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THE SOUTHERN WORLD, DECEMBER 1, 1882.
37
fir* jftack ffieyarttnmt.
The Hone and the Hnle,
Editob Southern World: — Nature
does nothing in vain: though wo often
are not admitted into her secrets. Not
withstanding our assumed superiority of
being governed by reason, man is the most
unreasonable of animals. Our wisdom often
turns out foolishness, and we commit grave
errors against common sense which can
never be imputed to inferior life. I lui\p
from my boyhood heard sheep denounced as
fools, because they are shy of crossing water.
Now the sheep knows very well that water
has great dangers on account of his heavy
fleece, which filled with that fluid often
causes his death by drowning. So many of
our hoary maxims are full of foolishness.
What is more common than to hear: “The
exception proves the rule." Whereas, a rule
is but the superstructure of individual expe
riences which at last allows a generalization.
Every exception then weakens the rule; and
enough of them destroys it altogether. So
from time immemorial the asses have been
the synonyms of stupidity; when, in fact,
they are the most intelligent of all our do
mesticated animals, the dog excepted. The
good looks of the horse, as in many human
entities, have done him great service in the
estimation of man. But the ass is greatly
his superior in many respects and especially
in intelligence, and the mule, being half ass,
is also above the horse in mind. Mules have
great memories of kindness and abuse, and
are sure to show their gratitude or revenge.
The elephant, perhaps the most intelligent
of animals next to man, has these qualities
of the mule.
When the mule has been well entertained
in travel, in passing he will tu^n
in again. And being carried
from home is more sure to return
than the horse. When the dinner
horn sounds many mules will re
fuse longer to work, and set their
faces homeward. Whilst when
he is thirsty he will seek the wa
ter in spite of his careless master.
As mules and horses get older
they learn to open the stable and
crib doors, and in this the mule
is more ingenious than the horse.
It is very dilHcult to construct a
latch which they are unable to
loose; and I have known them to
work for hours in pushing aside
the riders of the worm fence,
'then the stakes, and then at last
lay it down or jump over. In
mountain countries they are cele
brated for sure footing, whilst
the horse not attending to his
work and looking over the wide
landscape, loses his balance, and
falls with his rider into the dead
ly places below. I could give
innumerable like instances of the
superior thought of the mule
over the horse. The speed and
beauty of the horse is admitted, but their
boasted endurance, pluck and hard bone
over thoseof the mule are not warranted by
the facts. The structure of the horse ena
bles him to keep a high speed lor a long
time, which is denied the mule; but the
mule will outwear him in his own natu
ral gait. His flesh, bones and hide are
firmer; he is less liable to extremes of heat
and cold than the horse by movement, and
consequently is less liable to disease. He
eats less and coarser food; his strong jaws
allowing him to crush much food impossible
to the horse. He loses less by perspiration
and renewal of fibre, and with aslower pulse,
requires less food for service.
And now as to docility, the mule is as do
cile as the horse, and more so; obedient and
lovely in disposition. For long years I have
compelled my employees, os far as possible,
to treat my mules as well as all stock with
kindness, and the result is, that the best,
most patient and reliable animal in the
ploughing of the garden and other work is
the mule. In Mexico I saw the muleteers
turn loose about fifteen or twenty pack
mules to the hand, to graze; and after a few
hours, each man takes up and packs bis por
tion without an angry word or ill motion
on the part of either. Hence I say I love
these patient, grateful animals; and unkind
treatment arouses my utmost indignation.
On “old Dock” the mother can pack awhole
family, and he seems careful and loving in
all his movements; and I was not' surprised
to hear one apprecialiue mother say, “I
would just as soon let anyone strike my
child as ‘old Dock.’ ” I repeat then that the
mule is superior to the horse in intelligence,
docility, hardiness, gratitude, he eats less
and uses inferior food—is less liable to be
galled, diseased, eyes lost, limbs broken,
foundered, matures earlier, lives longer,
needs less grooming, and less shoeing. In
the temperate and Southern climes he stands
heat better than the horse, and I have no
proof that he will not stand cold os well.
Long live the mule I C. M. Clay.
Whitehall, Ky.
Northen’M Dairy farm,
A correspondent of the Atlanta Constitution
thus describes the dairy farm of our contrib
utor, Hon. W. J. Northen, of Hancock
county, Ga.:
“At int. Zion, lives Mr. W. J. Northen, a
distinguished and highly respected gentle
man and a former representative of this
county. He has this year been experiment
ing some in the dairy business, and ex
presses himself as believing that there is
considerable profit in it. During seven
months of the present year Mr Northen has
milked an average of seven cows, and has
sold one thousand pounds of butter besides
using a considerable quantity of cream and
butter at home. He now thinks of enlarg
ing his business and buying Jerseys. Four,
of the cows lie has been milking are half
Jerseys; the others are the common cows.
A few weeks since Mr. Northen paid $100
for a Jersey calf only six weeks old, and now
values it at $500.
“There are thousands of acres of unculti
vated land lying around Mt. Zion, a good
portion of which belongs to Mr. Northen,
and he has begun to set the hills in bermuda
grass. He now has forty acres in grass and
intends to set thirty acres more next spring.
This and the cane on his farm will winter
his dry cattle, but he will feed his milch
cows on peas, oats and wheat bran. The peas
and oats he boils before feeding. Mr. Nor
then is very particular what he feeds to his
milch cows, as much so as he is with his own
diet. He has abandoned the use of cotton
seed for them, claiming that it makes the
butter tough and sticky. Your correspond
ent tried some of the butter, and while he
does not claim to be an expert in the busi
ness, pronounced it the best he ever saw. Mr.
Northen bos made arrangements to sell all
the butter he can make during the next
twelve months at thirty-five cents per pound.
There is money in the dairy business, and he
is prepared to get it out, and will do it"
THE GARNERED CROP.
From Ellison A Co’s Annual Review of the Cotton
Trade for the Season of 1881-83.
Opinions as to ths out-turn of the new
American crop differ far less widely this
year than they did either twelve months or
two years ago in respect of the crops then
coming to market. Mlotk last season and the
season before, at this time, the prophets
were neither so cautious in giving publica
tion to their forecasts, nor so moderate in
the expression of their views as they are at
the present moment. At the opening of
both seasons the estimates ranged 5,600,000
and 0,500,000 bales ; and curiously enough,
the maximum figure proved correct in one
season, and the minimum in the other.
This season there is an entile absence of
what may be termed small estimates: few
authorities looking for less than 0,600,000,
while many are expecting 7,000,000, and
some as muchias 7,260,000. This season has
been very favorable throughout, though
not more favorable than that of two years ago
up to this date; but unless the area planted
is under-estimated it is difficult to see how
the crop can reach so large a figure as 7,000,-
000, to say nothing of 7,250,000, though with
an open winter it may easily run up to 0,750,-
000, or 6,850,000 bales.
PARTICULARS FOR THE LAST EIGHT CROPS.
l’er
Acres.
bales.
acre.
1881-82
. 16,851,000
5,435,000
0.322
1880-81
. 16,123,000
6,580,000
0.408
1870-80
. 11,428,000
5,757,000
0.300
1878-70
. 13,202,000
5,073,000
0.381
1877-78
. 12.231,000
4,011,000
0.303
1870-77
. 11,041,000
4,585,000
0.385
1875-76
. 11,745,000
4,667.000
0.307
1874-75
. 10,010,000
3,833,000
0.347
THK MOVEMENTS FOll THE SEASON.
1882-83 1881-82
880-81.
Port stocks, Sept. 1
... 124,000
218,000
141,000
Mills stocks, Sept. 1....
... 41,000
128,000
01,000
Supply
...6,065.000 5,781.000 0,821,000
American conaump-
Export to Cunmla, etc
.... 00,000
77,000
62,000
Port stocks, Aug. 31...
.... 218,000
124,000
218,000
Mill stocks, Auk. 31....
... 120,000
41,000
128,000
Total
Export to Europe
.4,303,000 3A r >3,U00 4,558,’000
Total as above
..0,965,000 5
781,000 6,821,000
It is just possible, therefore, that with a
crop of 0,*800,000 bales, Europe may receive
less American in 1882-83 than she did in
1880-81, while even with n crop of 7,000,000
she would not get much more than shedidin
that season. It is all a matter of price; at Od
per pound cotton moves out of sight rapidly;
at 7d it disappears slowly for the simple
reason that at the lower price consumers of
cotton and distributors of goods lay in stocks,
while at the higher price they reduce their
holdings to the lowest possible compass. It
was the Ignoring of this economical truth
that led so many people astray last season.
THE PBICE AND THE SUPPLY FROM INDIA.
Last season the import into Europe was
1.657.000 bales, but this total included at
least 100,000 bales kept back out of the pre
vious crop owing to the low prices current
in April, May and June, 1881. With a large
American crop, it is hardly likely that Sur-
uts will move to Europe as rapidly this sea
son as they did last, especially as they are
pretty certain not to enjoy a repetition of
the extensive patronages bestowed upon
them last winter and spring by American
and other speculators. It is not unreason
able, therefore, to calculate that at least as
much cotton will be kept back os was retain
ed the season before last, in which case the
import into Europe in 1882-83 will not ex
ceed 1,450,000 bales. The most current es
timates of the Egyptian crop range between
1.750.000 and 2,250,000 cantars, or from about
250.000 to 320,000 bales of G£0 pound each
against 420,000 last season. These figures
may have to be changed later on, but at the
moment 320,000 bales is by the most compe
tent authorities considered ajarge enough
estimate of the probable import into Europe
for the season. Last season the Brazils sent
400.000 bales against 240,000 in 1880-81, and
thisseason it is expected that the supply
will reach 500,000 bales. From Smyrna; the
West Indies, etc., the imports will probably
not vary much from the quantity received
last season, 125,000 bales against 111,000 in
1880-81
In cheerless winter take care of your live
stock.
GRAHN IN KING.
Editor Southern World—We hnve re
ceived the following postal cards:
“I see in The Southern World that you
recommend the Johnson grass very highly.
I’lease give me a description of the grass, and
where I can get the seed; at what price;
when to sow it; whether it is eusily eradi
cated ; and whether it will do to sow on small
grain 7” G. 8. Gregory. ,
Cross Keys, S. C.
“ I havo read your article in Thk Southern
World recommending Johnson grass. As I
wish to get the grass I write to you for in
formation. I do not know whether it is
propagated from the roots as Bermuda is, or
from seeds. I will take any information as
a favor.” A. L. Lewis.
Qalivant’s Ferry, 8. C.
In order that the information on this sub
ject may havo the widest publicity, we ask
space in your columns for our reply. The
Southern World is now recognized ns the
leading agricultural paper in the South.
Johnson grass is a local name. A man by
the name of William Johnson, once a largo
planter in our community, brought the seed
here and planted on his place, (adjoining
ours,) 14 miles west of Selma, Ala. This
planting was done over thirty years ago.
From this it derives its name. In tlio report
of the Department of Agriculture at Wash
ington, for 1878, it is called Sorghum llala-
pense. There is a fair description given of
it in that report, but not very flattering. If
the writer of that report were to visit oursec-
tion next June or July and see our fine grass
farmsdotted all over the country he will con
cur in the opinion of N. B. Moore, of Augus
ta, Ga., that it is to be preferred above all
other grasses known to him after forty years
experience in the different grasses.
The report says that this grass
will grow from livo to six feet
high, which is no exaggeration.
It can be propagated either by
seeds or by its roots. The roots,
after having one season’s growth,
will stay ’in the ground all the
winter and come up early in the
spring from every joint in the
root, as there is an eye like on
the cane root at every joint. The
seed should be sown in spring,
either in March or April, and as
late as Mny or the middle of
J une and one crop mowed off the
first year. The land should bo
well broke and harrowed. Sow
the seed after harrowing and
then harrow in lighter brush in.
This is our way. Another irf to
seed the land in wheat or outs in
the fall and cultivate your ground
in spring, say April, with a
Thomas harrow; sow the grass
seed ahead of the harrow. The
quantity of seed per acre should
not bo less than three fourths
of a bushel if you wish to mow
hay off the first yeur. It is vory
difficult to eradicate, but a great deal too
easily done, as it is a pity that it can be done
at all,for w by should a man wish an oil well
to cease flowing 7
We have been able to cut four crops this
year from an old field,and until our Urst frost
looked as healthy as a twelve year old ruulo
colt that never know what want was. John
son grass is strictly a summer growth, very
sensitive to cold ; the first frost kills it dead.
First-class Johnson grass hay properly cured
is preferred to best Timothy in tlio markets
where it has been longest used. The lauds
best adapted to its growth is rich, stiff land ;
creek or river bottoius.is fine for it. Overflows
does not injure it if the water docs notstag-
nute on it; in such an event the water sours
the roots and kills the grass. It will grow
on thin lands and no crop ever paid bettor
for liberal fertilization than Johnson grass.
The demand for the seed has grown steadily
for years, ranging from $2,75 to $4,00 per
bushel.
When you plant grasses do not be afraid
of raising too much. If you cannot sell it
in bales, sell it condensed in butter or beef,
mutton, mules and horses. Sell it to our
all-cotton friends for those hard-earned cot
ton dollurs, the very things they swap them
for every year and will not raise.
G. W. & II. C. Randall,
Marion Junction, Ala.
W. H. Musgrove, of Kansas, made from
forty-three cows(nine of them two yearolds,)
1,028 pounds of butter in one mouth, equal
to twenty-four pounds of butter per cow.
The butter brought $350.80 or thirty five
, cents per pound,
MARY GAY, a Short-Horn Durham Cow, bred by Robert W. Scott, near Frankfort, Ky. The likeness takon
when she was not giving milk. Pedigree and produce in volume 3d, American Short-Horn Herd Book.