of vurious sizes and tone. The bells should vary in size and tone from the common little sheep bell up to the large cow bell. It is the variety of tone und sound that terrifies the sheep killing dog. The flock should ulwuys be so situated that they can with ease approach the house of tbe landlord, through u lane gate or a gap in the fence, und if occasionally suited neat the house will invariably approach it at night to sleep, particularly if disturbed by dog or person. No dog, I care not how much prac tice he may have had in killing sheep, can be induced, even under the most trying con ditions, to attack a flock having from 14 to 10 bells of different sizes and tone. A dog severely pressed of hunger, may be influ enced to attact a flock while lying down at rest, or silently grazing; but the moment that doleful sound of sixteen bells of differ ent size and tone reaches his ear, his tail will be seen to tuck between his legsnnd Jle is off for other quarters in a moment. Not one dog in one hundred cun catch and hold a strong sheep in a run of 400 to (100 yards, hence, the advantage of having the flock so situated that they can at all times approach the house, which they will invariably do when opportunity admits. For over 20 yeurs I have kept a flock of from 125 to 200 head and although there are many worthless sheep killingdogsall around me in the neighborhood, I have not had one killed by dogs. The tenants and hirelings residing on my farm, many within 100 yards of my residence, (who are prone to be dear lovers of worthless curs) often have from 2 to three eucli, making from 10 to 15 dogs, upon an average, upon the farm, and many of them known to be notorious for sheep killing though, strange to say, yet true, they have never killed one sheep known to my self. However, as often as opportunity affords I thin out the number by use of strychnine und shot gun Ac. Hnve often, very often, witnessed them attack my flock when at a distance and while lying down, but the in stant they catch the terrifying sound of 15 bells of different size and tone they quickly turned in the opposite direction as fast as their feet could carry them, and I have often seen the same dogs repeat the attack with in variably the same result, the scene being too frightful and exciting to contidue the chase. Many of my neighbors, who have lost, by dogs, from one-third to one-half of their flock in u single night, have been influ enced to this experiment and all, without exception, report it eftectuul. Mnhy have offered thanks, saying, “I would have given up sheep breeding long ago if it had not been for your recommendation of bells.” Less than 14 bells will not accomplish the object, even though they be of different size and tone. It would be more profitable to add to the 1(1 bells than to diminish the flock of from 100 to 125. Have employed other means as preventative, such os shot-gun,etc., but have found bells the most effectual and cheapest in the end. For years I have en deavored to kill by gun or by pistol every stray dog found upon my farm, which often thins them out much, butyet the worthless curs are found in numbers at every negro hut throughout the country. One other mode of killing dogs I have found very ef fectual und private: build a strong rail pen ten feet square at bottom around the carcas as a sheep, hog, cow, Ac. In building said pen commence to slant the rails inward from the bottom of the pen and thus continue un til it is 14 or 10 rails high, having the open ing at the top not more than half as large as at the bottom; tbe pen thus being inclined inward all around renders it easy to get into but impossible to get out. One of my neigh bors is thus said to have killed 14 dogs one night, they having killed the sheep, around which the pen was built the night previous. Have also caught them in steel traps. A female in heat confined in such a pen will give opportunity in a few nights, of making way with all dogs within live miles. More anon, M. P. Bailey, Elkton, Ky. The Indiana 8upreme Couft has decide^ that dogs are not property.