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Raising Cows for the Da’ry,
. Beyond the mere satisfaction of hav
iug the name of having and making
the finest, is the great satisfaction of
obtaining the best prices and readiest I
sales for your daily products, a thing
which is utterly impossible without
the best and thorough management
throughout the long list of details
which, together, conspire to assist the
dairyman in producing “gilt edged” or
prime butter. Ido not mean, now, to
go into describing the minute details of
dairy farming, for it would take far
more space than is contained between
tiie two covers of this journal, but <
merely comment upon the proper I
method of raising cows for dairy pur- i
poses, irrespective of blood or'pedi- I
glees. (
It requires both cn-o and judgment
to properly rear heifers intended for a
future dairy herd, and, unless it is be
stowed from the commencement, and
so continued, all after care if of little
avail, for all dairymen well know that
a stunted heifer is nsft tiling to worth
less, at least for dairying; and, unless
such heifer he from the very best milk
ing and butter stock—and not then, in
many cases will they consent to raise
such an animal, for the chances are de
cidedly against them. The food should
he of such a quality and in such quan
tities as will tend to a healthy and
vigorous, ; though natural growth, at
the same time aiming to foster ull/the
good and desirable qualities.
Never select the young from common
or ordinary stock, but only from those
in the herd which are of good size, arc
healthy, and, above all, give the great
est amount of rich, butter-producing
milk. By mating such stock with
thoroughbred bulls of acknowledged
good points and excellence, the pro-
duct is, invariably, an improvement on
tfie mother; and as improvers only, of
farm *tock should! the
ojr country be con
-08 JPek to produce for
*»id ip of the I
I j
during ‘'"jHHHHP
' and with nhGidnnce of
pure, fwm water are the nVessarios
during the summer, to cnsin good
cows tor the dairy.
Never make apracticeof leaving the
bull run with the herd of cows or
youg heifers, for it is a pernicious prac
tice, and justly condemned by all good
breeders; but keep him stabled until
wanted, when the heifer or heifers can
be turned into his enclosure, for, unless
this is done, the heifers will often take
the bull sometime before they should,
often before they are a year old, while
we consider it much the best, both for
us, financially speaking, and for the fu
ture cow, to keep the hull away until
the animal has attained the age of fif
teen months, when you can, with safe
ty and profit, mate her with the bull
you desire as a sire.
Do not stint in food, nor feed food
so rich as to impair the general health
of the animals, for they are much more
susceptible before two years of age
than when older; so do not do anything
to undo your previous good and care
ful management. High feeding, espe
cially just before calving, has often de
leterious effects upon the animal, for it
sometimes induces inflammation in the
udder, which naturally is somewhat in
flamed about this time, which is apt to
result in an impaired secretion of milk,
owing to part of that organ being in
jured or impaired. Here, again, if not
carefully looked to, you may partially lose
the good results brought up to this point
by careful management, tor, nstead of a
first class milker, you may soon find out
that you have only a second or third
rate one, or one far better fitted for the
butcher than for the dairyman. But
permit me here to remark, that far
more cows are impaired in a milk-pro
ducing way by under-feeding than by
over-teeding; so it is only in special
cases that such caution as the above is
desirable.
After the calf has arrived, teed the
mother wet feed almost exclusively, if
it be early spring or during the winter,
in preference to dry feed, of a violent,
heating nature, for the animal now re
quires such, and do not stint her in the
least in the matter of water. Wet
food of good quality, and in sufficient
quantity, stimulates the milk-producing
BANNER OF THE SOUTH AND PLANTERS’JOURNAL.
| capacity of a cow, and hence, should
l>e mainly used. Leave the calf draw
iae much milk from the mother as she
’ [ wishes, and, at the same time, to pre
vent unnecessary inflammation, draw
Jail the surplus milk from her at least
twice a day, some recommending three
times a day, which may In? a somewhat
troublesome task at first, but if the
belter has been petted and kindlv treat
ed while in her heiferhood, she will
soon be very willing for you to relieve
her surplus load of lacteal fluid, and
thereby allay, in a great measure, the
inflamed and distended udder. After
the tendency to feverishness lias passed
off, the amount and quality of food can
be increased, which should be such as
produces a small amount of fat and a
large supply of milk, for all tat pro
dueing properties invariably shorten
the supply or flow of milk. Although
a first class milker is rarely fat or fleshy,
that a poor cow will milk largely or
well. It always pays to feed well;
and, knowing this, all well-to-do farm
ers make it a point to keep just enough
stock to consume the products of the
farm—those intended for their use—
and no more, knowing full well that it
ts true economy to do so.
I have not touched on several im
portant points which come directly un
der the heading of this article for want
ot sufficient space to do so, so those
“points" will have to form the founda
tions for some future articles.
Cecil Fruit, Truck ami Stock Farm.
Brains in Farming.
Though we may justly claim to have
made a bale progress in agricultural
science and art, during the past fifteen
oi twenty years, it. is yet surprising
how much muscular labor is wasted
every year, which might he saved or
belter directed ; and how little many of
our professed farmers really know of
their own calling. For Instance, flow
tanners toil on, year jjfter year, with
scanty and imperfect implement* ofj
fins) imdry. They secjSyo care nothing/
cheaper and
care little for improved varieties of
seeds, plants, trees or domestic animals.
Under draining, subsoiling, compost
ing—these are labor lost; and the pro
per rotation of crops, with speciali
manuring for the particular crop of
grain, roots, etc., to be produced— 1
this, of course, is all “book-fanning"
and nonsense!
Why do not all farmers study their
profession; acquire a knowledge of
the leading principles of agriculture,
the properties of different manures and
their adaptation to certain crops, and
other matters of vital importance, and
having acquired this knowledge, reduce
it to daily practice? Why do they
not diligently seek out the very best
way, and undeviatingly adhere to it ?
Why do so many of this class freely ad I
mit that they know far better and more >
thorough modes ot farming than they
put into practice '! Life is too short tor;
such misapplication of knowledge and
time; and if we would have ease in
our old age, comfort for our families,
peace, quietness, freedom from debt
and money embarrassments—in short
the greatest possible earthly happiness,
we must (both in the moral and ma
terial world), make all things within
our control work for good.
There is always a right and a wrong
way to do tilings. Let us search tor
and find and do the right way. Better
cultivate a few acres well and thorough- 1
ly, than to skim over a large plantation, j
Labor and muscle are now very dear j
and hard to control. Let us work with
our brains as well as our hands—the !
labor of the head will lighten toil, and
invest all we do with a charm, an inter
est and a dignity, unknown to the mere
unthinking, mechanical drudge, who
plods on in the beaten track, never
striking out any newer or pleasanter
paths for himself.
Agriculture, intelligently pursued,
and practiced con amore, is the highest
calling upon earth. It brings its vo
taries into direct communication with
nat only the simplest and most delight
ful forms of external nature, but it
opens up for him the widest fields of
study and research into the most pro
found sciences and arts. Is is broader,
deeper, farther reaching in all its rela
tions than any other calling. It is
■ the -most useful’ and therefore the
j “most honorable" pursuit of mankind,
j Iti its perfection and lull development
j progress, the elevation and
the happiness of mankind. It supports,,
upholds and sustains all peoples, all
| nations, all professions, trades and !
j avocations. It deserves and should
receive the full and entire strength 1
; [lower and capacity of the wisest and
i ablest men, and must always maintain
the rank accorded to if by Divine wis
dom—as the foremost and favored
work of mankind.— Our 11,me Jour- 1
nal. j;
Tire Cattle Lords or Texas.— The
»t Louis Journal of C,m%merce says:
Daring the late war the Texas cattle
regions were but slightly devastated
by the ravages of war, which, on the
contrary, greatly enhanced the pros
[lerity by increasing the price of Texas
wutlo. In the coast regions of Texas 1
are found those lands whose animated
treasures surpass, j„ number and value
! oven the flocks and beards of the great
men of New York. The Santa Cabru
us ranche, on the Santa Cabrutus
Diver, owned by Colonel Richard
Ding, embraces 84,182 acres of land,
stocked with 65,000 cattle, 10,000 horses
' > ooo sbeep, and 8,000 goats. For the
management of these immense herds,
<SOO Mexican herdsmen and 1,000 sad
die horses are held in constant requsi
i'onnoC ° loßcl Kin g each year brands
lAOOO calves, and sells 10,000 fat eat
tie, constantly investing the surplus
proceeds in stock, rat tic, O’ConnoiH
ranche, twenty ndles below Golaid, on
the San Antouioitiver, in 1862, con
tamed over 40,®0 cattle; during that
I f ear O" this estaf* 12,000 calves were
i branded, and *8%)0 realized by the
sale of cattle. enterprise was
inaugurated teiiMp previous with
i ,o.W cattle. ranches, be i
tween the |; io < 4r . uil|l .
owned I^Mk,>uc!v.
i! 7i om mcm
,iu; '"'hums h.-MHA,,.
plank
tfls
| °ther stock. Other magnificent cattle
j herds might be enumerated. The net
i increase of cattle in this region lias
been estimated ;ls high as 25 per cent,
per annum.
‘ Turning his animals loose to graze
at will over a range of country often
fifty miles square, covered with nu
tritious grasses, in a genial climate,
in which shelter is unnecessary, the
1 exas stock raiser confines hts care to
the identification and marketing of
animals. For the former purpose the
stockmen of the neighboring ranchese
assemble, semiannually in considerable
force, to scour the country for the pur
pose of brandingthe calves, the owner
ship ot .which is determined by the
brand ot cows they follow or suck.
I his stock of businsss, which lias
thus grown from small beginnings, now
amounts to a magnificent industry, the
product of which reaches our most
distant marketer’
F i.owf.us.—— \\ ho know the value of
a garden of flowers ? I.ike music,
they possess magic power. The one
adds to our happiness by beauty
and fragrance, the Other by melody
and harmony, by which the sentiments
are refined, and the virtues of the
heart stimulated and strengthened. All
surrounding objects exert ail influence
upon the.mind, and a correspondence
alway exists between outward objects
and the inner feelings of the heart.
Where flowers are cultivated the dis
positions become sweet and the affec
tions purified. Homes are constituted
paradises when made so attractive that
both parents and children find them
the centres of earthly bliss. The cost
of making homes beautiful is so very
small, when compared with its advan
tages, that it is really strange that so
little attention is given to this matter.
Did the husband consider that liis own
happiness, and that also of his family,
depended so much upon a small outlay
in making his yards beautiful, he would
not grudge the expenses ; and did the
wife realize how much she can do
to constitute a virtuous household by
making things attractive, she would not
be wanting in this matter. Home is a
sweet word. But to make a sweet
home all must act in concert, to give to
it both an external and internal beauty
(From Farmer & Gardener. ]
about nut grass.
( >r.e of your correspondents wishes
ito know how to destroy nut grass.
' I laving passed eighteen years of my 1
[early planting life on a nut grass plant
ation, in the lower part of South Caro
lina, I can speak from experience.
This is, I suppose, the worst enemy
in the shape of a •‘troublesome weed*’
] tliai the farmer has to contend with
anywhere. The worst annual weeds or
grasses can be eradicated by destroying
the crop one year, and thus cutting off,
the supply of seed. But this is ape-i
renmal—never dying out—recruiting
and multiplying and extending in ail 1
directions year by year. The tuber of
one season is the parent of a dozen
j ,n ‘ >re for the next, and so it goes on
"and infinitum. Hogs are fond of the
! ,,ut Uvhen they can get nothing better),
| 11IK Wl ‘; hod occupation for several
months in a nut grass field, rooting and
! turning up the whole surface, meTlow
i'lig the ground, and leaving , utß
enough always to make a fine crop the
| " ext spring- I have seen fields thrown
out of cultivation on account of this j
grass, and allowed to grow up thickly |
m pines, so as to produce* a dense
shade; and, after ten or fifteen year* I
cleared and brought into cultivation
again. At first the tubers come up
j s l mnn gly and feeble, but the warm sun
ami mellow ground soon give them
mart; and at the close of the season,
the ground is pretty well infested again.
> ariotis plans have been suggested
| am * tned for destroying nut grass.
Dl- The application of salt over the
: surface heavy enough to impregnate
I rim* soil; but this besides killing the
j grass, kills the land, too. This plan
may do when there is only a small I
patch, and salt can be got cheaply.
• -'',l. Plowing deeply and thoroughly!
in infer, so as to expose the tubers
to freezing If ( ] o ne repeatedly many
are killed, but there are always enough i
*oft to furnish a good supply.
3d. Hoeing over the surface six]
V rimough tiie glowing i
! every dfty the nuts are hot all exhaust
ed in one season, as I know from trial.
| 4th. Spading the ground any [lick
ing outcarefully the nuts, nay be
done on a small patch, and by/repeat
ing this constantly as often as vne grass
shows itself, may at length ly effectual,
but it is a costly process.
sth. The most effectin'./plan I have
seen tried for large fields, is a rotation
of oats and cow peas continued for
several years. The oats should he sown
early, so that by Spring the ground is
well covered and shaded. The grass
is thus kept down in a pretty feeble
condition. As soon as the oats are
cut, say in June, plow up at once and
plant peas. These grow off rapid! v
and shade the ground before the grass
has had time to recover. If this is
repeated for several years, it comes
nearer to destroying nut grass than any
other mode I have seen or heard of.
The nut grass shoots up a flower
stem like afl similar grasses, and bears
flowers of a dark chestnut color, but I
have never been able to find perfect
seed, though I have repeatedly exam
ined them. This is only analogous with
other plants which propagate by the
roots. The sweet potatoes, and many
others which are reproduced by tubers
or tuberous roots, rarely mature perfect
seed.
The leaves shoot up in early Spring
from the nuts of the previous year,
soon attaining full size. There is no
further growtli until the appearauce of
the flower stem later in the season.—
But this rest and inaction above is an
earnest of what is going on below.—
Small thread-like fibres push out for
several inches in all directions, and at
the end are formed the tubers which
mature in the course of the season.
These fibres run down to a foot or
eighteen inches in soft mellow earth.
\V hen the tuber is mature they die out;
so that it is impossible to draw them
out by the fibres.
Along our seaboard region, on the
old settled plantations, this grass is a
terrible scourge. When it lias taken
possession of a field, it is impossible to
eradicate it at anything like a reason
able cost. It would take more than
the laud is worth. It is scattered and
propagated in many ways, so that those
who wish to keep their fields clean
I m ‘ lst y( fy vigilant. The tubers are
j a favorite food of the wood rat, and are
i collected and earned off for their Win
ter stores. I have seen a quart or more
] dug up near an old stnmp or log. Cat
tle and hogs convey the nuts by their
noofs from one field to another.*
Ploughing the ground invariably
] spreads it all over the field, as the tu
i hers are can-led by their long fibres and
di opped by the plow. Such a terror is
it that those planters who had none of
it on their lands, would never use seed
potatoes grown in a nut grass field.
! Nt raw berry plants, cabbage plants,
shrubs and flowers—everythinggrowino-
J on nut grass, was tabooed as dangerous
I 1 he experience of planters in the low
j Country was, that whilst seriously im
rae, V : ,l, .* e oflarl,]s for cotton, it
dnl but little injury to corn, except that
it required a little more work. Tt was
even held by some that the additional
quantrty of vegetable matter returned
... the soil from the grass, tubers and
fibrous roots paid for the extra labor
for cotton, however, it seemed to he
poisonous. It was difficult to get a
, good stand, and the continuer! deep
forking necessary to keep down the
grass, injured the young plant and pre-
I vente ?. lts growth- I “ the Kali of the
,J ear, the cotton on every nut grass
patch could be distinguished bv its
smaller size and less branched habit
this w a reminiscence of the state of
.loans before the war. Now, that la
bor is not so easily obtained and under
less control, the difficulties of contend
mg with it are probably greater
H. W. R.
~ r Vr K l i' N Kaws.—'The discussion of
j the .Merchants and Factors’Lien Law s,
before the Monroe Agricultural Society
i at ' ts last ‘Meeting, developed the fact
; that many of our most intelligent plant
ers have become aroused to an under
standing of the dangerous tendencies
ot these laws. It is plain that the kiw
is a ruinous one, and it cannot be
argured. now, that there is any neces
sity tor its longer continuance. In 1865
and probably in 1860, when the country
was impoverished by the war, it was
ditferent—the planters had some ex-
HMfcjajßitkiiififci .f- " vi
jot them ding to. But mismanagement
of our farmers is the only reason that
can be assigned now. It may be ar
gued, also, the merchant takes advan
] tage of the necessities of the plauter,
and forces him to accept the law; but
j it should be remembered that the latter
has it in his power to relieve himself
; from necessity. He can and should try
ito do so. Let him raise his own sup
! plies, and then, and not till then, will
| be be independent ot dealers, and the
provisions of the objectional Lien Laws.
Monroe Advertiser.
A Simple Antidote fob Poison.—
W e see that Dr. James Edwards, a
prominent London physician, has pub
lished a simple, safe, and accessible
prescription for the whole range of acid
and corrosive poisons, which, if prompt
ly tried well, it is said, almost invaria
bly save life. It may prove of great
value. The prescription is: Mix two
ounces of powdered chalk or magnesia,
or one ounce of washing soda, with a
pint of milk, and swallowing at one
draught, then tickle the back of the.
throat with a feather or the finger, so
as to produce vomiting. Afterwards
drink frequently of hot milk and water,
and repeat the vomiting, so as to thor
oughly wash out the stomach. Any
quantity of chalk or magnesia may be
taken with safety; but soda in large
quantities is injurious. It is added,
that the narcotics being excepted, milk
alone is an antidote for almost all poi
sons, and especially if followed bv vom
iting.
How to Cook Beets.— Beets are
very nice cooked in the following man
ner : Slice cooked beets quite thin,
put in a sauce pan with some vinegar,
water and a piece of butter, with
sugar enough to make palatable. Any
rale is impossible. Taste it and if any
ingredients is lacking, add more of it;
salt a very little, and pepper ; thicken
the whole slightly ; serve hot. Beets
may be skinned much easier by rub
bing over with a cloth immediately on
taking them from the water in which
they are cooked, than by using a knife
and fork.
The attention of all interested in buildine
is called to Bicknell & Co.’s advertisement
in another column.